his Study to Physick as being an Art most Worthy of a Gentleman and a Candid Nature whereby he should be enabled to do good to the afflicted Bodies of his Fellow-Creatures But above all his Inclination prompted him to Travel especially into Asia and Africa two vast Portions of the World which together with Europe made up the whole Terrestrial Habitation for in those days the New-found World of America was not known Being therefore well provided with Necessaries and having taken Care for Bills that would pass among Merchants of most Nations he set forward resolving with Vlysses to discover the Government and Manners of many Nations Thus having with much labour carefully survey'd the Greater and the Lesser Scythia Armenia Tartaria both the Countries of Libya Arabia Syria Persia Media Mesopotamia Illyria India Graecia Egypt and other Kingdoms and not only informed his Mind with many Curious and notable Observations but also with the Knowledge of several Languages lest all this inestimable Treasure should perish together with his Life he wrote exactly in the Latine French and English Tongues his Itinerary of Thirty Three Years a Book of the Wonders of the World and a Description of the several Countries he had seen And at his Return into England as he seriously noted the Abuses of the times the Pious Gentleman would say In these our days We may say more truly than ever That Vertue is neglected the Church is trampled on the Clergy is led away with Errour the Devil reigneth Simony beareth sway Greatness is abus'd by Flattery Diligence Learning and Vertue are despised Vice and Impudence are exalted c. At last he departed this Life at Liege a City in the Bishoprick of Liege in Germany and lies buried in St. William's Convent without the Gate of the said City with this m Crtelius in Itiner Pitsaus p. 511. 512. Latine Inscription Here lies the Noble Gentleman Sr. John Mandevil otherwise sirnamed Knight of the Beard Lord of Kempten born in England a Professor of Physick very Devout in Prayer a most Bountifull Bestower of his Goods to the Poor who after he had travelled almost over the whole known World ended his Life at Liege in the Year of our Lord 1372 the 17 of November Besides which Inscription there was engraven on the Stone the Image of an Armed Man with a Forked Beard a Lion at his Feet and at his Head an Hand blessing with these Words in French Vos Ki passeis for mi Pour l'Amour Deix Proiez por mi. All you that pass by Pray for me of Charity The shield of his Arms thô void of late days is said to have been cover'd with a Plate whereon his Arms were depicted being Azure with a Bordure indented Or a Lion Rampant Argent with a Crescent Gules on his Breast Formerly there were to be seen the Knives Spurs and the Horse-Furniture which he us'd in his Travels thrô the World. It seems he was a Person of much more Credit with the Germans and French who have many Years perus'd his Writings in their own Languages than here in England among his Countrymen 'T is said of him n Engl. Atl◠3 Vol. p. 302. that after he had seen most of the Cities in the World he prefer'd Liege to whatever he had before met with and resolv'd as he did to spend the Residue of his Life in that Place But surely thô vulgarly the Books that go under his Name are reckon'd full of Incredible Stories either We must look on them as greatly falsified and differing from the Original or if once convinced of their Authority ought to be carefull in censuring rashly For this Man had the Reputation of being as Eminent for Piety and Integrity as for Knowledge CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1373. An. Regni Anbliae XLVII Franciae XXXIV The CONTENTS I. The Constable of France lays Siege to Sivray An Army of English comes to raise it but are beaten II. Hereupon the Constable takes Sivray and after that Niort and Lusignan But Chastellacher obtains a Respite at the Request of the Lady thereof after that taking in Mortimer and Didonne he returns to Paris and is highly caressed by the King. III. Becherel in Bretagne and St. Saviour le Vicount in Normandy besieged by the French. IV. King Edward sets forth a Fleet which burns a part of the Spanish Fleet. V. King Charles confiscates the Dutchy of Bretagne because the Duke adher'd to England and sends the Constable to take Seisin thereof VI. The Duke of Bretagne thró distrust of his People retires for England leaving Sr. Robert Knolles behind as his Lieutenant VII The Constables Conquests in Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles puts himself into Brest VIII The Constable comes before Brest and the Lord Clisson lays Siege to la Roche sur You in Poictou a Detachment at the same time being sent to take in Derual which was the Inheritance of Sr. Robert Knolles IX La Roche sur You yielded Derual compounds and gives Hostages Nantes recieves the Constable on certain Conditions X. Sr. Robert Knolles compounds for Brest that it shall be rescued in 40 Days or yielded XI The Earl of Salisbury being reinforced resolves to succour Brest by the Day appointed and to give the Constable battle but the Constable deceives him XII Sr. Robert Knolles goes to Derual XIII The Duke of Lancasters Expedition and March thrô France XIV Sr. Robert Knolles refusing to hold the Agreement made by his Men about yielding up Derual the Duke of Anjou strikes off the Heads of the English Hostages in revenge whereof Sr. Robert Knolles strikes off the Heads of 4 French Prisoners in sight of the Duke XV. Pope Gregory XI having obtain'd a Treaty to be held at Bruges writes unto the Commissioners of both Kings to prepare them and sends two Legates to compose Matters between the Duke of Lancaster and the French King. XVI The Difficulties of the English Army the Duke arrives at Bourdeaux XVII A Parliament at Westminster XVIII A Prodigious Malady call'd St. John's Dance XIX The Death of sundry Great Personages I. NO a Frois c. 306. f. 186. b. sed Gallice f. 255. sooner was the unactive season of Winter past but Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France began to take the Field marching from the City of Poictiers with 14000 fighting Men whose Chief Captains besides the Constable were Sr. Alan de Beaumont Sr. John de Beaumanoir Sr. Arnold of Limosin Sr. Geoffry of Ricon Sr. John du Lanconet Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel and others With this Army the Constable went and laid Siege to b Sireth Frois Tizeth Du Chesne c. Sivray enclosing his Camp with Pales and a Ditch to avoid being troubled by Excursions in the Night During this Siege Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot who were Captains of the Place and had defended themselves with great Valour against the Attacks of the Frenchmen sent secret Word of their Condition to Sr. John Vbrues and to
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 HENGIST ESTHER FRANCIADOS EURIPIDES K. EDWARD III. ECCLIAST HIST. Vera Effigies JOSUAE BARNES S.T.B. EMANUELIS Collegij apud CANTIBRIG Socij maxime Senioris Etat Suce 40. 1694. R. White ad vivum fecit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE HISTORY OF THAT Most Victorious Monarch EDWARD IIId. KING of ENGLAND and FRANCE and LORD of IRELAND AND First Founder of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER Being a Full and Exact Account Of the LIFE and DEATH of the said KING Together with That of His Most Renowned SON EDWARD Prince of WALES and of AQVITAIN Sirnamed the BLACK-PRINCE Faithfully and Carefully Collected from the Best and most Antient Authors DOMESTICK and FOREIGN Printed Books Manuscripts and Records By JOSHVA BARNES Batchelor of Divinity and One of the Senior Fellows of Emmanuel College in Cambridge Licensed by Authority Pulchrum imprimis videtur Non pati occidere Quibus Aeternitas debeatur C. Plin. Caec Secundi Epist l. 5. Ep. 8. p. 210. CAMBRIDGE Printed by John Hayes for the Author MDCLXXXVIII TO The Most Serene Majesty OF JAMES the Second KING of ENGLAND SCOTLAND FRANCE and IRELAND c. AND SOVERAIGN OF The most Noble Order OF THE GARTER GREAT SIR HAving under the Happy Influence of Your Majesty's Gracious Government had the leisure to write the History of the Life of One of the most Glorious of Your Royal Predecessors King EDWARD the Third to whom should I dedicate the same but to Your Majesty who are the Inheritor of those Realms which He governed the Soveraign of that most Noble ORDER which he Founded and the lively Resemblance of all those Vertues which He so eminently possessed Whose Immense Goodness to all Your Subjects in general whose Heroick Inclinations to Military Honour and whose Princely Love and Respect to Learning do render You as Gracious at Home and as Terrible abroad as King EDWARD was in his Days It is Your Majesty's Delight and Glory Graciously to accept of the well-intended Endeavours of the meanest of Your Subjects particularly of those which are employed in Recollecting the Glorious Memoires of Your Renowned Ancestors Monarchs of this Isle And no doubt succeeding Generations will rise up to the Memory of that Prince by whose Favour and Liberality the Remembrance of former Ages hath been brought to Light. Wherefore heartily wishing unto Your Sacred Majesty a Fruitfull Consort a Flourishing Family a Long Life a Quiet and Secure Government Victorious Armies Obedient Subjects and Wise and Loyal Parliaments besides Eternal Felicities I humbly Dedicate this Work to Your Great Name as being GREAT SIR Your Majesty's Most Humble and Loyal Subject JOSHVA BARNES THE PREFACE I Undertake a Work of so much Difficulty that nothing but a Sense of the Honour and real advantage thereof could animate me to it For the Obscurity of our Histories being so great and the Mistakes and Opposition of them one with another being so frequent it must needs seem a Labour not small to go about to give a Just account of the whole Series of all Publique Actions for the continuance of Fifty Years and upwards at such a long distance of Time as more than Three Centuries But my Resolution hath been to shew so much diligence in the Collecting and so much integrity in the Composing that if I cannot obtain to know all the most Momentous Truths yet I shall purposely decline all Fabulous Narrations all Groundless Opinions all Popular Errors Partiality and Prejudice and seriously conform my self to those Rules and decencies which belong to a Faithfull Historian The Subject Matter of my Discourse is the Honour of my Country the Life and Actions of one of the Greatest Kings that perhaps the World ever saw the Rights of the English Crown and how well our Ancestors were able to vindicate them Nor shall I confine my self wholly to the Relation of King Edward's Exploits or to those of his Invincible Son the Black-Prince and the rest of his Noble and Victorious Children but whatever Name I find memorable of his Subjects in either of his Kingdoms whether they were fam'd for Arts of War or Peace I shall endeavour to pay them that just duty which it shall seem to me they deserve Because I think it altogether fit that those who then shared with their Sovereign in his Grand affairs of War or Government should by no means now be deprived of a Participation with Him in his Glorious Memoires Especially since not a Few are still remaining derived from those Famous Ancestors whose Minds may be more strongly affected with due Incentives of Honour when they shall understand by what Methods their Forefathers attain'd such Estates or Titles which They now as worthily enjoy It is an old Observation That Subjects usually conform themselves to their Prince And here certainly if ever any Great and Martial Monarch was Lord of any like Himself We shall find this King to have been so Many Great and Renowned Heroes and Captains Bold in Attempts Wise in Conduct and Fortunate in Success being Thick almost in every Page of this History Wherein will appear the greatest Variety of Adventures the most hazardous Enterprises of War the most exact Counsels and Politick Negotiations and the most frequent Instances of Courage Piety Generosity and Princely Conduct with the most Wholsom Laws and Rules of Government that perhaps the whole World can furnish us withall in so short a Period of Time. Of which Work I shall say no more than that if it suffer not for the sake of the Authors Meanness it is like to Live and to prove not unpleasing to those who have any Love or Veneration for England or English Heroes or who indeed delight either to do Bravely themselves or to read the Account of Noble Actions faithfully painfully and accurately recorded to Posterity From Emmanuel College Easter-Monday i. e. 16 April 1688. The CONTENTS BOOK I. CHAP. I. EDWARD the Son of Edward the Second is born Made Prince of Wales His Father's Deposition and his Coronation He gives a General Pardon Has 12 Guardians appointed him Is defied by the King of Scotland Makes an Expedition into Scotland His Father is murder'd The Death of sundry other great Personages From p. 1. to p. 26. Chap. II. King Edward the Third takes a Wife Makes a dishonourable Peace with the Scots Mortimer's Insolence provokes the Lords of England to Arms. Matters reconcil'd Mortimer made Earl of March. The Lord Beaumont of England's Pedigree Mortimer entertains the King. From p. 26. to p. 33. Chap. III. King Edward does Homage to the King of France for Aquitain Queen Philippa in great danger at a Tourneament The Queen Mother and Mortimer compass the Death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle King Edward goes privately into France The Birth of Edward the Black-Prince Mortimer taken and executed A Parliament From p. 34. to p. 54. Chap. IV. Henry Earl of
John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland The Third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited The time and place of this Battle certainly Assign'd A Gross Mistake of Hector Boëtius the Scotch Historian How long the Fight lasted the Loss on both sides The Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken John Copland bears away the King of Scotland the Queen sends to him for the King She returns to York and King Bailiol and the English invade Scotland John Copland being sent for to Calais by King Edward is Knighted and Royally rewarded King David secur'd in the Tower of London The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to the Siege at Calais The Pope endeavours for Peace in vain From p. 376. to p. 385. Chap. VI. A Parliament at Paris Another at Westminster The Pope writes to King Edward to perswade him to Peace King Edward's answer Odoricus Rainaldus refuted King Philip seeks to bring over the Flemings but misses his Aim The Earl of Flanders confin'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais The Earl of Flanders escapes into France Two Frenchmen put to Death for favouring King Edward's Right The Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel The frequent Attempts to relieve Calais frustrated The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. Sr. Robert of Namur enters King Edward's service before Calais An account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of DURHAM An account of the Affairs of Bretagne Sr. Charles of Blois taken Prisoner at the Battle of ROCHE D'ARIEN by Sr. Thomas Dagworth Roche d' Arien taken by the French and the English Garrison murder'd by the Commons of the Country The French Navy defeated Five hundred more poor People thrust out of Calais The Calisians send an Account of their Case to King Philip. The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philip's March returns to Calais The French Kings strength he desires leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings Besiege Aire but upon King Philip's approach rise King Philip comes to Sangate and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair The manner how Calais was yielded Calais settled by King Edward A Truce between the two Kings King Edward returns for England A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case From p. 385. to p. 415. Chap. VII The Glory and Prosperity of King Edward's Reign corrupts the Nation A Parliament Justs and Turneaments How Avignon came to belong to the See of Rome Philip of Valois and Edward of England could cure the Kings Evil. An Order concerning the Kings Purveyors The Truce between England and France prorogued for another Year King Edward solemnises the Translation of St. Thomas c. The Earl of Flanders does Homage to King Edward but afterwards rebelling is beaten King Edward being inform'd of a Design to betray Calais goes over privately and beats the Frenchmen He presents a Rich Chaplet to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont and sets him free Having settled Calais he returns for England The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The two Royal Widowers Marry again From p. 416. to p. 428. Chap. VIII Treats of the Great Plague that happen'd in the Year 1348. From p. 428. to p. 442. Chap. IX King Edward Founds the Chappel of St. George at WINDSOR with the Copy of his Letters for that purpose The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls The Progress in Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne The Lord Thomas Dagworth slain in Bretagne Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He brings the French to Terms A Famous Combat between 30 English and 30 French. Of certain who arrived to Great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry Savage who lived in Ulster A Grant of the Black-Prince's to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King he being then newly chosen one of the First Knights of the GARTER From p. 442. to p. 448. Chap. X. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the 100th to the 50th Year The Original of Jubilees King Edward forbids his Subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Pope's Expostulation thereon The Sect of Whippers rises and is supprest King Edward's Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. King Philip of France dies King John succeeds A Duel fought before King Edward between a Knight of Cyprus and the Bastard of France King John puts the Bastard of France and the Earl of Eu and Guisnes to Death Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in Order to King David's Redemption From p. 449. to p. 455. Chap. XI A Parliament wherein King Edward advances sundry of his Grandees to Honour The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle Sr. Robert's Acts. A Truce with France Another with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldan of Babylon King John of France renews the Order of the STAR The Castle of Guisnes taken by the English King John seeks to recover it in vain Sr. Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole The Lord Guy de Nesse slain by Sr. Walter Bentley The Earl of Stafford Lieutenant of Gascogne beats the French. The Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the GARTER King Edward provides for the Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries Mathilda Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick King Edward prepares against the French. Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London From p. 455. to p. 467. Chap. XII An Hard Winter Storms Drought and Dearth A Riot at Chester The Black Prince's Munificence King Edward Founds a College at Westminster A Treaty with Scotland A Treaty and Truce with France A Parliament The Names of the Lords summon'd thereto Another Parliament A Treaty at Avignon which begets a short Truce The Foundation of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge A Quarrel between the Town and Vniversity of Oxford Two Fryars burnt at Avignon And a Third recants at Paris From p. 468. to p. 477. Chap. XIII The King of Navarre Murders the Constable of France and Invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâ—l 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung â—t bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâ—uth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much â—ncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â— Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
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
