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
also the Eclipse of the Moon which of it self sometimes is of evil Portent This we do not averr to be done of Necessity from such and such Appearances or Positions of the Heavenly Bodies but yet we say that it is done more or less as it pleases God the Creator and Ruler of all things either in Justice or Mercy according to the Good or Evil Merits of Nations or Kingdoms or People to punish or reward them And still there remains a Free-Will in Man thô only as to what may be supposed within his own Power Nay if we observe further we shall find that Mars entred into Cancer on the 12 of September in the foresaid Year 1345 and stood in the said Sign between Direct and Retrograde till the 10 of January when being Retrograde he went into Gemini and continued there till the 16 of February and returned afterward into Cancer and then stood in that Sign till the First of May 1346. From whence it appears that he stood in Cancer within the space of six Months almost twice when according to his usual Course he did not stay in a Sign above 50 Days Whence it was said by many Masters in Astrology That the Realm of France should suffer many Adversities and Changes because that Sign of Cancer is the Exaltation of Jupiter a sweet and peaceable Planet bestowing Riches and Nobility Which Sign of Cancer is attributed to the Realm of France Besides the Planet of Jupiter stood in Opposition to Saturn and Mars which Planet Jupiter is appropriated to the Church and to the French King. Note also that Jupiter after that entring Pisces his House was presently in that Sign in Conjunction with Cauda Draconis which doth farther advance the Malevolence by abating the more benign Force of Jupiter especially in that Country where his Influence is ascribed But now to qualifie all this lest we should be counted too much addicted to the Observation of Matters which have been wholly despised by many Wise Men thò not much the Wiser perhaps for absolutely Rejecting all Astrologicall Judgments we ought firmly to believe and hold for certain that God Almighty suffereth such Plagues and Adversities to fall upon People Cities or Countries for the Punishment of Sin not necessarily from the Course of the Stars But that at such times being Lord of the Universe and so consequently of the Heavenly Bodies as he pleases and even when he will he makes the Course of the Stars to accord and harmonize with his Judgments To which Opinion the Scripture it self doth more than seem to bear an Allusion when it says That the Stars in their Courses fought against Sisera Which is as much as to say after the Exposition of a Reverend and Learned g Bishop Taylers Life of the Holy Jesas Part. 3. sect 13. p. 307. Prelate of the Church of England That Sisera fought when there was an Evil Aspect or Malignant Influence upon him II. And yet beside this Dreadfull Conjunction which was ever observed to be of almost Universal and Fatal Consequence to Mankind there were innumerable other strange and prodigious Sympathisings of Nature as so many evident Tokens of an Angry God or rather as so many Gentle Admonitions and Fatherly Warnings before this heavy stroak of Justice was inflicted But because this horrible Pestilence passed by Degrees over the whole World and therefore cannot be supposed to have scourged all Places at the same time for it began about the Year 1345 as we have said came not into England till the latter end of the Year 1348 and yet continued its Malignant Itineration thrô the World even till the Year 1362 We shall therefore for Methods sake heap up together the several Prognosticks belonging thereto as they happen'd at sundry times in divers Places In the County h Stow p. 247. of Oxford nigh Chippingnorton was found about this time a Monstrous Serpent having two Heads with Faces like Women one being shaped so as to resemble the New Tire of those Days and the other to represent the Old antiquated Fashion It had also great and large Wings but something like those of a Flittermouse or Bat as Authors have reported And the last Year it rain'd in England especially i M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 228. Walsing hyped p. 121. hist 159. Fabian p. 226. Holinshead p. 943. in the South-Countries and in the West from Christmas even to Miasummer in a manner continually so that all the while it hardly ever herd up so much as but for one Day and Night together Whereupon great Inundations followed and the Earth became corrupted and afterwards the Air whence partly ensued that Mottality of which we shall speak by and by Particularly seven Days after Christmas the k Tho. Stabbs Act. Pontif. Eberac apud 10 Angl. scriptores p. 1732. n. 20. River Ouse overflow'd so mightily at York that it reach'd from the end of the Bridge towards St. Michael-Gate to the Market-place Also at Paris in the l Mezeray p. 32. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 97. p. 903 Moneth of August the foregoing Year there was seen an extraordinary Dreadfull Comet which is called Nigra or Black from its Evil Portent in 16 Degrees of Taurus in the Head of the Figure and Sign named Caput Argel or Medusa's Head It appeared before the Sun was down and seemed to be not veâ—y high in the Air. The second Night it was less luminous and as it were divided into several radiant streaks and after about fifteen days continuance it wholly disappeared This sort of Comet partakes of the Nature of Saturn and from its influence is called Nigra according as Zael the Philosopher and Astrologer and other Masters of the said science affirm Which portends nothing but the Death of Kings and Potentates and great Mortality And this particularly appeared not only from this Plague which we are discoursing of but more especially from the Death of the French King which followed soon after On the m Giov. Villani c. 119. p. 927. 20 of December 1348 in the Morning the Sun being risen there appeared at Avignon in Provence in France where the Popes resided in those Days over his Holinesses Palace as it were a Pillar of Fire and tarried there the space of an Hour Which was seen by all of his Court to their great Amazement And thô there may be given a Natural reason for it as that it may proceed from the Rays of the Sun in manner of an Arch yet always such an appearance hath been taken to portend some strange Novelty And therefore is it not amiss ranked among those many previous Denunciations of so notable a Plague as now we are discoursing of Besides all these unusual and unhappy Presages there were n Stow p. 247. Knighton p. 2598. this Year in many Countries frequent and terrible Earthquakes but especially in Italy so that in the City of Rome many Houses Steeples and Churches were thrown
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
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
this life to the infinite regret of all good and Loyal Men and particularly of the whole Clergy of England and all other Sons of Learning But the Memory of him and his vertues is again revived in his Noble Heir and Successor Thomas now Earl of Aylesbury and Elgine Who together with the Honours his Father enjoy'd is now Lord Lieutenant of Bedford and Huntington and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the most Prudent and Heroick Monarch King James the Second His two younger Brothers Robert and James whom I have had the honour to know here in Queens College in Cambridge being most towardly Branches of that Ancient and Flourishing Family Nor is it altogether unworthy to mention the Great Ottomans Death which n Labbeâ— Chronologia Technica ad hunc annum happen'd this year being the 727th of the Turkish Hegira after he had been rearing that vast Monarchy on the ruines of Christian Princes for about 27 Years together This Man was the first Founder of the Glorious Family of the Ottomans which has ever since continued a Plague and Terrour to all Christendom Orchanes his Son succeeded him in the Turkish Empire Also this Year departed three famous Prelates of this Nation the one Dr. James Barkley descended from the Noble House of the Lord Barkley * Bp. Gâ—dn Catal â—pp p. 406. who was consecrated Bishop of Excester on the 15th of March 1326 / 7. by Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury at the Commandment of Queen Isabell being reputed a very holy and discreet Person But he enjoyed the Title not long for about the 24 of June following he deceased and was succeeded by one of equal wisdom and Nobility Dr. John Grandesson of whom as also of his Family more hereafter Dr. Thomas Cobham also Bishop of Worcester died about the 20 of August he was a very learned Man and a great Author o Pits de illust Angl. script An. 1316. Bp. Godwin Catal. p. 443. as his Works declare and by his wonderfull Meekness Bounty Sobriety and Modesty obtain'd an universall love and respect insomuch that he was commonly called the Good-Clerk When he was Canon and Subdean of Salisbury he was first upon the vacancy of that See elected Archbishop of Canterbury but King Edward the Second in favour of Dr. Walter Reginald vacating that Election he was glad in the end to accept the Bishoprick of Worcester He was now buried in the North Isle of the Body of Worcester Cathedral which Isle he had Vaulted over at his own Expence The Bloody Bishop of Hereford succeeded him of whom more in another place Another that went off this Year was p Godwin Catal. p. 129. Dr. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury of whom something must be said for the Instruction of others He had been Chaplain to King Edward the First by whom he was made Parson of Wimberton and after that Schoolmaster to his Son Edward the Second who in the first Year of his Reign Anno MCCCVII advanced him to the place q Philpot's Catal Treas and Chancel p. 24. p. 37. of Lord Treasurer of England and in the year following to the Bishoprick of Worcester and two years after he made him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Chancellor of England After this King Edward was so good a Master to him that upon the Death of the good and learned Dr. Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury he vacated the Election of Dr. Cobham as we shew'd before and caused this Man to be prefer'd to that eminent Dignity And accordingly he was with great Pomp and Solemnity r Godwin p 129. Walsingh hist p. 78. Installed on the 19 of April Anno MCCCXIII the King himself with the Queen and many Nobles honouring him with their Presence He is indeed Å¿ Pits p. 419. by some commended for his love to Learning and Vertue I am sure he wanted these three no mean Qualities Loyalty Constancy and Gratitude For upon the Return of Queen Isabell into England in such Hostile manner as was shew'd before against her Lord and Husband this Man at that time manifested himself to be indeed a good Politician but as Bishop Godwin too mildly phrases it a very t Godw. p. 130. weak Man. For thô a while he seem'd outwardly to adhere to the King his Master yet even then privately he assisted the Queen with vast Sums of Mony as resolving to play his own Game whatever Conscience might perswade or Religion teach to the contrary But when the Kings downfall was now no longer doubtfull then he openly play'd the Traitor forsaking his Lawfull Prince his good Lord and Patron who had gradually advanced him from a mean Condition to the highest Titles of Honour For which thô he scap'd the publique censure of the Law yet did he enjoy the fruits of this double-hearted Dealing but for one Year For on the u Godw. p. 130. c. Thâ—rnes Chron. p. 2039. n. 30. 16 of November following this first Year of King Edwards Reign he died of grief and horror of mind at Mortlack after he had held that Seat 13 years and about seaven Months from his Instalment But here he shall stand mark'd out to Posterity for an Example and terror to all Traitors whom neither the Sacred Function it self nor any other either Dignity or Merit ought in my Opinion to defend from deserved Infamy Since Treason cannot proceed but from the most unworthy and ignoble Minds in the World or however it renders them so Ingratitude of it self is the basest most unjust and ungenerous thing in Nature but Ingratitude to our Natural Prince most abominable beyond all Expression since to his Service we are most strictly obliged by Laws Divine and Humane How much more then when he is unto us a Good and Gracious Lord and heapeth upon our Heads many signall and personal Favours He was succeeded by a very Worthy and Learned Doctor in Divinity x Thornes Chro. p. 2039. Walsin hist p. 109. Godwin p. 131. Pitsae p. 429. Simon Mepham an Oxford Man by Education by Birth of Kent and Canon at that time of Chichester This Year were seen y M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 214. ad fin two Moons in the Firmament the one was clear and the other dark as at times might be seen over all the World and now the Quarrel was high between Pope John XXII who kept his Court at Avignon in Provence and Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany who in revenge of his being Excommunicated by the said Pope went to Rome being invited thither z Labb Chron. Techn ad hunc ann by the Faction of the Gibellines where he set up an Antipope against Pope John by whom he was crowned Emperour But this new Pope was soon laid aside thô the Dissention between the Emperour and the Pope was never sully made up And because of the foresaid Prodigy and others that happen'd about the same time it was commonly
King Robert lay now on his Death-bed and almost in his Grave and his Young Son David was but little more than out of the Cradle Their General the Lord Randulph began to be very sickly and the other famous Captain the Lord James Douglas had undertaken a journey to Palestine as soon as ever his Lord King Robert should depart this Life to present his Heart in the Holy Land to the Sepulchre of his Saviour as the King had adjur'd him on his Death-bed to do On all these Reasons and because they had already sounded those who sway'd most in the Government of England lest the Young King should this year revenge the Injuries of the last the Scots with much seeming humility came to the foresaid Parliament at Northampton desiring a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms which that they never meant in good earnest this is an undoubted Argument because their King Robert was ever of the mind and so declared on q Hector p. 309. lin 60. his Death-bed That no perpetual Peace ought ever to be made with England lest for want of use the Scots should forget their skill in Arms and that only sometimes to get an Advantage or to avoid an apparent Disadvantage they might strike up a Temporary Peace to endure but for two or three Years at the farthest But however that the Scots now required Peace in so humble a manner and by no less a Man than the Lord Douglas himself this was wonderfully pleasing to those who could not penetrate into the Design And there it was demanded by the English and with small adoe agreed unto by the Scots that they should pay unto the King of England thô it was meant to Mortimer for the Dammages done by them last year in the North r Knighton p. 2558. n. 10. in Artic. 20000 Marks thô Others say 30000 Marks and some as many Pounds Upon which pretended large Allowance the Scots cunningly proposed That for their better Security and to make the Amity more lasting their Young Prince of Scotland might have the King's Sister the Lady Joan of the Tower in Marriage Then with a pretended Zeal it was put home to the Scots that least new Quarrels should arise about Limits they would now renounce all claim to the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland or any other Place or Places which any of that Nation hath at any time held in England which was readily by the Scots granted as had before been privily agreed But then again it was humbly motion'd by them at the same time that all English Men should be prohibited from holding any Lands in Scotland unless only those who should there personally reside This was by the Contrivers acknowledged to be but just in equivalence to those Pretensions the Scots had so readily relinquished in England Only the Lord Å¿ Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. 273. Henry Piercy who was one of the Twelve appointed to advise and guide the young King was utterly against that Clause but he was born down by Mortimer's Party and so this also was granted Whereupon the Encroachment grew higher so that now his Majesty himself was humbly requested to lay down his claim to all Superiority over that Crown and Kingdom else how could they be secure his Subjects would lay by their Pretensions And also it must needs raise Heart-burnings between the two Realms so long as One could shew Evidences and Trophies of the Others slavery This without much consideration was look'd upon but as a consequence of the former and so many ancient Deeds and Evidences of the Scotch Dependance on England with all the Instruments of their former Homages and Fealties from the most Ancient Times till the Days of Edward the First this King's Grandfather to whom John t Harding fol. 232. c. 240. 241. Baliol resign'd his Right to that Kingdom as they are reckon'd up by u Walsing Hist p. 17. c. item p. 49. c. Walsingham x Grafton p. 172. c. item p. 186. c. Grafton and others are all now rendred back again to Scotland And besides this many ancient Jewels and Muniments among which the Sacred Black Cross of Scotland with the famous Evidence called the Ragman Roll containing all the Homages and Fealties of the King of Scotland and of all the Prelates Earls and Barons of that Realm with all their Seals y M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 217. appendant thereto and other Charters and Remembrances that King Edward the First had of his Right to the Realm of Scotland besides the Evidences of what his Barons held in that Kingdom All these were now deliver'd up again In consideration of all which Grants the King of Scotland agrees to pay to King Edward the foresaid summ of 30000 Marks of which be sure the Authors of this contrivance had their share And yet however either of the Kings reserved to himself liberty after a Truce of four Years to refuse the Peace if then he should not like the Conditions To which the Councils of both Nations were willing to agree for as much as the One expected the return of their great Commander James Douglas from the Holy Land by that time and the Other were cautious of confirming the Peace for a longer time than the King's Minority since they all perceived him very desirous already to get Honour on the Scottish Nation This is that Famous or rather Infamous Peace justly accounted so dishonourable to England that the Scots themselves afterward by way of Triumph Nick-named their Queen Joan Make-Peace as if the Realm of England had made that Match out of fear to rid their hands of the War However the Lady Joan of the Tower King Edward's Sister was accordingly on the z Joh. Tinemouth aur Hâ—st p. 229. ex aed. Lambeth Twelfth of July or as a Fabian p. 196. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cautabr c. 217. others on the 20 being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen taken in Marriage by David Bruce the Young King of Scotland his Father being dead but the Month before III. When these things were noised abroad King Edward began to appear Contemptible in the eyes of his Neighbours who did not at all consider what Arts were used to mislead his Youth by those who hop'd always to stand at the Helm The Scots made many insulting Rhymes in derision of our Nation one whereof is chiefly remembred viz. b Fabian p. 196. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. Long Beards Heartless Painted Hoods Witless Gay Coats Graceless Make England Thriftless Even Philip of Valois the French King who held that Crown but by Injustice from our King Edward is so far now from doubting to be called to any Account for it by him that he begins to meditate a Resolution of summoning him to come and render him Homage for his Lands in France held of that Crown But this matter he was forced for a
time to appear and all publique Affairs happily succeeded henceforward both to the King and his People Doctor Walter k Holinst Eng. Chron. p. 1002. Burleigh or Burley who had been bred up in Merton College in the famous University of Oxford was at this time of such Fame for learning and piety that he was taken into Queen Philippa's Service at her first coming into England and became her Almoner still encreasing in great Estimation at Court Insomuch that when this Young Prince Edward was able to learn his Book this Doctor was appointed to be his Tutor whereupon Simon Burley who was son to Sr. John Burley a near Kinsman of the Doctors was admitted among other young Gentlemen to be School-fellow with this Hopefull Prince By which occasion he wan so much upon the Princes Favour that afterwards by his means he was advanced to great Honour being in time made Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and also had the Government and Education of the Prince's Son Richard of Bourdeaux comitted to his Trust As for the Young Prince Edward the King his Father by l Ashmole p. 670. Sand-Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Cart. 7. Ed. 3. m. 4. ex Pat. 7. Ed. 3. p. 1. m 13. his Charters dated the Eighteenth of May in the Seventh Year of his Reign when he was but in the Third Year of his Age granted unto him by the Title of Edward his most Dear and Eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flint and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their Appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights-Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said County Castles Lands and Cantreds as well in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same Conditions as himself had received them before he was King from which time he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his Style But intending to enable him yet better to maintain this his Dignity the next day the King gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also all the Arms Victuals Cattle Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other Places to him before granted together with all Debts Arrearages of Accounts and other Services due to himself But in the m Cart. 11. Ed 3. n. 55. Eleventh Year of his Reign and the Seventh of this Princes Age upon the Death of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the King created him Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing Date the 17 of March the same Year investing him by the Sword only which was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England At the same time the King setled upon him divers Mannors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of his Ducal State and Honour all which thô some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patents dated the same day he granted unto him the Stanneries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tynn and all the Issues and Profits thence arising as also the Profits and Perquisits of the Courts of the Stanneries except only a 1000 Marks granted to William Montagu then Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly Value And afterwards granted that all the Castles Honours Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of Life or Years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the Eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom After this in the Parliament held in the Seventeenth of this King his Father he n 12 Maii Car. 17. Ed. 3. m. 24. n. 27. Created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod And the better to support his State as Prince of Wales he gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writt directed to William Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attourney He also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North-Wales and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses and other Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. After all which this Noble Prince was made Knight of the Garter at the First Institution of that Famous Order and lastly Prince of Aquitain in France and for his Courage and Conduct his Policy and Courtesie became in time the most Renowned Captain in the World being for his Dreadfull Deeds in War as most agree sirnamed by the French le Neoir or the Black-Prince VI. In these Days the Young King of England finding himself a Father began indeed to play the Man and thô he was then but 18 Years of Age takes a resolution to govern his Realm no more by Others but Himself in Person hearing and learning the Truth in weighty Affairs and distributing Justice and Mercy to such who should lay the best claim to either But while Mortimer held his present Station 't was not possible the King should be Master of his own Purposes Now therefore to him we hasten who seems already to have been too long free from that Vengeance which always pursues ambitious and bloody Traitors Of his Treachery and Cruelty we had no small Instances before But by a certain fatal Ordinance that wicked Men must of themselves advance and further their own Ruine his insupportable Arrogance and too opiniative Security thence proceeding was the chief Occasions of his suddain Downfall In the Quindenes of St. Michael the King holding a Parliament at Nottingham Mortimer appear'd in such splendour and so well attended that he became both the Envy and Terror of all the Kings Friends no man durst name him by any other Title than his new-acquired but much-envy'd one the Earl of March And his Interest and possessions bound those to him whom his Power could not move For in these days he bore such sway that he obtain'd whatever he had a mind to as appears by these following Grants from the Young King who by his o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. Cart. 4. Ed. 3. n. 64. Charter dated this Year besides all he had got before granted unto him the Castle and Mannor of Hanley with the Chaces of Malverne and Cors in the Counties of Worcester and Glocester also the Town of Wiche in Worcestershire with the Castle of Clifford and Mannor of Glasebury part of the Possessions of Hugh Spencer the younger not yet free from
Daverill Constable of Corfe Castle who had been an Evidence against Edmund late Earl of Kent the King's Uncle That day Mortimer with the rest that were taken upon his Account was hurryed away by Officers and a strong Guard towards London the People all along insulting on his Misery among whom even Henry the Old Earl of Lancaster thô almost blind with Age could not refrain expressing his Great Satisfaction in the Downfall of this his bitter Enemy by shouting and flinging up his Cap for joy Being at London they are all committed to the Tower the King the mean time having adjourn'd the Parliament from Nottingham to London the summons bearing Date the 23d of October from Leicester where the King then was whereby every man was commanded to meet at Westminster on the 26 of November following being a Monday and the Day after St. Catherine The Parliament being met in Time and Place accordingly Articles are drawn up against the foresaid Lord Mortimer Earl of March which thô an Extract I have by me complains could not be perfectly read from the Records they being Moldred in that part stand to this purpose in their old Original French in Knighton who lived in those Days and had Copies of the Records so that the Matter appears thereby very Authentick 1. Imprimis That whereas it was ordain'd by the Parliament then held at London just after the Coronation of our Lord the King that m H. Knighton p. 2556. ib. quatre Eveskes quatre Centes VI Barons sed hoc ex priùs facto corrigâ— vid. c. 1. §. 4. five Bishops two Earls and five Barons should be of Council to the King that is to say Four at one time viz. One Bishop one Earl and two Barons at the least without whose Assent no matter of Moment should be done and that each of these should be responsible for what they should do in their turns the said Roger bearing no Regard to this assent of Parliament appropriated to himself the sole Disposal Government and Administration of the Realm to the Derogation of the Estate Royal and placed and displaced Ministers in the King's Houshold and elsewhere throughout the Realm at the Pleasure of himself and his Friends And set Sr. John Wyard and others over the King as Spies of his Words and Actions so that the King was in such manner encompassed by his Enemies that he was not able to do any thing after his own Mind but was rather like a Prisoner than a King. 2. Item That whereas the Father of our Lord the King was placed in the Castle of Kenelworth by Ordinance of the Peers of the Realm there to abide at his ease to be served according to the Dignity of so Great a Prince The said Roger presum'd to let him have nothing according to his Will but order'd him to be remanded to Barkley Castle where finally by him and his he was falsly Traitrously and Feloniously Murd'red and Slain 3. Item That whereas the said Roger had himself caused that it was forbid by the King 's Brief under the Great Seal that any should come armed to the Parliament at Salisbury on Penalty of forfeiting all they had to the King Notwithstanding the said Roger and others of his Company came thither with force of Arms against the said Order Whereby many as the Earl of Lancaster and others knowing the manner of his coming durst not come at all And whereas the Prelates were Assembled at the same Parliament in a certain House there to consult the Affairs of the King and his Realm the said Roger compell'd them to sit in another House where his Armed Men were to overawe them and threatned them on peril of Life and Limb not to say or do any thing contrary to his Will and Ordinance So that in the said Parliament he brought to pass that the King made him Earl of March and gave him many Lands and Tenements to the Disherison of the Crown Also then the said Roger perswaded the King to march in Hostile manner against the said Earl of Lancaster and others Peers of the Realm as far as n Errâ—rem hìc suspicor vid c. 2. §. 4. p. 40. Winchester whither they were advanced towards the King in order to come to the said Parliament at Salisbury So that the said Earl and the other Peers of the Realm to eschew the Danger that might happen from a Civil War and for Reverence of the Kng brake up and went homeward grieving that they could neither be admitted to speak with nor to advise their Liege Lord as they ought to do 4. Item That the said Roger caused the King to ride with an Army against the Earl of Lancaster and other Peers of the Realm who had been ordain'd to be of the King's Council And so violently pursu'd them that the Earl of Lancaster and other Grandees of the Realm who never design'd any thing but his Majesties Welfare were forced to submit themselves to the King's Grace saving to them Life and Limb and that they should not be disinherited nor set at too Great Ransome Notwithstanding the said Roger put them to great Ransome and others he chased out of the Realm that he might seise on their Lands against the form of Magna Charta and the Law of the Land. 5. Item That whereas the said Roger knew very well that the Father of our Lord the King was Dead and buried he by the help of others his Accomplices had in deceitfull manner so wrought that Edmund Earl of Kent heard he was alive whereupon the said Earl was very desirous to find out the Truth and did accordingly by all the best and most honest ways he could proceed to search out the Reality till the said Roger by the Royal Power usurped by him caused the said Earl of Kent at a Parliament at Winchester to be apprehended and then and there procured him to be put to Death 6. Item That the said Roger had wrought upon the King to grant unto him his Children and Allyes Castles Towns Mannors and Franchises in England Ireland and Wales to the Detriment of the Crown 7. Item That he had in deceitfull manner caused the Charges of the War in Gascoigne for one whole Year to be paid to him beforehand by the Knights who were severally to find such a number of Men of Arms And that this Money was not employed in the War but converted falsly to his use and pleasure 8. Item That by the Royal Power which he had usurped he had by Letters under the Great Seal summon'd many Barons and Knights to come to the King to what part he pleased and at their coming had charged them to address themselves to the War in Gascoign or in lieu thereof to pay such and such Fines at his pleasure All which as it was grievous to the Subject only turn'd to the profit of the said Roger who also appropriated the Kings Wards to himself 9. Item That he had falsly and seditiously sowed
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced 〈◊〉 but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing â—ypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâ—w p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
Grievance to the whole Kingdom Among other of their Licentious Practises the Lord Chief Justice e Knighton p. 2559. n. 60. Sr. Richard Willoughby going after Christmas towards Grantham was taken by one Richard Fulvile and by force carried into a Wood hard by where being siesed by certain of these Lawless Fellows he was compell'd to lay down immediately Ninety Marks as a Ransom for his Life and also to swear never to discover them Upon News of these and the like Insolencies the Young King resolving now to be Master of his Crown sends forth his Justices of Trailebaston two and two with Power to enquire after all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Escheators and others who had abused or neglected their Offices by Extortion Bribery Fear or Favour and after all such as had failed in the due Execution of the Laws whereby these Licentious People began first to take such Boldness upon them The form of the Writ thô of moment I forbear to transcribe because 't is already Extant in f Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 840. Holinsheads Chronicles and elsewhere But least the Law should fail of Power to maintain it self the Young King takes to him some choice Troops of Armed Men with many Light-Horsemen well mounted and marches forth in Person to discover these Enemies to Government Some Parties of these Audacious Villains were met with by him nor did they much decline the matter Success had made them so Impudent But Majesty and Vertue are more Valiant than Vice and Rebellion so that they are all soon Worsted by the Brave Young King and become an Example to others some of them being slain in Skirmish many Hang'd and Quarter'd a few Beheaded others imprison'd and put to great Fines and in short such Order taken with all that the whole Kingdom was kept in Peace and quiet at Home all his Reign after VI. On the Thirtieth g M.S. p. 14. Sr Rob. Cotton Statute Bock c. of September or the Morrow after St. Michael being a Monday the King held his High-court of Parliament at Westminster to consult about the Affairs of Guienne and other his Lands beyond the Seas as also concerning a Peace to be had with France and to conferr about the Matters of Ireland These were by John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellour of England offer'd as the reasons inducing the King to call that Parliament The Affairs of Guienne were not in so ill a posture the h Knighton p. 2563. Earl of Vlster being now there and Sr. John Darcy Justice of Ireland having been sent thither the Year foregoing i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. especially because of the late Composure between England and France the French being also at this time about a Treaty with England Yet because then a Peace is most likely to be made on good Conditions when he that treats is in a posture of Defence it was thought fit to provide something for the Defence of those Parts however And therefore Sr. John k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. a. St. Philibert a Baron of great prudence and valour was now by the King appointed to be Major of the City of Bourdeaux having an assignation of an 100 l. allow'd him for the Expences of his journey thither thô this Worthy Gentleman deceased about two Years after Sr. Oliver Ingham a mighty Baron and One of the Twelve appointed for a Guide and Counsellour to this King at his Coronation had now his l Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 104. Patent which had been granted him seven Years before for the Seneschalsie of Aquitain renewed and not long after he was sent over with pretty considerable Forces Of whose valourous Exploits this Book will not be silent At the same time the Lord m Dugd. 2 Vol. p 34. Ashmole p. 693. Bartholomew Burwash senior was constituted Seneschall of Ponthieu in Picardy which King Edward held in right of his Mother with whom that Earldom was given upon her Marriage with the King his Father As for Ireland it was resolved that the King in Person should go thither that to prepare his way a certain power of Armed Men should go before him under able Commanders and that those especially who held any Lands there should make speedy repair thither for Defence of that Kingdom as also that all learned Men in the Law who should be appointed as Justices or otherwise to serve in Ireland should by no means be excus'd on any pretence whatsoever And further 't was order'd that search should be made into his Majesties Records to see what Methods had been formerly taken for the civilizing and governing that Country As to the Affairs n M. S. p. 14. §. 3. Sr Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 9 §. 3. with France the King by his Chancellour demanded whether he had best treat with that Crown by way of Amity or Marriage The Commons humbly conceived that Marriage would be the best way whereupon certain were appointed to consult about this Treaty and a o Ashmole p. 675 Commission was given to Sr. John Darcy and Sr William Trussel to treat and agree with King Philip or his Deputies upon the Premises Now for the better understanding of this Matter it appears from the Records as we shall more fully shew hereafter that near this time King Philip being taken up with thoughts about the Holy War that he might be sure of King Edward of whose pretences to that Crown he was jealous had offer'd to enter into a strict Alliance with him by p Ashmole p. 675 Sandferd p. 184. a Marriage between a Daughter of his and the young Prince Edward of England And lest that might not suffice had importun'd him to be his Fellow in Arms and in Person to accompany him into Palestine or as q Odoric Rainald Add. tâ—ad Annal. Barerâ—i 1331. â— 29 c. Others say into Spain to fight against the Moors of Granada But because nothing was done in this Matter yet only it was refer'd to the foresaid Commissioners to advise about it we shall remitt the further prosecution hereof to the next Year to which it more properly belongs Yet this we must not pass over that now upon Occasion of the King 's being invited into France the former Resolution that he should personally go into Ireland took not effect this Year and as for the next other Business put it off and the Scotch Affairs the Year following wholly null'd it so that the King went not thither at all as it had been here resolved only an Armed Power was sent thither the Year after this In this Parliament St. Hugolin the Granchild of the Lord Hugh Spencer the Elder who with his Son Sr. Hugh had in the late Revolution been illegally executed by Queen Isabell having first by his great Valour r Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 880. in holding his Castle against the said Queen compounded for his life and since that Obtaining his Majesties Gracious Pardon was now
he would not as we shew'd before permit them to pass thrô his Land into that Realm he became so displeas'd at their presumption that by Advice of his Council he caused all the Castles Mannors and Lands belonging to the Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont the Chief of these Undertakers scituate and lying in the Counties of Warwick Leicester Nottingham and Derby to be seised into his Hands Thô soon after at the Parliament then sitting at Westminster upon further examination he had a full Restitution of all again Thus much can truly be said concerning this King's Reputation as to his Faith in this Matter Nor yet did he when the Term of the Truce was expired first seek an occasion against his Young Brother in Law. For we find that in his Parliament holden again at Westminster this Year on the Day h M.S. p. 18. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 12. §. 3. after the Nativity of our Lady being the Ninth of September and a Wednesday whereas the Parliament was only called as the Chancellor John Stratford Bishop of Winchester declared about the Irish Affairs and the King 's Personal Expedition thither for that was again resum'd and the French Voyage put off there was suddenly terrible News brought from the North of a Scotch Invasion which immediately turn'd all their Minds that way So that in a great Hurry the Parliament was Adjourn'd to York there to meet on the 25 of the said Month which was the Fryday before the Feast of St. Michael But before they brake up that Session the Prelates i M. S. p. 18. §. 3.4 Sr Rob. Cotton p. 13. § 3. by themselves the Lords by themselves and the Knights by themselves by their Petitions Advised his Majesty and Requested him not to depart the Land for any Affairs of Ireland only to send thither a new supply of Men and Money and himself to March with an Armed Power toward the North there to watch the Motions of Scotland Towards which Exploit they k M. S. ibid. Sr Rob. Cotton ibid. Walsing hypod p. 112. granted to the King one Fifteenth of the Temporality and a Tenth of all Cities and Burroughs so as the King would please to live of his own without grieving his Subjects by outragious Prises or such like Whereupon the King revoked the New Commissions for rearing of Tallages and promiseth from henceforth to * In Sr. R. Câ—â—ten 't is remise in M.S. raise remise the same according to the old Rate III. But that we may the better understand the Business in Hand it seems not unnecessary to give a short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Invasion of Edward Bailiol the Conquerour of which we have made some Relation already in the Year foregoing After those frequent and memorable Victories the said Edward Bailiol was Proclaimed King of Scotland and Crowned at Scone in Opposition to King David His English Assistants were the Chief that both encouraged and in a manner enforced him to take this Title upon him they alledging That they fought for his Right to the Crown of that Kingdom which if now after such fair Beginnings he had not the Courage to own he would not deserve to obtain it But that if he accepted the Title of King it would confirm the Hands of his Friends and weaken those of his Enemies Besides 't was not unlikely to bring over many great Ones to his Party On these and other the like Considerations he accepted the Crown as we shew'd before and accordingly most of the Scotch Nobility came in to him Thô some did but dissemble to secure their own Estates till a Fairer occasion might be offer'd to declare themselves with more Advantage Soon after his Coronation that he might secure the Crown unto himself which he had taken upon him l Walinâ—â— â—â—st p. 114 Buchan l. 13. p. 288. he marched with his gallant little Army from Scone and had another Victory over the Rebel Scots at Roxborough where he took the Lord Andrew Earl of Murray and sent him prisoner to Durham These thick and manifold Losses thô able to have broke the Spirits of any but the hardy Scots did only make them more cauteous and put them almost against their nature upon subtle Contrivances now they saw how unsuccessfull their Forceable Opposition proved Whereupon m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing ibid. Patrick Earl of Dunbar Archimbald Douglas and Sr. John Randulph son to the Lord Thomas Randulph late Protector of Scotland with certain other Lords that were still in their hearts firm to King David's Interest did with subtlety require of King Edward Bailiol a Truce till the n 2 Febr. Feast of the Purification following that then by peaceable Treaty in full Parliament a perfect Union and Agreement might be made among these different Parties of the Scottish Nation The unwary Prince willing by any means to stop the further Effusion of his Subjects blood presently swallows this Bait accepts with joy this deceitfull Overture and either to shew his Confidence in his People or to create in them a confidence of his peaceable Inclinations freely dismisses the greater part of his Forces The Parliament was pretended to be held at Anan the chief Town in Anandale about 15 miles from Caerlile o 〈…〉 i.e. 25 Deâ—â—emb Buchan p. 2 â—â— vid. M.S. Vet. Ang. in â—â—bl C.C.C. c. 223. whither the perfidious Scots on Christmas Day being ten days before the Parliament was to sit coming suddenly upon their new King made a lamentable slaughter of his Friends who were about him he himself hardly escaping away on an Horse without either Bridle or Saddle But there he lost his only Brother the Lord Henry Bailiol a Man of singular valour with the Lords Walter Cumin and Richard Kirkeby only Alexander p Buchâ—n l. 13. p. 286. Bruce Earl of Carrick and Galloway had his Life spared at the intercession of the Lord John Randulph who was his Kinsman as well upon the account of his relation to King David as because he was one of the latest that yielded to the Bailiol But surely the Lord John Moubray of England was not now slain as Hector falsly affirms for we find q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. a. b. by undoubted Records that he died not till 29 years after this time And here I must not omit to take further notice of the vanity of this Hector Boetius r Hector p. 314. who to advance his Nations Honour as he thinks sticks not to averr by a most notorious falshood that this Victory was obtain'd by a just Battle and after a long and doubtfull Fight Whereas not to mention that never any King went into battle deliberately with his Horse unbridled nor that it appears by Records that several of King Bailiols chief Abettors and Friends without whom he neither could nor would maintain a field particularly that the Lord Å¿ M.S. p. 17. §. 18. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 12. §. â— Henry Beaumont was then
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
by the Prowess of King Robert our Father from King Edward Father to the King your Master in time of Open War. And by the same Prowess he held it with Honour till by his Death it came with the rest of his Inheritance to Us his undoubted Son and Heir who intend also with our utmost Ability to hold it in the best manner we may But this Lords we require of you as Gentlemen and Christians that you would do your best to persuade the King your Master whose Sister we have taken into our Royal Bed that he will suffer us peaceably to enjoy our Rights and Franchises as his Ancestors have done before and leave freely in our Possession what our Father so valiantly wan and so quietly enjoy'd and at last so entirely transmitted to Us with his Crown and Kingdom Nor let the King your Master be too credulous of light Reports since we intend Religiously to keep the Peace so lately made at Northampton Nor let him give too much Faith to evil Counsellors whose restless Spirits stirr him up against us Since if any other Prince in the world intended to injure us He ought especially to aid succour and defend us for his Sisters sake whom we have Married and taken into our Bosom Upon this Answer the Ambassadors promising to acquit themselves as he had required them were dismissed but King Edward was nothing content when he heard them report the Answer I am well aware that the Scotch Writers imagining the better to colour all their losses deliver how their King David had before this even upon Bailiols Invasion convey'd himself with his Queen into France But neither doth it seem honourable nor reasonable that by so weak thô successfull an Enemy and at the appearance of such small Forces their King should be driven to such desperate Courses nor is it agreeable to other either Circumstances or Authors and it is utterly contradicted by Froisard who lived near those Days and took great Care and was very impartial in Collecting his History Wherefore with him we cannot admit that he left his Kingdom in this manner till the Main of his Forces were overthrown by King Edward in the Battle of Halidoun to which now we hasten III. The late-mention'd Answer from Scotland was no way pleasing to King Edward for whatever Natural affection for his Sister the Queen of Scots might persuade he saw plainly by the resolute Answer of King David that he was no longer to be rely'd on as a Friend than he should want Power of manifesting himself an Enemy to England that the Old League with France was more prevalent than this New Alliance with him that however now in his Pupillage he seem'd desirous of Peace within a few years he would prove both willing and able to wage the fiercer Wars It troubled him also not a little that while himself was under Age so Dishonourable a Bargain had been made wherein he had been induced to resign those Instruments of his Superiority over Scotland which as his Father had purchas'd with much Honourable Difficulty so till himself had regain'd them he could not be at friends with himself The present Occasion also seem'd more promising since the Scots had already broke the Peace and that on his Part beside the Limits of the Peace were fully expired that moreover King Bailiol had in Reality the best Right to that Crown from whom he might expect not only the accustomed Homage but also Restitution of what Himself in his Minority had by evil Counsel resign'd to the extream Diminution of his Honour and Royal Prerogative Add to all this that till he had settled his Affairs on that side he could not safely make any Pretensions to France which the Lord Robert of Artois from his first coming had vehemently instigated him unto according to that vulgar Saying He that the Realm of France would win Must with Scotland first begin Now therefore he calls his m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing hist p. 115. Parliament which as we said before met at York a little after the Purification of the Virgin Mary or rather in the beginning of March the * it began to sit in the 2d week in Lent Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. Second Sunday in Lent happening that Year on the last of February To this Parliment King Bailiol as holding of King Edward had his Summons but n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 6. 45. Walsing hist p. 115. n. 40. he understanding that his Enemies had laid wait for him in the adjacent Isles and elsewhere durst not adventure to come in Person but sent his sufficient Excuse by the Lord Henry Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the Lord William Montagu and other Lords and Knights who so evidently declared the Reasons of his Non-appearance at that time that their Apology was accepted by the King and his Council Here the King declaring to all his Lords the late Answer of the King of Scots to his Embassy o Frois c. 26. f. l. 15. b. demands their Advice thereupon and that they would consider what way he might best salve his Honour and maintain his Right The Result was The whole Parliament was of Opinion that the King could no longer with Honour put up those Wrongs and Injuries daily done unto him and his people by the Scots They humbly therefore pray'd and advis'd his Majesty to provide such force of Men and Arms as might not only reduce Barwick into his Power but also compell the King of Scotland gladly to seek his Peace by rendring unto him the accustomed Homage for that Kingdom In which Enterprise they all promised to assist him in Purse and Person The King as he was always very Gracious to his People thanked them heartily for the Loyal Affection wherewith they embrac'd his Honour and Interest and so having prefixed p Claus 7. Ed. 3. m. 19. Derse Trinity Sunday for the time wherein his Forces were to be Assembled at Newcastle upon Tine he Dissolv'd the Parliament Thus was a War resolv'd on But yet q Frois c. 26. ibid. before the King of England would draw his Sword he sends again to King David other Ambassadors to summon him to come and do the required Homage upon peremptory refusal whereof they were secretly instructed with full Authority to defie him But for all this the Scots were so Resolute upon their Liberty that no better Answer could be obtain'd than what was return'd before So that the Defiance was openly made and War Published between the two Nations r Virgil. l. 12. v. 503. Tanton ' placuit concurrere Motu O Deus aeternâ Gentes in Pace futuras IV. Before ſ Walsingh bist p. 114. n. 10. this King Edward had sent some Forces toward the North not to Invade Scotland but to make good the Borders in case of an Invasion from thence And well it happen'd that he had so provided For t Knighton p. 2562. n. 6◠before the Defiance was made the Lord
Upon Request of the Commons that all Men might have their Writs out of the Chancery for Fees of the Seal only without any Fine according to that of Magna Charta Nulli vendemus Justitiam the King granted that Writs which were of Course should be so and that for such as were of Grace he would Command his Chancellour to be therein Gracious It is Enacted that Bigamy shall be Tryed only in Court Christian It is Enacted that Justices of Assise after their Assise taken shall not depart before they have made Delivery of their Goal on pain of loosing their Fees. It is Enacted If any Delivery be taken before any other Justices than such as are appointed thereto contrary to the Statutes at Northampton that the same may be void It is Enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King. The Commons Petition That Remedy may be had against Oppressions of the Clergy for Probates of Wills and Citations for Trifles The King will herein do his Best and chargeth the Bishops to do the Like That every Infant acknowledging any Statute or Recognisance may at his Full Age Averre his Nonage The King reply'd There was a better Law than by Averment That all Men may have Delivery of their Beasts which escape into any Hay or Forest without any Fine to the Forester who accounteth them Forfeits and that Coroners may Execute their Office there The Coroners shall Execute their Office there and Wardens of Forests shall be commanded to keep their Officers from Extorting That certain may be appointed to hear the Debates between the Town of Great Yarmouth and Little Yarmouth The Judgements therefore made between them shall stand That Remedy may be had for the true making of Woollen Cloaths according to the Assize The King will Provide for the Execution of the Statute That no money be Exported out of the Realm The King will Provide therefore That Pardons may be granted for the Debts due to King John and Henry the Third for which Process came daily out of the Exchequer The King will Provide an Answer the next Parliament That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs and their Officers for Gathering of Green Wax The Statute therefore made shall stand For e In Derso ejusd Ret that the Staple was ordain'd to endure at the Kings Pleasure It is now Enacted that the same Staple should be revoked and that all Merchants-Strangers may freely buy any Staple Wares paying the due Custom Sundry Justices in several Counties were appointed to enquire of the Felonies of Bennet of Normanton Lastly because Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice was to be employ'd in the Kings Weighty Affairs it was Enacted that the Kings Bench should be continued in Warwickshire after Easter next Sr. Richard Willoughby being appointed to supply his Place for the time with the Assistance of Sr. William Shareshull one of the Justices of the Bench. II. This is the Summ of what I find transacted in this Parliament which being adjourn'd the King who was desirous to keep a watchfull Eye over Scotland passed on and held his Whitsuntide f Whitsâ—nday fell on the 15 of May. at Newcastle upon Tine Whither soon after Edward Bailiol King of Scotland Sirnamed the Conquerour came to him well and Honourably attended with the Nobility of either Nation and there g Walsingh hist p. 115. Holinshead p. 896. Ashmole p. 645. on the Day of Gervasius and Prothasius which is the 19 of June in the Church of the Preaching Fryers render'd his Homage and swore Fealty unto him for his Kingdom of Scotland and the Isles thereto belonging with the Ceremony of Kneeling while the Words of the Homage were pronounced after which he h Vid. Selden's Tit. Hâ—nâ—r p. 52. kissed the King of Englands Cheek all being performed in the Presence of several Archbishops Bishops Earls and many other Barons of both Nations Here King Bailiol acknowledged the King of England as Superior Lord of Scotland swearing to hold his Realm of him his Heirs and Lawfull Successours for ever Then and there also he gave and Granted to King Edward in Requital of his Expences and Labour in the Wars on his Behalf Five whole Counties next adjoyning to the Borders of England as Barwick Roxborough Peblis and Dumfres with the Towns of Hadington and Gedeworth and the Castles and Fortresses of Selkirk Etherick and Gedeworth So that all and each of these should from thenceforth be wholly separated from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to the Crown of England for ever And all this was confirmed by Oath Scepter Writings and Authentick Subscription Moreover King Bailiol by the Advice and Consent of his Scotch Nobles in Requital of King Edward's Cost and Labour for his Sake and to Nourish a continual Sence of his Gratitude Granted for him and his Heirs Kings of Scotland to King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England for ever That i Fabian p. 202. whensoever he the said King of England or any of his Heirs should have War either at Home or Abroad the Scots at their own proper Costs and Charges should assist him or them with 300 Horse and a 1000 Foot well Furnished for the War which said 1300 Men the Scots were to pay for one whole Year But if the King of England should not within the said Space end his War then he the said King of England should take them into his Pay as he doth his own Souldiers But this Homage of the Bailiols was so highly stomached by the hardy and couragious Scots that thô for the present they were necessitated to smother their Resentments and indeed could never be able to drive him wholly from his Kingdom as upon the same account was done to his Father he being constantly sustained by the English Yet what with their restless strugglings for Liberty and their frequent and obstinate Rebellions they so tired him out at the long run that seeing himself also old and childless he at last was fain to resign the whole Kingdom with all his Right and Title thereto unto his Superior Lord King Edward of England as hereafter will be shewn at large Yet at the same time k Knighton p. 2566. n. 50. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol Sr. Alexander Moubray and other Scotch Lords that held Lands Tenements and Fees in England did their Homage to King Edward for the same When also the Lord John l Mill's Catal. Honâ—r p. 606. Dreux Duke of Bretagne in France and Vicount Limouvicen Son to Arthur once Duke of Bretagne and Nephew to John the brother of Arthur late Duke thereof who died without Issue the 8 of February this Year performed m Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 10 Adam Muâ—â—mouth his Homage to King Edward on the 24 of June at Newcastle for the Earldom of Richmond in England Which Earldom thô our common Historians say it was lately given to the Lord Robert of Artois as I have shewn before appears n Catal.
