King Robert lay now on his Death-bed and almost in his Grave and his Young Son David was but little more than out of the Cradle Their General the Lord Randulph began to be very sickly and the other famous Captain the Lord James Douglas had undertaken a journey to Palestine as soon as ever his Lord King Robert should depart this Life to present his Heart in the Holy Land to the Sepulchre of his Saviour as the King had adjur'd him on his Death-bed to do On all these Reasons and because they had already sounded those who sway'd most in the Government of England lest the Young King should this year revenge the Injuries of the last the Scots with much seeming humility came to the foresaid Parliament at Northampton desiring a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms which that they never meant in good earnest this is an undoubted Argument because their King Robert was ever of the mind and so declared on q Hector p. 309. lin 60. his Death-bed That no perpetual Peace ought ever to be made with England lest for want of use the Scots should forget their skill in Arms and that only sometimes to get an Advantage or to avoid an apparent Disadvantage they might strike up a Temporary Peace to endure but for two or three Years at the farthest But however that the Scots now required Peace in so humble a manner and by no less a Man than the Lord Douglas himself this was wonderfully pleasing to those who could not penetrate into the Design And there it was demanded by the English and with small adoe agreed unto by the Scots that they should pay unto the King of England thô it was meant to Mortimer for the Dammages done by them last year in the North r Knighton p. 2558. n. 10. in Artic. 20000 Marks thô Others say 30000 Marks and some as many Pounds Upon which pretended large Allowance the Scots cunningly proposed That for their better Security and to make the Amity more lasting their Young Prince of Scotland might have the King's Sister the Lady Joan of the Tower in Marriage Then with a pretended Zeal it was put home to the Scots that least new Quarrels should arise about Limits they would now renounce all claim to the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland or any other Place or Places which any of that Nation hath at any time held in England which was readily by the Scots granted as had before been privily agreed But then again it was humbly motion'd by them at the same time that all English Men should be prohibited from holding any Lands in Scotland unless only those who should there personally reside This was by the Contrivers acknowledged to be but just in equivalence to those Pretensions the Scots had so readily relinquished in England Only the Lord Å¿ Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. 273. Henry Piercy who was one of the Twelve appointed to advise and guide the young King was utterly against that Clause but he was born down by Mortimer's Party and so this also was granted Whereupon the Encroachment grew higher so that now his Majesty himself was humbly requested to lay down his claim to all Superiority over that Crown and Kingdom else how could they be secure his Subjects would lay by their Pretensions And also it must needs raise Heart-burnings between the two Realms so long as One could shew Evidences and Trophies of the Others slavery This without much consideration was look'd upon but as a consequence of the former and so many ancient Deeds and Evidences of the Scotch Dependance on England with all the Instruments of their former Homages and Fealties from the most Ancient Times till the Days of Edward the First this King's Grandfather to whom John t Harding fol. 232. c. 240. 241. Baliol resign'd his Right to that Kingdom as they are reckon'd up by u Walsing Hist p. 17. c. item p. 49. c. Walsingham x Grafton p. 172. c. item p. 186. c. Grafton and others are all now rendred back again to Scotland And besides this many ancient Jewels and Muniments among which the Sacred Black Cross of Scotland with the famous Evidence called the Ragman Roll containing all the Homages and Fealties of the King of Scotland and of all the Prelates Earls and Barons of that Realm with all their Seals y M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 217. appendant thereto and other Charters and Remembrances that King Edward the First had of his Right to the Realm of Scotland besides the Evidences of what his Barons held in that Kingdom All these were now deliver'd up again In consideration of all which Grants the King of Scotland agrees to pay to King Edward the foresaid summ of 30000 Marks of which be sure the Authors of this contrivance had their share And yet however either of the Kings reserved to himself liberty after a Truce of four Years to refuse the Peace if then he should not like the Conditions To which the Councils of both Nations were willing to agree for as much as the One expected the return of their great Commander James Douglas from the Holy Land by that time and the Other were cautious of confirming the Peace for a longer time than the King's Minority since they all perceived him very desirous already to get Honour on the Scottish Nation This is that Famous or rather Infamous Peace justly accounted so dishonourable to England that the Scots themselves afterward by way of Triumph Nick-named their Queen Joan Make-Peace as if the Realm of England had made that Match out of fear to rid their hands of the War However the Lady Joan of the Tower King Edward's Sister was accordingly on the z Joh. Tinemouth aur Hâ—st p. 229. ex aed. Lambeth Twelfth of July or as a Fabian p. 196. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cautabr c. 217. others on the 20 being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen taken in Marriage by David Bruce the Young King of Scotland his Father being dead but the Month before III. When these things were noised abroad King Edward began to appear Contemptible in the eyes of his Neighbours who did not at all consider what Arts were used to mislead his Youth by those who hop'd always to stand at the Helm The Scots made many insulting Rhymes in derision of our Nation one whereof is chiefly remembred viz. b Fabian p. 196. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. Long Beards Heartless Painted Hoods Witless Gay Coats Graceless Make England Thriftless Even Philip of Valois the French King who held that Crown but by Injustice from our King Edward is so far now from doubting to be called to any Account for it by him that he begins to meditate a Resolution of summoning him to come and render him Homage for his Lands in France held of that Crown But this matter he was forced for a
the Lords of his z Frois c. 42. Council told him that he had not lost one jot of his Honour since he had Couragiously sought out his Enemies and Faced them boldly for several days and finally for by that time King Edward also was return'd to Antwerp had made them quit his Realm without any Great Advantage And they moreover said that the King of England must be fain to make many vast and expensive Voyages before he should be able to Conquer France unless the Frenchmen by their own heat and rashness would fling their Country away King Philip however went the next day to St. Omers and thence placed his Men of War in Garrisons especially at Tournay Lille and Douay and to other Towns bordering on the Empire Sr. Godmar du Fay a Norman Lord was now made Captain of Tournay and Sr. Edward Lord of Beaujeu was sent to Mortagne confining on Hainault near the Skell And having thus settled Affairs King Philip returns to Paris X. The mean while King Edward who knew nothing of the Departure of the French Army stood after his usual manner embattlel'd in the Fields the next Sunday on which Day the Lord of a Knighton p. 2575. n. 50. Andelys was taken by the English Then the King heard that the French Army was marched off and retired to their own homes Whereat he was extreamly amazed But on the Monday the Marquess of Brandenburgh Son to the Emperour the Marquess of Nuys his Son in Law the Duke of Brabant and the other Germans disposed themselves for home because of the sharpness of the Weather the Winter being already pretty well enter'd King Edward gave them his leave to depart and he himself went straight to Antwerp in Brabant where he had left his Queen and her young Son Prince Lionel Upon his Return to Antwerp he issued out another b Ashmole p. 650 ex Pat. inter Regem diverses Magnat German 15 Novemb 13 Ed. 3. m. 3. Commission to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knights and John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely to treat of Peace with Philip of Valois as he is called in the Commission or with Commissioners from him and a Month after to wit on the 16 of December the said Commission was renewed upon adding Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk to the forenamed Commissioners The mean while the King kept his Christmas in great Splendour at Antwerp together with his Queen and her Ladies and many German Lords c Walsingh hist p. 132. most part of his Army remaining still about him To adorn the Solemnity the better he had sent for his Eldest Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester for he was not yet creaated Prince of Wales whom he had left his Lieutenant or Warden of England being now a Proper Hopefull Young Gentleman of almost ten Years of Age. His great Grace and exact Shape made him as acceptable to the Ladies Eyes as his large and well-proportion'd Limbs rais'd a full Expectation of his future Manhood among the Lords both of England and Almain And here it seems by what follows in the next Year that a Match was if not fully concluded yet at least propounded and well-nigh agreed on between the said Young Prince and the Duke of Brabants Fair Daughter the Lady Margaret at that time but four Years old thô indeed the same thing had been projected the Year foregoing as appears by d Ret. Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. vid. Ashmcle p. 675. Sandford p. 184. the Rolls About the same time Prince Otho Duke of Austria stirred up with the Fame of King Edward with whom he had enter'd an e 16 Febr. Patentes inter Regem diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. Alliance this Year sent and required the Lady Isabella his Daughter in Marriage for his Young Son the Letters beginning thus f Walsingh hist p. 133. To the most Excellent and Magnificent Prince the Lord Edward the most Illustrious King of England his Sincere and most Dear Friend Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Austria Stiria Suabia and Carinthia Lord of Carniola Moravia and Portaenaon Earl of Hapsburgh and Chiburgh and Land grave of Alsatia with all Hearty and Devout Affection wishes a good Success of his Desires and a continual Encrease of Health and Felicity c. But neither g Ashmole p. 675. 676. of these Matches took effect the Pope by the King of France's underhand-dealing still refusing a Dispensation for the First they being within the Third Degree of Consanguinity and the Other being otherwise hindred as we shall see hereafter At the End of this Year there came from the Pope to King Edward this Letter following the like whereof He also at the same time sent to King Philip of France * * Walsingh hist p. 129. Censimiles Liter◠Regi Franciae directae exstant apud Odoric Rainald ad an §. 1339. 14. Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction While we seriously consider and deeply revolve in our Minds how great hath been the Bounty of the most High and Eternal King and the Abundance of his most mercifull Goodness that when lately your Army most Dear Son and the Army of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France stood so near together confronted in Battle Array furiously dispos'd to a terrible Conflict on both sides those miserable Effects did not ensue which those warlike Preparations and Force of Armed Men did threaten to him we pay the tribute of our Praise since it ought to be esteemed as the greatest Gift of Almighty God and no less than a Miracle gratiously wrought by the Goodness of the Wisdom of God which never fails in its Dispensations And surely it may be more evidently gather'd that so great an Effusion of Blood of those who had been redeem'd with the precious Blood of our Lord as must needs have followed if the said Armies had come to Battle at that time to the great loss and scandal of all Christendom and to the hazard of many Souls was by no means pleasing to the most High who maketh Wars to cease and by the Prophet threatens to scatter the Nations that delight in War. Your Royal Wisdom also may consider how deeply both You and the foresaid King must have incurr'd the Divine Anger if you had proceeded to hazard so many of those whose Souls and Bodies he hath so dearly ransomed And it is to be feared that without doubt God Almighty will most severely animadvert against him especially who of the two should be most forward in promoting such Mischief whereby such Slaughter and Confusion would follow that all Christendom would be shook thereby and a Reformation of
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
always Prelate of the Order and then he proceeded to give the same Habit to the other 25 Knights Companions as in Order they follow 2. His Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but in the 14 then in the 19 Year of his Age. 3. His Noble and Valiant Cousin Henry at that time Earl of Lancaster and afterwards Duke of the same Title 4. Thomas Beauchamp the thrice Noble and Valiant Earl of Warwick 5. John q Here Mr. Ashmole is stagger'd because 〈◊〉 he finds it on Record that John de Greilty Son. of Peter was Captal of Buch from the 5 to the 29 of King Edward the III as indeed he was from the 5 to the 50. Yet notwithstanding upon the Original Plate of his Name set up in the Chappel at Wâ—ndsor it is engraven Piers Capitow de la Bâ—uch as if his Name also was Peter When as it is evident that these Plates were not set up at the Foundation but many Years after perhaps after King Edward's Death as may be made manifest to any strict enquirer And his Fâ—ther being of the Name of Peter might cause a mistake at least in the Engraver From whence afterward Authority grew also even to other writings Nay I shall hereafter prove that as great a Mistake as this was engraven upon Queen Philippa's Tomb thô done in King Edwards Life de Greilly Captal of Buch which is a great Lordship in Aquitain the Governour whereof is stiled Captal and the Country it self is called le Captalat de Buch or Busch the chief Town whereof called la Teste de Buch is about seven Leagues Westward of Bourdeaux This Gentleman was a Mighty Man of Valour and most firm of all others to the English side so that after many Renowned Exploits whereof this History will not be silent being at last taken Prisoner by the French he chose rather to die in Prison than to swear never more to bear Arms for England 6. The next Knight in Order was Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford 7. William Montagu the hopefull young Earl of Salisbury 8. Roger Lord Mortimer Grandson to Roger Earl of March who five Years after obtain'd a Revocation of the Judgement against his Grandfather and thereupon was restored in Blood and to the Earldom of March and to all his said Grandfathers Lands Honours and Possessions Being for his Valour and Worth highly meriting to be inserted into this most Noble Order 9. After him was invested the Couragious Knight John Lord Lisle 10. Then Bartholomew Lord Burghersh alias Burwash Junior at that time but twenty Years old but every way Worthy of this Honour 11. John Lord Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick a Noble Martialist of that Age. 12. John Lord Mohun of Dunstor a Constant Attendant of the Black-Prince in all his Wars 13. Hugh Lord Courtney Son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire 14. Thomas Lord Holland of Holland in Lancashire who about the time of this his Creation or the 23d. of King Edward was Married to the Beauty of England Joan Sister to the Earl of Kent 15. John Lord Grey of Codonore in Derbyshire 16. Sr. Richard Fitz-Simon whose Services in War rais'd him to this Honourable Title 17. Sr. Miles Stapleton a Man of Great Nobility and Integrity and Expert in Martial Affairs 18. Sr. Thomas Wale a Knight of great Vertue and Worthiness but one who thô by his early Valour he merited so High a Rank yet by his too early Death which happen'd within three Years after the Institution left his Stall void the First of all these Founders 19. Sr. Hugh Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the County of Stafford Knight from whom in a direct Line is Sr. Walter Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the foresaid County Baronet now r Ashmole ità Ano. Domini 1672. living descended 20. Sr. Nele Loring a Knight of great Valour and Nobility and whom we have shewn to have been first Knighted for his signal Courage in the Naval Fight at Sluce 21. The Lord John Chandos a most Illustrious Hero of whose Generosity and Valour to write sufficiently would require a large Volume 22. The Lord James Audley a most Adventurous and Fortunate Commander and Cousin to Nicolas Audley Earl of Gloucester 23. Sr. Otho Holland Brother to the Lord Thomas Holland aforesaid 24. Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant commonly by Historians called Sr. Henry of Flanders a Valiant and Loyal Servant to King Edward 25. Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt a Valiant Knight of Heinalt now Naturaliz'd in England 26. Sr. Walter Pavely who was Famous for his Exploits in several Warlike Expeditions These were the Names and this the Order of the First Knights of the Garter whom the thrice Noble King Edward chose to be his Companions and Fellows in this Honourable Society All Men of most signal Valour and Conduct of High Birth and untainted Loyalty So Generous and Heroick that they might all seem Worthy to be Kings and their Perseverance in Vertue to the last as it partly declares the sharp Judgement the King used in their Election so it shews of what Power and Efficacy that Honourable Tye was and what Obligations to Vertuous Behaviour it laid upon them But methinks it may justly be Wonder'd how it came to pass that this Great Honour being confer'd on so few those other Worthy Barons who deserv'd it no less being laid aside should notwithstanding never shew the least disgust at the Matter For certainly the Noble and Heroick Lord Walter Manny the Valiant and Daring Lord Reginald Cobham Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Warlike Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Roger Delaware and many more for Birth Wisdom Loyalty Wealth Vertue or Valour were well Worthy of the Highest Honours But this Prudent Prince would not make his Institution cheap by communicating it to many nor have any of his Successors to this Day exceeded the Number of 26. The mean while 't is highly probable that the other Lords thought it more Noble to grow emulous who of them should be most Worthy to ascend the first vacant Place and we find by Degrees that most of them did as the Stalls fell void attain to that Dignity as the two Earls of Essex and Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Suffolk the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald Lord Cobham and others but the Rest either died or were decrepit and past Action almost before their turns came and so found no Room at all VII The Order being thus well-stockt at the beginning has since that obtain'd such an High Esteem thrô all the Christian World that divers Å¿ Ashmole p. 189. Emperours Kings and Sovereign Princes have reputed it among their greatest Honours to be chosen and admitted thereunto insomuch as some of them have with Impatience Courted the Honour of Election
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
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
ready to sustain his Quarrel With these Words he left the King his Brother in an Huff and with four Persons only in his Company rode Post to St. Saviour le Vicount which was as we have shew'd an English Garrison under the Command of the Lord Thomas Holland a great Baron of England and n Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 7◠〈…〉 afterwards in Right of his Wite Earl of Kent and Lord Wake who received him very gladly and said how he had acquitted himself with commendable Loyalty and Honour towards the King of England However o Frois c. 198. by this Treaty of Peace the King of Navarre had the quiet Possession of certain Towns and Castles in Normandy and on the Borders thereof besiâ—es Mante and Meulan And now a Reconciliation was made between the Duke of Normandy and the young Earl of Harcourt chiefly at the Intercession of the Lord Lenis of Harcourt who was of the Duke's Council and of his Houshold So that the Duke gave in Marriage unto the said Earl the Daughter of the Duke of Bourbon who was Sister to his own Dutchess Upon this Peace the Siege before Melun brake up the Place becoming thereupon of the French Interest Thô the Realm of France gain'd little ease or respite by all this for the Truce between England and France being soon after expired those who before in the King of Navarre's Title had made War in Normandy Beauvais Picaray Champaigne or Brie now began to make War as hotly in the said Places in the Title of King Edward of England VI. Now the young Knight Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt had been for more than a Year signally Notorious for the Injuries he did to France in these times of Comâ—â—sion for p Frois c. 198. in Champaigne he had no less than 700 Fighting Men under him by whose Aâ—d he wan great Riches as in Plunder Ransoming and safe Conducts So that at last no fewer than Twelve good Fortresses were at his Command and as then he was in the Flower of his Age a lusty young amorous Batchelour And the Year q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 94 95. after this he Married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Jultere but now Countess Dowager of Kent in England altho upon the Death of John Pormagâ—â—s late Earl of Kent she had vow'd Chastity and was solemnly Veiled a Nun by Wâ—â—liam Edingdon Bishop of Winchester at Waverley in that Dioecese For this Noble young Nun upon report of Sr. Eustace's great Renown in Arms began withou thving seen him to set her Love about this time upon him and often sent him châ—â—e Geldings and Horses of Service with Love-Letters and other Favours wherewith Sr. Eustace was so elevated in his Courage that every day he grew more Notable So that all his Men thought themselves happy they gain'd such Riches under his Conduct But the Duke of Normandy who had heard of all his outragious Viclenâ—es upon the breaking up of the Siege of Melun desired the Lord Broquant of Fâ—â—â—strages a Lorraâ—ner who had 500 Companions at his Command to go into Gâ—ampaigne and help to expell this Sr. Eustace and his Englishmen that made War in those Parts on which account he undertook to pay him for himself and his Troops such a certain Sum of Florens Upon this Sr. Broquart having encreased his Forces with the Assistance of the Bishop of Troye the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Joâ—â—ville the Lord John of Chalons and others from Champaigne Lorraine and Burgunay to the Number of 3500 Men in all they began to set forward against the Enemy First they came to the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne which had been held by English Navarreis a Year and an half but now it was taken at the Third Assault and fourscore Englishmen slain even every Man in the Castle there was none had any Mercy shewn him After this hot Service the Frenchmen went to Troye to refresh themselves and within two or three days they sent out a strong Detachment of 1200 Spears and 900 others under the Lord Brequart of Fenestrages who took the way directly toward Nogent on the River Seyne Early that Morning Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt having heard of the Frenchmens being about in the Country chose out of his Garrisons 400 Spears and 200 Archers and with those Troops marched forth of the Castle of Pongny to sind his Enemies He rode on a stately Gelding Armed at all Points except his Head-piece which an Esquire carried after him his War-Horse being led by his side He had hardly passed the Seyne at Mery when he heard tidings of the French as they also by this had heard of him But surely had he known the Number of those who came against him he would have desired the Assistance of his Neighbour Sr. Peter Audley and the Lord de la Bret who could well have spared him 400 Fighting Men if they had not come to his Aid in Person Upon the First certain knowledge oâ— his Enemies and of the way they took he gather'd his Men together without the Town of Nogent sur Seyne and took the height of a little Hill among the Vines and set his Archers ready before him When the French Men of Arms came up in sight of him they ranged themselves in Three Battails The first was led by the Bishop of Troye and the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages the Second by the Lord John of Châlons and another good Captain the Third by the Earl of Vaudemont and the Lord Joinville besides a Fourth Battail of 900 Foot which was not yet come up The mean while Sr. Eustace spake aloud to his Men Gentlemen let us Fight with a good Courage for if this day be ours we shall be Lords of all Champaigne which was once an Earldom And I hope this day by your Valiant Assistance to do such a piece of Service for the King of England whom I account the Rightâ—ull King of France that he will bestow this Earldom upon Me And you shall all be the better for my Advancement Then he called unto him certain Young Gentlemen as the Couragious Manny who being his Cousin and Nephew to the Lord Walter Manny was constantly Honoured with the Epithet Couragious John de Paris and Martin of Spain with some others whom then and there he Knighted And all his Men being placed on Foot in a strong Battail his Archers a little forward on the left hand he himself stood in the Front of his Men of Arms his Standard waving before him which was Ermin three Hameds Gules When r Frois c. 199. c. Sr. Broquart of Fenestrages who was both very expert and couragious saw that Sr. Eustace designed not to come down to him and that he had wisely placed his Archers to gall them on the right side where they had not their Shields he said aloud Let us first of all fall on whatever happens changing our Shields to the Spear Hand till we have past the Archers
Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. in the Month of June there appeared in the Northern Sea a great Navy of Danes who purposed to come into England and overrun rob and slay as their Ancestors had done in the time of the Saxon Kings But they were encountred and met with at Sea by a good Fleet of English Mariners and other Valiant Men who overthrew and scatter'd them and made them return inglorious into their own Country But among others there was a Mighty and Strong Ship called the Denmark which being oversailed by the Englishmen was taken and sunk and in her was found the High-Steward and other Great Officers and Lords of Denmark who being brought into England were by Order from the King and Council cast into Prison Shortly after there came certain Danish Deputies to negotiate for the Delivery of the foresaid Lords of their Country with their Goods but receiving an answer no way pleasing unto them they return'd home again having left behind them in their Inns written on Scrolls and Walls this threatning Verse Yet shall Danes Ering you n Despair or Loss ab AS Wanian to Diminish wanes Which Rhymes being seen by an English Poet he immediately wrote underneath them Here shall Danes o i.e. Fetch or find Frett their * Destruction Banes. XXIV And now We shall close close up this Active Year when We have first made mention of the Death of a Person whose Memory ought not to be forgotten This was Don Pedro Son of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal who for his love to Equity obtain'd the Honourable Sirname of The Justiceer This Man that p Joseph Teixera de Origin Regum Portugallix he might remove the Fuel of Contention compell'd the Lawyers Pleaders and Proctors of his Kingdom to till the Land thô he himself was a most strict Observer and Maintainer of the Laws He punished two Forsworn Traytors by causing the Heart of One to be thrust out at his Breast and of the other out at his Back both which at his Command were torn in pieces It is attributed unto him as his Familiar saying q Vid. Marian. l. 17. c. 9. Odor Rainald ad hunc ann §. 19. that a Prince did seem unworthy of the Name of a King on what day he had done no Grace or Kindness to any Body AN. DOM. 1368. An. Regni Angliae XLII He died this Year having Reign'd Nine Years as many Months and Eight and Twenty Days and left behind him his Son Hernando or Ferdinando who r Odor Rainald ibid. soon after sent his Complement to the Pope after the Custom of Christian Kings newly come to the Crown and received an answer full of Good Counsel and Ghostly Admonitions CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. Prince Lionel is married to the Lady Violantis Daughter of Galeacius Duke of Milain with the Magnificence and Splendor of the Nuptials II. He falls sick his Testament Death and Burial III. A Parliament at Westminster IV. The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal V. A strange Relation of a Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyderzee VI. Sr. Bertram of Clequin by a pretty Conveyance obtains to be admitted to Ransom VII The Companions waiting for their pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they depart and go into France where they do much Mischief VIII The Prince to recruit his exhausted Stores ordains a Tax throughout Aquitain which occasions a Revolt of some Malecontents I. IN the Fourtieth Year of King Edward it may be remembred how We spake of an Overture made by Galeacius the second Duke of Milain unto the said King about a Match to be struck up between the Daughter of the said Duke and Prince Lionel second Son living to the said King Edward The Negotiation concerning this Affair had been carried on till this time when all Conditions were fully adjusted on both sides among which these were not the least considerable a Paul. Jovius in Galeacio 11. p. 151. That together with the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel should receive 2000000 Florens of Gold together with the Cities of Mons Regalis or Mondovi and Alba Pompeia by the Name of a Dowry I shall not here be particular in relating how the two Brethren Dukes of Milain Galeacius and Bernabo recover'd from those troubles whereunto John Marquess of Monferrato had some Years before cast them Nor shall I insist on the Eminent Worth and Military services which Sr. John Hawkwood an English Knight performed for them in those their Wars with such considerable Advantage that Duke b Paul. Jovius in Barnabâ p. 159. Bernabo gave unto him the Lady Donninia one of his Natural Daughters in Marriage with a Portion of 1000000 Florens Let it suffice for this place that the two Brethren Dukes being assisted by this Valiant Knight Sr. John Hawkwood began again to flourish in great Prosperity which that they might the better preserve to their House and Family it was thought fit to enter Affinity with King Edward of England at that time by many Degrees the most Powerfull and Renowned of all the Princes in the World. And so when all things were fully adjusted the Marriage c Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was concluded at Windsor on the 25 of April at which time the King acquitted the Duke of Milain of 10000 Florens by him paid in consideration of the said Treaty and then with all speed the Prince made his Preparations to go over the Sea and to consummate his Nuptials It is said d Joh. Harding c. 186. fol. 186. that the two Dukes of Milain the Marquess of Monferrato the Dukes of Venice Mantua and Florence the Lords of Genua Pisa and other chief Princes of Italy had with the unanimous Consent of the whole Senate of Rome sent their Ambassadors to King Edward before this to assure him that upon this Marriage of his Son Prince Lionel with the Duke of Milain's Daughter all the Princes and States of Italy should own him for their Lord and by their joynt Interest at last raise him to the Title and Dignity of Emperour For besides the Reputation of the King his Father's Glory he himself was generally fam'd and extoll'd for one of the most Accomplish'd Personages in the World. Of Stature he was beyond the Ordinary Proportion of Men Tall and streight as a Palm-Tree exceeding Well-set Shap'd and Featur'd in his Chamber Modest and Gentle as a Virgin Affable Sweet and Pleasant in Conversation but Bold and Fierce as a Lion in the Field So that for all Accomplishments of Mind and Body he had not his Fellow in all England except only his Elder Brother the Prince of Wales than whom he was yet eight Years younger being now in the very Flower of Manhood in the Thirtieth Year of his Age. Thus about the latter end of April the Lord Lionel Duke of Clarence and Earl of Vlster Third Son born but the Second living of King Edward the Third