Peace and Concord would not only be rendred difficult but which God of his infinite Mercy avert impossible And moreover it doth not seem less worthy of consideration how mightily by occasion of the present Wars your Majesties Subjects are as it is said many ways exhausted of their Mony and other their Goods and are like upon continuance of such Burthens which God forbid to be further grieved And that the Event of War is doubtfull but especially upon the Divine Indignation to be feared Wherefore We more earnestly in the Lord require and exhort your Royal Magnificence nevertheless beseeching You by the Mercies of God that taking the Premises and what else may occurr to your Royal Wisdom into your Princely Consideration you may by taking Truce with the said King and renewing the Peace obviate the dangers both of your Self most Dear Son and of your People and so please God who loveth Peace and delighteth in Peace-makers rendring thereby your self more acceptable unto Him and confirming the strength of your whole Kingdom And that therefore you would incline to the wholsom Admonitions and Perswasions of ourdear Sons Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals of the Apostolick See our Nuntio's who are zealous of your Royal Honour and Success and whom we have lately by Advice of our Brethren sent to those Parts for that purpose Truly considering the Premises and that we might prevent the like dangers and innumerable more which are ready to follow from the said Wars and that between You our most Loving Son and the said King who is by the near Tye of Blood and Affinity joyned unto You the fulness of Peace and mutual Charity may flourish We wish with most ardent desires a Reformation of this Peace and if perhaps it cannot be obtained by the Instance of the said Cardinals yet if You O most Dear Son and the said King disposing your selves to mutual Concord acceptable to God amiable to Men profitable to Christendom and many ways the best for both of You will but consent that We also in our own Person should intend as Friendly Moderators to the Reformation of Peace taking a mutual Truce and granting a Cessation from Arms for a convenient time wherein the Treaty of Peace may be begun continued and if the Lord of Mercies grant brought to an happy End We thô we are continually occupied with weighty and importable Affairs even above our strength do notwithstanding thrô Desire of the said Peace hereby offer Our selves ready as far as conveniently and with honesty may be done effectually to interpose in the Reformation of this Peace to the Quiet Profit and Honour of each Party our share of Sollicitude as it shall be administred unto Us from above Concerning all which we request your Royal Majesty upon the most mature Deliberation to write unto Us your Pleasure Given c. at Avignon x Kalen. Jan. Anno Pontif iv To this Letter of the Popes the King of England wrote this Answer * * Walsingh hist p. 130. To the most Holy Father in God Benedict by Divine Providence Bishop of the Holy Roman Church Edward by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet We received with due Reverence and Devotion the Letters of your Holiness sent last unto Us wherein your Goodness persuades us to renew the Peace or take a Truce with the Lord Philip of Valois graciously adding that You in your own Person would intend to the Reformation thereof as a Friendly Moderator if We and the said Philip would consent thereto Surely We considering in the Lord your Holinesses Affection which is so sollicitous for the quiet of your Sons do humbly return You all possible Thanks for that your wholsom Persuasion and an Offer so condescending and so pious and in a firm love and confidence of your Integrity we desire to follow your Counsel and particularly to conform Our selves to your Holy Pleasure But it is now notoriously known how the said Philip contrary to Justice hath usurped unto himself the Kingdom of France lawfully devolved unto Us by the Death of the Lord Charles of Famous Memory the last King of France our Uncle And not content with this he hath seised into his hands our Lands in the Dutchy of Aquitain as many as he was able in Hostile manner invading our Islands in the Sea and also our Kingdom of England with that very Fleet which under colour of an Holy Expedition beyond Sea he pretended to rig forth having sworn for the Cause of Christ He hath also excited the Scots to rebell against us designing altogether to oppress us that so according to his unsatiable Desire of Sovereignty he may the more freely withhold from us our said Kingdom of France and other our Hereditary Lands To whom as we remember we have written before to your Holiness We have offer'd many desirable Methods of Peace willing even to purchase Quiet of him thô with no small Resignation of our own Rights But he long holding us in suspense by divers specious Treaties and exposing us to vast Expences that so he might drain our Exchequer and render us thereby unable to recover our Rights hath at last took no care to give us any Satisfaction but still his Persecution encreased and rag'd against Us Wherefore necessity so compelling We are now come to the Parts beyond Sea to take unto us the Assistance of our Friends to revenge the Injuries done and to repulse those that would have been done by him unto Us and to obtain our Hereditary Rights Which certainly we intend not to neglect but will pursue them when we cannot by any other agreeable way by Force of Arms God being our Help And althô in Presence of the Reverend Fathers Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals and Nuâ—tio's to your Holiness who have laudably and sollicitously labour'd in the Affair of Peace the said Realm of France which by all Right is known to belong to Us hath been demanded and We have under certain ways of Peace caused our said Will to be sincerely open'd to the foresaid Cardinals always offering Our selves ready to embrace any reasonable Method of Peace on condition the Adverse Party will agree thereto Yet neither by the said Cardinals nor by Others could we know to this Day that he the said Philip would do or offer any thing of Satisfaction unto Us. And truly if then he had made but never so small Offers to shun the hazards of Wars and the prosuseness of Expences we should have made a reasonable Answer thereupon but now we see not what we can do farther with our Honour in the way of Peace But for all that if it shall now please the foresaid Lord Philip to offer us any Reasonable Way or if your Prudent Consideration or the said Lords Cardinals shall open unto
said Kingdom there are however to the Kings of France of Famous Memory who gradually Succeeded unto Philip King of France of Famous Memory Your Grandfather Daughters and their Children who as to the said Succession as is reported are nearer unto the Kings their Fathers than are You and our most Dear Daughter in Christ Isabella the Illustrious Queen of England Your Mother Daughter of the foresaid King Philip But the Custom aforesaid hath been of former time so inviolably observed and still is observed that it admits not a Succession to the said Kingdom by the Female Line But to think that by the way of force You may obtain the said Kingdom considering the Greatness and Power of the King and Kingdom of France Your Forces are by no means believed to suffice thereto And that holding and possessing nothing in the said Kingdom You make Your self to be called King of France and have assum'd the Arms thereof as is Premised it is certainly reckoned to proceed from Evil and Unrighteous Counsell But if those who perswaded You to such things endeavour to say for an Excuse that You are Lord in Flanders which is known to be in Fee of the King and Kingdom of France truly it is to be attended and considered and Your Royal Wisdom may diligently examin who and what Men and of what Condition they are who have brought You in there For in them hitherto hath the Vertue of Constancy and Loyalty never been Praise-worthy For they have often basely ejected out of Flanders it self Their Natural Lords to whom they were bound in the Debt of Loyalty violating the Covenant of Their Faith after the Pleasure of Their own Wills and if they have done this to them whom they were Naturally Obliged to Reverence what may be presumed of You ô Son and what kind of Title may thence be taken or formed We pray that Your Wisdom would discreetly consider Again consider even thô it did proceed of Good and Right Counsel that now You cause Your self to be named King of France during the Reign of Our most Dear Son in Christ Philip the Illustrious King of France who as King hath for many Years peaceably held and possessed the Kingdom of France and to whom as such for the Lands within the said Kingdom to You belonging by doing Fidelity and Liege Homage You have recognis'd him for King of France and Your Lord for the Lands aforesaid Those that hear asmuch are amaz'd d d Ascribentes in M.S. quod male legitur arbitrantes apud Oder Rainald ascribing it not to discretion but rather to Simplicity and Vanity Finally We judge it ought to be more strictly consider'd that such a Title wanting both Reality and Advantage which those are said to have perswaded You to who love you not but seek by Your Losses to make Their own Market believing to attain thereto more fully when they shall have procured You to be insnared and involved in more deep Intricacies and hazardous Necessities and Troubles is feared to be a Poysonous Root which will probably unless other Care be taken bring forth Fruits of Bitterness and Sorrow Moreover We account that You ought no less diligently to consider how many and how Great Kings Princes and Noblemen who have proceeded from the Stock of the House of France or have Affinity or Confederation therewith who opposed not themselves unto You about Your Affairs before by this Name and Title You would provoke against You and more directly incense if which God forbid You should insist thereon And the very Title might begin such a Matter which God avert whereby the Reformation of Peace between You and the said King of France might as to all humane judgement be render'd for ever impossible And also the Princes and other Subjects of the said Realm who as the vulgar report goes would expose themselves to the hazards of Death and the perpetual loss of Their Goods rather than endure the Premises would by the same Name and Title be render'd more prompt able Valiant and Couragious against You e e Ad desensâ—â—nâ—m M.S. recte Odoric aâ— defensionem â—â—lâ— for the Defence of the said King Philip and his Kingdom Nor ought You most Dear Son as We remember to have written unto You elsewhere to repose much Confidence in the Germans and Flemings for You shall find them Affable and Kind unto You as long as They can have leave to drain Your Substance but otherwise You may not confide in Their Assistance And if You peruse the Deeds of Your Progenitors how the same Germans and Flemings behaved themselves formerly towards them You will manifestly find how far You may trust unto Them. We therefore intreat Your Royal Highness and earnestly in the Lord exhort You that You would receive the Premises which We write of a Fatherly Good Will and Sincere Affection with a favourable Mind and taking them together with other Matters which as to this Point may occurr unto You into a just and considerate Discussion and Examination laying by the foresaid Title would incline Your Royal Mind to the way of Peace and Concord whereby You may be able both to attain and peaceably to keep those things which shall be Your Right a Mutual Agreement being made between You and the said King that as You are joyned with the Tye of Blood and Affinity so You may be allied in the perpetual Bond of Confederation and Love. Dated Aven III. Non. Martii Ano. Pontif. VI. Other Letters bearing the same Date were written to the King wherein the Pope chid him that being Admonished the last Year IV Id. Octob. under Penalty of Ecclesiastical Censures and other heavy Penalties to break with Lewis of Bavaria he had yet return'd no Answer to the Apostolick See and as it appears f Odâ—rit Râ—inald ad â—â—ndâ—â— A◠§. 8. â—â—â—em 6. Epist Secâ— 25â— those very Cardinals who were Nuntio's of the Apostolick See upon the Account of Peace wrote to the Pope that those Censures he had once threatned the King of England with might now be inflicted on him because he still kept the Lieutenantship of the Empire but Benedict wrote Back unto them to abstain from any such Proceedings against Edward till with the Cardinals he had more maturely weigh'd so important a business But before things went so far We shall find the Emperour himself to Repeal his former Commission given unto King Edward so that there was no further Occasion for that Papal Thunderbolt to strike England at that time CHAPTER the FIFTEENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King sends an Army into Gascoign which the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschal of Aquitain being too weak to match overthrows by a Stratagem II. King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to waste the Lord John of Hainalts Lands III. Sr. Giles Manny Brother to the Lord Walter Manny slain by the Cambresins IV. The French King gives leave to the Bordering Garrisons to make an Incursion into the Earl of
on the Sea under the Command of his three Admirals Sr. Hugh Quyriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Nicolas Barbenoir the Genoan These were furnished with a notable Fleet of Genuans Normans Bretons and Picards who did this Winter no small damage to the Coasts of England at Dover Sandwich Winchelsey Hastings and Rye For they were more than 40000 Men in all Beside this King Philip wrote to the Lord of Beaumont-in Champaine the Lord of Bresne the h Qu. Videme i.e. Vicedâ—â—was Vidame of Chalons the Lord John de la Beau the Lords John and Gerard of Loire enjoyning them to furnish themselves with competent forces and so make an Impression upon the Lord John of Hainalts Lands burning killing and destroying without Pity because he took King Edward's Part against France These Lords did as they were Commanded and enter'd the said Lands with 500 Men of Arms appearing suddenly one Morning before the Town of Chimay a strong Town of Hainalt seated in a Wood on the little River Blanche Here they found a vast quantity of Cattle and other Prey for the Country People never imagin'd the French could have come so far without passing the Wood of Thierasche The Place was too strong however to be won by them so that setting fire on the Suburbs and the neighbouring Villages they return'd laden with Spoil to Aubenton and there divided the Booty At the same i Frois c. 44. time the Garrison of Cambray sent a small Detachment to a little strong House hard by called Relenques which also belonged to the foresaid Lord John of Hainault and was now kept by a Bastard son of his who had only 15 Men of Arms and about fourty others in his Company These few held out manfully one whole day against a continual Assault of the Cambresins but because the Ditches were so frozen that there was free Passage for the Enemy to approach to the very Walls about Midnight the Bastard and his Men in great silence trussed up all they had of any worth and setting fire to the House departed for Valenciennes whither they all came in safety Next day as the Cambresins came thither again to renew the Assault seeing all was reduced to Ashes they beat down the Walls and what remain'd to the ground and so returned III. We shew'd before k C. 13. §. 3. p. 135. how the Lord Walter Manny had taken the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque so called because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray over which he had set as Captain his Brother Sr. Giles Manny This l Frois ibid. Sr. Giles was a Valiant Knight and very much incommoded the Garrison of Cambray both distressing them that issued out of the Town and also boldly braving them at their own Walls Once particularly this Winter he Marched from his Garrison in the head of Sixscore Men of Arms and came to the Barriers of Cambray where the clamour rose so high and the skirmish grew so fierce that great numbers within the City were fain to run to Arms and come to the Gate to the assistance of their Fellows who were hitherto too weak for Sr. Giles and were ready to turn their backs But now upon this reinforcement Sr. Giles caused a Retreat to be sounded to his Men and so began to draw off fair and softly The fresh forces of the Cambresins issued out of the Barriers after him as they might well do both considering their own Numbers and that so strong a Place was at hand to second them Among the Frenchmen there was a young lusty Esquire of Gascoign named William Marchant who came out among the foremost into the Field well-mounted his shield about his Neck and his Spear in his Hand Him when Sr. Giles beheld he turn'd his Horse and rode up fiercely to him thinking to have slain or taken him But the Esquire held him tack gallantly insomuch that at last either by his Hands or some others for the Medley and Confusion was now at the highest Sr. Giles was stricken thrô all his Harness the Spear passing quite thrô his Body upon which he fell down to the earth Upon the fall of their Captain his Men renew'd the skirmish more fiercely but by continual Recruits from the Town they were finally overpower'd slain and put to slight The Cambresins took up the Body of Sr. Giles wounded mortally as he was and brought him with great Triumph into the City where presently they disarm'd him and got skilfull Surgeons to dress his Wound for they were very desirous to save him to be Ransom'd but for all their Care he died the next day after Then they resolv'd to send his Body to his Brethren John and Thierry for the Lord Walter the Elder was about King Edward's business which two kept Garrison at Bouchain in Ostervandt For thô at that time the Country of Hainault was not engag'd in any War saving the late Incursion made into the Lord of Beaumonts Lands yet all the Frontiers toward France were Garrison'd for fear of the Worst the times beginning to be troublesome So they prepar'd an Horse and Litter and putting his Body therein caused two Fryers to convey it to his Brethren who received him with great sorrow and saw him decently interred at the Fryers in Valenciennes where afterwards the Lord Manny m Frois c. 110. buried his Father as in due place we shall see This being performed his two Brethren John and Thierry who were also half n Id. c. 49. Brethren to the Earl of Namur went to their Deceased Brothers Castle of Thine whence they made sharp War upon those of Cambray in Revenge of the Death of their Brother IV. At that time the o Frois c. 44. Lord Godmar du Fay of Normandy was Captain of Tournay and the Country thereabout the Lord of Beaujeu was Captain in Mortagne on the Skell at the Consines of Hainault in Tournois the Seneshall of Carcasson in the Town of St. Amand on the Scarp Sr. Emeric of Poictiers in Doway and the Lord Galeas de la Bausine the Lord of Villers the Marshall of Mirepoix and Sr. Theobald of Marville in the City of Cambray All which Garrisons desired nothing more than to make an Inroad into Hainault there to rob and spoil the Country This their Desire was brought to effect by the Bishop of Cambray who being then at Paris with the King complained that the Hainalders had done him great Dammage having destroy'd and overran his Country more than any other And that the Lord John of Hainault was an apparent and known Enemy to France and the Earl his Nephew also secretly a Friend to England Whereupon King Philip as one that consider'd not how many Enemies he created to himself presently gave leave to the foresaid Garrisons of Cambresis and Tournois to make an Incursion into Hainault which they gladly did to the number of 600 Men of Arms. On a Saturday Morning they all began their March from Cambray and were met by