ready to accompany the French King to the Holy Land in order to fight against the Common Enemies of Christendom In the discussing and debating of these Articles the King of France was so zealously bent on the Holy War and such diligence was used by his Council not one at that time daring on the suddain to contradict that in the end a full Conclusion of the Peace on the Terms proposed was agreed on and Matters proceeded so far that Proclamation was order'd to be made thereof the next day in Paris and the Towns thereabouts But whether by the Fickleness and Inconstancy of King Philip or the Advice of some Scotch Pensioner in his Council or a sense of Generosity and a Commiseration of King David's exil'd Condition or by some secret Impulse of Heaven for the sins of Christendom and the punishment of France scarce were the English Ambassadors return'd to their Lodgings but they were remanded back again to Court where presently new Scruples were started which chiefly concern'd the third Article For thô as to the second Demand King Philip stood stifly against it at first unless all the Charges his Father Charles had been at in those Gascoigne Wars were repaid him by the King of England yet that when 't was made appear that the War it self was unjust he easily remitted But now as to the third Article King Philip answer'd peremptorily That he could not either in Honour or Equity desert his Friends the Scots in this their Oppression they being his Confederates and just Men Nor ought he to esteem King Edward worthy of his Friendship while he continued War against them That himself was as all Kings ought to be a Friend to Justice from which he should never swerve either for Affinity or Advantage or any other Consideration whatsoever but that he would to his Power vex and molest all the Disturbers of the Peace of Scotland For said he there will never be perfect Peace and Quietness in Christendom till the King of France shall stand as Umpire between the Realms of Scotland and England And therefore he briefly told the Ambassadors that having better consider'd of it he was resolv'd to conclude nothing as to Peace with England unless King David also might be comprehended in the same League so as that he might be restored to his Kingdom and the Bailiol wholly excluded Surely how gallant soever this Speech might seem 't was neither modest enough prudent nor seasonable For had he temporised so far as thereby to have obtain'd King Edward's Company in this Holy War the Bailiol might easily have been ruin'd by King David's Interest alone And it was more likely that then by fair means modest Reasonings King Edward might have been wrought upon by a personal Conference than by this rash and imperious way of Prescribing For from these peremptory Words the Breach became so wide that without bloody Wars Peace was not likely to be obtained Not to say that if King Philip did really intend this Holy Expedition he was not very wise to talk so high in such a juncture and if he did not intend it he was scarce sincere enough in his pious Resolutions However the English Ambassadors replied their Commission extended not so far as to reach to King David or to make any Concession to his Advantage so the whole matter was broke off and the Breach made wider than before Now the most exact Account of the first Original of these Unkindnesses between the two Kings of England and France which is by no Historian over exactly handled is to be found only in the publique Records of the Peace ten years before this made between King Edwards Father and Charles the Fair of France a Copy whereof was then sent to Pope John XXII and afterwards from the Library of Avignon brought into the Vatican and being seen and diligently weighed by my y Odoricus Raynaldus Continuat ad Baremum tom xv Ad an Christi 1327. §. 44. Author because from the Breach thereof the Wars which exercis'd England and France for so many Ages seem'd to take their first Occasion yield us these Observations In the Year 1325. which was the 19 of King Edward the II. of England by the diligence of Qu. Isabella with her Brother K. Charles of France together with the assistance of William Archbishop of Vienna and Hugh Bishop of Orange Nuntio's from the Apostolick Seat a Peace was made between the two Realms on this Condition z L. 9. c. 314. says Villani that what had been won by Charles of Valois in Aquitain should remain wholly to the French but in the publique a Extant in Arch. Vatican ex Avenion delat sign n. 10. in Chart. Pergam Records signed with the Seal of the King of France that Condition is not expressed but very cunningly cover'd with obscure and deceitfull Circumlocutions which when the Inventers of these politick Fetches contrived then they scattered the Seeds of a most inveterate Enmity between the two Realms to the infinite Dammage of France When the French wrested the Articles to their own purpose and the English exclaim'd that they were falsly and treacherously deceived for it was added that as to those Lands the French King should determin according to Law the King of England demanding his Right And so the Quarrel was not ended But now this Condition in that Treaty is evident that the French King should set over Aquitaine to administer justice a Person of integrity and one not suspected by the King of England and so the Armies on both sides should be disbanded and the King of England on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin should meet the French King at Beauvais and do Homage to the Crown of France for Aquitain which was then to be restored entirely unto him the foresaid Lieutenant being called back And this Agreement at the instance of Queen Isabell and the Pope was by consent of the Ambassadors of both Parties unanimously established in the Year aforesaid as appears by the Letters of both the Kings But now when afterwards King Edward II had conferr'd on his Son the Dukedom of Aquitain and a while after by Civil Tumults miscarried and Edward the III succeeded in the Throne the former Wars began to bleed fresh again our Young Edward being obliged to seek that Right by Arms which by Law he could not obtain but lest the Laws of Nature and the Peace of Christendom should be violated these Discords at the instance of the Pope who sent William Archbishop of Vienna and John Grandesson Bishop of Exceter for that purpose were composed on this Condition That as soon as might be what had been taken by the English in Aquitain contrary to the Form of the foresaid Agreement should be restored and on the other side that what had been taken by the French should be rendred to King Edward the said King Edward being to pay 50000 l. Sterling towards the reparation of Dammages and those Gascoigners who
as some say in the latter end of * Fabian p. 203. Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. October at the Town of St. Johnston departed out of this Life the most hopefull young Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham in Kent the Place of his Birth who was only Brother to King Edward being the second Son of Edward the Second by his Queen Isabella Daughter to Philip le Bel King of France He was m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. advanced to the Title of Earl of Cornwall by his Brother King Edward the Third and was twice by him made Lieutenant of all England upon his Expeditions the one into France the other into Scotland during his Absence But in his Action of this Year he so heated himself that he fell into a Feavour upon his return to St. Johnston and now at last died in the very Flower of his Youth being but twenty Years of Age and a Batchelour His Body being embalmed and brought into England was with great Solemnity Interr'd n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 110. in St. Edmunds Chappel in Westminster Abbey on the Southside of the Choire and the Northside of the High Altar on the Left hand of the Door of the said Chappel Where the King his Brother raised for him a o Keep 's Monument Westm p. 66. c. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 155 ubi the Figure of it most Noble Monument of Grey Marble set about with 24 little Images of various-coloured Alabaster and white Marble under each whereof are the blank Escutcheons remaining whereon had been as many several Coats of Arms depicted which are now wholly worn away and decayed On this Tomb lies his full Image of Admirable wrought Alabaster in his Coat Armour his Visage bare and a deep Shield on his Left Arm whereon are engraven the Arms of England within a Bordure of France having two Angels on each side supporting his Head and a Lion Couchant at his Feet Carved and finely Pictured of the same Alabaster with a Canopy covering the whole with delicate wrought Spires and Masons Work every where intermixed and Adorned with little Images and Angels according to the Fashion of those times supported by eight Pillars of white Stone of the same Curious-wrought Work But there is no Epitaph or Inscription to inform us any further The Scotch p Hector l. 15. f. 320. n. 40. c. Writers tell the manner of his Death thus that having done many abominable Cruelties in that Kingdom and especially without any Regard to Holy Places after all he came to St. John's Town where say they the King his Brother then was in the Church at his Devotions near the Altar That upon sight of him the King who had heard of all his Barbarous and Profane Cruelties question'd him somewhat about those Matters But receiving from him an harsh and undutifull Answer was so far provoked that immediately drawing his sword he there slew him with his own Hands upon the Place adding this That an Altar ought not to be a Refuge for One who had by Fire and Sword violated both Churches and Altars Certainly this Sentence which Hector puts into King Edward's Mouth was no way unbecoming a Religious Prince even thô he had perform'd such a Fact upon such a Brother as they make this Lord John to have been But this very Author forgetting Decencies and Characters at another time makes the same King as great a Profaner of Holy Places himself and yet his Friend Buchanan likes not this Story of his so well as to set his Hand to it which he very seldom scruples to do but when the Lye is too apparent For indeed King Edward was not in Scotland at the time of Prince Johns Decease and the young Lord was neither so Barbarous nor Profane as Hector feigns and besides his Death was q Knighton p. 2568. n. 30. Holinsh Scot. p. 237. n. 50. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. c. Natural as all our Histories and the Records themselves agree In the r Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. Month of December there died also at St. Johnston the Lord Hugh Frenes who in Title of his Wife the Relict of Sr. Ebulo le Strange was called Earl of Lincoln of a Bloody Flux occasion'd by an excessive cold and indeed many other English were destroy'd by the vehement cold in those Quarters that Winter This Earl Hugh was the ſ Catal. Honor. p. 947. Third and Last Husband of Alice Daughter and Heiress of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln but neither he nor any of her other Husbands had any Issue by her Queen Philippa of England t Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 177. Walsingh Hypod. p. 113. n. 40. this Year was deliver'd of her second Son at Hatfield who in Memory of her Father William Earl of Heinalt was Christened by that Name and sirnamed of Hatfield the Place of his Birth as was customary in those Days But this young Prince William of Hatfield lived but a short while and was buried in the Cathedral at York IX About this time as it were to usher in those grand Affairs which King Edward was now entring upon there u Ashmole p. 646. Fabian p. 203. 208. Walsingh Hypod. p. 114. Hist p. 131. n. 30. Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 900. appeared a fearfull Comet which for a considerable time darted forth its Rays with long and terrible Streams toward the East and toward the South It was look'd upon as a Forerunner both of those Wars in the Holy Land wherein the King of Armenia lost all his Country to the Turks and also of the great Devastation that followed shortly after in the Noble Realm of France Althô if they might not be divers I had rather set the time of this Comets Appearance to the Year following For x Esq Sherburne in his Catalogue of Astromers at the end of his Manilius c. we find that in the Years 1337 and 1338. there were seen either two or one and the same Comet of such a remarkable Phaenomenon that together with that which happen'd in the Year 1330 they employed the Pen of that learned Astrologer of those Days Godfry de Meldis an Oxonian to write his Book called Judicium Stellae Comatae Also this Year in a Village called Leighton about six miles Westward from Huntingdon was calved a Calf with two Heads and Eight feet if y Walsingh hist p. 119. n. 20. 30. c. Walsingham may obtain credit as there is little doubt to be made of the probability of this Matter This Winter was very sharp in England there being a hard Frost from the 27 of November to the 9 of February but no Snow at all whence Wheat became dear but other Grain grew plenty In many Parts of England the Willow-trees brought forth Flowers in January like Roses for Bigness and Colour and Elder-trees bare fruit exactly
at this time was found to amount to One Hundred and Ten besides those in Ireland Aquitain and Normandy King Edward now thought fitting because of his Wars intended against France to confiscate unto his own Use all the Goods of the said Priories with all the Lands Tenements Fees and Advowsons of the same Letting out their Houses to Farm as his Grandfather before him had done in the 23 Year of his Reign upon the like occasion And this was Customary not only before this but also afterwards r id Clem. Reyner in Append Par. 3. p. 146. when ever the Wars brake out between England and France for the Kings of England to seise all the Possessions of the Cluniacks and other Aliens into their Hands and to put them out to Farm to the Religieux themselves on consideration of an annual Pension But when the War ended there was full Restoration made of all again as particularly we shall find four and twenty Years hence or in the 35 of this King. VI. While King Edward was thus busied at home and his Ambassadors equally concern'd in his service abroad there Å¿ Junii 9. obiit Vt apparet ex illius Historiâ in l. dicto Time's Storeh p. 720. Alii 6 Junii ponunt died at his Palace in Valenciennes William the Third Earl of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friseland Father to Philippa King Edward's beloved Queen who for his Great Mercy temper'd with Justice and other Princely Vertues was sirnamed the Good. One Example of his Exact Justice I shall shew whereby we may guess at his other Perfections The Deed was done not long before his Death upon a Bayliff of South-Holland t Vid. Time's Storeh p. 720. l. 7. c. 30. Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 153. who had unjustly taken a goodly fair Cow from a poor Peasant which had been the sole support of himself his Wife and Children As there are some Kine in that Country which can give twenty u To enforce the truth of this Relation a little Conradus Gesner hath these Words The Oxen of the Belgian Provinces especially in Friesland and Holland are of very great stature For it hath been found by experience that one of them hath weigh'd Sixteen Hundred pounds Trey Weight And when the Earl of Hâ—ochstadt was at Machlin in Friesland there was presented unto him a Fair Large Ox which being killed weigh'd above Two Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Pounds which I reckon to amount to 180 Stone and 8 Pounds Wherefore that succeeding Ages might not mistrust the Truth of so strange a Matter the said Earl caused the Picture of the said Ox to be set up in his Palace at his full Proportion with an Inscription signifying his Weight and the Day and Year when this Ox was deliver'd and killed Conrad Gesner Hist of Foursccted Beasts p. 70. Engl. folio Pottles of Milk and more in a Day The Earl lay then sick on his Death-Bed as it proved but it was his Custom never to Debar the meanest Suitors whether he was sick or well So that upon this poor Countrymans Complaint and Examination duly had the Bayliff was adjudg'd to give unto the Peasant an 100 Crowns of Gold for the great Wrong he had done him which was accordingly performed But then for his Affront to Publique Justice since he was an Officer and had thus abused the Authority entrusted to him the Earl sent for an Executioner and caused him to strike his Head off by his own Bed-side I shall only crave leave to add one more small digression of a matter happening in his Days which thô not pertinent to the History is yet well worthy Memory for its great Rarity In the Eleventh Year of this Earls Government which was the Tenth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Second of England and the Year of our Lord 1316 there happen'd even in England a great Scarcity of Corn as appears by x Walsing hist p. 83. our Historians but in this y Time's Store-house p. 720. Earls Country there was so terrible a Dearth and Famine that poor people fell down dead in the Streets for Hunger Many also were found Dead in the Highways and in Woods and Fields whither they went to seek for Herbs and Roots to stop the Importunities of craving Nature Little Children would die as they indeavour'd to suck at their starving Mothers Breasts and some Women could not refrain eating their Children In this time of Famine a certain Poor Woman of Leyden being extreamly opprest with Hunger came to a Sister of her own who was far better to pass begging of her for Godsake to lend her some Bread which she promised with Thanks to repay when it should please God to enable her The hard-hearted Sister deny'd her oftentimes notwithstanding the other was so importunate and withall told her that she was assured by her Countenance how she must needs have sufficient for her self if not to spare Hereupon the unmercifull Wretch lying both to God and her poor Sister said If I have any Bread to help my self withall I wish to God it may all instantly be turned into Stone It seems the heavy Displeasure of Almighty God laid hold on those rash Words of hers for going soon after to the Cupboard to relieve her self she found all her Loaves of Bread most plainly converted into solid stones so that she her self died for want of that which she had so wickedly deny'd her own Sister It is most credibly told us z Time's Stâ—â—ehouse ibid. that one or two of those Stone-Loaves are yet to be seen in St. Peters Church at Leyden in Memory of this most just and extraordinary Judgement However this Good Earl William King Edward's Father-in-Law having been all along a most Vertuous Prince Victorious in War Wise and Judicious Well-spoken and Learned a great Friend to Peace affable to all Men and universally Beloved after he had Governed his Provinces of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friesland for the space of 32 Years died as before we said and with a Frois c. 29. great Pomp was buried at the Fryers in Valenciennes The Bishop of Cambray himself sang the Mass and besides the English Lords there were present many Dukes Earls and Barons of sundry Countries as well for the manifold Alliances he had abroad as for that his Fame was Singular and his Memory Dear to all Men. He was succeeded by William the Fourth his Son and Heir who had Married the Lady Joan Daughter to John Duke of Brabant giving her for her b Vid. l. 1. c. 24. §. 7. Joynture the Land of Binche upon the Haysne a fair and goodly Inheritance As for the Lady Johanna Countess Dowager of Heinalt the young Earls Mother and Sister to King Philip of France she resolved to spend the rest of her Days in a Nunnery at Fontaine on the River Scheld where being soon admitted she gave her self wholly to Devotion Almsdeeds and other Pious Offices VII And now
way or other He therefore would expect them all there again on the Third of August following at the farthest because the time of Action began to wear away To this Appointment having all agreed they took leave of the King who tarried still at Antwerp being lodged in the Abbey some of his Lords tarrying with him to bear him Company while others rode about the Country at great expence to negotiate the Kings Affairs and to gain the favour of the People as also to divert themselves and satisfie their Curiosity As for the Duke of Brabant he went to the City of Louvaine about seven Leagues East of Antwerp from whence he sent frequent Messages to the French King Requesting that he would not entertain any Suspicion of him nor give Credit to any idle Rumors For he assured him that he would by no means make any Alliance or Agreement to his Disadvantage Thô as he said the King of England being his Cosin-German he could not in Honour refuse him the Civility of his Country Thus the Duke of Brabant endeavouring to keep in with both Kings was really a Friend to neither but we shall see how he behaves himself now to King Edward The Third of August came and all the other Lords return'd to Antwerp except the Duke whereat the rest taking occasion said that as for their parts they and their Men were ready provided the Duke of Brabant would be as ready on his Part for he was nearer than they that being his Country That therefore when they should understand that he was fully provided they would not be one jot behind him With this tergiversation of theirs King Edward was inwardly very much displeased r Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. for he found no sincerity nor Honour in any one of them except the Earl of Gueldre and he privately told the Bishop of Lincoln and his Council that he had not been well advised hitherto However he immediately sent this their Answer to Louvain to the Duke of Brabant urging the Matter home to him and requiring him as his Friend Kinsman and Ally and as a Christian and a Man of Honour to deal sincerely and heartily with him for hitherto he said he very well perceived that he was but cold in the Matter and that he justly feared unless he grew more warm and shew'd more concern for the Cause he should loose the Assistance of all the other Lords of Almaine The Duke being thorougly awaken'd with this Alarm began to consider more seriously on the Matter that King Philip had been severe and cruel to him King Edward his Friend and able to be his Protector that he was ty'd to him not only on the account of Allyance but in Honour having passed his Word and contracted to be on his side only he fear'd that if the Rest of the German Lords should fall off he might be left a Prey to Philips anger Wherefore he at last declared to King Edward ſ Frois ibid. that now he was fully determin'd to be as ready as any One in his service only he desired once more to speak with the foresaid Lords altogether So that they were sent for again the time of their meeting fix'd about the middle of August the Place to be t Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 234. Halle a strong Town of Hainalt on the very Borders of Brabant distant from Brussels but four English Miles thrô which the River Senne sends a small current and this Place was judged the fittest because the young Earl of Hainalt and his Uncle Lord John of Beaumont might be there In short the Result of this Parliament at Halle was this the Lords having again consider'd on the Premises found themselves so bent on King Edward's Service that they thought they never should desert him unless compell'd by the Emperour to whom only they ow'd Allegiance Wherefore in the Name of himself and all the Rest the Duke of Brabant spake thus to King Edward Sir we of our selves cannot find any just Cause all things consider'd to defie the French King without the Consent of the Emperour our Soveraign Lord or that he would Command Us so to do in his Name For long since in a Covenant mutually Sworn and Sign'd between France and Germany there is an Article that no King of France should take or hold any thing belonging of Right to the Empire Notwithstanding which Obligation this King Philip hath taken the Castle of Creveceur in Cambresis and the Castle of Alves in Bailleul u Mezeray Palencour and also the City of Cambray it self So that the Emperour has good Reason on his side to break with the king of France And Sir if you can obtain his Consent it will be more for our Honour otherwise the World will say that without the Imperial Authority the Lords of Almaine Commenced an unjust War having no Provocation thereto III. This Request appear'd but reasonable to the King wherefore he appointed the Marquess of Juliers with certain English Knights and Men Learned in the Laws together with some of the Earl of Gueldre's Council to go to the Emperour about the Premises Only the Duke of Brabant would by no means send any body in his Name because he would not be known to stir in the business till things should be ripe He stood in such fear of the King of France ever since that Quarrel about the Lord Robert of Artois of which we spake in the 7th Year of King Edward But yet however he freely Resign'd his stately Castle of Louvain to the King of England to lie in and to use as his own during his Royal Pleasure The Marquess and his Company found the Emperour at Flourebeche where they did their Message to him so well that together with the Perswasions of the Lady Margaret the Empress who was Sister to Queen Philippa of England he was willing to grant King Edward's Request for which end he desired an Enterview with him and immediately created the Earl of Reginald Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess William Earl of Juliers thô x Speeds Chron. p. 564. §. 81. some say this was done afterward by King Edward their Kinsman when he was Vicar of the Sacred Empire King Edward the mean while kept his Court with great Splendor at Louvain being lodged himself in the Castle for his better security since the City was Commanded thereby From hence he sent a considerable Part of his Forces into England as having little occasion for them yet to defend the Frontiers against the Scots At the same time he kindly invited his Beloved Queen to come over to him if she so pleased for he sent her word he was determin'd not to leave those Parts for the space of a Year at least The Queen shortly after went over to the King her Husband being then Great with Child of which being a Male she was happily deliver'd at y Walsingh Hypod p. 114 Hist p. 132. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. Leland Coll.