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
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
that the Marshal should play the Master there as he had begun even althô he said Nay At last after much crowding they all got thrô and came into our Ladies Chappel where the Duke and other Barons sat themselves down with the Archbishop and other Bishops John Wickliff standing before them according to the usual Manner ready to answer what should be objected unto him The Lord Marshal first brake silence desiring Mr. Wickliff to sit down and alledging that he had many things to answer to and therefore had need of some Repose But the Bishop of London said He should not sit down there for neither was it according to Law nor Reason that He who was cited there to appear to answer before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer but rather stand These Words created others and they brought forth more the Bishop standing upon the Privilege of his Place and Function and the Marshal on his own and the Duke's Authority so that many bitter words and Menaces passed on both sides to the great Offence and Scandal of the People But then the Duke began to take the Marshals part and warmly chode the Bishop who was not a whit behind hand with him so that the r Erubuit Dux quod non petuit praevalere litigio hist Men. D. Albani ibid. Duke was asham'd to find himself worsted by the Bishop and threatned that he would shortly bring down the Pride not only of him but of all the Prelacy of England and to the Bishop he said Sir You are too bold and all in Confidence * He was a Younger Son to Hugh Courtney second Earl of Devonsâ—ire of that Name and of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Humphry Behun Earl of Hereford and Essex Eighth of that Name by his Wife Elizabeth Daughter of King Edward the First His Parents were both now living thô the Earl his Father died on the 2d of May this Year of your Parents who yet will not be able to help you they shall have enough to do to help themselves To whom the Bishop reply'd That he ought to be bold in declaring the Truth but that his Confidence was not in his Parents nor in any Mortal Man but in the living God alone in whom he trusted Then the Duke softly whisper'd to one that sat next him how he had rather drag the Bishop out of the Church by the Hair of his Head than take this at his Hands However this was not utter'd so softly but that some of the Londoners overheard him who being enraged thereupon cry'd out that they would never see their Bishop so abused but rather lose their Lives then that any one should draw him out of his Church by the Hair. Upon this Contention that Council was dissolved before Nine of the Clock and the Duke with the Lord Percy return'd to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster Wickliff being easily dismiss'd thô not without a Prohibition neither to preach nor write any more in defence of those Articles which were objected to him VII 'T is said that that same day before Dinner there was put up in Parliament by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock the Kings youngest Son and the Lord Henry Percy Marshal of England a certain Bill as in the Kings Name importing that the City of London should no more be govern'd by a Mayor but by a Captain as in times past And that the Marshal of England should have the sole ordering of Arrests within the said City as elsewhere with many other Articles tending to the Diminution of the Liberties of London Which Bill being read there stood up a Worthy Patriot Alderman John Philpot one of the Burgesses of that City who spake so notably against the said Bill and pleaded so strongly in behalf of the Charters and Privileges of that Famous Metropolis that immediately the Bill was flung out of the House and the Name of Alderman Philpot much set by I can find no Warrant for this indeed in the Records of the said Parliament which we have faithfully exhibited before and therefore dare not absolutely lean to the belief thereof But whether it was really so or only cunningly nois'd abroad by some seditious Arts to stir up the People however we find that the next day the Londoners assembled in Council to consider of the Matter and also how far the Power of the Marshal extended not forgetting to take notice of the Affronts put upon their Bishop the Day before While thus the Chief Citizens were entertain'd with sober Debates and perhaps only prepar'd some Petition or Remonstrance to shew unto the Parliament in the behalf of their City the Commons understanding that One of their Body was then in Prison in the Marshals House which stood within their Liberties being secretly animated by some considerable Beautefeus whom for several Reasons I cannot with others believe to have been the Lord Guy Bryan and the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter went immediately in great Fury to the House of the Lord Percy where breaking up the Gates they took out the Prisoner by force and burnt the Stocks wherein he had been set in the midst of the City Then they sought for the Lord Percy for whom all Corners and Privy-Chambers were searched and the Beds and Hangings torn in pieces with their Bills and Javelins But He it seems was at that time happily out of the way being together with the Duke of Lancaster invited to Dinner by one John of Ipres at his house Å¿ Stow's Survey of London p. 260. called Ipres-Inne in Knight-Riders Street of which the Londoners knew nothing but thought they were at the Dukes House called the Savoy and so posted thither in great fury But one of the Dukes Knights observing this madness of the People went in great haste to the Place where his Lord the Duke was and when for all his Knocking he could not be admitted he said aloud to the Porter whose name was Haveland Hark you Haveland If you love my Lord the Duke and your Life open the Gate At these Words he was let in and in great fear told the Duke that there were infinite Numbers of Armed Men searching for him so that if he had not a Care that day would be his last At this the Duke leap'd so hastily from his Oysters that he hurt both his Legs against the Form Wine was offer'd but he could not drink for haste and so fled at a Back gate with the Lord Henry Percy and taking a Barge at the Thames never left Rowing till they came to an house near the Mannor of Kennington where at that time the Princess-Mother of Wales lay with her young Son Richard before whom he made his Complaint against the outragious Insolence of the Citizens And the Princess promised him to take such Order in this Matter as should be to his Content The mean t Fox Acts Mon. p. 394. while the Commons of London had beset the Dukes House called the Savoy where
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
her Lands in that Kingdom had also been seized on From which Sr Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore who having been clap'd into the Tower for Treason had made his escape into France as he was a most Politick and Vindicative Person took occasion to insinuate himself into the Queens Favour and by pretending to take her part against the Spencers the great Favourites of her Husband whom she extreamly hated involved her before she was aware into a Rebellion from which she could never extricate her self till she had ruin'd the King her Husband It is no way pleasant to me to relate the whole progress of that execrable Treason nor how the King of France being warned by King Edward durst not entertain any longer within his Dominions the Queen his Sister with this her Son Edward so that she was forced to flee to strangers for succour who being won by her charming tears adventur'd thô but a Few into this Kingdom where quickly encreasing their Numbers by a rash defection of the Giddy multitude they proceeded to the utmost Violations of Faith and Honour In short the old King at last was violently and illegally Depos'd and imprison'd thô with promise of security to himself AN. DOM. 1325. and the allowance of an Honourable Pension during life And our young Edward his eldest Son thô he could never be x Walsing hâ—st p 105. Hâ—â—â—nshead p 881. perswaded even to a Crown till he was made to believe his Father had desired it being at last won by the sight of his Father's seeming-voluntary Resignation which yet was extorted by fraudulent Promises and severe menaces took upon him the Crown and Government of this Kingdom III. Before this while the Realm was yet unsetled and the old King lay as then conceal'd in Wales y Sandford p. 158. He was by an Usurped Authority in an Assembly z Speed p. 564. Ashmole p. 644. of Lords met at Hereford the Queen and Sr Roger Mortimer being present made Custos or Lord Warden of the Kingdom by a common Decree bearing date the 20 of October whereupon all the Lords made him Homage and took an Oath of Allegiance to be Loyal to him as Lord Warden of England And on the twenty sixth of November following the Great Seal sent from the King his Father was deliver'd unto him at Martley Whereupon a a Walsingh hist p. 106. Sr The. de la Mere p. 8. l. 41. Parliament was summon'd to meet at Westminster about the Feast of Epiphany being called indeed in the old King's Name but the Briefs of Citation were signed by the Prince as Lord Warden of England In this Parliament thus called by his own Authority was the old King illegally depos'd when they had extorted his own consent to it by fair and foul means making so the young Prince believe that his Father had freely and willingly resign'd the Government of which matter we shall speak more largely when we come to relate the Murther of the said King Edward the Second But because many of our Historians lay some imputation upon the Name of King Edward the Third as if he was not wholly innocent of these Proceedings against his Father we are to consider the tenderness of his Age he being not then fourteen years old whereby he might very easily be impos'd upon by the treacherous subtlety of Mortimer and his Complices who were always about him also we should cast our eyes upon the severity he shew'd this same Mortimer when he understood the whole Treason nor is it a small sign of his innocence as to this point that he himself lived long and Reigned happily being blest with many Dutifull Children and that no other circumstance of his whole life can furnish us with any thing from whence we may suspect that he could be capable of so black and unnatural a Treason However b Ashmole p. 644 now the old King having resign'd the Crown great Preparations were made for this young Prince's Coronation he being on the 25 of January or the Conversion of St Paul and a c Lit. Dom. D. Sunday proclaimed King of England by Order and Consent of Parliament and Proclamations d Dugd. Warw. p. 165. a. were issued out in his Name declaring to the People that his Father the late King had made a Voluntary and free Resignation of his Regal Dignity to him as being his Eldest Son. And a week after by the direction of those who were Contrivers of this Revolution he was advis'd to Publish his Peace to the whole Kingdom which was done in these words Edward e Walsingh hist p. 105. Speed p. 565. Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 28. by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to N. Sheriff of S. Greeting Whereas the Lord Edward our Father late King of England by Common Council and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords as well as that of the whole Commonalty of the Realm did voluntarily resign the Government thereof willing and granting that We as his Eldest Son and Heir should take upon Us the Rule and Government of the Kingdom And We by the consent and advice of the Prelates Earls and Barons aforesaid yeelding herein to our Fathers good Pleasure have taken upon Us the Government of the said Realm and received as the manner is the Fealties and Homages of the said Prelates and Barons Desiring therefore that our Peace should be inviolably kept to the quiet and benefit of our Liege People We will and command that presently upon sight of these Presents you cause our Peace to be Proclaim'd thrô all your Bailywick charging all and every one in our Name under pain and peril of Disherison and loss of life and limb not to presume to infringe or violate our said Peace but every one to prosecute his Actions and Causes without any outrage whatsoever according to the laws and customs of our Kingdom For We are ready and ever shall be to exhibit and afford to all and singular Plaintiffs as well poor as rich full Justice in our Courts according to due Course of Law. Witness Our Self at Westminster l mo Februarii Annóque Regni nostri Primo On the f Sandford p. 158. H. Knighten p. 2550. Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 2. n. 13. same day being Sunday and the Vigil of the Purification was the young King by the hands of his Cozen Henry Earl of Lancaster first girded with the Sword of Knighthood at which time the King himself Knighted many others among whom were three g Sandford p. 109. Catal. Hono p. 575. Dagd 1. Vol. p. 145. 147. Sons of the Lord Mortimer That day he was Crowned at Westminster by the hands of h Ashmole calls him William by mistake vid. Godw. Catal. Bps. c. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury and thereupon as an Earnest of the many Advantages his People were to reap from his prosperous Reign a General Pardon
is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
Spoil of the Field which they accounted their own The whole number of the Strangers was about e H. Knighton p. 2551. two Thousand Men of Arms besides the great Numbers of English that came in as Voluntiers above the appointed Musters such hopes had they conceived of their Prince's Conduct and Fortune The King f Frois c. 16. Grafton p. 219. assigned the Strangers convenient lodgings in the Suburbs of York but to Sr John himself and his Servants he allotted an Abby of White Monks in the said City He himself and the Queen his Mother being lodged in the stately Building called the Fryers where each of them kept house apart This g Frois ibid. S John of Heinalt was one of the most Gallant Knights in the World and he had first undertaken to defend the Queen and her Son against the Persecutions of the two Spencers even when her own Brother the King of France had deserted her quarrel so that he was very dear to the young King and his Mother and they resolv'd to entertain him in most Royal Manner Wherefore the King held all along a Great Court to do these Strangers Honour and there was every where much Plenty of Provision Good and Cheap for the City and Country were Rich and flourish'd with abundance For full six weeks did the King lie there with more than 60000 men yet all that while the price of Provision was nothing enhanced but every thing was sold as reasonable as before the Army came thither There was plenty of Rhenish Gascoign and Anjovan Wines with Pullen and other Provision at very ordinary Rates and Hay Oats and other necessaries for Horses were daily brought to the Strangers lodgings so that they were all extreamly satisfied with their entertainment But yet even this their Prosperity had like to have proved more fatal unto them then a Rout in Battel might have done For h Knighton p. 2551. presuming much hereby on the King's favour they carried themselves too Magisterially toward his Subjects whence arose such Contention as brought forth many sad effects and was not at last stinted without much bloodshed on both sides On Trinity i Frois c. 16. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantabr c. 213. Sunday the King for the sake of these Lords Strangers held a Solemn and Magnificent Feast at the Fryers aforesaid himself being attended with 500 of his Knights to which he then added 15 more and the Queen his Mother having more than threescore Fair Ladies of the greatest Nobility and Beauty in England about her Person to pleasure the young Lord of Beaumont and his Company There was that day a most Splendid Entertainment and a truly Royal shew of whatsoever was choice and excellent And now the Ladies themselves with many Noble Virgins were meditating the various Measures their skilfull Feet were to make the pleasant Aires their sweet Voices should warble and those soft Divisions their tender Fingers should strike on the yielding strings when suddenly as soon as ever the Feast was ended a strange and hideous noise confounded the Minds of the whole Court. For the Servants and Pages of these Foreign Auxiliaries had by their k Knighton p. 2551. insolence so exasperated the minds of some English Archers who lodged among them in the Suburbs that immediately a great Fray began among them which continually rose higher new abettors successively flowing in on each side till near 3000 of the Archers being gather'd together many of the poor Heinalders were slain and the rest betaking themselves to flight were fain to enter their lodgings and there to fortifie them in the best manner they could against the Fury of their enemies Most part of the Knights their Commanders were then at Court but on the first noise of the Fray they hasted to their lodgings to defend themselves and their People Some part of the City of York in the Hurlyburly was fired many of the Heinalders slain and more hurt nor less on the English side than l Stow p. 228. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. ibid. 80 Archers most of them Lincolnshire men fell that day who were all buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Fosegate But at last by the Authority of the King with the earnest endeavours of the Queen Mother who loved the Heinalders dearly and by the ready assistance of the Great Men who charitably took the Strangers parts the Archers thirst of blood was slaked and the quarrel ceased for that time But that Night the Strangers who had suffer'd most not so m Knighton p. 2551. much thinking of sleep as revenge being now headed by Commanders rose privately and joyning all together set suddenly upon the Archers of Lincolnshire and Northampton for the Men of each County were Marshall'd and lodged together by themselves where they slew about 300 of them Nor in the Morning had they paid cheaply for that desperate action for more than n Frois c. 16. fol. 7 8. 6000 Archers had combined together to burn or kill them every man in their lodgings or without by Night or by Day when ever they should obtain an Opportunity But that the King to secure the Strangers from their Fury had set strong Guards about them displacing the Archers from their former Quarters they themselves hardly ever daring to sleep without good Watch their Horses ready saddled and their Arms always near at hand or upon their Backs so well they knew it behoved them to look to themselves after such a Provocation of the Common Soldiers of England Now had King o Frois c. 16 17. Edward lain at York with all this Great Army in and about the City for the space of three Weeks and when in about three Weeks more after this sedition no final agreement could be made between the King's Council and the Scotch Ambassadors p Caxton who came thither after Trinity Sunday to treat of a Peace the Marshals of the Host by the King's Command Proclaimed thrô all the Army that by the next Week every Man should be ready to March against the Enemy and that such to whom the Care was left should provide Carts and Wagons for Carriages and Tents and Pavilions to lie in the field with all other matters necessary for the King's journey toward Scotland All things therefore being by the said time provided accordingly the King and all his Barons began their March from the City of York in good Order and gallantly armed with Trumpets sounding and Banners waving in the wind In this Expedition besides those at Newcastle and Carlile already sent thither to defend the Frontiers we have made shift to recover the Names of these Worthies q Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the King's Uncle John r Id. 1 Vol. p. 184. Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger ſ Id. ibid. p. 145. Mortimer Lord of Wigmore William
of so many over it Only some of the better Sort had their bottles of Wine or other good liquors with them Nor had they any thing to give them light except a few Torches which the Lords Servants had brought with them As for their Tents and Pavilions they as we said before were most of them left among the Baggage Wherefore they were fain to lie on the bare ground in their Armour with their Horses ready sadled in their hands The next Morning came slowly on to men in their Condition but upon the appearance of Day they put on vigorous hopes that they should find some better means of Refreshment Had it rain'd in the Night they must have endured much more misery but however in the Morning it rain'd so plentifully that before noon the River was risen too high to admit of any repassing Which thô bad to them who were already over proved better for the Foot who otherwise must have had a difficult Passage among the stones in so strong a Current It was a great terror to all that were of either side the River to see and hear how the Stream which is naturally violent being rendred more impetuous by the large accession of Rain ran swooping down hurrying along in its course huge Flints and other stones precipitantly rowling down with an hideous noise and roaring The valourous Young King was extreamly perplex'd at all these casual impediments but bold and full of hope as he was he assured himself that the Scots must needs shortly return that way Thereabout therefore he resolv'd to remain till he might understand what further course was taken by his Enemies They yet knew of no other Town or Place near that might afford them shelter or comfort and far they could not travel both They and their Horses being in such evil case So for one day and night more both They and their Beasts were in a manner fain to fast but for some little bread for themselves and a few leaves of trees for their horses but now they had time to cut down boughs with their swords for Stakes to tie their Horses too and to make little sheds for themselves They knew not yet whereabouts they were nor how far off from any Town because they had left the beaten Roads when first they began to follow the Scots and had not since return'd into them But about Noon the next day they found some poor People who told them that they were about twenty k Holinshead hist Scotl. p. 225. six Miles from Newcastle and twenty two from Carlile and that no considerable Town was nearer to furnish them with any thing they wanted The King and his Council having heard this good News sent immediately Horses and Sumpters to both Towns and Proclamation therewith that whoever would bring Bread Wine or other Victuals with Fodder and Litter for Horses should receive abundant satisfaction with thanks of the King. For it had been openly declared that for all this the King would not stir a foot till he heard what was become of his Enemies Some Provision was brought next day by Noon but that not overmuch by the Kings sutlers many also of the Country People thereabout came with little Nags laden with Bread in Panniers and small Perry Wine with other Victuals to sell in the Army which pretty well refreshed them for a time Thus they continued the space of five or six days in all expecting ever the Return of the Scots who had fortifi'd themselves the mean while upon a Hill waiting for them also but neither party knew where the other was The English were but very indifferently purvey'd for when the Country came in to them with Provision l Frois ibid. a loaf of Bread worth but a penny was sold for sixpence and a gallon of Wine which was worth but sixpence as money then went was sold for two shillings and yet there was such scarcity that they were ready to fight with one another for what they had And besides all this for near a week together it hardly ever ceased raining so that much hurt was done to their Beasts their girts being broken their backs sore and their feet unshod against which there was no remedy in that place All these things consider'd the King began to change his mind and at last resolved to part thence leaving the more barren Country of Northumberland and repassing the River about seven Miles lower where the passage might be more easie to re-enter the Bishoprick of Durham It was also proclaim'd thrô the Host that whoever could bring the King certain knowledge where the Scots were encamped for that they were not then stirring abroad was known should be rewarded with an hundred pounds per annum for him and his heirs for ever and himself receive the honour of Knighthood from the Kings own hands Upon this encouragement about fifteen or sixteen Knights and Esquires these for the Money alone those for the Title and the Money too undertook the Adventure and immediately passed the River in great danger and rode abroad all severally to seek their Fortune The next Morning the King and all the Horse with him dislodg'd and rode on fair and softly the Foot on the other side the River keeping pace with them till they came to a place more shallow and easie and there they ventur'd to repass the Tyne which notwithstanding gave them much trouble for many were fain to swim the water was still so deep with the late fall of so much rain and some few were drowned Thus was this Council of the English sadly disappointed otherwise it could not but have proved fatal to the Scots who had then no other Forces in readiness at home sufficient to receive so well formed an Army and those in England if they had been forced to a Battel must in all probability have paid dearly for their Robberies But God in Mercy to the Scots or in Judgement to the English for their late Rebellion or with design by Adversity to form our young Edward for a perfect Captain or lest Robert Bruce their only Fortunate King should just before his Death be deprived of that Name order'd that all this Council and Courage of the Kings should thus be frustrate Now when the Horse had all passed the River they took up their Quarters in the Neighbouring Meadows for there was good Pasturage and fruitfull Fields about a little Village But the Village it self had felt the fury of the Scots being by them burnt down to the ground as they passed that way The next day they marched thence over Hills and Dales till Noon at which time they found several Villages newly burnt to the ground by the Scots about which there lay a good Champaigne Country with Corn fields and Meadows which the Enemy had not destroy'd for their own sakes chiefly lest they should lose the benefit thereof upon their Return There therefore they resolv'd to stay that Night for their Horses wanted refreshment
Hosts lodged that Night which was in the beginning of August a full Month after the English had first set out from York The next Morning both Armies faced each other as before till Noon but neither Party seem'd yet dispos'd to move forward there was such apparent disadvantage in the attempt However several English Youth ventur'd to pass the River on Horseback and some also on Foot to skirmish against whom came certain Scots issuing out of their Battails so that divers were slain wounded and taken Prisoners on both sides But for all this neither Army brake their Order till afternoon it was proclaim'd that all men should draw back to their Camp For now it appear'd for certain that the Scots would by no means come to a pitch'd Battel Thus for three Days they faced each other but neither would move first to pass the River there was such hazard in the matter The King of England was yet too young to undertake of himself so great an Enterprise as afterwards he did many far greater with success and the English Lords however gallant they were durst not be the Authors unto him of such Counsel which for ought they knew by its doubtfull Event might hazard their Heads Yet not a day passed without sundry adventures on either side and several were interchangeably slain wounded or taken Prisoners And still the Scots kept their barbarous Custom every Night of Crying shouting and winding of Horns most dismally keeping all the while rousing Fires thrô all the Host but especially between themselves and the Enemy that the English might not be able from far to observe their Behaviour King Edward's intent was to hold the Scots thus after the manner of a siege for if they came over they were apparently lost and if they fled his Horse was to pursue and entertain them till the Gross of his Army might come up and so force them to an Engagement One of these things they must do or be famished For he understood by Prisoners that had been taken that they had neither Bread Wine nor salt left nor any thing else but Flesh of which they had enough for those Parts abounded with Cattel but now their Oatmeal of which they made their Cakes being spent Flesh alone was not good Diet. The Scots on the other side hoped that this Carriage of theirs would soon weary the young King out but they were mistaken for as for him his Resolution was much greater than might be expected from his Age and for his Army that was now well enough furnished with Victuals by the Purveyers which he continually sent out over all the Northern Parts as well as by others his Friends and Subjects t Walsingh hist p. 108. Now on the fourth day as soon u Knighton p. 2551. as it was light the English directing their Eyes towards the Camp of their Enemies beheld the Mountain whereon they had Posted themselves quite void and naked For about Midnight they had retreated thence to another more strong Mountain by the same River side which was also advantaged by a great Wood on the one side thrô which they might pass and repass secretly when they pleased this place also being in Weredale x Tinemouth Aur. hist fol. 229. near Stanhop-Park in the Bishoprick of Durham This account of the Scots was brought back to the King about Noon by certain Horsemen who had been sent to scout after them Hereupon the Army began to dislodge and march after them in Battel array Being come over against them they found another Mountain where they also encamped as the Scots had done on the other opposite to them But the way to come to handy stroaks was still as difficult to either Part as before Only this advantage the Scots had that they were something the nearer on their way homeward and the Wood by them was very fit to lay an Ambuscado or to favour a Retreat Thus here they faced each other after the old manner for y Knighton p. 2551. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 214. fifteen days together more to the great vexation of the English but much more to the trouble and misery of the Scots who knew not well what to do in this condition The English so well watched them both by Night and by Day ever since that Desperate attempt of Earl Douglas one of the first Nights after they had come to this second Mountain which thô the action of an Enemy must not by any means be forgotten by Us who resolve to write impartially and rob no man of his just Honour Whether by Treason of some English or no I will not affirm thô z Knighton p. 2552. that has been said and the Lord Mortimer was afterwards question'd for such matters but the a Frois c. 18. fol. 10. first night that the Scots were come to the second Mountain Earl Douglas understanding the English kept but slender watch either as being over-wearied with this troublesome Journey or as the nature of man is b Hector p. 308 contemning their Numbers and growing secure upon this their late Flight understanding this I say the adventerous Lord passes over the River far beyond the English Camp with 200 Men of Arms well mounted and marches with great caution and silence toward the English Host The Scotch Writers and Froisard also affirms that just as he came to the first Watches he and his men with great fury and outcries dashing their spurs to their Horses rushed into the midst of their Camp still crying a Douglas a Douglas Ye shall all die ye Thieves of England And that so he slew 300 e're he ceased some in their beds and others ill prepared for Resistance by reason of the sudden surprize That thus he proceeded even to the Kings Tent always crying a Douglas that he strake in sunder two or three Cords of the Royal Pavilion and so got off safe only in the Retreat some few of his Men were lost as Froisard confesses who lived about that time but not one saies honest c Hector p. 308 Hector and his sworn Friend d Buchan p. 276 Buchanan the former whereof lived about two hundred and the other almost three hundred Years after I profess to be desirous of telling the Truth but can by no means admit this Action to have been done in this manner because the Undertaking is utterly improbable and the Success much more incredible and Authorities are not wanting to prove the Relation erroneous For who will believe that so well-formed an Army should be thus openly despised by a Man who knew their Strength very well but could not be suppos'd to know the Avenues of the Camp so well Besides the choicest Knights and Barons of the Army lay most of them about the Kings Person not to mention his ordinary Guards nor to insist on the Heinalders near two Thousand in number whose place we shew'd to be near the Kings Person and who were all