Simon Frasier and Earl Patrick of Dunbar The Stratagem however is told two ways and the less probable by the e Hector p. 322. n. 20. Bâ—chan l. 9. p. 298. Scotch Writers themselves which is this The Lord Douglas having acquaintance with one Walter Towers a Merchant called him into the Fryth directing him to counterfeit himself an English Merchant and to offer the Garrison Wines to sell This Towers according to his Instructions provided two Vessels of rich Wine and other Presents for the Captain desiring his leave to sell off the rest of his Goods in those Parts without any impediment or molestation That in consideration of this Favour if the Garrison wanted any thing which he had upon knowledge he would gratifie them therewith at reasonable Rates The Captain bidding him bring a certain quantity of Wine and Sea-bisket promises Admission at any time He forsooth pretending to be afraid of the Scots appointed to be there very early the next Morning That night Douglas and 12 of the most chosen and valiant Men with him disguised themselves with Seamens Habit over their Armour and having planted their Fellows in the nearest place they could with Order not to stirr till the Signal given go along with the foresaid Provision to the Castle Sr. William Douglas and Sr. Simon Frasier went first with the Cart the other Eleven were commanded to follow at some distance Being upon Call let in at the outer Gate of the Barriers which was before the Castle Gate as they espi'd the Keys of the Castle hanging on the Porters arm they suddenly slew him so that he died without one Word speaking Then in great silence they open the Castle Gate and thence gave the signal to their Fellows by the sound of an Horn the mean while they cast all their Carriages between the Doors that they might not be closed before their Fellows should come up This is Buchanan's Relation thô in some respects I know not upon what Authority different from Hector's who went before him Wherefore I rather follow Froisard an Author of credit infinitely beyond them both who thus tells the whole Matter f Frois c. 55. That Sr. William Douglas with his Companions aforesaid took to them two hundred hardy Wild Scots and went on board a Ship wherein was Provision of Corn Oats and Fuell and so they came peaceably into the Harbour of the Fryth or Forth not far from the Castle of Edinburgh That in the Night they armed themselves and all their Company disguising ten or twelve of their Choice Men and such as they had most confidence in with ragged Habits over their Armour and Hats like Country Clowns the rest of their Men they bestowed in an Ambush among the ruines of an Old Abby near the foot of the Hill. This done they that were dress'd like Clowns being yet well arm'd beneath their Rags drave up the Hill about break of day twelve Galloways laden with the foresaid Provision Being little more than half way onward Sr. William Douglas who could speak English perfectly without any mixture of the Scotch Dialect as his Father the Lord James could â—o before him and Sr. Simon Frasier disguised as they were went a little before and called to the Porter saying Sir in great fear we have brought hither Corn Oats and Fuel which if you have any need thereof we will sell you good cheap Why Marry said the Porter and we have great need thereof But it is so very early that I dare not wake the Captain nor his Steward However let them come in for I shall open the outer Gate where you shall be safe till the Steward-rises Upon this the Gate being open'd they all entred within the Barriers Sr. William Douglas first who heedfully casting his eye about espied the great Keys of the Castle hanging upon the Porters Arm. The two last Horses being laden with Coals were so order'd be like their Hamstrings suddenly cut that they fell down just at the entrance of the first Gate so that without much time and labour it could not be closed again At that instant while the Porter as he thought no harm was carelesly looking to the unlading Douglas from behind gave him so sure a stroak that without word speaking he fell down dead Then they took the great Keys and opened the Castle Gate laying all the Sacks there upon the Groundsell that it should not by any strength be closed against them but the outer Gate they cleared for their Men to come in with more ease This done Sr. William sounded an Horn and all cast away their torn Coats and drawing their Swords stood close together in shining Armour at the entrance of the Gate Upon the Signal given those that lay in Ambush mounted the Hill with all expedition being assured of Success The Watchman also of the Castle being allarm'd with the noise of the Horn look'd out and saw Men with their Weapons in their hands ascending the Hill and running toward the Castle Then he blew his Horn aloud and cri'd out Treason treason Rise rise to Arms to Arms quickly For yonder come Men of War upon us At this Alarm the Garrison began to rise and run to Arms in all hast they that first could hasting down to the Castle Gates But Sr. William Douglas and his twelve Companions so stoutly defended the Passage by the help of those Encumbrances that lay on the Threshold that the Gate could not be closed again till the coming up of the Scots Ambush Notwithstanding they within endeavour'd to defend the Castle to the utmost and hurt and slew several of the Scots but at last by the obstinate Valour of Douglas and his Men joyned to the great Surprise the English were in and their Unpreparedness many also giving all for lost without Trial the Castle was carried all that opposed being master'd and slain except the Master Sr. Richard Limesi and six English Esquires who were taken Prisoners The Scots tarried there all that Day to settle the Orders of the Castle over which they made Sr. Simon Vescy Captain with a sufficient Garrison under him The News of this Loss with the Manner thereof was brought to King Edward while he lay before Tournay During this Siege before Tournay Jacob van g Frois c. 379. fol. 257. Arteveld had a Son born in Gaunt to whom Queen Philippa of England who lay then in that City was pleased to be Godmother and gave him the Name of Philip Which Philip van Arteveld in process of time became a famous Captain of the Rebellious Gantois against the Earl their Lord as may be seen in Froisard and those who write of the Wars of Flanders in that Age. IX Now it is to be remembred that before we began to treat of the Siege of Tournay we spake of another h Vid. l. 1. c. 17. §. 1. p. 187. Army of Flemings which was appointed to sit down in like manner before St. Omers under the Conduct of the
false Accusations against any Person but especially all those who should bring an Archbishop or any other Bishop of his Province into the Kings Hate or Anger and him or them of Treason or any other Notorious and Capital Crime falsly Accuse And having Published these Articles in his Church he commanded the Bishop of London and all the Suffragans of his Province to Publish the same in their Churches and Dioceses Presently hereupon the King that he might some way obviate these High Proceedings of the Archbishop wrote to the Bishop of London setting forth that at the perswasion of the Archbishop he had undertaken so doubtfull and Difficult a War to Recover his Right and Inheritance But that He who had been the Author of the War having now conspired with his Enemy the French King had at last perswaded him that after the profusion of such vast Expences to no purpose he would lay down the Claim of his Right and disband his Army That he had not as he promised purvey'd sufficiently for his Army nor satisfied his Foreign Creditors of whom upon his Security vast Summs of Money had been taken up for support of his Wars and who were continually importuning the King and his Lords That at last he had demanded of him an Account how he had Administred the Realm which he cunningly under Pretence of Excommunications and Censures hath eluded After this Ralph Lord Stafford was by the King sent unto the Archbishop who taking along with him John Burton Advocate and John Faringdon publique Notary warn'd him again in the Kings Name that without more delay he should Repair to the King there to Advise together with other Prelates and Lords about the War and Matters Relating to England and France the King o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 159. ex Walsingbam offering him a safe Conduct to that purpose to the end he might understand what Defence he could make for that his Neglect But him also the Wary Archbishop put off saying only that he would consider of it A little after there came out of Flanders to Canterbury Messengers from the Duke of Brabant who when the Archbishop would not be seen by them declared the Cause of their coming in Writing fix'd up at Noon-day upon the High Cross without the Gate of the Priory of Canterbury importing that John Archbishop of Canterbury was Cited and Warned into Court by the Duke of Brabant that so he might Lawfully answer in Flanders for the Debts of the King of England for which he stood Engaged there to remain according to Oath in that Part by him made till his Lords Debts were fully cleared In this hurry comes a Letter from the King to the Prior and Convent of Canterbury being the same with those Letters which he had wrote to the Bishop of London with a Command to read it out Publiquely before the People and Clergy of Canterbury The Prior and Convent having received it inform the Archbishop thereof and shew him the open Letter He on Ashwednesday following before all the People and Clergy gets up into the Pulpit in Canterbury Church and there in a Sermon spake Largely of his Loyalty and Integrity in Menaging the Kings Affairs Then he commanded the Kings Letters wherein the King had laid Heavy things to his Charge to be Read Openly Which done he dexterously takes off each Crime and Accusation in Order After which the Answer that now he gave by Word of Mouth being Digested into Writing he Published over all his Province of Canterbury All which Letters because of many Excellent Sayings therein and for that they make much for the Clearing the Story I have thought fit to set down at Large from Stephen Byrchinton or Brickington a Benedictin Monk of Canterbury who flourished in that Age and others of good Authority And first we shall produce the Archbishops Letter to his Majesty taken from the Original Latine for Mr. Fox is not Exact in his Translation III. MOST Dear Lord may it please Your Majesty to consider p p Walsingh hist p. 136 Fox Acts and Men. p. 350. that the most special thing which keepeth Kings and Princes in the most Flourishing Condition is Wise Counsel And therefore says the Wise Man Where there are many Counsellors that is Good Ones there is safety And it is written in the Book of Kings that Solomon the Wisest of Kings took unto him the most Ancient and Sagest Persons of his Realm by whose Advice temper'd with his own Judgement he continually preserved the Land of Israel in Peace and held all his Neighbour Kings round about him as his Tributaries and Vassals Now when he was gone the way of all Flesh his Son Rehoboam Reigned who despising the Counsel of the Elders who had stood before his Father adhered to the Young Men who were willing to please him whence he justly lost the whole Kingdom of Israel except a Twelfth Part reserved unto him of the Lord. In like manner many Kings as well of Israel as of other Countries being led by Evil Counsel have been reduced to great extremities And sir you well remember saving your Royal Pleasure that by the Sinister Advice taken by Our Late Lord the King Your Father whom God assoile against the Law of the Land and Magna Charta of the Peers of the Realm and others some he imprison'd some he put to Death siesed on their Goods and vexed others with Intolerable Fines And what happen'd thereby unto him Your Majesty well knows After his Days also by means of Evil Counsellors which were about Your Person Your Majesty had almost lost the Hearts of Your People but from them as it pleased him the Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered You. From that time by the Good Advice and Prudence of Your Prelates Peers and Counsellors of the Land Your Affairs are so well Menaged that You now entirely Possess the Affections of Your People and Your Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal have given unto Your Majesty greater Aids than to any of Your Progenitors So that by the means of Good counsell the Votes of Your People and the special Grace of Almighty God You have obtain'd many Glorious Victories over Your Enemies of Scotland and France and are at this Day Reputed the most Noble Prince in Christendom But now Your Majesty by the Perverse Counsel of some Men who are rather known to Respect their own Profit and Advantage than either Your Majesties Honour or the Welfare of Your People have caused Clergymen and others of Your Subjects to be siezed and undue Processes to be made against the Laws of the Land which by Oath made at Your Coronation You are bound to observe and also against Magna Charta which whosoever shall presume to infringe are by the Prelates of England and the Popes Bull which we are known to have by Us to be Excommunicate All which things as they are to the great Peril and Danger of Your Soul so also alas are they to the great
or harm to your Imperial Honour Safety and Dignity That so you may render the Lord always propitious unto You and the foresaid See still more ready to serve your Occasions We desire You would again write unto Us most Beloved Son what your Royal Wisdom shall think fit to ordain in these Matters Dated at Villeneuve in the Dioecese of Avignion the v. of the Kalends of September in the second Year of our Pontificate XII This Letter to the King of England was accompanied by another of the same Date directed to his Council which being no where extant but in e Adam Murimouth ad An. Ed. 3.17 Adam Murimouth whose Authentick and Ancient MS. was kindly communicated unto me by the Learned and Reverend Linguist and Philologist Dr. John Covel Dean of York I also thought fit to set it down faithfully translated from the Original CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his Beloved Sons the Counsellours of his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction A Displeasing and most ungratefull Rumour hath in these Days reported unto Us how that when our Dear Sons Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of Sabina Priests Cardinals did send their Proctors to the Parts of the Kingdom of England in order to pursue the Grants lately by Us granted unto them as unto other new Cardinals in divers parts of the World of Ecclesiastical Benefices being in the Parts of the said Kingdom of England the said Proctors thô both Learned and also Ecclesiastical Persons were not only hindred in the Pursuance of the said Affairs but also by the procurance of some who have been fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments as it is probably supposed whereby as well they as others who procured or perpetrated the same have to their great Danger rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons have been ignominiously taken and then expelled the said Kingdom certain other Proctors of the foresaid Cardinal Ademare being afterwards taken and detained Prisoners But since We cannot by any means believe that the Premises which if Truth agrees with the Relation would redound to the Offence of the Divine Majesty the Discredit of the Roman Church and the exceeding Reproach of the said Cardinals could proceed from the Knowledge of our most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England considering his Devotion which he beareth to God and the Holy Roman Church his Mother as neither can We by any means imagine that He to whom We write also about this Matter would endure such things as are contrary to his Honour Safety and Dignity We therefore entreat Your Wisdom and in the Lord more earnestly exhort You That You whose Office is to direct the Actions and Affairs of the said King by the way of Honesty Righteousness and Justice the Contrary whereof if it should happen which God forbid would be imputed to You do â—rudently speedily and discreetly take Care that whatsoever Matters in this part have undecently and unjustly proceeded be revoked and amended Knowing that in divers other parts of Christendom as well near as remote wherein We have made the like Grants to other New Cardinals We have not heard of any notable impediment given unto them or unto their Proctors which therefore they have sent to those parts long since Given at Villeneuve in the Diocese of Avignon f f i. e. 28 Aug. V. Kal. Septemb. in the second Year of our Pontificate XIII To these Letters of the Pope the King immediately return'd this Famous Epistle in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England g Adam Marimouth Antio Brit. p. 238. Walsingh hist p. 150. 2 M.S. ex Vatican apud Odoric Raynald ad hunc annum §. 90. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman Catholick Church the Chief Bishop EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet When We seriously consider the Goodness of the Apostolick See which is wont to be most solicitous concerning the Encrease of Devotion in Christs Flock and the Welfare of their Souls not seeking that which is its own but rather those things which are Christs We have a very probable hope that Your Wisdom being now worthily placed in the Watch-tower of the Apostolick Eminence will graciously take Care to reform those things which detract from the Honour of the Church and the Devotion of the People and threaten inevitable Danger to the Souls and Goods of Mankind We nothing doubt but that it is now publiquely known how from the very first rise of Christianity in our Kingdom of England our Progenitors the Kings of England and the Lords and other Subjects of the said Realm have for the augmentation of Divine Worship built Churches enriched them with ample Possessions and endowed them with large Privileges placing fit Ministers therein who have nor without Success Preached the Catholick Faith to the People in their Mother Tongues By whose Care and Diligence the Vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth hath wonderfully prospered both in Culture and Fruit. But now which is to be lamented the slips of this very Vine are degenerated into a Wild-vine and the Boar out of the Wood doth waste it and the h h Ita Hebraâ—ice singularis fera Latinè i.e. Quadriennis aper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graeâ—è sanglier Gallicè singular English vid. Wase on Gratius p. 69. Wild-Beast of the Field doth devour it While by the Impositions and Provisions of the Apostolick See which now grow more insupportable than ever its own proper Goods against the Pious intent and appointment of the Donors are held in the Hands of the Unworthy and especially of Foreigners and its Dignities and Chief Benefices are confer'd upon Strangers who for the most part are Persons at least suspected unto Us and who neither reside on the said Benefices nor know the Face nor understand the voice of the Flock committed unto them but wholly neglecting the Cure of Souls like Hirelings only seek their own Profit and Temporal Advantage And so the Worship of Christ is empaired the Cure of Souls neglected Hospitality withdrawn the Rights of the Churches lost the Houses of the Clergy dilapidated the Devotion of the People extinguished the Clergy of the said Kingdom who are Men of great Learning and Honest Conversation and are both able and willing effectually to perform the Work of Ministers and would also be very fit for our and the Publique Service forsake their Studies because the Hope of a Reasonable Preferment is thus taken away Which things We know can be no ways acceptable to the Divine Pleasure but will most certainly prove a Mighty Prejudice and unspeakable