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
Lords and Prelates met again in the Cathedral of Cologne where they heard Divine Service and after High Mass the Emperour and all his Barons swore to the King of England That they would stand by him help and defend him against the King of France and all his Adherents both to live and to die with him for the space of Seven whole Years to come provided the War to be between the said Kings should not be compounded before that time It was also further sworn that all the Barons of Almain from Cologne and on this Side should presently enter the King of Englands Service and should always be ready to come unto him as often as they should be summoned thereto against the King of France as well where the King of England should be in Person as to any other Place to which he should assign them And if it should happen any of the said Lords of Almain should refuse to obey the said King of England in the Premises that then all the other Lords of High Germany should rise in Arms against that Man till they had destroy'd him At this time n Nicâ—laus Minâ—rita M.S. Bib. Vatican sign n. 4008. apud Odoric Rainald ad â—â—nc annum §. 68. also there was a certain Sanction formerly made repeated in King Edwards Presence containing these two Points the First That the Administration of the Empire belongs to the King of the Romans as soon as ever he is Elected by the Seven Electors without the Pope's Confirmation and the Other That those are Proscribed who do not obey him or as Rebdorf says that whosoever for the future shall esteem Lewis to be Excommunicate or shall omit Divine Service for any Papal Sentences shall be Proscribed in Body and Goods Which latter Clause chiefly respected the Bishop of Cambray who upon that Account had left the Emperor and revolted to the French King. These matters being thus fully contracted and established after many enterchangeable Caresses and Magnificent Entertainments the King of England took his leave of the Emperour and return'd with all his Company to Brabant The mean time o Frois c. 34. several great Lords of England rode about Flanders and Heinalt at their pleasure being wonderfull Magnificent and Liberal in their Expences freely bestowing Gifts of Gold and Silver and other Jewels to the Lords and Ladies of the Country to purchase their Good Wills And truly they obtain'd the very Hearts of the Country but especially they were extolled among the common Sort because of the splendid Shew they made wherever they came All these things must needs have been matter of incredible Expence and Charge to that Mighty Monarch And indeed it seem'd that he had made good Progress in his Affairs having succeeded so well with the Emperour and the Lords of Germany But those Friends that are made by Money commonly fall off at the appearance of a greater Interest and when they have got what they could expect as within a while all these did Thô as it chanced he gain'd more Glory thereby performing afterwards of himself what had been no such great matter to have done with the help of the Empire 's Forces As we shall see hereafter V. Now King Edward upon his Return into Brabant p Frois c. 34. fol. 19. sends his Summons to the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Juliers and all other his Allies in those Parts to come to him about q Novemb. 11 the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop to his Parliament to be holden at Arques in the County of Leuze near Brabant or as r Knighton p. 2572. n. 30. One says at Malines in Brabant Against which time the Town Hall was as richly adorn'd with Hangings and other Royal Furniture as if it had been the King 's own Chamber of Presence Thither at the time appointed came the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the young Earl of Heinalt the Earl of Juliers the Lord of Valkenberg or as the French pronounce it Faulquemont and all other Barons on this side Cologne except only the Bishop of Liege who had no less than Å¿ Ferrarii Lexâ—n Leodium twenty four Cities as they call them subject unto him both as a Secular Prince and as a Bishop In this Parliament t Frois ibid. King Edward in his Royal Robes with a Crown of Gold on his Head sat on a Stately Throne five foot higher than any other and there the Emperours Letters Patents were openly read wherein was declar'd That King Edward of England was made Vicar General or Lieutenant for the Emperour and as so had full Power to make Laws and to administer Justice to every person in the Emperours Name and to coin Money both Gold and Silver at his own Pleasure with his own Stamp and Inscription It was also commanded by these the Emperours Letters Patents that the Lords and other Subjects of the Empire should yield Obedience and pay Homage to the King of England his Vicar as to himself And the Lords of Germany there present u Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. promised in all things to obey him according as their Liege Lord the Emperour had commanded and that they were both willing and ready to attend his Service to the utmost of their Power Immediately hereupon certain x Frois ibid. Claims were made and judgment given between Parties as before the Emperour himself and at the same time a Statute before-time made by the Emperour was renew'd being to this effect That whoever design'd War or Combat or any other Harm against any Person Kingdom or Country should make his Challenge or Defiance at least three Days before he began any Hostile Deed otherwise that the Author should be look'd on as a Malefactor and the Deed Villanous Then the King y Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. 50. sent forth his Summons to the Bishop of Liege to come in accordding to his Duty but he absolutely refus'd to obey him for his Heart was French all over Whereupon the King sent Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln to make Complaint of him before the Emperour and to require Justice against him to which it was answer'd That the Emperour himself would shortly come in Person to the Aid of his most Dear Brother-in-Law the King of England for it was expected that a great War would begin the next Spring between the two Nations VI. After this the Lords of Almain departed having first agreed upon a Day wherein they were all to appear before Cambray which was at that time in the French Hands thô belonging to the Empire there to lay their Siege to wit on the 8 of July the Year following being Wednesday in the Third Week after the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward went back to Louvain to the Queen who as we said before was newly come thither out of England well accompanied with Ladies her Maids of Honour and other Gentlewomen who went over as well to wait
the Lords of his z Frois c. 42. Council told him that he had not lost one jot of his Honour since he had Couragiously sought out his Enemies and Faced them boldly for several days and finally for by that time King Edward also was return'd to Antwerp had made them quit his Realm without any Great Advantage And they moreover said that the King of England must be fain to make many vast and expensive Voyages before he should be able to Conquer France unless the Frenchmen by their own heat and rashness would fling their Country away King Philip however went the next day to St. Omers and thence placed his Men of War in Garrisons especially at Tournay Lille and Douay and to other Towns bordering on the Empire Sr. Godmar du Fay a Norman Lord was now made Captain of Tournay and Sr. Edward Lord of Beaujeu was sent to Mortagne confining on Hainault near the Skell And having thus settled Affairs King Philip returns to Paris X. The mean while King Edward who knew nothing of the Departure of the French Army stood after his usual manner embattlel'd in the Fields the next Sunday on which Day the Lord of a Knighton p. 2575. n. 50. Andelys was taken by the English Then the King heard that the French Army was marched off and retired to their own homes Whereat he was extreamly amazed But on the Monday the Marquess of Brandenburgh Son to the Emperour the Marquess of Nuys his Son in Law the Duke of Brabant and the other Germans disposed themselves for home because of the sharpness of the Weather the Winter being already pretty well enter'd King Edward gave them his leave to depart and he himself went straight to Antwerp in Brabant where he had left his Queen and her young Son Prince Lionel Upon his Return to Antwerp he issued out another b Ashmole p. 650 ex Pat. inter Regem diverses Magnat German 15 Novemb 13 Ed. 3. m. 3. Commission to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knights and John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely to treat of Peace with Philip of Valois as he is called in the Commission or with Commissioners from him and a Month after to wit on the 16 of December the said Commission was renewed upon adding Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk to the forenamed Commissioners The mean while the King kept his Christmas in great Splendour at Antwerp together with his Queen and her Ladies and many German Lords c Walsingh hist p. 132. most part of his Army remaining still about him To adorn the Solemnity the better he had sent for his Eldest Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester for he was not yet creaated Prince of Wales whom he had left his Lieutenant or Warden of England being now a Proper Hopefull Young Gentleman of almost ten Years of Age. His great Grace and exact Shape made him as acceptable to the Ladies Eyes as his large and well-proportion'd Limbs rais'd a full Expectation of his future Manhood among the Lords both of England and Almain And here it seems by what follows in the next Year that a Match was if not fully concluded yet at least propounded and well-nigh agreed on between the said Young Prince and the Duke of Brabants Fair Daughter the Lady Margaret at that time but four Years old thô indeed the same thing had been projected the Year foregoing as appears by d Ret. Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. vid. Ashmcle p. 675. Sandford p. 184. the Rolls About the same time Prince Otho Duke of Austria stirred up with the Fame of King Edward with whom he had enter'd an e 16 Febr. Patentes inter Regem diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. Alliance this Year sent and required the Lady Isabella his Daughter in Marriage for his Young Son the Letters beginning thus f Walsingh hist p. 133. To the most Excellent and Magnificent Prince the Lord Edward the most Illustrious King of England his Sincere and most Dear Friend Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Austria Stiria Suabia and Carinthia Lord of Carniola Moravia and Portaenaon Earl of Hapsburgh and Chiburgh and Land grave of Alsatia with all Hearty and Devout Affection wishes a good Success of his Desires and a continual Encrease of Health and Felicity c. But neither g Ashmole p. 675. 676. of these Matches took effect the Pope by the King of France's underhand-dealing still refusing a Dispensation for the First they being within the Third Degree of Consanguinity and the Other being otherwise hindred as we shall see hereafter At the End of this Year there came from the Pope to King Edward this Letter following the like whereof He also at the same time sent to King Philip of France * * Walsingh hist p. 129. Censimiles Liter◠Regi Franciae directae exstant apud Odoric Rainald ad an §. 1339. 14. Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction While we seriously consider and deeply revolve in our Minds how great hath been the Bounty of the most High and Eternal King and the Abundance of his most mercifull Goodness that when lately your Army most Dear Son and the Army of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France stood so near together confronted in Battle Array furiously dispos'd to a terrible Conflict on both sides those miserable Effects did not ensue which those warlike Preparations and Force of Armed Men did threaten to him we pay the tribute of our Praise since it ought to be esteemed as the greatest Gift of Almighty God and no less than a Miracle gratiously wrought by the Goodness of the Wisdom of God which never fails in its Dispensations And surely it may be more evidently gather'd that so great an Effusion of Blood of those who had been redeem'd with the precious Blood of our Lord as must needs have followed if the said Armies had come to Battle at that time to the great loss and scandal of all Christendom and to the hazard of many Souls was by no means pleasing to the most High who maketh Wars to cease and by the Prophet threatens to scatter the Nations that delight in War. Your Royal Wisdom also may consider how deeply both You and the foresaid King must have incurr'd the Divine Anger if you had proceeded to hazard so many of those whose Souls and Bodies he hath so dearly ransomed And it is to be feared that without doubt God Almighty will most severely animadvert against him especially who of the two should be most forward in promoting such Mischief whereby such Slaughter and Confusion would follow that all Christendom would be shook thereby and a Reformation of
us any agreeable Method of Peace to which the said Philip shall consent presently when we shall be once assured thereof we will take Deliberation thereupon and with all speed return such an Answer as ought to seem reasonable and acceptable to your Holiness and to All that have a solid right and ordinate Reason And if perchance in the foresaid Method of Treating the Consent of our Friends and Allies should seem requisite to be obtain'd We our selves will put too all possible Diligence insomuch that it shall appear not to be our Fault that a firm Peace doth not follow thereupon if the other Party will but condescend to Reason We therefore heartily beseech your Clemency that if it please you you would duly weigh our Justice and Intention founded upon Truth and incidently cherish Us who continue in all fulness of Devotion to You and the Holy Roman Church with the favour of solid Love and Charity esteeming of Us as of a most Devout Son. For God the Lord of Consciences is our Witness that We desire to augment the Honours and Liberties of the Church and if God shall grant us to prosper with devout and humble Affection we aspire to fight his Battles against the Enemies of his Faith. God preserve your Holiness c. Given c. XI Before this there were two Parliaments this Year held at Westminster One being called by the Duke of Cornwall who had Commission thereto from the King his Father The Other by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Others who in the Absence of the King and his Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall had the same Commission The First was held on the Quindene of St. Michael or the 13 of October * C. Lit. Dom. which then fell on a Wednesday At the Opening h M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 17. §. 1 2 3. c. whereof its Causes were declared to be Three First to take care for a strict Observation of the Kings Peace Secondly to provide for Defence of the Marches toward Scotland For that People being thereto instantly urged by their Kings Letters from France and the promised Assistance of the French King began to stir again notwithstanding the Truce And the Third and last Reason was for the better keeping the Sea To all which was added a Demand of a Supply for the King in his Wars After this the Archbishop of Canterbury who together with Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham and Sr. Michael de la Pole came from beyond the Seas as the Kings Messengers to the Parliament made a Narration of the Kings Exploits which he had atchieved in those Parts at that time and the present Hazards both He and his Men were exposed to without liberal and speedy Supplies out of England The King as then lay near St. Quintin accompanied with 15000 Men of Arms and of Archers and Others more than 30000 as appeared by his Letters to the Lord William Clinton Earl of Huntington who was then i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 531. Admiral of the River Thames and Warden of the Cinque-Ports and to the Merchants at Pearch besides what we have related before of this Expedition It was also further declared that the King and Others about him for the procuring of his Allies to assist him thus far and for his own necessary Expences in this War stood bound in Three hundred thousand Pounds which in Honour he could not but pay before he left those Parts Wherefore the Result was he wanted liberal Contributions Hereupon the Young Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Warden of England with the other Lords granted unto the King the Tenth Sheaf of all the Corn of their Demesnes except of their bound Tenants the Tenth Fleece of Wooll and the Tenth Lamb of their own Store to be paid for two Years Desiring withall that the Maletoste or Wrong set upon Wooll be revoaked and that this Grant turn not into a Custom All which was allow'd by the Prince in the Kings Name For he had full Commission by the Kings Letters Patents to grant what should appear reasonable to the Lords and Commons The Lords demand that the Keeping of the Kings Wards Lands may be committed to the next of Kin to the said Ward And that Remedy be provided against those who dying pass away their Lands to defraud the Lord of the Wardship or the King himself To this the Commons answered that as they knew well so they heartily tendred the Kings Estate and were ready according to their Duty to maintain the same But this being a new Point they durst not determin about it till they had further conferred with their Counties that sent them And so desiring Respite till another time they promise to travel and enquire throughout their several Counties To the Three Causes of their Assembling at this time the Commons answer'd thus First as to the Keeping of the King's Peace that would be kept sacred if good and couragious Justices were appointed in every County and such as were permitted to Main-prise do put in good Sureties as Esquires or Gentlemen and if no Pardon were granted but by Parliament These Matters once established they humbly conceive the Peace could not be violated Then as to the Defence of the Northern Marches they thought that would best be performed if all who had Lands in those Parts were obliged to live upon them As for the Keeping of the Seas they proposed that the Cinque-Ports or other Haven Towns which are discharged of all other Contributions should look to that especially and also that those who had Lands either there or elsewhere upon the Sea coasts should repair thereto and dwell upon them Then the Commons demanded a few things First that the King will pardon all Felonies Escapes Trespass for the Forests and otherwise all Aids to make the Kings Son a Knight or to Marry his Daughter That all Purveyors as well with Commission as without shall be arrested if they make not present Pay. That the King would pardon old Debts and Duties from any time to before his Coronation That all Customs of Wooll and Lead may be taken as they have been and not as lately enhanced with Common Assent and that if they be Resistance may be made And lastly that knowledge may be had how these things may be assured But their Art to provide against the Scarcity of Mony was this that every Merchant for every Sack of Wooll exported should be obliged to bring in at least 40 s. of Bullion to be coined within the Realm For the upholding the Kings Navy it was Enacted that the Navy of the whole Realm except what should be Actually in the Kings Service for the time being should remain in some certain place without any scattering by any private Men till further Order be taken 'T is agree'd that the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Nobles should by their Letters require the Archbishop of York and his Clergy largely to contribute for the
annum §. 9. extat apud Benedict Tom. 6. Epist secr 302. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet sâ—â— incipiens Ut Sanctitati Domini nostri Summi Pontifiâ—is c. That it may be made evident to the Holiness of our Lord the Pope that our Lord the King of England doth justly by Hereditary Right claim the Kingdom of France the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the said King. The Matter whereupon the Lord Edward King of England saith He hath Right to the Crown of France is thus It is and hath been notoriously known that the Lord Charles the Younger Son of Philip King of France commonly called the Fair after the Death of the Lord Philip his Brother at which time the said Lord Charles immediately by Hereditary Right succeeded in the said Kingdom was true King of France and that unto him the said Kingdom of France was lawfully devolved by Right of Succession and that he the Lord Charles held and peaceably and quietly possessed the said Kingdom of France for the time that he Reigned as true King of France And that at last the same Lord Charles leaving no Brother then surviving deceased without any Heir Male begotten of his Body It is also certain de jure that in Hereditary Successions coming from one Intestate the next of Bloud to the Deceased being able at the time of the Decease to Succeed doth wholly exclude all the more remote of the Blood of the said deceased whether he was allied to the Deceased by the Person of a Male or Female And it is certain that at the time of the Death of the said Lord Charles King of France as aforesaid the foresaid Lord Edward King of England was his nearest Kinsman as who was Son of the Sister of the said Lord Charles namely of the Lady Isabella Queen of England being only removed from the same Lord Charles aforesaid in the Second Degree of Consanguinity But the Lord Philip of Valois who occupies the said Kingdom of France was Son of the Uncle of the said Lord Charles namely Son of the Lord Charles of Valois Brother to the foresaid Philip the Fair and so notoriously removed from the said King Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity And by Consequence in common Right the foresaid Lord Edward King of England Son of the Sister of the foresaid Lord King Charles deceased k The Original more full debait debet ought by Right of Succession to be preferr'd in the Succession of the said Kingdom to the foresaid Lord Philip of Valois who only is near to the said King. Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity l Hic in M.S. Dr. Stilling-sleet multa adduntur eâ— Pandect c. ad Jus Regis stabiliendâ—on allegata tum quâ—e sequuntar hic The Intention therefore of our Lord the King of England being founded on Common Right nothing remains but only to answer what may be objected And first it is objected on the part of the Lord Philip of Valois who bears himself as King of France against the King of England aforesaid that the same King of England did unto him as King of France make Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and for the Earldom of Pontive and did thereby recognise him the said Lord Philip to m The Original more full fore else be his Lord and King of France 2. It is also objected to the King of England that he made unto him Liege Homage and Oath and that of these things the foresaid Philip hath by him Letters sealed with the Seal of the foresaid King of England and moreover that these Letters were sealed in England 3. It is also objected to the foresaid King of England that he is not of the Blood of the House of France but by Means of a Woman namely of the Lady Isabell his Mother And that a Woman neither can nor ought an approved and lawfully prescribed Custom in the Realm hindring to be admitted to obtain the said Kingdom by Right of Succession and by Consequence by means of her her Son is not to succeed To answer these Objections the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the King aforesaid First that the Homage made ought not in effect to prejudicate the King of England because the same King of England at the time of making the said Homage was notoriously under Age nor had then compleated the 18th Year of his Age whereby he ought as other Minors when they are abused within the times provided by the Laws of Restitution to the full to be aided by a competent Judge if there had been a Competent Judge with the benefit of Restitution to the full But upon Defect of a Competent Judge the said King of England within the foresaid times of Restitution to the full used other Remedies of Law which ought to suffice him in this Part. Moreover the said King of England being under Age as aforesaid did before the making of his Homage by one of his Procurators especially constituted for that purpose protest openly and expresly that for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by the said King of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the County of Pontive he did not nor would intend to renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the said Right to derogate althô thereupon Letters should thereafter be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free Will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Losing the said Dukedom and County and because he feared that unless he should do such Homage unto him he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the Truth of the Premises the King of England caused by his said Procurator an Oath to be taken upon his Soul by laying Hands on the Holy Gospel before many Witnesses called thereto As to the Objection concerning the Oath which the King of England in his Homage ought to have made or that he should have sworn so to have declared saving the Objectors Reverence it is not true because neither the Lord the King of England nor any of his Progenitors did ever swear in the Performance of any Homage as will evidently appear by the Inspection of the Registers containing the Forms of the said Homages nor is it contained in any Letters sealed with the King of England's Seal that such an Oath hath been made Nor can it be said that in the Homage made by the said Lord the King an Oath was tacitly implied hereby that the Letters were sealed with the King of England's Seal wherein it was contained that this Homage was Liege because the word Liege doth by its signification no way import the same And as to what is said that these Letters were sealed
and his Banner before him to let the Enemy know who he was At last he perceived on the other side a Knight of Normandy whom he knew by his Arms and so called unto him naming him by his Name Sr. Maubousson I pray let me speak with you a little Then the Knight drew near to the Bank side and said Sir what is it you would have with me Sr. John repli'd Only that you will be so kind as to go to the French King and his Council and tell them how the Earl of Hainault has sent me hither to ask a Truce only while he may lay a Bridge over this River and that then he will go over and give you Battle without fail Of this if you will please to bring an Answer I 'll tarry here till your Return The Lord Maubousson having made signs of yielding to his Request immediately set spurs to his Horse and rode directly toward the Kings Tent with whom at that time were the Duke of Normandy and many other Lords and Peers of France Before all whom having declared his Message he received a short Answer being commanded to tell him that sent him thither That as the Duke of Normandy had held the Earl of Hainault all this while so he resolv'd to do untill it should please him to do otherwise And so to put him to Charges till he should be forced to sell all his Lands which yet should be either few or none and what should be left worth but little For he would make hot War upon him on all sides And says King Philip when We see Occasion we 'll come over the River and invade Hainault with an Army Royal till we have utterly consumed all his Country This Answer was brought by Sr. Maubousson to the Lord of Beaumont who thanking him for his pains return'd to the Earl whom he found playing at Chess with the Earl of Namur But when the Earl saw his Uncle he rose up hastily and went aside and heard distinctly what the King of France had answer'd him at which thô outwardly he took little notice he was extreamly displeased in his Mind saying only this Well well but I hope things will not fall out as he imagins While thus the Castle of Thine was batter'd on one side by the French and could not be effectually relieved by the Hainalders without a Battle which it seems the French declin'd as we have shewn the o Fabiâ—â— p. 269 Three Captains of the Castle by secâ—et advice from the Earl of Hainalt having provided a good Ship and other Barks into which they put all their Men and Provision first set the Castle all of a light fire and then immediatly departed to the Army of their Friends by whom they were received with much joy The French perceiving by the Fire how the matter went ran in all hast and climb'd the Court Walls to quench the Fire which at last with much labour they did but the Castle was much endammaged thereby But before these things happen'd King Edward had won a great Victory at Sea and was arrived at Gaunt in Flanders of all which we shall now take leave to discourse only first we think it requisit to shew what Preparations he had made in England all this while in order to those great Affairs which then he was about to undertake CHAPTER the SIXTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Parliament at Westminster with the Particulars thereof at large II. Being warned of the Strength of the French Navy he provides accordingly upon his Setting forth for Flanders III. He takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet before the Haven of Scluce with the particulars of his Victory IV. Nele Loring an English Esquire Knighted for his Valour King Edward goes to Gaunt from whence he sends to his Clergy with the Copy of his Letters V. The Manner how King Philip heard first of this Loss the Vse of Arrows prefer'd to our modern way of Guns VI. The two Armies of Hainalt and France break up from before Thine l'Evesque VII King Robert of Sicily procures the Pope to write to King Edward to move him to accept of Peace VIII A Copy of the Popes Credence IX A Copy of King Edwards Answer shewing how he had all along sought Peace to no purpose And yet on certain Conditions was ready to admit of a Treaty I. ON the a M.S. Râ—â— Parl. p. 29. c. Sr. R.b. Cotton p. 22. Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 907. Wednesday next after Midlent-Sunday King Edward of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster wherein he demanded of the Commons towards his Charges in order to the Recovery of his Right in France the b Knighton p. 2576. aâ— 30. ad n. 60. Ninth Part of all their Moveable Goods the Customs of Wooll for Two Years to be paid aforehand and the Ninth Sheaf of Corn with the Ninth of all other Grain the Ninth of Wooll and the Ninth Lamb to be levied in two Years which Grant was reduced into the Form of a Statute beginning b vid. Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 78 c. To the Honour of God c. Saving that those Articles thereof which were but Temporary were in a Schedule thereunto annexed exemplified under the Great Seal and began thus Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae c. c Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 82. c. 1. Know ye that whereas the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons of our Realm of England in our Present Parliament holden at Westminster the Wednesday next after the Sunday of Midlent the 14 Year of our Reign of England and the First of France have granted to Us of their good Gree and Good-will in aid of the speed of our great Business which We have to do as well on this side the Sea as beyond the Ninth Sheaf the Ninth Fleece and the Ninth Lamb to be taken by Two Years next coming after the making of the same and the Citizens and Burgesses of Burroughs the very Ninth part of all their Goods and the Foreign Merchants and Others which live not of gain nor of store of Sheep the Nineteenth of their Goods lawfully to their value We willing to provide to the Indemnity of the said Prelates Earls Barons and other of the Commonalty and also of the Citizens Burgesses and Merchants aforesaid do will and grant for Us and our Heirs to the same Prelates Earls Barons and Commons Citizens Burgesses and Merchants that the same Grant which is so chargeable shall not another time be brought for an Example nor turn to their Prejudice in time to come Nor that they be from thenceforth charged nor grieved to make any Aid or to sustain Charge if it be not by the Common Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men and Commons of our said Realm of England and that in the Parliament And that all the Profits rising of the said Aid and of Wards and Marriages Customs and Escheats
and other Profits rising of the said Realm of England shall be set and dispended upon the Maintenance of the Safeguard of our said Realm of England and of our Wars of Scotland France and Gascoign and in no place elswhere during the said Wars Besides which extraordinary Grant of the Lords and Commons the Clergy also at the Motion of the Archbishop freely gave unto the King a Tenth Here also because the King in his Style was called King of France and had alter'd his Arms whereby his Subjects might think themselves in danger of becoming a Province to France that being the greater Kingdom the Kings Letters Patents of Indemnity were granted beginning d Vid. Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 82 Edvardus c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all those who these Letters shall hear or see Greeting Know ye that whereas some People do think that by reason that the Realm of France is devolved unto Us as Right Heir of the same and forasmuch as We be King of France our Realm of England should be in Subjection to the King and Realm of France in time to come We having regard to the Estate of our Realm of England and namely that it never was nor ought to be in Subjection nor in the Obeisance of the Kings of France which for the time have been nor of the Realm of France And willing to provide for the Safety and Defence of the said Realm of England and of our Liege People of the same do will and grant and establish for Us and for our Heirs and Successors by Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons of our Realm of England in this our present Parliament summon'd at Westminster the Wednesday next after the Sunday in Midlent the xiv Year of our said Reign of our Realm of England and the First of France that by the cause or colour of this that We be King of France and that the said Realm to Us pertaineth as afore is said or that We cause Our Selves to be named King of France in our Stile or that We have changed our Seals or our Arms nor for Commands which We have made or hereafter shall make as King of France neither our said Realm of England or the People of the same of what Estate or Condition they be shall not in any time to come be put in Subjection or in Obeisance of Us nor of our Heirs nor Successors as Kings of France as aforesaid nor be subject nor obedient but shall be free and quit of all manner of Subjection and Obeisance aforesaid as they were wont to be in the time of our Progenitors Kings of England for ever In Witness whereof c. Certain Bishops and Lords require of his Majesty to be saved harmless for those great Summs of Money wherewith they stood bound on the Kings Behalf to the Duke of Brabant in case the Duke of Cornwall should not Marry with the Daughter of the said Duke which Request was granted and all with the Letters Patents aforesaid was enrolled in the Chancery The Petitions also of the Clergy by Assent were made into a Statute beginning Edvardus c. and enrolled as above After this certain fit Persons there named were appointed for several Affairs some to hold Debate of matters concerning Flanders some to speak with the Merchants touching Exchange to Brussels and to confer with the Merchants of England some to dilate with Priors Aliens of which we shall speak more hereafter others to advise touching the Defence of the North Marches others to treat about the Affairs of Gascoign and others how best to preserve the Islands and the Sea-coasts As to the Keeping of the Peace and performing of Covenants between the Duke of Brabant and Others on the Kings Behalf that was all to be debated in the Kings own Presence Concerning the raising of Money that was refer'd to the Commons But because the Taxes last granted were not duly answer'd to the King by those who had been entrusted with the Care thereof Certain Persons were now appointed to take the Accounts of Sr. William de la Pole Sr. John Charnells and Paul de Monteflore and Others who had received Money Wooll and other Goods to the Kings Use Whereupon Sr. William de la Pole and the Rest had Day given them to shew their Accompts each of them finding their sufficient Sureties The Earl of Derby and the Lord Wake were Sureties for Sr. William the same Earl of Darby and the Lord John Montgomery for Sr. John Charnells John Lord Dacres and Reginald Lord Cobham Sr. John Shareshull and Sr. John Stradling stood for Paul de Monteflore Sr. John Sturmy and Sr. John Charnells were bound for William Welchborne and the Earl of Huntington engaged for Pierce Dyme and other Merchants of Barton Thereupon the Parliament was Protogued till Wednesday in Easter Week then ensuing At which time certain were appointed to sit on Petitions had before the King When also the Bishops at the Kings Request promised never to dissent from the Kings Promise made for the Customs of Wooll but by Common Assent of Parliament A Motion to remember to Repeal a Commission made to Sr. Robert Waterford of the e Appâ—ser M.S. Opposer in the Exchequer Also to remember to respit the Prior of St. Dennis near Southampton and of Southwick from paying of the Tenths and Fifteenths And to direct a Commission to Sr. Robert Popham to be Sheriff of Southampton during the Kings Pleasure It is Enacted that the King may with the Assent of his Allies make any reasonable Peace In this Parliament in f M.S. Sr. R. Cotton ibid. Dagd 2 Vol. p 113. consideration of the many Good Services done by the Marquess of Juliers the King made him Earl of Cambridge and gave him in Fee a 1000 l. per annum till he could provide for him so much of Hereditaments Whence it appears that the Learned Antiquary g Cambden Brit. Mr. Cambden was mistaken who says that King Edward the Third for the Love he bore to Queen Philippa his Consort created the Lord John of Hainault her Uncle Earl of Cambridge And that upon his Revolt to the French he devested him thereof and conferr'd it upon William Marquess of Juliers Sisters Son to that Queen Whereas the said Lord John was not now nor of some Years after Revolted to the French as We shall shew in due place so that he could not yet forfeit with Edward nor is there any thing at all in Our publique Records that may give the least Countenance to this Assertion of that Famous Man as the Diligent Sr. William Dugdale acknowledges Whereas it is most Evident that at this time the Marquess of Juliers was created Earl of Cambridge as We have shewn But We have not made this Observation upon so Great and Venerable a Person out of Envy or Ostentation rather thrô love of Truth alone and to infer
Villani a Person of more Credit says it was on the 28 of July But I shall hereafter take little Notice of that Mans Writing because the Authorities I shall bring and the Contexture of the Story it self will confute him among the Learned and to others I write not Thô I know he took this Account from Du Chesne and other French Authors but even them he has corrupted and mistook as any Man may observe X. These are the various Adventures which most deserve Memory during the Siege of Tournay that is for the space of Nine Weeks and upward King Edward all the while expecting to win the Place by Famine for he knew well there was a great Number of Mouths within and not much Victuals the Frenchmen as he knew presuming that the King of France would not suffer the Siege to continue so long without endeavouring a Rescue Wherefore the King of England being strongly encamped and always prepared to give or receive Battle resolved to win the City by Famine For this Wise and Pious Prince knew it would be too expensive of Christian Blood to attempt so strong a Place by Storm Some thought however that they could not have held out so long had not the Duke of Brabant secretly favour'd them and allow'd certain Quantities of Provision to be convey'd into the City thrô his Quarters nay there are who stick not to affirm that he was o Gâ—ovâ—n Vâ—llâ—niâ— 11. c. 111. p. 770. Mezeray 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 17. brib'd and corrupted by the King of France's Money and that being therefore suspected by King Edward he most willingly admitted of a Treaty when 't was offer'd him But it may be these were only vain and undutifull Reflections cast out by the idle People of Bruges and Louvain and other Brabanders who were both ill-affected to the Cause and also grew so uneasie with this long Siege that they were not asham'd openly to ask leave of the Marshal of the Host to return home into Brabant When the Marshal heard such an unworthy Request he told them that for his part he was very well content they should go but then they must leave their Horses and their Armour behind them least those who saw them going home should say there went a sort of Souldiers who had left their General at a Siege because there were no Carpets and Perfumes in the Field With which nipping Retort they were so confounded that they never more open'd their Mouths to their Captains about that Affair And beside this backwardness of the Brabanders those Officers whom King Edward had entrusted to Collect his Taxes and other Moneys in England for his Use beyond Sea were so negligent and slow if not false in that business that they mightily perplext their Master thereby and made him borrow vast Summs upon Usury and to enter into many Disadvantagious Engagements for the Payment of his German Auxiliaries and other Necessities consequent upon the Siege Nor was King Philip of France without his Difficulties For besides that it tormented his very Soul to see his Good Towns Besieged and spoiled in a manner before his Eyes his Lords not suffering him to hazard a Battle for Revenging thereof he is said to have lost what by Skirmishes and divers Rencounters with the English and what by ill-diet and Famine which may be wonder'd at he being in his own Country especially for want of Water by the p Frois c. 63. fol. 35. evil Air hot Weather and other Inconveniences more than q Fox Monum p. 348. b. n. 60. 20000 Men Without any set Battle XI King Robert of Sicily being still in those Parts was wonderfully assiduous in his Negotiations for Peace The Pope by his Cardinals back'd him very close and especially by an r Odoric Rainald ad An. 1340 §. 29. Englishman one of his Chaplains named William Norwich Dean of Lincoln and Auditor of the Gauses of the Holy Palace whose Credence from the Pope contained these Heads 1. That he should advise the King not to be too much puff'd up with his Victories nor in confidence thereof to shew himself strange or difficult in admitting of Peace by two Instances of One who being 17 times beaten in War yet the 18 time obtain'd an entire and absolute Victory And of Another who having gain'd two Notable Victories was the third time utterly Defeated and overthrown 2. Secondly To advise him of the Perfidiousness of the Nation ally'd unto him as the Flemings who since they had deceived their own Natural Lord would in all probabilitie much more deceive him whom but accidentally and for the present they had received for their Lord. And that the Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess of Juliers were like to serve him only as far as they might serve their own ends And least of all should he trust to the Almaines who always use to be accounted unstable and his Grandfather the Good King Edward found by Experience their Instability in the time of his utmost Exigence 3. Thirdly Of the Excessive Power of the King of France who thô he should lose Ten Battles in his Kingdom could easily recollect People in abundance to resist any body in all probability Which yet in the King of England being in another Kingdom and in the Hands of Strangers and not attended with his own People is accounted Difficult nay Impossible And this appears by the Example of a certain King of England who formerly had more in Revenues within the Realm of France then the King of France himself had in his own Kingdom and yet was quite expelled by Degrees And especially since the said King of England's claim as to the Realm of France in which he is reputed to have no Right and as to certain Counties in which by Prescription of an Hundred Years and more the Kings of France have continually and quietly had Possession doth seem unjust Wherefore it seems that of Right he ought to be content with the Dutchy of Guien under that form whereby the Lord Edward his Grandfather held the same 4. Fourthly To put him in mind of the Fear of God which he always ought to bring to Memory by revolving in the Closet of his Breast the Processes and Censures made and set forth against the Bavarian which by the adhering to him and assuming the Lieutenantship of the Empire he is known to have incurred Upon which our foresaid Lord the Pope hath often writ to the same King as well by Exhortation as Admonition and once intended Letters unto him not as unto a Son nor as one faithfull to the Church but as one that adhered to Rebells and Infidels And especially because of the Incursions of the Enemies of the Christian Faith who had begun on all Hands to oppose Christianity as is particularly contained in the Letters of our said Lord he ought to desist from carrying on the said War. 5. Also in case that the King should say he not without Reason doubted to put himself