lived but Miserably The Principal Authors in due Season we shall see brought to Condign Punishment VIII The young b Walsing hist p. 109. n. 20. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 345. King in his return to London was heartily welcomed by the Mayor and Aldermen and the whole City For he was a Prince of great hope and had much vivacity in his Countenance and courage in his Breast upon which account all his Subjects lov'd him entirely The gratefull Prince to set a Mark of his Royal favour upon that famous Metropolis in a Parliament held at Westminster c Joh. Tinemouth Aur. hist p. 229. a. in Bibl. Lambeth which began on St. Brices Day of his own accord confirmed unto them their former Liberties and granted new ones which they never had before Ordaining that the Mayor of London for the time being should sit in all Places within the Liberties as the Kings Chief Justice and that every Alderman who had been Mayor should while he continued true to the King and his Laws be always Justice of the Peace within his own Ward He also granted unto the Citizens the Fee Farm of London for three hundred Pounds per annum And that the lawfull Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings Hands but only on Occasion d Inst par 2. f. 20. Mirror c. 5. §. 2 Fleta l. 2. c. 48. Plowd com fol. 40. Instit par 4. f. 253 Rich. Grafton p. 217. of Abuse or Misuse e Stow's Survey London p. 248. p. 604. or for Treason or Rebellion countenanced or done by the whole City Further he ordain'd that Southwark should be under the government of the City and that the Mayor of London as Bailiff of Southwark should depute after his own pleasure the Bailiff of that Burrough under him About the same time also he made the Company of Skinners in London a Corporation as they have ever since honourably continued even to this day Himself for their greater Honour vouchsafing to be of their Brotherhood as afterwards other Kings did in imitation of so great a Precedent namely Richard the Second Henry the Fifth Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth Nor hath this Honourable and Ancient Company been ungratefull to the Memory of this their Glorious Founder but take all occasions to testifie their Respect to his Name and to preserve his Glory to Posterity Particularly of late they have at their own proper costs and charges erected his Statue among the Kings of this Land in the Royal Exchange in London To accompany the late unhappy King of England to his Grave there died about this time many other Potentates Princes and Prelates thô none so unfortunately and by such treacherous Cruelty as our Edward of Caernarvon And first there died Charles Earl of Valois younger Brother to Philip the Fair late King of France and Uncle to Charles the Fair then King of France and Father to Philip of Valois afterwards in Opposition to King Edward the Third made King of France He had been all his time a right Frenchman that is an inveterate Enemy to the English Nation Nor did his Nephew Charles King of France himself long survive him But departed this life without Issue being then about 32 years of Age on the Kalends of February Anno Dom. MCCCXXVIII when he had Reigned six Years and one Month leaving his Queen big with Child which notwithstanding died shortly after the Birth So that the Right to the Crown devolved thereupon to our King Edward the Eldest Son and Heir of Isabella the said Charles his only Sister surviving and the Daughter of Philip the Fair. But the French Nation either despising King Edwards Youth or moved by their own evil Genius for it was afterwards the occasion of unspeakable Calamities to that Kingdom prefer'd Philip of Valois the Nephew of Philip the Fair before King Edward the Son of Philip's Daughter to the Throne of France Accordingly on the 29 day of May following * Lit. Dom. CB. Pascha 3 April being then Trinity-Sunday he was Crowned at Rheimes f D'Avila l. 2. ad An. 1561. where the Holy Oyl wherewith Cloüis their First Christian King was anointed is still kept with great Veneration But the ill consequences of this his Coronation will abundantly appear hereafter There died also this Year the Lord g Buchan p. 277. Walter Stuart of Scotland Son in Law to King Robert Bruce and by the Lady Margaret Father to Robert Stuart who was afterwards King of Scotland the First of that Glorious Family From whom is descended our Present Gracious Soveraign King James the Second whom God grant long and happily to Reign About the same time Elizabeth Queen of Scotland deceased and not h Id. Junii An. 1328. long after there departed this life the King himself Robert Bruce that valiant Captain very old and as was said infected with the Leprosie leaving behind him David his only Son and Heir a young Prince of about Eight Years old of whom we shall say much in the Process of this History This King i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 447. Robert Bruce was by birth an English Baron as was also John k Id. ibid. p. 523. Baliol his Competitor thô by Marriages of their Houses with the Royal Line of Scotland they Both at last had a Title to the Crown of that Kingdom King Robert beside his Brother l Speed p. 558. §. 33. Edward who was slain in battle by the English in Ireland had a younger Brother named Bernard Bruce from whom descended the Noble Edward Bruce of Kinlosse in Scotland a Person of great esteem and Merit in the Court of our English Solomon King James the First His Son m Wright's Hist of the Antiq of Rutlandshire p. 50. c. Thomas Lord Bruce was by Letters Patents dated the 21 of June in the Ninth of the said King James created Earl of Elgin in Scotland and on the First of August the Seventeenth of King Charles the First advanced to the Degree of a Baron of this Realm as his Ancestors for many Ages before had been by the Title of Lord Bruce of Wharlton in the County of York Whose Son and Heir Robert Lord Bruce was a Person of such eminent merits as well for his signall Loyalty in the late unhappy Defection as since the Happy Restoration of Monarchy that for a further addition of Honour King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory by Letters Patents bearing Date the 18 of March in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign advanced him to the Titles of Lord Bruce of Skelton in the County of York Vicount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire and Earl of Aylesbury in the County of Buckingham And being also Hereditary High Steward of the Honour of Ampthill Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Bedford Huntington and Cambridge Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and One of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council he lately departed
safe with a merry Gale to Dover In their Approach to London f Knighton p. 2552. the Mayor and Aldermen went forth in their Habits well attended to meet their New Queen and to do her honour 'T was about Christmass when she came to London and the whole City enlarged their Joys and Feastings in honour of so welcome a Guest From London they all went to York where the Court then was and there g Id. Ibid. Frois c. 19. Fabian p. 195. Lit. Dom. C.B. on the twenty fourth Day of January being a Sunday and the Eve of St. Pauls Conversion the Marriage was Solemnized at which Dr. h M.S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. William Melton Archbishop of York and Dr. John Hotham Bishop of Ely sang the Mass And afterward i Sandford Geneal hist p. 159. on the first Sunday in Lent following was the Young Queen crown'd at Westminster with much Pomp and Glory Upon these happy Nuptials there was great Joy over all England but especially at Court where there was nothing but Justs and Turnaments in the Day-time Maskings Revels and Interludes with Songs and Dances in the Evenings and continual Feasting with great Magnificence for three Weeks together Soon after the Queens Coronation all except a very few of her Attendants Relations and Countrymen departed with her Uncle the Lord John of Beaumont into their own Country highly satisfied with their Entertainment and well rewarded by the King of England Among those few necessary Servants that stay'd here with her there was one a very proper and well-shap'd young Gentleman of strong Limbs and exalted Courage named Sr. Walter Manny k Frois c. 19. Lord of the Town of Manny in the Diocess of Cambray who was then Carver to the Queen but after that became for his exceeding Valour Generosity and Eminence in all Vertue One of the most Renowned and Gallant Knights in the whole World as the Sequel of this History will abundantly declare Now l Ashmole p. 669 there had been before in this King's Father's Days several other Matches proposed for him thô none of them took but this last And first his Father had design'd him for the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt and Sister to this Queen Philippa who was afterwards Married to Lewis the Emperour Another time for Sibylla a Kinswoman of the said Earls and thirdly for Iolant the Daughter of James King of Aragon fourthly for the Lady Eleanora Sister to Alphonso King of Spain and while this Match was in Treaty another Alphonso King of Portugal propos'd his Daughter to the Prince but neither this nor that came to any effect because all former measures were broken by that great and sudden Alteration of Affairs in England II. And thus was King Edward a Married Man at the age of Fifteen but not fully Lord of himself being kept from the true Knowledge of Affairs by the Queen Dowager and her Minion the Lord Mortimer who by his great Power with her so Lorded it over his Betters that he began to grow insupportable to the Kings Uncles and Henry Earl of Lancaster which ill-will of their's was encreased by this Occasion In m M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. Whitsunday Week being the latter end of May there was a Parliament held at Northampton in which first King Edward began to stir about his Title to France For Charles the Fair King of France and Brother to his Mother Isabella Queen Dowager of England being lately dead without Issue-Male notwithstanding that King Edward acknowledged their Salic Law whereby an Infant Daughter of the said Charles was excluded wherefore neither did He claim the Crown for his Mother yet he maintain'd this Point n Mezeray ad an 1328. That the Sons of the Daughters having no such Imbecillity of Sex were not at all uncapable and that so the Peers of France ought to prefer him who was a Male and Grandchild to King Philip the Fair before Philip of Valois another Pretender to that Crown who was but a Nephew These things o Antiq. Brit. p. 228. n. 50. being discussed in Parliament it was thereupon Ordained That Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester and Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and there in the Name of King Edward their Master claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois But of this matter we shall say no more till we are called to enter upon the Wars of France which King Edward in his Riper Years undertook upon this Occasion Now we must look upon him as influenced by others counsels and so neither Formidable abroad nor Powerfull at home and one notable Instance thereof appeared in this very Parliament at Northampton where not so much the Honour and Profit of the King and his Realm was respected as the enriching security and advancement of the Lord Mortimer Here the two Spencers Father and Son Edmund late Earl of Arundel who had been executed by the Queen Mothers Party without any legal Process made against them And Walter Stapleton late Bishop of Excester whom for firmly adhering to his Master King Edward the Second against Queen Isabell's Pretensions the Commons of London had in a seditious tumult illegally beheaded together with his brother p Godw. Catal. B shops p. 405. Sr. Richard Stapleton a valiant and loyal Knight who died in the same manner at the same time all these now thô dead * Martin Ed. 3. p. 104. M. S. Record p. 12. Sr Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 8. were in this Parliament attainted of High Treason by the directions and influence of the Queen Mother and the Lord Mortimer Whether it proceeded of implacable Malice which recked not to pursue them even into their Graves or whether by this means they meant to cover their former unjustifiable Proceedings against those Persons by a subsequent countenancing of the Action in Parliament Such pittifull shifts are Men put to when once they deviate from the straight way of Justice and Vertue thô at last all disguises must fall off and Wickedness appear open in all its natural Turpitudes From the same Influence also at this time by very subtle dealing and precontrived Overtures which the Scots were underhand dealt withall to propose a base and dishonourable Peace was struck up with that Nation profitable indeed to Mortimer and the Old Queen who with Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester were the chief contrivers of it but utterly inconsistent with the Honour of the Young King or Profit of his Realm and People The Reason that moved the Scots to part with so much Money as was given by them upon the Establishing this Peace was because they were beforehand assured that they should have a good Return made them in consideration thereof beside they were sure to loose much more by the War next Year if continued because their
time to appear and all publique Affairs happily succeeded henceforward both to the King and his People Doctor Walter k Holinst Eng. Chron. p. 1002. Burleigh or Burley who had been bred up in Merton College in the famous University of Oxford was at this time of such Fame for learning and piety that he was taken into Queen Philippa's Service at her first coming into England and became her Almoner still encreasing in great Estimation at Court Insomuch that when this Young Prince Edward was able to learn his Book this Doctor was appointed to be his Tutor whereupon Simon Burley who was son to Sr. John Burley a near Kinsman of the Doctors was admitted among other young Gentlemen to be School-fellow with this Hopefull Prince By which occasion he wan so much upon the Princes Favour that afterwards by his means he was advanced to great Honour being in time made Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and also had the Government and Education of the Prince's Son Richard of Bourdeaux comitted to his Trust As for the Young Prince Edward the King his Father by l Ashmole p. 670. Sand-Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Cart. 7. Ed. 3. m. 4. ex Pat. 7. Ed. 3. p. 1. m 13. his Charters dated the Eighteenth of May in the Seventh Year of his Reign when he was but in the Third Year of his Age granted unto him by the Title of Edward his most Dear and Eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flint and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their Appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights-Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said County Castles Lands and Cantreds as well in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same Conditions as himself had received them before he was King from which time he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his Style But intending to enable him yet better to maintain this his Dignity the next day the King gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also all the Arms Victuals Cattle Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other Places to him before granted together with all Debts Arrearages of Accounts and other Services due to himself But in the m Cart. 11. Ed 3. n. 55. Eleventh Year of his Reign and the Seventh of this Princes Age upon the Death of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the King created him Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing Date the 17 of March the same Year investing him by the Sword only which was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England At the same time the King setled upon him divers Mannors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of his Ducal State and Honour all which thô some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patents dated the same day he granted unto him the Stanneries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tynn and all the Issues and Profits thence arising as also the Profits and Perquisits of the Courts of the Stanneries except only a 1000 Marks granted to William Montagu then Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly Value And afterwards granted that all the Castles Honours Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of Life or Years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the Eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom After this in the Parliament held in the Seventeenth of this King his Father he n 12 Maii Car. 17. Ed. 3. m. 24. n. 27. Created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod And the better to support his State as Prince of Wales he gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writt directed to William Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attourney He also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North-Wales and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses and other Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. After all which this Noble Prince was made Knight of the Garter at the First Institution of that Famous Order and lastly Prince of Aquitain in France and for his Courage and Conduct his Policy and Courtesie became in time the most Renowned Captain in the World being for his Dreadfull Deeds in War as most agree sirnamed by the French le Neoir or the Black-Prince VI. In these Days the Young King of England finding himself a Father began indeed to play the Man and thô he was then but 18 Years of Age takes a resolution to govern his Realm no more by Others but Himself in Person hearing and learning the Truth in weighty Affairs and distributing Justice and Mercy to such who should lay the best claim to either But while Mortimer held his present Station 't was not possible the King should be Master of his own Purposes Now therefore to him we hasten who seems already to have been too long free from that Vengeance which always pursues ambitious and bloody Traitors Of his Treachery and Cruelty we had no small Instances before But by a certain fatal Ordinance that wicked Men must of themselves advance and further their own Ruine his insupportable Arrogance and too opiniative Security thence proceeding was the chief Occasions of his suddain Downfall In the Quindenes of St. Michael the King holding a Parliament at Nottingham Mortimer appear'd in such splendour and so well attended that he became both the Envy and Terror of all the Kings Friends no man durst name him by any other Title than his new-acquired but much-envy'd one the Earl of March And his Interest and possessions bound those to him whom his Power could not move For in these days he bore such sway that he obtain'd whatever he had a mind to as appears by these following Grants from the Young King who by his o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. Cart. 4. Ed. 3. n. 64. Charter dated this Year besides all he had got before granted unto him the Castle and Mannor of Hanley with the Chaces of Malverne and Cors in the Counties of Worcester and Glocester also the Town of Wiche in Worcestershire with the Castle of Clifford and Mannor of Glasebury part of the Possessions of Hugh Spencer the younger not yet free from
The Scotch Preparations against the War which they expected from England V. King Edward's Provision against them and a Parliament at York VI. The King's Sister Married to the Earl of Gueldre The young Earl of Kent dies The Queen deliver'd of a Daughter I. ON the 27 a M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 16. c. Sr. Rob. Cotten p. 11. c. of April being the Monday after the Feast of St. George AN. DOM. 1332. An. Regni VI. King Edward held his Parliament again at Westminster where that we may see what Prudent Care was taken in those days by that August Assembly that their Debates should not be aw'd by Fear nor disturbed by Tumults it was first by the King's Order proclaim'd that no Man on pain of forfeiting all his substance should presume to use or wear any Coat of Plate or other Weapon offensive or defensive in London Westminster or the Suburbs of the same And also that during the time of this Session no Games or other plays of men women or children should be used in Westminster to the disturbance of the Parliament Here also once for all we shall mention the Laudable Custom of Parliaments in these days whereby they had certain appointed not only to be Receivers but also Tryers of Petitions who were to enquire of matter of Fact expressed in the Petition that so it might be cleared and rightly stated before it came to be debated in full Parliament But the first day nothing more was done except the Proclamation aforesaid because the Archbishop of Canterbury and Others were not yet come After this Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury and John b Vid. Gedwâ—n's Catal. Bpâ— Philipet's Catal. Chancellors Stratford Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellour of England began to open the Parliament and by way of Oration shew'd how the French King as then intended a Voyage into the Holy Land and desired the King's Company in that pious Enterprise Which caused his Majesty thus to call them together at this time Then Sr. Geoffry Scroop of Masham in the King's Presence and at his Command declared further that it was as well to redress the Breaches of the Laws and his Peace as for the Voyage to the Holy Land that he had called them together The Prelates alledging that it did not properly belong to their Function to be present at Criminal Debates with a Proviso of reserving their Rights still to themselves and Successors withdrew with the Proctors of the Clergy to consult together by themselves And the c Les Dits Countz Barâ—â—s Grauntz par eux Mesmes Ita in Recordo Earls Barons and other Grandees consulted by themselves apart as also did the Commons they at that time d M. S. p. 17. §. 9. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 12. §. â—0 having no Speaker of their own As for the King's Voyage to the Holy Land it was thought as yet too Early for his Years and the Good of his Realm to be undertaken and therefore 't was resolv'd it should be defer'd for three Years As to the Treaty of Peace with France by way of Marriage which we mention'd in the foregoing Parliament Sr. Geoffry Scroop now declaring that the French King had assured our Ambassadors that if his Majesty would in Person go over to him in order to an amicable Conference he should find nothing but Friendship and Honour at his Hands Upon this Declaration Sr. Geoffry requiring their advice was answer'd that for those Reasons with his Majesties good liking they agreed he should pass the Seas and therefore would humbly Request him to defer his Personal Expedition into Ireland for one Year but yet so as that an Army should be sent thither And then as to matters relating to the Conservation of the King's Peace the Lords and e Les Grauntz Great Men returning declare by the Mouth of the Lord Henry Beaumont how they think fit that certain Justices be appointed in every County with Power to set Officers in every Town who by the Assistance of the Constables should apprehend all guilty or suspicious Persons and make Publique Hue and Cry. And further it was Enacted by Authority of the King Prelates Lords and Commons that sentence of Excommunication should be published in all Churches and Chappels throughout the Realm against all Breakers of the King's Peace or their Abettors And also Power was granted to dispence with all Obligations made by Word Oath or Bond relating to the countenancing or concealing of any Violators of the Peace To such an Heighth of Insolence had some ill Subjects grown in the Minority of this King that he was fain not only to go in Person to suppress them as I shew'd before but now also to draw forth both the Civil and Spiritual Sword against them But I must not here omit what I find in the Remembrances of this Parliament that in a Debate held between Sr. John Grey of Rotherfield and Sr. William de la Zouch before the King and his Council they grew to such high Words that at last Sr. John drew his Dagger upon Sr. William in the Presence For which presumption they were both commanded to Prison althô they were Barons of the Realm And being afterwards brought forth to answer the Contempt upon equal hearing the said Sr. William was acquitted but Sr. John Remanded to Prison there to remain during his Majesties Pleasure Thus like a Wise Builder did this Monarch begin with a firm Foundation as thinking it Necessary to Govern well at Home before he could Expect to Conquer abroad II. And surely now was Fate busied not a little in preparing Matter for his Sword France was not yet Ripe and Ireland was not Worthy enough to employ so Noble an Arm but Scotland to its unhappy Honour did both seem a more equal Enemy and by its Evil Genius was already hasting to rush into that War which of it self came too soon upon them But because hitherto I have not seen any Author either Foreign or Domestick that seems fully to understand the Cause of King Edward's Invading that Realm some saying he did it out of Interest which that he might do partly I shall not deny f Polyder Virgil c. others that demanding Barwick as his Right and being refus'd he made that Refusal an occasion of breaking the Peace I shall now therefore Faithfully and Distinctly set down all that I have learn'd of this Matter and leave it to the Decision of the Impartially Judicious King Edward had hitherto kept the Quadriennial Peace most punctually saving only that he hindred not those of his Subjects who claim'd Lands in Scotland which by peaceable Means they could not enjoy from using their best endeavours thô without the least help from him for the Recovery of their Right Nay we find it expresly mention'd to his Honour g Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 51. a. ex Claus 4. Ed. 3. m. 12. that these English Adventurers undertaking that War without his leave for
Talbot in deep Indignation that his Advise was so little reckon'd of hasted with some few of his Friends and Attendants for England but being surprised in the way by a strong Party of the Bruceans who knew well how to make their advantage of these private Dissentions after he had lost six men of Arms and many more Foot was himself taken Prisoner and so carried to the strong Castle of Dunbriton The Lord Beaumont in as great displeasure hies him to the Castle of Dundarg in Bucquhan u Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. of his Wifes Inheritance which having well victual'd and fortifi'd he not only by continual Excursions subjected to himself the Lands late in Controversie but all the Country round about him David Strabolgi goes to Athol with the same Discontent and there makes great Provision for his own Defence Hereupon King Bailiol too late seeing his Error and doubting not a little what all this might come to as also feating lest his only Protector the King of England might take these Proceedings in evil part by an action as weak as the other was rash revokes now his own former Sentence grants the Lord Beaumont the Lands in contest appeases the Earl of Athol with many and large Possessions belonging to the young Lord Robert Stuart who afterward was King and promised them both to ransom their Kinsman the Lord Talbot at any rate whatsoever Having thus with much adoe reconciled those great Personages to himself thô Sr. Alexander Moubray was again lost thereby he resolves if possible to be before hand with his Enemies whom he knew to make huge Preparations against him being the more animated by the late Accession of Sr. Alexander Moubray Suddenly therefore he comes before Reinfrew a City in the Province of Cunningham near the River Cluyd which he as suddenly reduces and having settled Matters there passes over into the Island of Bute where Sr. Alan Lile Sheriff of the Island presenting him with the Keys of Rothsay had the Castle and whole Isle committed to his Charge again After this he took the Castle of x Duchan l. 9. p. 291. Dunnow in Kyle whereby he terrified the greater part of his Enemies into a Compliance having seized on all the Lands belonging to the y Id. p. 292. Stuarts and lying in the Islands of Bute and Arran about Reinfrew Cunningham and Kyle besides what belonged to many others who like that Noble Family scorn'd to save their Lands by forfeiting their Loyalty Many of his own Friends he now rewards most liberally with Lands and Possessions taken from his Adversaries as well of his own Natural Bounty for he was a Prince of great Worth and Gallantry as with Design to bind them fast to his Interest At the same time he z Hector l. 19. fol. 317. c. made a narrow search after the young Lord Robert Stuart aforesaid that by his Death he might secure himself on that side as who was Nephew to the late King Robert Bruce being eldest Son to King David's eldest Sister and had even in the days of King Robert been sworn and own'd as the next Heir Apparent to his Son David For as for David who was then an Exile in France he thought himself pretty secure of him and now look'd upon this innocent young Lord who was so powerfull in Wealth and Allies and had the Right to the Crown of Scotland next after David as a most Dangerous Person But God had order'd it otherwise and the Hopefull Prince Robert being then scarce fifteen years of Age thrô the secret Goodness of Providence which destin'd mighty things for him and his Posterity with the great care and foresight of his Friends especially of Sr. William Heriot and Sr. John Gilbert was privatly by water conveyed to the impregnable Castle of Dunbritton and there earnestly recommended to the Care of that Loyal and valiant Lord Malcome Flemein who was still Governour of that Place In the mean time the Lord Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland for King David being lately redeem'd from England with a good round Summ of Money bestirs himself vigorously for his distressed Country and now at last having joyn'd Sr. Alexander Moubray who thrô displeasure had lately revolted from King Bailiol he strictly besieges the Lord Henry Beaumont in his strong Castle of Dundarg During this Siege 't is a Walsingh hypod p. 113. n. 24 said that King Edward of England himself upon news thereof with a great Power entred Scotland and relieved him The time indeed of this Siege may well enough agree with King Edwards Winter Expedition for thô upon good reason I have laid the foregoing Story together yet the whole Procedure took up more than the space of twelve Months but yet in this matter the Scotch Writers are more agreeable to Truth who say that he was forced to yield himself on certain Conditions Thô surely One was not as b Leland Câ—llect 1 Vol. p. 797. Leland says that he might have liberty to retire freely into England nor was he suffer'd as Hector says to depart upon parole only giving his Oath never to return into Scotland any more unless in King Davids Quarrel but he was fain to pay a good Ransom for his Liberty as it evidently appears from the c Pat. 9. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 22. Sr. Will. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Records which plainly shew that when about a Year after King Edward in requital of his Services acquitted him of all such Debts as were due from him to the Exchequer he especially forgave him among the rest four hundred Marks formerly lent unto him at York towards the Payment of his Ransom upon this his Imprisonment in Scotland V. The News of the foresaid Siege and of the taking of the Lord Richard Talbot was d Walsingh hist p. 116. Hypod p. 113. n. 14 brought to King Edward during the last Session of Parliament at Westminster which as we shew'd began about the 24 of September this Year Whereupon the late Resolution for the Holy Land was Suspended and his Majesty thought it necessary in Person to undertake one Expedition more into Scotland and not to desist till he had wholly subdu'd that untractable People and cut off from them all possibility of future Rebellion He was also extreamly exasperated e Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 22. at the News that David Strabolgi Earl of Athol had Revolted to the Bruceans the truth of which Business was That being as we shew'd before by large Gifts and Promises as well as by the Revocation of Judgement in the Lord Beaumont's behalf Reconciled again to King Bailiol he was f Vector fol. 318 n. 50. c. suddenly one time surprised by the Bruceans who then began to bestir themselves apace by whom thô for the present he escap'd them he was so closely Hunted and Pursued on all Hands that at last after he had with much Difficulty sustain'd himself with Roots and Water for a while he