are to be seen in their Primitive Obscurity in the Learned Seldens Titles of Honour y Saxon M.S. apud Selden Titles of Honour p. 812. And St. George upon the Point of his Martyrdom in the Days of Dioclesian the Emperour prayed to the Lord and said Jesu Christ receive my Soul And I beseech thee that whosoever shall commemorate me on Earth all Fraud Peril Hunger and Sickness be far from his House and that whosoever shall in any danger ON THE SEA or elsewhere make use of my Name Thou wilt be mercifull unto him Then came a Voice from Heaven saying Come thou Blessed and whosoever shall in any Danger or Place call on my Name thrô Thee him will I hear The same Sense is thus expressed in the other z Apud Selden ibid. p. 813. MS. in Meeter His Hands he held up on High adown he set his knee Lord he said Jesu Christ this only thing might I see Grant me if it is thy Will that whoso in fair manere Holds well my Day in a April 23d St. George's Day Aperil for my Love on Earth here That there never fall in his House no Harm in all the Year Nor great Sickness nor Famine strong that thereof there be no fear And WHOSO IN PERIL OF SEA thrô me shall make his Boon Or in other Cases Perillous heal him thereof full soon Then heard he a Voice from Heaven that to him said I wis Come forth to me my Blessed Child thy Boon heared is Then his Head was off y-smitten c. Some small Account of this ancient Original I gave about ten or eleven Years since to that Learned Antiquary Esquire Ashmole in the Lodgings of my worthy Friend and Master Dr. Goad then at Merchant Taylors School in London who seem'd not a little pleas'd at the probable Authentick Occasion of this most Noble Order But I leave the Judgment of all to the Candid Reader being content with those Reasons that induced me to make these Conjectures as I readily allow others to follow what may seem more Rational to them V. And having thus at least endeavour'd to find out hidden Truth from among the gross Rubbish of Antiquity we shall now proceed When this Mighty Prince had formed in his Head this most Honourable Design and had begun to hold his Round Table at Windsor upon b Ashmole p. 186 b. c. New-years Day this Year 1344. He issued out his Royal Letters of Protection as we shew'd before for the safe Coming and Return of Foreign Knights their Servants and what belonged unto them who being desirous to try their Valour should come to those solemn Justs by him intended to be held at Windsor on the c Pat. 17. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 2. Monday next after the Feast of St. Hilary next ensuing which happen'd then to be on the * Dom. Lit. D.C. 19 Day of January And these Letters of safe Conduct continued in Force till the Octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary being in the 18 Year of his Reign The Time appointed being come the King provided a Royal Supper to open the Solemnity and then first Ordained that this Festival should be annually held there at Whitsuntide The next Day and during all this splendid Convention from before Candlemas unto Lent the Lords of England and of other Lands exercised themselves in all kind of Knightly Feats of Arms as Justs and Tourneaments and Running at the Ring The Queen and her Ladies that they might with more Convenience behold this Spectacle were orderly seated upon a firm Balustrade or Scaffold with Rails before it running all round the Lists And certainly their extraordinary Beauties set so advantageously forth with excessive Finery and Riches of Apparel did prove a Sight as full of pleasant Encouragement to the Combatants as the fierce Bucklings of Men and Horses gallantly armed was a delightfull Terrour to the Feminine Beholders During these Martial sports William Montagu the Great Earl of Salisbury King of the Isle of Man and Marshal of England thrô his immoderate Courage and Labour for 3 or 4 Days together was at last so bruised and wearied with those boisterous Encounters that falling d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 924. into a Feavour thereby he died within 8 Days after in the e Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 640. ubi Anno 13. Ed. 2. aged 18. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. Ashmole 690. 43d. Year of his Age on the 30 of January being then a Fryday to the infinite regret of the King and all the Court as well Strangers as English and was afterwards Honourably buried in the White-Fryers at London This Mans Father named William Lord Montagu f Mills Catal. Honor. p. 1041. Son of Simon Lord Montagu and being descended of Drû or Drogo who was branched from the Lines of the Ancient Kings of Man did Marry Aufric Daughter of Fergus and Widow of Olaus King of Man or as others report she was g Dugd 1 Vol. p. 633. Sister of Orry King of Man who was descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark Which Lady discerning her Brother and all his Blood to be overcome and ruin'd by Alexander King of Scots fled into England with the Charter of that Isle and being there Honourably received of King Edward I was by him given in Marriage to William Lord Montagu aforesaid who in her Right by Aid of the said King Edward I recover'd the said Isle till at length he mortgag'd it for seven Years to Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham from whom it should seem to have been taken by the Scots Till this Earl William as we shew'd before reconquer'd it from the Scots and was by King Edward III made King of the said Isle as was also his Son after him till the 16 of Richard II when he sold the Crown thereof to William Lord Scroop as some say thô 't is certain that even h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. to his Death he retain'd the Title of Lord thereof as appears by his Will bearing Date at Christ-Church-Twynham 20 April Anno 1397 20 Richardi 2 where he calls himself Earl of Salisbury and Lord of the Isles of Man and Wight Within 6 Weeks after the Date whereof he departed this Life But now at the Death of his Father the first Earl he was found to be but 15 Years old and an half thô in time he became no less renowned than his Father and was One of those 25 whom King Edward chose together with himself Founders of the Order of the Garter But of his Heroick Father who died at this time i Hypod. p. 117. ad n. 1344. Walsingham takes his leave in these Words This Year says he departed this Life the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury King of Man and Marshal of England of whose Valorous Acts worthily to write would be a Work of great Commendation And thus died this Valiant Worthy in the strength of his
Christendom he sent r Odor c. Rainald ad 〈◊〉 annu◠§. 61. 62. his Letters to the Pope shewing how King Philip had despightfully slain and put to Death Good and Loyal Knights and Gentlemen upon his Account and for hate of his Person whereby he had notoriously violated the Truce lately taken between them which as he could not but highly resent so he was preparing to revenge it But yet if King Philip would according as Reason requireth retract for what he had done amiss and offer Satisfaction for these injuries he would at the time appointed send other Ambassadors to the Apostolick See and give them Instructions for making Peace The Pope having heard thus much return'd an Answer to this Purpose After having manifested to King Edward in how great Dangers the whole Christian World was tossed and that this Mortal War thus kindled between France and England did grievously afflict the Church he then told him that King Philip had granted Letters of safe Conduct as the English Ambassadors had required and as to the Death of the Lords Esquires and Others King Philip had wrote unto him that they for their enormous Crimes Murders and Rapines had been justly put to Death by him not thereby to break the Truce but by the fear of their Punishment to terrifie others from the Breach thereof and that he had added how the King of England's Garrisons had attempted many things against the Truce Then he begg'd the King to let him know his Secret Resolutions for that he would never divulge them but use his utmost to make a final Peace which was so profitable and advantagious to the Expedition against the Turks And he assured him that hitherto he had defer'd to dispence with the Canon-Law for the Marriage between his Eldest Son and the Duke of Brabant's Daughter in hopes that by that Bond of Affinity tied in France a sure Peace would ensue c. Thus the Pope neglected not to heal these Wounds of Bleeding Christendom but King Edward was too much exasperated by his Adversary to stop now since nothing of Satisfaction was offer'd but only frivolous and false Excuses Wherefore in order to enable himself the better to carry on this War he now held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster on the 7 Day of June being the Å¿ M.S. Pâ—t Pâ—â— p. 56 18 Ed. ◠§. 1. Sr. Râ—b Cottens Abridgment p. 44 c. v. Statute Bâ—cks Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity On which day in presence of the King certain of the Lords and Commons being then assembled in St. Edwards Chamber otherwise called the Painted Chamber and the Lord Chancellor at the Kings Command declared how sundry things of the last Parliament were left to be done at this And that the Archbishop of Canterbury had against the time of the said Parliament called a Convocation of his Clergy At which Parliament and Convocation sundry of all Estates were absent c. Whereat the King did no less muse than he was thereat offended Wherefore he charged the Archbishop for his part to punish the Defaults of the Clergy and he would do the like touching the Parliament Hereupon Proclamation was made that none should wear Armour or Weapons in or about London and Westminster during the Session of the Parliament Receivours of Petitions for England Gascogne Wales Ireland Bretagne Scotland and the Foreign Isles and other Places beyond the Seas Sr. Thomas Drayton appointed Clark of the Parliament and this is all was done that Day being Monday On the Tuesday the Names of the Lords of the Parliament were examined before the King that such as made default in being absent might abide the Kings Order On Tursday after the Chancellour in full Parliament in Presence of the King and of his Son the Prince of Wales declared the Cause of the same Parliament viz. The Articles of the Truce and the Breaches of the same by the French King which were there particularly instanced Whereupon the Three Estates were willed to advise upon the Premises and to shew their Opinion of them by Monday next ensuing The same Monday they had their time enlarged untill Wednesday in the Week of St. John being the 23 of June on which day every of the Lords and Commons by themselves with one Assent required the King to end the same War either by Battle or Honourable Peace And if the King shall attempt War eftsoons that he do not stay the same at the Letters or Requests of the Pope or of any whomsoever but to end the same by Dint of Sword. Whereunto the King agreed but forasmuch as the same could not be atchieved without Aid the Clergy of Canterbury granted unto the King a Desme Triennial And the Commons granted unto him Two Fifteenths of Counties and Two Desmes of Cities and of Towns on Condition that the same be leavied in such manner as the last was that the Commons Petitions be Granted and that the same may be imployed upon the Wars with the Assent of the Lords That the Prince and Sr. Edward Bailiol may lie on the North-Marches And because the King should pass over the Seas in Person to end this Quarrel they further grant unto the King a Third Fifteenth Then after the Petitions of the Commons and Clergy with their Answers the Commons by their Petition recite the Act of Provision made in the last Parliament and because no Penalty was provided therefore request that such as incurr the breach of the same by receipt procuring or Counsel in stay of any temporal judgement shall lie in perpetual Prison or be forejudged the Land And that all Justices of Assises Goal-Delivery and Oyer and Terminer may determine the same And that the Act of Provision may continue for ever That if any Archbishop or other Person Religieux or other do not present within four Moneths some able Clerk to any Dignity whereof any Person hath obtained from the Court of Rome any Provision but surcease the same that then the King may present some able Clerk himself That 〈◊〉 any Bishop Elect shall refuse to take such t Ità M.S. sed Brother in Sr. Rob. Cotten Bishop other than by such then such Clerk shall not enter nor enjoy his Temporalities without the Kings special Licence That the King shall dispose of all such Benefices and Dignities of such Aliens his Enemies as remain in such Countries of his Enemies and employ the Profits thereof to the Defence of the Realm That Commissions be sent into all the Kings Ports to apprehend all such Persons as shall bring in any such Instrument from the Court of Rome and to bring them forthwith before the Council to answer thereto That the Deanery of York which is recoverable by Judgement in the Kings Court may be bestowed upon some Able Man within the Realm who will maintain the same against him who holdeth the same by Provision from the Court of Rome being the Common Enemy to the King
together with an handsome Gratuity and a promise of much more upon his Return to him unto Reims with an Answer When this Indigent fellow had received the Letter he revolved many things in his mind considering of what consequence such a Matter might prove at last and he said to himself Well! Colinet thou may'st be poor but thou shalt never be a Traytor Wherefore now contrary to his Oath and Promise to Gawin but agreeable to the Duty he ow'd to his King and Country he took his way toward Paris and presented the Letter to the French King in which was set down the whole Manner Tune and Means how and when the City of Laon should be betray'd When the King understood the whole Series of this Black-Treason he instructed Colin how to behave himself in returning with an Answer and to fit his return according to the time as if he had been at Calais with the King of England and so at a convenient day to go to Reims according to Gawin's appointment During which Interval King Philip wrote secretly to the Provost of Reims that as soon as Colin Tomelin was come to Dr. Gawin with his Answer the said Gawin should be attached and had unto Prison all which was accordingly executed When Process was made against him forasmuch as he was in Holy Orders the Provost of Reims sent him to the City of Laon where he was put in the Bishops Prison But when the Commons of Laon heard how there was a Man Prisoner there who would have betrayed their City they rose in great uproar and would have broken up the Prison with intent to tear him in pieces But the Bishop who is an Earl and one of the Twelve Peers of France and of the Supream Judges so pacified them by his Officers that for that time they went back again to their several Houses The next day to quiet the People he was brought forth to his Judgement and there because he was a Clergyman only condemned to perpetual Prison But for his greater Infamy and shame he was further Order'd to be set up on high in a Tumbrel or Dung-Cart bare-headed to be seen of all Men and so with vile Instruments of wretched Musick as Bagpipes and the like to be carried thrô the High-street of the City unto the Bishops Prison aforesaid there to remain close Prisoner during his Life But he was not carried far in this Manner when the Common people fell upon him with great moutings pelting him with dirt and stones so rudely that before he had finished half his Progress he was stoned to Death after which his Body was buried in a filthy Moor hard by the City With him also his Only Son being in some measure guilty of his Fathers crime was condemned to perpetual Imprisonment But being excused the shamefull Riding was not expos'd so to the Fury of the Rabble wherefore he had his Life but lost his Liberty for ever Shortly afterward b Faban p. 275. there was also executed at Paris a Burgess of the said City who as was laid to his charge had undertaken to betray that great Metropolis of the Kingdom to King Edward For which Fact he was first dismembred of his Legs and Arms and afterwards hanged up by the Neck on the great Gallows of Paris called Monfaucon But in relation to these two supposed Treasons for my part I cannot see how onely one or two Persons can be supposed capable of Betraying such Considerable Places as Laon and Paris near which the King of England had no Garrisons and as for Himself he was then too far off being at Calais Nor could he be able with all his Forces to take and hold Possession of two such Cities especially of Paris even thô he had left the Siege of Calais Wherefore I rather think the whole Matter amounted to no more than this that some certain Persons who either shew'd small satisfaction in King Philips Government or were less carefull of their Carriage and Speech in such a Juncture or lay obnoxious to the Malice or Spight of any prosligate Wretches wanted not Evidences to swear home against them and lay Matters to their Charge which thô never so improbable were then accounted no less than Treason by a Prince so mortally jealous as King Philip was VIII Now the French King having found all his peacefull Overtures with the Flemings ineffectual especially now that they had proceeded so far as to quarrel with their young Lord the Earl of Flanders for the Sake of King Edward his Adversary as well to revenge his own and the Earls injuries as hoping by some notable Success against them to enduce them to some Reasonable Terms resolves c Serâ—es p. 12. in Phil. Val. is Speed p. 580. Fâ—x p. 506. c. to send his Son John Duke of Normandy with a Considerable Army against them But Duke John it seems was born under no better Stars than his Father for having besieged Cassel a Town between St. Omers and Ipres he was at last in a Sally set upon couragiously by the Flemings being joyned with a good Body of English from Calais and compelled to raise his Siege without Honour but not without considerable Loss For the Conflict enduring from Morning till high Noon the French were utterly vanquished and enforced to break up having left behind them many Hundreds of their Men as well slain as Prisoners whereas on the other Side rather by a Miraculous Protection of Heaven than any Chance of War not one is reported to have been grievously wounded among the Flemings and their English Auxiliaries To this Town above all the Towns of Flanders King Philip ow'd an ill-will because d Fabian p. 264. Jacob Meyer Ann. Flandr l. 12. p. 153. in the beginning of his Reign when he laid siege unto them in Person the Inhabitants had in derision of Him and his Title caused a Red Cock to be painted on a White Cloth under which in great Letters they wrote this following Rhyme and hung iâ— over the Walls Quand ce Coq icy chantera Le Roy Trouvé ca entrera Which signifies When this Cock shall crow clear The Found King shall enter here At which Lines the French King was horribly vexed especially because they Nick-named him the Found King as if having no manner of Title the Frenchmen had as it were upon diligent search found him out to hold Pretensions against King Edward After this Repulse at Cassel Duke John collecting his shatter'd Forces made yet another Attempt upon Lilers a Town of Flanders by the River Navez between Arien and Bethune But here also he received another Repulse so as he could hardly come off with the rest of his Troops to his Father who stormed and fretted exceedingly at these fresh Disgraces IX All this while was the Siege of Calais carried on with great Application but the Defendants held out with equal Obstinacy For thô King Edward's chief trust was to reduce them by Famine yet
those many notable Successes of King Edward rather to the Vertue Holiness and Prayers of this Man than to any other worldly either Wisdom or Prowess Thus much we shall readily acknowledge that althô after his Death King Edward had the same good Success as before the Reason may be justly attributed to that Prince's Care of following the Precepts of this memorable Prelate For whose wonderfull Modesty we have this also to say that whereas he might have obtain'd of the King whatever Preferment he would have asked he was so far from any Ambitious Desire of superfluous Promotion that it was long e'r he could be prevail'd with to accept a Prebend of Lincoln when it was offer'd him he being at the same time Chancellor of St. Pauls in London And it is certain that the Archbishoprick came at last to him without the least of his Endeavours for it the Convent electing him the King allowing their Choice and the Pope who knew not any of these things at the same time conferring this Dignity upon him without the least Application made to him in his Behalf Whereas had he but shew'd the smallest Inclination for the Place he might have obtain'd it of the King before Concerning which Matter when certain spake to the King saying they admired that his Majesty did not admit of this Mans Election from the Convent for they had chosen him before his Predecessour John Hufford was chosen he replied That it was because he could very ill spare so Worthy a Man to be from him and he never could perceive that he himself desired to be spared He was succeeded by Simon Islip Keeper of the Privy Seal who was Consecrated in December 1349. Besides these c Walsingh hist p. 160. ubi Banham male pro Langham Vti aperte lâ—quet 〈◊〉 Simon Langham selus sib haec cmnia Officia Tâ—talos vendicet v. Godw. Catal. Bâ—sh p 143. Philpets Catal. Chancell p. 41. Catal. Treas p. 36. Simon Abbot of Westminster being taken away in this Visitation was succeeded by Simon Langham who was afterwards Lord Treasurer of England then Bishop of Ely soon after Lord Chancellour then Archbishop of Canterbury in which Seat having sat two Years he was by Pope Vrban V created Cardinal Titulo S i Sixti and lastly was made Bishop-Cardinal of Preneste by Gregory the XI X. These are all whom I find to have died this Bout of the most Eminent of the Prelacy of England a Number not great but for the Heighth of the Dignity and Worth of the Persons very considerable But of the inferior Clergy there was such havock made that many Churches were left wholly void without either Parson or Curate or any to perform the least Divine Office whether Mass Mattins Vespers Sacraments or Burial So that it was hard to procure any one to be a Chaplain or to Administer in any Church under Ten Pounds or Ten Marks per Annum at least d Knighton p. p. 2600. n. 20. Which Ten Marks as Money then went did countervail 40 l. with us And few or none would accept of a Vicaridge worth 20 l. or 20 Marks per annum whereas before the Pestilence when there was Plenty of young Divines a Man might have a Chaplain for four or five Marks per annum nay sometimes for two or three besides his Board So that now the Prophecy of Robert the Jacobin Frier against the Clergy was very fully and severely accomplished indeed But shortly after this Scarcity of Clergymen was abundantly made up or rather the Church was overstock'd For vast Numbers of Laymen whose Wives were dead of the Plague came crowding now into Orders many of whom were meer Idiots and utterly unlearned except that perhaps they knew how to read thô not with Understanding Sr. John Poultney e Stow's Survey p. 86. 252. who had been Mayor of London Four times and a very charitable and munificent Person died also in this Pestilence but of others who were either considerable for their Dignity Birth or Station I have not met with any So that it is no wonder if when the Wars were again renewed between England and France King Edward seem'd nothing the weaker for all the great Loss of his People in this Plague For of the Common Sort France was as much exhausted hereby as England and in a manner all King Edwards expert Barons and Captains remained still alive to be another Plague to that Nation XI In Wales f Stow p. 246. Holinsh Chr. Ireland p. 72. also this Epidemical Calamity raged extreamly and shortly after passing over into Ireland it made great havock of the Englishmen in those Parts especially about the Sea-coasts But as for those who were true Irishmen born and dwelt in the hilly Countries it scarce just saluted them So that they suffer'd but little or no loss thereby When the Scots heard of this strange and dreadful Fatality here in England g Knighton p. 2600 n. 1. Stow p. 246. a. n. 60. they too maliciously insulted over our Sufferings and instead of humbling themselves under a due sense of Gods terrible Judgments made a Scoff and Derision of what should have been their Warning and in their ordinary Conversation took up this profane Oath by the foul Deaths of the English Nor this only but out of a most inveterate and implacable hatred desiring if possible to add more weight to the heavy Judgments of Gods Hand they made a Warlike Rendezvous in Solkirk Forest on purpose to invade the North-Borders But before they could make any considerable Progress a sudden and most terrible kind of Death fell among them So that more than 5000 of them died in a manner presently Whereupon they made all the haste home imaginable as well the infected as the whole but they were overtaken wearied despairing and out of Order by a strong and well-prepared Body of English who easily overcame and slew of them with a great Slaughter But however so many escaped home as sufficed to communicate the Infection they had won by this Expedition over all that Kingdom also So that Scotland partook of the universal Contagion in as high a Degree and in the same manner as other Countries had done before them Only in this there was a difference that whereas other Nations with trembling sat still and waited for it the Scots did seem ambitious to fetch it in among themselves XII In the mean time whereas during the Plague there was almost every where sufficient plenty of all things so that in a manner no other Mischief reigned all that while as soon as this grand Conquerour was march'd off innumerable other Mischiefs as so many petty Tyrants began to play their Tragical parts also And h Knighton p. 2599. lin 65. first by occasion of the Plague the Cattle for want of Men to look to them wandred about in fields at randome from whence no Body drove or gather'd them So that they began to perish among