which he always had and hath to undertake this Holy Expedition offer'd to be ready to undertake the said Expedition with him and to grant a reasonable and final Truce to the Scots on that Condition that the said Lord Philip would faithfully promise him after their Return to do him full Justice as to the Dutchy But he despising and rejecting Conditions so reasonable nay more than reasonable answer'd That he would do nothing untill he had given unto all the Scots as well those that were Living as unto the Heirs of the Dead full Satisfaction for all Places which in his time he had by force taken in Scotland And when the Messengers of our said Lord the King answer'd that as to that Point they were not empower'd nor did they believe how their said Lord the King would do it the Lord Philip answered in these Words It will never be well untill there be one King of both the Realms of France and England This the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury declared publiquely before a great Number of Prelates Earls Barons and Others Our Lord the King hearing these things being then come to Years of Discretion caused a Parliament to be called wherein by the Advice and Consent of all the Prelates Earls Parons and other Nobles and of the Commons there present and especially of the said Lord of Canterbury particularly insisting thereupon it was Ordained that since by the way of Humility he could not obtain Peace and by the Sentence and Decision of the Doctors and Advocates as well of the Court of Rome as of the Students of Paris and Oxford and others and also of all the more Expert and Famous Prelates of England with whom he had caused his Right to be carefully discussed the said Kingdom of France by the Death of his Uncle the Lord Charles last King of France of Famous Memory was Lawfully by Right of Succession devolved unto him as the next Heir Male He should take Care effectually to prosecute even by a strong Hand his foresaid Right And that this he might do more securely and secretly there were sworn there to the Lords Canterbury Lincoln London Salisbury Litchfield and many other Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles Peers of the Realm upon the Cross of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury aforesaid Also among other things it was Ordained that the Alliances should be made in Almaine which are now made and that the Lord Bishop of Lincoln taking unto him certain Noblemen of England should be constituted Agent for the perfecting those Alliances aforesaid Who by Ordinance of the said Parliament and by the Command of our said Lord the King being so obliged accepted the same Office of Agent and brought it to effect Which done our said Lord the King in pursuance of the Counsel aforesaid passed the Sea and wasted certain Parts of the Realm of France with an Army of his own and of certain his Allies Afterwards the Winter Season approaching our said Lord the King being Returned into England heard that there was a great Fleet of Ships prepared on the Sea for a sudden Invasion of him and his Who by the Counsel of his Friends his then Assistants and principally of the foresaid Lord Canterbury speedily prepared himself to scour the Seas and expos'd himself to go over without Provision of Money or Horses chiefly upon Confidence of the said Lord Canterbury who had promised within certain and few days to send him Money enough And passing the Seas he found his Enemies upon the Sea near the Haven where he designed to Land and obtain'd that Victory which God gave him Who afterwards taking Land on Confidence of the foresaid promise with a Mighty Multitude of Armed Men Besieged the City of Tournay and there having sat a great while destitute of all Aid of Money althô at the Importunate Instance of many yet in very deed being forced by the only failure of Money he consented to take a Truce as being in the greatest Danger and utmost point of Necessity since as he said he had not all the time of the Siege received one Penny out of England and further unfolding his Opinion against the said Archbishop he said these Words I verily believe that the Archbishop would that for want of Money I had been ruin'd and slain And further he hath privately said to me such things of my Wife and on the other Hand hath said to my Wife such things of me for which if he had been credited he had provoked Us to such Mutual Discord that there would have been a perpetual Division between Us. Truly Holy Father our Lord the King hath often remembred all those things touching the Lord Archbishop to me William Norwich as well apart as before others of his Council and strictly enjoyn'd me upon Oath that I should fully and faithfully Report them to your Holiness Those things most Holy Father namely that our Lord the King consented to a Truce for want of Money and what Relates to the Lord Archbishop if it please You may be kept secret All the rest may be made Publick At the same time these Negotiators declared King Edward's Resolutions in these Words Most Holy Father and Lord that He may particularly and nakedly open his Mind to your Clemency he signifies unto your Holiness that he Challenges and intends to Challenge the whole Realm of France as Lawfully due and devolved unto him by Hereditary Right But for the Reverence of You and of the Apostolick See and to avoid the Perils which in all probability will happen by continuance of the Wars he is ready to Treat of Peace and to consent to a Good Peace but so as that in the Treaty of Peace to be made consideration be had as to the Right proportionable unto him in the said Kingdom and not only as to the Dutchy because with the whole Dutchy alone althô free from all Service and Subjection of any One he intends not to be contented And moreover because your Holiness being Highly sollicitous for the Reformation of Peace have offer'd your self by your Letters to Labour in your own Person at the Apostolick-Seat if the Deputies of the Parties be therefore sent to your Court or by others as it may be Honestly and Profitably done our Lord the King out of his great Confidence and Devout Reverence consents that this may be in your Holinesses choice These were King Edward's peremptory Demands so that there appear'd no way of a Final Agreement Nay it was to be expected that King Philip upon hearing thereof would be inflam'd the more Wherefore the Pope advis'd him to be more moderate in his Demands for the King of France was so far from granting thus much that in his k Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 38. Letters to the Pope he only gave him Liberty to declare a Restitution of those Lands of Aquitain which had been Won by his Father Charles of Valois in the time of Charles IV. When King
at the East-end of his Cathedral toward the North At whose Feet there lies his Brother Sr. Robert who was a Great Souldier in his time and also a Son of Sr. Robert's Named Bartholomew There died also this Year two Famous Old Barons of England the a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 639. One was Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire of almost 90 Years of Age who left behind him his Son and Heir of the same Name then about Thirty three Years Old. The Other was the * Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan in Scotland He left behind him John his Son and Heir then Twenty two Years of Age and a young Daughter Named Elizabeth afterwards Married to Sr. Nicolas Audley Son and Heir to the Lord James Audley of Heley Besides these two there Died about the same Time at Gaunt in the Kings Service the Lord Chief Justice of England Sr. Geoffry Scroop He had been very Loyal to King Edward the Second as appeared by the joynt Testimonies of the Prelates Earls and Barons in b Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 22. Parliament whereupon he Obtain'd much Grace with King Edward the Third whom he also Served till his Death with Indefatigable Industry Admirable Discretion and Untainted Loyalty In Consideration whereof among other Princely Favours bestow'd on him we find that the King Advanced him to the Degree of a c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. Knight Banneret with a Gift of two Hundred Marks per annum for his better Support and that but this very Year he d Stow's Survey Lond. p. 249. gave unto him the Great House call'd the Erbar by the Church of St. Mary Bothaw near Dowgate-Street in London He lest behind him together with a Good Name and a Plentifull Estate Henry his Son and Heir at that Time Twenty five Years of Age who prov'd a Valiant and Noble Knight in his Days and John a Younger Son who many Years after Married Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of David Strabolgi Son to David Earl of Athol slain in Scotland five Years before We shall conclude this Chapter with a short Relation of a most signal Victory obtain'd this Year on the 30 of October over the Saracens Moors and Africans in Spain In the foregoing Year e Câ—â—â—â—n Victorell de PP Reman p. 884. p. 887. Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon being hardly put to it by the Barbarians begg'd aid of the Pope and all the Great Princes of Christendom From France and England went but few or none because of the Wars then hot between the two Realms But from other Parts many gallant Knights and Gentlemen went against those Enemies of God being especially encouraged thereto by the Pope's Bulls wherein he granted large Indulgences to those who undertook this Expedition Alphonso therefore being now reinforced with a small but well-compacted Army and joyned with his Neighbour Alphonso the Brave King of Portugall gave Battle to the Moors in the Plains of Tartessos vulgarly called Tariffa from a Town of that Name in the Boetic Province which enclines to the River called Rio Salado near the Herculean Sea. The Forces of Alphonso were 35000 Foot and 14000 Horse but the Army of Allibohacen King of Morocco with those of Granada under their Miramolin and three other Kings of the Moors consisted of 600000 Foot and 80000 Horse And yet thrô the Divine Assistance the Christians wan the Day f Jos Teixera de Orig. Reg. Port. and with the Loss of no more than g Joh. Mariana l. 16 c. 7. 20 Men slew in the Fight and in the Chace above h Vasaus Hist Hisp Genebr l. 4 Chronog vid. Odâ—ric Raynal ad hunc annum §. 40. usque ad §. 56. 200000 of the Infidels besides an incredible number of Prisoners taken Thô Others reckon no less than 450000 to have fallen that Day among whom were two of the Sons of Allibohacen In Memory of which Miraculous Victory the said 30 of October hath ever since been kept as an high Festival in Spain being dedicated to the Honour of the Holy Cross which was at this time so successfully advanced against the Enemies of Christendom King Alphonso after this Exploit having first and chiefly return'd his Thanks to Almighty God now also in token of his Gratitude to the Pope sends him for a Present to Avignon out of the Spoils he had taken an 100 gallant Horses of Barbary in rich Trappings with an 100 Saracen Slaves to lead them an 100 Morisco Cimitars and an 100 Shields of Tann'd Leather plated Also 24 Military Ensignes and the Horse and Standard of King Allibohacen which he used in this War together with many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver and Jewels of great Price besides his own Horse on which he fought and his own Royal Standard which he follow'd in that Battle i Ita Literae Pontis gratulatoriae ad Alphonsum neminant John Martin Don Leyva and Pedro Didaci de Corduba the Spanish Ambassadors who brought all these Presents were received with extraordinary Pomp by the Cardinals and other Prelates at their entrance into Avignon And the next day his Holiness k Victorell ib. himself celebrated Mass and after that made a notable Sermon wherein with great Eloquence he magnifi'd the Kings Victory and exhorted all present to praise God therefore and to pray for the Kings Health and Perseverance in Prosperity And to enable him the better to maintain his Wars against the Moors he then granted unto him the Thirds of the Tithes of all his Subjects which the Kings of Spain enjoy to this Day From this happy Success of the two Alphonso's Kings of Spain and Portugal against Jutzeph King of Granada and Allibohacen King of Morocco the Pope took an Occasion to exhort our King Edward of England to dispose himself towards a l Odoric Raynald ad ann 1340. §. 55. Peace with his Rival of France that they might both unite their Forces against the general Enemies of Christendom These Letters bear Date from Avignon the xv of the Kalends of January i. e. 18 of December in the Close of this Year being the VI of his Pontificate The Copy of which Letter is to be seen in the Ecclesiastical History of Odoricus Raynaldus at this Year 1340. King Alphonso presently after this Victory lays Siege to the great Town of Algezira belonging to the Moors and lying upon the Streights of Morocco on the Frontiers of Granada Which after a long Siege was enforced at last thrô Famine to yield to the Christians Thô still the Saracens held Footing in that Kingdom till having lost the City of Granada to Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain they were at last finally expelled that Kingdom by Philip III. Because we may not disturb the intended Order of our Discourse which follows in the next Chapter we take leave in this place to tell the Reader that the Fruitfull Young Queen of
a due State Counsel and a Treatise thereupon had with the Earls Barons and other Wise Men of our said Realm And for because We never consented to the making of the said Statute but as then it behoved Us We dissembled in the Premises by Protestations of Revocation of the said Statute if indeed it should proceed to eschew the Dangers which by denying of the same We feared to come forasmuch as the said Parliament otherwise had been without any Expedition in Discord dissolved and so our earnest business had likely been which God prohibit in Ruine And the said pretenced Statute We promised then to be Sealed It seemed to the said Earls Barons and other Wise Men that sithence the said Statute did not of our Free Will proceed the same should be void and ought not to have the Name nor strength of a Statute And therefore by their Counsel and Assent We have Decreed the said Statute to be void and the same inasmuch as it proceeded of Deed We have brought to be annulled Willing nevertheless that the Articles contained in the said pretenced Statute which by other of Our Statutes or of Our Progenitors Kings of England have been approved shall according to the form of the said Statute in every point as convenient is be observed And the same We do only to the Conservation and Redintegration of the Rights of Our Crown as We be bound and not that We should in any Wise aggrieve or oppress Our Subjects whom We desire to rule by Lenity and Gentleness And therefore We do command You that all these things You do to be openly proclaimed in such places within your Bayliwick where You shall see expedient Witness my self at Westminster the First day of October the XV Year of Our Reign This is the Famous Revocation which thô put among the Printed Statutes was meerly the Result of the Kings Prerogative Royal and yet in those days Esteemed of sufficient Force and as so afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament as We shall see two Years hence CHAPTER the NINETEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip of France wins the Emperour to his side II. The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward III. King Edwards answer thereto IV. The sudden Death of the Duke of Bretagne without Issue With the several Pretences of the Earl of Montford and Charles of Blois to that Dukedom V. Earl Montford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a. Parliament and goes forth with an Army to conquer his Inheritance VI. He goes into England does Homage to King Edward as true King of France for that Dukedom and implores his Protection VII On Charles of Blois his Complaint to King Philip Earl Montford is Summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France He comes to Paris but being in doubt gets secretly away again VIII The Dukedom adjudged to the Lord Charles of Blois IX King Philip promises unto him his Assistance and confiscates the Earldom of Montford which King Edward requites by giving the Earldom of Richmond unto the said Earl. X. Charles of Blois descends into Bretagne besieges Nantes and takes the Earl of Montford who is sent Prisoner to Paris XI The Countess of Montford prepares to renew the War. XII King Edward keeps his Christmas at Melros Abbey and the Earl of Darby at Roxborough whither certain Scotch Knights come to exercise Feats of Arms. XIII Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son called Edmund of Langley His Christening solemnized with a Feast and Turneament Which is falsly said to have been for love of the Countess of Salisbury XIV A small Digression concerning Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet. XV. The Lord Douglas besieges Striveling and takes it King Edward goes against Scotland with a Royal Army The Scotch Lords offer Conditions to obtain a Truce which are accepted XVI King David of Scotland returns home again raises an Army and enters England lays Siege to Newcastle but leaves it again XVII The Captain of Newcastle rides post with the News to King Edward who prepares for Resistance XVIII King David takes and destroys the City of Durham XIX He lays Siege to the Castle of Werke the Story of King Edwards Amours with the Countess of Salisbury exploded XX. The Captain of the Castle passes thrô the Scotch Host in the Night to hasten King Edward to his Relief On Knowledge whereof the King of Scotland Retires XXI King Edward comes before the Castle of Werke and the next Day follows the Scots XXII A Truce taken between the two Kings with the several Reasons inducing them thereto The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted their Ransoms I. ALL this while thô the Truce between France and England had more than Two Years to continue King Philip knowing that Truces are but Opportunities for Wise Enemies to improve to their Advantage like a Politick and Wary Prince thought good to take this time to recruit himself and to provide more strongly against a War which the Competition for a Crown seem'd to Entayl to future Ages And first after King Edward's own Method he desired to Establish himself with the Accession of some Powerfull Friends The Flemings he could by no means expect to prevail with while Jacob van Arteveld bore any Authority among them and the Earl of Hainalt was too much incensed to be wrought upon and the Duke of Brabant and other Lords of the Empire were still hamper'd in the Triple League made at Villenort Nor indeed did it seem feasable to gain any great footing in the Empire till the Emperour himself might be brought over The Emperours Friendship therefore seem'd as more considerable so upon many Accounts more attainable Lewis the Emperour had now to Wife the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Jane of Valois King Philips Sister Besides he knew him extream desirous to be Reconciled to the Church if he might obtain Absolution from the Pope on no Dishonourable Conditions and King Philip had at that time the Popes Keys under his Girdle the Court of Rome being at Avignon in France The Emperour therefore he now secretly and effectually plyes by the Popes Letters and his own Ambassadors offering him both Temporal and Spiritual Advantages great Gifts and Pensions together with a Frank and easie Absolution from his long-continued Excommunication These things took with him so well that he presently sent unto King Edward these his Letters of Revocation II. a Walsingh hist p. 146. n. 30. Fox Acts and Monum p. 351. Stow p. 238. Odâ—ric Rainald ad hunc annâ—m §. 12. c. Lewis by the Grace of God Emperour of the Romans always Augustus to Edward King of England his Beloved Brother Greeting and unfeigned Love. Althô innumerable and arduous Affairs do lie upon our shoulders and We are variously and perpetually encumbred about them yet notwithstanding when the Discord arisen between You and Philip King of France our Beloved Cosin which unless it be appeased may for the future bring forth both to You and to your
People heavy Losses both of many Mens Lives and Fortunes doth represent it self unto our Eyes it more especially torments our Mind and moves Us to apply all our Diligence Care and Labour to take it up Wherefore We give You to understand that the foresaid Philip at our Request hath given unto Us by his Letters Authority and Power to moderate between You and Him about this Discord stirred up between You in order to the obtaining of a Peace Which Peace duly considering the whole State of You and your Allies we believe to be very expedient for You and your Kingdom And therefore perswade your Friendly Charity and earnestly exhort You to give also Your Consent thereto So that We may thereby bring You and Him to an Agreement and establish between You a firm Peace whereunto with a ready Mind We will apply Our selves and take pains in vigorously prosecuting the same Wherein if You will consent to our Advice and as We hope acquiesce therein may it please You by your Letters to give unto Us. the foresaid Power of Treating about an Agreement and of Ordaining a Truce for a Year or two more Neither let it move You that between Us and Philip King of France a Friendship is made and contracted For since You took a Truce and certain Limits wherein to treat of an Agreement between You and the said King of France without our Knowledge Will and Assent We also by the Advice of our Princes who know the Tyes Bonds and Covenants betwixt Us to whom also it seem'd that saving our Honour We might do the same have contracted an Agreement and Friendship with the said King of France and therefore for the Causes aforenoted do revoke and call back the Lieutenantship assigned unto You by our Letters Nevertheless giving you for certain to understand that We shall in our Treaties make such Brotherly Provision for You that if You will acquiesce in our Counsels your Cause by means of our Counsel shall be brought to a good Issue About which Matters further to inform your Charity of our Intention We have sent unto your Brotherhood a Religious Person Frier b Herwart Everhard Reader of the Order of Friers Hermits of St. Augustine and Chaplain in Ordinary of our Court Whom about the Premises We desire to be speedily dispatched unto Us again Dated at Frankford the 14 Day of June in the 27 Year of our Reign and the 14 of our Empire III. King Edward made no more of all this knowing the unconstancy of that Prince but only return'd him this respectfull and rational Answer To the most Renowned Prince the Lord Lewis by the Grace of God Roman Emperour always Augustus Edward by the same Grace King of France and England and Lord of Ireland Greeting and perpetual Happiness We have reverently received the Letters of your Highness containing among other things that upon your Request Philip of Valois hath by his Letters given unto You Power to treat of an Agreement between Us and Him and that if it would please Us to give unto You Power therefore You would willingly endeavour Your utmost toward the bringing about the said Agreement And that the Friendship between You and Philip should not move Us For since without your Knowledge and Assent we took a Truce and Limits wherein to treat of Peace between Us and the said Philip You also have contracted the said Friendship with him by the Advice of your Princes to whom it seem'd that saving your Honour You might do so much and have also revoked the Lieutenantship by You granted unto Us. Certainly the Zeal which You have to make the said Agreement We very much commend c Here a Clause added by Fox which I find not in Walsingham's Original And truly it would be very agreeable and acceptable to Us if at the Instance of so great an Umpire a desirable Peace may be obtained But forasmuch as We know our Right and Title to the Realm of France to be clear enough We purpose not by our Letters of Commission to any one to leave it under doubtfull Arbitrement But when We seriously consider and revolve how your Highness upon mature Deliberation beholding our manifest Right and the obstinate Pertinacy and Violence of the said Philip did of your Grace make a League with Us against the said Philip admitting Us out of the Exuberance of your Love as a particular Child of Adoption to speak by your leave We cannot sufficiently admire That your Invincible Highness being constituted of God for the d 1 Pet. 2.14 Praise of them that do well and for the Punishment of Evil-doers hath made a League against Us with the said Philip our injurious and notorious Enemy And as to that which You say that without your Knowledge and Assent We took a Truce with the said Philip in Order to a Treaty about a Peace the Circumstances of the Fact being rationally weighed it ought not to move You For while We besieged the City of Tournay it was requisit we should follow their Counsels who then gave us their Aid and Society and the near Approach of Winter and the Distance of place would not permitt Us to advise with your Highness about the Premises Nay if you remember your Grant unto Us was otherwise namely that if a fit Opportunity was offer'd We might without your Advice or Knowledge hold a Treaty of Peace but so as that without your Consent We should by no means make a final Peace with the said Philip which We never purposed to do till we should have had thereupon your Counsel and Assent But it was Our desire in all things to bear Our selves as we ought toward You according to our Abilities hoping that the Fulness of your Brotherly Kindness would more lovingly have supported Us for a time It is also thought by some that the Revocation of the said Lieutenantship was prematurely made Whereas according to your Promise herein given unto Us by your Imperial Letters it ought not to have been made untill we had obtained the Kingdom of France or the greater Part thereof We desire your Excellence duly to weigh the Premises and to do farther what shall seem most requisit Because by the Grace of God We intend after our Abilities to gratifie both You and Yours according to the measure of your Benevolence bestowed upon Us. The Almighty grant unto your Highness as much Felicity as your Heart can wish Dated at London the 18 of July in the 2d Year of our Reign of France and of England the 15. IV. Now for a while we might expect to have liberty wholly to divert to Actions of Peace the Truce being prolonged with France for two Years more and that with Scotland not yet expiring till the Feast of St. John Baptist next ensuing But King Edwards Destiny which mark'd him out for Action or rather the evil Genius of France was even now working to break the Truce and to set open the Gates of War again
made shift to escape to the Camp where they related the whole Matter At this such as were most ready rose up to Rescue the Prey which they overtook near the Barriers of the Town And here began a fierce skirmish the Nantois being hard put to it by reason of the Numbers that flow'd in upon them from the Camp but however some of them took the Horses out of the Wagons upon the first approach of the Enemy and drove them in at the Gate that the Frenchmen might not easily drive back the Provision Hereupon Fresh Men came out of the City to relieve their Companions so the Fray multiplied and many were slain and hurt on both sides for Recruits continually came both from the Camp and City Wherefore the Lord Henry du Leon the Earl of Monford's Chief Captain perceiving that by continuing the Fight in this Manner he might by Degrees engage the whole City with the whole Army without any Advantage of his Walls and other Works thought best to sound a Retreat now before it grew worse But then the pursuit was so close upon their heels that more than 200 of the Burgesses were taken and slain Wherefore the Earl Monford when the business was over blamed Sr. Henry du Leon very severely for Retreating so soon At which unseasonable Reproof Sr. Henry who had hitherto been his Main Support was infinitely disgusted and for the future came not to any Council of War as his Manner was Which made many to wonder what his Design should be Soon * Frois c. 72. after this Mischance 't is said that some of the Chief Burgesses considering how their substance went daily to wreck both without and within the City and that already several of their Friends and Children were Prisoners if no worse and that themselves were in no less Danger privately agreed together to hold a Treaty with the Lords of France This Plot was carried on so closely by the connivance at least of Sr. Henry du Leon that it was concluded all the Prisoners should be deliver'd they in Lieu thereof engaging to set open their Gates that the French Lords might enter and take the Earl of Monford's Person in the Castle without doing any harm to the City the Inhabitants or their Goods Some lay all this Contrivance and the Menagement thereof to Sr. Henry du Leon's Charge who had been One of the Earls Privy-Counsellors his Friend and Chief Captain till that unhappy Accident whereby the Earl was provok'd to take him up so roundly However according to this Device so one Morning early it was effected The French Lords found easie entrance went straight to the Castle brake open the Gates and there took the Unhappy Earl Prisoner and led him clear out of the City into their Field without doing any further harm in the World This happen'd about the Feast of All-Saints in the Year of our Lord MCCCXLI After this the Lords of France and Sr. Charles of Blois enter'd the City again with great Triumph and there all the Burgesses and others did Fealty and Homage to the Lord Charles of Blois as to their Right Sovereign and True Duke of Bretagne For three Days they all continued here in great Jollity and Feasting because of this their unexpected Success After which the Lord Charles was advised to tarry thereabout till the next Summer and to set Captains in the places he had won But most of the other Lords return'd to Paris with the Earl of Monford their Prisoner XI Now Margaret the Countess of Monford who had the Courage of a man and the heart of a Lion was in the City of Rennes at what time her Lord was taken and althô she had a due sense of this great Misfortune yet she bore a good Countenance Recomforted her Friends and Souldiers and shewing them her little Son John said Gentlemen be not overmuch dismay'd at this mischance of my Lord the Earl whom We have unhappily lost He was but a Mortal Man and so all our hope ought not to rest on him But behold this my little Son who by the Grace of God shall be his Restorer and your Benefactor I have Riches enough so that you shall want for Nothing and I doubt not but to purchase such a Captain to be your Leader who shall be Wise Valiant and Noble When she had thus animated her Men in Rennes then she went about to all the Fortresses and good Towns that held of her side and still she carried along with her the little Lord John her Son and fortify'd all her Garrisons and spake to them as she had done to those at Rennes and paid largely and gave great Gifts where she thought it Convenient After all things were settled she went to the strong Town of Hennebond where she and her Son tarried all that Winter and frequently she sent to visit her Garrisons and paid all Men well and truly their Wages The mean while her Lord was a close Prisoner in the Louvre in Paris without hopes of Escape or Redemption Thô it will appear that about 3 years after upon certain Conditions which he kept not he got his Liberty but he died so soon after that it is hardly worth taking notice of and that I take to be the Reason why many Historians say nothing of it but rather think he died in Prison Thus much thô great part thereof seems a Digression was necessary to be said in order to clear what follows next Year of the Wars of Bretagne wherein England was concern'd I shall now take leave to speak something of the Scotch Affairs relating to the end of this and the beginning of the following Year Which after a small Digression we shall pursue more closely XII The last Year We show'd briefly how the Scots succeeded during King Edwards absence he lying at that time before Tournay So that having at last taken Edenburgh by Stratagem they had left nothing of Scotland in the English Hands but Striveling Barwick and Roxborough Now at King Edwards Return into England nothing was yet done against them because they were comprehended in the first Years Truce with France y Knighton p. 2580. But the King went about St. Andrews toward Scotland and kept his Christmas at Melros-Abbey Henry the Noble Earl of Darby keeping the same Festival at Roxborough hard by To Roxborough came the Lord William Douglas with Three Scotch Knights to Just with the Earl of Darby and his Knights which Martial Sport being honourably maintain'd on both sides the Scots departed for that time but shortly after the said Earl of Darby being then at Barwick twelve Knights of Scotland came thither also for the same purpose who were presently Match'd by as many English Of the Scotch Knights two by chance were slain and one Sr. John Twyford of the English Earls Retinue all the Rest came off with safety and Honour on each side King Edward presently after Christmas Return'd to Langley in Hertfordshire z Stow p. 238.
not undertake their Defence Upon all which Accounts they resolv'd by any means to divert the War for this time and so sent to King Edward a Bishop an Abbot and two Knights to desire a Truce of him for such a time on such and such Conditions These Messengers found the King in the beginning of December at Newcastle where they declared to him and his Council their business which was to require a Truce for six Moneths on these Conditions That the Scots should the mean while send into France to King David to protest unto him that unless He would return home by the Moneth of May next following with Power able to meet his Enemies of England in the Field and to defend his Realm then all Scotland would admit of King Edwards Government and never after own either David or any of his Posterity for their King and that thus to do upon King Davids failure all the Lords of Scotland had agreed Upon good security given these reasonable Conditions in so bad a juncture were accepted the Scotch Messengers return'd with a Ratification of the Truce into Scotland and King Edward having settled Affairs in those Parts towards London XVI Soon after the Scots agreed to send into France Sr. Robert Vescy Sr. Simon Fraiser and two other Knights to shew their King what they had resolv'd upon in case he should absent himself any longer from them 1342. An. Regni Angliae XVI Franciae III. They accordingly about the beginning of March by reason of the Truce took shipping at Dover in order to sail into France The mean while King David who had now been in that Kingdom upward of seven Years hearing daily unwelcome News of the Miseries and Ruines of his Country at last understood how his Captains at home had raised up some Light and Life in his Realm had recover'd almost all Scotland from his Enemies and had now extorted an half-Years Truce from the King of England althô as yet the Conditions thereof had not reach'd his Ears Whereupon being now about 21 Years of Age and fired with a generous Indignation against England as well as a due sense of Honour toward himself and an hearty Commiseration of his poor Subjects he determinately resolves the Redemption of his People thô with the hazard of his Life and Crown This his Resolution he communicates to his Friend King Philip of France who highly approving thereof furnishes him with Men Money and Vessels and vehemently inflames him to a cruel and perpetual Enmity with England Whereupon King David having taken his leave of the French King went on board with his Queen Joan King Edwards Sister and such Company as he had for Scotland His Admiral was the Loyal and brave Malcom Flemin of Cummirnald who had formerly with great Care and Conduct convey'd him into France and above a Year before had resign'd his strong Castle of Dumbriton to the Custody of the Lord Robert Stuart Viceroy of Scotland only to enjoy the Honour of waiting upon his Exil'd Prince in France King David landed at the Haven of Murray before any of his Subjects heard any thing of his Arrival For neither did he himself know of the Deputies about that time sent unto him into France nor did they know any thing that their King was then upon his Return home again When n Frois c. 74. the Arrival of King David was nois'd abroad in Scotland his glad Subjects flock'd unto him as if He had been sent from Heaven to work their Deliverance At first they brought him with great joy and solemnity to St. John's Town whither his loving Subjects came unto him from all Parts of the Kingdom to see and welcome him home Especially his Deputy the Lord Robert Stuart Sr. William Douglas Sr. Alexander Ramsey and other his Great Captains the Prime of his Nobility all whom he highly thanked for their constant Valour and Fidelity unto Him. These Lords declared then to their Master what terrible Devastation had been made in his Kingdom by the English to whose Complaints the young King only answer'd shaking his Head Well well my Lords by the Grace of God I will be sufficiently revenged for all or else it shall cost me both my Realm and Life in the Quarrel Then he straight sent forth his Summons to all his Subjects Friends and Allies to come unto Him to St. Johnston by such a day to aid Him against his Adversary of England At the time appointed there came thither the Potent Prince of Orkney who had married one of King Davids Aunts with a prodigious Number of Men of War in his Company and divers Lords and Knights of Sweeden Norway and Denmark some for Love and some for Wages So that in all He number'd in his Army no less than 60000 Foot and 13000 Horse armed after their Manner The time o Buchan says K. David return'd not till July thô he makes the time limiting the Truce to be May And yet that he came before the Deputies had been with him Preposterous of Cessation being therefore now expired hoping after all his troubles to have as good Success against England as his Father Robert had he began to march from St. Johnston with this terrible Army That day he reach'd Dumfermlin the next crossing a little Arm of the Sea and passing forth beyond Edenburgh He went over the Tweed leaving both Roxborough and Barwick both which held then for England unattempted For he thought to do a greater Feat before his Return So thrô the Marches he descended into Northumberland exercising all manner of Hostility and wasting and ravaging all before him for about 40 Miles in length till he came to Newcastle upon Tine which he resolved to besiege and so sat down with all his Forces before it The Captain p Frois c. 74. f. 39. of the Castle was the Lord John Nevill of Horneby a Person of great Conduct and Bravery who resolving to give the young King of Scotland a taste of the English Valour as soon as might be commanded 200 Lances to make a Sally very early the next Morning These dashing suddenly with great Fury into the Scotch Host on that Part where the Earl of Murray was who as they say was chief General for the time the King himself keeping private took the Earl himself in Bed drag'd him away naked out of his Tent and so having slain several of his Men and wan much Booty they return'd all safe into the Town with great joy and deliver'd the Earl of Murray Prisoner to Sr. John Nevill their Captain This Earl was a chief Prince of the blood in Scotland next of Quality to Prince Robert Stuart and the Earl of Southerland but for Valour and Conduct he yielded to none Froisard says his Arms were Argent three Oreills gules This daring enterprise having alarum'd the whole Camp the Scots ran like Madmen to the Barriers of the Town and began a fierce Assault which they continued a great while with much
but they judg'd this sadness to proceed not from Love but from this that he had missed of the Scots his Enemies In the k Frois ibid. Morning however the King arose early resolving forthwith to follow after the Scots and to chase them out of his Realm Accordingly having taken leave of the Lady he put himself in the head of his Army and went after the Scots till he came to Barwick from whence afterward he proceeded till he encamped within four Leagues of the Forest of Gedeours whereinto King David was entred with all his Forces in confidence of that Impassable Wilderness For three days together King Edward lay there to see whether the Scots would come forth and give him Battle All this while there were divers skirmishes between the two Armies and several were slain and taken interchangeably on both sides thô the greater share of the loss fell to the Scots But Sr. William Douglas was the Man among them that did most harm to the English His Arms at that time are said to have been Azure a Chevron Argent Thô after upon the Encrease of the Honour of that House the Douglasses as * Vid. c. 4. §. 2. p. 57. We said before took the bloody Heart for their Arms in memory of Sr. James Douglas the Author of their Nobility who died in Spain as he was carrying King Roberts Heart to Jerusalem XXII Now for all these Skirmishes between the Scots and English during these three days l Frois c. 78. Du Chesne there were certain Noblemen on both parts who earnestly labour'd to compose matters between the two Kings And their Treaty took at last such effect that a Truce was agreed on for two Years provided the French King should give his Consent thereto For King David was so strongly confederated with King Philip that he could admit of no Peace without his Leave Which unless he should now grant then the said Truce was only to endure unto the First day of May following It was also agreed that the Earl of Murray should be quitted of his Ransom and Captivity if the King of Scots could so far prevail with the French King as that the Earl of Salisbury who was already at liberty but upon Parole should now fully be acquitted of all Obligations This Truce the King of Scots was by his Council earnestly advis'd to make that Scotland might thereby have some Breathing time to recover Strength from all its Miseries and that the Husbandmen might return to their care of the Fields which were now almost wholly neglected And King Edward for his part agreed the sooner not only because the Season of the Year began to call for a Respit but because he had Men of War at this time maintained at his charges in France in Gascogne in Ponthieu in Xaintogne in Bretagne and other Places besides his other vast Expences King David soon after by his Ambassadors persuaded King Philip to allow of this Agreement and moreover to send a Release to the Earl of Salisbury into England on sight whereof King Edward immediately return'd the Earl of Murray into his Country Only the King of France did by a caution oblige the Earl of Salisbury to pay him m Leland Câ—ll 1 Vol. p. 803. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 2 Vol. p. 48. 3000 l. Sterling to boot which before he had undertaken to do for the redemption and Fees of himself and of the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Son to the Earl of Suffolk In consderation of all which Charges we find that a Year after the Earl of Salisbury had his Liberty his good Master King Edward allow'd him leave to transport n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 240 Sacks of Wooll into Flanders as part of a Requital of what he had lost and suffer'd for his sake CHAPTER the TVVENTIETH The CONTENTS I. Charles of Blois layes Siege to Rennes in Bretagne II. The Countess of Monford sends for Succour to King Edward who orders the Lord Walter Manny to her Aid But he is detain'd at Sea 40 days III. The City of Rennes taken by Charles of Blois IV. He besieges the Countess in Hennebond with a notable Exploit performed by her in Person after which she is forced to ride off to Brest V. She returns again to Hennebond with a good Succour whereupon Charles of Blois leaving half the Army still there under Don Lewis of Spain goes with the other half and lays Siege to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against the Garrison of Rosternan VI. Hennebond being just on the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives the Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess VII The Lord Manny in a sally breaks the Enemies biggest Engine of Battery to pieces and gives them a brisk Camisade VIII Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois before Auray who sends him to take in Dinant In his way thither he takes Comper IX The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond X. The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who after that takes and sacks Guerande XI Auray taken by Charles of Blois XII He takes Vannes and lays Siege to Karhais XIII The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis killing 5700 of his Men the Don narrowly escaping XIV While the Lord Manny attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet takes and carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny pursues and besieges but hearing of a powerfull Succour approaching rises and goes homeward taking Gony en la Forest in the way The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement XV. Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who thereupon returns before Hennebond Don Lewis having obtain'd as a gift the disposal of the two English Knights Prisoners vows to behead them both in sight of their Friends in Hennebond XVI The Lord Manny hereupon calls a Council of War and propounds and effects the Rescue of the two Knights XVII Hereupon Charles of Blois raises his Siege again but takes Jugon by a wile XVIII A Truce taken between the Lord Charles and the Countess which latter comes to England with her Son where she is honourably received of the King. XIX The Earl of Salisbury conquering the Isle of Man is by the King of England crowned King thereof Pope Benedict the Twelfth dying is succeeded by Clement the Sixth I. WE have before given an Account of the Occasion and Beginning of the Wars in Bretagne how John Earl of Montford was taken at Nantes and deliver'd up as Prisoner to King Philip who committed him to the Louvre and that all that Winter the Lord Charles of Blois remained about Nantes intending to renew the War in the Opening of the Year Now therefore having remov'd out of the way the Matters of Scotland we shall return again to Bretagne where shortly we shall find England engag'd in a War. Early a Frois c. 79. in the Spring of this Year MCCCXLII
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annu◠Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