of Provision This Victory thô not of it self considerable did yet prove a Mighty Refreshment to the dejected Minds of the Scots especially since the Numbers of each Party were so unequal that the English exceeded the Scots almost three times in Number For l Fourden one says that the Earl of Athol had 3000 Men the Bruceans being but 1100 beside those 300 fresh Men who by their sudden Sally quite turn'd the Scale of Victory Thô the most Resolute Men in the World being so surprised from behind in the heat of an Engagement when nothing is certain and as little can be deliberated may well be frighted into a Fatal Confusion Yet m Walsâ—nâ—â— Hyped p. 113. others report the matter something otherwise saying that upon this sudden Sally of the Scots the Earl of Athols Men thrô Treason or Panick fear fled all from him except about 13 who being content to partake of the same Honourable Fortune with their Valiant Leader were all slain with him This Earl David Strabolgi whom Hector and Buchanan erroncously call by the Name of David Cumin was a Baron also of England where he had large Possessions for he died n Dâ—â—â— 2 Vol. p. 96. b. seised of the Mannor of Gainsborough in Com. Linc. Bulindon in Com. Buck. Posewyke West-Lexham Styvely and Holkellam in Norfolk as also of the Castle of Mitford with two parts of the Mannors of Pont-Eland and Calverdon and certain Lands in Mollesdown in Northumberland beside what he held in Scotland leaving behind him David his Son and Heir then three Years of Age and Catherine Beaumont Daughter to the Lord Henry Beaumont his Wife surviving he himself being but eight and twenty Years of Age at his Death This Battle was struck on the last day of December from whence the distressed Bruceans Raised themselves with Hopes that the succeeding Year would prove more favourable to their Cause X. This Year o Wilingh hâ—st p. 118. there was found in the Forest of Wolmer a young Mule with two Heads and two Necks of equal bigness in other parts nothing different from another She was kept alive for some time after in the yard of Sr. Edward St. John Warden of the said Forest It is also p Id. ibid. Odoâ—ic Rainald cenâ—in ad Bâ—enium An. 1335. n. 58. reported that a young Woman named Joane living in the Parish of Kingsley in the Diocess of Winchester and the Decanate of Aulton being on the fourth of June at Night advised by a voice to go and meet her Sweet-heart William in the Forest of Wolmer aforesaid early in the Morning met with an Incubus in his Shape who then and there carnally knew her At her return home she fell into a grievous Malady and then upon Conference with her Sweet-heart William it appeared that she had been seduced to her Confusion by an Evil Spirit Whereupon with great Contrition and Lamentation she bewailed and confessed her sins all the house being filled with an intolerable and noisome Savour In this deplorable Condition she held for three days and then died having her whole Body extreamly swoln and her bosome and privy Parts most dismally Black and Dreadfull and so prodigiously heavy that eight lusty Men could hardly bear the Body to the Grave I know not how far it may please God sometimes for the Punishment of Impure thoughts and Unchast desires as well as for Example to others to permit Satan to Tyrannize by his Illusions Many Grave Authors have not doubted to attest Instances of the like Nature However be this true or not I leave it to the Decision of others and the credit of the Author King Edward this Year q Pat. 9. Ed. 3. par 1. Sandford Genealthist p. 109. Speed p. 539. §. 106. §. 107. confirmed to his Cozen Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster the County of Provence in France being the Inheritance of Queen Eleanor Wife of King Henry the Third of England and Second Daughter of Raimend Earl of Provence Grandmother to the said Earl Henry which Inheritance the said Queen Eleanor granted to her second Son Edmund sirnamed Crouchback Father to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who dying without Issue this Henry the younger Brother became his Heir I know not how valid this Grant of the Kings might be but sure at this time Provence was in other Hands as we shall shew hereafter This Year the Lord Ebulo le Strange who in Right of his Wise Alice Daughter and Heir of Henry Lascy Earl of Lincoln obtained the Title of Earl of Lincoln r Sâ—ndsâ—â—d p. 109. Dâ—â—d 1 Vol. p. 668. departed this Life in Scotland His Relict the said Lady Alice of whose Lasciviousness I shall say nothing here immediately upon his Death Married a certain Knight called Hugo de Frenes who likewise in her Right was entitled Earl of Lincoln but he also died the next Year in Scotland as we shall see in due place Ebulo's Heir was the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokin Senior his Cosin Besides there died the Thrice-Noble Lord John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and High-Constable of England he deceased Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. at Kirby-Thure in Westmoreland on the Feast of St. Fabian and Sebastian and was buried at Stratford near London but leaving no Issue behind him was succeeded in his Honours and Estate by his next Brother Humphry a Man Famous for Military Affairs as we shall have Occasion to take Notice CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. In the Revenge of the Earl of Athols Death the English Lords in Scotland lay Siege to Dunbar but are not able to take it II. King Edward sends word to King Bailiol to keep the field with his English Forces and himself leaving the Parliament sitting follows them in Person with his Exploits there III. King Philip endeavours to divert him from an entire Conquest of Scotland and sends out a Fleet against him with King Edward 's Commission to his Admirals about the Defence of the English Seas IV. King Edward furnishes himself with Money divers ways yet again makes overtures for Peace V. His Considerations about the War with France and the Advice of his Gouncil thereupon VI. He sends an Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with the Result thereof VII The two Kings put themselves in a Posture VIII Prince John of Eltham King Edward 's Brother dies a Scotch Tale of his Death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen deliver'd of a Son. IX A Comet forerunner of the French War with other Prodigies I. UPon the News of the Earl of Athols Death the Lord William Montague AN. DOM. 1336. An. Regni X. and the Lord Henry Beaumont his Father in Law were greatly displeased as were also the two Kings of England and Scotland For he was a Man of Considerable Power Valour and Conduct But especially the Lord a Hector l. 15. fol. 320. n. 50. Holinshead Scotland p. 237 n. 60. Beaumont
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
with the said Emperour the Year following V. Thus strongly did King Edward prepare before he would Commence a War against so Powerfull a Monarch all which thô it prov'd in a manner unprofitable and thô little or nothing of all his Glorious Actions was really performed but by his own Forces as we shall shew hereafter Yet his great Prudence appears sufficiently from these Instances of his Foresight and Conduct and that he was not Rash nor Presumptuous but Resolute with Deliberation Yet next to God he reposed his chief Confidence in the Valour of his own Subjects and now as well to Reward past Services as to give Encouragement to new Ones in a Parliament held at Westminster * Knighton p. 2568. n. 50. about the Feast * â— e 12 Martii of St. Gregory the Pope and Confessor he converted the Earldom of Cornwall void by the Death of the Lord John of Eltham his Brother into a Dukedom and confer'd it on his Eldest Son and Heir Prince Edward who was now but six Years of Age x Ashmole p. 671. investing him by the sword only together with the County Palatinate of Chester adding shortly after such Mannors and Priviledges to this Title y Dugd. Warw. p. 90. which were for the future to be inseperable and to descend perpetually to the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England his Successors but upon the Death or Non-existence of such Dukes to revert unto the Crown And z Ashmole ibid. this was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England The Charter of this Creation bears date the 17 of March but other particulars of this Matter I have already spoken of when I was about the Birth of this young Prince On the day preceding the King created the Lord Henry a Vid. Dugd. Bar. ad horum singulerum nâ—nana c. Knighton p. 2568 n. 60. Adam Muriâ—â—uth Will. Shâ—psteed Sr Tâ—â— de la Mâ—re Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Darby and the Lord William Montague at the same time he made Earl of Salisbury with a grant of the yearly Rent of 20 l. out of the Profits of that County also the Lord William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon with a grant of a 1000 Marks Land per annum for him and his Heirs-male for ever besides 20 l. Rent also issuing out of the Profits of that County for his better support in that Dignity At the same time the Lord Hugh Audley Cosin to the Lord James Audley was created Earl of Glocester the Lord Hugh Courtney an old tough Souldier of almost Fourscore was now created Earl of Devonshire thô he was made so by Writ two Years before as we have shewed Besides these the Lord Robert Hufford was made Earl of Suffolk and the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton to the Earl of Northampton shortly after the King gave a Grant of the Castle Mannor and Town of Stamford with the Lordship of Grantham in Lincolnshire which John Warren Earl of Surrey held for Life also of the Castle and Mannor of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire and of the Castle and Mannor of Okeham in Rutland with the Sheriffalty of the said County to hold to himself and the Heirs-Male of his Body under certain conditions in the said Grant expressed The extent whereof may be f Esc 14. Ed. 3. n. 67. Linc. seen in the Record To the Earl of Suffolk the King gave over and above an annuity of twenty pounds sub nomine honore Comitis pro tertio Denario Comitatûs illius which anciently belonged to all Earls the Honour g Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 528. of Eay in Suffolk and the Mannor of Base-Court in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate in London commonly called the Barbican * Stow's Survey of Lond. Hist p. 233. because of old it had been a Burgkenning or Watch-Tower for the City Many like Advantages together with their Honours the King at this time heap'd on the rest of these Noble and Valiant Earls at which time also the young Duke of Cornwall afterwards Prince of Wales made h 24. Adam Marim Stow p. 233. Holinsh p. 900. twenty new Knights to wit Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury and Simon i Godw. Catal. Dpps. p. 268. Montague Bishop of Ely Sr. Thomas Somerton Sr. John Lisle Son to Robert Lord Lisle Sr. Richard Darcy Sr. Damorie Sr. John Poultney Sr. Peter de la Mere Sr. Roger Banant Sr. Roger Hilary Sr. Bolingbroke Sr. Buterell Sr. Simon Swanland Sr. William k Weevers Fun. Monum p. 269. Scott Sr. William Basset Sr. Robert Sodington Sr. William de la Zouch Sr. Cogshall Sr. Roger Sangraville Sr. John Strachie and Sr. Thomas de la More who wrote in French the Life and Death of Edward the Second and also of our Edward the Third both which are Extant in Latine thô the latter is not yet published What we said of the Woollen Manufacture in the Fourth Paragraph of the preceding Chapter some will have to have been done in this Parliament the matter is all one let the time be now or then for by these l Vid. Statute Book An. xi Ed. 3. p. 77. Laws which gave so great Encouragement to Foreign Clothworkers to come hither and also prohibited that none should buy any Cloth made beyond Sea the occupation of Cloth-Weevers soon came in quest more than ever before in this Nation Sr. John Charleton m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 72. Senior Lord of Powys a Man highly Esteemed for his Fidelity Prudence and Valour was at this time constituted Justice of Ireland the Lord n Id. 1 Vol. p. 371 Darcy being then Steward of the Kings Houshold and otherwise employ'd in the Kings Affairs and accordingly in October following o Chron. Job Clinne i.e. 14 Octob. E Dom. Lit. on the Festival of St. Calixt the Pope and a Tuesday he arrived safely there with his Brother Thomas Bishop of Hereford Chancellor and Thomas Rice Treasurer of Ireland and two Hundred lusty Welchmen But whether for any just cause or no in the Year following the Bishop p Godw. Catal. Bpps. p. 458. Holinshead Ireland p. 71. his Brother complaining to the King by Letters of Sr. Johns Misgovernment was himself appointed in his Room and further made Guardian or Deputy of that Realm But the Affairs of Ireland I shall not prosecute because I haste to more Considerable and Weighty Matters referring the Reader to Holinshead and others who may satisfie them of those things And forasmuch as there were sundry q Ex Bundello Pricrat Alienigenarum Ano. 11. Ed. 3. fisco applicaterum Vid. Clem. Reyneri Apâ—stel Benedictinerum in Appen Par. 2. p. 71. Weever's Fun. Monum p. 328. Priories at that time in England belonging to Foreign Abbeys and thereupon called Aliens because they were Cells to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas the Number whereof
King Edward being fully in earnest sends Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln and the Earls of Salisbury Northampton Huntingdon and Suffolk with Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice of England and John Lord Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshold his Commissioners to the French King not now to demand Restitution of a few Castles or Towns unjustly taken and detain'd but to declare King Edwards Rightfull Claim to the Crown of France it self as also by the by to propose some Conditions for a Treaty with c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. David Bruce the exil'd King of Scotland then in France But if the French King should prove untractable and averse to Reason then to proceed to the Court of Prince d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and the Emperours Brother to engage him also on the Behalf of England against King Philip. These e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 531. Ambassadours being arrived at Bologne received there Advice that King Edwards Mind was alter'd as who justly conceived that their journey might be hazardous and expose them to the Fury of a passionate Prince who in his displeasure made no difference between Just and Unjust Sacred or Profane and had before threatned his Negotiators with Death if ever they came again when before his Coronation they were pleading the King of Englands Right to that Crown in the Chamber of France Wherefore leaving off their design of visiting Paris they bent their course for Heinalt where they renewed the League with f Dudg 1 Vol. p. 531. William the young Earl of Heinalt the Earl of Gueldre and the Marquis of Juliers And proceeding to Colen made a like Agreement with Rupert Duke of Bavaria he undertaking to serve King Edward against all Men Living the Emperour his Brother only excepted with an hundred and fifty Men of Arms the whole number amounting to a thousand Men in lieu whereof the English Commissioners engag'd before their Return for England to pay unto him at Dort 2700 Florens of Florence or their equivalent Value in Sterling and moreover upon the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing the summ of 15000 Florens of good Gold viz. for every Souldier 15 Florens for the two first Months Service Nay it appears by one of Pope Benedicts g Extant apud Odoric Raynald ad An. 1337. §. 12. Letters to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon VIII Id. Novemb. Anno Pontificatûs III how there were Treaties on foot at this time that Lewis the Emperour laying aside his Right to the Roman Empire and only retaining to himself the Kingdom of Almain the Secular Electors therefore giving him some good Equivalent the King of England on Consideration of no small Summs of Mony should be made King of the Romans and elected Emperour Or if this might not be done that however he should be irrevocably deputed for his Life Vicar of the Empire as to the Lower Part thereof that by reason of the Neighbourhood he might the more opportunely and powerfully infest the Kingdom of France King h Frois c. 30. Philip of Valois was not ignorant of all this Diligence of King Edward's both at home and abroad But it chiefly fretted him that he had made so great Progress among the Flemings whom he repented he had not more early by way of Prevention sought to fasten to himself But remembring how i Fabian p. 205. firm the Earl of Flanders was to his side he did not wholly despair of bringing them over especially knowing them to be a People inconstant mercenary and likely to turn any way for Advantage He therefore sends to Gaunt the Bishop of St. Denis with Others to propose on his behalf very advantageous Offers both to that and other the good Towns of Flanders of which one was that King Philip would release unto them all such Seignories and Lordships of theirs as either he or any of his Progenitors had taken or withheld from them But he came too late For now Jacob van Arteveld bore such sway that none durst contradict his Opinion and the k Frois c. 30. Earl himself had been already forced to withdraw his Wife and Children into France for their Security So that Gaunt and Bruges Ipre Courtray and Cassel with other Towns thereabout rejected utterly the Offers of the French King and adhered firmly to King Edward especially bearing an l Fabian p. 205. old Grudge to King Philip for the War he made against them in the beginning of his Reign whereof we made some mention in the Second Year of this our History VIII The mean while in the Isle of m Frois c. 30. Holinshead p. 901. Stâ—w p. 234. Walsing hist p. 132. n. 1. Cadsand lying between the Haven of Sluce and Flushing certain Knights and Esquires of Flanders who held with the Earl against the Towns made a strong Garrison by command of King Philip and their Lord Earl Lewis The chief Captains were Sr. Guy of Rijckenburgh Bastard-Brother to the Earl Sr. Duras Halvin Sr. John Rhodes Sr. Giles Son to the Lord Lestriefe Sr. Nicholas Chauncy and Others These Men kept the Passage in hopes to meet some English against whom already they made Covert War Whereof the English Lords in Heinalt having Notice knew they should receive no very kind Salute if they went home that way But while they were in Flanders they rode about at their pleasure for Jacob van Arteveld had assured them of all Respect and Honour But however because King n Ashmole p. 647. Edward understood that the Flemings and French not only kept this Garrison in Cadsand but also had set out several Men of War to Sea to wait for his Ambassadors in their Passage home he directed his Writ to John Lord Roos Admiral of the Fleet from the River of Thames Northward to fit up a Convoy of 40 Stout Ships well Mann'd and to be with them at Dort in Holland on the Monday after Midsummer-day to secure their Return They lay ready for them at Dort and so took ship at their leisure for England having effectually perform'd their Business In their passage o Walsingh hist p. 118. Dug 1 Vol. p. 531. Knighton p. 2570. n. 30. homeward they took two Flemish Men of War with an hundred and fifty Scots on board among whom was the Bishop of Glascow Sr. John Stuart and other Noblemens Sons of Scotland as Sr. David Hay Sr. Hugh Gifford Sr. John de la More Sr. William Bayly Sr. Alexander Frasier with two Clerks Thomas Ferguson and William Muffet and a Monk of Dunfermlin besides certain Noble Ladies These with 4000 Souldiers for their Guard were sent by the French King to aid the Brucean Scots with Arms Horse Gold and Silver to the value of 15000 l. all which was now taken by the English Admiral the Souldiers being most slain and the
on the Queen as to visit their Fathers Husbands and Brethren then with the King. King Edward soon after remov'd his Court to Antwerp as more commodious for the Queen to lay her Belly in and there he kept a most Honourable Court all that Winter and as Vicar of the Empire z Frois ibid. set up his Royal Mint at Antwerp where he coined great plenty of mony both Gold and Silver Yet all this while the Duke of Brabant who had once been so greatly humbled by King Philip as we shew'd before never ceased sending Messengers to him to excuse him and to assure his Majesty that he would undertake nothing prejudicial to the Crown of France The Chief of this Embassy was the Lord Lewis of Travemund one of his Council who was frequently sent upon this Errand and at last was made his Lords Resident in the Court of France that he might be the more ready at hand always to excuse him against whatsoever informations might be given of him or his Designs VII The mean while in England the young Prince a Knighton p. 2571. n. 30. Edward Duke of Cornwall by Commission from the King his Father held a Parliament at Northampton which began on the 26 of July wherein a Mighty Aid was granted unto the King towards the Maintenance of his Wars as may be conjectur'd by this Proportion the three Counties of Leicester Lincoln and Northampton only being taxed in 1211 Sacks of Wooll Besides which he had an Aid of the Bishops Abbots Priors Rectors Vicars and Justices who went not with him to the War of some 100 l. a piece of others two Hundred according to their Estates and Abilities And moreover at Michaelmas following a Tenth was granted of the Clergy for two Years to come About this time there were b Knighton p. 2573. n. 10. Sixty Sail of Stout Ships appointed for the defence of the Cinque-Ports beside the present Fleet and Sr. William Clinton Earl of Huntington and Constable of England was made Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and the Lord c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward with his Allies prepares to open the Campagne not in the mean while neglecting his Endeavours to compose Matters II. He writes to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France the many undeserved Provocations of the French King and his own Reasonable Offers which he had often made and was yet ready to make with the Copy of the Letter at Large III. The Popes Answer at Large being an indirect expostulation wherein he shews that Lewis of Bavaria the Emperour being under the Sentence of Excommunication was not nor ought to be accounted Emperour That all his Friends and Abettors were Actually Excommunicate and so concludes partly excusing himself from abetting the French King against England and partly unless he withdraws from his Correspondence with the Emperour threatning to proceed judicially against him also I. NOW the unactive Winter was passed over AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII and the vigorous Spring began to open the Earth and the Wars together the Feast of St. John Baptist approaching when the Lords of England and Germany began to prepare themselves for the appointed time of Action King Edward had made his Recruits from England whence those Men of War he expected came over to him about the beginning of June And the Duke a Ashmole p. 649. 16. Febr. Patentes inter Regem Angl. diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. 4. of Gueldre and Earl of Zutphen had done Homage unto him as Vicar of the Empire and King of France for which the King granted him a 1000 l. per annum during his Life and he had further made an Alliance with Albert and Otho Dukes of Austria Stiria and Carinthia and received their Homages But yet before he began his March at the Instance of the Cardinals Pedro and Bertrand of whose endeavours for Peace we spake before John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Darby Salisbury and Suffolk with some Others were by the King b Ashmole p. 649. 1 Julii Pat. concess hominth Angl. Vasc 13 Ed. 3. m. 17. Knighton p. 2572. n. 60 impowred to Treat once more with Philip of Valois or his Deputies concerning the Dignities Honours Lands and Rights belonging to King Edward and all other Controversies whatsoever The Deputies on the other Part being the Archbishop of Roüen the Bishops of Langres and Beauvais and the Places of Treaty first Compiegne and then Arras But nothing of Peace being thereby effected the King prepares now roundly for the War. II. And yet before he began his March he wrote to the Pope and the College of Cardinals setting forth his Title to the Crown of France and the great Necessity that lay upon him as well to vindicate his Right as to preserve his Lands and Honour both which were injuriously invaded by Philip of Valois his Adversary The Tenor of which Letters from the Original c Walsingh hist p. 119. Editionis verò Francefurtianâ—e p. 136. Adam Murimouth M.S. partim apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1339. §. 17 18. M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 5. a princap ad finem Latine is as followeth To the Venerable College of the Beloved Fathers in God the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain Greeting We have written to the most Holy Father the Chief Bishop after due Recommendation of our Respects in these words The Law of Nature which is the Guide of all living Creatures hath granted to every one a Liberty of Defence against injurious Violence generally allowing that to be justly done which any one doth in his own Defence repelling of Force and Injury Truly since great and hazardous Wars and injurious Violations have been moved and done against Us which being notorious to the whole World having also by our frequent Intimation fully been made so to the Apostolick See we take it for Granted that to your Holiness they cannot be unknown Now We being Lovers of Peace God knows that we might avoid Contention and introduce Amity have freely offer'd to our Persecutor respectfully indeed and perhaps too humbly the desirable Methods of Peace not without a great Resignation of our own Rights and Interest that omitting at present a too eager Prosecution of our Personal Quarrels in this season of just Sorrow wherein the Fury of the Soldan of Babylon and other Enemies of the Cross being highly enflamed because an Expedition was sworn against them and solemnly proclaim'd in Parts beyond the Sea hath and doth daily harass and destroy many Christian Souls So that horrible despight and reproach is cast upon our Crucified Lord we might as indeed we ought and most earnestly desire joyntly
he himself with the residue of his Standing Forces lying now in and about the strong City of St. Quintin After this King Edward went from Sarnaques to Morevil where he tarried one Night only the next Day he reached la Flamenguere where he lodged his Men all close about him l Frois c. 40. being in number more than Fourty Thousand strong And here it was resolved in Council that King Edward should abide his Adversary and give him Battle King Philip on the other hand being removed from St. Quintin with all his Army was gone to Vironfosse in Cambresis where he tarried his Forces dayly encreasing and protested That he would not stir thence till he had fought with the King of England and his Allies since they were now within two Leagues one of another When the young Earl of Hainault who was still at Quesnoy ready provided with Men of War understood that the French King his Uncle was with an Army Royal at Vironfosse resolved to give battle to the English he rode directly thither with 500 Spears and presented his Service to King Philip. But he might even as well have stay'd away for the Thanks that he had now or the Reward that he found after For King Philip was in his heart extreamly disgusted at him because he came but lately from the Service of his Adversary the King of England with whom he had been during the Siege of Cambray But the Earl excused himself so discreetly saying That what he did then was of meer necessity because he was bound to serve the Emperour or his Deputy within the Bounds of the Empire but what he did now was of his meer Choice and therefore ought to be taken as a token of his Good-will so that at last the King and his Council either was or seem'd to be content And so the Marshals of France order'd him his Station which either in spight or policy they appointed in the Main Battle thereby to fight against King Edward his Brother-in-Law Thus these two Puissant Monarchs lay both with their goodly Armies in the plain Fields between Vironfosse and Flemenguere within two Leagues one of another But as yet neither Army advanced King Edward therefore advising with his Lords in a Council of War asked them what they thought best to do for he said that his Intention was to fight it out without any more delay Then the Lords beheld each other and at last desired the Duke of Brabant first to open his Mind He like a Gallant Souldier presently advis'd to fight for otherwise said he we cannot part without some Blemish upon our Honour Wherefore I would counsel you to send Heralds to King Philip to demand of him a Day of Battle Accordingly an Herald of the Duke of Gueldre's being well-skill'd in the French Tongue was sent on this Errant he rode forth till he came to the French Host where being admitted before the King and his Council he spake aloud these Words Sir the King of England is here hard by in the Fields and desires to fight you Power against Power And if you please to appoint him a Day he will not fail to meet You upon the Word of a King. C. Lit. Dom. This Message being thus deliver'd on a Wednesday the 20 of October King Philip yielded either to give or take Battle two Days after to wit on the Friday ensuing and in token of his acceptance of the News richly rewarded the Herald with Furred Gowns and other Gifts bestow'd on him as well by himself as other the Princes and Lords of his Host and so dismissed him again Thus was the Day of Battle agreed on all the Lords and Captains on both Sides being informed thereof and commanded to be ready accordingly On the Thursday Morning being the 21 of October two Knights belonging to the Earl of Hainault the one the Lord of Faginelles and the other the Lord of Tupenay Mounting their Horses rode forth together without any other Company from the French Host with a Design to view the English Army So they rode along coasting from far the English Camp till upon their approach almost within shot of the first Battail the Lord of Faginelles Horse chanced to take the Bridle in his Mouth so strongly that his Master could not rule him Wherefore much against his Will he was carried by the Horse into the English Army among the Lords of Almaine who well saw he was not of their side and so took him Prisoner He and his Horse were taken by five or six Gentlemen of Almaine who straight began to examine him in order to appoint him his Ransom And when they understood he was of Hainault they asked him if he had any acquaintance with the Lord John of Hainault he answer'd yes and desired them for Godsake to carry him into his Presence for he said he knew well that he would acquit him of his Ransom The Almains did not care how soon their Money came wherefore they willingly carried him before the Lord of Beaumont who knew him presently and bought him of his Masters Thus was the Lord of Faginelles easily redeemed having his Horse also restored unto him at the Request of the Lord Beaumont Sr. John of Hainault No other Adventure worth our Notice happen'd that day On the Fryday early in the Morning m Freis c. 41. f. 23. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 648. both Armies prepared for Battle and every Lord heard Mass among his own Men making their Confessions and obtaining Absolution The English drew forth in the Field all ranged in three Battails on Foot their Horses and Baggage being put aside in a little Wood behind them which they had fortifi'd Their first Battail was led by the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord John of Hainault the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. William du Fort Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the whole Body consisting for the most part of Almains except 4000 English to the Number of 8000 in all 12000 Fighting Men ranged orderly under twenty two Banners and sixty Penons or Streamers The second Battail which in the March was the last the Duke of Brabant brought up accompanied with many Lords and Knights of his own Country as the Lord of Kuck the Lord of Bergen op Zoom the Lord of Breda the Lord of Rhodes the Lord of Bosleduc the Lord of Burgivalle the Lord of Stonenort the Lord of Wenden the Lord of Elka the Lord of Cassuben and Sr. John of Cassuben his Brother the Lord of Duysburg Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Sr. Ralph van Gratz Sr. John Iliffe Sr. Giles of Krainburg Sr. Walter of Horburg the three Brethren of Harlingen Sr. Henry Eam commonly call'd Sr. Henry of Flanders and divers other Barons and Knights of Germany who were all under the Duke of Brabants Banner that day as the Lord of Hailbrun the Lord of Guiten Sr. Hector Vilain Sr. John of Rhodes Sr.