his Cardinals in Council yet it is likely that they enjoy'd the said Benefit at last h Odor Rainal ad an 1350. §. 2. for it appears that soon after the same was granted to King Edward of England and to his Son Edward Prince of Wales to the Queens of England Isabell and Philippa and to Elisabeth Queen of Hungary II. The Jubilee began i Knighton p. 2602. n 29. vid Walsingh Hist p. 160. on the 25 of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasted until the said Feast of the Year following during the most part of which space especially about Easter Ascension-Day and Whatsuntide there was such a crowding rather than concourse of People at Rome k Vid. Matur Annot. ad D. Antenin Chron. p. 355. that Francis Petrarch who was then present says how it seem'd the late horria Plague had done little or no harm there came thither every day such Incredible Multitudes of Christian People from all parts of Europe Althö few or none went out of England upon that account except the l Dudg 1 Vol. p. 550. Lady Margaret Mother to William Lord Res of Hamlake King Edward m Knighton p. 26â—â— n. 30 40 50 c. expresly forbidding it as of ill Consequence to his Realm very considerable Sums of Money being necessarily on such occasions transported out of the Kingdom When the Pope understood this he sent his Nuntio's to the King of England desiring of him First that he would not hinder the Passage of those who desired to visit the Places of the Holy Apostles Item that he would grant a Truce that so the Earl of Lancaster might not act any Hostilities in Aquitain to the himdrance of those who desired to visit Holy Places Lastly that he would not hinder or permit to be hindred those who were promoted by his Bulls at the Court of Rome from receiving Benefices so incumbent on them To the first Article it was answer'd that the King being busied in his Wars did therefore Want to be Aided of what was his own and that it was necessary to provide for the Treasure of his Kingdom lest while the War endured it should be exported out of the Realm to the Prejudice of Him and of his Subjects And further as to this point the King caused to be proclaimed that all Englishmen as well at Rome as any other place beyond Sea should make haste to return home as soon as might be on pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods As to the second Article relating to the Truce it was answer'd that the King of France had often acted Hostilities during such a Truce upon the Lands of the King of England treacherously to the destruction of his People and contrary to the Conventions contained in the said Truce And as to the Third Article respecting the Provisors it was answer'd that the King would graciously receive Clergy-men making use of Papal Provision who were of good Condition and worthy of Promotion but not others And with this Answer the Popes Nuntio's returned III. About the n Vid. Odoric Rainald ad an 1349. §. 18. Albert. Argent in Chron. Ianquet Chron. ad an 1350. Walsing hist p. 160. Stow p. 246. same time there arose a certain Sect of People who were seised with a pious Frenzy and went about in several Parts of the World whipping themselves with four-corded Whips and Preaching Singing and Praying with much seeming Devotion but it proved no better than Hypocrisie or misguided Zeal at the best as may appear to any that shall consult the Places quoted in the Margin Wherefore the Pope wrote his Letters to the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany Poland Sweedland England and France enjoyning them to extinguish this Sect of Whippers and also to the several Kings that by their Kingly Authority they would uphold the said Prelates in this matter Particularly there are extant to our King Edward Letters from the Pope wherein he writes thus concerning the Rise of these Whippers o Tem. 8. Epist seer p. 104. apud Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 22. Latclym the Parts of Almain under the pretence of Piety and doing Penance there hath arisen a Superstitious and vain Generation and so having at large declared how they had been condemned by the Apostolick Decree and that Patriarchs and Archbishops had been enjoyned to pluck up that poisonous Plant which the Heavenly Husbandman had not planted he adds these Prayers Do You therefore ô most Dear Son not only drive away the same Wicked Persons if perhaps they should presume to come into your Kingdom out of the Limits of your said Kingdom but also that they may repent of their Follies and Errours and return to Modesty correct and punish them That so the Purity of the Catholick Faith may always shine forth and the leaven of the Malice of these Men may by your provident Care be taken away from among all your Subjects Dat. Avenion III Non. Decembris Anno Pontif VIII About p 〈…〉 p. 〈…〉 2â— b. Michaelmas this Year above an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Others Natives of Zealand Holland and Hainalt in the same blind Devotion passing thrô Flanders came into England and at London sometimes in the Cathedral of St. Paul sometimes in other Religious Places of the City made their procession all together being coverd from the Loins to the Heels with Linnen marked with Red Crosses before and behind and on their Hats all the rest of their Bodies being bare they had every one a Three-corded Whip in his hand well knotted wherewith twice or thrice in a Day they beat themselves on their bare bloody Bodies most cruelly Four of them singing all the while in their own Language and all the rest making up the Chorus King Edward thô he strictly forbad all others from joining with them inflicted no other Punishment on them than what was the effect of their own Folly seeing how severely they chastised themselves and knowing such Smarting Devotion could not hold out long if no manner of notice was taken of them I remember to have read q Vid. Diâ—gen Lâ—ert that when Diogenes the Cynick stood naked out of an Ostentatious humour in a very cold Season embracing a Pillar of Marble and all the People slocking about him pitied the poor Mans Condition the Divine Plato passing accidentally by told the Spectators If they really pitied him they should take no notice of him but pass regardless on and then they should see the Vain-glorious Philosopher make haste away and gladly â—un to a Fire In like manner these Enthusiasts when they saw none took notice of them and that but a few of the Common People afforded them any pity or respect the most part of them also flouting and deriding their Madness began to cool in their warm fit of Penance and at last vanished away as ashamed of their former folly Certainly the soundest and most effectual Devotion consisteth not
Sr. William asked the Captain what News he had heard lately The Captain who had nothing to tell and therefore greatly desired to know something answer'd Alas I have no News in the World but desire if you have any to impart it to me Sir that I shall do most readily said Sr. William and then proceeded in this manner Sir it is now current all about France that the King of Denmark and the King of Iseland are allied together and have sworn to Sail forth and not return again into their own Countries till they have utterly destroyed all England and that in their Course thither meeting with the Prince of Wales upon the Sea as he was conveying the French King into England they fought him and wan the French King from him whom they are now sending home in great Honour to Paris For their Navy consists of more than an hundred thousand Fighting Men. And the Englishmen are in such fear of them that they know not what in the World to do for there goes an old Prophesie among them That England shall be destroyed by the Danes Then the Captain asked him how he heard these News Sir said the Lord William an honourable Friend of mine a Knight of Flanders wrote this to me for most certain and together with the Letter he sent me the loveliest Chessboard of Men that ever I beheld in all my Life That Device he put in by the by because he knew the Captain took great pleasure in playing at Chess and indeed this Project took for the Captain immediately snatching hold on the last Word said Sir I pray be so kind to let me see your Chess-Men I 'll send for them presently replied Sr. William on condition you 'll play a Game with me for some Wine And that being agreed on he bad his Servant who was privy to all his Design to run and fetch him his Chess-men and bring them unto him to the Wicket Accordingly his Man ran into the Town and the Captain and Sr. William enter'd in at the first Gate the Captain fastning the Wicket after him with a Bolt only for he would not lock it because of the return of the Chessboard Then Sr. William asked him familiarly to open the Second Gate saying he might do it safely enough seeing the First was fast Then the Captain open'd that Wicket also and let Sr. William enter with him to see the Castle in his Company The mean while his Servant had gone straight to the Chief of those Burgesses who had Men ready Armed in their Houses and they immediately signified the same to all the rest and so being all assembled and conveniently posted on one side near the Castle Gate he went up before and sounded a little Horn as he was before order'd to do by the Captain and Sr. William The Lord of Granville hearing the Horn said to the Captain let us go out to the Second Gate for my Man is coming and with that he himself passed forth at the First Wicket and stood still without watching his Opportunity The Captain thinking to follow him set out one Foot and stooping down put out his Head but just then had Sr. William taken in his hand the little Ax from under his Arm and therewith clave the Captains Head at one stroke before he could get his other foot over so that he fell immediately dead upon the Groundsel Then Sr. William ran hastily to the Outer Wicket and unbolted it at which time he saw his Friends marching up apace to his Assistance Now the Watchman of the Castle having heard the Horn was much surprized for the Captain however lately he had forgot his own Order had commanded that none should sound any Horn in the Town on pain of Death Wherefore looking down from the high Tower he saw Men in Harness hasting towards the Castle Gate whereupon he cried Treason At that as many of those in the Castle as were ready hasted to the innermost Gate where they were extreamly startled to behold their Captain Dead and Sr. William with his Ax in his Hand and all in shining Armour for he had flung away his Cloak now to defend the Entry At that instant those who were to second the Lord William being enter'd the First Gate were come up also to the other and so they easily drave back the Souldiers and took and slew whom they pleased and so became Masters of the Castle The Castle being thus won the City presently yielded and cast out their French Garrison at what time they sent for the Lord Philip of Navarre who being just then return'd out of England went thither upon their Invitation and made that his chief Garrison from whence on occasion to infest all Normandy Upon his Coming thither he was joyned with Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. James Pipe and other English Captains besides Gascogners who all together made a considerable Garrison which afterwards prov'd highly prejudicial to the Realm of France VII At this time there arose several Captains of England who gather'd Companies unto themselves wherewith they made War at their Pleasure and gain'd Prizes by Spoils and Ransoms and arrived to great Wealth and Dignity One of these was Sr. John Hawkwood c Weever's Funeral Monum p. 623. Cambden in Essex p. 324. c. an English Knight born at Sible Heveningham aliàs Heningham in Essex being the Son of Gilbert Hawkwood a Tanner He was bound an Apprentice to a Taylor in the City of London by whose good leave he went very Young to the French Wars in the Service of the King. For his admired Valour he was honoured with the Order of Knighthood and became in his Days a most Noble Captain All Italy remembers the Fame he purchased in the Wars there now fighting for the Duke of Milain Barnabo whose Daughter Donna he had in Marriage now for the Pope and the Church and another while for the State of Florence in whose Service he died 38 Years after this In Testimony of whose manifold good Offices to that State the Florentines have deposited his Bones in a sumptuous Monument in their Cathedral over which there is his Statue of Black Marble armed at all Points with Hawks flying thrô a Wood upon his Shield that being the Rebus of his Name Thô some of his Friends raised for him a Cenotaph also here in England at Sible Heningham aforesaid the Arches of which Tomb represented Hawks flying thrô a Wood. Froisard calls him Sr. John Hacton Jovius John de Aucut or de Acuto and d Matt. Villani calls him Gianni dell'Aguglio Sartore Inghilese l. 9. c. 37. Others otherwise but Hawkwood is the True Name Take this Tetrastick of Julius Feroldus in his Praise Hawkwood Anglorum Decus Decus addite Genti Italicae Italico praesidiúmque solo Vt tumult quondam Florentia sic simulachri Virtutem Jovius donat honore tuam O Hawkwood England's Glory sent to be The Bulwark and the Pride of Italy A Tomb just Florence to thy Worth
also all the time of his Imprisonment here in England which was for the space of Eleven Years more She died at Hartford the Court being there at that time and was buried in the Gray-Fryers Church in London hard by the Body of Queen Isabell her Mother And lastly the Great Orchanes Son of Ottoman the Second Emperour of the Turks died g 〈◊〉 Chron. 〈…〉 ad ann 1359. either in the end of this Year or in the beginning of the next in the 760th Year of the Hegira Current after he had reigned to the great Dammage of Christendom 32 Years His Son Morat or Amurath the first of that Name sirnamed also Gazes succeeded him in the Empire of whose Death we shall not speak in this History because he outlived our King Edward reigning just the same Number of Years as his Father had done before him And thus as the Death of King Edward II was attended with the Funerals of a King of Scotland a King of France and a Turkish Emperour So his Dowager Queen Isabell was immediately followed by Joan Queen of Scots and Orcanes Emperour of Turky not to mention that Politick Death of King John of France whose Majesty lay now buried in Imprisonment XV. About this h Knighton p. 262. â—r 1. â— Walsingâ— hist p. 165. Godw. Cal. l. 〈◊〉 p. 269. Aâ—â— p. 〈…〉 p. 146. c. time there happen'd a great Quarrel between Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely and the Lady Blanch Plantagenet Sister to Henry Duke of Lancaster 〈◊〉 Relict of Thomas late Lord Wake of Lydel The Occasion was this the Bishops Men had burnt a Mannor of the said Lady Wakes and slain one of her Men whereupon she made her Complaint to the King of this Grievance The King sent his Justices viz. Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Shareshull and Others to make Inquisition in the Case And the Bishop being cited before them it appeared that he was altogether culpable because he had knowingly harboured the Murderer quod cum post perpetratam Felomam receptâ—sset scienter Whereupon Judgment being pronounced against him his Temporalities were seised into the Kings Hands and he obliged to give Sureties for his forth Coming He soon after made shift to get over the Sea to Avignon where he complain'd to the Pope how the King had seised his Temporalities against the Rights of the Church His Holiness hereupon by his Bull cited to appear at his Court the Kings Justices and their Adherents as Sr. Henry Green Sr. William Shareshull William Norton William Thorpe and Sr. Simon Drayton whom for refusing to appear he Excommunicated This Bull was sent to John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln to publish to the People with an Injunction that if any of the Excommunicate were dead he should cause them to be dug out of their Graves and cast them out of the Churchyard He did so to Sr. Simon Drayton who was then dead and buried and took him out of his Grave and drew his Body forth at a hole which he had dug in the Church-wall and cast it forth out of the Churchyard And hearing that the Lord John Engain who had been concerned in the said Affair was also l Dâ—â—d 1 Vol. p. 467. then newly dead he sent to the Abbot of Bury to do the same unto his Body but the Lord Thomas Engain his Son hindred the execution by Force When the King heard of these things he was very much moved and sent word to the Pope that nothing had been done but according to the Laws and Customs of his Realm and so at last thô not without some difficulty he obtain'd Absolution for them What some k Antiq 〈◊〉 C. du 〈…〉 l. Bish ibid. observe that the Original of this matter proceeded from the Bishop of Ely's boldness in Reprehending the King for setting up an unworthy Person to be Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield is to be look'd on as an Errour for that See was not void till almost two Years after this whereas the l Godwin ibid. Knighton ibid. Walsing ibid. Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 4. end of this Action is truly referred unto this Year However because some of the Persons Excommunicate had been of the Kings Privy Council Proclamation was presently made throughout the Realm that hereafter no Man should presume on pain of Death to bring into the Realm or to procure or publish any Papal Letters Citations Excommunications or Censures And some of the Bishop of Ely's Servants were clapt up in the Tower and others in Newgate where they died for presuming contrary to this Prohibition to deliver Letters to John Stepney Bishop of Rochester then Lord Treasurer of England But as for those threatning Letters which the Pope is said to have written to King Edward hereupon I believe nothing of them because Odoricus Rainaldus is altogether silent as to any such thing Now was m 〈…〉 ad hunc annum §. Walsingh hist â— 165. â—esâ—◠〈◊〉 Vl. 〈…〉 181. 〈…〉 Bil. V. 〈…〉 n. 376â— â— M.S. 〈…〉 Bo V. Speed p. 5â—3 also moved the famous Controversie between the Universities and the 4 Orders of Preaching Fryers which was on the behalf of Oxford managed at this time by that Learned Prelate Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate oâ— Ireland and Chancellour of the said University the said Richard arguing against the said Fryers before the Pope for that they were a Nuisance both to the Clergy and the two Universities and trusting to their Privileges by which they were admitted to receive the Confessions of dying Men they used to entice away young Men as well out of Publick Schools as from their Parents Houses whom having once brought into their Sâ—â—eties they would never after permit them to return to their Friends Whereby Men withdrew or kept back their Sons from the Universities lest these Fryers should thus steal them away So that says he n 〈◊〉 Acts Mâ—n p. 53â— whereas in my own Time there were 〈◊〉 Oxford 30000 Students within a while after there were but 6000. And indeed how excessively these Fryerly Swarms encreased in all Nations may appear from one Instance o Sâ—â—â—il Enne ad l. 6. where the General of the Franciscans Order promised to the Pope then about an Expedition against the Turk to bring him into the Field 30000 expert Warriers out of the Number of St. Francis his Order and yet that enough should remain at home to perform the requisite Devotions But at this time the Pope made such use of those Fryers that Armachanus prevailed not against them thô he maintained his Cause 〈◊〉 Nine Learned Propositions boldly and manifestly p Walsing Hist p. 16â— n. 20. Speed p. 5â—3 because the English Clergy stuck not to him as they had promised and the Fryers had great store of Mony whereby they were so far from losing Ground that they procured at this time a new Confirmation of their Privileges But those that desire more Particulars as