at last she also was caused to be hanged by Charles of Durazzo who succeeeded her in the Kingdom As may be seen at large in the Histories of Italy and Naples On the 16 of September this same Year p Mezeray p. 21. Philip King of Navarre Deceased whose Son Charles by the French firnamed the Wicked succeeded to the Crown being then under Age and in the Tuition of his Mother Queen Joan of France He was a Prince of extraordinary parrs of Mind and of Body of exquisite Beauty Courage and Address but his Inconstant Nature his unseasonable Ambition and his inveterate Envy to the House of France to which he was so nearly ally'd rendred him low and vile in the Eyes of all Men. Walsingham q Hist p. 153. n. 30. c. reports a strange and almost but that it is attested with such Circumstances incredible Story of an Accident that happen'd about this time in the North-parts of England to a certain Young Man of the Lord t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. William Baron of Greystokes Family As this Young Man says my Author was riding thrô Corn-fields and beheld the Corn waving like the Sea growing thereby perhaps giddy he thought he saw a certain Ruddy-complexion'd little Pygmy-fellow to raise his Head by degrees above the Corn till the more he consider'd him still the more he seem'd to encrease in Stature who coming towards the Young Man took hold of his Bridle and whether he would or no led him into the corn to a place where it seem'd to him there sat a most Beautifull Lacy among many young Damsels like her self This Lady commanded him presently to be taken from off his Horse and to be torn and mangled over all his Body and after all to be slead Whereupon she her self as he thought having dissected his Scull in the middle took out his Brains and then clos'd up the empty Scull again This done she order'd him to be set again upon his Horse and so let him go Immediately upon which being wholly void and destitute of understanding he began to fall mad and to make furious gestures as it appeared when he came to the next Town Hereupon a certain young Damsel who also belonged to his Lords Family and had loved him most tenderly came to him with some Assistants and took care of him and lest he should do any Mischief to himself or those who tended him caused him to be lock'd in Fetters This Maid carried him to many Holy places beyond Sea for the recovery of his Wits but having found no Remedy there she at last returned with him into England and still he complain'd of being haunted by the little Red fellow who at first appeared unto him At whose presence thô bound with three or four Chains he would always break them Having remain'd in this condition for six Years he was then at the Shrine of St. John of Beverley in Yorkshire made whole again in this manner Being fallen into a gentle slumber it seem'd to him that another most Beautifull Lady did again open his Scull and restore his Brains which had been taken away by the former Lady to their right place Accordingly upon his waking being perfectly recover'd of his senses he Married the foresaid Damsel who had so lovingly taken Care of him in his Madness of whom in time he begat 15 Sons After which his Wife dying he went into Holy Orders and was made Priest and promoted to the Church of Thorp-Basset in Yorkshire But while one day he was celebrating Mass with Great Devotion and as the Custom was elevated the Host for the People to behold the foresaid Red Fellow appear'd unto him again saying From henceforth let him whom You hold in your Hand be your Keeper For he knows better how to keep you than I do As I give no credit so neither do I desire to gain any to this Story But I must needs Remark that with a strong Consonancy thereto Ariosto the Italian Poet. acccording to the Tradition of the Church hath made St. John the President and Healer of Mad-men And ſ Adan 1373. Mezeray tells us of a certain Plague of Frenzy which was called St. John's Dance This Year died t Walsingh hist p. 154. n. 10. Dr. Anthony Beck Bishop of Norwich being as was supposed poison'd by his own servants for his boisterous and turbulent Humour for his severity to the Monks of his Church and for his Appealing to the Court of Rome in opposition to John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Who by a strange mistake in Godwin u Catal. Bps p. 425. is called Robert Winchelsey when he himself in the Title of Canterbury acknowledges John Stratford Archbishop of that See and no where mentions the other after the sixth Year of Edward the Second In his stead William Bateman x Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. Doctor of the Civil Law and a Cambridge Man of Corpus Christi College Born at Norwich and Archdeacon of the same Church was now elected Bishop by the general Consent of the whole Convent He is acknowledged the Founder of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge and to have given certain Lands to the Maintenance thereof Which College is now Worthily Governed by the Worshipfull Sr. Thomas Exton Knight Doctor of the Laws a Man in our Days Renowned for his Loyalty Wisdom and Generosity He also Founded the Hall of the Annunciation of our Lady and gave one of the University Chests Nor content to have done good himself he perswaded one Gonwell or Gonvill to Found another Hall in the same University which many Years after being much enlarged at the Cost and Charges of a Learned Physician named John Key or Caius is now called Gonvill and Caius's College in Respect of both the Founders And the Master hereof at this time is the Learned and Worshipfull Robert Brady Dr. in Physick and a stout Asserter of the Rights of English Monarchy in the worst of times Wherefore together with the foremention'd Sr. Thomas Exton our Loyal University hath more than once chose him for her Burgess in Parliament This Year also the Lady Mary de Valence Daughter of Guy de Chastillon Earl of St. Paul Kinswoman to King Edward and Third Wife of Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke being y Mill's Catal. of Nobility p. 1096 desirous to advance Learning Founded a College in Cambridge called by her Title Pembroke-Hall Endowing it with Large Possessions From which Princely Seminary many notable Lights of Learning and Piety have continually been brought forth and many more are daily expected it being at present under the Care and Custody of the Reverend Nathaniel Coga Doctor in Divinity a Person of great Loyalty Judgement and Candour CHAPTER the TWENTY SECOND The CONTENTS I. Vpon the Popes pressing the two Kings to hasten the Treaty of Peace they send their several Agents to Avignon Some Heads of their several Pleas but nothing done II. King Edwards Resolute Answer to a Nip of the Popes
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
always Prelate of the Order and then he proceeded to give the same Habit to the other 25 Knights Companions as in Order they follow 2. His Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but in the 14 then in the 19 Year of his Age. 3. His Noble and Valiant Cousin Henry at that time Earl of Lancaster and afterwards Duke of the same Title 4. Thomas Beauchamp the thrice Noble and Valiant Earl of Warwick 5. John q Here Mr. Ashmole is stagger'd because 〈◊〉 he finds it on Record that John de Greilty Son. of Peter was Captal of Buch from the 5 to the 29 of King Edward the III as indeed he was from the 5 to the 50. Yet notwithstanding upon the Original Plate of his Name set up in the Chappel at Wâ—ndsor it is engraven Piers Capitow de la Bâ—uch as if his Name also was Peter When as it is evident that these Plates were not set up at the Foundation but many Years after perhaps after King Edward's Death as may be made manifest to any strict enquirer And his Fâ—ther being of the Name of Peter might cause a mistake at least in the Engraver From whence afterward Authority grew also even to other writings Nay I shall hereafter prove that as great a Mistake as this was engraven upon Queen Philippa's Tomb thô done in King Edwards Life de Greilly Captal of Buch which is a great Lordship in Aquitain the Governour whereof is stiled Captal and the Country it self is called le Captalat de Buch or Busch the chief Town whereof called la Teste de Buch is about seven Leagues Westward of Bourdeaux This Gentleman was a Mighty Man of Valour and most firm of all others to the English side so that after many Renowned Exploits whereof this History will not be silent being at last taken Prisoner by the French he chose rather to die in Prison than to swear never more to bear Arms for England 6. The next Knight in Order was Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford 7. William Montagu the hopefull young Earl of Salisbury 8. Roger Lord Mortimer Grandson to Roger Earl of March who five Years after obtain'd a Revocation of the Judgement against his Grandfather and thereupon was restored in Blood and to the Earldom of March and to all his said Grandfathers Lands Honours and Possessions Being for his Valour and Worth highly meriting to be inserted into this most Noble Order 9. After him was invested the Couragious Knight John Lord Lisle 10. Then Bartholomew Lord Burghersh alias Burwash Junior at that time but twenty Years old but every way Worthy of this Honour 11. John Lord Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick a Noble Martialist of that Age. 12. John Lord Mohun of Dunstor a Constant Attendant of the Black-Prince in all his Wars 13. Hugh Lord Courtney Son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire 14. Thomas Lord Holland of Holland in Lancashire who about the time of this his Creation or the 23d. of King Edward was Married to the Beauty of England Joan Sister to the Earl of Kent 15. John Lord Grey of Codonore in Derbyshire 16. Sr. Richard Fitz-Simon whose Services in War rais'd him to this Honourable Title 17. Sr. Miles Stapleton a Man of Great Nobility and Integrity and Expert in Martial Affairs 18. Sr. Thomas Wale a Knight of great Vertue and Worthiness but one who thô by his early Valour he merited so High a Rank yet by his too early Death which happen'd within three Years after the Institution left his Stall void the First of all these Founders 19. Sr. Hugh Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the County of Stafford Knight from whom in a direct Line is Sr. Walter Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the foresaid County Baronet now r Ashmole ità Ano. Domini 1672. living descended 20. Sr. Nele Loring a Knight of great Valour and Nobility and whom we have shewn to have been first Knighted for his signal Courage in the Naval Fight at Sluce 21. The Lord John Chandos a most Illustrious Hero of whose Generosity and Valour to write sufficiently would require a large Volume 22. The Lord James Audley a most Adventurous and Fortunate Commander and Cousin to Nicolas Audley Earl of Gloucester 23. Sr. Otho Holland Brother to the Lord Thomas Holland aforesaid 24. Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant commonly by Historians called Sr. Henry of Flanders a Valiant and Loyal Servant to King Edward 25. Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt a Valiant Knight of Heinalt now Naturaliz'd in England 26. Sr. Walter Pavely who was Famous for his Exploits in several Warlike Expeditions These were the Names and this the Order of the First Knights of the Garter whom the thrice Noble King Edward chose to be his Companions and Fellows in this Honourable Society All Men of most signal Valour and Conduct of High Birth and untainted Loyalty So Generous and Heroick that they might all seem Worthy to be Kings and their Perseverance in Vertue to the last as it partly declares the sharp Judgement the King used in their Election so it shews of what Power and Efficacy that Honourable Tye was and what Obligations to Vertuous Behaviour it laid upon them But methinks it may justly be Wonder'd how it came to pass that this Great Honour being confer'd on so few those other Worthy Barons who deserv'd it no less being laid aside should notwithstanding never shew the least disgust at the Matter For certainly the Noble and Heroick Lord Walter Manny the Valiant and Daring Lord Reginald Cobham Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Warlike Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Roger Delaware and many more for Birth Wisdom Loyalty Wealth Vertue or Valour were well Worthy of the Highest Honours But this Prudent Prince would not make his Institution cheap by communicating it to many nor have any of his Successors to this Day exceeded the Number of 26. The mean while 't is highly probable that the other Lords thought it more Noble to grow emulous who of them should be most Worthy to ascend the first vacant Place and we find by Degrees that most of them did as the Stalls fell void attain to that Dignity as the two Earls of Essex and Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Suffolk the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald Lord Cobham and others but the Rest either died or were decrepit and past Action almost before their turns came and so found no Room at all VII The Order being thus well-stockt at the beginning has since that obtain'd such an High Esteem thrô all the Christian World that divers Å¿ Ashmole p. 189. Emperours Kings and Sovereign Princes have reputed it among their greatest Honours to be chosen and admitted thereunto insomuch as some of them have with Impatience Courted the Honour of Election
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
in the conclusion vid. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 7. which We do unwillingly and for want of a Remedy We thought good to signifie to the said Lord the Pope and the foresaid Cardinals by whose Mediation We Consented to the said Truce to be by them as Persons indifferent to either Party insinuated to those who might have another Perswasion of our Actions And lest Nimble Fame by her hasty Relations should cause You to think amiss of Us that We may settle the Minds of our Friends We have thought fit to unfold the Naked Truth unto You recommending unto You all our Innocence and the Justice of our Cause Dat. at Westminster the 14 Day of June In the Year of our Reign of England the XIX and of our Reign of France VI. IV. After having thus Published his Intentions the King seriously h Ashmole p. 654. sets himself to provide for the War and to equip a Royal Army wherewith to enter France in Person the following Year But in the mean time he provided that what was on the last Year in Gascogne should now be well maintain'd and therefore i Ashmâ—le p. 680. before the Date of this Manifesto he renew'd his k Maii 10. ex Ret. Vasâ— 19. Ed. 3. Commission to the Valiant Lord Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby empowering him to Treat and Conclude with all Persons of whatsoever State or Condition Kingdom or Nation for settling firm Alliances and mutual Assistance between the King and them as also to retain Men for the Kings Service and to agree about their Fees Wages and other Rewards And in consideration of his late great Successes and his Extraordinary Abilities for the War within a few l 15 Maii Rot. Vasc 19. Ed. 3. m. 6. Rot. Franc. 19. Ed. 3. m. 6. Days after he constituted him his sole Lieutenant and Captain in the Dutchy of Aquitain and the Parts adjacent with Power to do and Execute all things belonging to that Character And he issued out his Royal Proclamation to all Archbishops and other Prelates Earls Barons Viscounts Governours of Fortresses and other Officers commanding them all to yield Obedience to him as unto the Kings Lieutenant V. On the m Claus 19. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 12. 11 of June the Earl having shipt most of his Horse at Southampton and being himself ready to depart Command was sent to the Sheriff of London to make Proclamation That all Men of Arms Archers and others who were to go with him should with all possible speed repair to Southampton Being on board he had a fair Wind and without any let or stay Landed at Bayonne in Gascogne whence he went to Bourdeaux and having for Encouragement sake made 50 New Knights immediately after his n These things being taken from the Records We must pardon Froisard who thought he winter'd at Bourdeaux and took the Field in May. Arrival he took the Field with a great Number of Men of Arms and Archers with a Resolution to lay Siege to la Reole upon the Garonne about 9 Leagues from Bourdeaux The first Day he rode from Bourdeaux to Bergerac where he met with the Earl of Pembroke who was ready to joyn him Having tarried there three Days they all began to March being in Number a 1000 Men of Arms and 2200 Archers on Horseback besides others Thus they rode forth till they came to o Frois c. 108. Du Chesne p. 662. Ashmâ—le p. 680. St. Basil a Castle of considerable strength which they laid Siege to But the Garrison considering that the greatest part of the Lords Knights and Captains of their side were either slain or in Prison and seeing no likelyhood of any timely Succour from any other Part concluded to deliver up the Place and so yielded themselves and swore Fealty to the King of England Matters being duly settled here the Earl Marched forward taking the way to the strong Castle of Aiguillon in Agennois But meeting in his march with a Fort called Rochemillone thô he knew it was furnished with Souldiers and Artillery yet he commanded it to be Assaulted Which was done with much Bravery But the Defendants cast forth huge Stones Barrs of Iron Pots of quick Lime and other offensive Matter whereby many of the most forward and venturous were grievously annoyed The Earl of Darby seeing this sounded a Retreat for that time and resolved to use another Method The next day he compelled the Bores of the Country to bring thither great quantities of Bushes Faggots Dung Straw and Earth with which a great part of the Ditch was so well filled that they might approach close to the Walls Then he caused 200 Men of the Country to go before having great Pick-Axes in their hands and strong Targets over their Heads lockt together in manner of a Penthouse like the old Roman Testudo These were followed by 300 choice Archers who while the other undermin'd the Wall shot so fiercely and so close together that hardly any Man could appear at his Defence but he was taken off Yet the French held out obstinately thô this manner of Attack was carried on thus most part of the Day till at last the Miners made so great a Breach thrô the Wall that ten Men might enter a breast This unexpected Misfortune quite brake the Courages of the Defendants so that immediately every Man began to look out for himself some flying into the Church and some few stealing away by a back Gate But that Passage being soon secur'd most of the Garrison was put to the Sword except those whom being fled to the Church the Earl of Darby pardon'd for that Respect and because they implor'd his Mercy Both the Town and Castle were immediately taken and plunder'd but nothing destroy'd for the Earl intended to Repair the breach and to leave a Garrison there which he did under the Command of Richard Mills and Robert Scott Esquires Thence he proceeded and laid Siege to the Town of Monsegur the Captain whereof was Sr. Hugh Bâtefoile a Man of great Courage Experience and Honour Who being summon'd rejected all Conditions of Peace and said he was ready either to maintain the place or to die in the Action Wherefore the Earl of Darby being resolv'd not to have his Successes scandal'd with a foile here sent for Engines of Battery to Bourdeaux and to Bergerac wherewith he cast Mighty Stones against the Town which brake down Walls Roofs of Chambers and Houses Now when the nimble Course of his Victories had received a Check here for 15 Days he resolv'd a General Assault but first after his usual Method sent again to the Inhabitants to warn them that if they were taken by force they must all expect nothing but Death but if they would own the King of England for their Lord he would then both Pardon and take them for his Friends The Townsmen would very gladly have accepted these Conditions But as yet they had no Power so to do wherefore they
abated But by this time his House was so broken up that near upon four Hundred Persons were enter'd in one of whom named Thomas Dennis gave him his Deaths wound thô others say that a certain Cobler whose Father Jacob van Arteveld had formerly caused to be slain followed him so close as he was fleeing into a Stable where his Horses stood that overtaking him he clove his head in sunder with an Ax so that he fell down stark dead upon the ground Thus Jacob van Arteveld who by his Popular Air his Policy and Wisdom had arrived to the most absolute Government of all Flanders was by a sudden turn of Fortune miserably slain on a m Holinshead p. 927. Sunday in the afternoon being the * B. Dom. Lit. Labbè ad hunc an 17 of July There accompanied him in his Death ten other Principal Persons of his Council among whom were a Brother and a Nephew of his besides as many of the Welchmen as made Resistance to the Number of 70 in all the Rest being spared in respect to the King their Master got away safe unto him again as he lay at Scluse waiting for other kind of News than what these Men brought him VI. As n Frois c. 115. for Lewis Earl of Flanders who was then at Dendermonde a City of that part of Flanders which belong'd to the Empire he was very well pleas'd when he heard of the Death of this his old Enemy And yet for all that he durst not put any entire Confidence in the Flemings nor venture as yet to go to Gaunt But when King Edward heard of it he was infinitely displeas'd at the loss of so serviceable a Friend and immediately departed from Scluse and took the Sea again grievously threatning the Gauntois and the whole Country of Flanders and vowing that his Death should be dearly Revenged But for that time he returned into England The People of Flanders expected no less for now when the Murther was known abroad among all the good Towns of that Country they seriously began to consider how ill King Edward would in all likelyhood resent this Matter wherefore in time they determin'd to go and excuse themselves before him especially the Burgesses of Bruges Ipres Cassel Courtray Oudenarde Antwerp and Franker And it was high time for them so to do for the Parliament of England had o Sr. Winston Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 24. already made their humble address to the King to break the Peace with Flanders Presently therefore they sent after the King into England to request his safe Conduct that they might come according to their Duty to make their excuse And this the King at last yielded to his first fit of Passion being blown over So that about Michaelmas certain Burgesses of the best Quality came from all the Towns of Flanders except Gaunt only for as yet the King would not permit any of them to see his Face The Rest were introduced before the King then at Westminster where they humbly excused themselves of being any way accessory to the Death of Jacob van Arteveld and sware solemnly that they knew nothing of the Matter till it was done and that if they had he was the Man whom to the best of their Powers they would have defended and that they were extreamly concerned for his Death for he had governed their Country very Wisely and to their great Advantage They added further that the Gauntois themselves who had done this barbarous Act should make satisfaction therefore And they told the King and his Council that althô this Man was Dead yet the King of England was not a jot fallen in the Love and Fidelity of the Good People of Flanders as he should find in all things except what pertained to the Inheritance of Flanders which they said the Flemings were resolved by no means to presume to give away from the Right Heirs They said also to the King Sir You have a Fair and Noble Progeny both Sons and Daughters and as for the Prince of Wales your Eldest Son he cannot choose but be a great Prince without the accession of Flanders But then Sir You have a Young Daughter and We have a Young Lord the Earl's Son who is the Heir Apparent of Flanders and he is now in our Custody So that if it please You to make a Match between a Daughter of Yours and this Lord the Earldom of Flanders will be for ever after in the hands of your Posterity From these words of theirs we are to observe a Mistake of p Mez. p. 24. Mezeray's who tells us how they offer'd King Edward a Daughter of their Earls to be Married to his Son the Prince of Wales when as we can find no Daughter that Lewis had nor could such a Marriage have signifi'd any thing to the Prince of England when there was a Son also living who was to inherit Flanders and besides before this Offer a greater Match had been q Sandford p. 184. ex Pat. 19. Ed. 3 p. 3. m. 11. this Year proposed between the Prince of Wales and a Daughter of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal The Flemings also added at the same time how r Holinshead p. 927. they doubted not to perswade the Earl their Lord to do Homage unto the King of England till when they promised not to receive him These and the like Protestations somewhat pacified the Kings displeasure so that soon after the League between England and Flanders was renewed and the Death of Jacob van Arteveld was quite forgotten Thô he left a Young Son Philip behind him who after King Edwards Death became as Great in Flanders as ever his Father had been and by involving those People in new Combustions occasion'd a severe Revenge of his Fathers Blood by the Lives of many thousands of the Flemings As may be seen in the Stories of Flanders and particularly in the second Volume of Froisards History However the Earl of Flanders would by no means consent to make his Homage to the King of England but remain'd still firm to the French Interest and Title whereby his Troubles continued till the next Year he lost his Life fighting against the English in the Famous Battle of Cressy to which we are now hasting VII About this time ſ Frois c. 116. vid. Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 155. Prince William the Young Earl of Hainalt Holland Zealand and Friseland King Edwards Brother in Law having also met with some Rebellion among his Subjects both of Holland and Friseland resolved to reduce them both to a sense of their Duty and first he went and laid Siege to Vtrecht in Holland where one Robert van Arckell was Governour against him after a long Siege he wan the Place and took his Pleasure of his Enemies making t Eng. Atl. ibid. five Hundred of the Principal Citizens come forth bare headed and bare footed and beg his Pardon And shortly after in the Moneth of * Giov.
e Knighton p. 25â—5 Easter there to require Aid from King Edward to recover his Right And accordingly we find that this Summer about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward sent over with him a considerable Power under the Command of William Bohun Earl of Northampton With whom f Stow p. 239. were John Vere Earl of Oxford Hugh Lord Spencer Richard Lord Talbot and Dr. William Killesby each of them retaining many Men of Arms and Archers With these Forces Earl Montford g Mezeray p. 23. wan and sack'd Dinant and laid Siege to Quimperlay but being suddenly taken with a Calenture or burning Feaver he died about the end of September at Quimpercorentin leaving the Management of his Pretensions to the Conduct of his Virago-Lady and his young Son John who many years after having slain Charles of Blois in Battle obtained together with the Dukedom the honourable Sirname of Valiant One h Gaguin l. 8. p. 140. reports that this Earl died distracted many Devils appearing at his Departure and that at the time of his Death such a multitude of Ravens settled upon the House wherein he lay that 't was thought the whole Kingdom of France could not have yielded such a Number As for his being distracted I shall not stand to question that since in a Burning Feaver many a Good Man may suffer a Delirium and God forbid that we should always judge hardly thereupon But for this horrid Apparition it seems to me not so credible nor could I ever find any great Evil of this Earl except that now he broke his Word with King Philip who yet was his Enemy and extorted it unreasonably and violently from him Nor if I had known him to have been a Notorious Sinner durst I ever give the more faith to this Story I reverence the Judgments of God and think it not fit for Sinners as we are to pry too sawcily into his Counsels concerning our Brethren perhaps no worse than our selves But this I well know that either Superstitious or Prejudiced Persons may enhance common Accidents into Prodigies or invent what they please against those for whom they have no Charity After his Death however the greater Part of Bretagne was for some time in the hands of Charles of Blois for now l Fabian p. 219. most of the English Souldiers return'd into Gascogne to serve the Earl of Darby Except Sr. Thomas Dagworth and those who before were sent to the Assistance of the Countess of Montford But however the English brake not up their Army thus till Winter for the Earl of Northampton hearing that the Lord Charles of Blois presuming on the Death of John of Montford was come to Morlaix with a great Power intending to overrun the Country went forward with all his Forces to meet him In the Champaign Ground near k Lel. Collect. 1 Vol. p. 805. Stow p. 239 c. Morlaix the two Armies of the Lord Charles of Blois and William Bohun Earl of Northampton joyned Battle together with Equal Courage and Bravery And at this time it is said that the two Generals both the French Lord and the English Earl met together by consent in single Combat where they fought so long at Handy-stroaks in the Field that it would have pos'd an equal Judge to have determin'd who had the better For three times that day being both wearied they withdrew to take Breath and as often both return'd to renew the Combat which was fought with Spear and Shield Sword and Target after the manner of that Age. Only at last the most Noble and Valiant Lord Charles seeing his Men begin to fly was obliged also to set Spurs to his Horse and forsake the Field leaving the Victory to the English who yet paid dearly for it having lost almost as many in the Fight as the Enemy But when the Chace began then the Lord Charles his Men were beaten down on every side and the Success of this Day grew more important in that thereby the Earl of Northampton had no more Enemy to obstruct his Progress at that time wherefore presently l Leland ibid. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 185. Fabian p. 220. p. 276 he went and lay before a strong Fortress of Bretagne called la Roche D'Arien about ten French Miles Northward of Morlaix which he took by Assault thô after his Departure it was retaken by the other Party till the Lord Thomas Dagworth took it again from them as two years hence we shall shew When the Earl of Northampton and the other Lords of England with him had thus settled Affairs for the present in Bretagne and had disposed of what Places they had won to the Custody of good Captains with sufficient Garrisons Winter being now well enter'd they all came over into England to the King And the Truce which the Deceased Earl had broken was again punctually observed XI This Year the Scots by the Instigation of the French King enter'd England by Westmorland and passing over the River Vlles burnt Penreth and m Carletonum pro Carleolum apud Walsingh hist p. 156. Nam Carleolum non folum erat satis validum sed etiam ab hec latere nimis distans Quod qui Walsingh secuti sunt parùm prespiciebant Neque ulla de Carleolo combusto per hos dies apud antiques mentio c. Carleton and many other little Towns and Villages thereabouts But John Kirkeby Bishop of Caerlile with the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth and Sr. Robert Ogle having collected a small Body of Choice Men went about their Host surrounding them in the Night and so terrified them with perpetual Alarms and Noises of Trumpets Clarions and Horns that the Scots could neither take Rest for Fear nor send out their Foragers to seek Provision And now the Lords Piercy and Nevil on the other Part and the Men of Lancashire on a Third had appointed together with the Bishop and those of Caerlile to fall upon the Scots all together who would then be in a manner quite enclosed by the English When Sr. Alexander Straghan being compelled of Necessity to go on Foraging for the Army and going forth for that purpose with some of the most Select Troops of all the Scottish Host was luckily encountred by the Bishop of n Walsingh hist p. 156. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 262. Stow p. 241. Carlile the Lord Lucy and Sr. Robert Ogle which latter happening upon Sr. Alexander himself fiercely spurred up his Horse against him and ran him quite thrô the Body with his Spear himself also at the same time receiving thrô his Shield a Wound on the Left side but not Mortal In this Rencounter the Martial Bishop also being Cast from his Horse was in danger of being made a Prisoner but having Valiantly recover'd his Saddle he brought such Courage to his Men that most of the Scots of that Brigade were either slain or taken Whereupon the Rest being also informed of the two other
with the Emperour but the Lord Henry Eam of Brabant in Flanders was here and 7 or 8 Knights of Germany whose Names are so corruptly written that they are not to be recovered aright And lastly the Lord Godfry of Harcourt a Valiant Baron of Normandy was there at this time enflaming the Kings Mind against his Native Country upon all occasions Being thus therefore embarqued on the last of June King Edward sets Sail designing as was thought for Bayonne or Bourdeaux that so he might Raise the Siege from before Aiguillon but being pretty forward on his way toward Gascogne on the third Day there arose a Contrary Wind which without any further harm drove the whole Fleet back upon the Coasts of Cornwall There having layn at Anchor six Days waiting for Wind they made forward again but a like Wind in the very same manner drove them back again to the same place without any Damage as before Which Chance happening thus p Mezeray ad hunc an p. 25. twice together and the Wind still continuing against them the Lord Godfry of Harcourt being of the Kings Cabinet-Council began to take hold on that occasion to divert the King from Gascogne to Normandy and told him that it seem'd Heaven it self directed him to take another Course and therefore Advis'd him to take Land in his Country which was one of the most plentifull Provinces in the World and had not seen any War for two whole Ages Sir q Frois c. 121. said he if You will please to make thither on hazard of my Head You shall find no Impeachment in your Landing For besides that the Commons of Normandy are unexpert and wholly ignorant of War all the Lords Knights and Esquires of the Country are now with the Duke at the Siege before Aiguillon And here Sir You shall meet with great Towns without Walls or strong Fortifications so that your Men may gain such Wealth and Riches as to be the better for it for Twenty Years hence And thus You may do without any stop till You come to the Great City of Caon in lower Normandy I only beg Your Majesty would put some Confidence in me at this time for as I have been a Lord of that Country so I understand it as well as any other And being now unjustly cast out of it own her for my Enemy and England that receives me for my better Country The King who was then but in the Flour of his Manhood for he had not yet seen 34 Years and desired nothing more ardently then Deeds of Arms readily enclin'd to the Lord Harcourt's Advice whom he had look'd on as his Friend and called him Cousin and so he suddenly commanded his Pilots to direct their Course for Normandy Thereupon he took into his own Ship the Standard of the Chief Admiral who was then the Earl of Warwick saying that he himself would be Admiral in that Expedition and so set forward as chief Governour of the Fleet And now as if Heaven consented to all this had Wind at Will on the 11 day of July he happily arrived with all his Fleet at the Haven of la Hogue St. Vast in Coutantine a great Cape or Peninsula in Normandy within 9 French Leagues of St. Sauveur la Vicomte the right Hetitage of the Lord Godfry of Harcourt In this Haven the King found r Knighton p. 1585. n. 50. 30 great Ships and Gallies all which he took and then endeavouring first of all to take land he leap'd on the shore with such violence that by a suddain Antispasis or contrary Attraction the Blood gushed out of his Nose Whereat his ſ Frois c. 122. Du Chesne p. 663. Lords abominating such an ill-boding Token desired him to reenter his Ship and not to land that Day for that was no good Sign for them But the King briskly reply'd That it was only a sign the Land desired to have Him. One reports t Walsing hyp p. 118. that there being some Opposition at their Landing the Earl of Warwick with one Esquire and six Archers only Himself by reason of the great Haste not having a very good Horse lifted up his Hand couragiously against an Hundred Men striking every one he met to the ground and together with those his seven Assistants slew no less than 60 Normans whereby he made way for his Army to land But althô Sr. William u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Dugdale passes by this Story without the least Remark yet we who have a greater Obligation to examine the Truth and Probability of Reports must either not allow this Action at all or not in this Place but rather at Caen as we shall shew hereafter For by the Kings Landing in that Manner as we related it appears there was no Opposition made against him and 't is x Du Serres Speed p. 577. certain that no Soul in France knew of King Edwards Design against Normandy much less could they be ready to resist him at this time Nor can I understand the Connexion of the Matter that the Earl of Warwick fought against an Hundred For either there were more to oppose his Landing and then he might being but so thinly attended be said to list up his Hand against them all Or if but an Hundred there was no need of any Man of Honour to beat them away The Boys and Pages of the Navy might have done it A MS. by me with more probability reports this Action of the Earls to have been done afterwards in the Night against a Company of Rovers who thought to have made a Prize of him III. Upon that pleasant Diversion of the Omen which King Edward gave his Lords smil'd for the good Hopes they conceived and so landed all with much Ease and in good Order In which Action the residue of that day was spent The y 12 July M.S. Vet. Lat. in Biblicth C.C.C. cui Titulus Acta Edvardi Filti Edvardi Tertii approach of the next Morning brought an unwelcome notice of their Arrival to the Inhabitants of those Parts so that leaving their Goods behind them they fled to hide themselves in Woods and Caves before the face of the Enemy At * Id. M.S. vet Lat. ibid. la Hogue the Lord Godfrey of Harcourt paid his Homage unto King Edward professing to hold his Lands and Possessions in Normandy of him as Rightfull King of France That same Day about Noon the King removed and took an high Hill near the Shore from whence he made a Dreadfull Appearance over all the Country And here z M.S. id ibid. Oxon. in Biblioth Bodlei K. 84. fol. 116. a. Stow p. 241. he presently Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales then just 16 Years and 27 Days old and together with him several young Noblemen as William Montagu a Nat. annos 18. Earl of Salisbury Roger b Nat. annos 20. Lord Mortimer William Lord c Nat. annos 19. Ros Roger d
Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him but however the King of England and his Marshals sent out u Id. Mezeray c. 500 Spears and 2000 Archers on Horseback to scour the Fields and to see whether any Frenchmen were again gather'd together Now many Inhabitants of Abbeville and St. Requier in Ponthieu with the Commons of Rouën and Beauvais had early that Morning being the Day before joyned together come into the Field not knowing of the late Discomfiture Some say that the English had reared French Colours which they had taken in the Fight whereby those Frenchmen being deceived came up to joyn them as if they had been their Friends The English immediately made them know their Errour and set upon them so lustily that within a little while they put them to Flight and chased them and slew in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes more than 7000 Men nor had one of them escaped if the Day had been clear They had scarce wip'd their Swords and recover'd their Order when they had an other Occasion to bestir themselves For now they met with a more formidable Number of their Enemies who were conducted by two Noble Leaders the Archbishop of Rouën and the Grand Prior of France they also being ignorant of the Overthrow given to their Friends the Day before For they had heard how King Philip intended not to fight till the Sunday and therefore came thither now to his Assistance Upon these the Day beginning now to clear the Englishmen under the Leading of the Earls of Arundel x Vid. Michael Northburgh's Letter l. 2. c. 4. §. 5. Northampton and Suffolk set with a Courage which their last acquired Victory had doubled and fought so obstinately that after a Stout Resistance they gain'd a Compleat Conquest having slain the two Leaders with 2000 of their best Men upon the Spot and pursuing the Chace for 3 Leagues together Beside these two Successes they met with several Frenchmen who had strayed in the Dark night and not knowing where the King or any of his Captains were had lain about in the Fields But their Respit was not long for now they were all put to the Sword as many as were found and sent to bear them Company who were slain the Day before Whereby it was thought that of the Commons and Footmen of the Cities and Good Towns of France there fell now four times as many as were slain on the Saturday in the great Battle XIV That same y Frois c. 132. Sunday about Noon as the King came from Hearing Divine Service the Captains of this Brigade return'd and shew'd the King what they had seen and done and how they had succeeded and assured him that there was no more Appearance of any Enemy in the Field Then the King order'd the Lord Reginald Cobham and Sr. Richard Stafford Brother to the Lord Ralph Stafford with three Heralds in their Company to go and search the Field and view the Number and Quality of the Slain For in those Days every Great Man wore a Surcoat of his Arms over his Armour to distinguish him according to his Quality These visited in Order the Bodies of all them that were slain and when they had taken a full and exact Account of every Parcel certain Men who were thereto appointed of the King spoil'd their Bodies taking their Money and Rings and what else was most valuable but with so much Decency that they left their Apparel on to cover their Nakedness All which Booty the King caused to be distributed among his Souldiers by equal Portions These Lords with the Heralds returned from visiting the Dead and brought along with them all the Spoil of the Field just as the King was going to Supper and after Supper they reported to the King a just Account of what they had found namely that there lay Dead in the Field 11 Great Princes 80 Bannerets 1200 Knights and more than 30000 of the Common Souldiers The Contemplation of this Success made a z Giov. Villani p. 879. pious Historian of those Days break out after this manner O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts how great is thy Power in Heaven and Earth and especially in Battles Since sometimes nay very often he brings to pass that a small People and Power doth vanquish Mighty Armies thereby to set forth his own Power and to pull down the Proud and Arrogant and to punish the Sins of Kings Lords and People And particularly in this Discomfiture he shew'd his Power evidently for there were Thrice as many Frenchmen as English But yet this was not says he without just Cause that such Mischief should happen to the King of France Since among his other Offences that we may not instance in the Wrong done to the King of England and other his Lords in Usurping their Inheritance and Lordships but Ten years before being sworn to Pope John to undertake the Croisade and promising within two Years to go beyond the Seas and to regain the Holy Land he took the Tenths and Subsidies of all his Realm and yet made War against Christian Princes unjustly On occasion whereof there died and were taken Prisoners by the Saracens beyond the Seas of Armenians and other Christians above an 100000 who in Confidence of his Assistance had begun the War against the Saracens in Syria Thus far Giovanni Villani XV. The King of England kept the Field all Sunday-Night also and on the Mâ—nday Morning he prepared to March thence but a Frois c. 132. first by Proclamation granted a Truce to all the Towns thereabouts for Three Days that so the Country People might be encouraged to come forth and search the Fields of Cressy and to bury their Dead But as for the Bodies of the Kings and Great Princes he caused them to be taken up decently and conveyed along with him in solemn Pomp to Monstrevil were they were all deposited in Holy Ground in the Great Abby The King b Giov. Vill m. l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. Himself and his Chief Lords wearing Blacks at their Funerals especially for the Sake of John the Famous Old King of Bohemia whose Death he took heavily and prosecuted with Lamentations After which he sent his Body with much Honour to the Marquess his Son then at the Abby of Riscampo whence afterwards it was honourably conveyed to Luxemburgh by his Son aforesaid While the King lay thus at Monstrevil his Marshals made an Excursion towards Hesdin and burnt Campagne and Beauraine but they let the Castle alone because it required some time to win it and that Night they lodged by the River of Canche near Hesdin towards Blangy The next Day the whole Army began to March forward c Frois Knighten p. 2588. Da Chesne p. 665. towards Boulogne and by the way took St. Josse the Town of Estaples Neufchastel St. Estienne and burnt and wasted all the Country for about 8
Vain-glory For they had no manner of Conduct nor Skill in matters of War any further than their ordinary Trainings of the Militia in Peace might have instructed them with The English enter'd the Town with them Pell-mell where seising immediatly upon the Gates they held them open till the Earl of Lancaster and all his Men were enter'd And this is the manner as an ancient Author witnesses of Taking Poictiers tho p Frois c. 136. c. Froisard gives a different Account thereof which is this That the English having after the first Assault rested that Night in their Camp the next Morning certain Knights and Gentlemen of the Army by the Earls Order took their Horses and coasted about the Town to view it if peradventure any where they might find it more Assaultable These upon their return reported to the Earl that they had found a Place of more easie Access than ordinary by which they doubted not to carry the City Hereupon the Earl determin'd to renew the Assault the next Day in three several Places the greatest Noise and Show to appear elsewhere but the whole stress of the Business to lie there where it was most likely to succeed Now as Froisard also witnesses there was not in the Town any Captain of Name or Experience in matters of War nor were the Inhabitants of any great Skill or Conduct in making good a Defence whatever Courage they had in holding out thus long Wherefore the Assault being on the third Day renewed according to the former Device the English who attacked the weakest part enter'd by Force and so presently became Masters of the City When they within saw this they fled away in heaps at other Gates and escaped away because the Place as not surrounded but yet there were slain more than 700 of them for at the beginning all were put to the Sword who were found both Men Women and Children And the whole City was overrun and robbed as well of what the Inhabitants had owned as of what was brought thither from Parts adjoining for better Security Several Churches and Houses of Religion were robbed and defaced and many Rapes and other Licentious deeds committed and more had been but that the Pious Earl of Lancaster commanded the contrary on Pain of Death proclaiming that no House much less Church should be fired forasmuch as he said he designed to tarry there ten or twelve Days So that the Rage of the Souldiers being thus repressed far less Harm was done than would else have happen'd but however as it falls out in such Cases there was Plundering and Mischief enough Here the Earl tarried 12 Days and might have done longer if he had so pleased for there was none to resist him all the Country was in such a Consternation During his Stay here because the Place was of too large extent to be Garrison'd without great Numbers which he could not spare at that time he resolved to leave it void and so it was Dismantled given up to Plunder and laid wholly desolate except that they forbore to fire it the Souldiers finding so much Spoil they hardly knew what to do with it insomuch that they valued nothing but Gold Silver and Feathers for Men of War. From hence the Earl returned by easie Marches to St. jean D'Angely where he tarried a while treating and caressing the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town with Banquets and Collations besides Gifts of Jewels and other rich Presents and he behaved himself so gallantly amid these Sports and Revels that the People said He was the Noblest Prince that ever rode on Horseback After some short Continuance here during which time he took a new Oath in the King his Masters Name of the Mayor and Burgesses of the Town to keep and defend it as the Indubitate Right and Inheritance of the King of England he took his leave and return'd by such Fortresses as he had won before to the City of Bourdeaux where having largely satisfied his Men of War with Spoil Thanks Pay and Commendation he disposed them into their several Quarters the Winter being far entred at that time XIV When the Earl of Lancaster had thus respited the Country the Inhabitants of Poictiers who had escaped repaired again thither and fell with all their might to fortifie the Place And soon after being joyned with great Numbers of their Neighbouring Friends and headed with sufficient Captains they sent forth a strong Detachment of Men of Arms and others designing to surprise Lusignan the Garrison whereof hugely annoyed them But in this their Attempt thô q Giev Villani l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. treble the Number of the English they were with great Loss discomfited and their Captain the Earl of Monferrand with many others slain Which was look'd upon as another wonderfull Instance of King Edwards invincible Fortune CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip by his Ambassadors prevails with the King of Scotland to break the Truce with King Edward and to invade England II. King David resolves on a War with England The Number of the Scotch Army they begin to March. III. King David's Cruelty to an English Knight in cold Blood He encamps near the City of Durham IV. Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York in order to resist the Scots She sends an Expostulation to King David who prepares for fight The Order of the Scotch Army V. The Order and Number of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders VI. Queen Philippa encourages her Men who beat Earl Douglas and Sr. David Graham before the Battle VII The Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is forced to Retreat VIII King David is taken Prisoner by John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland IX The third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited X. The Time and Place of this Battle certainly assignned A gross Mistake of Hector Boethius the Scotch Historian XI The Duration or Time how long it lasted with an Account of the Loss on both Sides And the Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken XII John Copland bears away the King of Scotland to his Castle where he resolves to keep him The Queen sends to him for the King his Prisoner and She returning to York King Bailiol and the English Lords invade Scotland XIII John Copland upon refusal to deliver his Prisoner to the Queen is sent for by King Edward who upon full knowledge of his Reasons holds him excused and rewards him Royally XIV King David brought to London and put in the Tower The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed XV. The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to Calais XVI The Pope seeks to make Peace between England and France but in vain I. NOR were these all the Triumphs of this glorious Year King Edward's Good Fortune is providing another King to be Conquer'd and another Royal Army to be overthrown by his Successfull Arms. We spake in the former Chapter how King