annum §. 9. extat apud Benedict Tom. 6. Epist secr 302. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet sâ—â— incipiens Ut Sanctitati Domini nostri Summi Pontifiâ—is c. That it may be made evident to the Holiness of our Lord the Pope that our Lord the King of England doth justly by Hereditary Right claim the Kingdom of France the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the said King. The Matter whereupon the Lord Edward King of England saith He hath Right to the Crown of France is thus It is and hath been notoriously known that the Lord Charles the Younger Son of Philip King of France commonly called the Fair after the Death of the Lord Philip his Brother at which time the said Lord Charles immediately by Hereditary Right succeeded in the said Kingdom was true King of France and that unto him the said Kingdom of France was lawfully devolved by Right of Succession and that he the Lord Charles held and peaceably and quietly possessed the said Kingdom of France for the time that he Reigned as true King of France And that at last the same Lord Charles leaving no Brother then surviving deceased without any Heir Male begotten of his Body It is also certain de jure that in Hereditary Successions coming from one Intestate the next of Bloud to the Deceased being able at the time of the Decease to Succeed doth wholly exclude all the more remote of the Blood of the said deceased whether he was allied to the Deceased by the Person of a Male or Female And it is certain that at the time of the Death of the said Lord Charles King of France as aforesaid the foresaid Lord Edward King of England was his nearest Kinsman as who was Son of the Sister of the said Lord Charles namely of the Lady Isabella Queen of England being only removed from the same Lord Charles aforesaid in the Second Degree of Consanguinity But the Lord Philip of Valois who occupies the said Kingdom of France was Son of the Uncle of the said Lord Charles namely Son of the Lord Charles of Valois Brother to the foresaid Philip the Fair and so notoriously removed from the said King Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity And by Consequence in common Right the foresaid Lord Edward King of England Son of the Sister of the foresaid Lord King Charles deceased k The Original more full debait debet ought by Right of Succession to be preferr'd in the Succession of the said Kingdom to the foresaid Lord Philip of Valois who only is near to the said King. Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity l Hic in M.S. Dr. Stilling-sleet multa adduntur eâ— Pandect c. ad Jus Regis stabiliendâ—on allegata tum quâ—e sequuntar hic The Intention therefore of our Lord the King of England being founded on Common Right nothing remains but only to answer what may be objected And first it is objected on the part of the Lord Philip of Valois who bears himself as King of France against the King of England aforesaid that the same King of England did unto him as King of France make Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and for the Earldom of Pontive and did thereby recognise him the said Lord Philip to m The Original more full fore else be his Lord and King of France 2. It is also objected to the King of England that he made unto him Liege Homage and Oath and that of these things the foresaid Philip hath by him Letters sealed with the Seal of the foresaid King of England and moreover that these Letters were sealed in England 3. It is also objected to the foresaid King of England that he is not of the Blood of the House of France but by Means of a Woman namely of the Lady Isabell his Mother And that a Woman neither can nor ought an approved and lawfully prescribed Custom in the Realm hindring to be admitted to obtain the said Kingdom by Right of Succession and by Consequence by means of her her Son is not to succeed To answer these Objections the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the King aforesaid First that the Homage made ought not in effect to prejudicate the King of England because the same King of England at the time of making the said Homage was notoriously under Age nor had then compleated the 18th Year of his Age whereby he ought as other Minors when they are abused within the times provided by the Laws of Restitution to the full to be aided by a competent Judge if there had been a Competent Judge with the benefit of Restitution to the full But upon Defect of a Competent Judge the said King of England within the foresaid times of Restitution to the full used other Remedies of Law which ought to suffice him in this Part. Moreover the said King of England being under Age as aforesaid did before the making of his Homage by one of his Procurators especially constituted for that purpose protest openly and expresly that for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by the said King of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the County of Pontive he did not nor would intend to renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the said Right to derogate althô thereupon Letters should thereafter be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free Will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Losing the said Dukedom and County and because he feared that unless he should do such Homage unto him he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the Truth of the Premises the King of England caused by his said Procurator an Oath to be taken upon his Soul by laying Hands on the Holy Gospel before many Witnesses called thereto As to the Objection concerning the Oath which the King of England in his Homage ought to have made or that he should have sworn so to have declared saving the Objectors Reverence it is not true because neither the Lord the King of England nor any of his Progenitors did ever swear in the Performance of any Homage as will evidently appear by the Inspection of the Registers containing the Forms of the said Homages nor is it contained in any Letters sealed with the King of England's Seal that such an Oath hath been made Nor can it be said that in the Homage made by the said Lord the King an Oath was tacitly implied hereby that the Letters were sealed with the King of England's Seal wherein it was contained that this Homage was Liege because the word Liege doth by its signification no way import the same And as to what is said that these Letters were sealed
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 Froâ—s 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
Answer'd by King Philip. PHILIP by the Grace of God King of France to Edward King of England We have seen Your Letters brought to Our Court and sent on Your Part to one Philip of Valois wherein are contained certain Requests which You make to the said Philip of Valois But because the said Letters came not unto Us and the said Requests were not made unto Us as by the Tenour of the said Letters it clearly appears We do not return You any Answer to the Premises Nevertheless forasmuch as We understand by the said Letters and otherwise that You are entred into Our Realm of France threatning great Damage to Us and to Our Realm more thrô Presumption than Reason and not considering the Duty which a Liegeman oweth unto his Lord For You have formerly entred Our Liege Homage acknowledging Your self as Reason is a Liege-Man unto the King of France and have promised unto Us such Obeisance as is usually expected from Liegemen to their Lords as more plainly appeareth by Your Letters Patents which We have Sealed with Your Great Seal And because You may know something of Our Intent We give You to understand that it is Our purpose when it shall seem good unto Us to drive You out of Our Realm to the Honour both of Us and of Our Kingdom and to the Profit and Commodity of Our People And this to do We have firm and assured Hope in Jesus Christ from whom We derive all Our strength and Power For by Yoâ—â— unreasonable Demand proceeding more from Presumption than Reason hath been hindred and laid aside the Holy Expedition beyond the Sea whereby great Numbers of Christian People have perished the Divine Service hath been diminished and Holy Church less Reverenced And as touching that which is noted that You look to be Assisted by the Flemmings We hope and believe surely that the good People and Commons of that Country will so bear themselves towards Our Cosin the Earl of Flanders their Lord that it may not be to their dishonour and that to Us their Sovereign Lord they will Respect their Faith and Loyalty And as for what they have hitherto done otherwise than well We are assured that was occasion'd by the Evil Advice of such Persons who neither had any Regard to the Publique Weal nor to the Honour of their Country but only to their own Private Advantage Given in the Fields near adjoyning to the Priory of St. Andrew les Aire under Our Privy Seal in absence of Our Great Seal 30 of July in the Year of Grace 1340. The French Writers say that King Philip among other Matters return'd this Answer o Mezeray 2 Par. 3 Tâ—m p. 16. that a Lord ought not to accept of a Defiance from his Vassal and that he sent him this Condition by Word of Mouth * Du Chesne p. 651. D. p. 652. A. St Rich. Baker c. that King Edward by that his Challenge hazarded nothing of his own but only expos'd the Dominion of another which was against all Reason since the Stake ought to be equal on both sides But if he would set his Kingdom of England thô less considerable against his of France then he would accept the Challenge and meet him in the field in single Combat on Condition that the Conquerour might remain sole Master and Peaceable Lord of both the Realms But this they say King Edward would not hearken to For as he was Valiant to make the Challenge so he was circumspect to weigh the Conditions Yet I cannot admit of this Matter For how know they what King Philip sent by Word of Mouth And how could King Philip imagine that his Word should be taken in a Matter of such Consequence when all Challenges ought to be confirmed by hand and Seal unless made in the hearing of the Defendant And how was not this an Answer to the Challenge of King Edward when as King Philip in his Letter professes he would not Answer him because he took not the Letter to be directed to him Truth needs no such pitifull Salvo III. Toward the latter end of July the Corn p Frois c. 53. being near ripe King Edward as We said before began his March toward Tournay which he intended to Besiege with seven Earls of England in his Company eight Prelates Twenty eight Barons 200 Knights 4000 Men of Arms and 9000 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen All these Forces were English with whom were many Great Lords of the Empire and their Troops and the Imperial q Du Serres Speed p. 573. Eagles were display'd among the English Lions and the Crosses of St. George in the Head of this Army in token that King Edward was Vicegerent of the Sacred Roman Empire Thus the King Marched from Gaunt and passing the Skell went and sat down before Tournay at the Gate called St. Martin where the Way being divided leads both to Lisle and Doway After the King the Duke of Brabant came thither with more than 20000 Men in all and he lodged at the Bridge of Aire by the River Skell between the Abbey of St. Nicolas and the Gate Valenciennois After him came the Earl of Hainault with a goodly Company of his Subjects of Hainault Holland and Zealand and his Place was between the King and the Duke of Brabant Then came Jacob van Arteveld in the Head of 60000 Flemmings from Gaunt Ipres Poperinghe Cassel Bruges and other Good Towns of Flanders and these were lodged on the other side at the Gate St. Fountain And lastly the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers the Marquess of Blankeberg the Marquess of Nuys the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savynes the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and the other Lords of Germany were lodged on the side that look'd toward Hainault Thus was the strong City of Tournay closely begirt on all sides so that none could go in or out without the Danger of the Besiegers and things were so well order'd that on occasion each Part of the Host could joyn the other by the help of Bridges which they had flung over the Skell for their mutual Communication IV. All the time of this Siege which lasted for about Nine Weeks the King of England and his Allies had r Frois c. 54. good store of all manner of Necessaries for their Foragers brought in daily huge Booties from all Parts and Provision came in from Hainault and Flanders at easie Rates One Morning the young Earl of Hainault who could never forget the Injuries lately done by the Frenchmen in his Country took along with him the Lord Å¿ Walsingh hist p. 136 n. 20. Walter Manny and the Lord Reginald Cobham with 500 Spears and leaving the Siege rode forth by Lille which he left on his Right Hand and burnt the Good Town of Seclin and many little Villages thereabouts their Van-currours running up as far as the Suburbs of Lens in Artois Then these Lords went another way
The Occasion was given first in Bretagne For e Frois c. 63. fol. 35. after the Truce had been confirmed and sealed before the City of Tournay and every Man was gone his way the Lord John Dreux then Duke of Bretagne who had been there on the French Kings side in as gallant an Equipage as any other Prince whatsoever upon his Return homewards fell suddenly sick of a mortal Disease and died in little Bretagne and was buried at f Catal. Honor. p. 606. Ploermell in the Diocess of Nantes He had been thrice married first to Isabell Daughter of Charles Earl of Valois and Alanson and Sister to King Philip of Valois secondly to Blanch Daughter of the King of Castille and lastly to Margaret Daughter of Edward Earl of Savoy but yet died without any Issue From whence a lasting War was entailed upon his Country which occasionally also involved the Realms of France and England This same Duke g Frois ibid. Catal. Honor. had two younger Brethren the one by the Fathers side onely of a second Venter named John Earl of Montfort who was then living the other named Guy Earl of Pentebria his Brother both by Father and Mother side was dead indeed but had left one Daughter behind him named Jane which her Uncle the late Duke had before his Death married to the young Lord Charles Castillion Eldest Son to Guy Earl of Blois by another Sister of King Philip of France Upon which Marriage the said King promised after the Decease of her Uncle Duke John to uphold and maintain the said Charles her Husband in the Dukedom of Bretagne For the late Duke always suspected vehemently that his Half-brother Monford would struggle for the Inheritance after his Death against the Daughter of his own Brother Guy to whom he reckon'd it more justly belonged That she might therefore find an able Friend upon Occasion to abett her Quarrel he thus wisely to his thinking match'd her with a Son of King Philips Sister And accordingly King Philip however partial he was in King Edwards Cause who claim'd the Crown of France by a Title derived from a Woman yet without any Scruple undertook to defend the Title of his Nephew Charles to this Dukedom as we shall shew at large anon V. However John Earl of Monford had this Advantage that he h Frois ibid. first heard of the Duke his Brothers Death and thereupon resolving not to dally in a matter of such Consequence he rode immediately to Nantes the chief City in Bretagne where upon his fair Address to the Burgesses and those of the Country thereabouts he was forthwith received as their Chief Lord and had Homage and Fealty done unto him Then the Earl and his Lady Margaret Daughter to i Mezeray p. 19. Robert late Earl of Flanders and Sister to Lewis of Cressy the present Earl of Flanders a Lady of a most Masculine Spirit determin'd by Advice of their Council to call a Court of Parliament and keep a Solemn Feast on such a Day at Nantes against which time the Earl of Montford sent forth his Summons to all the Nobles and Representatives of the good Towns of Bretagne to be there to render their Homage and Fealty unto Him as unto their Soveraign Lord. But in the mean while before the time of the Feast came the Earl of Montford went from Nantes with a competent Number of Men of Arms unto Limoges the Chief Town of Limousin whereof the Dukes of Bretagne were Vicounts where he was informed that the vast Treasures which his Father Arthur had amassed together were securely kept Being come thither he enter'd the City in great Pomp and Splendour and was honourably received of all the Clergy Burgesses and Commons who then and there made Homage and swore Fealty unto him Here he handled the Matter so discreetly that he had all that inestimable Treasure deliver'd up to him which of a long time before his Father had gather'd and strongly secur'd with this Injunction left to his Son that he should not meddle therewith till he should be brought to some Extremity So having obtained this hitherto untouch'd Prize he brought it away with him to Nantes to the Countess his Wife as the most able Nerves of the War which he expected By this time was the Day of the Solemn Feast come but no Breton of any great Name or Quality was found to be concern'd at Monfords Summons onely one valiant and wealthy Lord named Sr. Henry du Leon came thither to yield him his Obersance However the Feast was continued for three Days with much Real Pomp but Feigned Cheer because it look'd so ill that his Cause was so universally discountenanced by the Nobility and Gentry After the Feast it was resolved that all the New-found Treasure should be set apart for Wages for Men of War both Horse and Foot which the Earl design'd to retain on all Hands as well to constrain the Rebellious as to maintain the Dutchy against his Adversary Being therefore as soon as might be well furnished with Men of War and Chosen Captains from divers Countries he resolved to March forth and either by Love or Force make himself Lord of all Bretagn The first Place he design'd to attempt was the strong Castle of Brest standing upon an Arm of the Sea the Captain whereof was the Lord Garnier Clisson a Noble Knight and one of the Greatest Barons of Bretagne Earl Monford all along in his Passage thither prest the Men of the Country to his Service none daring to refuse so that by that time he came thither his Forces were mightily encreased Brest and Nantes being distant almost the whole length of Bretagne one from another Being come to the Castle he sent the Lord Henry du Leon to summon the Captain to yield up the Place and to obey the Earl as his Lord and Duke of Bretagn The Captains Answer was short That he was not inclin'd to do any such Matter till he should be commanded so to do by the Right Heir of that Dukedom So the next day an Assault was given But within the Castle were 300 Men of Arms besides Others and all things were well disposed for Defence Wherefore the Captain full of Courage came to the Barriers with 40 good Men of Arms and made a very brave Resistance But so many of the Assailants came thither that at last the Barriers were won by fine Force the Defendants being obliged to retire toward the Castle in some Confusion having lost several of their Company But the Captain did so much that he secur'd the Retreat to the rest as far as the first Gate When those who kept the Ward thereof fearing from what they saw more mischief in an ill time let down their Portcullis and shut their Captain out with most of his Company who fought with him in the Reer with much Resolution and Bravery Thus they all remain'd without expos'd to eminent Danger for the Captain would never yield
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 Hâ—â—nalt 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
at last she also was caused to be hanged by Charles of Durazzo who succeeeded her in the Kingdom As may be seen at large in the Histories of Italy and Naples On the 16 of September this same Year p Mezeray p. 21. Philip King of Navarre Deceased whose Son Charles by the French firnamed the Wicked succeeded to the Crown being then under Age and in the Tuition of his Mother Queen Joan of France He was a Prince of extraordinary parrs of Mind and of Body of exquisite Beauty Courage and Address but his Inconstant Nature his unseasonable Ambition and his inveterate Envy to the House of France to which he was so nearly ally'd rendred him low and vile in the Eyes of all Men. Walsingham q Hist p. 153. n. 30. c. reports a strange and almost but that it is attested with such Circumstances incredible Story of an Accident that happen'd about this time in the North-parts of England to a certain Young Man of the Lord t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. William Baron of Greystokes Family As this Young Man says my Author was riding thrô Corn-fields and beheld the Corn waving like the Sea growing thereby perhaps giddy he thought he saw a certain Ruddy-complexion'd little Pygmy-fellow to raise his Head by degrees above the Corn till the more he consider'd him still the more he seem'd to encrease in Stature who coming towards the Young Man took hold of his Bridle and whether he would or no led him into the corn to a place where it seem'd to him there sat a most Beautifull Lacy among many young Damsels like her self This Lady commanded him presently to be taken from off his Horse and to be torn and mangled over all his Body and after all to be slead Whereupon she her self as he thought having dissected his Scull in the middle took out his Brains and then clos'd up the empty Scull again This done she order'd him to be set again upon his Horse and so let him go Immediately upon which being wholly void and destitute of understanding he began to fall mad and to make furious gestures as it appeared when he came to the next Town Hereupon a certain young Damsel who also belonged to his Lords Family and had loved him most tenderly came to him with some Assistants and took care of him and lest he should do any Mischief to himself or those who tended him caused him to be lock'd in Fetters This Maid carried him to many Holy places beyond Sea for the recovery of his Wits but having found no Remedy there she at last returned with him into England and still he complain'd of being haunted by the little Red fellow who at first appeared unto him At whose presence thô bound with three or four Chains he would always break them Having remain'd in this condition for six Years he was then at the Shrine of St. John of Beverley in Yorkshire made whole again in this manner Being fallen into a gentle slumber it seem'd to him that another most Beautifull Lady did again open his Scull and restore his Brains which had been taken away by the former Lady to their right place Accordingly upon his waking being perfectly recover'd of his senses he Married the foresaid Damsel who had so lovingly taken Care of him in his Madness of whom in time he begat 15 Sons After which his Wife dying he went into Holy Orders and was made Priest and promoted to the Church of Thorp-Basset in Yorkshire But while one day he was celebrating Mass with Great Devotion and as the Custom was elevated the Host for the People to behold the foresaid Red Fellow appear'd unto him again saying From henceforth let him whom You hold in your Hand be your Keeper For he knows better how to keep you than I do As I give no credit so neither do I desire to gain any to this Story But I must needs Remark that with a strong Consonancy thereto Ariosto the Italian Poet. acccording to the Tradition of the Church hath made St. John the President and Healer of Mad-men And ſ Adan 1373. Mezeray tells us of a certain Plague of Frenzy which was called St. John's Dance This Year died t Walsingh hist p. 154. n. 10. Dr. Anthony Beck Bishop of Norwich being as was supposed poison'd by his own servants for his boisterous and turbulent Humour for his severity to the Monks of his Church and for his Appealing to the Court of Rome in opposition to John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Who by a strange mistake in Godwin u Catal. Bps p. 425. is called Robert Winchelsey when he himself in the Title of Canterbury acknowledges John Stratford Archbishop of that See and no where mentions the other after the sixth Year of Edward the Second In his stead William Bateman x Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. Doctor of the Civil Law and a Cambridge Man of Corpus Christi College Born at Norwich and Archdeacon of the same Church was now elected Bishop by the general Consent of the whole Convent He is acknowledged the Founder of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge and to have given certain Lands to the Maintenance thereof Which College is now Worthily Governed by the Worshipfull Sr. Thomas Exton Knight Doctor of the Laws a Man in our Days Renowned for his Loyalty Wisdom and Generosity He also Founded the Hall of the Annunciation of our Lady and gave one of the University Chests Nor content to have done good himself he perswaded one Gonwell or Gonvill to Found another Hall in the same University which many Years after being much enlarged at the Cost and Charges of a Learned Physician named John Key or Caius is now called Gonvill and Caius's College in Respect of both the Founders And the Master hereof at this time is the Learned and Worshipfull Robert Brady Dr. in Physick and a stout Asserter of the Rights of English Monarchy in the worst of times Wherefore together with the foremention'd Sr. Thomas Exton our Loyal University hath more than once chose him for her Burgess in Parliament This Year also the Lady Mary de Valence Daughter of Guy de Chastillon Earl of St. Paul Kinswoman to King Edward and Third Wife of Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke being y Mill's Catal. of Nobility p. 1096 desirous to advance Learning Founded a College in Cambridge called by her Title Pembroke-Hall Endowing it with Large Possessions From which Princely Seminary many notable Lights of Learning and Piety have continually been brought forth and many more are daily expected it being at present under the Care and Custody of the Reverend Nathaniel Coga Doctor in Divinity a Person of great Loyalty Judgement and Candour CHAPTER the TWENTY SECOND The CONTENTS I. Vpon the Popes pressing the two Kings to hasten the Treaty of Peace they send their several Agents to Avignon Some Heads of their several Pleas but nothing done II. King Edwards Resolute Answer to a Nip of the Popes
at his Funeral Where his Son afterwards erected to his Memory a Fair Tomb on the Northside of the High Altar in the Collegiate Church of our Lady called the New-Warke But there is no Coronet on his Head. II. About this time there happen'd a memorable Revolution in Flanders which may teach us how uncertain Popular Favour is and how suddain the Fall of those Great Ones proves who are not fixed on a sure Foundation We have frequently had occasion to speak of Jacob van Arteveld of Gaunt who had long govern'd all Flanders with a more absolute Sway than ever the Earls themselves had done This Man whether thrô hopes of raising his Family to future Time or whether out of Inclination or of meer Policy to secure his own Greatness by the Aid of England was all along a fast Friend to King Edward and had again as much respect and favour from that Prince as his Heart could desire He now d Frois c. 115. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 854. in Confidence of his boundless Authority among the Commons of the Country grew so presumptuous as some while before this to entertain a Resolution of Disinheriting his Natural Lord Lewis Earl of Flanders and to put the Government thereof into the Hands of King Edward of England On Condition that He the said King should endow his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales therewith and make a Dukedom of the Earldom of Flanders These things being thus privately agreed on beforehand about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward having e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. left his Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp his Lieutenant at Home during his Absence took Shipping at Sandwich and came before Scluse with a great Navy the Young Prince Edward his eldest Son being with him and Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Seagrave John Lord Leiburn and many Others attending Him. The King lay at Anchor in the Haven of Scluse and there kept House on Board whither his Friends the Chief Men of Flanders came to visit him One Day the Flemish Burgesses being invited into the Kings Ship called the Catherine after a f Mezeray p. 23 ad hunc ann most Magnificent Collation bestowed on them by the King Jacob van Arteveld rose up and made a most plausible Oration extolling the King of England's great Power either to protect his Friends or to punish his Enemies he set forth also the notable Good-will which he had all along bore to his Allies and Subjects of Lower Germany That the Young Prince of Wales his Son did no way come short of his Fathers Steps but rather promised if God gave life to reach the very Height of all his Vertues That their own Lord Lewis unmindfull of the Welfare of his People had confederated with King Philip their Mortal Enemy and had himself made War against them and done unto them many great Inconveniences and Dammages Wherefore if they judged it fit to requite their Haters with Neglect and to pay unto their Lovers and Protectors Friendship and Service He must needs advise them either to make the Earl of Flanders pay his Homage unto King Edward to whom as to the Rightfull King of France it was only due or if thrô his Stubborn Obstinacy they could not prevail with him herein then wholly to cast off the hatefull Yoke of a Tyrannous and an Unkind Lord and submit to the pleasant and honourable Government of King Edward and his Son who would advance the Earldom of Flanders into a Dukedom and make them flourish above all other People in Trade and Prosperity III. When the Burgesses had all heard what secret Poison lurked in the Breast of this subtle Orator in their Hearts they utterly abominated his Perfidious Treason and firmly resolved never to be Guilty of so black and base a Deed as to disinherit and depose their own Natural Lord and his Young Son Lewis from their proper Right and Title But however to get off handsomly and make fair weather for the present after a little private Conference they gave this Answer to the King. Sir said they there is proposed unto us a Matter of no small Importance which may some Ages after very nearly concern the whole Country of Flanders and our Heirs for ever as well as our Selves And thô surely we know no Person in the World at this time whose Promotion and encrease of Wealth and Honour We so heartily desire as We do your Majesties Yet this Business we dare not of our selves determine unless the Commonalty of Flanders yield their Consent thereto Wherefore Sir for the present we crave leave to return every Man to his own City and there we shall confer with the Generality of every Town and Corporation and as the Major Part shall agree we shall act most willingly Within a Month at farthest we will all return hither again and bring your Majesty we doubt not such an Answer as shall be agreeable IV. The King and Jacob van Arteveld urged them much to make a more speedy Return but they could obtain no other Reply at that time wherefore they were all dismist to their own several Homes But Jacob tarried still with the King bearing him all along in hand that he would not fail to bring this Purpose to good Effect But King Edward who was not apt to be blinded with Prosperity and had a more piercing Judgment in publick Affairs doubted much not only lest this Business should miscarry but his Friend also incurr some Danger thereby Wherefore at parting he gave him great Caution in the Management of that Affair and allow'd him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 926. also for a Guard 500 Welchmen under the Command of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. William Sturry Sr. John Maltravers was indeed a Baron of the Realm and the same Person we mention'd to have been concerned together with Sr. Thomas Gournay in the barbirous Murther of King Edward the Second wherefore also as we shew'd he fled upon that Act and was three Years after condemned in Parliament to be put to Death wherever he should be found with the price of 500 Marks for his Head or a 1000 for any one that should bring him in alive For fifteen Years after he had lived in great Penitence and very privately in and about Flanders and either finding some hopes from the Kings Mercy or being not so guilty as he was represented or in Confidence of having merited something by his late Services for he had lost h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 101. 102. all his Goods and suffer'd much hardship upon the Kings Account in Flanders he came now voluntarily to the King and rendred himself into his Hands Whereupon especially since he had never undergone a legal Trial he was respited now and by the King set over these Welchmen and six years after fully pardoned But to return This Guard some i Holinshead ibid. p. 926. say that
abated But by this time his House was so broken up that near upon four Hundred Persons were enter'd in one of whom named Thomas Dennis gave him his Deaths wound thô others say that a certain Cobler whose Father Jacob van Arteveld had formerly caused to be slain followed him so close as he was fleeing into a Stable where his Horses stood that overtaking him he clove his head in sunder with an Ax so that he fell down stark dead upon the ground Thus Jacob van Arteveld who by his Popular Air his Policy and Wisdom had arrived to the most absolute Government of all Flanders was by a sudden turn of Fortune miserably slain on a m Holinshead p. 927. Sunday in the afternoon being the * B. Dom. Lit. Labbè ad hunc an 17 of July There accompanied him in his Death ten other Principal Persons of his Council among whom were a Brother and a Nephew of his besides as many of the Welchmen as made Resistance to the Number of 70 in all the Rest being spared in respect to the King their Master got away safe unto him again as he lay at Scluse waiting for other kind of News than what these Men brought him VI. As n Frois c. 115. for Lewis Earl of Flanders who was then at Dendermonde a City of that part of Flanders which belong'd to the Empire he was very well pleas'd when he heard of the Death of this his old Enemy And yet for all that he durst not put any entire Confidence in the Flemings nor venture as yet to go to Gaunt But when King Edward heard of it he was infinitely displeas'd at the loss of so serviceable a Friend and immediately departed from Scluse and took the Sea again grievously threatning the Gauntois and the whole Country of Flanders and vowing that his Death should be dearly Revenged But for that time he returned into England The People of Flanders expected no less for now when the Murther was known abroad among all the good Towns of that Country they seriously began to consider how ill King Edward would in all likelyhood resent this Matter wherefore in time they determin'd to go and excuse themselves before him especially the Burgesses of Bruges Ipres Cassel Courtray Oudenarde Antwerp and Franker And it was high time for them so to do for the Parliament of England had o Sr. Winston Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 24. already made their humble address to the King to break the Peace with Flanders Presently therefore they sent after the King into England to request his safe Conduct that they might come according to their Duty to make their excuse And this the King at last yielded to his first fit of Passion being blown over So that about Michaelmas certain Burgesses of the best Quality came from all the Towns of Flanders except Gaunt only for as yet the King would not permit any of them to see his Face The Rest were introduced before the King then at Westminster where they humbly excused themselves of being any way accessory to the Death of Jacob van Arteveld and sware solemnly that they knew nothing of the Matter till it was done and that if they had he was the Man whom to the best of their Powers they would have defended and that they were extreamly concerned for his Death for he had governed their Country very Wisely and to their great Advantage They added further that the Gauntois themselves who had done this barbarous Act should make satisfaction therefore And they told the King and his Council that althô this Man was Dead yet the King of England was not a jot fallen in the Love and Fidelity of the Good People of Flanders as he should find in all things except what pertained to the Inheritance of Flanders which they said the Flemings were resolved by no means to presume to give away from the Right Heirs They said also to the King Sir You have a Fair and Noble Progeny both Sons and Daughters and as for the Prince of Wales your Eldest Son he cannot choose but be a great Prince without the accession of Flanders But then Sir You have a Young Daughter and We have a Young Lord the Earl's Son who is the Heir Apparent of Flanders and he is now in our Custody So that if it please You to make a Match between a Daughter of Yours and this Lord the Earldom of Flanders will be for ever after in the hands of your Posterity From these words of theirs we are to observe a Mistake of p Mez. p. 24. Mezeray's who tells us how they offer'd King Edward a Daughter of their Earls to be Married to his Son the Prince of Wales when as we can find no Daughter that Lewis had nor could such a Marriage have signifi'd any thing to the Prince of England when there was a Son also living who was to inherit Flanders and besides before this Offer a greater Match had been q Sandford p. 184. ex Pat. 19. Ed. 3 p. 3. m. 11. this Year proposed between the Prince of Wales and a Daughter of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal The Flemings also added at the same time how r Holinshead p. 927. they doubted not to perswade the Earl their Lord to do Homage unto the King of England till when they promised not to receive him These and the like Protestations somewhat pacified the Kings displeasure so that soon after the League between England and Flanders was renewed and the Death of Jacob van Arteveld was quite forgotten Thô he left a Young Son Philip behind him who after King Edwards Death became as Great in Flanders as ever his Father had been and by involving those People in new Combustions occasion'd a severe Revenge of his Fathers Blood by the Lives of many thousands of the Flemings As may be seen in the Stories of Flanders and particularly in the second Volume of Froisards History However the Earl of Flanders would by no means consent to make his Homage to the King of England but remain'd still firm to the French Interest and Title whereby his Troubles continued till the next Year he lost his Life fighting against the English in the Famous Battle of Cressy to which we are now hasting VII About this time ſ Frois c. 116. vid. Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 155. Prince William the Young Earl of Hainalt Holland Zealand and Friseland King Edwards Brother in Law having also met with some Rebellion among his Subjects both of Holland and Friseland resolved to reduce them both to a sense of their Duty and first he went and laid Siege to Vtrecht in Holland where one Robert van Arckell was Governour against him after a long Siege he wan the Place and took his Pleasure of his Enemies making t Eng. Atl. ibid. five Hundred of the Principal Citizens come forth bare headed and bare footed and beg his Pardon And shortly after in the Moneth of * Giov.