Treasures of You and your People but also a great loss of Time for if all things are duely consider'd You may chance to make War all the Days of your Life and yet never come to the end of your Design Sir in short since the Fortune of Battles is variable and You may perhaps lose more in one Day than You have won in twenty Years I would advise your Majesty to accept the Offers which are now made unto You in a time wherein You may leave the War both to your Honour and Advantage These reasonable and prudent Words thus utter'd with a Loyal Mind by the Duke of Lancaster for the Good of the King and his People being seconded by the immediate influence of Heaven fully wrought upon the enraged Prince and enclin'd him to Peace But surely the Occasion which wholly brought him over was very remarkable if not miraculous for presently upon these Words while yet the King was inexorable and refus'd to give the French Commissioners any agreeable Answer there g Frois c. 211. f. 105. Du Ches p. 684. Mezeray p. 59. Walsing hist p. 167. n. 30 Knighton p. 2624. n. 10. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Ashmole p. 660. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13 p. 184. Odor Rainal omnes fell from Heaven such a wonderfull Storm and Tempest of Thunder Lightning Rain and Hail among the English Army that it seem'd as if the whole Fabrick of Nature was falling to pieces and withall it was so excessive Cold at the same time that it cannot be imagin'd so that together with all these Arrows of Gods Anger there perished no less than 6000 Horses and well-nigh a 1000 Men among whom were several Persons of Quality Particularly the Lord Robert Morley was slain outright and the Lord Guy Beauchamp Eldest Son to the Earl of Warwick being wounded to Death in this Storm died thereof on the 28 day of April at the City of Vendosme in Beauce h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 235. id Warwicksh p. 319. sed in anno obitûs LI malè scribitur utrchique pro LX quod not andum where also he was buried in a Chappel behind the High-Altar toward the East having a Fair Monument of Alabaster with his Pourtraicture thereon neatly carved and over his Harness a Surcoat of his Arms with this Inscription on the Verge of his Monument Icy Gist Monsiegneur Guy de Beauchamp Fitz de tresnoble puissant Homme Monsieur Thomas de Beauchamp Conte de Warwick Mareschal d' Angleterre qui trespassa le XXVIII jour d' Averil l'Ann MCCCLX The boldest Heart of all these Valiant Souldiers trembled at the apprehension of this Dreadfull Judgment But King Edward like a Good and Pious Prince look'd upon it as a loud Declaration of the Divine Pleasure Wherefore immediately alighting from his Horse he kneeled down on the ground and casting his Eyes toward the Church of our Lady of Chartres made a solemn Vow to Almighty God That he would now sincerely and absolutely incline his Mind to a final Peace with France if he might obtain good Conditions at which time also he made a Devout Confession of his sins and so took up his Lodging in a Village near Chartres called Bretigny where the French Commissioners being come the next day with more ample Instructions the King was content to accept of Peace The Treaty i Ashmole p. 660 was menaged between Edward Prince of Wales and Charles Regent of France their Proctors and Agents in the Name of both the Kings these two Princes and all the Subjects of either Realm Those who were deputed on the English Part were Sr. Reginald Cobham Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Frank van Hall Bannerets Sr. Miles Stapleton Sr. Richard la Vache Sr. Nele Loring Knights and others of the King of Englands Council Those other on the French side were the Elect of Beauvais Charles Lord Monmorency Monsieur John le Meingre Marshal of France Monsieur Ainart de la Tour Lord of Viviers Monsieur Ralph de Ravenal Monsieur Simon de Bucy Knights Monsieur Stephen de Paris and Peter de la Charite Counsellours with many Others deputed by the Dauphin At first namely on the Seventh of May a Truce was agreed on to continue till Michaelmas following and thence till Michaelmas ensuing which upon the Return of King Edward into England was by Writs bearing Date the 24 of the said Month commanded to be published throughout all the Sea-Ports in England and by a like Writ notice was given to the Duke of Lancaster to proclaim it thrô Gascoigne And the next Day viz. the 8 of May the Articles relating to a Final Peace were agreed to on Behalf of both the Kings This is that Famous Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres so much spoken of by Writers to which the Eldest Sons of England and France were Principal Parties commonly called the Treaty of RENVNTIATION of both Kings in regard that the King of France Renounced the Soveraignty of several Territories to King Edward and he on the other side Renounced his Title to France and some other Places As will more particularly appear from the Copy of the Treaty it self as it was compared with the Original kept at Paris by one that was Master of the Rolls there k Extant Gallice apud Da Ches l. 15. p. 684. Dr. Stillingfl M.S. ad hunt titalum copia Tractatus magnae Facis in Latino inter Reges Anghae Francix factâ— apud Bretigny jurta Carnotum c. Eâ—tant câ—am Anglice in MS. Deticris Johan Spencer Coll. C.C. Cantab. Magistri Vid. Ret. de Tractatu Pacis Franciae ad an 34 Ed. 3. m. 10. X. EDWARD Eldest Son of the Noble King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester To all who shall see these present Letters Greeting WE give You to understand that of all the Debates and Discords whatsoever moved and commenced between our most Redoubted Lord and Father the King of England on the one Part and our Cousin the King and his Eldest Son Regent of the Realm of France on the other Part for the benefit of Peace it is ACCORDED on the Eight of May in the Year of of Grace One Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty at Bretigny near Chartres in Manner and Form following viz. 1. Imprimis That the King of England besides what he holdeth in Guienne and Gascoigne shall have for himself and his Heirs for ever all those things which follow to hold them in like Manner as the King of France or his Son or any of his Ancestors Kings of France did hold them that is to say what was held in Soveraignty to be held in Soveraignty and what in Demaine in Demain for the Times and in the Manner hereunder specified The City Castle and Earldom of Poictiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou likewise the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of
Damsels and Virgins Dehonestation of Married Women and Widows Burning of Towns Abbeys Mannors and Edifices Robberies and Oppressions a Disuse of the Roads and Ways Justice faileth the Christian Faith is waxen cold and Merchandise decayeth and so many other Mischiefs and horrible Deeds have ensued thereupon that the Numbers thereof cannot be said nor written Whereby those of our Realm and of other Realms in Christendom have sustained many Afflictions and Irreparable Losses Wherefore We considering and revolving the Evils aforesaid and how it is probable that Worser may follow in time to come and having great Pity and Compassion of our Good and Loyal People who so firmly and Loyally have bore themselves for so long a time in true Constancy and Obedience towards Vs by exposing their Bodies and their Goods to all Dangers without declining expences or charges whereof We ought to keep a perpetual Remembrance We have therefore several times yielded to a Treaty of Peace chiefly by means of the Honourable Fathers in God several Cardinals and Messengers of our Holy Father the Pope our Beloved and Faithfull the Abbot of Cluigny Father Simon de Langres Professor in Divinity Master of the Order of Fryars-Preachers and Hugh de Geneve Lord of Autun who were then with the said King of England in his Host and went and came so often between Charles our most Dear Eldest Son and between the said King of England our Brother and in sundry places held Treaties on the one Part and on the Other to Confer and Treat of a Peace between Vs who were then in England and the said King of England and the Realms of the One and of the Other And at last they assembled the Treaters and Procurators on the part of Vs and of our said Son for the Matters above written and the special Deputies Procurators and Treaters of our Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King of England our Brother having Power and Authority from his said Father in that part at Bretigny near Chartres At which place it was conferred treated and accorded by the Treaters and Procurators of the One Part and of the Other concerning all the Discords Dissentions and Wars which We and the said King of England our Brother have had One against the Other The Which Treaty and Peace the Procurators of our Son for Vs and for Him and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King our Brother for his Father and himself sware on the Holy Gospels to hold and maintain And after that our said Son sware solemnly for Vs and for Himself and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales having Power thereto sware for his said Father our Brother and for Himself and We after these things thus done and unto Vs reported and declared considering that the said King of England our Brother had agreed and consented to the said Treaty and would hold keep and accomplish that and the Peace on his part the same Treaty and Peace being undertaken by advice and consent of sundry of our Blood and Lineage Prelates of Holy Church Dukes Earls as well Peers of France as others Clergy and Men of the Church Barons Knights and other Nobles Burgesses and other Wise Men of our Realm to appease the Wars and the Evils and Griefs aforesaid wherewith the People had been so hardly used rather than for our Deliverance to the Honour and Glory of the King of Kings and for Reverence of Holy Church of our Holy Father the Pope and of his said Messengers have consented and do consent unto and ratifie admit and approve thereof And whereas by the said Treaty and Peace We ought to deliver and resign and do give deliver and resign as is contained in our other Letters made therefore more fully unto our said Brother the King of England for ever for Him and his Heirs and Successors to hold perpetually and for ever all those things which follow in like manner as We and our said Son or any of our Ancestors Kings of France have held them in time past That is to say what is in Sovereignty to hold in Sovereignty and what in Demaine to hold in Demaine namely the City Castle and Earldom of Poctiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou also the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Sainctogne on this and on that side the Charente the Town and Castle of Rochelle and their appurtenances the City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agennois the City Castle and Earldom of Perigeux and the Land and Country of Perigort the City and Castle of Limoges and the Land and Country of Limosin the City and Castle of Cahors and all the Land and Country of Quercy the City Castle and Country of Tarbe the Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre the Earldom Land and Country of Gaure the City and Castle of Angoulesme and the Earldom Land and Country of Angoulesmois the City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rouvergue and moreover that which the King of England or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Montrevil upon the Sea and its appurtenances Item the County of Ponthieu all entirely save and except according to the Tenor of the Article contained in the said Treaty which makes mention of the said County Item the Town and Castle of Calais the Town and Lordship of Merk the Towns Castles and Lordships of Sangate Coulogne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Lordships and other things contained in the said Article Item the Castle Town and Earldom of Guisnes all entirely with all the Lands Towns Castles Forts Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Fees and Rights according to the Tenour of the Article making mention thereof more fully in the said Treaty and the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places aforenamed together with all other Islands which the said King of England holdeth at present or held at the time of the said Treaty And whereas by the Form and Tenor of the said Treaty and Peace We and our said Brother the King of England owe and have promised by Faith and by Oath One to the Other and are bound We and our said Brother and our Eldest Sons aforesaid by obligation and promises by Faith and by Oath made on the One Part and on the Other certain Renunciations the One to the Other according to the Form and Tenor of two Articles contained among others in the said Treaty and Peace the Form whereof is this Item it is accorded that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for their Heirs and for all the Kings of France and their Successors as soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next coming in one Year without fraud or deceit shall render yield and deliver to the said King of
what Condition soever they be Privileges Immunities Franchises Liberties and Indulgences perpetual and temporal whatsoever to give and to grant And if of old given and granted together with the Customs and Usages provided they be not contrary to the Peace and Accord last made between Us and our most Dear Brother the King of France by our Authority to confirm when and as often as you shall be required so to do and any other things whatsoever to do and exercise which the True Prince of the said Provinces might or should do for the Welfare and Government of the Inhabitants thereof and for the Quiet of his Subjects All and singular which Premises We will have given alienated granted bestowed authorized restored revoked pardoned remitted conceded confirmed done acted and performed by You and your Deputies and from this time as heretofore they shall have a like perpetual Validity as if by Us they were done acted and performed as aforesaid And moreover and above and as there shall be need for their greater Validity from this time as heretofore We commend allow and approve and by the Tenor of these Presents confirm them Datum sub Magni Sigilli Nostri Testimonio in Palatio nostro Westmonasterii die 19 Mensis Julii Anno Domini Millesimo Tercentesimo Sexagesimo Secundo Regni Nostri Tricesimo Sexto Now to take away all Doubts and Contentions which may arise hereafter about this Matter and to the end that the Affair may be more clear over and above and again We reserve to our Selves and to our Majesty Royal expresly and by Tenor of these Presents the Direct Supremacy and all the Sovereignty and Resort of the whole Principality of Aquitain and Gascogne and of all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places and of all Prelates Earls Vicounts Barons Nobles and other Subjects and Inhabitants of the said Provinces which We have given to our said Eldest Son and conveyed unto his Person by the Tenor of our Letters hereabove incorporated And We will and declare that the Immediate Supremacy the whole Sovereignty and Resort abovemention'd be and remain for ever to Vs and to our said Majesty to use the said Resorts in time and place as We shall think fit which We will not nor intend to leave nor convey to our said Son by the Title of a Principality nor by any other thing whatsoever comprised in our said Letters And for an evident Token and clear Demonstration that our said Son shall hold and ought to hold under Vs of our said Majesty and by Liege Homage the which he hath made unto Vs at present all the said Things and every of them He shall be obliged to pay unto Vs every Year at our Palace of Westminster on the Feast of Easter one Ounce of Gold whereof he hath already given Vs Possession and Seisin as in token and Recognition of our Supream Dominion The which thing by the Name of Revenue and annual Tribute We impose on and really and de facto ordain of certain Knowledge and of our Authority and full Power and will that he pay it at the Place and Time above said reserving unto our Selves express and especial Power to diminish or enlarge the said Imposition and annual Tribute or appoint it to be paid unto Vs in other things at other times and elsewhere as it shall seem good unto Vs to do for the time to come in gracious Consideration and Regard had to the Estate of our said Son and to the Charges which are convenient of necessity to maintain and support him in the Government of the foresaid Countries Donne per Tesmoignance de nostre Grant Seal a nostre Palays de Westmonster le XIX jour de Juyl lan de Grace Mill. Triscentes Sexante and Deux de nostre Regne Trente Sisme III. When the Prince of Wales had made his Homage to the King his Father for this Principality of Aquitaine and had received these Letters Charters the King order'd him to prepare his Family according to the Dignity that he now held and then to pass the Seas in the Name of God and enter upon his Government For he saw well that his Son was of great Conduct Prudence and Courage and in the full Vigour of his Youth capable for any Government whatsoever He intended also hereby to render him the better instructed and as it were Tutor'd with Experience against the time that by his Decease he should succeed to the Crown of England and he well understood that by the Acquisition of so great a Principality he would be able and Rich enough to keep as Royal a Court as any King should do for at this time not to mention the Earldom of Kent and the other vast Lands and Possessions which he had with his Princess He was Prince of Aquitaine and Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester The Young Prince readily obey'd his Fathers Pleasure and busied himself the remainder of this Year about preparing for the Departure of himself and his Lady the Princess with all their Family After Christmas the King and Queen and all the rest of their Children Sons and Daughters went to Barkhamsteed near London a Mannor of the said Princes to visit and take their last leave of him And there they were altogether for several days during which space there were many serious Debates between the King and the Prince and also many Notable and Royal Diversions and Entertainments Froisard the French Historian i Frois l. ult fol. penalt c. 299 was then present in the Prince's Court and he says that at that time he heard an Ancient Knight named Sr. Bartholomew Bruels in discourse among the Ladies say how he had seen a certain Book written by way of Prophesie called le Brusc in English the Broom alluding no doubt to the Sirname of the Kings of England Plantagenet which Henry the Second obtain'd from the Flower of the Broom named in Latine Planta Genistae This Book said He expresly declares that neither the Prince of Wales Eldest Son to King Edward nor the Lord Lionel Earl of Vlster nor the Lord Thomas of Woodstock should ever come to the Crown nor none of King Edwards Sons should ever come to the Crown But that the Realm of England should within a while devolve to the House of Lancaster Whatever this Book was or by whatever Art written in this it failed not For the Black-Prince dying before his Father and Prince Lionel also Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby Son to John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster usurped the Crown from Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir to the said Black-Prince and King of England at that time in whose House the Dignity Royal Remain'd to the Third Generation when the Yorkists wrested the Scepter into their own Hands and held it till the Uniting of both Houses But to return All things being now ready the Prince of Wales k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 233. Walsing hist p.