Prince Lionel holds another in King Edwards Name at Westminster III. The Pope writes to the King of England to perswade him to Peace King Edward's Answer and Odoricus Rainaldus refuted IV. King Philip attempts to gain the Flemings but in vain The Earl of Flanders returning home is imprison'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England V. King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais VI. The Earl of Flanders by pretending a Compliance gets his liberty and escapes into France VII Two Frenchmen for favouring King Edwards Right put to Death at Paris VIII John Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel in Flanders IX The French make several Efforts to relieve Calais but fail The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. X. Sr. Robert of Namur tenders his Service to King Edward before Calais XI A short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of Durham XII An Account of the Affairs of Bretagne The Battle of Roche d' Arien where Sr. Charles of Blois is taken Prisoner by Sr. Thomas Dagworth XIII Roche d' Arien retaken by the French and the English Garrison put to the Sword by the Men of the Country XIV The French Navy intended to Victual Calais defeated The Calisians thrust 500 Poor out of the Town XV. And send a Letter of their Case to King Philip c. XVI The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philips Approach returns to the English Camp The French Kings Strength he desires Leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings besiege the Town of Aire but upon Philips Approach rise XVII King Philip comes to Sangate near Calais and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer XVIII Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair XIX The Manner how Carais was yielded XX. Calais settled by King Edward XXI A Truce betwen the two Kings King Edward returns for England XXII A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders XXIII 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 I. THE mean while King Philip of France AN. DOM. 1347. An. Regni Angliae XXI Franciae VIII having now about him his Son the Duke of Normandy with his Forces thô he had by this heard also of the great Loss that his Friend the King of Scots had suffer'd for his Sake was not able as yet to attempt any thing against his Enemy of England because of the Winter Season further than that he provided a Frois c. 140. Du Serres for the Cities of Picardy that lay nearest unto Danger and set Men of War in every Fortress in the Marches of Guisnes Artois Boulogne and about Calais But however being desirous to employ that Unactive time of the Year to the best Advantage that he might as well further the next Campagne as also seek the Advice of his Peers Lords and Commons of France he b Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 893 calls a Parliament of the Estates to meet together at Paris on the Palm-Sunday following which fell that Year c Lit. Dom. G. Pasch Kâ—l Apr. on the 25 of March or the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and so became a double Holy-day Requiring all the Barons Prelates and Commons of his Realm to assist him in Leavying a mighty Army against the King of England who lay as then before Calais For he said how he had sworn not to make a Peace or so much as a Truce with his Enemies untill he had taken full Revenge for the Loss he had received at Cressy and of the high Indignities which the King of England had put upon the Crown of France as well by Invading his Realm in Hostile Manner as now by holding a Siege before Calais Which Oath tho it could not be punctually observed yet prov'd a strong Enforcement to assemble together all his Barons Prelates Chief Burgesses and Citizens to his Parliament Here several Ways were in this Great Council devised to raise Mony for the maintenance of his Wars and leavying of two Formidable Armies For King Philip had long since in his Secret Council resolved to carry on the War against England with an High hand this next Campagne Himself intending in Person to go at the Head of one Army against King Edward to raise the Siege of Calais and at the same time to send his Son the Duke of Normandy with another mighty Army into England to attempt the Conquest thereof And upon this latter Point there had been an Ordinance drawn up and contrived called the Ordinance of Normandy of which we shall speak when we come to the English Parliament held at Westminster in the beginning of this Year Now for the Procuring of a sufficient stock of Money for the Kings Service d Du Serres p. 12. it was in this Assembly agreed first of all to call the old Treasures and other Great Officers and Ministers of State to an exact Account for Abusing their Places and embezling or converting to their own Use the Taxes and other the Kings Monies they had been entrusted with and to leavy and raise of all such Offenders Fines and Mulcts proportionable to their Offences And for the future to refer the Government of the Treasury to the most eminent Persons of the Clergy and Nobility thereby to free the People from suspecting that their Contributions were any more like to be ill employed Of this Affair the Abbots of Marmoutier and Corbie are chosen Superintendants to whom Four Bishops and Four Temporal Lords were joyned Assistants Monsieur Peter of Essars Treasurer of France is flung into Prison and condemned in a vast Fine to the King and together with him many other great Officers being condemned whether justly or unjustly yield up that at once for a satisfaction which they had been so long in heaping together the Golden Spunge of Oppression being now squeez'd by the Iron Hand of the Law. Then the Banquers Lombards and other Usurers are call'd to a strict Account for all their unjust Exactions upon the poor Subjects of France The interest is proved to exceed the Principall wherefore the Principal is adjudged forfeit to the King and the Interest to be remitted if not paid or if paid to be refunded to the Debtor who had borrowed the Mony upon such Interest and all the Bonds and Obligations therefore to be cancell'd and made void And yet after e Fabian p. 274. this Wipe the Usurers themselves were not released out of Prison without large Fines to the King. But the chief Honour of this Assembly was that the whole Body tenderly sympathizing with the Head was unanimous to serve the King with their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Crown and Dignity Wherefore at that time they leavied vast Contributions among themselves according to
their Qualities Estates and Offices and ordained the like thrô the whole Kingdom They set also a general Tax upon the whole Clergy nor were they shie to make bold with what Sums had been gathered through France for the Holy War and with the Plate Shrines and other Riches and Profits of Abbeys and Monasteries Particularly the King having received a Subsidy which was required of the Monks of St. Dennis among certain other Jewels of that Place which he would needs have demanded a great Crucifix of Masse Gold standing over the High Altar of the Monastery But to this the Monks replied that it could not be taken away without great hazard of the Souls of those who should be concerned in that Action For Pope Eugenius the III more than 200 Years before had in the Days of Lewis the VII King of France solemnly accursed all those of any Degree whatsoever that should offer to lay violent hands upon that Crucifix sacrilegiously to take it away from its Place or to convert it to any Secular Use as f Fabian ibid. appeareth by a Plate engraven under the Pedestall of the Cross With which Answer King Philip was satisfied In this Parliament it was also Ordained that the King should send forth his general Summons throughout the whole Realm commanding all Persons who any way held of the Crown of France to be with the King at the City of Amiens by Whitsuntide next following g Kal. April Pasch Whitsunday falling on the 20 of May that Year there to attend at the Rendezvous with all their several Retinues in their best Array Nor did they forget to invite all the Friends and Allies of the House of France especially the Lord Charles of Luxemburgh Son to the late King of Bohemia and Elect Emperour or King of the Romans set up by the Pope and his Adherents against the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who again lay under the Censures of the Church And lastly to enflame the Minds of the French Nation more eagerly to prosecute their Revenge against the English King Philip h Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 894. caused to be brought from St. Dennis the sacred Banner of Oriflambe which of old was never taken down but in the Cause of Christ against Infidels or upon some great Distress or Necessity of the King and the Realm of France But now it was taken down to be used against King Edward and was committed to the Custody of a Burgundian Lord a Noble Gentleman and approved in Arms and having repeated his Commands to all Men to be ready to follow this Banner when he should require them for that time he dismist the Parliament II. Having seen in what manner King Philip bestirr'd himself to rear his Half-ruin'd Affairs let us now take notice how King Edward thô abroad influences Matters at home towards the Establishing what he had already done and was yet undertaking For both these Princes understood well that the time which was unfit for Action was the most proper for Counsel and that they could not better pass the Winter then in providing against the Casualties of the Summer Wherefore at King Edward's Command a Parliament was also called at Westminster by his second Son Prince Lionel then Lord Warden of England for the King his Father i M.S. Rec. Parl. 61. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abridgment p. 46. which Parliament began the third Day of the new-New-year on the Monday next after Christmas-day as if it was the best Auspice not only to end the Old-year but to begin the New by wholsome Advice and Counsel On which Day Command was given by Prince Lionel that Proclamation should be made against wearing of Armour and using of Games in and about Westminster during this Sessions Then also a time was appointed for all such as would exhibit any Petitions and Receivers also and Tryers were constituted to take and consider of the several Petitions referring to England Ireland Wales Scotland Gascogne and other Foreign Parts and Isles and thereupon Sr. Thomas Drayton being appointed Clerk of the Parliament because several of the Lords and Commons were not yet come they adjourn'd till next Day At which time the House being informed that Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. John Darcy Lord Chamberlain Mr. John Thoresby and Mr. John Charleton were arrived as Messengers from the King then lying before Calais but could not be ready to make their appearance there till Wednesday next after the Morrow the Parliament was prorogued until that Day At which time Declaration was made in open Parliament that the Reasons of that their present meeting were because the King since his passing the Sea and his Attempts in France was now uncertain of his Condition that according to the Issue or Exigence of Affairs abroad Matters might be concerted at home for the safety of his Majesty and the Common Peace and Wealth of his Kingdom which latter was visibly damnified by the sufferance of false Money Then were produced the Kings Letters Patents Credential wherein among other Matters the foresaid Declaration was verbatim expressed the Letters bearing Date before Calais Which being read in open Parliament Sr. Bartholomew Burwash for and in the Name of himself and the rest of his Colleagues in presence of the Lord Warden of England and of the Three Estates declared the good Success of the King since his Arrival at la Hogue in Normandy as in surprising and taking of many Towns and Castles of War as well at Caën as elsewhere and also of the Great Victory obtain'd at Cressy where the whole Power of France was discomfited and how the King was now come before Calais from whence he intended not to depart till by the help of God he had won the same After which he intended to pursue the Enemy without return till the War should be fully ended This done he produced the Copy of an Order made by the King of France in reference to his Son the Duke of Normandy and others Nobles of that Country which was particularly recited being called the Ordinance of Normandy and was to this effect That the Duke of Normandy should pass as Chief with other Nobles of that Province into England with 40000 Men of Arms Knights Esquires and Persons of good Estate and 40000 Footmen Methods being there prescribed for keeping the Sea and an Order also added that the said Duke should remain in England with the said Forces for the space of ten Weeks And in case the Realm of England should in this Expedition be Conquer'd that then the Conquest should solely be to the Name Honour and Advantage of the said Duke and all whatsoever the King of England at that time had there should remain entirely to the said Duke and the Knights and Lords with him That all that which belonged to the Nobles and secular Persons of England should be bestowed on the Churches and Famous Towns of Normandy only of the Revenues of the Church of England the French King
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
being joyned began to March toward St. Johnston with a Resolution to bring all Scotland to their Subjection the Scots made such humble Instance that they obtain'd a Truce for one Year on Condition to pay immediately to King Bailiol 9000 pounds Sterling Whereupon it was ordained that King Bailiol should reside the mean while in the Castle of Lanerock on the Borders of Galloway with competent Forces for fear of the Scots and the other English Lords and Captains that could be spared returned to King Edward to the Camp before Calais XII We have not of a long while made any mention of the Affairs of Bretagne which now seem not out of season to call upon Us For they are fruitfull of Actions neither unworthy Memory nor foreign to our Purpose and yet can no where be more conveniently handled than in this place and at this time wherein they had their Birth King Edward thô he lay all this while before Calais did yet by his Working Genius actuate and influence more distant parts as we have already instanced in Matters both at Home and Abroad in England Scotland Gascogne and Flanders Now as for what relates to Bretagne we shew'd before e L. 1. c. 21. §. 18. Article 2. p. 283. in the latter end of King Edwards 17 Year that a triennial Truce had settled Matters there In which Truce were comprehended the Kings of France and of Scotland with their Allies however the two said Kings afterwards brake the Truce the One in the first Year by putting King Edwards Friends to Death and the Other not till the Third by invading England whence succeeded the Battle of Durham Yet for all this the Lord Charles of Blâ—s and the Countess of Montfort her husband who brake the Truce being dead kept strictly to the former Articles But now the Truce being to expire in Bretagne also on the 19 of January this Year King Edward thought fit to send some necessary Aid to the Countess as well for his own Honour he having espoused her Quarrel as also with design to weaken his Adversary the French King who had undertaken the Protection of the Lord Charles Wherefore on the f Dagd 2 Vol. p. 148. 10 of January he created Sr. Thomas Dagworth a Valiant Baron of England his Lieutenant and Captain-General in the Dukedom of Bretagne and sent g Frois c. 142. him together with Sr. John Hartwell Sr. Alan h M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 84. p. 117. b. Zouch and Sr. John Lile alias L'Isle from the Siege of Calais into Bretagne with an 100 Men of Arms and 400 Archers who all came in good time to the Countess at Hennebond where they found her attended with her Men of War of whom was Captain Sr. Tanguy de Castelle Breton Bretonant As the Year began to open these English and Bretons began to make their Incursions on those who held for Charles Earl of Blois And sometimes they wan and sometimes they lost as the Course of War is but the Country always suffer'd whoever had the better One day Sr. Thomas Dagworth laid Siege to a good strong Town standing between Pontrieux and Lantriguet called Roche D'Arien in English the Rock of Arrian whose Captain for Sr. Charles of Blois was Sr. Tassart of Guisnes Here he gave many fierce Assaults but the Place was so strong and so well Defended that by force they were likely not much to prevail However whether by secret Intelligence i Du Chesne p. 667. as some say or any other consideration the Majority of the Town enclin'd to the English and seising on their Captain Sr. Tassart said how they would kill him unless he would be for the Countess Hereupon he yielding to their desires they all together deliver'd up the Town to the English who left Sr. Tassart there still as Captain with a sufficient Recruit for his Defence and so went back again for that time with the Countess When Sr. Charles of Blois heard of this k Frois ibid. Du Chesne Vid. Fabian p. 276. Knighton p. 2593 n. 40. 50. Walsingh hist p. 158. Reb. Aveâ—bury Oiov Vallanil 12. c. 92. p. S. 8. Helâ—nshead p. 941. he sware Matters should not go so over long and immediately he sent his Summons both thrô Bretagne and into Normandy among his Friends so that he muster'd at Nantes no less than 1600 Men of Arms 12000 Footmen and 2000 Balisters and he had in his Company 400 Knights and 24 Banners With these Forces he went and laid Siege to Roche D'Arien so lately won by the English here he is said to have used such terrible Engines that neither Walls nor Towers nor any thing else could long resist them perhaps these might be great Ordnance so that thô the Garrison had already sent to the Countess for aid yet by the excessive fury of these Engines which beat down all before them one huge stone or bullet making its way even thrô the Roof of the Chamber where the Captains Wife lay in Childbed to her Infinite Affrightment the Captain and all others were in such a Consternation that they offer'd forthwith to deliver up the Place on Condition they might depart with their Lives and Goods where they would But the Lord Charles being too eager of Revenge and blinded with security refused this Advantageous Offer to his almost utter Ruine For the Countess of Montfort who knew the Condition of her Friends as well as of her Enemies had by this time provided a 1000 Men of Arms and 8000 Footmen whereof Sr. Thomas Dagworth was Principal Leader with Sr. John Lile S. John Hartwell and Sr. Alan Zouch aforesaid under his Command These all agreed to raise the Siege or never to return alive to the Countess and with this Resolution they set forward till they came near to Sr. Charles of Blois his Camp where for that Night they pitch'd up their Tents by the River Trieu designing to fight the next day But when they had all refreshed themselves at Supper Sr. Thomas Dagworth caused half the Host to arm with whom about Midnight he sent forth Sr. John Hartwell commanding him to give a brisk Camisade upon Sr. Charles his Host and then to retire after some Execution in seeming Confusion and as if he was utterly Routed This Brigade went forward and dash'd suddenly into the Lord of Blois his Camp on the nearer-side and beat down Tents and slew much People but being too eager in the pursuit of their good Fortune they tarried there so long that all the Host being come to the Rescue they were so beset that they could not retreat without Battle or downright flight which had exposed them all to the sword of their Enemies When they saw this they were not wanting to themselves in Courage thô so lately they had forfeited their Discretion But they were now already pretty well tired with Action and their Enemies encreased upon them on all Hands so that finally they were overcome
Emperour which he did at Bon a City of Lower Germany about 4 Leagues from Colen in the beginning of February following But this being done against the Consent of the Major Part of Electors besides that he had been refused by the whole City of Aix la Capelle which us'd to be the Chief in the Election and Coronation of Emperours the other Electors agreed rather to pitch upon King r Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 105. p. 910. Luitprand c. 44. Sleidan de Cuat Monarc l. 3. p. 218. Pezelu ac Lampadit Meilificium Hist part 3. p. 360. 362. Edward of England to be Emperour as one who had not only been already Vicar General of the Sacred Empire but was also at that time justly Å¿ Knighton p. 2596. n. 40. reputed to be the most Prudent Valiant and Worthy Souldier throughout all Christendom Wherefore t Ashâ—â—cle p. 6â—6 Henry Archbishop of Mentz and Arch-Chancellour of the Empire Rudolph and Rupert Counts Palatine of the Rhine and Dukes of Bavaria Lewis Marquess of Bradenburgh and Lusatia and the Dukes of Upper and Lower Saxony being assembled at Colen sent u Ston p. 245. a b. Knighton p. 2596. n. 60. two Earls and two Doctors to signifie unto him how they had with one voice Elected him unto the Dignity of the Empire When Queen Philippa heard of this x Knighton p. 2597. n. 1 c. she took on most heavily as well in Contemplation of the many Vexations and Troubles which her Brother-in-Law the late Emperour had met with from the Popes Malice all his Reign as fearing that this was but a contrivance of the King her Husbands Enemies thereby to engage him in New Difficulties that so he might be rendred unable to recover his Right in France Whereupon the King y Knighton p. 2597. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 186. sent the Earl of Northampton into Almain to enquire more particularly about the Premises while the young Marquess of Juliers with the rest of the Embassadors staid at London anxiously expecting the Kings Resolution But upon the said Earls return because then it appeared z Knighton p. 2597. n 4. that in accepting of the Empire the King was like to be hindred from prosecuting his Right in France and should be forced to lay aside that War and take up a fresh Quarrel against the King of Bohemia's Son whom the Pope had caused to be made Emperour Besides a Pe. elii Lumpadu Mellific Hist parâ— 3. p. 363. he doubted what inextricable Difficulties he might undergo if Italy should prove Refractory to him He also feared not a little the Avarice of the Pope which he should never be able to satisfie but b Co. per's Hist especially because it was manifest that at that time whether by Right or by Wrong the Emperours were indeed subject to the Pope of Rome which King Edward was resolved never to be for all these Reasons the King of England entertain'd the Germans with due Honour but answer'd that he would not take so great a Burthen upon his shoulders till he had got the Crown of France which was due unto him in peaceable Possession And accordingly the next spring c Ashmole's Garter p. 656. ex Claus 22. Ed. 3. m. 22. Dorsc 10 Maii. he sent unto the Princes Electors Sr. Hugh Nevile and Ivo de Glynton Canon of St. Paul's London with a full Declaration of his Intention which contained a formal refusal of that Imperial Dignity But not without many great thanks for the Honour they had design'd him and withall d Sleidâ—n de Mâ—ntrchirs l. 3. p. 218. he promised to do unto the Sacred Empire all the good Offices that he might Upon this refusal of King Edward's the Electors proceeded but not so unanimously to another Election for some e Lâ—â—tprand c. 44. Lampadius Meaâ—fc Hist pars 3. p. 362. chose Frederick Marquess of Misnia and others Gunter Earl of Negromont but the one being brib'd off and the other dispatch'd by Poison Charles of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia the Pope's Creature prevail'd and was Emperour by the name of Charles IV. On the f I â—â—ici Chron. Tech. ad hunc an 8 of February this Year John Cantacuzenus Tutor to John Palaeologus Emperour of Greece seised on the City of Constantinople and on the 13 of May following was crowned Emperour in the Palace together with his Lady at which time he created his Son Matthew Despote of the Empire and on the 21 of the same Moneth gave his Daughter Helena Cantacuzena in Marriage to his Pupil and Fellow-Emperour who was then about 15 Years of Age. On the g Pitsrus de Illusir Angl. s ripter p. 45â— â—ampad n Meilific Hist p. 355. 10 of April there died William Oceam an English Monk of the Order of St. Benedict and a most Famous both Philosopher and Divine who among many other Learned Works maintain'd by writing that the Emperour was above the Pope on occasion of the Popes Pretences at that time against Lewis of Bavaria Wherefore being also Excommunicated he had his recourse to the said Lewis and said O Emperour Do You defend me with your Sword And I 'll defend you with the Word Another Learned Countryman of ours h Pitsius ibid. p. 456. deceased also about this time namely Walter Hemingford a Regular Canon of the Order of St. Austen in the Monastery of Gisborne in Yorkshire who in a tolerable good style with great Care and equal Fidelity wrote an History of the Acts of the Kings of England and a Chronicle of our King Edward the Third as far as Nature gave him leave I shall only here add one short Case of Law which for its use may seem not unworthy of Memory That a Prohibition i 21 Ed. 3. Râ—t 46. being this Year sent to Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich he presum'd to Excommunicate the Party that brought the Writ Whereupon an Action of the Case was brought upon the said Bishop and the whole Matter set forth so that a Bill being found against him it was adjudged that his Temporalities should be seised till he had fully absolved the Party and satisfied the King for the Contempt CHAPTER the SEVENTH AN. DOM. 1348. An. Regni Angliae XXII Franciae IX The CONTENTS I. The Glory and Prosperity of King Edward and his People hurtfull to the Nation II. King Edward holds a Parliament at Westminster III. And Justs and Tourneaments in divers Places IV. How Avignon in Provence came first to belong to the Church of Rome V. King Philip of Valois and King Edward of England could cure the Kings Evil An Order concerning the Kings Purveyors VI. The Truce between England and France prorogued for another Year VII King Edward solemnizes the Translation of St. Thomas Bishop of Hereford with some Account of his Life c. VIII The Earl of Flanders doth Homage to King Edward but afterward entring Flanders
in Hostile Manner is beaten by the Flemings and English IX King Edward inform'd of a Design to betray Calais pardons the Lombard Captain and gives him Instructions how to behave himself X. King Edward goes privately over Sea to Calais and discomfits the Frenchmen XI King Edward at Supper presents a Rich Chaplet of Pearls to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont a French Prisoner and in contemplation of his Valour acquits him his Ransome XII The Lombard Captain put to Death by the Frenchmen King Edward rewards his Friends and having settled Calais under a New Captain returns for England XIII The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The French King and the Duke his Son marry again I. NOW doth King Edward the Third seem to stand in the full Zenith both of his Age and Glories He had but just past the 35 Year of his Life and yet was crown'd at Home in his Family with a Lovely Row of Hopefull Children and a Vertuous and Beautifull Consort in his Kingdoms with Peace and full Prosperity And abroad he was renowned above all the Kings of the Earth for his Notable Victories by Sea and by Land in Scotland France and Bretagne for set Battles or Taking of Towns for Kings slain Kings routed and Kings taken Captive Nor was his Moderation less admired and commended which he shew'd in Refusing the Title and Dignity of an Emperour This in my Opinion is the Brightest part of all his Reign thô yet another King remains to be Captive by his Arms and another King is destin'd to recover an Usurped Crown by the Aid of his Sword and Fortune For now a Walsingh Hypod 121. hist 159. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 943. Stow p. 245. by means of so honourable a Peace founded on so many remarkable Victories it seem'd as if the Golden Age was reduced to England and a New Sun began to shine in our Horizon So great Riches and Plenty the usual Attendants of Conquest being generally diffused over the face of the whole Land. For there was scarce a Lady or Gentlewoman of any Account which had not in her possession some precious Houshold-stuff as rich Gowns Beds Counterpains Hangings Linnen Silks Furs Cups of Gold and Silver Porcelain and Chrystal Bracelets Chains and Necklaces brought from Caen Calais or other Cities beyond Sea. And yet as the Roman Historians complain that they were overcome by the Luxury and Fashions of the Nations they had conquer'd So from this time the Native Candour and simplicity of the English Nation did visibly empair and Pride Superfluity and Vanity began to lift up their hatefull Heads till they provok'd the Author of the World to visit this Land also with his awakening Judgments Some whereof were not wanting even in the Days of this Great Monarch but did especially take rise in the Reign of his Successour from a Cruel and Unnatural civil War which was not wholly extinct till it had prey'd upon the Lives of Five Kings very many Princes Dukes and Earls and Hundreds of the Prime Nobility of England besides those many Thousands of the Common People who perished in the Quarrel even thrô the Reigns of Seven Kings till in a more mercifull Providence King Henry the VII happily united the two Roses and Peace and Humanity and Arts began again to revive and flourish among us II. But that the Blessings of Peace and Plenty might be preserved unto England as much as lay in King Edwards Power as well for the Support of his own Honour as for the Security of his People's Advantages and the Conservation of the good Laws of the Realm he begins this Year with a Parliament Which he b 14 Febr. Teste Rege apud Westminest M.S. Record p. 66. Sr. Rob. Gott n's Abridgâ—n p. 68. summons to meet him at Westminster on the Monday in Midlent From which time because several of the Peers were not then come the Parliament was continued from day to day untill Wednesday When Sr. William Thorp then Lord Chief Justice by the Kings Command declared in presence of the King and Lords for what Reasons the Parliament at that time was called As that the King had according to the Truce taken at Calais sent Commissioners to the Pope from whom he had long since expected some Satisfactory Answer but as yet had received none Also that sundry Articles of the Truce touching both the Kings and their Allies were not duely performed and further that the French were preparing a Puissant Army wherewith to invade the Realm From all which it appeared that the Truce was but very fickle and that it was neither safe nor prudent to rely upon it but rather betimes to be armed against the worst that might happen Besides he added that the Conservation of the Publique Peace at home was a main Point for their Consideration to employ it self about and that this must be done by wholsom Laws duely and impartially put in Execution Upon these Matters the Lords and Commons debated earnestly for several Days and at last answered the Kings Wants and prepared their own Petitions in manner following They c M.S. Record p. 68. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abidgment p. 69. first shew the great Charges laid upon the Commons as the Reasonable Aid being pardon'd in the 14 Edw. 3. Whereof every Fine was forty shillings whereas by Statute the same should be but twenty shillings also the setting forth of Men the taking up of Victuals without Ready Money and the Charge for keeping the Sea The very Subsidy of Wooll amounting to 60000 l. per annum and yet without Law the Lending of 20000 Sacks of Wooll and the Restraint of Exporting Wooll Notwithstanding they grant to the King Three Fifteens in three Years so as the Subsidy of Wooll might cease and on Condition that David Bruce William Douglas and other Chief Captains of Scotland be not deliver'd for Ransom or on their Faith Yet so that if the Wars do cease within three Years then their Grant might cease also this Condition being likewise understood that their following Petitions be granted and these their Conditions enrolled and exemplified Petitions of the Commons with their Answers Pet. That the Falseness of those who were appointed to gather the 20000 Sacks of Wooll lent to the King may be determin'd by some of the Parliament and that all Acquittances made to any such may be repealed Ans This Petition was answer'd in the last Parliament and therefore Command was given anew to execute the same Pet. That the King would command the Nobles in no wise to take any common Thief or Robber into their Protection And that in every Shire-Town two Knights and two Learned in the Law be appointed to determin all Offences and to enquire of False Money they to have some Fee to encourage them in their Duty and to prevent Receiving of Bribes But this also was said to have been answer'd in the last Parliament Pet. Whereupon the
and many others have observed But to return to Affairs at home After * Stow p. 245. Easter King Edward made an Order in Council that none of his Servants should presume to take up any Victuals of any Man against his Will nor then without paying ready Money on pain of Punishment proportionable to his Offence and being banish'd the Kings Court for ever To the Execution of which Decree Sr. Richard Talbot Lord High-Steward of the Kings Houshold was appointed to have an Eye VI. The Truce taken between the two Kings at Calais last Year drawing now toward an end upon z Ashmâ—le p. 656. ex Rot. Franc. 15. Maâ—i 22 Ed. 3 m. 13. the Pope's Letters to King Edward he was prevail'd with to depute Thomas Falstaff Arch-Deacon of Welles John Carleton Canon of Welles both Doctors of Law and Frier John de Reppes of the Order of Mount Carmel who had Commission to prorogue the Truce and to Treat of a Final Peace The Truce they accordingly prorogued for six Weeks to Commence on the 13 of September following and to be observed throughout all Picardy Normandy Artois Boulogne and Flanders But the King well perceiving the delay and backwardness of the French to close with him sincerely either for a Truce or Peace in a Claus 22. Ed. 3 p. 2. m. 8. in Derse October next drew down his Forces to Sandwich intending to pass the Seas Whereupon the French were quicken'd to a speedy agreement as to the Prorogation of the foregoing Truce b 18 Novemb. Râ—t Franc. 22. Ed. 3 an 10 from the 18 of November 1348 unto the 1 of September 1349 on News whereof the King return'd to London VII On the c Knighton p. 26â—0 Stow p. 248. Walsirgh hist p. 160 n. 20. Odor Rainald quanquaâ— hâ—c 2 post annis pen. t. 25 of October King Edward solemnized the Translation of St. Themas the Confessor once Bishop of Hereford to the great Expence and Charge of his Kinsman the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe This St. Thomas had been also of the sirname of Cantilupe being in his Life time a Gentleman of a very Noble and Ancient House as appears * Vid. Dagd 1 Vol. p. 731. by the Antiquity of their Baronage in our Records but as Bishop Godwin d Gedâ— Catal. Bps p. 457. says of a much more Noble and Excellent Mind For he was not only of a wonderfull Ingenuity and exquisite Judgement but even from a Child of great Diligence and Industry in his studies of Marvellous Exactness of Life and of incomparable Candour and Vertue His Father was William Lord Cantilupe e Mâ—tth Paris l. 17. p. 815. Dagd ibid. High-Steward to King Henry III of England a Man of great Power and Loyalty His Mother was the Lady Millicent Countess of Eureux in Normandy He first studied at Oxford and afterwards at Paris where having proceeded Master he return'd to Oxford and there apply'd himself to the Canon Law till he went out Doctor in that Faculty After this he entirely gave his Mind to the study of Divinity whereof he was to proceed Doctor in the Year 1273 Robert Kilwardby with whom he was very familiarly acquainted was then Provincial of the Friers-Preachers and Doctor of the Chair in Oxford when he was presented But before the time came that he should keep tho Act or rather the Act being by some Accident delayed till then the said Doctor Kilwardby was become Archbishop of Canterbury But this notwithstanding he vouchsafed this his old Friend the Honour to come down to Oxford to his Act on purpose and there gave him the Ceremonies of his Creation And it is observable that this Archbishop and Pâ—ofessor in his speech after the Disputation among many other great Praises which he bestowed on him affirmed that he the said Archbishop having of many Years been Confessor to the said Candidate Dr. Thomas Cantilupe had never perceived him guilty of any sin which he could judge to be Mortal Certainly either the Confessee did a little mince Matters or the Confessor was blinded with the prejudice of Friendship or some other Infirmity or the Relator did take a little too much liberty in Honour of the Man. Who notwithstanding was no doubt of great Merit every way as may appear by these manifold Honours which as so many loud Testimonials of his Vertue were heaped upon him both Living and Dead For first he was made Arch-Deacon of Stafford then Chancellour of the University of Oxford then Lord f Philipor's Catal Chancellors p. 24. Chancellour of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford lastly a few Years after his Death Canonised a Saint For whereas in his Travels to or as some say from Rome he departed this Life at Civita Vecchia a Town of Tuscany in the Year of our Lord 1282 and was Honourably buried in the Church of St. Severus there from whence afterward his Bones were brought into England and solemnly interred in his own Church of Hereford near the East-Wall of the North-Cross-Isle where we see an High-Tomb of Marble Within a few Years after his Death there being no less than g Nâ—c Harpsfeld Hist Feel Angl. secul 13. c. 21. ex Floril ad an 1287. 163 Miracles said to be wrought by him his Fame was so great that we find h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 92. ex Rot. Rom. 12. Ed. 2. m. 9. King Edward the Second in the Twelfth Year of his Reign and the Year of our Lord 1318 sent an Embassy to Pope John XXII about his Canonization And two Years after namely in the Year of our Lord 1320 i Oder Rainald ad an 1320. à § 43. ad §. 47. being the 13 of King Edward the Second on the XV of the Calends of May he was by the said Pope John Canonized with great Solemnity at Avignon and the VI of the Nones of October was set apart for his Festival as appears by the said Pope's Bull bearing Date at Avignon XII Cal. Maii Pontificatús nostri Anno IV. But now King Edward designing to Honour the Memory of this Holy Man took up his Bones this Year being k Nic. Harpsfield Hist Fecl Angl. secul 13. c. 21. Sixty five Years since he died and had them Honourably reposed in a Rich and Glorious Shrine of great Value This small Digression I ow'd to the Memory of this Worthy Prelate as well that the Reader might understand what kind of Man he had been whose Translation King Edward did now so devoutly solemnize as also because I believed that such a Person to whom so many of several Nations and Interests never envied the Title of a glorified Saint would much less by any Man of Modesty be envied an Honourable Mention in History VIII While King Edward was thus with as much Devotion as Splendour keeping a Feast in Memory of this Great Prelate Henry the Noble Earl of Lancaster was by him l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. ex Claus
presenting him therewith said Sr. Eustace I give you this Chaplet for the best Doer in Arms at this last Battle of either Party whether French or English and I desire you to wear it this Year at Festivals for my sake I know well you are a Personable Gentleman Young and Amorous and well accepted of among the Ladies wherefore if you will wear it in all Publique Balls and declare unto them that the King of England gave you this as a Testimony of your Valour I will also now release you from Prison quitting you wholly of your Ransom and you shall depart to morrow if you please The Knight who by this time had been fully informed of all things was so abundantly satisfied that it had been his Fortune to fight hand to hand with so great a King and to receive such an Honourable Acknowledgement from him that he not only wore the said Chaplet accordingly while he lived but in Memory of so Gracious a Gift from so Mighty a Prince did f Ferne's Blazon of Gentry l. 1. p. 211. bear ever after in his Arms Three Chaplets garnished with Pearls XII Thus was this Treason of the French attempted in the time of Truce by another Treason of the Lombard Captain justly thrown upon their own Heads Thô the perfidious Knight escaped not long himself For g Mezercy ad an 1350. c. Stow p. 249. being the next Year taken by some Frenchmen about St. Omers he was first degraded of the Order of Knighthood by having his Spurs hew'd from his Heels then branded with a burning hot Iron for a Rogue and then his Tongue being cut out in token of his Perjury he was Hanged by the Neck and lastly Beheaded Quarter'd and Dismembred as a Traytor And surely however cunningly he had carried himself in this matter either there remain'd still so much Suspicion on him or however the Action appeared so detestable that King Edward never after had any Kindness for him or Confidence in his Loyalty For we find h Ashmele p. 657. ex Ret. Franc. 22. Ed. 3. m. 1. how on that very Day whereon the Rescue of Calais had been made namely on the First of January the King appointed the Noble Valiant and Loyal Baron Sr. John Beauchamp for Captain of Calais Nor was the King unmindfull of those his Gallant Subjects who had accompanied him in the Rescue of this important Place Among whom the Lord Walter Manny under whose Banner he had fought i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 149. ex Pat. 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 26. obtain'd of him a Pardon for all such Escapes as any Felons or Fugitives had made out of the Prison of the Marshalsey he being this Year Marshall thereof and the next k Dugd. ibid. ex Ret. Vasc 24 Ed. 3. m. 6. Year had a Grant of those Houses and Wharfs in the Town of Libourne within the Dutchy of Aquitain which Edmund Marcell a Pattaker with the Kings Enemies had formerly possessed as also a l Id. ibid. ex Rot. Vasc 24 Ed. 3. m. 3. Grant of the Mannor of Ospettlington in the County of Barwick which Thomas Byset a Scot in Arms against the King had formerly held And as for the Lord Guy Bryan who was Standard-Bearer to the King in this Action m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 151. ex Pat. 23 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. he behav'd himself with such great Courage and Valour at that time that in Recompence thereof he obtained of the King a Grant of 200 Marks per annum out of the Exchequer during Life which was afterwards augmented n Id. ibid. ex Autegr penes Clera pell with 200 l. more per annum ut priùs besides several other Charters Grants and Emoluments at sundry times confer'd upon him and the great Honour of being made first a Banneret and afterwards upon a Vacancy Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter He o Ashmtle's Garter p. 709. Plate 57. bore for his Arms Or Three Piles Azure And thus the Noble King of England having happily atchieved his Enterprize and lest the Castle of Calais under the Command of the Lord Beauchamp aforesaid and the Town as it was before under the Lord John Mongomery returned Triumphant homeward with the Chief of the French Prisoners and arrived safe in England But the Lord Mongomery and his Lady presently after died at Calais of a Plague which by and by will furnish us with much matter of Discourse Not long before this p Fabian p. 278. Mezeray ad an 1349. Odor Rainal ad an 1350. n. 40. Charles Eldest Son of John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son took Possession of the Dauphinate of Vienna which the Old Dauphin Prince Humbert having lost the Lord James his onely Son and Heir in the Battle of Cressy had sold a good Penniworth to the French King He himself retiring from the World into a Convent of Jacobins where he took their Habit. From that Prince the Kings of France's Eldest Sons have been called Dauphins of Vienna as the Kings of England's Eldest Sons are stiled Princes of Wales XIII In the q Frois c. 152. Fabian p. 278. Mezerdy ad han◠annum Month of August of this last Year died the Mother of the said Dauphin commonly called the Good Dutchess of Normandy who was Daughter to John the Old King of Bohemia that was slain also in the Battle of Cressy And r Ex Vitâ Caroli Imperatoris per se scriptâ ab initio yet the same King of Bohemia's Son Charles the Emperour was married to the Lady Blanch Sister of King Philip of Valois Father to the said John Duke of Normandy And in December following died Jane Queen of France Daughter to Robert once Duke of Burgundy and Sister to Eudes then Duke of Burgundy so that the French King and his eldest Son John were both Widowers at one time But as for King Philip he had lately sent for a fresh Young Lady designing to give her unto his Son John but now being a Widower himself he thought good to serve his own Turn first and so on the Ninth of January took her for his Second Queen Her Name was Blanch Daughter to Philip late King of Navarre by his Queen who was Sister to the Earl of Foix but the Espousals were kept secretly at the Mannor of Robert Earl of Braye she being then scarce 18 Years of Age and the Bridegroom already a Grandfather but he enjoy'd her little more than a Year and an half as we shall see hereafter On the Ninth of February his Son John also married his Second Wife which was the Lady Joan Countess of Boulogne Relict of the young Lord Philip of Burgundy Son of Eudes Duke of Burgundr who died at the Siege of Aiguillon about three Years before as we have ſ L. 2. c. 4. §. 6. p. 369. shewn She was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne by his Lady the Daughter of