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
Wherefore they took him out of Prison and suffer'd him to go an Hawking a Sport which he loved well on the other side the River Lys or Leye But still there were Persons appointed to watch him who were charged upon their Lives to look carefully to his Motions that he should not by any means steal away from them And besides his Keepers themselves were such as chiefly prefer'd the King of England's service so that he could not do the least occasions of Nature without their knowledge This new way of Imprisonment obliged the Earl to another Device he said at last as it were from his heart and of his own accord that he desired extreamly to Marry the Daughter of so Renowned a Prince as King Edward was but none of his Friends would endeavour to procure him that happy Promotion Of this immediately the Flemings sent word to the King and Queen then before Calais and appointed a Day whereon they should come with their Daughter the Lady Isabella to Bruges and they would at the same time bring thither their Lord the Young Earl and so the Nuptials should be solemnized between them in the Abbey The King and Queen x Frois ibid. Giov. Villant l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. who were well pleased with this Overture said how the Flemings had now done like true and honest Men and so prepared for the intended Meeting At the time appointed the most Discreet and Wealthy Burgesses of the Towns of Flanders came unto Bruges a Chief City of Flanders between Ostend and Sluys and brought with them the young Earl their Lord in great Pomp and State Here they found the King of England and his Queen who received them graciously The Young Earl enclin'd himself with great Demonstrations of Respect to the King and Queen and then King Edward took him by the Right Hand very courteously and lead him forward saying unto him As for the Death of the Earl your Father as God shall help me I am Innocent For I knew nothing of his being in the Field at the Battle of Cressy neither on the Day of Battle nor till the Evening of the next Day when the Heralds brought me an Account of the slain The Earl seem'd to believe this Protestation and to acquiesce in so just an excuse And thereupon other Communication succeeded and at last the Marriage was agreed and a Bond of Ensurance made certain Articles of perpetual Amity being on both sides sworn to and agreed on between Edward King of England and Lewis Earl of Flanders And then and there the Young Earl affianced the Lady Isabella King Edwards Daughter and promised on such a Day to Wed her So for that time they all brake up the Earl returning to Courtray and the King and Queen going back to the Camp before Calais where they made great Preparations against the Marriage for Jewels and costly Apparel and Presents to give away according to their Estate The mean y Frois ibid. while the Earl of Flanders pass'd away his time very pleasantly about the River Leye and seem'd so extreamly satisfied with the Person of the English Lady that the Flemings verily believing him to be in earnest took no such great heed to him as before But they did not understand the deep Dissimulation of their Lord for whatever appearance He made outwardly his Heart was wholly addicted to the French Interest and he resolved in his mind never to admit unto his Bed the Daughter of him who had sent his Father to his Grave A just Resolution had it been rightly grounded For indeed his Fathers Death ought not to have been imputed to King Edward but to his own Misfortune for taking part with King Edwards Enemies in that Battle where he was slain by chance of War and without any knowledge of the Kings as himself protested However the Earl having now obtain'd a little more liberty by reason of his fine conveyance for he made huge Preparations against the Marriage he never intended found at last an Opportunity to escape away which was done in this Manner In the Easter-week z Fibian p. 274. being that very Week that the Daughter of England was to be brought into Flanders and the Espousals to be solemnized he rode forth with an Hawk on his Fist by the River side after his Manner At last his Faulconer cast off a Faulcon at a Heron and the Earl presently cast off his Thus these two Faulcons were in chace of the Heron and the Earl followed as after his Faulcon But when he found himself to have got the start of all his Attendants with the Advantage of the Open Fields he then clap'd Spurs to his Horse and gallop'd right on till his Keepers had wholly lost him The Earl continued hard on the Spur till he came into Artois the next Province to Flanders and there he was safe Thence he rode at his Leisure into France and came to King Philip to whom he shew'd the Reasons and Manner of his Escape the King commended him and said he had done Worthily and Wisely But the Englishmen said He had falfifi'd his Oath and with the loss of his Honour and Interest betrayed and deceived them But for all this King Edward did not break with the Flemings For he saw plainly that they were extreamly offended with this Rash Action of their Lords and that they knew as little of this Cheat as himself And indeed they made their Excuse so well that either the King did really believe it or however thought best to admit of it for that time VII We must not omit a Gaguin l. 8. p. 142. Fabian p. 274. c. one memorable Matter which happen'd about this time concerning an Advocate of the Spiritual Court named Dr. Gawin de Bellomont an Inhabitant of Laon in Picardy Who intended as it was laid to his Charge to have betrayed the City of Laon to the English Which City of Laon being seated on a Mountain not far from Vermand stands very commodiously to make War upon all its Neighbours round about Now there was at that time a poor Man named Colin Tomelin who formerly had lived in good Fashion but some while before being fled from Laon for Debt had gone to Metz on the Borders of Lorrain where he made shift to live a miserable Life To this Man Dr. Gawin de Bellomont aforesaid resorted frequently and as it were in pity of his Condition relieved him considerably till at last when he thought he had him fast enough he began something to break his Mind unto him But only then told him in General that if he would be ruled by him he would not only restore him to his former Ease and Sufficiency but raise him to an Eminent Degree of Wealth and Prosperity Colin readily embraced the Offer and sware unto him Secrecy and Fidelity Whereupon Gawin shew'd him a Letter sealed up and gave it him to carry to the King of England lying as then before Calais
his Blood should yield to try a Combat before a King his Enemy was mortally displeased at him and thô he had gain'd such Honour both in the Holy Wars and in the late Duel absolutely deny'd to admit him into his Presence But after a few days having with much adoe and earnest Intercession obtain'd admittance the said Lord Thomas as one that was desirous to shew himself a true Subject and so to recover his Brothers favour besides his declaring the necessity which the Christian Lords had put upon him to go into England began among his excuses highly to extoll the Generosity of King Edward and to shew how justly his Fame was spread throughout the whole World Nor did he forget to commend his Equity which he had shewn in his cause not at all accepting the Person of the Cypriote althô it was well known what a Friend he was to the King of Cyprus himself but Prefer'd and Honoured and Rewarded me said he thô I am a Frenchman and Brother and Servant to you my Lord the King of France These Words the Noble Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes and Constable of France then Present not knowing how distastfull they were to King John confirmed by his own experience and rose up and shew'd among other instances n Knighton p. 2607. n. 1. c. how far that Noble King had banish'd all envy and hatred from his Bâ—east insomuch that lately in a solemn Tourneament at Windsor he had not only admitted him being a Prisoner to that Honourable Exercise but gave him an allowance of all necessary accoutrements and at last rewarded him with a Rich Pâ—ize and new had sent him home upon his Parole in trust of a small Ransom and other as Negotiator for the Redemption of others than a Prisoner himself whereby said he I am put in a Capacity to serve your Majesty as I served your Father or blessed Memory These true Praises of King Edwards Princely Disposition enflam'd the envious heart of lâ—ing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thâ—â— consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâ—ung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 namely on the 19 of November to be beheâ—ded by night in the Presence of the Duke of Bourbon and seven or eight other Lords of Note before whom the Earl of Ewe is said to have confessed certain points of Treason whereof he stood guilty But however all the Treason that Envy it self could lay to the Bastards Charge was only that as he was bound by Oath to 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes in the Holy War he had accordingly committed his cause to the Arbitration of the King of England And as for the Earl of â—â—we whatever at that time was devis'd to blacken him he was notoriously a Person of such Gallantry and had already so eminently signaliz'd his Loyalty that to this day it could never be believed that he could be really guilty of any manner of Treason tho some rather by way of conjecture than proof pretend to colour the Matter that his require passing too and fro between England and France which he did in order to hasten the Redemption of his Fellow-Prisoners was with Designs in favour of the 〈◊〉 Others say p Stâ—w p. 251. that he was suspected of being over Familiar with the French Queen and that therefore King John after the fall of these two Great but Unfortunate Gentlemen famished his Queen to Death thô she was Daughter to John of Luxemburgh that Noble King of Bohemia who lost his Life at the Battle of Creâ—â— in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâ—hus first Wife q L. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 427. who indeed was Daughter to the said King of Bohemia died as we shew'd two Years before And his second Wife his Queen at this time who was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne lived in his Favour and died not till many Years after However the Earl of Ewe's Lands and Honours r Frois c. 153. Mezeray ibid. Mâ—rtâ—â— p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâ—s his Office of Constable of France in January following was by the King confer'd on the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain whom already he had made Earl of Argulesme his Earldom of Eu he gave to the Lord John of Artois Eldest Son to Sr. Robert of Artois of whose Revolt from France and Friendship to King Edward we have spoken in the first part of this our History Only the Earldom of Guisnes he left with the Lady Jane sole Daughter of the Defunct Earl of Ewe who was then Married to Walter Duke of Athens and after his Decease to Lewis Earl of Estampes of the house of Eureux from whom are derived the present Earls of Eu Princes of the Blood. VIII About this time the Scots not yet agreeing to redeem their King David who was still a Prisoner here nor admitting of any just offers of Composition but rather provoking the King of England farther by their Insolencies Cruelties and Depredations He for his part considering that the Truce with France would either be soon ended by violation or of its own course sent his Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. p. 275 p. 294. Commissioners viz. Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill to treat with the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland and other Nobles of that Realm then met at York about a firm and final Peace between the two Nations And this Treaty was held on with good hopes of Success even till the end of the next Year for we find that it was at last between them agreed t Rot. Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. that upon the coming into England of the young Lord John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King he himself should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be deliver'd The Kings Letters of safe Conduct to the Hostages and of Power to certain Commissioners to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his Return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were all come bear date the 5 of September an 25. Ed. 3. to continue in force till the Quindena of the Purification next following and on the 3 of November after they were renewed with a further term even to the Feast of St. Philip and James ensuing According to this agreement the Hostages being come and disposed into the Castles of York and Nottingham King Edward sent his Command u Râ—s Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. bearing date the 5 of October to Sr. John Copland High-Sheriff of Northumberland the same who first took the King of Scotland
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
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
galled and terrified that they were easily opened to the Men of Arms. The Lord James Audely being still followed by his Four Esquires fought all Day among the thickest Ranks of his Enemies not without receiving many Wounds both in the Body and Visage as long as his Strength and Breath would hold but when toward the end of the Battle his Esquires perceived that for loss of Blood he began to faint they carried him by main force out of the Field and laid him under an Hedge hard by where they unarmed him and refreshed him binding up his Wounds as well as they could King John of France for his part is allowed on all Hands to have performed the Office both of a Good Captain and of a Valiant Knight insomuch that it is said how if the Fourth Part of his Men had followed his Example in all Probability the Victory had been his There was f Frois c. 164. He on foot defending himself and offending his Enemies with a weighty Ax of Steel in his Hands which he used with much Praise It is said g Paul. Aemyl p. 287. that Prince Philip his youngest Son also fought at this time so well by his Fathers side and in his Defence like another young Scipio that thô he was taken at last Prisoner yet for his forward Courage in War he obtain'd the Sirname of HARDY Thô surely he must needs be now but of tender Age being the Youngest of four Sons of a Father who was but then h Ano 1364. Ano Aetat 52. ergo hoc an 44. Mezeray p. 66. in the Forty fourth Year of his Age and Prince Charles his Eldest Brother was then but i Natus Anno 1336. Twenty But it might be that his Resolution gave such hopes even now as to obtain the Title of HARDY from that Complementing Age which called Philip of Valois the FORTVNATE and this King John the GOOD and his Son Charles whom no Truce nor Oaths could bind the WISE Yet I have seen another Account much more probable indeed thô not so generally attested how this Prince came by the Sirname of HARDY 'T is said k James Meyer apud Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 976. that while he was Prisoner in England together with his Father King John being at King Edwards Table with him at Dinner this young Prince Philip among Others of the Nobility of either Nation was appointed to wait And that when a certain young Nobleman of England who attended also served King Edward first and then King John this Philip up with his Fist and gave him a Wherret on the Ear saying What dare you serve the King of England first when the King of France sits at the Table The Nobleman offended therewith drew his Dagger offering to strike the young Prince but King Edward loudly forbad him and commending the Courage of the Royal Youth said to him in French Vous estes Phillippe le HARDI i. e. thou art Philip the HARDY from which that became his Sirname But to return whence we have digressed All this while the Prince of Wales and the Lords about raged like Lions and the Archers so well bestowed their Shot that the Frenchmen were at last broken here also and a miserable Slaughter ensued all the best Men being either taken or slain thô not a few chose to save themselves by Flight among the slain were reckon'd l Frois c. 162. Knighton p. 2614. n. 20. Mezeray c. Peter Duke of Bourbon the Duke of Athens Constable of France the Vicount of Châlons the Marshal Clermont the Vicount of Beause the Lord Geoffry Charny who bore the Royal Standard this Day the Lord Eustace Ribemont whom King Edward had so generously treated at Calais some Years before the Lord Guischard de Beaujeu the Lord m Du Serres p. 22. Fabian Speed. Reginald de Carrian the Lord William Nesle the Lord de la Torre Sr. Guyventon of Chambley or Chably the Lord of Castle Gaillon the Lord of Argenton and Others of the Highest Quality to the Number of n Mezeray ibid. Fifty besides the two Earls of Germany and Others whom we have shewn to be slain before But yet this Battail was not wholly discomfited it was so numerous and the King and some Lords about him fought so couragiously thô several of their Men fled away Among the various Rencounters Chaces and Pursuits made that Day in the Field o Frois c. 163. it happen'd that Sr. Edward Renty a Valiant Knight of Artois who yet had left the Fight when he saw Things desperate was pursued as he fled a private way all alone by a certain Knight of England whose Name we cannot recover The Englishman as he gave the Chace still cried out after him Return again Sir Knight it is a shame to fly away so from a single Man. At last the Frenchman turned indeed seeing it was so that no Body else pursued him and the Englishman thought to have stricken him in the Target with his Spear but he failed For Sr. Edward swerved aside from the stroke on purpose and as he passed on in full Career lent him such a full Blow on the Helmet with his Sword that he was astonished and fell from his Horse in a Swoon Sr. Edward presently hereupon alighting came to him with his Sword drawn before he was fully recovered and said Yield your self Sir and promise to be my Prisoner whether you be rescued or no or you are but a Dead Man. When the English Knight being come to himself saw Death before him and heard these Words he accepted the Conditions and yielded to go along with him and sware himself Prisoner and was afterwards released on payment of his Ransom That same Day another French Gentleman of Picardy an Esquire named John de Helenes having forsaken the Field met with his Page who deliver'd him his Horse whereon he rode away all alone Now there was in the Fight on the English Side the Lord Thomas Barkley Son of Sr. Maurice Barkley who died before Calais for this Story cannot belong to the old Lord Thomas nor to his Son Maurice as we have intimated before tho Sr. William p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 358. Dugdale thrô inadvertency makes him both young and old and to have won many Prisoners wherewith he built Beverstone Castle and to be a Prisoner himself at the same time this Lord Barkley I say q Frois c. 163. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 358. being at that time a young lusty Knight who had first reared his Banner that Day pursued the said John de Helenes all alone till having followed him the space of a League the French Esquire turned back upon him laying his Sword in his Rest instead of a Spear and so came running toward the Lord Barkley who the mean while stood ready with his Arm raised to have smote him but the Esquire seeing the stroke coming turned from it and as he passed reached him such a Blow
and said in good French Sir yield your Person The King looking on him said To whom shall I yield And where is my Cousin the Prince of WALES If I might see him I would speak with him Sr. Denis answer'd Sir he is not hereabout but if it please You to yield to me I shall bring You to him Why Who are you then said the King Sir said he I am Denis of Morbeque a Knight of Artois but I now serve the King of England because I am banished the Realm of France and have forfeited all I had there Then the King gave him his Right Gauntlet saying Vnto you I yield my self But still there was so great a Crowding among those who pretended to have taken him that the King and his youngest Son Philip who now shared in his Fathers Fortune could not be suffer'd to go forward The mean while the Prince of Wales who was Couragious as a Lion took great Delight and Pleasure all that Day to Fight and break the Power of his Enemies and so did the Lord John Chandos who never stirr'd from the Prince's side all the time of the Fight He never troubled himself to take any Prisoners thô never so Rich but leaving that as too mean a Consideration for him he wholly apply'd himself to Fighting and Chacing and Destroying the Frenchmen Whereever any strong Body of the Enemy appear'd thither went the Prince and my Lord Chandos and brake their Ranks and brought them to Confusion and then leaving others to perfect the Conquest they removed to another Quarter where they did the like Thus the Noble Prince of Wales had much trouble and pains before he won the Garland but toward the end of all about the time that King John was taken the Lord Chandos said unto him Sir methinks it would be convenient for your Highness to rest here a little and to set up your Standard on High in this Bush that your Men may draw hither about your Person for they are very much scatter'd abroad And I can see no more Banners nor Penons of the French in the Field Wherefore please Sir to take some rest now and refresh your self a little For You are too much heated and chased with this Days service Hereupon Sr. Walter Woodland was order'd to set up the Prince's Standard on High in the Bush and Trumpets and Clarions began to sound a Retreat and the Captains hasted to obey the Summons The mean while the Prince pull'd off his Helmet and the Knights of his Body and those of his Chamber were ready about him and a Pavilion of Red Silk was pitch'd up for him and then Drink was brought forth for the Prince and such Lords as were about him whose Number still encreased and as they return'd from the Chace there they tarried with their Prisoners in their Company When the two Marshals were come back to the Prince he demanded of them whether they knew any tidings of the French King. They answer'd Sir We hear of nothing certain as to that Point but We verily believe he is either Dead or taken for We are sure he is not gone out of the Field Then the Prince said to the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Cobham Sirs I require You to ride forth and learn what You can as to this Matter that at Your return We may know the Certainty These two Lords took their Horses again and departed with an Hundred Spears from the Prince and rode up a little Hill to view more plainly about them over the Field From whence they might perceive a Flock of Men of Arms coming together toward them very wearily Now among these was the French King on foot in great Danger of his Life for the Englishmen and Gascoigners who had taken him perforce from Sr. Denis of Morbeque were now his Masters and among these some said I have taken him nay said others but I and I and I have taken him and thus the Chief Men and those of most Power contended about him Wherefore He to avoid the Danger that might ensue said Pray Gentlemen contend not thus about me 〈◊〉 Conduct me and my Son Civilly to my Cousin the Prince and concern not your selves who it was that took me For I am so great a Lord as to be able to Enrich you aâ—â— who make any such pretence These Words somewhat pacified them but yet as they went along they could not forbear making a noise and a brawling about the taking of the King. But when the two foresaid Lords of England saw and heard that noise and strife among them they rode up to them and said Sirs what is the Matter that You contend so one with another My Lords said one of them it is for the French King who is here taken Prisoner and there are more than Ten Knights and Esquires who challenge to themselves the Taking of Him. Then the two Marshals open'd the Preass and commanded aloud in the Prince's Name that no Man whatsoever be so hardy to make any noise or to approach the Kings Person unless they were so ordered Then every Man made way for the Marshals and they alighted and did Reverence to the King and after that conducted Him and his Son in Peace and Safety to the Prince of Wales X. Now this mean while t Frois c. 165. that the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Cobham were sent away by the Prince to enquire after the French King the Prince demanded of the Lords about him if any of them knew what was become of the Lord James Audley and it was told him that being grievously wounded He lay there in a Litter hard by By my Faith said the Prince for his Hurts I am heartily sorry but go and see if he can conveniently and without Danger be brought hither or else I will make him a Visit where he lies At this two of the Princes Knights went to the Lord Audley and said Sir the Prince desires mightily to see You and if You can't go to him he says he 'll come hither to You. Ah! sirs said the wounded Knight I heartily thank the Prince that he would vouchsafe to think on so mean a Souldier as I am And therewithall he called Eight of his servants and caused them to carry him softly in his Litter where the Prince was When the Prince saw him he took him in his Arms and kissed and caress'd him highly saying Sr. James I ought in especial manner to Honour You For by your Valour this day You have merited the High Esteem of Vs all and You are justly reputed the most Heroick and Couragious of all others Ah! Sir said the Knight You say as it pleaseth You I would it were so indeed but alas if I have this day done any thing beyond my ordinary way in the service of such a Prince and to accomplish my Vow it ought not to be ascribed to any particular Prowess in me Sr. James said the Prince both I my self and all others acknowledge
kept their Garrison consisting of 400 Men who were not slack in doing their Part. And between Laon and Rheims Rabigois of Derry held Veilly with 600 Men he was so punctual in his Pay that the Souldiery desired above all to serve him Under him was one Robert Scot an English Esquire who in Christmas-Time went and wan the strong Castle of Roucy with all its Provision and Ammunition and robbed the Town Here he made his Garrison whereby in time he much damnifi'd the Country for he held the Place all that Winter and the Summer following Together with the Castle he took the Earl of Roucy with his Wife and Children for whose Ransom he had shortly after 12000 Florens of Gold of the Coin called the Moton every u Fabian p. 236 Moton being valued at about Five Shillings Sterling All this while the Duke of Normandy x Mezer cy p. 57. durst not stirr out of Paris lest that unconstant People should upon his Absence invite thither the King of Navarre who was too potent already So that even an Enemy that was not too ungenerous would pity the Condition of that flourishing Realm of France which lay now untill'd and unmanur'd tho too much fatned with the Blood of its Natives XII And yet the good Loyal Frenchmen had several times the better of their Enemies as particularly the Lord Canon Robsert who was the first that after the Constable's Success at Amiens raised up a Light for his distressed Country The Manner y Frois c. 192. was thus One day the Earl of Vermandois otherwise called the Lord of Pynon rode forth with 60 Spears only in his Company designing to go to a certain French Fortress It happen'd at the same time that from the Navarrois Garrisons of Veilly and Roucy about 300 Spears rode forth also to seek Adventures But they had no Chief Captain with them Being near the Town of Creil they saw the Lord of Pynon riding in good close Order under his Banner and taking the way toward Creil Both Parties soon perceived each other to be Enemies and the Lord Pynon found he could not well escape them without Battle Wherefore he coasted by Creil but when he observed the Navarrois to begin to cut short their way to him then he fled upon the Spur and the Navarrois followed him crying St. George Navarre These last were better horsed than the former so that within half a League riding they came up to the Frenchmen at which instant the Lord of Pynon espied a great Sandpit large and deep surrounded about with a strong Hedge and having but one Entrance little and streight which might easily be defended When he saw the Advantage of this Place and the present Necessity because he could fly no further he said to his Company Sirs a Foot a Foot quickly 'T is better for us here to expect the Success that God will send us good or bad and the mean while to defend our selves couragiously than to be slain without Resistance or be taken flying away At this He and all his Men alighted to take the Pit and the Navarrois also left their Horses when they beheld what the Frenchmen did Now in the Lord of Pynons Company there was a certain Esquire who said to his Page Leap now upon my Horse and spare him not but ride Post to the Castle of Pierre-Pont and desire the Lord Canon Robsert to come hither with all expedition to our Rescue Sir said the Page thô I find him there how is it possible he should come hither in any reasonable time since he is at least five Leagues from hence Well answer'd the Esquire Do you your part diligently and leave the rest to God. Away went the Page as hard as he could for his Life and left his Master and his Company preparing themselves for a Resolute Defence The Navarrois of the Garrisons of Veilly and Roucy assailed them with all the Art and Fury that might be but the Lord of Pynon by extraordinary Courage and the Advantage of the Pit held out stoutly from Eight in the Morning till after High-Noon The mean while the Page rode upon the Spur to Pierre-Pont in Laonnois and there did his Message to the Lord Canon Robsert he said he would do his utmost for the Lord of Pynon immediately for he had two or three Troops ready mounted and he knew the Place well Then he sounded his Trumpets and mounted in the Head of sixscore Horse at the same time sending a Page of his to Laon which was hard by in his way toward Creil to inform the Captain there of the Matter and to desire his Assistance He for his part would not tarry till those of Laon were ready but rode forth a great Gallop till he came to the Place where the Lord Pynon and his Men were had put to it by the Navarrois He came just in the Nick as his Friends began thrô weariness to decline nor could they have subsisted half an Hour longer Immediately he couched his Spear and struck in among the Navarrois three whereof he overthrew at the first Brunt and then he fell to his Axe wherewith he gave such Strokes that none durst abide him In like manner his Men prevailed being fresh and lusty against the weary Navarrois insomuch that they slew of them upon the Spot more than an 150 and those who fled away were met with by the Captain of Laon who was then coming thitherward to assist the Lord of Pynon so that of 300 Navarrois there escaped clear away but 15 the rest being either slain or taken The Lord Canon Robsert was highly applauded in France for this Act of his He bare for his Arms in a Field Vert a Lion Rampant Or. These are the chief Occurrences that happen'd in the Realm of France this Year For the Siege before St. Valery lasted still that Place not being taken till about Lent in the Year following as we shall shew hereafter XIII As for Affairs at home in England they were in a full Calm all the while Riches Peace and Prosperity the Products of Success and Victory being generally spread over the whole Isle About the Feast of All-Saints King David of Scotland by the consent of his Nobility came hither to visit King Edward z Knighton p. 2619. n. 2. c. unto whom he offer'd his Service to go arm'd along with him in his Wars where he pleased so that thereby his Realm might in some measure be eased of paying the Ransom which had been set upon him He further desired the King that the Merchants of Scotland might freely traffick here in England as the English Merchants should also do in Scotland as one Nation and People without any impediment or reproach and that their Mony might be current with Ours and Ours with Theirs and that their young Scholars might be admitted to study in our Universities whereby he hoped a mutual Love and Friendship would be propagated between the two Nations