not to be left in silence Now on the 13 of November which was the Birth-Day of this Great Monarch at which time he had exactly finished 49 Years of his Age and was come to the Entrance of the Fiftieth King Edward as he was a Man of more exalted Thoughts than any other in his Days resolved to keep a Jubilee of his Age in the most remarkable and solemn Manner imaginable at least to the greatest Satisfaction of those under his Government Of Jubilees in general and of their Original we u Vid. L. 2. c. 10 §. 1. p. 449. have already spoken wherefore we shall repeat nothing of that in this Place but immediately dispatch our present Narration Only we shall observe this that King Edward had this extraordinary Privilege to see two Jubilees besides that of Pope Clement the Sixth this First being upon the Account of his having arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age and the other of which we shall speak in its Place because he had then Reigned as many Years But now we are entertain'd with this under our Hands On the 13 of November which was the First Day of our King Edwards Life and the Last of this Parliament when the Petitions of the Commons were answer'd and they with loyal and well-affected Minds had unanimously x Walsingh hist p. 172. n. 30. granted unto the King for three Years 26 s. 8 d. of every Sack of Wooll besides a Subsidy of Woolls Fells and Skins y M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridg. p. 92 c. then by the Kings Command rose up the Lord Chancellour Sr. Henry Green aforesaid and declared that the King being arrived to the Fiftieth Year of his Age intended to shew several Acts of Grace and Mercy unto his People and first that he design'd to advance unto Honour such of his Sons as were of full Age namely that his Son Lionel then being in Ireland should have the Title of Duke of Clarence to Him and to the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully to be begotten in Right of his Wife z Vid. Mills Catal Hon. p. 334. Elisabeth Daughter of William Earl of Vlster Son of John de Burgo by Elisabeth de Clare Sole Daughter and Heiress of Gilbert Rufus Earl of Clare the Name of Clare being changed into Clarence And hereupon a Id. Mills Catal Hon. p. 336. an Addition of the Arms belonging unto the House of Clarence was elegantly inserted into the Label of this Dukes Coat viz. Argent with the Fourth Part of a Scutcheon Gules The Lord Chancellor further declared that his Son John should be Duke of Lancaster in Right of his Wife for her Eldest Sister Daughter to the late Duke was now dead in England as we intimated before and lastly that his Son Edmund should be Earl of Cambridge in Fee. After which in b M.S. Rot. Par. p. 90. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 94. full Parliament the King Girt his Son John of Gaunt with a Sword and set on his Head a Cap of Furr and a Circlet of Gold with Pearls thereon and created him Duke of Lancaster c Mills Catal. Honor. p. 326. with all the Liberties and Regalities of an Earl Palatine in the County of Chester as also Earl of Leicester Lincoln and Darby with the Office of High-Steward of England in the Right of his Wife Blanch whereof he gave him his Charter This done he d M.S. Rot Par. p. 90. S◠Rob. Cotton p. 94. Girt his Son Edmund with a Sword and Created him Earl of Cambridge whereof he gave him a Charter So that the incomparably Diligent Antiquary and Herald Sr. William Dugdale himself appears here to have slipt a little when he says e Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 54. that Prince Edmund thô he was then in Ireland at this time was created Earl of Cambridge The Mistake I suppose happen'd from the Words foregoing which take Notice that Prince Lionel was then in Ireland At the same f Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 385. Speed p. 584. Walsing Hist p. 172. Favine le Paris Theatre of Hen. l. 5. c. 1. p. 60. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 232. time the King granted his General and Special Pardon to all without Fine or paying of Fees for the Seal set all Debtors and Prisoners at Liberty and recalled those that were Banished and for the better ease of his People in their Law-Sutes and also perhaps lest England should any longer bear those Marks of Slavery he ordained that hereafter all Pleas should be used in English and that all Law-Cases Pleadings Sentences Decrees Judgments and Contracts should be written and enrolled in the English or Latine Tongue the French being wholly laid aside But whether by length of Time the Custom had been too strongly radicated to be so suddenly broke off or whether by the Wit and Subtlety of the Lawyers this Law was not long after in part eluded For thô to this Day our Pleadings are in English yet our Law-Cases remain in French or rather as Polydore in the Norman Language which Custom was first introduced by William the Conquerour Only it is here to be observed that althô the Printed Statuto touching Pleading in the English Tongue Chap. 15. doth agree with the Record yer where the Print says that all such Pleas should be enrolled in Latine the Record doth nothing warrant the same Besides this King Edward now confirmed Magna Charta which in his whole Reign he is said to have done no less than 12 several times Nor shall I omit that althô of our Kings since his Days few have lived so long none have reigned so long wherefore they had no Opportunity to imitate King Edward in these things yet g Polyd. Virgil. idid Speed c. from Occasion of this Jubilee of his they have since used that Famous Custom on Maundy-Thursday being the Day before Good-Friday to bestow their Alms more largely than usually and in Imitation of our Saviours Humility to Wash Feed and Clothe as many poor People as they themselves are Years Old. V. The Parliament being ended the King rode forth with all the Chief Dukes Earls Barons and Lords of the Realm together with the French Hostages in his Company to several great Forests h Knighten p. 2627. n. 20. as Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and Clunne Forest in Shropshire and many other Woods Parks and Forests where he hunted all sorts of Noble Game in Season and all the while he expended extraordinary an 100 Pounds one Day and an 100 Marks the other and so on while the Sport continued which was both long and very divertising About this time the i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Noble Lord Walter Fauconberg a Valiant and Hardy Baron of this Realm departed this Life leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then seventeen Years of Age. And thô with all my Diligence I cannot find the manner or
the Grand Prior of France the Lord 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
Opportunity of King Johns Sickness he sent his Letters to the Lord John Greilly Captal of Buche his Cousin who was at that time with the Earl of Foix desiring him to come unto him in Normandy for that he design'd to make him Generalissimo of all his Forces Whereupon the Captal presently set forward toward Normandy and gather'd up as he went along several Knights and Esquires English Gascogners and others who were willing to partake with so Renowned a Captain in his Adventures But they were not over many This mean while on the VI q Labbei Chron. Techn ad hanc annam of the Ides alià s on the 8 Day of April King John of France departed this Life at the Savoy in London whereat King Edward and the Queen and their Children were exceeding sorry because of the great Love and Friendship that was between them ever since the Peace of Bretigny One says r Knighton p. 2627. n. 60. that upon his Death-bed having one time sent for King Edward he began very earnestly to beg his Pardon confessing unto him That from his first Coming into England he had Confederates in London and other Places who secretly collected the Finest Gold of the Kingdom and made it into Plates and put it up in Barrels hooped with Iron to send into France and how they had bought up to the Number of 1000 Bows and Arrows and a great Quantity of other Arms to the same Purpose All which he now confessed to the King and in whose Hands the said Things now were and also that he had illegally and unjustly withheld from him the Crown of France untill the Peace made at Bretigny For all which he now most heartily beg'd his Pardon And King Edward forgave him with much Tenderness but caused all the Gold and Arms asoresaid to be seised on and severely punished those English Men whom he found offending in the Premises among whom were Å¿ Walsingh Hyp. p. 128. n. 40. many Lombard Merchants who being discovered by some of their Fellows were clapt up in the Tower till they had compounded as the King pleased VI. Immediately upon King Johns Death t Frois 〈◊〉 219. f. 115 a. the Duke of Orleans his Brother and the Duke of Berry his Son who were still in England among the Hostages and wonderfully dejected at his Departure wrote Word thereof to the Duke of Normandy whereat he was extreamly troubled But knowing that there was now no Remedy and that Himself was the next Heir to the Crown of France and that the King of Navarre was preparing to give him a Baffle at his first setting forth he thought it high time to rouse and put on the Spirit of a King and endeavour to establish his Affairs on all hands At that time there flourished a gallant Captain in Bretagne a Valiant and Hardy Knight named Sr. Bertram de Clequin of whose Name and Original it wâ—ll not be amiss for us to enquire a little thô only for the great Renown he afterwards arrived to and the many Noble Deeds of Arms which he performed as we shall see in the Process of this History About the Year of our Lord 800 u Frois l. ult c. 90. f. 103. Charlemain being then King of France there reigned in Bougie in Barbary a King called Aquin in whose time the said Charlemain was taken up in his Spanish Wars which lasted him in all for about Nine Years For the Kingdom of Spain is a large and great Country whose Beginning was reckon'd heretofore at St. Jean Pied de Port and so it went along including the Realms of Biscay Navarre Aragon and Portugal of Conimbria and Lisbon of Sevile Toledo Corduba Castille and Leon up as far as the Streights of Gibralter where is the shortest Passage into Barbary In this Country was that Great French Monarch when the foresaid Aquin an African King whose Dominions lay directly over Spain undertook to divert him from pursuing his Victories among the Saracens and went into Bretagne and landed at the Port of Vannes with a Mighty Army his Wife and Children being also in his Company On the Sea side hard by Vannes he built a great and strong Tower called by him Glay which in the Phoenician Tongue signifies a Castle and there he made his chief Residence but daily he sent forth his Captains and conquer'd about in Bretagne at his pleasure Charlemain heard in Spain how King Aquin proceeded without Opposition however he would not return back to make Head against him but said Let him alone in Bretagne for a while we shall easily rid the Country of him when once we have throughly established the Christian Faith in these Parts Accordingly when he had finished his Affairs there he returned into Bretagne and there one Day gave Battle to King Aquin and overthrew him with a mighty Slaughter so that he fled to his Castle of Glay where he found a good Ship ready for him at the Foot of the Tower into which he enter'd with his Wife and Children and a few of his Servants and escaped away But in such a Hurry that he forgot a young Son of his scarce a Year old who then lay asleep in the Tower. This Child was found and brought to Charlemain who received him gladly and caused him to be baptized Rowland and Oliver two Heroick Princes of those Days being his Godfathers who named him Oliver and the King gave unto him all the Lands that his Father Aquin had conquer'd in those Parts The same in process of Time became a most Valiant Knight and was called Sr. Oliver de Glay Aquin because he was found in the Tower of Glay and was Son to King Aquin. This Original whether true or false was afterwards assigned to Sr. Bertram de Clequin when he came to the height of his Honour but at this time he was not greatly taken Notice of except among the Knights of Bretagne that were of his Retinue with all whom he was highly esteemed and well beloved still making War in the Behalf of the Lord Charles of Blois by whom he was recommended to the Duke of Normandy and he had a little before employed him in those Parts VII Now when the x Frois c. 219. f. 115. Duke of Normandy heard of his Fathers Death and of the Preparations of the King of Navarre against France he said to his Marshal the Lord Bouciquault I would have you forthwith ride with your Troops into Normandy where you shall find a Valiant Knight a True and Loyal Frenchman called Sr. Bertram of Clequin and look that you and he together make up a sufficient Power of Good Souldiers to resist the King of Navarre and to guard the Passages of the River Seyne And therewithall he gave him some secret Orders how to proceed Sr. Bouciquault promised to do his Devoir and soon after went with a competent Number of Knights and Esquires and took his way toward Normandy by St. Germain having declared to his Men tho
to Calais where they took the Sea all together and Landed at Dover where at that time the King was with certain of his Council ready to receive them and to Treat further with the Earl of Flanders about the Consummation of the foresaid Affair This was the occasion of the Kings being there at that time when the foremention'd Pursuivant came and brought him the News of the Victory near Auray Whereat the King was wonderfully pleased and all the Court the Earl of Flanders being no less glad than any of them because of the Advancement of his Cousin German the Earl of Monford which must needs happen thereby Thus King Edward tarried with the Earl of Flanders at Dover for the space of Three Days which were spent in Royal Feastings and Princely Recreations And then Matters concerning which they met being adjusted He took his solemn leave of the King and sailed back for Flanders being attended to Bruges by the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother But yet this Intended Match was soon after d Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. broke off by the French Kings envious Policy he craftily hindring the Pope from granting a Dispensation and then he never left Courting the Earl of Flanders till he had given his Daughter in Marriage to that Kings Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Notwithstanding which it appears e Rot. Franc. 39. Ed. 3. m 9. Vid. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. that the Year following Sr. Nicolas Tamworth Knight and John Wyn Esquire were sent by King Edward to all the Nobles and other his Friends beyond the Seas to sollicit their Help for expelling those Strangers who had invaded the Lands of Burgundy Nivers and Reth of Right belonging to the Countess of Flanders and her Son which were to return unto Edmund Earl of Cambridge and to the Dutchess of Burgundy Daughter to the same Earl of Flanders in regard of that Matrimonial Contract made betwixt them as the Record doth manifest XIII This Year on the Feast of All-Saints f Walsingh hist p. 174 n. 20. there was fought a great Battle on the Plains of Turkey between the Christians and Pagans where the Christians after a long and doubtfull Fight obtain'd a Bloody and Cadmean Victory For on their side there fell the Great Master of the Hospital of Rhodes and one or two Kings and of the meaner sort to the Number of 5210 But of the Infidels there were slain more than 40000 of their Men of Arms besides an incredible Number of the Common Souldiers The Chief Captains of the Heathens were the Soldan of Babylon and the King of Turkey Kinstut or Keystut the King of Lithuania Janibech King of Tartary King Baldoc and King Belmarine three whereof were slain in the Field and the King of Lithuania's Son g Dugd. 1 Vol. Bar. p. 233. id in Warwickshire p. 317. a. was taken Prisoner by Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who afterwards brought him into England and made him a Christian calling him Thomas after his own Name as being at that time his Godfather But whereas Walsingham says that among other Christian Princes I King of Hungary was slain at this Fight there is a double mistake for it should be written L in stead of I that King's Name being Lewis and it is most certain that he lived many Years after h Vid. Odor Rainal Câ—ntin Baron Tom. XVI Tom. XVII as will appear to any that shall enquire CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. John of Monford having taken Auray goes before Jugon which yields thence to Dinant which at last yields also then he invests Quimpercorentin II. The Prisoners taken in the Battle of Auray secur'd for fear of new stirs while Earl Monford takes in all Bretagne III. The French King perswaded to admit John of Monford for true Duke of Bretagne AN. DOM. 1365. An. Regni Angliae XXXIX sends unto him to try him He has King Edwards leave to hold the Dukedom of France and so Bretagne is settled in Peace and John Monford sirnamed the Valiant own'd Duke thereof IV. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre by Vertue whereof the Captal of Busche is acquitted his Prison the French King endeavours to win him but in vain V. The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII King Edwards Buildings and the Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity College VIII The Pope Demands the Annual Fee which King John of England engag'd to pay to the Apostolick Chamber and orders King Edward upon his refusal to be cited to answer the Contempt at the Court of Rome Which Matter the King refers to his Parliament IX The Lady Isabella Daughter to King Edward given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy X. The King punishes the Lord Chief Justice and others his Justices for Male-Administration of the Laws XI The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but is forced to leave it again XII Dr. Thoroton twice corrected XIII The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuania's Son his Prisoner whom he makes a Christian and stands his Godfather naming him Thomas after his own Name I. BEing now enter'd upon the Thirty Ninth Year of King Edwards Reign it will be necessary for the understanding of what follows to set down an account of Matters which happen'd in the close of the foregoing Year namely after the Battle of Auray And we shall find that the Earl of Monford upon that notable and entire Victory return'd a Frois c. 228. fol. 128. unto the Siege of that Fortress which he follow'd with greater application than ever before and made a Vow not to Rise thence till he had the Besieged at his Devotion And surely those within were much diminished in Courage thô not in Provision for they had lost in the late Battle their Captain Esquire Henry of Tintineac together with Fourty Men of Arms the very Flower of all their Garrison Wherefore since now they could not expect any further Succour they at last resolved to yield while they might hope to obtain tolerable Conditions and so they began to enter a Parly with the Earl to that purpose The Earl was not willing to lose much more time here and besides he knew not how other Places stood affected to him and he had a mind to try the Country while the Terrour of his Arms was fresh on which Considerations he received them to Mercy and gave them leave to depart with their Goods for they would not yet own his Authority or submit to his Government Having now placed in Auray a good Garrison of his own he rode on with his Army which encreased daily Men of Arms and Archers continually flocking to him Nay the very Bretons who before rejected his Yoke being now won by the Reputation of his Sword came in to him apace especially the Bretons Bretonant or those of Lower Bretagne First he marched