Chron. ad an 1348. 14000 and so proceeded to Paris where as if it had been yet fasting it made a more Plentifull Banquet of no less than 50000. At Lubeck a City of Germany in one Year it swept away no less than l Cluverii Epit. Hist p. 573. Lampad Pezelan Sleidan par 3. p. 365. 90000 whereof 1500 are reported to have died within the space of Four Hours And thrô all Germany there are reckoned 1244434 to have died of the Plague only It would be both incredible to hear and almost impossible to declare the Wonderfull havock it made in other Foreign Parts even as we have said throughout the whole world Insomuch m Giov. Villani l. 12. c 83. p. 893 that many Towns and Cities nay whole Provinces were in a manner left desolate of Inhabitants Wherefore we shall have done with this Tragical Truth when we have shewn how our own Country fared thereby For at last this fiery scourge of God came over the Seas to afflict our World also VI. About the n Fox Acts Mon. Stow p. 245. c. First of August 1348 it began in the Sea-port Towns on the Coasts of Dorsetshire Devonshire and Somersetshire whence it ran up to Bristow So that the Glocestershire-men forbad all entercourse with the Bristolians But this Familiar Fury wanted no Medium to introduce it For as the Scripture says of the Pestilence that it walketh in Darkness or invisibly its Progress not being to be found out so unexpectedly and contrary to humane Precaution this Plague also walked or rather flew among the Glocestershire men whence it went o Anton-Wood Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 171. 172. â—ox Acts Men. ibid. Stow p. 246. to Oxford and about the First of November it reached London and finally spread it self all over England scattering every where such Ruine and Desolation that of all sorts hardly the Tenth Person was left alive In the p Annal. Ecclesiae Prior. Yarmouth apud Stow ibid. Church and Church-yard of Yarmouth were buried in one Year no less than 7052 Persons all of the Plague So that the Parsonage which before was worth 700 Marks per annum was hardly afterwards worth 40 pounds as it was certified to King Henry VII in the 22 Year of his Reign and was written upon the Gates of the Church of that Town In the City q Stow ibid. ex Registro Nâ—rvicensi Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 166. sed male ibi London pro Norwich Daniel's Hist p. 241. Godwin's Catal. Bps p. 427. Blome's Britan. p. 169. of Norwich from the First of January to the First of July which is but half a Years Space there died no less than 57104 or as others have it 57374. In the City r Knighton p. 2599. of Leicester out of the small Parish of St. Leonard there fell no less than 380 In the Parish of Holy-Rood 400 more then in St. Margarets 700 and so proportionably in other Parishes In the City Å¿ Tho. Stubbs apud Decem Angl. Hist Scriptores p. 1732. of York it raged most furiously from about the Ascension to the Feast of St. James the Apostle But in the Famous City of London Death was so outragiously Cruel that every day at least 20 sometimes 40 sometimes 60 or more dead Corpses were flung together into one Pit and yet the Church-yards not sufficing for the Dead they were fain to set apart certain Fields for additional places of Burial And yet even so those Offices were not performed with any usual Decency or Honesty for the Numbers of the Dead being so great they were fain to t M. S.Vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 228. make deep Ditches and Pits very broad wherein they lay'd a range of Carcasses and a range of Earth upon them and then another range of Dead Bodies which were all together cover'd and after this manner were all People buried at that time except those of the better sort Among those who charitably took care of the Dead in this manner we find u Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London p. 477. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bps p. 198. Monast Angl. Vol. 1. p. 961. that the Noble and Valiant Lord Walter Manny so often mention'd in this our History having a Pious Regard to Gods Judgements and the common Frailty of Humane Nature purchas'd a piece of ground adjoyning to a place called No Mans Land and lying in a place called Spittle-Croft because it belonged to St. Bartholomews Spittle or Hospital in Smithfield since that called the New-Church x Haw apud Veteres Yard sonat Haw containing 13 Acres of Land and a Rod and caused the same to be inclosed and consecrated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London In which one place besides those buried in other Church-yards Churches and Monasteries in and about London there were buried within one Year more than y Fabâ—an p. 227. Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London 478. 50000 Persons as I have read says Mr. Stow in the Charters of Edward III. The same Author affirms also that he had seen and read an Inscription fixed on a Stone-Cross sometime standing in the same Church-yard in these Words ANNO DOMINI MCCCXLIX REGNANTE MAGNA PESTILENTIA CONSECRATUM FUIT HOC COEMITERIUM IN QUO ET INFRA SEPTA PRAESENTIS MONASTERII SEPULTA FUERUNT MORTUORUM CORPORA PLUS QUAM LM PRAETER ALIA MULTA ABHINC US QUE AD PRAESENS QUORUM ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS AMEN But especially between Candlemas and Easter this Year there were buried in the place aforesaid about z Fâ—x Acts Mâ—n p. 507. Holinsh p. 945. ex Reb. Avesbury 200 Corpses per diem every day Wherefore the said Noble Lord Walter Manny in memory of the vast Numbers of Christian People there buried and in Pious Charity as he thought to their Souls caused afterwards on the same ground a Chappel to be builded of rare Workmanship with Design to make it Collegiate for 12 Priests and a Provost and to endow it amply a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. eâ— Mcnasi Ang. 1 Vol. p 961. And there for about twenty two Years Offerings were made in which time it is to be noted that above an 100000 Bodies of Christian People had been buried in that Church-yard For the said Sr. Walter Manny had purchased the Place for the Burial of Poor People Travailers and others to remain for ever and order was taken to avoid contention thereupon between That House and Parsons of Churches But in the Year 1371 the said Lord Manny changing his Mind in stead thereof obtained b Dugd. ibid. ex Monast Ang. ibid. a Licence to found a Monastery of Carthusian Monks to pray for the good Estate of himself and of Margaret his Wife during their Lives in this World and afterwards for their Souls As also for the Souls of Alice of Hainalt Michael Northburgh sometime Bishop of
2599. granted throughout all Christendom a full Remission of Sins to any One that being in peril of Death should but once receive Absolution and that every One might take whom he pleas'd or whom he could for his Confessor which Grant to endure till the Easter then next ensuing A Grant to be question'd as to its validity For who can forgive sins but God alone yet no doubt proceeding from a good purpose and for that respect at least commendable Upon the same account also here in England Thomas Beck Bishop of Lincoln sent throughout all his Dioecese empowring all Priests both Regular and Secular to hear Confessions and to absolve any Person with full and Episcopal Authority of all Sins except only for Debt In which case if the Party was able he should make full Satisfaction in his own Person while he lived or carefully provide that others should perform the same after his Death And in all Christian Countries Cities and Towns there were Publique and Solemn Processions made for n Giov. Villani l. 12. p. 893. several days together that God would be pleased to sheath his angry Sword and preserve the Residue from this devouring Pestilence IX Of which thô innumerable Numbers of the Common sort of People died chiefly old Men Women and Children yet which is Wonderfull not o Cortusiorum Histerla l. 9. c. 14. one King or Prince of a Nation is said to have died thrô all the World And even of Nobles but a very few were taken away at this time especially of the English Nation Whether by chance or that it pleased God to spare these either for the Well-governing the Remainder or for their further Punishment for in those days the Wars were mostly carried on and Menag'd by the Interest Valour and Conduct of the Nobility in all Nations Among the Nobles of England that died of this Plague we find besides the Lord John Mongomery Captain of Calais and his Lady that the Princess Joan second Daughter and third Child of King Edward the Third was the Chief who tasted this bitter Cup. About four Years since she had been requested by Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon as a Match for his Eldest Son Don Pedro Infant of Spain in order to which Marriage King Edward then p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 144. sent over Sr. William Trussel and the Prior of Rochester to confer with the said Alphonso Accordingly the last Year being thirteen Years of Age she was q Ashmole p. 669. Speeds Chron. p. 590. b in Ed. 3. ad finem espoused by Proxy to Don Pedro entitled Infanta of Spain and then Honourably convey'd into that Country where she presently deceased of this Plague then reigning in those Parts So that the Prince who came to meet her to solemnize the Espousals was fain to accompany her Body to Church to her Funeral which happen'd in the Year aforesaid Of the same Plague also there died this Year r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 541. Tho. Mâ—ds Cital Hâ—nâ—r p. 764. on the 31 of May without Issue the Lord Thomas Wake of Lidel leaving behind him the Lady Margaret Countess of Kent Dowager of Edmund of Woodstock late Earl of Kent his Sister and Heir Fourty Years of Age Who thereupon performing her Fealty had Livery of all his Lands shortly after There Å¿ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. died also about this time Sr. John Fauconberg a Valiant and Hardy Baron of this Realm being aged 57 Years He was a Person highly Eminent for his Military Services both in France and Scotland and had been successively in his time High-Sheriff of Yorkshire and Governour of the Castle of York and afterwards of Barwick upon Tweed He was succeeded by Walter his Son and Heir then of full Age who performing his Homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands and became a good Knight in his days And lastly there died the Lord Robert Bourchier t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. leaving John his Son and Heir twenty Years of Age and was buried at Haulsted in Essex I know of no more of the Nobility that fell at this time nor did any of the Episcopal Order suffer Deeper but only the Chair of Canterbury which lost no less than three Archbishops all in one Year And those were first Dr. John Stratford a Man of great Learning Loyalty and Charity with whom that Famous Contention passed whereof we spake so largely after he had sat in that see about 15 Years The Second was his Successor Dr. John Hufford Son as u Godw. Catal. bâ—â—â— p. 136. 137. some say to Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Thô I find it not x Mâ—ll's Catal. of Hâ—n p. 529. Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 48. b. in that Earls Pedigree and besides the Age shews some discrepance the Earl surviving him full 20 Years He is not by some reckon'd among the Archbishops because having expected his Pall and Consecration full six Months he died now at last without either in the y Philpots Catal. Chancell p. 40. Month of May or as one z Godw. Catal. Bishp p. 137. says on the Seventh of June this Year having been in his time successively both Dean of Lincoln and Lord Chancellour of England The last but not the least Worthy was his Successor Thomas a Knighton p. 2600. n. 10. Bradwardin called for his deep Knowledge in Divinity Doctor de Profundis Who died of the Plague within two days after he came to London and within five Weeks and four Days after his Consecration at Avignon so that he also was never Enthronised at all But we shall not soon part with him here because Men of Merit are the best and most profitable Subjects of History and for whose sakes a fruitfull Digression may well obtain a Pardon Of his extraordinary Piety and Learning and deep skill both in the Mathematicks and Theology as well his own excellent Works as our Historians are concurrent and ample Testimonies But one thing for Example sake I shall not omit to remember in this Place That b Godw. Catal. Bish p. 138. being King Edwards Confessor he behav'd himself in that Office with singular Moderation Integrity and Discretion and whatever he saw amiss he would in secret freely reprehend in the King before his Face which Boldness of his the King always took in good part not only because he thereby saw the Zeal and discreet Piety of the Man but also knew his sincerity and love to his Person In the French Wars while he lived he was always present never enduring to absent himself from his Royal Charge but still admonish'd him secretly and his whole Army openly in his learned and eloquent Sermons and other Exhortations To take carefull heed of waxing proud and insolent after those many great Victories which God had sent them But rather to improve them to their greater Advantage by using them with Thankfulness and Moderation Some there are who have not doubted to ascribe
hedges and ditches in such Numbers that it was no less loss than wonder to behold For there died in and about one Pasture more than five Thousand Sheep Wherefore it might be supposed that they also died in this manner thrô some kind of Plague that was as strange and unaccountable among them as the former had been to Mankind For it is i Knighton p. ibid. lin 40. said that neither Bird nor Beast of Prey would touch their Carcasses And this is another Instance that the late Pestilence did yet further differ from those of other Times Since usually Beasts by reason of their prone Looks downward on the Earth and their quicker Scent therewithall are first infected but here it happened quite contrary However there shortly ensued hereby such a Scarcity of Cattle that all Provision of Flesh became excessive Dear as well as other Beasts for use and labour Whereas in the plague time partly thrô their great abundance and partly also because thrô the present Apprehensions of Death Men were then less intent upon Gain a good Horse worth 40 s. before might be bought for a Mark a large fat Ox for four shillings a Cow for one shilling an Heifer for six Pence a fat Mutton for four Pence a Sheep for two Pence a Lamb for two Pence and a Pork for five Pence one Stone of Wooll for nine pence and other things went at the same Rate in England But now the state of Affairs was alter'd and besides the prodigious Decay of Cattle aforesaid there succeeded also a great Death of Corn in many Parts of the World not so much thrô any defect or Parsimony of Nature for the Fields were sufficiently cloathed with Grain in many Parts especially here in England as partly thrô an inordinate desire of Gain in some and also partly from the want of Men in most Places to gather it in Particularly this Year about Harvest-time a Reaper was not to be had for Money under eight Pence a Day nor a Mower under twelve Pence besides Victuals which in those Days was excessive Wages Mony bearing then almost a Decuple value to what it doth now So that the King was fain k Knighton p. 2600 l. n. 37. to issue out his Commands thrô all the Counties of England that Reapers and other Labourers should neither demand nor take any more than formerly was used in the 20 Year of his Reign or other five or six Years before on Penalties limited in the said Statute which bare Date l Vid. Statute Beck 23. Ed. 3. p. 90. licet maiè ibi 23. Ed. 3. pro 25. ut videre est M.S. Record Parl. p. 71 Sr. Rob. Cotton's Alridgm p. 3. §. 6. 14 of June Anno Regni Angliae XXIII Franciae verò X c. But this Sort of Men being lightly puffed up with Thoughts far beyond what was agreeable to their Condition when they saw the absolute necessity Men stood in of using their Assistance set at nought the Kings Commands and became peremptory in this either not to work at all or to have what they should demand for their hire But this King who knew as well how to reduce a refractory and disobedient Subject as to conquer a Foreign Enemy undertook to tame their insolence such a way as both wholly cured their madness and prevented that ruine which was like to ensue thereby and also at the same time enriched his own Coffers in order to the carrying on of his great and chargeable Affairs For having understood that many Abbeys and Colleges and such Persons or Societies and Corporations who held great Possessions rather than loose their Corn and other Fruits had contrary to the Statute aforesaid given unto their Labourers larger stipends than were there appointed He first of all levied considerable Amerciaments upon the Abbots Priors Barons Knights and Others of all Degrees of some 5 l. of others 4 l. 3 l. 2 l. 1 l. and of every Carucat Hide or Plough-Land over all England 1 l. and yet in general one Fifteen besides Then he caused many Hundreds of the said Labourers especially the Master-workmen to be apprehended so that many who had offended in that kind having intimation of the matter were fain to retire into Woods and Forests where they skulked about living hardly for a while but those that were taken were severely fined and after the discipline of a temporary Imprisonment being first sworn to take for the future their Day Wages according to the old usage only were dismissed Other m Knighton ib. lin 61. Artificers also in Towns and Burroughs were served in the same manner For by reason of the scarcity of Men these People began to demand most unreasonable Rates for all their Work and Services till now at length this other Plague of their insolence was removed by the healing hand of King Edwards Justice As may be seen at large in the n 25 Ed. 3. v. d. Statute-â—â—ok p. 91. 92. Statute where all the Prizes are appointed for all such Labourers and Artificers according to the Rate of Money in those Days to which I refer the Curious Reader However vast quantities of Corn were already lost for want of Hands to gather it in but a timely Remedy being so seasonably applied a greater Famine was prevented in this Nation Thô in many other Parts it raged most immeasurably For soon after the Pestilence a Famine beginning in Barbary and Morocco the Christians of sundry Nations in hopes of inordinate Gain from these Infidels carried thither such huge Quantities of Corn as thereby they occasion'd a greater Famine in Spain o Giov. Villani ad ann 1346. c. 72. p. 883. Stow p. 247. a. b. vid. Frois c. 153. Lanquet ad ann 1351. de Fame in Gallia Italy France and other Parts of Europe So that at the most there was but three Ounces per diem allowed for every Man. And soon after there happen'd in most Parts of the World great and strange Inundations with Presters and frequent and unusual Storms and Tempests which were succeeded by monstrous and terrible Sights and Flames of Fire in the Air gastly and dismal Spectres and Apparitions and then extream Droughts and want of Waters All which in their several Capacities in divers Places and at several Times did no small harm to all living Creatures in the Air Sea and Land and to all Sorts of Vegetables as also to many goodly Structures and Edifices And p M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C.c. 228. ad finem this was generally observed of all those who were born next and immediately after this wonderfull Plague that when the time came for the growth of their Teeth they had two Cheek-Teeth in their heads less than they had afore XIII And yet q Gesta Clement Vl. apud â— sq Alb. Argent in Chron. vid. Oder Rainald ad ann 1348. n. 33. to all these Evils there was added one more for there arose a certain
Rumour that there were many Poisoners and especially the Jews who infected the Waters and Fountains From whence the foresaid Pestilence began Wherefore in many Places Thousands of Jews and some Christians also thô innocent and blameless were burnt slain and cruelly handled Whereas indeed it was the Hand of God which wrought all this for the sins of the World. To resist which unreasonable Fury of the Christians against the Jews Pope Clement twice wrote his Encyclical Letters to all Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church to stop this Fury of the People But all his Endeavours could not prevent the unjust Prosecution of this miserable Nation For every where except in the Province of Venaissin and about Avignon the Jews were sought out on all hands to be put to Death for Poisoners And particularly this Year in Germany where the Plague then reigned this false Rumour made them so odious that as r Rebder fius in Annal. Rebdorf witnesses 12000 of them were put to Death in the City of Mentz And ſ Alb. Argent in Chron. Albert of Strasburgh writes that from this rage of the People against them they were reduced to such Despair and Madness that locking themselves up they consumed themselves and all that they had with Fire But in England early this Year the Plague began to abate and about the end of August was wholly extinct at London and in most other Parts of the Land and immediately a more pleasant Face of things began to smile and cheer up the late dejected Minds of the People And thus we shall end this Tragical Chapter CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward founds the Chappel of St. GEORGE in Windsor Castle with the Copy of his Letters Patents for that purpose II. The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls III. The Kings Progress in the Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR IV. The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER attended with Divine Service Royal Feastings and Solemn Justs and Tourneaments V. Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made also Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne VI. The Lord Thomas Dagworth stain in Bretagne VII Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He reduces the French to Terms VIII A famous Combat between Thirty English and Thirty French-Bretons IX Of Certain who arrived to great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars X. Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy-Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry who lived in Ulster XI A Grant of the Black-Prince to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King. I. NOW this being the Year that King Edward the Third founded and established in his Royal Castle of Windsor the Ever-Noble and Honourable Order of the Knights of the Garter of which we spake more fully in the 18 Year of his Reign it will not be amiss to resume so much of that Matter in this Place as we left unremembred in that And first for the Dignity and Worth of the Subject we shall present the Curious Reader with the Copy of his a Pat. an 22. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 6. extant apud Ashmole de Ordine Garterii in Appendice N. 1. Letters Patents for Founding of St. George's Chappel in Windsor-Castle faithfully translated from the Original Latine which we shall find to bear Date the sixth of August in the Year foregoing before the Plague began in London EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to All who shall see these Present Letters Greeting It becomes the Majesty of a King to delight always in Acts of Piety that when he shall stand before the Tribunal of the Most-High-King with whom there is no acceptance of Persons but every One shall receive according to what he hath done in the Body whether it be good or whether it be Evil he may be able to stand among the Good on the Right Hand and not be condemned with the Reprobates as a slothfull and unprofitable servant We truly with grief of Heart carefully remembring the various Labours of our Life and our own small deserts as also rightly considering the Divine Favours shewed unto us and the Graces and Honours wherewith above others the Most High hath prevented us do greatly repent of those goods which being granted us by God we have above measure so often vainly expended And there remains nothing else for us to do but only that unto Christ and his Mother the Glorious Virgin who hath never failed to defend us but has hitherto by her blessed Prayers protected us when we were set in many Dangers we wholly convert our mind and give unto him thanks for his Favours and ask pardon for our Offences And because it is a good way of Merchandise whereby with an happy bartering transitory things are exchanged for Eternal We have caused a certain Chappel of convenient Beauty for eight Secular Canons scituate within our Castle of Windsor wherein we were washed with the Water of Holy Baptism magnificently begun to the Honour of St. Edward the Confessor by our Progenitors to which Canons for their sustentation they allowed a certain Sum of Money at their pleasure and gave it them for Alms out of their Exchequer to be finished at our Royal Charge to the Honour of God Almighty and of his Mother the Glorious Virgin Mary and of the Saints George the Martyr and Edward the Confessor And earnestly desiring and effectually endeavouring that the said Canons being there to serve the Lord may be augmented as well with an encrease of Revenues as in the number of other Canons Ministers and Servants and that in the said Chappel the Glory of the Divine Name may be exalted with greater Worship unto the foresaid Eight Canons we think fit to superadd One Custos presiding over them and fifteen other Canons more and twenty four Poor Knights impotent of themselves or inclining to Poverty to be perpetually maintain'd of the goods of the said Chappel and other Ministers of the said Chappel perpetually serving Christ under the Command of the said Custos or Warden and there Cause to be received as well the Canons and Knights as other Ministers of the said Chappel as is premised And this We firmly decree inviolably ordain and by our Royal Authority as much as in us lies establish for ever Willing that the said Canons and Ministers perform Divine Offices for us and our Progenitors and Successors in part of Satisfaction for those things whereof in the last judgement we are to give an Account they being to celebrate for ever according to the form of our Ordination thence more fully to be made Unto whom the Rights of Patronage and the Advousons of the Churches of b b Vulgò Rasbury Wyrardesbury in the Dioecese of Lincoln Southtanton of Exon and Vttoxater of Coventry and Lichfield which we have lately purchased for that Cause for Us and our Heirs We have given and granted
and that he may be the more obliged to serve Us before any other to bear such a regard unto him whereby he may the better maintain his Estate have given unto him the Annual Rent of one Hundred Marks during his Life to be received out of our Mannor of Bradinuch in the County of Devonshire every Year at the terms of Easter and of St. Michael by equal Portions of the hands of the Keepers of our said Mannor for the time being the Offer and Promise aforesaid being in all points held and kept And We will also that at what time and as often as his said payment shall be upon arriere in part or in whole without term assigned it shall be Lawfull for the said Sr. Henry to distrain on the said Mannor and to have what is so distrained until he shall be fully payed so much as shall be found due unto him upon arriere as aforesaid In witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patent Given under our Seal at Westminster the 18 day of January in the Year of the Reign of our most Dear Lord and Father the King over England the 21 and over France the 8. We n i.e. the King. allowing and approving the foresaid Grant do by the Tenour of these Presents confirm and ratifie the same unto the said Henry during his Life as the foresaid Letters do import In witness whereof c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium XXVIII die Junii Anno Regni nostri Angliae 23 Regni verò nostri Franciae 10. Per ipson Regem CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1350. An. Regni Angliae XXIV Franciae XI The CONTENTS I. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the Hundredth to the Fiftieth Year with an Account of the first Original of a Jubilee II. King Edward forbids his subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Popes expostulation thereupon III. The sect of Whippers arises and is supprest IV. King Edwards Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. V. King Philip of France dies and is succeeded by his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy VI. A Duel fought before King Edward between a Cypriote Knight and the Bastard of France VII King John puts the Bastard to Death together with the Earl of Eu and Guisnes for envy because they commended the Carriage of King Edward of England VIII Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in order to King Davids Redemption I. THis Year being the Fiftieth of the Fourteenth Century accounting from the Nativity of our Lord being held as a Solemn Jubilee at Rome we shall here make some short enquiry after that Matter And it appears from the Sacred Records that God Almighty himself was the First Institutor of this great Solemnity For He having appointed the Sabbath-Day or the Seventh of the Week to be kept Holy in Memory of the Creation of the World which was by his Word alone compleated in the space of six Days did afterwards at the promulgation of the Law from Mount Sina a Levitic c. 25. v. 2 3 c. add unto the Jews a Sabbath of Years to be observed that so the Land of Palestine having been tilled and manured for six continued Years should be left fallow every Seventh Year without any manuring tilling reaping or dressing And seven of these Sabbatical Years or Fourty Nine common Years being compleat God commanded the Jews to proclaim thrô their whole Land a Festival Year by sound of the Holy Trumpets to be universally held as the great Sabbatical Year a Year of general Release and of Religious Rest and of Joy and of Exultation as a Type of that Eternal Rest Relaxation and Liberty which the Messias was to procure unto the Sons of God Which Fiftieth Year was called the Year of Jubilee from a b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Joh. Buâ—tor f. Lexicon Hebr. in hâc vote p. 293 c. Word in Hebrew which signifies a Ram because it was proclaimed with the sound of Trumpets made of Rams-horns Unless some had rather derive it from a Word of Latine-Original which signifies to Rejoyce This being the First Institution of the Jubilee among the Jews deliver'd by their great Prince and Law-giver Moses Pope Boniface VIII brought it in also among the Christians c Labbxi Chron. Techn ad hunc aâ— Pâ—lydor Virg. l. 19. p. 385. in the Year of our Lord MCCC which was the sixth of his Papacy and then ordain'd that it should be solemnly kept every Hundredth Year Althô we find that in the Year of our Lord CCXLVII which was Ab U. C. Annus Millesimus the Emperour d Dr. Cave's Apâ—stâ—l ei in tabalâ— Chronel Philip the Second kept a Festive Year in Memory of the first Foundation of the Imperial City of Rome with all imaginable Splendour and Magnificence And this althô it had not the Name was indeed no other than a Jubilee But now e Odor Rainald ad an Christi 1349. §. 11. c. ad an 1350. §. 1. c. Pope Clement VI because it was not likely that any Man who had seen the first Bonifacian Jubilee should live to see the Return of another and also in that the Fiftieth Year was more consonant to the Mosaical Law at the Instant Request of the Roman Ambassadors granted that on this Year and every Fiftieth Year following the Jubilee should be celebrated at the Holy City of Rome at which time he granted by his Apostolical Power many great Indulgences to all those who should devoutly Visit the Churches of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and also the Lateran called S to Giovanni Laterano the Dignity of which Church doth sufficiently appear from this Ancient Inscription in Marble in the Porch thereof at Rome Dogmate Papali datur simul Imperiali Vt sim cunctarum Mater Caput Ecclesiarum The opinion that these Indulgences were of no small Advantage did so mightly prevail that infinite Numbers of both Sexes went on Pilgrimage to Rome there being reckoned no less than f Matth. Villani l. 1. c. 58. 1200000 Thousand Strangers passing too and fro in the City at One time among whom were many Persons of extraordinary Quality and some Princes Dukes and the like But g Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 9. Kings and Persons of an higher Station who were by their great Affairs detained at home being desirous to be made partakers nevertheless of these Sacred Privileges wrote their Letters Supplicatory to the Pope that in them the Good-Will might be taken for the Deed and that thô they could not tend to go in Person yet since they so devoutly desired it they might obtain of his Holiness the same Indulgences as others who performed that Pilgrimage among which there was the King of Castille and Leon the Kings of Aragon Portugal and Cyprus Albert Duke of Austria and others And thô the Pope defer'd a while to answer their Requests till he might confer thereupon with
Prisoner and at that time had the Custody of him to deliver him up to the Bishops of Durham and Caerlile to William Earl of Northampton the Lords Henry Piercy and Ralph Nevill or to any Four Three or Two of them and at the same time another Command was issued out to them to deliver him under the form and upon the Conditions agreed on And so toward the latter end of October King David being at liberty upon Parole went into Scotland in hopes by his Presence to quicken his Subjects to come to a Composition with King Edward but not being able to accomplish his intention so soon as he had design'd x Knighton p. 2603. n. 1â— c. the Scots refusing also to redeem him on such Conditions as King Edward propounded he return'd into England about half a Year after at which time a Command bearing date y Râ—t Scâ—tâ—â— 26. Ed. 3. n. 3. 28 March an 26. Ed. 3. was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages of Scotland to Barwick they to be there in Quindena z Pasha 17. Aprâ—s B. Dom. Lit. Paschae it being the Day fixed for King Davids return to that Town And so he remain'd a Prisoner still in England CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1351. An. Regni Angliae XXV Franciae XII wherein the King advances several Great Men to Honour II. The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle His Acts a Truce III. A Truce with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner before the Truce with France IV. Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldane of Babylon V. King John renews the Order of the Star. VI. The Manner how the Castle of Guisnes was taken by the English of Calais VII King John of France endeavours to recover it in vain VIII The Lord Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole IX The Lord Guy de Nesle slain in Battle by Sr. Walter Bentley X. The Earl of Stafford created Lieutenant of Gascogne wins a Victory over the French the Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the Garter XI King Edward provides for Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries the Eldest Daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster XII The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick XIII King Edward prepares to resist the French. XIV Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London I. ON the a M.S. Record Parl. p. 71. c. Sr. Rob. Cottâ—n's Abridgment p. 73. c. Seventh of February being the Monday in the Vtas of the Purification of our Lady at the Opening of this Year King Edward held his High-Court of Parliament at Westminster Over which at first Prince Lionel the Kings Third Son was commission'd to preside because the King and his Eldest Son Prince Edward were then preparing to cross the Seas thô afterwards that Voyage being defer'd we shall find them both present at this Sessions Thô the Parliament began so early to sit yet by reason of several Continuations from Day to Day because many of the Lords were not yet come it was not open'd till Tuesday the 15 of February At which time Receivers being appointed to gather and Tryers to consider of the several Petitions from England Wales Gascogne Scotland Ireland Bretagne and other Foreign Isles and Places the Reasons for the Calling of the Parliament were declared in Presence of the King and his Nobles As first because the King having in the Twenty second Year of his Reign summon'd a Parliament was both hindred to continue that Session and also to b From hence it appears that the Printed Statutes pretended to be made anno 23 Fd. 3. are falsly dated call them to another by reason of the late dreadfull Plague untill this time Also that the Business of his Wars required their Concurrence because the Peace was not punctually observed and Domestick Matters were likewise to be taken into Consideration for that Labourers refused to do their Service at reasonable and usual Rates and lastly because the Treasure of the Realm was exported For these Considerations was the Parliament convened and hereupon to consult the King did especially command and require them and Sr. William Shareshull Knight the Kings Chief Justice repeated the Substance of all this to the Commons willing them to weigh all things well and provide for them effectually The whole Process and Matter following as it is to be seen at large in the Record was deliver'd by Dr. John Thoresby Bishop of c Ita emendo Winchester in M. S. Sr. Bob. Câ—ttâ—n ea I hâ—lpets Catal Chaccell Worcester then Lord Chancellour to John Codington Clerk of the Parliament at the Kings Command to be entred into the Rolls of the same Parliament In this d Godw. Catal. Bâ—sin Câ—nter §. 54. p. 14. Parliament the old Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York concerning Bearing their Crosiers began to be renew'd with the usual Heat but at last it was wholly referred to the King 's Hearing Who set down this final Rule to be observed for the future That the Archbishop of York might bear his Cross in the others Province saving the Preeminence to Canterbury but that in token of Subjection every Archbishop of York at his Entrance into that Bishopâ—â—ck should offer an Image of Gold to the value of Fourty Pounds at the Shrine of Thomas of Canterbury The same Image to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two Months after his Inthronization In this Parliament Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel by his Petition prayeth that his Restitution granted in the e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 6. p. 52. 53. Fourth of Edward the Third may be now better declared and confirmed Which the King in Consideration of the Equity of his Request and also of his many worthy Services done to the Crown most ready granted Whereupon the said Act made in the Fourth of Edward the Third Tit. 14 touching this Earl was read over and afterwards this Clause thereto adjoyned That it is by the King and Parliament Agreed that the said Restitution be Confirmed and shall remain of such full Force and Effect that John now Earl of Kent and his Heirs shall neither Challenge nor Obtain against the said Richard Earl of Arundel in any Court of England or in Wales by Writ or otherwise by any Petition in Parliament any of the Possessions or Titles that the said John or Edmund his Eldest Brother long since deceased ever had in or to the said Castle of Arundel or of any Part or Parcel thereof So as by this Restitution the said Earl Richard shall have the like Estate and Title as he should have had by Descent of Inheritance as well to all other Hereditaments whereof
up to Arques and the Gates of St. Omers and having sufficiently made known the Terror of his Arms he return'd Triumphantly with many Prisoners and much Booty to Calais But soon after the occasions of the late Breach between the two Kings were fully concerted and a further Truce was taken a Knighton p. 2603. n. 4. with this condition that either of the Kings might renounce it when ever he pleased III. The same Yeart b Stow p. 251. the Spanish Ships had liberty to come to England by Reason of a Peace established with that Kingdom whereas the Year before there was an Imbargo set upon them because of the late Breach But now a Truce was taken between the two Crowns for twenty Years before which time we shall find Don Pedro of Spain to stand greatly in need of Englands Friendship Whereas the foremention'd Truce with France was prolonged but for one Year further and yet did it hardly endure so long as we shall shew by and by However now both the Kings seem'd in good earnest to endeavour a final Peace c Fabian p. 228 Odâ— Raâ—nald ad hanc ann §. 37. and sent their Commissioners for that purpose to Avignon to conclude and perfect the Agreement on these Conditions That King Edward should wholly lay aside his Title and Claim to the Crown of France and King John should entirely yield up to him all the Dutchy of Guienne with the Dependencies and whatever was at any time before taken therefrom by his Progenitors and that King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England should freely hold and possess the same without acknowledging owing or paying any Homage therefore to any French King from that day unto the Worlds end But the Conclusion of this Matter was so long put off and delay'd by the Pope and such demurrs and other Artifices usual in the Court of Rome laid in the way that the Duke of Lancaster with the rest of the English Commissioners being wearied by those tedious tergiversations returned back to their Master without bringing the said Agreement to any happy Conclusion But d Oder Rainald â—d hunc ann Mezeray c. some say this Treaty was hindred by an occasion given by the English who took the Castle of Guisnes by Treachery of which we shall speak presently However King Edward hereupon prepared for War resolving to take the Field early next Year as soon as the Truce should be expired But upon the first of April before the last Truce was renewed for another Year the Lord Guy e 〈◊〉 c. 153. Meâ—â—â—y 〈…〉 p. 251 〈…〉 23. April Fâ—x Acts Men. p. 507. de Nesle Marshal of France went in Hostile Manner with a great number of Men of Arms spoiling and ravaging about in Xaintogne and near St. Jean D'Angely but was at last met with by Sr. Walter Bentley who together with Edmund Rous a Norfolk-Man and Captain of the Castle of St. Jean D'Angely making in all but 600 Men encountred him Valiantly and had such Success that he slew and routed the whole Body of them took Sr. Guy de Nesle himself and Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan together with the Lord William de Nesle the Marshals Brother and six other Knights of Quality and of Esquires and Gentlemen 140 Prisoners But yet f Frois c. 153. in the September following the Frenchmen recover'd the Town and Castle of St. Jean D'Angely after it had been in the Englishmens Possession 5 Years without one stroke given or taken For the Garrison being left low and without Provision was fain to yield up the Place on Equal Conditions because they had not wherewithall to live on IV. While thus matters were held in suspence between England and France and hot War g Vid. Oder Ramald ad hunc ann §. 22. c. raged between Casimire King of Poland and the Lithuanians and Tartars on one hand and the Christian States of Venice and Genoa tore out one anothers Bowels on the other and the King of Armenia's Territories were snatch'd away from him piece-meal by the Infidels the h Id. ibid. §. 25. Heathen Governour of Damascus with a design to render the Christians under him odious and so to fill his Coffers with their substance perpetrated a most cruel and Nero-like Action this Year For having himself caused the said City to be secretly fired in two several places he presently hurried away the Christians to the Rack as the only Authors thereof Some of these being rendred impatient by the exquisiteness of the torments confessed themselves guilty Whereupon immediately he condemns them all to die except such as would embrace Mahometanisme Most of them by large gifts appeas'd the Tyrants sury others unhappily renounced the Christian Faith But there remain'd two and twenty who refusing to do either were condemned to be Crucified However first the Tyrant commanded them to be brought before their Friends Parents and Children that so he might shake their Constancy But the Divine Grace did so powerfully assist them at that time that the Father who was to die despis'd the Prayers and Tears of his own Son who entreated him to live and the Faithfull Son upbraided his Apostate Father of wicked Inconstancy to forsake the True Religion for fear of Corporal punishment and call'd him his worst Enemy in that by tempting him with the transitory joys of this Life he endeavour'd to deprive him of the Rewards of Eternity Being therefore all hung upon the Cross for three days they were beheld both by Christians and Saracens to die a notable Example of Religious Constancy But the Tyrant had but a short Triumph for this his exploit For soon after the Innocence of the Christians as to the burning of the City being made manifest by the Soldan's Command he was put to Death after this Manner A Great-broad Anvil of Iron being ready prepared as red-hot as possible the Malefactor was brought near stark-naked from his Privy-parts upwards then two strong Men took and twisted a Towel below his Ribs and above his Hips round his Belly pulling and twisting till by degrees they had rendred him thereabout little more than a span round At which time the Executioner cutting him off with a sword at one Blow just above the Towel this Body was immediately set upon the glowing Anvil So that the Blood and Life together was held in till the Anvil growing colder the Body fell off being seised by Death With such signal severity can it please God. to Revenge the Blood of his Saints even by the hands of the Blasphemers of his Name V. This Year i Favâ—ne's Theatre L'Honne r l. 3. c. 2. p. 346. on the 8 day of September or the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary King John of France that in Magnificence he might not come behind King Edward of England who had lately instituted the Order of the Garter did also k Mezeray ad hâ—â—â— annâ—n institute or rather renew the almost obsolete Order