with certain Knights and Esquires of Gascogne and of England in his Company intending from thence to repair to King Edwards Camp before Rheims These Men the young Lord of Gomegines being inflam'd with a desire to advance his Reputation in War encreased to the Number of 300 Men of Arms and then set forth in the Head of them from Maubeuge and went to Avesnes in Hainalt whence he proceeded to Terlon Now the Lord of Roye who lay in Garrison at Roye in Picardy with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires heard of these Preparations of the Lord of Gomegines and that he was going to serve King Edward in the Siege before Rheims and must of necessity as he also knew pass through Tierasche and being exactly inform'd at what time he was to set forward sent word thereof to certain Captains his Friends of the French party But especially to the Lord Canon Robsart an Experienced and Valiant Gentleman who then menaged the young Earl of Coucy's Lands and lay at the Castle of Marle in Tierasche The Lord Robsart at the time appointed joyn'd the Earl of Roye with 40 Spears But the Earl was Commander in Chief of the whole Enterprise not only in consideration of his Quality but because he had been the first Deviser thereof So he led forth in all 300 Men of Arms and went and laid an Ambush where he knew the Lord of Gomegines musts needs pass who suspecting nothing of this Matter was already enter'd Tierasche taking his way toward Rheims where King Edward lay On a morning he came to a certain Village called Hercigny where he thought to refresh his Men a while and so to proceed But as his Men were setting up their Horses he himself being young lusty and desirous of Honourable hazards said that for his part he would ride a little way out of Town to see if he could meet with any forage and thereupon selecting out 50 Men he marched out of the Village a Valiant Esquire of England named Christopher Moor bearing his Banner before him Now the Frenchmen who knew all their Motions were not far off from the said Village in a close Ambush thinking because the other equall'd them in Number not to stir till Night and then by surprising the Town make their Advantage For they were fully informed of their being there But it seems the Lord of Gomegines thrust himself now into their hands before they had hoped for such fortune themselves When the Frenchmen saw him at first with so small a Company they wonder'd who it should be and sent out a couple of light Horse to view them who returning brought word that they were a party of those they had expected At this they all brake out of their Ambush crying Roye in the Name of the Lord of Roye who rode foremost with his Banner displayed before him and the Lord Flamone of Roye his Cousin was with him together with Sr. Lewis of Robsart and the Lord Canon Robsart his Brother Sr. Tristram of Bonroy and others When the Lord of Gomegines saw what a case he was in like a resolute Gentleman he stood still to receive them and scorn'd to flinch a Foot. But at the very first brunt he was overthrown Horse and Man and finally there taken Prisoner and with him two Esquires of Gascogne who had fought with singular Valour as did also Christopher Moor Esquire who bare the Standard but at last together with that fell into the Frenchmens hands To be brief all on that side were either slain or taken except the Valets who escaped by running away the Enemy slighting to pursue them especially seeing they took not the way to the Town where the rest of their Men lay to discover unto them what had been done But the Field being f Frois c. 209. c. now clear'd the Conquerours took their Horses and rode into the Village upon the spur crying Roye in the Name of the Lord Roye whereat those in the Town were extreamly surprized to see their Enemies so near them they not knowing what was become of their Captain and beside most of them were unarmed and scatter'd abroad in the Town Wherefore being out of hope to make any tolerable Defence they began to yield themselves and the Frenchmen bestow'd them about in their Lodgings The Lord Canon Robsart had a great many Prisoners because he was best known to the English and Gascogners by his Banner with which they had been acquainted But some fled into a little House of Defence at the end of the Town which was moated about and might perhaps have proved a Refuge at that time had they been all of one mind but some said it was best to make good the place because it was strong enough to secure them till they might send word to the Army before Rheims from whence they should doubtless have a speedy Succour Others said 't was difficult to send now the Enemy was there and impossible to defend it till the return of an answer While thus they were concerting of Reasons the Lord of Roye with one decisive peremptory threat commanded them to yield up immediately For if they put him to the trouble of taking them by force they were all no better than dead Men. At these Words the stoutest of them all began to misdoubt the Event and so they presently agreed to yield only on security of their Lives After this all the Prisoners were sent to the Castle of Coucy and other French Garrisons to be kept till their Ransoms should be paid But when King Edward heard of the Matter he was greatly displeased but was obliged to digest it as well as he could For the only cure for irreparable Afflictions is Patience And this Adventure happen'd in the latter end of December in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX the Siege then enduring before Rheims VIII On the 20 g Frois c. 209. Knighton p. 2622. Lord Montagne's Essays c. 5. l. 1. p. 11. of the said Month the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter went with a Detachment from before Rheims and laid Siege to the Town and Castle of Cormicy which was near unto his Quarters for all the Great Lords were disposed about in strong Bodies abroad in the Country as well for Conveniency of Quarters as to stop up all the Avenues that no Provision should enter the City This Fortress belonged to the Archbishop of Rheims and was now by him so well furnish'd that it seem'd far enough out of all Danger For therein was a square stone Tower with Walls of a Wonderfull thickness and at all Points sufficiently provided for a Siege and moreover the Town it self was fenced with a Double Ditch and High Walls But against this Place came the Lord Burwash together with the Lord John Botetourt and other Knights as well of his own Retinue as belonging to the Prince of Wales to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Richmond These Men
Easter-Day Whereas Easter-Day that Year tell on the 5 of April and on the 1â— of April which was the Monday after Faster K. Edward left Paris Thô Mr. Ashmole thrô haste pastâ—r over this Fault of Stows Day being very dark and misty together with a great quantity of Hail there happen'd so bitter a Cold that several Men died as they sat on their Horses wherefore unto this time says my Author that Day is called the Black-Monday But this no doubt is a mistaken Relation of that horrible Storm and Cold which the King met withall afterwards as we shall shew in due Place These Actions being over the Lord Walter Manny returned to the Army which tarried still in those Fields all that Day and the Night following But the next Morning being a Monday and the 13 of April seeing no Provocations could bring the Dauphin to a Battle and that it was morally impossible to force otherwise than by Famine so great a City which was not only now well fortified but l Fabâ—an p. 239. ex Chron. â—â—anc furnished with great plenty of Souldiers besides the vast Numbers of Inhabitants the King therefore resolved to rise from thence till a more favourable season and the mean while to go forth with Fire and Sword through Beauce and le Maine till he came into Bretagne where having refreshed his Army he intended to return to the Siege of Paris in July or August at the furthest and so to famish them by a long Siege For as we shew'd before He had made a Vow never to return into England till he had brought France to his Terms either by Fair means or by Force Accordingly on the Monday after Easter m Frois c. 211. fol. 1â—4 he raised his Camp and began to march towards Mont-lehery VII The mean while certain Knights of England and of Gascogne having found a convenient place determin'd with themselves to lie in Ambush For they expected that among so many Valiant Lords and Gentlemen then in Paris some of them would not fail to follow the Army thô only to cut off straglers and such as lag'd behind Accordingly by the Kings Order the Ambush was laid in an empty old house about 3 Leagues from Paris consisting of 200 chosen Men of Arms English and Gascogners under these Captains the Lord Nevill the Lord Moubray Sr. Richard Pontchardon the Captal de Busche Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and the Lord of Courton the Three first of England and the other of Gascogne Now when the Frenchmen within Paris had seen the Decamping of the English Army it was thus discoursed among certain young Knights and Gentlemen there Surely it would be well worth our while to make a sally as secretly as we may and to follow the English Army at a distance for it s more than probable we may happen to win some notable Advantage Hereupon the Design was embrac'd by the Lord Ralph de Coucy Sr. Ralph de Ravenal the Lord of Monsault the Lord of Helay the Chastelan of Beauvais the Begue of Vilaine the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Flamone du Roye Sr. Peter of Savoy and others to the Number of an n Vid. Frois c. 211. fol. 104. l. â—or 22. 150 Spears in their Company They fallied out in good order all very well Horsed taking the way of Bourg la Reine till they had passed beyond the English Ambush With that the Ambush brake forth from behind them and follow'd after them crying St. George England The Frenchmen look'd back in great surprize to be so taken tardy but when they saw there was no flinching they stood their ground with a ready Courage setting themselves in the best Order to receive them on the points of their Spears The Rencountre was very rough and many on both sides were reversed on the Earth for they were all well Horsed Such as could mounted again and after this brunt with Spears they drew their Swords and fell in among one another giving and receiving several rude stroaks so that the Action deserved more Spectators For many Noble Deeds of Arms were performed at this time and the Battle lasted for a while doubtfull On the English part the Captal of Busche is said to have approved himself most eminently that day as also on the French side the Lord of Ravenal fought like a truly Valiant Knight for he gave many gallant proofs of his Skill and Courage under his own Banner till his Standard-Bearer being slain he himself was taken Prisoner For now the English and Gascogners prevail'd so that the Victory was clearly theirs Thô indeed they exceeded the French in Number about one Fourth Part. The other seeing the Scales turn against them fled away directly toward Paris thô continually they were fain to face about and fight as they fled they were so closely pursu'd And if the English had not doubted a Rescue from Paris now that their Horses began to be weary every Man of them had been either taken or slain But upon that account they were content to follow the Chace no farther than Bourg la Reine where they took Nine Knights and Esquires more and having by this Success a little secur'd the Reer of the Army from the French Pursuers they return'd with what they had got to Mont-lehery where the King lay that Night and then very courteously set their Prisoners to their Ransom permitting them to go that same Night whither they pleased only engaging their Faith to pay them by such a time at the utmost On the English part o Dadg Bar. 2 Vol. p. 16. ad an 34. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Aâ—tâ—gr penes Cler. Pâ—il we find about this time that the Lord Roger de la Warre was taken Prisoner by Monsieur John Haubert but that it was in this Action I have no warrant to affirm Thô this was the very last that we hear of till the Gates of Janus were shut in that Kingdom Now King Edward's p Frois c. 211. c. Design as we have already intimated was to march for the present into Beauce and so keeping along by the River of Loire to go into Bretagne q Pâ—l Virgâ— 19. p. 383 n. 4â— to the end he might subdue it wholly on the behalf of the young Earl of Montford his Son in Law for him to hold it of the Crown of England and the mean while to refresh his Army for now that Country had enjoy'd a long respite from the Wars Which done he thought to return about August at the time of Vintage and lay a formal Siege to Paris because of the Oath which he had made before his Departure out of England namely that he would never return alive till he had reduced France to terms agreeable to his Honour VIII And over and above the great Army he led along with him r Frois c. 211. fol. 104. he had sundry Garrisons in Champaigne and Brie in Picardy Normandy and almost over all the Realm of France besides
one of his Daughters for a Wife to his Son John with the Earldom of Vertus for her Dowry And we find that his Third Daughter Isabella was shortly after married to the said John Galeas XIV However the greater Part of the First Payment being now at last ready and all those who ought to be Hostages for the Rest being rendred up at St. Omers King Edward presently embarqued for France and on the m Fabian p. 242 b. ED. Lit. Dom. 9 of October being a Fryday arrived safely at Calais Upon his Arrival he went straight to the Castle to visit King John who welcom'd him with a loving and cheerfull Countenance agreeable to that sincerity whereof he was a professed Master As King Edward was taking his leave to retire to his Lodgings prepared for him in the Town King John desired him to come the next Day with his Sons and take a Dinner with him The Invitation King Edward accepted but entreated that it might be deferred till the Monday following and so that Day being the 12 of October was fixed At Dinner-time King Edward had the First Seat and held State next to him sat the French King thirdly the Black-Prince and lastly the Duke of Lancaster No more sitting at Table While they were at Dinner the Earl of Flanders came to the Castle to pay a Visit to both the Kings but especially to congratulate the Return of King John who received him with all imaginable Kindness When this Royal Entertainment was over Two of the King of Englands younger Sons and two of the French Kings took leave of their Fathers and rode towards Boulogne where at that time the Dauphin was He met them half way and conducted them the other half to Boulogne where they all rested that night The next Morning the Dauphin having left the two English Princes there as it were Pledges for his Security rode himself forth to Calais first he waited on his Father and afterwards both his Father and he went to King Edwards Palace to Dinner where they were received with much Honour and entertain'd at a most Royal Feast On the Wednesday being the 14 of October the said Dauphin took his leave of King Edward and of the King his Father and rode back to Boulogne upon whose safe Return King Edwards two Sons rode back again to Calais On the Saturday Seven-night after which was the 24 of October the Peace was fully sworn to and established by the two Kings in this manner The Two Kings being seated in two distinct Traverses in the Church of St. Nicolas at Calais High Mass was sung before them by Androine Abbot of Cluigny to the Offering whereof neither of the Kings came But when the Pax came to be kissed by which Ceremony was signified that the Peace of Christ should ever remain between them They to love each other as Christian Princes after his Command and Example the French King to whom it was first carried refused it in Modesty after which King Edward not admitting it in Generosity King John rose first and went toward King Edward who being aware thereof rose up hastily and ran to meet him where both again refusing the Pax they kissed each other with hearty Demonstrations of a mutual Friendship At this Mass both the Kings were severally sworn in Solemn Manner to maintain truly and perpetually the Articles of the said Peace And for the further Security thereof many of the Chief Lords of both Realms were sworn to help to preserve the same to their Powers especially the n Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 3. two Eldest Sons of England and France and at the same time the Duke of Orleans in the Name of King John and Prince Philip of Navarre in the Name of the King his Brother sware to forget all Injuries on both Sides and to cultivate a mutual Friendship for the future These Oaths were thus taken both on the Evangelists and on the Eucharist and the two Kings received the Sacrament in both kinds thereupon And they were so well satisfied with the Conduct of the foresaid Abbot o Odor Rainal ibid. that they jointly requested of the Pope to bestow on him a Cardinals Cap for his diligent and effectual Service therein And thô we find the Pope in his Answer desires on certain Accounts to be excused for the present yet it is certain p Victorell ad an 1361. p. 917 that at the next Creation which happen'd the Year after he was made a Cardinal of the Title of St. Marcellus At the same time the Hostages who according to the 15 and 18 Articles were to be deliver'd as well for the Security of the Payment of the Kings Ransom as of the Restoration of those Places which as yet were not put into the English Hands were deliver'd unto King Edward and also there were then paid unto him q Ashmole p. 662. ex Rot. de Tract Pacis c. 400000 Scutes of Gold in Part of the First 600000 King Edward giving further time for the Payment of the remaining 200000 till Christmas and Lady-Day following Which done both the Kings gave forth interchangeably their Letters Patents concerning these things all bearing one Date and containing one Form only Mutatis Mutandis The Tenor of King Edwards wherein he lays by his Title of France being as followeth viz. XV. EDWARD * * Frois c. 212. fol. 105. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all unto whom these Letters shall come Greeting We give you to understand that of all the Dissensions Debates and Discords moved or hereafter to be moved between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King certain Commissioners and Deputies of ours and of our Dear Son the Prince of Wales having sufficient Power and Authority for Us and for Him and for our whole Realm on the one Party and certain other Commissioners and Deputies of our Dear Brother the French King and of our Dear Nephew Charles Duke of Normandy and Dauphin of Vienna Eldest Son to our said Brother of France having Power and Authority for his Father and for Himself on the other Party were assembled at Bretigny near to Chartres At which place it was agreed and accorded by the said Commissioners and Deputies of either Party upon all Dissentions Debates Wars and Discords whatsoever And the Deputies of Us and of our Son for Us and for Him and also the Deputies of our said Brother and of our said Nephew for them both did swear upon the Holy Evangelists to hold keep and accomplish this Treaty By the which Accord among other things our Brother of France and his said Son are bound and promise r r Article 1. to deliver and resign unto Us our Heirs and Successors for ever all the Counties Cities Towns Castles Forts Lands Isles Rents Revenues and other things as followeth besides that which already We have and hold in Guienne and in Gascogne to possess for ever
Pope and the Emperour And moreover they made a solemn Renuntiation to all Wars against each Other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renuntiation their Eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both Sides were sworn And then also a Proclamation issued forth from King Edward to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and to all other Captains of Towns Castles Forts c. held for the King in France for them to give Notice to all Places within their Command of this Peace and final Accord thus made between the two Kings After h Frois c. 213. all these Articles Letters and Commissions were made devised finished and deliver'd by the Advice and Consent of the Councils of England and France so that as to that Point both the Kings were well contented then they fell into a close Communication concerning the Lord Charles of Blois and the Lord John of Montford and their several Claims to the Dutchy of Bretagne for each pretended the whole and sole Right to that Heritage Some have been so bold in venting their Opinions as to say that King Edward and his Council were not over-warm in this Matter and surely in meer Policy he might well enough be supposed something cool For if now the Wars of Bretagne should be shut too there had been no Vent left for those many boistrous Troops which as yet lay in several Garrisons and upon their resigning those Fortresses must needs otherwise have filled England with Theeves and Robbers But certainly whoever impartially observes the honourable and sincere Practices of King Edward upon all Occasions and duly compares them with what relates to this Matter in the Articles and Letters foregoing will not so rashly attribute the ill Success of the Treaty of Bretagne to King Edwards Insincerity but rather to the Impracticableness of the Affair it self Since two such Valorous Young Princes had so fair a Pretence to so Noble a Dukedome that there could hardly remain any Prospect of deciding the Controversie without the Sword or the Death of one of the Parties But however it was when now upon Conference this New Treaty seem'd so hard to be brought to any good Issue Henry Duke of Lancaster who was a most valiant and expert Souldier but chiefly favour'd the Earl of Montford and wish'd his Advancement spake these words to the King of France in Presence of the King of England and the greater Part of both the Kings Councils Sir said he the Truce that was taken before Rennes between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Earl of Montford is not yet expired but is still to hold to the first Day of May next coming The King of England my Master here present by Advice of his Council and with Consent of my Lord the Prince his Son shall before that time send the Young Duke the Lord John of Montford with certain of his Council into France to your Majesty with full Power and Authority to confer and determine about the Right which the said Lord John ought to have as succeeding his Father in the Dutchy of Bretagne So then by You and your Council and by Ours together some agreeable Way may be taken between them for the better Security of which Affair I think it would be well to prolong the said Truce yet farther till the Feast of St. John Baptist next following According to this Device of the Dukes so it was done and concluded and the Truce relating to Bretagne prolonged to the Feast of St. John Baptist and then they fell to other Matters XX. And i Frois c. 213. f. 108. now that the Peace between England and France was fully confirmed King John was so elevated with the Assurance of Returning into his Country that he then first seem'd sincerely to rejoyce since his being taken Prisoner He shew'd unto King Edward such an hearty Good-Will that it appear'd plainly to have no mixture of Dissimulation and to his Nephew the Prince of Wales he declared all the endearing Signs of Royal Love and Affection that might be As also King Edward and his Son the Prince were exceeding Frank Generous and obligingly Open unto him These two Illustrious Monarchs who from this time till Death parted called themselves Brethren as a mutual remembrance of their Brotherly Amity gave now unto Four Knights of either Party such as chiefly in their stations had promoted this Peace 8000 Franks of Yearly Revenues for them and their Heirs for ever King John giving the said Summ to Four Knights of England and King Edward a like Revenue to Four Knights of France And at the same time because the Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantine in Normandy were the King of Englands Right by a Deed of Gift and Sale from the Lord Godfry Harcourt deceased which Lands were not comprised in the Ordinance of the Treaty of Peace so that whoever held those Lands must do Homage therefore to the French King King Edward k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. now in respect of the many Laudable and Heroick Services of that Valiant and Renowned Knight the Lord John Chandos gave unto him and his Heirs for ever a Grant of the Baronies of St. Saviour le Vicount aforesaid of Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and of all other the Lands and Possessions of the said Godfry of Harcourt Which Princely Gift King John at the Request of King Edward confirmed now unto the said Lord John Chandos he doing Homage therefore unto him bating that Allegiance which he owed unto his Master the King of England And now when all the foresaid Agreements were as well made and devised and as firmly established as Human Wit could contrive so that it seem'd by reason of the sundry strict and solemn Engagements Counter-bonds and mutual Obligations between the two Kings and their Sons that the Peace would prove everlasting and when the Hostages were all come to Calais and the 400000 Crowns of Gold were paid down to the King of England and the remaining 200000 secured which was the First Payment then King Edward made a most Royal and Magnificent Supper for the French King within the Castle of Calais at which the Black-Prince and his Three Brethren Lionel John and Edmund with the Greatest Lords and Barons of England served the two Kings bare-headed After Supper the two Kings bad each other Good Night in the most Obliging Manner imaginable King Edward remaining still in the Castle and King John going to his Lodgings in the Town which had been prepared for him upon his being set at Liberty The next Morning l Fabian p. 243. being the 25 of October and a Sunday King John and all those who were to go with him took his leave of Calais and rode forth of the Town in the Forenoon King Edward himself conveying him a Mile onward of his Way and then the two Kings took
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin or as some say z Dugd. Warw. p. 165. ex Esc 35. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 122. on the Tuesday after the said Feast which that Year fell on the 30th of March. England had less wanted him now that the War was ended if he had not been as Eminent for Counsel in Peace as he was remarkable for Military performances He was only Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was younger Brother and next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who was Eldest Son to Edmund Sirnamed Crouchback Second Son to King Henry III of England and Brother to King Edward the First Grandfather to King Edward the Third This Illustrious Person in his life time did nothing degenerate from the Blood Royal of England of which he so largely partook as may be seen in those many foregoing Passages of this History which speak of his Warlike Actions His many Heroick Vertues obtain'd him the Glorious Sirname of Good he being generally called the Good Duke of Lancaster Wherefore his Death was universally Lamented especially by the Poor by the Clergy and by Scholars to whom he was a Constant Friend and Patron Nor was King Edward a Frois c. 216. less concerned for the loss of so Renowned a Kinsman and Captain as were also all the Barons of England Lords Knights and Esquires For he was in his Days an Ornament to the Nobility a Patron to the Church a Prop to Learning a Glory to the Souldiery and a shield unto his Prince He was b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. buried on the South-side of the High-Altar in the Collegiate Church of Leicester which c Knighton p. 2625. Speed's Maps in Leicester himself had founded and set over it one Dean Twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and others all sufficiently provided with Revenues Besides he consummated the Hospital there which his Father had begun wherein were maintain'd an 100 Infirm and Poor people d Stow p. 265. 50 Men and 50 Women together with 10 lusty and able Women to serve the said Infirm Ones with Meat and Drink and other bodily Necessaries day and night Both which Hospital and College of Canons he sufficiently endowed for ever and indeed they were the Greatest Ornament of that City until the heavy Hand of King Henry VIII among other the like Foundations laid their Ruines at his own Feet At which time the College Lands d Stow p. 265. were valued at 595 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence per annum He left behind him two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Mathilda the Eldest then 22 Years of Age at that time Married to William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the Emperour and Duke of Zealand Holland Hainalt and Friseland the other Daughter named Blanch then 19 Years of Age and the Wife of John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond but upon the Death of her Eldest Sister which happen'd shortly after without Issue in her Right Duke of Lancaster Earl of Darby Lincoln and Leicester Steward of England and also Lord of Brigerac Beaufort and Nogent Who had by her Henry Sirnamed of Bolingbroke who afterwards traiterously deposing King Richard the Second became King of England by the Name of Henry IV. Soon after his Death the Lady f Knighton p. 2625. Mathilda his Eldest Daughter came into England to claim her Purparty of the Inheritance where she died presently being g Id. p. 2626. n. 31. as was thought poison'd that the Inheritance might not be divided among Foreigners but go entirely as thereupon it did to her Younger Sister who was Married in England Besides this Great Prince there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. died this Year of the same Plague the Lord John Moubray a most Valiant and Noble Knight of England who was styled Lord of the Isle of Haxiholme and of the Honours of Gower and Brembre He died at York on the 4th of October leaving behind him John his Son and Heir a Valiant Young Gentleman then of full Age whom he had by his Wife the Lady Joan of Lancaster Sister to the Duke of Lancaster aforesaid But this Young Lord John Moubray brought more i Dudg ibid. p. 128. Honour and Possessions to his House and Name by taking unto him for Wife the Lady Elisabeth Daughter and Heir to John Lord Seagrave by Margaret his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Thomas of Brotherton k Fifth Son but Second surviving Second Son to King Edward the First Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England From which Marriage l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110. are Descended all the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Nottingham of the Sirname of Moubray and Howard the Earls of Suffolk and Barkshire and particularly the Thrice Noble Henry Lord Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 279. p. 312. Son of John Earl of Peterborough by his Lady Elisabeth sole Daughter and Heir of William Howard Lord Effingham Eldest Son to Charles Earl of Nottingham Nor ought We to forget the Death of the Valiant Lord n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Mills Catal. Honer p. 531. Edward Montague Brother to William the first Earl of Salisbury of that Name which happen'd in this Year he leaving behind him only one Daughter at that time XII Years of Age then Wife to the Lord William Hufford Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk Besides this o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 68. there died the Lord Reginald Cobham a Baron of great Renown in those days leaving behind him a Son of his own Name and Character Also William p Id. 1 Vol. p. 447. Lord Fitz-Warine of the House of the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine and Sr. Nicolas q Id. 2 Vol. p. 89. St. Maure alià s Seymor a considerable Baron of the Realm Besides whom there were now taken away six Bishops r Walsing hist p. 171. Gedw Catal. Bps Stow p. 265. as Michael Northborough alià s Northbrook Bishop of London who was succeeded by Simon Sudbury Reginald Brian Bishop of Worcester whose Chair was supply'd by John Barnet Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely a good Benefactor to Peter-House College in Cambridge whose loss was repaired by the Succession of Simon Langham also Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester into whose place came William Lenne alià s Lenlimere and John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln whose Successor was John Buckingham Lord Privy Seal but these two latter died in the beginning of the next Year There died also at this time that Famous Scholar Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland and Chancellour of the University of Oxford of whom we Å¿ Huius hist l. 3. c. 3. §. 15. p. 552. have spoken more largely elsewhere Only it is here to be added that this Archbishop t Vid. Odâ—r Rainal ad ann 1358. § 6. Wad in Annal. Minor. Tem. 4. ad cund ann had such a Reputation for Holiness and Integrity of Life that he is said to