Navarre and James King of Majorica and that they gave Rich Gifts unto the Babe But this is only a far-fetch'd Allusion to the History commemorated by the Day and so I shall leave it However the Name of Richard was given to the Princely Infant and He was called after the manner of that Age Richard of Bourdeaux his Sirname being taken from the Place of his Birth and after the Death of his Father and Grandfather he became King of England the Second of that Name On the very Day of this Princes Birth as Froisard the Historian sat at Dinner in Bourdeaux g Frois l. ult c. ult f. 391. he says how Sr. Richard Pontchardon a Valiant Knight of England and one who was very well skill'd in Astrological Science came to him within two Hours after the Child was born and said Froisard write down and put in Memory that this Morning my Lady the Princess is brought to Bed of a Fair Son this Twelfth-Day which is the Dâ—â— of the Three Kings and thô he is but Second Son to a Kings Son yet he shall be King. Which Saying of his fell out exactly for the Lord Edward his Elder Brother dying at the Age of Seven Years and his Father the Black-Prince following before the King his Father this Richard succeeded his Grandfather King Edward to the Crown and wore it about two and twenty Years II. On the Sunday h Froisâ—c 233. fol. 133. Vid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. 233. c. following being the Tenth of January after the Hour of Prime Prince Edward left the City of Bourdeaux with a Royal Equipage thô the greater part of his Army was passed onward before and lay about the City of Dax in Gascogne to which place the Prince also came in the close of that Sunday Here he tarried three days because he had sure Intelligence how his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was hasting after him having passed the Sea five days before The said Duke took land with all his Troops at a Port in Bretagne from whence he rode to Nantes where his Brother-in-law the Duke of Bretagne received him with great demonstrations of Joy Love and Respect as also did his Sister the Dutchess From Nantes having passed the Loire he marched thrô Poictou and Sainctogne till he came to Blaye where he also passed the Garonne and so went to Bourdeaux He gave order for his Men to march forward after his Brother the Prince but he himself rode straight to the Abby of St. Andrew where the Princess at that time lay in and having given her a short and kind Visit he took leave of his Sister the Princess and so rode on with his Servants and presently overtook his Men and rode along with them till he came to Dax where he found the Prince his Brother The two Royal Brethren were extreamly satisfied at this their happy Meeting for they loved together entirely and then the Meeting of Friends is most agreeable when they are both ready to partake of Honourable Dangers in like manner their Captains and Officers caressed and made much of one another as also their Men as many as could meet together Soon after the Duke of Lancaster's Coming there came also Gaston Phaebus the Earl of Foix to pay his Respects and to offer his Service to the Prince his Lord and to his Brother the Duke and the Prince who was no Novice in returning Salutations shew'd him much Honour and gave him many Thanks for his Readiness to serve him However because of his known Valour and Conduct as also because he was generally belov'd over all the Country the Prince gave him in charge to stay at Home and upon occasion help to defend the Land in his Absence desiring him to reside in Aquitain till his Return together with his High Seneschal the Lord James Audley This Charge the Earl very readily undertook and so after Thanks for the honour of that Trust took his Leave and rode to Bourdeaux where the Princess and the Lord Audley were But the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster his Brother tarried still in the City of Dax diverting themselves a while and all their Men spread abroad in the Country about the Entry of the Passages that lead into Navarre for as yet it was not known whether they could be permitted to pass that way or no Althô the King of Navarre had solemnly engaged to have the Avenues ready open for them For there ran a Report thrô the Army how since that he was reconciled to the Bastard Henry whereat the Prince and his Council wondred greatly and King Don Pedro was extreamly displeased And thô there was no such Matter yet this Rumor gain'd so much Credit that Sr. Hugh Calverley with his Troops went up to the Marches of Navarre and took the Town of la Puente de Reyna or Queens-Bridge and the City of Miranda in that Kings Dominions which terrified all the Country and the News thereof flew presently to the King of Navarre When he perceived hereby that the Companions would enter his Land by Force he was infinitely displeased and complain'd thereof by his Letters to the Prince but the Prince seem'd to take no notice of the Matter because as he thought the King of Navarre kept not punctually the Promise made to Him and King Don Pedro. Whereupon instead of answering to his Complaints he wrote to him that he must first clear himself of what was laid to his Charge for it was generally discoursed that he had revolted to King Henry and it but too plainly appear'd that he had not left his Country open as he had promised At this Charge of Treason the King of Navarre was more vexed than before whereupon he sent a Lord named Sr. Martin Carre unto the Prince who being come to Dax behaved himself so discreetly in excusing the King his Master that the Prince forgat all his Displeasure on Condition that he the said Knight should return to the King of Navarre and oblige him to come to St. Jean Piè de Port whither the Prince should send some of his Council to confer with Him or else to send Messengers with sufficient Powers to the Prince at Dax So Sr. Martin Carre took leave of the Prince and returned to the King of Navarre to whom he recounted all that had passed between the Prince and him and so perswaded him for the further Vindication of Himself to go to St. Jean Piè de Port which having brought to pass he himself rode forward to Dax to inform the Prince thereof When the Prince knew that the King of Navarre was at St. Jean Piè de Port he sent his Brother the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord John Chandos with a small Company of Knights who all rode together with Sr. Martin Carre to discourse the King at the said Town The King of Navarre made them very welcome and there after some Consultation it was agreed that he should
and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
taken therein having a like Fate with St. Augustin whom he had translated for he also died as he had desired before he saw the Ruines of Hippo his dearest City CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. AN. DOM. 1371. An. Regni Angliae XLV Franciae XXXII The Surprisal Redemption and Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt II. The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols III. The Death of Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Black-Prince The said 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
and Defensive thereby to support himself the better against the Power of England The first Opportunity accordingly he dispatch'd away his Ambassadors to the Court of France who were graciously received at Paris by the French King and there between him and these Deputies who had Procurations from King Henry ready sealed whereby they were fully Authorised to treat and to proceed effectually in all Causes in the Name of their Master in any Parliament or Council whatsoever there were accorded ordained and confirmed certain mutual Alliances and Confederations Engrossed and solemnly sworn to on both Parties them firmly to hold and maintain nor by any means to infringe or do any thing contrary thereto But that the two Kings should for ever abide firmly in mutual Unity of Peace Love and Alliance and then and there the French King sware upon the Word of a King to aid and assist the King of Castille and his Heirs in all his Business and never to make any manner of Peace or Agreement with the King of England unless he should be comprised in the same And to this League Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Constable gave much furtherance for he as Dearly loved King Henry as King Charles loved and believed him So the Spanish Ambassadors return'd back to their Master whom they found at his City of Leon in Spain and he received extraordinary satisfaction from this his Alliance with France and entertain'd less doubt of the English than before However like a Wise Prince he neglected no means of Establishing his own Affairs but began to strengthen himself by Sea and Land as One that knew foreign Amities of small force as well as of slow approach where due Care is not taken at home Nor indeed was all this his Caution wholly needless or vain For soon after John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in Right of this his Lady Eldest Daughter to Don Pedro the last Lawfull King of Spain took upon him the style of King of Castille and Leon and l Archbishop Abbet's Description of the World p. 7. Vid. Mr Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 238. p. 253. empaled the Arms of Castille and Leon with his Ducal Coat Nor only so but some Years after began a fierce War against the Bastard Usurper of his Crown which at last could no other ways be ended but by a Match between the Sole Daughter and Heiress of John of Gaunt by this Spanish Princess and Henry Grandson and Heir of the said Henry the Bastard in whose Line and Posterity thus legitimated that Kingdom hath ever since remained XIV Before this Solemn League was thus Established between France and Spain the Pope being alarum'd with the Wonderfull Success of the Turks against Christendom used all his Endeavours to close the Breach between England and France and especially to heal the exulcerated Mind of our King Edward To which end he wrote to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge that they would joyn to move the King their Father to dispose himself towards a Peace with France he also wrote to the King himself the Form of his Letters m Extant apud Oder Rainald ad hunâ— ann §. 3. ex Tem. 1. Fp. secr p 112. being very near the same with those which Pope Innocent VI wrote n Vid. Hujus Hist Lib. 3 c. 1. § 14. p. 517. formerly to the Black-Prince upon his Victory at Poictiers wherefore we purposely omit them in this Place But I shall here set down another Letter which this Pope sent a little before he wrote to the King to that Renowned Warrier John Greilly Captal of Busche whom he knew to be very Gracious with King Edward and of a truly Heroick Mind thô most able for War yet exorable and apt to embrace an Honest Peace o Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 8. GREGORY the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Beloved Son in Christ John Captal de Busche Greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Eastern Parts being exposed to heavy Dangers and in a manner obnoxious to utter Ruine do cry unto the Vicar of Christ unto Christian Princes and other Nobles The Holy Land also being violently possessed by the most impure Saracens of a long while basely detained and polluted by their filthy Touch doth cry unto them doth open her Wounds unto them with ardent Desire expecting an healing Assistance from them Certainly when late we understood those things p p In hâ—c leco voculam quae deleo concerning the miserable Condition of the said Parts and heard also those things which our Beloved Sons the Ambassadours of the whole City of Genoa sent unto Us particularly for this purpose did declare unto Us concerning this miserable State of the said Parts We were inwardly wounded with the Compunction of bitter Sorrow For it was their Assertion that the Turks and other Enemies of the Cross of Christ being gather'd together in a great Multitude do with heavy tempests of Wars afflict waste and consume the said Eastern Parts earnestly affecting to abolish the Christian Name and Worship in those Parts nay even utterly to exterminate from thence the poor Remainders of Christianity And that unless there be made in the next March Expedition a powerfull Resistance to the fury and malice of the said Insidels there will hardly be found in those Parts to invoke the Name of Christ And 't is probably feared nay 't is by many held for certain that the foresaid Turks and other Miscreants are preparing to invade Sicily and by Consequence other Countries of the Christians Wherefore the foresaid Genoans from an inward compassion of their Hearts condoling with the sad Tribulations of the foresaid Parts and together with the Aid of other Faithfull Christians willing to comfort them with the Remedy of a speedy Assistance neither sparing their own Goods nor Persons are now Rigging forth a mighty Fleet of Gallies to pass the Seas this next March-Expedition But they do not think themselves any ways able to resist in the Premises unless they are assisted by other Christians Oh! How unpleasant is the Memory of these things to Us O how bitter the Recollection considering these and other so great Dangers of the Faithfull For while we revolve these sad things in our Mind while with sollicitous thoughts We meditate thereon our Zeal is kindled like a Fire Tears being conceived spring forth as witnesses of our Grief nor can we forbear sighing chiefly for this that as to the Readiness of hasting with so great Succours the Measure of Possibility can no ways equal as We would the vastness of our Wishes many Confusions in the Parts on this side the Sea hindring and especially the heavy Discord which long since the Grand Disturber of Peace and Enemy to Charity hath stirred up between our most Dear Sons Edward and Charles the Illustrious Kings of England and France For the allaying whereof We have destin'd to send unto the said Kings two of our
Reverend Brethren Cardin is of the Holy Roman Church viz. Simon of the Title of St. Sixtus and John of the Title of the Four Crowned Saints Priests-Cardinals Nuntio's of the Apostolick See. Lest therefore ô most Beloved Son the Eastern Parts do now irreparably run to ruine and fall irrevocably into the Hands of cruel Barbarians We thought good to have our Recourse to your Piety earnestly entreating and desiring you in the Lord JESVS CHRIST and also perswading you in Order to the Remission of your sins that considering the Premises with such pious Meditation as is fitting you would induce the said King of England and our Beloved Sons John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge Sons of the said King to whom also We write to this very purpose to make a good and lasting Peace and Concord with the said King of France and to provide for some Succour as shall seem good to them in the said next Expedition when for such as shall be willing to pass the Seas a mighty Fleet will be equipped by the said Genoans So that such great Evils may soon be obviated and the said Peace being made which God grant who is the Author of Peace speedy Succour may be sent unto the said Eastern Parts For We request very many Princes and Nobles for speedy Succour by writing unto them effectually for that Purpose And what shall seem good to your Magnificence in the Premises forget not to write back unto Us as soon as may be Dat. apud Villam Novam Avenion Dioeces Kal. August An o Pontif. 1 mo Thus did his Holiness use his utmost Diligence to oppose the Success of the Infidels Arms by healing the Breaches of Christendom but the French King being now more confident upon the late League with Spain was less carefull to hearken to moderate Terms and so this Design fell and the War continued open as before XV. The q Frois c. 296. Duke of Lancaster and his Brother the Earl of Cambridge tarried at Bourdeaux with their New Ladies in great Jollity and Sporting till after Michaelmas about which time the Duke resolved to return into England not only because there was a Great Council to be held about Carrying on of the War but also that he might more particularly inform the King his Father of the Affairs of Aquitain But before his Departure he summoned all the Loyal Barons of Guienne to meet him at Bourdeaux Where he declared unto them How he design'd to go for England about certain Affairs relating to their Advantage and the Weal and Safety of all Aquitain and that by the next Summer at furthest he would be there again with them if so it should please the King his Father And all Men being highly satisfied with these Words he appointed the Noble and Valiant Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche his Deputy Governour of all Guienne and with him he joyned as Assistants the Lord of Mucidan and the Lord of Lesparre In Poictou he set as Chief Governour the Lord Lewis of Harcourt and the Lord of Partenay and in Sainctogne the Lord Lewis of Argenton and the Lord William of Montendre and all his Seneschals and other Officers he left in statu quo priús Then there were nominated certain Representatives for the Good Towns of Gascogne Sainctogne and Poictou who were to go along with the Duke of Lancaster into England the better to inform King Edward of the State and Condition of Aquitain the Chief whereof were the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinant and Sr. Emery of Tarse When they had all made themselves ready for the Voyage the Duke of Lancaster went on Ship-bord with his Lady the Dutchess and her Sister and his Brother the Earl and a great Company of Men of Arms and Archers so that the Fleet consisted of Threescore Good Vessels together with those that bore their Provision and Necessaries They had Wind at Will and so landed with safety at Southampton where having tarried two Days they went all to Windsor to the King. He was glad to see his two Sons the Duke and the Earl and his Daughters the two Spanish Princesses and also all the Lords and Knights Strangers But in especial manner he welcom'd Sr. Guischard Dangle for he was a most Valiant and Loyal Baron and one who had a Deep insight into Men and Matters CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny II. Some Overtures for a Peace but both the Kings prepare for War. III. King Edward designs the Duke of Lancaster to invade France by Calais and Picardy and the Earl of Pembroke by Rochell and Poictou IV. The Earl of Pembroke being come before Rochelle has a sharp Engagement with the Spanish Fleet but on the second Day is beaten and taken Prisoner with many more V. Sr. James of Surgeres obtaining his liberty on easie Terms makes Relation of the Fight to the Rochellers The Spanish Fleet bear off with their Prisoners and set sail for Spain The Captal of Busche with a great Number of Men of Arms comes to Rochell all too late VI. An Account of one Owen or Evan a Pretended Prince of Wales He serves the French King against England VII He invades the Isle of Garnsey and overthrows the Governour thereof in Battle and lays siege to Cornet Castle but is call'd off by the French King and sent into Spain VIII King Edward's Concern for the loss of the Earl of Pembroke and his Designs for the Security of Poictou which are dash'd by new Affairs from Bretagne IX Owen of Wales being in Spain insults over the Captive Earl of Pembroke The English Prisoners presented to King Henry who uses them respectfully but commits them to safe Custody X. The Captal of Busche reinforces the Garrison of Rochelle and goes and clears the Country about Soubize of the Enemy XI The Constable of France takes Monmorillon Chauvigney Lusac and Moncontour Poictiers much strengthned by the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux XII AN. DOM. 1372. An. Regni Angliae XLVI Franciae XXXIII The Frenchmen laying siege to St. Severe the Captal of Busche the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux prepare to raise the siege XIII The Constable takes the Place before their coming and is invited to come and take Seisin of Poictiers which he does with all speed XIV The English and Gascogners hereupon separate the latter going to Thoüars the former to Niort which latter being shut against them is taken by Storm and Garrison'd for England XV. Owen of Wales brings a Fleet from Spain before Rochell Soubize being besieged by the French is rescued by the Captal of Busche but Owen of Wales coming suddenly upon him he himself is taken and so Soubize follows his Fate XVI The French take St. Jean D'Angely Angoulesme Taillebourg and Sainctes XVII Rochell Castle obtain'd by stratagem The Inhabitants submit to the French King on Composition XVIII Sr. Bertram