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
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault 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 〈◊〉 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
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
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
also unworthy to be related The Earl of Flanders b Frois c. 253. fol. 153. himself was not unwilling and had also enter'd Solemn Engagements by Covenant to promote and effect the Nuptials But the Lady Margaret her Grandmother a Frenchwoman both in Blood and Affection opposed her self against this Alliance with all her Power being rather minded to fortifie the House of France Wherefore she prest her Son with all the Vehemence imaginable even so far as to threaten c Mezeray ibid. to cut off those Breasts of hers wherewith she had given him suck because they had nourished up such an ungratefull and unnatural Son. These Words of hers touch'd him to the Quick so that he resolved in his Mind to bestow his Daughter elsewhere As he had opportunity enough to do for many great Princes Courted the Young Lady with assiduous application but especially he was call'd upon by the French King to bestow his Daughter upon his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this Politick King had secretly so tamper'd with Pope Urban that he could by no means be prevail'd with to allow a Dispensation for the King of England's Son to Marry her for they were within the Degrees forbidden The Earl of Flanders therefore d Frois ibid. being thus press'd upon by his Mother as well as by the French King and finding by the Pope's obstinacy that the Marriage would not presently take with England especially considering that it was high time for his Daughter to be Married because he had no more Children and also believing that the Young Duke of Burgundy would be no improper Match for his Daughter who before had been Married to that Title upon these and the like accounts he sent certain Messengers into England desiring the King to acquit him from his Obligations since a Dispensation for a Marriage with his Son could not be obtain'd by any means King Edward who was not apt to suspect any fraud in Princes and Men of Honour considering withall that the Young Lady was not to lose her time since he could not hope for any timely Dispensation freely releas'd him of all Covenants to that purpose of which he gave his Letters wherewith the said Messengers return'd to Bruges and shew'd their Lord the Earl how they had succeeded which pleas'd him wondrous well And soon after the Marriage was fully agreed on between Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Earl's Daughter these being the Conditions That the Earl of Flanders in consideration of this Match should have 50000 Franks that the Towns of Lisle and Doway should be deliver'd up unto him in gage for certain Sums of Money which the French King hereupon undertook to pay to the Earl of Flanders Who accordingly had present Possession thereof and placed his own Subjects therein This Composition being made and Ratified they proceeded to the Marriage which was held and consummated in the City of Gaunt with great Pomp and Solemnity many High Lords Barons and Knights being present especially the accomplish'd Young Lord Ingleram de Coucy Earl of Bedford who was sent thither by the French King to add Grace to their Dancing Justs and Triumphs But when King Edward of England saw that the Earl of Flanders was by means of his Daughter allied thus to the House of France he knew not what to think whether or no the Earl would take Part against him for the sake of the Duke of Burgundy his Son-in-Law and Presumptive Heir For he doubted much what kind of Covenants might have passed on that Occasion between the French King and the Earl to his Prejudice Wherefore he became now more severe with the Flemings and vexed them more than heretofore both by Land and by Sea as they were about their Merchandise And at this the French King was not at all displeased but rather laughed in his sleeve for he hoped that thereupon a War would ensue between the English and the Flemings But however the Wise Men of Flanders and the most Wealthy Burgesses of the Good Towns had no mind to break with England not only because of their loss of Trade consequent thereupon but because in a manner all the Commons of Flanders were absolutely enclin'd to King Edward's Side and generally believed his Title to the Crown of France to be much fairer than that of the French Kings II. The mean while King Edward who was as busie to procure himself Friends as the French King was on the other hand to ballance this Loss of the Earl of Flanders sent to his Cosen Charles King of Navarre whom he knew to be at no good Terms with the French King Because he claimed a Right of Inheritance to certain Lands which he held concerning which both their Councils had often treated But still the King of France denied that he ought to inherit them and so Matters rested at this time both the Kings being not yet come to Daggers drawing but exceeding Jealous of each other Particularly the King of Navarre who was then in Base Normandy began seriously to fortifie his Towns and Castles in Coutantine and the Earldom of Eureux and other Parts of Normandy which came unto Him by his Mother the Countess of Eureux or otherwise He himself making his chief Residence at Cherburgh with Men of War ready in that as well as all other his Garrisons Among others at this time in his Service there was that Eminent Warrier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt who as then govern'd Carentan a City beyond the Passage of St. Clement in the Limits of Coutantine which belonged to the King of Navarre's Inheritance This Sr. Eustace was one of the King of Navarre's Principal Councellors but a Subject and Liegeman to the King of England wherefore King Edward sent now to him to sift the King of Navarre throughly and he so far prevail'd with him that at last the King of Navarre with a private Company went on Board an English Vessel called the Lynne and set sail for England where he was heartily welcome to King Edward And here at last it was agreed that the King of Navarre immediatly upon his return to Cherburgh should admit English Troops into all his Garrisons and also send and defie the French King. After which he returned with a strong Convoy of English Knights and Archers into Normandy where he dispos'd of most of the Men in Garrisons but those few who returned home with the Ships had but ill Fortune For they met with certain Pirats Normans and others who being far stronger set upon them fiercely and within a while took and slew them every Man they would not receive one to Mercy Which was a great Trouble as well as Loss to King Edward but the matter was past all Recovery III. Soon after the King of Navarre was return'd safe to Cherbourgh Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being sent for by the Prince of Wales took leave of him to go and serve the Prince according to his Duty thô the King was at
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 Prince◠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
of Clequin takes St. Benoist by Assault and puts all within to the Sword He takes Marans by Composition and Surgeres he finds void He takes Fontenay le Comté and sits down before Thoüars which obtains a Truce on promise to yield if not rescued by such a Day by the King of England or one of his Sons in Person The Captal of Busche brought Prisoner to Paris his Loyalty to the English for which he is confin'd for Life his Praise and Nobility and that he was Ancestor to Lewis XIV the present King of France XIX King Edward upon News from Thoüars resolves to go in Person to the Rescue and the mean while calls his Parliament and declares Richard of Bourdeaux the Black-Prince's only Son to have the Right of Succession after the Death of his Father and Grandfather and so leaving the said Prince Richard his Lieutenant during his Absence he sets Sail for Rochelle with a mighty Army XX. The French King prepares to oppose and the Loyal Lords of Gascogne to joyn him with all their Strength XXI But the Wind continuing adverse for a Month he is disappointed and forced to return into England XXII The English and Gascogne Lords offer themselves to save Thoüars but are not accepted because the Conditions required the King or one of his Sons to be there in Person XXIII Thoüars yielded to the French Mortagne besieged by the Lord. Clisson who leaves the Siege upon the Approach of the English Succours XXIV The Duke of Bretagne enters Alliance with King Edward and is made Earl of Richmond John of Gaunt resigning that Earldom upon an Equivalent XXV Prince Edward surrenders into his Fathers Hands the Principality of Aquitain The Death of the Earl of Stafford of Sr. William Molineux and of Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller I. THIS being the first Inauspitious Year of our Great Edwards Reign was begun with the Death of two Famous Peers of this Realm For first a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 186. Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 1075. on the 16 of January there died the Valiant Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Northampton Hereford and Essex and Constable of England the Tenth of that Name and the last Male of that Noble Family For by the Lady Joan his Wife Daughter to Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel he left Issue only two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Eleanor who became the Wife of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Woodstock the Youngest Son of King Edward and the Lady Mary who was Wife to the Eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster called Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby and afterwards by Usurpation King of England by the Name of Henry the IV. This Earl is also said in a certain b M.S. Penes D. Ed. D. Mil. de Sharsted in Cantio private Genealogy which I have seen to have left behind him another Daughter named Beatrix which is there pretended to have been married to an Ancestor of that Family But this is a gross Error and Mistake and a Vanity worthy to be corrected thô here I spare the Gentlemans Name since it contradicts c Dugd. ibid. Mills ibid. Sandford Gen. Hist p. 227. c. all the Publique and Authentick Accounts that are any where to be met with About the same time viz. on the 15 of January d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. Frois c. 296. Lit. Dom. DC being a Thursday and the Day after the Feast of St. Hilary the Bishop and Confessor there died in the City of London that most Generous and Couragious Gentleman the Lord Walter Manny Banneret and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind him the Lady Anne his only Daughter and Heir then married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke she being at that time but Seventeen Years of Age. At this Mans Death King Edward and all the Lords of England were mightily concerned because of the extraordinary Judgment Loyalty and Courage that had always been found in him He was therefore e â—anford Gen. Hist p. 207. 208. Stow's Survey p. 478. Dugd. c. buried with great Solemnity in his own Chappel of the Carthusians now called the Charter-House in London King Edward and all his Children the Great Prelates of the Church and the Brethren of the Order of the Garter with many of the Chief Barons of the Realm honouring his Funeral Rites with their Prefence He died f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. siezed of the Mannor of Dunstaple in Kent of Dovercourt Chesterford Magna and Rumford in Essex of Weston and Knebworth in Hertfordshire of the Castle of Strigoile and Mannor of Tudenham in the Marches of Wales of the Mannors of North Pidele in Worcestershire of Bretteby in Darbyshire of Oneston and Barton-Hanrede in Northamtonshire of Scottesdon in Shropshire of Aspele Alspathe Thurlaston and Fleckenho in Warwickshire of Cold-Overton Dalby Segrave Sileby Montsorrel Groby Witherdale and the Hundred of Goscote in Leicestershire of Watton and Stoneham in Suffolk of Framlingham Southfield Lodden the Moiety of the Mannor of Dikelburgh and Half-Hundred of Ersham in Norfolk and of a certain Mannor in Penne near Beaconfield in Buckinghamshire All which Possessions except the Mannor of Dunstaple first mentioned came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Uncle to King Edward the Third Of her Body he gat besides a Son unhappily drown'd in his Childhood only one Daughter namely the Lady Anne married as we said before to the Earl of Pembroke Whereupon all these Lands and others as well in England as beyond the Seas in Hainalt his Native Country besides what King Edward g Vid. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 6. §. 20. p. 411. had given unto him in Calais and other Parts of France fell now unto the said Earl of Pembroke in Right of his Wife the Lady Anne Manny aforesaid Wherefore soon after the said Earl sent two of his Knights to make Seisin of the said Lands belonging unto him in Hainalt and they did their Devoir so well with Duke Albret of Bavaria who then Governed for his Distracted Brother William that they attained their Purpose II. Now thô King h Ashmâ—le's Garter p. 666. Edward design'd to enter France with two Fresh Armies this Year yet upon the Pope's earnest request both by Letters and Messages he first endeavour'd to lay hold of an Honourable Peace To which end i 19 Febr. Rot. Franc. 46 Ed. 3. m. 47. Power of treating thereon was given to Simon Sudbury alià s Tibald Bishop of London to the Lord Guy Brian and the Lord Roger Beauchamp Bannerets to Sr. Arnold Savage Knight Dr. John Appleby Dean of London and John de Branketre Treasurer of York And the k 20 Febr. ibid. m. 48. next day the King granted his Letters of safe Conduct for the Ambassadors of France to treat about that Affair But because nothing as to
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
with his Hundred Knights and Esquires to ride abroad so to entice the Enemy into their Ambush Not far thence along by a great Hedge were the Lord of Gomegines and his Men who stood there on Foot all in good Order only Sr. John Harleston i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 154. Captain of Guisnes was sent forth with 20 Spears to see if he could find the French his Orders being on sight of them to fly and suffer the Enemy to pursue him towards this Hedge where his Friends stood ready for them As Sr. John was riding forth in the Fields with this Design the young Earl of St. Pol espi'd him and said aloud to his Men Sirs now let us advance forth Yonder are our Enemies and so clapping Spurs to their Horses they set forward full Speed Sr. John Harleston flying as fast before them till he came to the Hedge where his Friends stood ready ranged with the Archers in their Front. As soon as the Frenchmen came in their reach the Archers received them warmly shooting and overthrowing to the ground Men and Horses and immediatly the Men of Arms came up with them having remounted their Horses with Spears and Axes in their Hands while Sr. John Harleston with his twenty Spears fetching a Compass about came behind and fell in upon their Backs with great fury Many gallant Deeds were done by the Young Earl of St. Pol and the Frenchmen but being thus surrounded and overpower'd with Number they were all slain or taken to a Man. The Earl of St. Pol was taken alive by the hands of an Esquire of the Dutchy of Gueldre and together with him by other Hands the Lord of Pons the Lord of Clery the Lord William of Nesle Sr. Charles of Chastillon Sr. Lionel D'Araines Sr. Gawen de Vesley Sr. Henry de Lisle and Sr. John his Brother the Chastellain of Beauvais and many more Knights and Esquires Immediately after which Discomfiture the Lord Hugh de Chastillon came thither with his three hundred Spears and his Banner before him he rode up almost to the Hedge end but understanding then how his Friends Business was already done and that the English so far outnumbred him he drew his Men together and wheel'd off without giving a stroke for he doubted more to encrease the Loss than to repair it Upon this good Success the English return'd to Ardres with their Prisoners and that very Night the Lord of Gomegines bought the Young Lord Valeran Earl of St. Pol of the Esquire that took him and soon after carried him into England and presented him to the King who thanked him very much and rewarded him more for that acceptable Piece of Service But this young Earl found such Gracious Dealing from King Edward that he became ever after as great a Friend as his Father had been an Enemy to the English Nation * Mili's Catal. Hen. p. 765. being Married to the Half-sister of King Richard the Second VIII About that time the Duke of Anjou and the Constable return'd as we observ'd before into France where they found the Archbishop of Roüen and the Bishop of Carpentras who had been long with the King at Paris making instant and continual Application unto him in the Pope's Behalf as other Legats at the same time dealt with King Edward for the same Purpose Wherefore according to a former Agreement between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster both the Kings were now again obliged to enter a Negotiation thereby if possible to accommodate their Differences The Place appointed for the Assembly was Bruges in Flanders but first the Duke of Anjou according to his Obligation went to St. Omers in great Array having sent for his Cousin Guy of Blois to come thither to him out of Hainal◠about which time the Duke of Lancaster arrived at Calais soon after which both the Dukes with their several Retinues went to Bruges And all the while there lay on the Marches between France and Flanders towards Aire and about Belle or Baillieul and Cassell in Flanders and near those Parts the Constable of France the Lords of Clisson and la Vall and Sr. Oliver Manny with above 600 Men of Arms to keep the Country least any thing should be innovated by the Earl of Flanders For these Lords being all Bretons could not repose any Trust in that Earl because he was so firm a Friend to John of Monford Duke of Bretagne against whom they fought Wherefore neither would they ever come to Bruges whatever the Commissioners on both sides could say or do There were present at this Treaty on the French Kings Part Lewis Duke of Anjou and Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruce the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop Elect of Bayeux and others And for the King of England there was John Duke of Lancaster William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Simon Sudbury Bishop of London Sr. John Cobham of Kent Sr. Frank van Hall Sr. Arnold Savage Mr. John Shephey and Mr. Simon Multon This Treaty was carried on by Snatches for k Mezeray two full Years with incredible Expences the Frenchmen all the while preparing at Home l Walsingh Hyp. p. 133. n. 40. for War fitting and making of Arms of all sorts and providing all manner of Warlike Habiliments And thus even in those Days were the French always too hard at Council for the English However for the present m Frois c. 312. fol. 194. Angl. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. that no Harm or Molestation should come to any of the Lords of either Party or to any of their Men by subtlety or other means since there were Hundreds that rode in and out daily of both Sides thô they could not settle a Firm and General Truce because of the Duke of Bretagne's Concerns and other Matters which render'd the thing impracticable yet first of all they settled this Point by agreeing on a Partial Truce to endure till the First of May in the Year following in all the Marches of Calais as far as the River of Somme all other Lands being left in their former state of Hostility Whereupon the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord de la Val hasted with their Troops into Bretagne because the Truce extended not to that Dukedom About this n Frois c. 311. time also there was a Treaty set on Foot concerning the Delivery of the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners out of Spain especially because the Earl of Pembroke o Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 10. not enduring the hard Usage of the Spaniards sent to Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France whom he knew to have great Interest with the King of Spain entreating him to use his power to deliver him out of that inhumane Thraldom Whereupon Sr. Bertram upon delivering back his Lands belonging to Soria Castle and acquitting certain Sums of Money due unto him from the King of Spain his Nephew Sr. Oliver
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâ—gree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâ—imus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
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 Frâ—is 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. â—d 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 Râ—â— 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
parts retired fair and softly to their main Battle not ceasing to skirmish all the way The mean while Sr. Emery drew forth his Men along upon the Dike without the Barriers and placed the Archers ready on both sides the way to receive the Enemy The Noise and Cry of Men and Martial Instruments was so great that all the whole Army drew thitherward expecting a full decision by Battle only their Pages and Valets being left in the Camp. At that very time Sr. Walter Manny with his 600 Men sallied out privily at the Postern Gate and fetching a Compass behind the Camp entred the Lodgings of the French Lords where they met with no Resistance for all were at the Skirmish Sr. Walter being directed went straight to the Lord Charles of Blois his Tent where he found the two Knights Prisoners Sr. John Butler and Sr. Matthew Trelauny with their Faces cover'd and their Hands ti'd behind them For all the Servants left about them were run away Sr. Walter unbound them himself and made them leap upon two good Horses brought thither for that purpose gave them each a Sword in their Hands and immediately without doing any harm return'd the same way he came and enter'd Hennebond with all his Company where he was received of the Countess with great joy All this while the Battle waxed hot near the Great Gate till the Valets who fled from before Sr. Walter brought word how the Prisoners were rescued When Don Lewis heard this Report he thought the Lord Charles had put a Trick upon him and ask'd in great fury which way they were gone that made the Rescue they told him toward Hennebond Then he left the Shirmish in great Displeasure and with his Troops retreated to the Camp at which time also Sr. Charles sounded a general Retreat For he found himself cheated and that there was no good to be done As the Frenchmen retired the Lord of Landerneau and the Governour of Guingand pursued after them so eagerly that they were both taken Prisoners and carried to the Lord Charles his Tent where they were so beset with Threats and Promises that they presently acknowledged him Duke of Bretagne and rendred him their Homage and Fealty Thus for the Recovery of two Friends the Countess lost two other but however by this Action she gain'd such a Reputation from her Enemies that they reckon'd her at that time Invincible XVII For three days after this brisk Exploit at a Council of War in the Lord Charles his Tent it was consider'd That Hennebond was not to be forced that by these Wars the Country had been so wasted and robbed by both Parties that there was hardly any Forage or Provision to be got that Winter also was near at hand for it was now t October between the Feast of Remigius and All Saints Wherefore they agreed to raise their Siege for that time only it was advis'd that the Lord Charles should take care to reinforce all his Fortresses which he had won with Provision Soldiers and Captains that so they might the next Year find their Affairs in no worse Posture than now they left them And for the better security of their Men in Winter Quarters it was order'd that if any desired a Truce till Whitsuntide it should not be refused This was the Result of what was agreed in this Council before Hâ—nnâ—bond in the Moneth of October MCCCXLII Whereupon u Frois c. 88. fol. 47. they brake up the Siege and except only such of the Lords as the Lord Charles of Blois retain'd with him to advise him in his Affairs all the Captains with their Forces went to their several Homes or the Quarters assigned them The Army breaking up at the strong Town of Karhais where some time after the Lord Charles of Blois remained Now during his Stay at Karhais a certain rich Merchant being a wealthy and powerfull Burgess of Jugon a Town standing on the River Arguenon about 7 Leagues from St. Brieu and 5 from Dinant was taken up by the Marshall Sr. Robert Beaumanoir and brought to his Lord Sr. Charles This Merchant by Commission from the Countess of Montford had the chief Rule of the Town of Jugon and was greatly also beloved and respected by the Inhabitants thereof Him Sr. Charles put in fear of his Life and pretended to be unwilling to accept of any Ransom whatsoever So that what thrô Fear and other Arts us'd upon him he began to listen to a Proposal of Betraying the Town At last it was agreed that as he who kept the Keys of the Town he should on such a Night leave open such a certain Gate For the Accomplishment whereof he left his Son in Hostage and Sr. Charles on his Part promised to give him in Requital of that Service five hundred Pounds of yearly Revenue This Agreement was performed on the Alderman's Part and on the Night appointed Sr. Charles enter'd the Town at such a Gate with considerable Forces But the Watchman of the Castle perceiv'd them and gave the Alarm crying out Treason Treason At this the Inhabitants began to run to their Arms but seeing all lost they fled to the Castle for security by Heaps and to set a good Face upon the Matter the Alderman who was author of the Plot fled along with them In the morning Sr. Charles of Blois sent such a number of his Men to search and plunder the Houses and he himself with the rest came before the Castle and thô he saw and knew the great Strength thereof yet considering how thronged it was now with new Comers whereby their Provisions would be mightily wasted he said aloud That he would not stir thence till he had it at his Devotion The mean while Sr. Gerard of Rochfort who was Captain of the Castle perceiving evidently and upon strict Examination finding that this Burgess the Governour of the Town had betrayed all presently took him and hang'd him for an Example over the Walls after which considering that his Provision would not serve above ten Days and that the Lord Charles had made a vow not to depart till he had one way or other reduced the Place he Capitulated to yield on Condition that the Goods and Lives of all within should be saved which was granted The Lord Charles took them all to his Homage and left the Castle to the Government of the same Captain Sr. Gerard of Rochefort whose Loyalty he approved even thô lately contrary to him Thus both Town and Castle of Jugon were put in a good posture of Defence only the Master was changed XVIII But now by the Mediation of many sober Men on both Parties a Truce was at last concluded between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Countess of Montford and consented to by all their Aiders and Assisters to endure to the Fifteenth of May then next ensuing Whereupon the King of England having before sent for the Countess of Montford as soon as this Truce was ratified She together
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annu◠Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
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