Whitsuntide King Edward kept in great Splendor at Westminster being accompanied with the Chief of his Nobility and those of France and Scotland that were Prisoners During which t Catal. Nobil by Tho. Mills p. 649. Solemnity the Lord Edmund younger Brother to Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel was Knighted by the King together with 300 more young Gentlemen At which time u Knighton p. 2607. n. 27. Mezeray p. 39. Tom. 3. par 2. also the Lord Charles of Blois who had been Prisoner in England above four Years by means of Queen Philippa whose Kinsman he was obtained leave to go into France to procure his Ransom his two Sons Sr. John and Sr. Guy remaining still behind as Hostages for the Payment he being by Oath obliged not to bear Arms against England till he had paid the Money Thô one x Knighton p. 2607. says that having obtain'd Leave upon Security given to divert himself in the Island of Jarsey when by walking about frequently he had sufficiently observed the Weakness of the Country he came some Months afterwards suddenly upon them with 300 Men of Arms and put all he found to the Sword like a perfidious and Disloyal Knight and so took possession of the Place himself IX The Lord Guy de Nesle Marshal of France being now at Liberty again to repair the Loss he suffer'd in April raises a considerable Army in Bretagne where about the Middle of August viz. on the 15 Day 1352 y Frois c. 153. Gaguin p. 143. Walsingh hist p. 161. Fabian p. 229. Stow p. 253. he was again valiantly encountred by Sr. Walter Bentley Sr. Robert Knolles and other English Captains near Mauron between Rennes and Ploermel Where after a long and doubtfull Fight the English being but 300 Men of Arms and 600 Archers the Frenchmen thô above Four times their Number were utterly discomfited slain and taken For there fell Guy of Nesle himself who was Lord of Oysemont and Marshal of France together with the Lord of St. Quintin the Lord of Briquebec the Lord of Courtenay the Chastellain of Beauvais the Lord of Rugemont the Lord of Montauban the Lord de l'Aunay the Lord of Mont de Bayeux the Lord de L'Aigle the Lord de Villebon the Lord de la Marche the Lord de le Chastelet Thirteen Lords in all besides an 140 Knights and of Batchelours 500 whose Coat Armours were brought away But the Common-Souldiers were not numbred There were also taken Prisoners the Lord of Brusebeque Son of the Lord Bertram Sr. Tristram de Morlaix the Lord of Malestroit the Viscount of Cominges Sr. Geoffry de Gray Sr. William de la Val Sr. Charles Darcheville Sr. John de Brou and other Lords and Knights Batchelours to the number of 130. This Army of the French and Bretons under the Conduct of the said Marshal had been so order'd by him that having a steep Mountain behind at their Backs they might be enforced to stand to it resolutely by despairing to fly One z Stow ibid. says that no less than 45 Knights of the Star were slain in this Battle but the Number of those Knights who were created the last Year being but 18 't is hardly credible that already the Order should be so mightily overstockt wherefore we pass this by as an Errour However there were many Valiant and Noble Leaders on the French Part and their Array was so dreadfull that it dismayed the Hearts of several Englishmen so that they began to flee But the Couragious Sr. Walter Bentley Lieutenant of Bretagne at that time for the King of England would not flinch a Foot but oppos'd good Conduct and indefatigable Resolution to the fury of his Enemies till after a bloody Fight wherein hardly one of the English escaped unhurt and Sr. Walter himself was grievously thô not mortally wounded by the Grace of God he obtain'd a famous Victory After which in a Court Martial he condemned thirty Archers to be hang'd because they forsook him and fled in the Heat of Battle to the hazard of all his Company This was a considerable Blow to France and a Loss not in many Years to be repaired althô in the room of Guy de Nesle there succeeded the Lord of Beaujeu a most Worthy Captain in the Office of Marshal of France X. As for the Affairs of Gascogne King Edward at this time a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 1â—0 ex Record constituted the Lord Ralph Earl of Stafford his Lieutenant and Captain General in those parts with special Commission to Treat with any persons of what Nation soever upon terms of yielding aid to the King and receiving mutual assistance from him In which service of the Lieutenancy of Aquitain he was now retained by Indenture bearing Date 3 tio Martii 1352 to continue with an 100 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers on Horseback all of his own proper Retinue till Michaelmas next ensuing And from that time forwards to have an additional Number of 100 Men at Arms and 200 Archers on Horseback provided at the Kings Charge during his stay in those parts The King likewise indenting further with him to send by way of supply under the Conduct of the Duke of Lancaster or one of the Earls either of Northampton Arundel Warwick or Huntington 300 Men of Arms more and 700 Archers At which time the said Earl of Stafford constituted Sr. James Pipe then Seneschal of Aquitain Governour of Blaye scituate in the Enemies Quarters on the other side the Garonne But the mean while in respect of this his necessitated Absence from England he obtained of the King a special Precept to the Judges of the Kings Bench that they should not in any of their Sessions within the County of Essex intermeddle with his Liberties And while he was preparing for this Expedition he had an Assignation of the Town of Hackney in the County of Middlesex for the quartering of his Men and Horses Sixty Men with Lances being among others impressed for that service out of his Lordships of Newport and Netherwent in the Marches of Wales And being in the beginning of May almost b Ashmele p. 690. ex Ret. Frane 26. Ed 3. m. 11. Maii 14. Lit. Dom. A.G. ready to take his journey into Gascogne a Writ bearing Date 14 of May was issued to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Admiral towards the West to arrest all Ships of 50 Tuns and upwards for this Earl's passage thither and to bring them to Sandwich by the c Pâ—scha 8. April Fâ—st Trin. 3 Junii Quindene of Trinity or the 17 of June following Being arrived safe in Gascogne he presently after encountred a Great Body of Frenchmen who came forth of their strong hold to meet him of whom he had an entire Victory slaying the greater part of them and taking Prisoner that most valiant Gentleman d Stow p. 253. Sr. Gaudee who afterwards being naturalized made his seat in Suffolk and seven Knights of the Star if
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
and many other Commodities II. About this time e Knighton p. 2606. n. 12. Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 161. the Cheshire-men had committed some great Insolence or Riot against the Servants of the Prince of Wales on what Occasion I have not found which were Officers under the Prince as he was Duke of Chester Wherefore the King being extreamly incensed against them and resolving to make them submit to Law or to the Sword sends forth Sr. Richard Willoughby and Sr. William Shareshull his Justices Itinerant to sit in Eyre at Chester At the same time ordering sufficient Forces under the Leading of his Son the Prince attended with Henry Duke of Lancaster and the Earls of Warwick and Stafford to go thither to prevent any Violence or Insurrection of the People But when the Cheshire men knew in their Consciences that they were in fault and saw plainly there was as little Contending in Battle as in Law against such Force and such Right they compounded with the Prince of Wales their Lord for 5060 Marks to be paid within four Years thence to come and gave him such Security as the Prince himself desired on Condition that the Justices should no longer continue their Circuit of Eyre upon them However because they would not according to their Duty submit to but capitulate with their Prince when they thought themselves quit and wholly free the Justices came and sat again upon the Inquisition of Traillebaston and leavied vast Summs of Money and seised many Lands and Tenements into the Hands of the Prince and raised Fines without number After which the Prince passing upon his return thrô the Abby of f Vid. Sr. Rich. Baker in Ed. 1. 〈◊〉 Works of Piety done in his Time. Vnde 〈◊〉 Deâ—uleneros in Vale Royal. Vale-Royal and seeing there a wonderfull Structure of the Fabrick of a Church which the good King Edward his Great Grandfather had begun of his meer Princely Good-will gave toward the Promotion of the said pious Work 500 Marks which Summ was esteemed a Tenth of his whole Perquisits in Cheshire III. About which time the King g Stow's Chron. p. 254. Survey of London p. 523. his Father also converted the Chappel of St. Stephen at Westminster founded by his Royal Progenitors into a College consisting of 38 Persons to serve God namely one Dean Twelve Secular Canons Vicars and other Ministers accordingly and endowed it with Revenues to the Summ of 500 l. per Annum for ever For the use of this Chappel thô out of the Palace Court some distance Westward in a little Sanctuary he also raised a mighty strong Bellfry or Steeple of Stone and Timber covered with Lead and placed therein three Great Bells which afterward were usually rung at Coronations Triumphs Funerals of Princes or their Obits Of which Bells Men fabled that their Ringing sowred all the Drink in the Town and it is said that about the Biggest of the Three there were written these Rhymes King Edward made me Thirty Thousand and Three Take me down and weigh me And more shall ye find me However when these Bells were taken down as they have been long since they were found all Three hardly to weigh Twenty Thousand Pound IV. We spake h Lib. 2. c. 10. §. 8. p. 455. vid. Knighton p. 2606. à n. 20. ad n. 30. cellat cum p. 2603. n. 10 c. before how the King of Scotland had liberty to return home from his Captivity in order to discourse with his Lords about his Ransom and that being not able to come to any Conclusion he rendred himself a Prisoner again Now it is to be consider'd that the Scots were not at all backward to redeem their King but that the Demands of King Edward were such as their free Souls could never brook for he would have them do Homage unto him as King David himself had sworn to do and as the Kings of Scotland before-time were accustomed to do But the Scots answered all with one Heart and Voice How as for their King they were willing and ready to redeem his Person at any Rate Except only by submitting themselves unto the King of England for that they would never do Whereupon King David for that time as we observed returned his Body back again to Prison in the Tower of London But now this Year again by King Edwards leave he resolved to try them once more in Person and having given a like Security went as before to Newcastle upon Tyne where he was met by such Scotch Lords as were thereto appointed in order to treat of a Final Peace between the two Realms and also of his Redemption But here as the Scottish Commissioners held still to their old Obstinacy so that King David was fain to upbraid them thereof and check them something roughly That bearing a Mind too high for the present Condition of Affairs they were too unreasonably stiff when both for his Sake and that of their bleeding Country they ought rather to bend and shew a little Complyance for the present the Debate grew hereupon so high that the Scots threatned to renounce both Him and his Authority unless he would wholly fall off from the Thoughts of paying any Submission to England and forbear to listen any longer to their Counsel And they further added That they would neither redeem him nor any way promote his Redemption unless he would first engage to pardon them all sorts of Quarrels and Grievances and all Offences by them done or committed since the time that he was taken at Durham Otherwise they threatned to set up another King over them King Edward and his Council upon this Backwardness of the Scots to close with them resolved that the Lords of the North should enter Scotland under the Leading of the Earl of Northampton and that all those who claim'd any Lands or Inheritance in Scotland should accompany the said Earl together with King. David into that Kingdom by Force to reduce the Scots to a more reasonable Submission Accordingly i Stow p. 254. c. the Earl of Northampton with King David in his Company and a formidable Power of Men of Arms and Archers entred the Marches of Scotland where he obliged the strong Fortress of Loughmaban and several other Places of Strength to yield unto him and took and slew and dissipated all the close Ambushes of the subtle Scots who not being able to check him in plain Field attempted by these Finenesses to gain some notable Advantage of him But this Lord was too expert a Captain to be trepan'd by those usual and well-known Stratagems Whereupon they were now again compell'd to endeavour an Accommodation and at last obtained an Hearing in order to a Treaty at which time they declared How they were most willing to redeem their King but not on that Condition as thereby to fling both Him and Them and all their Posterity into a far worse Captivity by Subjecting their Native Country to be held by
whether the Tenants of such as hold by Barony and are summoned to Parliament shall contribute to the payment of Knights Fees coming to the Parliament As heretofore so the same shall be That present Pay be made of all Purveyances being under twenty Shillings and of greater within one Quarter of a Year and that Purveyance be made without Malice It is good to make Payment accordingly to the first Point and to redress the second That all Sheriffs be charged to make present Payment for all Purveyances for Calais The Demand is reasonable That any one attainted upon a Writ of Oyer and Terminer may bring his Attaint a Ita M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton â—n petiùs haâ—ing hanging his Suit against the other The Lords will not alter the Order of the Law. That the Lords Marchers of Wales do suffer no Distresses to be made on any English Man coming into Wales for any other Mans Debts if he be no Debter Trespasser or Surety As heretofore so the Law shall be That no Inquest upon Conspiracy Confederacy Maintenance or such like be returned but by the Sheriff of the most lawfull Men and nighest in that part of the Country where such Acts are laid that all Evidences therein be given openly at the Bar and that no Man speak with the Jury after they depart therefrom This last Petition was Enacted That the King b Now for the better Understanding of this Petition it is to be noted that about four Years before this c Hâ—lâ—â—â—head Engl. Chron. p. 948. vid. Gedwins Catal. Bish p. 234. William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England had caused Groats and Half-Groats to be Coined to the People's great Disadvantage for they wanted something of the just Sterling Weight Which occasion'd the Price of all things to be very much enhanced whereupon at the Commons Complaint now in Parliament the King promised to redress the Grievance the first Opportunity Yet however many times after those Days the like Practice hath been used insomuch that now 5 s. scarcely contain so much silver as 5 Groats had 300 or 400 Years ago So that 't is no wonder if things be sold at treble the Price which they held at that time For hereby also it comes to pass that the Prince and Nobility cannot possibly maintain their Estates with their Ancient Rents and Revenues because thô they bring them in the old Tale and Number yet they fall far short in the due Weight and Quantity of Metal will appoint a Time when the Coin shall be made Finer With Opportunity the King meaneth the same That the King have the Forfeitures of his Widows Dowagers but not of such as hold joyntly with their Husbands The old Law shall stand That the Writ of Appeal brought d Ita Sr. Rob. Cotton having in M.S. hanging another may abate the other The Common Law therein used shall continue That Weights and Measures may henceforth be made in the Town of London so as all Counties do conform themselves according thereto There is a STANDARD in the Treasury where every Man readily may have the same That the Writs of the Chancery may be at reasonable Prices and that the Clerks of the Crown and others for Commission and such like do content themselves with the Kings Allowance As heretofore the same shall be That Fines for Writs may be reasonably made in every of the Kings Courts The Chancellour shall do as heretofore The Commons beyond the Trent require that the Justices of the one Bench or of the other may yearly come twice amongst them for taking Cognisance of Fines and Letters of Attourney of the Unable The King will be advised That Labourers may take Corn for their Wages The Statute made shall be observed That the Staple may always continue in England The same shall so continue till the next Parliament and not be alter'd without the Assent of the Parliament The Merchants Strangers require that the Ordinances of the Staple may be executed speedily The King willeth the same It is Enacted that that Statute made that all Merchants coming into this Realm with their Merchandises might sell the same to any Person whatsoever and of the same to make Exchange or to buy Wares paying the Customs therefore is confirmed to continue That the Customers do dispatch all such Merchants coming in with their Wares and that those Merchants for the Prices of their Wares may be credited upon their Letters and Oaths It is Enacted that some One of the Kings Council may be appointed to be Governour to such Merchants Strangers The Chancellor or Treasurer shall supply the same when he may attend if not some Learned Justices shall be appointed therefore The Printed Statutes of this Year e Statute-Bâ—ck p. 108. ad an 28. Ed. 3. concerning shewing of Woolls Ch. XIV And concerning that none be Outlawed or put to Death without due Process of Law Ch. III. And that touching Errours and Misprisions in the City of London Ch. X. And that touching the Confirmation of all Statutes not repealed Ch. I. And that how the Escheators shall answer the Profits of the Lands of the Kings Tenants Ch. IV. And that which prohibits Exporting of Iron Ch. V. And that for the Election of Coroners Ch. VI. And that which concerns the Continuance of Sheriffs C. VII And that touching Attaint given without respect to quantity of Dammages Ch. VIII And that which contains sundry Ordinances of the Staple Ch. XIII And that concerning the Bounds of the Staple Ch. XV. And that touching Sheriffs who use to take Inquests for the inditing of any Ch. IX All f M.S. Rot. Par. an 28. Ed. 3 n. 20 22 26 28 31 32 39 41 43 46 47 c. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 86 87 88. these Printed Statutes agree exactly with the Record After all these things the Lord Bartholomew Burwash senior being then Lord Chamberlain and g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. a. one of those who had been at the Treaty of Calais the last Year declared to the whole House that there was a Treaty of Peace between the King and the French and a good hope of a final Accord whereto in the Kings Name he demanded of the Commons whether they would agree To which Demand they answer'd how therein they wholly submitted themselves to the Order of the King and his Nobles Whereupon Dr. Michael Northborough Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal and about h Godw. Catal. Bish p. 197. ubi Northbrook male pro North-burgh ut Pat. 29 Ed. 3. this time Elect Bishop of London commanded Dr. John Swinley the Notary to prepare a Publique Instrument thereof VIII And having thus dispatch'd the Transactions of this Parliament it is high time to see what was effected as to the Treaty then in hand between the two Crowns of England and France According to an Article of the last Years Truce Ambassadors were to appear from both the Kings at Avignon in January then next
ensuing in order to hold a serious Treaty for a firm and final Peace On King i Knighton p. 2607 n. 50. c. Stow p. 254. b. Frois c. 154. fol. 76. Walsing hist p. 161. n. 33 Edwards Behalf there went Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel the Lord Guy Brian and other Nobles who coming with an Equipage of 200 Horse whereof 32 were cover'd with Harness toward Avignon were met on Christmas-Eve by the Archbishop of Roüen the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Armagnac the Lord Geoffry Charny and Others who were sent Ambassadors from the French King all who being thus joyned were received with great Honour by several Cardinals Bishops Nobles Citizens and Others to the number of 2000 Horse who met them within two Miles of Avignon and brought them into the New-town called Villeneufe to the Pope's Palace but the Pomp of the Cavalcade was so great that from three of the Clock till Night they had scarce time to pass the Bridge The Noble Duke of Lancaster at his Entrance saluted all the People and rode forth to the Pope's Palace Where alighting from his horse without the Gate he made his Approach to his Holiness with all due Reverence which he was perfectly instructed how to perform by his Court-like and Princely Demeanour After some brief Discourse as the Time would permit he went thence for that time and took along with him his Holinesses Blessing to his Lodgings which had been prepared for him beforehand All the time of his Residence there which was more than six Weeks he kept such Hospitality that he was admired by the whole Court having laid in an Hundred Tuns of the best Bourdeaux Wine before his Coming and behaving himself during his Stay so obligingly to all Persons especially to the Pope and his Cardinals that they said of him how he had not his Fellow in the World. But as to the Business about which all these Great Personages came thither that being openly declared in the Consistory before the Pope and his Cardinals the English Ambassadors requested to have those Covenants now confirmed which had before been concluded upon between them at Calais To whom the Duke of Bourbon and the Earl of Armagnac retracting what they had themselves agreed to and sealed and confirmed with their Oaths in the Presence of Guy Cardinal of Bologna replied now That gladly they would have Peace if they might but as to the Disposal of Aquitain and the forefaid Counties neither said they can the French King himself nor any other whatsoever by any means alienate them from the Crown of France Nor yet could they or any of them give their consent that they should be dismembred from the entire Body of that Kingdom since both the King himself and they also had been sworn to maintain them with all their Power But yet if the King of England would cease to bear the Arms of France they were content that the Dominion and Profits of the said Dutchy and Counties should remain with King Edward in like manner as his Ancestors had held Aquitain that is to say provided always the Regality of the Crown of France should be reserved in Witness whereof Homage should be made as of old to the Kings of France for those Places To these new and unexpected Demands the Duke of Lancaster replied That as for the Oath wherewith they pretended to be so strictly bound never to alienate those Places from the Crown of France they might soon for the sake of Peace be by his Holiness absolved therefrom For having so fair a Pretence to the whole the King of England was resolved to have at least these Parts absolutely to himself to be restored unto him without any Limitation otherwise that those Arms of France which by the Advice and Consent of his Liegemen of Flanders he had undertaken to bear he would never relinquish for the fear or pleasure of any Man living And that the King of England would never do Homage to a Person over whom by Hereditary Right from his Mother he claimed Superiority But yet if they could conceive of any more equal and rational way of Agreement and resolve to be more consistent with themselves and more observant of their own Concessions than now they seemed to be King Edward as a Lover of Peace will be ready to embrace what was reasonable At this the Lords of France in a Huff replied That if so they were both ready and able to defend their Country against the English for ever And so they offer'd to rise up but thrô the urgent Importunities of the Pope and his Cardinals this bitterness was soon corrected and at last they agreed so far k Frois ibid. as that another short Truce was taken to endure till the Feast of St. John Baptist following the Pope in the mean time to endeavour what in him lay to promote the Peace and for that end by his Messengers to both the Kings to require them again to send their Ambassadors to conclude on some other Conditions that might be more acceptable to either Party And so they brake up for that time on both sides and the Duke of Lancaster having with l Knighton p. 2608. n. 30. much adoe escaped the snares laid by the French to entrap him returned with safety and Honour into England together with the Rest of his Company except only Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who m Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. died at Avignon on Twelfth-Day and was there Honourably buried And that the perfecting of a Peace at this time was hindred by the French is witnessed by an n M.S. in Bibl. Vatican sign n. 2040. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 15. vid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229 c. Ancient Anonymous M. S. in the Vatican-Library at Rome which accuses the French King of all saying In this Popes Innocent's time the Lord Guy Cardinal of Bologna by the Consent of the Pope and of his own Proper Motion went into France at his own expences to Treat of a Peace with the said King of France and Edward King of England For which Treaty the Duke of Bourbon with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of France and the Duke of Lancaster with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of England came to Avignon in the time of Innocent VI in the first Year of his Coronation to finish and compleat those things which had been ordained by the said Lord Cardinal concerning the said Peace between the said Kings to be had But finally they could not agree and the said Dukes with their Ambassadors went away in discord from the Court to their several Countries And this was done thrô default of the King of France as was commonly said He then denying those things which had been Treated Engrossed and Sealed by them and sworn to in the Hands and Presence of the said Lord
deliberation he might declare whether they were to be accepted or rejected The third day after the King accepted the Universities Resignation and pardon'd them of all that the Scholars had done either in the said tumult or before as his Letters bearing z Pat. 29. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 26. date 20 of May and still remaining among the Archives of that University under the Kings Seal bear witness As to the Townsmen who were now also involved in the Censures of the Church upon the Intercession of several Nobles and the Heads of the University it self this Order was at last taken with them On * D. Lit. Dom. ad an 1355. St. Kenelmes day being a Friday and the 17 day of July a Ex Record Turr. Antiqu. Oxon. p. 176. Claus 29. Ed. 3. m. 23 Holiâ—sh p. 950. Antiqu Oxon. l. 1. p. 180. in the following Year Master Humphry Charleton Professor of Divinity and John Charleton the younger Dr. of the Laws and Thomas Neville Master of Arts on the behalf of the University of Oxford and John of St. Frideswide Mayor John Bedford and John Norton Bailifts of the said Town of Oxford on behalf of the Commonalty of the same Town came before the Kings Council into the Council-Chamber near the Exchequer where the Allegations on both sides being heard upon request made that it would please his Majesties Council according to the Submissions by both Parties made unto the King and to his Council to take order in the Matter in Controversie betwixt them concerning the late tumult and business which had chanced in the said Town by the disorder of the Commonalty of the same in breaking down and burning of Houses in taking and bearing away the Books and other Goods of the said Masters and Scholars and in committing other Transgressions The Council having consideration of the Premises to avoid the Decay that might ensue to the said Town made this end betwixt the Parties That the Commonalty of the said Town John Bereford being in the Kings Prison and Robert Lardiner only excepted should be bound to pay unto the said Masters and Scholars damnified in the said Tumult and Business for amends and reformation of Injuries and Losses sustained Death and Maim excepted two hundred and fifty pounds beside the Goods taken and born away to be restored again and this Money to be paid to the said Chancellour Masters and Scholars by the Feast of St. James or else sufficient sureties put in for the payment thereof at certain terms as the Parties should agree upon And in respect thereof John Bereford and John Norton shall be released out of Prison at the Bail of the said Mayor of Robert Minks and John Dimock till the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery on Condition that the said Sums of Money be paid or surety put in for the payment thereof as before is said or else the Bodies of the said John Bedford and John Norton shall be returned to the said Prison within three days after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula there to remain in manner as before they did It was also ordain'd by the Kings Council with the Assent of the said Humphry Lewis and John Charleton that all and every manner of Persons of the said Town of Oxford and the suburbs of the same indited and arraigned of the Felonies and transgressions aformention'd that should yield themselves to the Kings Prison to be tried by Law and also all others that were at that time present in Prison which the said Humphry and John Charleton should name John de Bereford and Robert Lardiner excepted may be let to Bail upon sufficient Sureties who should undertake for them body for body to appear at the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery there to be tried according to order of Law. And further it was order'd that all such Goods and Chattels as were taken and carried away from the said Masters and Scholars in the said tumult and business by the Men of the said Town and Suburbs in whose hands and in what places soever within the said Town and Suburbs by Inquisition Information or other means they should or might be found should be deliver'd unto the Chancellour and Proctors of the said University to be by them restored unto those Persons to whom they belonged This was the effect of the final Order taken at the day and place aforesaid before the Reverend Fathers John Archbishop of York Primate and Chancellour of England William Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer Thomas Brembre Lord Keeper of the Privy-Seal and David Wollere Master of the Rolls Henry Inglesby Clerk of the Council and other of the Kings Council there present XI This Year b Odor Rainal Continuat ad Baren ad hunc annum §. 31. M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Innocent VI. Gesta Innoc. VI. apud Boâ—qu Walsingh hist p. 161. n. 47. about Whitsuntide two Fryers Minors named John of Castillon and Francis at Arquata being accounted guilty of Heresie were seised by Order of the Pope and brought from Carcassone to Avignon where they were both burnt alive Of whom thus Henry Rebdorf in his Annals Being brought to Avignon and by the Popes Command examin'd they read their Confession in a certain long Paper containing many Articles about the Premises Nay they publiquely affirmed that Pope John the XXII and all his Successors and even Pope Innocent himself who affirmed the contrary to their Assertion were and had been Hereticks and Reprobates and had no Title to any Dignity or Benefice Ecclesiastical For which the said Minors being degraded of their Priesthood were in presence of the Pope deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt within the Octaves of Pentecost And as they went to the Stake they cried out with a loud voice Glory be to God on high And it was publiquely said that many of the said Order had been deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt in Gascogne and in Italy for the foresaid Articles whom the two Friers aforesaid affirmed to be true Martyrs And it was moreover said how there were very many Learned Persons of the said Order who defended the Question about Property and the Poverty of Christ and his Apostles Which also these two had done But it is also to be remembred for the Honour of the University of Paris which we find upon undoubted Authority c Bishop Vshers Answ to a Jesuits Challenge p. 428. eâ— Gâ—id Revâ—cat Errer fact Parisus Ano. 1354. Tom. 14. Bibl. Patrum Edit Colon. p. 347. that this Year a certain Augustin Frier named Guido for defending the Condignity of Mans Merit with God which is a Matter now generally owned in the Church of Rome was by Order of the Chancellour and the Theological Faculty at Paris to make his publique Recantation in this Form I said against a Batchelour of the Order of the Friers-Preachers in conference with him that a Man doth merit Everlasting Life of Condignity that is to say that
in case it were not given there should be injury done unto him I wrote likewise that God should do him injury and approved it This I now revoke as false Heretical and Blasphemous CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH AN. DOM. 1355. An. Regni Angliae XXIX Franciae XVI The CONTENTS I. The King of Navarre murders the Constable of France and invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance The Duke sets forth in order thereto but hearing how the Kings of France and Navarre were agreed returns home again II. The manner how that Reconcilement was made III. The War breaks out again between England and France Prince Edward goes over into Gascogne with his Exploits there The Lord John Lisle slain IV. Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfield's setting forth the Particulars of the Prince's Expedition V. King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England VI. Barwick taken by the Scots VII A Parliament at Westminster VIII A Parliament at Paris IX The Birth of Prince Thomas of Woodstock The City of Nantes in Bretagne taken and recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion from Company The Death of Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth of that Name I. WHen we spake of the Combat that was to have been perform'd between the Dukes of Lancaster and Brunswick we mention'd among other things how extraordinary kind his young Kinsman Charles King of Navarre was then unto him Now the Occasion of this Prince's Coming to Paris at that time was to marry the Lady Jane one of the Daughters of King John de Valois But surely whatever Alliance or Affinity he had or might seek to have with France he became an Occasion of many great Calamities to that Kingdom For a Mezeray ad avn 1353. as he was the most winning and obliging in his Address of any Man living being adorn'd with Vigour Beauty Eloquence Courage Affability and Liberality beyond all Men so he made the worst use of these natural Excellencies and rendred them pernicious by his Ambitious Temper and the secret Delight he had in all kind of Mischief From the time of his Marriage he never ceased to pursue his Pretensions to the Countries of Brie and Champagne but especially to that of Angoulesme But Charles de la Cerda of Spain Constable of France to whom the King had given the latter disswaded him from proffering any Equivalent by way of satisfaction in that Point Whereupon the Navarrois retires discontented into his Earldom of Eureux in Normandy and b Gaguin Frois c. 154. Meâ—eray Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Du Chesne p. 673. there understanding that the Constable was then in his Castle in the Town de L'Aigle he enterprised a design as bold as execrable For on the Sixth of January taking unto him certain armed Knights he caused them to scale the Castle early about break of Day and there by them the Constable was murder'd in his Bed. This done he avowed the Fact by justifying himself in his Letters to King John and his Council and in the mean time thô being the Kings Son-in-Law he endeavour'd to reconcile himself to his Favour yet either to secure himself against the worst or by making himself formidable to extort a Pardon he was very busie in making Musters in fortifying his Castles and inviting several Neighbour Princes to a League against France And althô a Treaty of Reconcilement had been begun and to all seeming appearance established by that time between the French King and him as we shall shew by and by yet when he heard how the Duke of Lancaster was as we shew'd in the preceding Year at the Court of Avignon c Frois c. 154. fol. 76. a. he also made shift to get thither where secretly he d M.S. Ret Par. p. 85. n. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90 confer'd with his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster at which time he complain'd to the said Duke of several Dammages done unto him by the French King and gave him his Oath that he would most willingly enter into League with the King of England and for Assurance of the same would endeavour when the Truce was once ended to joyn him at Jersey with all the Power he should be able to raise And in the beginning of this Year he e Stâ—â— p. 255. sent among Others his Uncle Giles of Champagne to the Duke of Lancaster with Letters heartily beseeching him to come into Normandy with all speed to his Aid and Defence and to receive his Oath of Fidelity to serve King Edward against all Men. The Duke accordingly with the Kings leave f 〈◊〉 p. â—â—9 gather'd a great Navy together which was rigged and made ready at Rutherhive alià s Radriffe being furnished with Provision of Victuals for one Quarter of a Year and the whole Fleet consisting of fourty Sail had all their chief Streamers beaten with the Arms of the said Duke of Lancaster who was appointed with a great Power of chosen Men of Arms and Archers Lord Admiral of the Navy But few or none of his Men knew whither he was bound The Tenth of July he sailed to Greenwich between which and Sandwich he was held till the 15 of August the Wind for the most part all that while continuing at West and South-west which was contrary to this intended Course At length with much Difficulty he came to Winchelsea and thence to the Isle of Wight And it was generally concluded that he design'd for Normandy to support the King of Navarre in his Quarrel against the French King But hearing now certain News of that Kings Reconciliation with France he returned home again to the King his Master II. Now to set forth the Inconstancy of this Navarrois Prince we shall here remember what we promised a little before the manner of his first Reconcilement which was this When King John saw by his Levying of Men and otherwise that Despair of Pardon might drive him to desperate Courses prejudicial to Him and his Realm especially in this doubtfull Juncture he thought to dissemble the Matter and by Flattery to bring him within his Power But g Frois c. 154. f. 75. c. Mezeray p. 40. ad an 1354. this jealous Prince could by no means be allured to come to Paris till he had made most secure and advantageous Conditions for himself As that King John should render him Lands equivalent to Brie and Champagne and an Independency of his Earldom of Eureux from all Others but the King only also he demanded a full and absolute Pardon for all those who had an hand in the Constable's Murther and besides all this a good round Summ of Mony and several other Lands and Advantages and moreover the Lord Lewis Duke of Anjou the Kings Second Son in Hostage for his Security All which King John was fain to grant him being thereto perswaded as well by the Navarrois his Friends as by the Necessity of his own Affairs Whereupon in March following he came to Paris and appeared
before the Parliament where King John sat on high in the Tribunal Seat attended with his Peers the Cardinal of Bologna the Pope's Legate and divers other Prelates The Criminal having asked pardon in a formal and studied Harangue composed of Complaints and Excuses the Lord James of Bourbon h Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Brother to the Duke of Bourbon and Constable for that time was order'd to Arrest him only for Form which he did by setting his Hands upon the King of Navarre's Hands and causing him to go backwards out of the Presence and to tarry in a Chamber adjoining till further Order was taken The mean while the two Queens Dowagers of France Jane the Relict of Charles the Fair and Blanch the Relict of Philip of Valois and German-Sister to the King of Navarre on their Knees beg'd his Pardon of King John. Which being granted the Constable and Marshals introduced him again where after a grave Remonstrance from the Legate the French King declared him absolved But this Haughty Young Prince gather'd nothing but Rancour from that pompous Indignity which afterwards he shewed to the great mischief and Danger of the Realm of France For soon after this Reconciliation he stole away to Avignon as we intimated before where he began to conspire against his Native Country and althô King John upon Apprehensions of the Duke of Lancaster had again now by his Son Charles appeased his turbulent Mind yet within a while we shall see him again fly out into wonderfull Extravagances partly of his own unquiet ambitious Nature and partly being irritated by the rough Dealing of his Father-in-Law For the Year following King John i Du Châ—sne p. 675. being too far provoked with his Insolencies came suddenly upon him as he was at dinner in the Castle of Rouën with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and seised him on the Fifth of April and committed him to Prison but immediatly caused the Heads of Four of his Great Lords to be struck off in a Field by the Castle III. Till this time thô not without much ado many hazards of Relapsing constant Care of the Pope and other well-disposed Personages the unstable Truce first taken at Calais between England and France made a hard shift to hold indifferently well for the space of near upon Eight Years But now the evil Genius of France which hath heretofore been observed to extract the Original of its own Troubles from within it self began to work upon Prince Philip Brother to King Charles of Navarre to rouse the English Arms against his own Blood of France as we shall see hereafter But as yet the King of Navarre was not seised nor was his first Reconciliation as yet known to King Edward as will presently appear when we shall come to speak of his Expedition into France Now k Knighton p. 2608. n. 40. Stow p. 256. a little after Whitsuntide to wit about the end of May or the beginning of June the Truce being to expire the 24 of the said Month both Kings began to put themselves in a Posture and King Edward resolving not to be behind-hand with his Enemies prepared to send over the Prince of Wales into Gascogne attended with the Earls of Warwick Oxford Salisbury and Suffolk and 800 Men of Arms with 2400 Archers himself intending the while to wait the French Kings Motions and shortly after to joyn the King of Navarre about the Isle of Jersey Wherefore King Edward l 10 Julii Ret. Vasc 29. Ed. 3. m. 6. vid. Ashmâ—les Garter p. 671 c. constituted his Son the Prince his Lieutenant in the Dukedom of Aquitain and other Places in France whither he should happen to march as well for the Reformation of the State of that Dukedom and other Places in France as for the Recovery of his Lands and Right possest by the Rebels And by another Commission of the same Date he gave him Power to make Alliances with all Persons of what Nation Dignity or Condition soever to retain Men and pay them Wages and Rewards A third Commission gave him Power in the Kings Stead and Name to receive Homage and Fidelity from the Nobility and Others within the said Dukedom and Realm of France For the Prince's Passage thither the King assigned Richard de Cortenhale and Robert Bauldron Serjeants at Arms to arrest array and equip all the Ships and Vessels of 20 Tun and upward in all Ports and Places from the River of Thames unto Lynn as well within Liberties as without to furnish them with Men and other Necessaries and to bring them to Southampton by St. Barnaby's Day at the furthest as also to press Mariners for the Voyage at the Kings Wages and further he had given Commission to John Beauchamp Admiral of the Sea Westward and to Thomas Hogshaw Lieutenant to carry the Prince over with Power to hear and determin all Crimes and Trespasses committed on Board and to punish Delinquents according to Maritime Law and to do all other things appertaining to their Places Before their Setting forth * Knighton p. 2608. n. 57. there was seen a Prodigy in the Air which was construed to portend Victory to the English For there appeared two great Banners in the Firmament the one Gules the other Azure which were evidently observed in many Parts of the Kingdom and seem'd as it were in manner of Combating to rush violently against each other But in the end the Banner Gules overcame that which was Azure and seem'd to lay it prostrate on the Ground Soon m Stow ibid. after the Prince of Wales sailing prosperously from Seton-Haven in Devonshire landed in the Port of Garonne where he was honourably welcom'd by the Lords and Prelates of Gascogne who together with the People of that Country received him with great joy and proffer'd as unto the Son of their Liege Lord themselves and all they had and even to live and die with him on Condition that he would tarry in those Parts for their Defence King John had before this disposed his Armies in several Places about the Havens in Normandy and in other Parts to impeach the Landing of King Edward and of the Prince his Son But these Frenchmen lay so long thereabouts that together with their Auxiliaries hired from foreign Parts they wasted their own Country as bad as if they had been Enemies themselves and idly consum'd out of the French Kings Cossers so many thousand Crowns that afterwards he was so thinly attended that upon King Edwards Arrival he was not able to encounter him but fled before him burning his own Towns and destroying all manner of Provision that the English might find neither Meat nor Harbour For thô King Edward and his Son intended an early Campagne this Year yet they were both hindred by ill Weather for above fourty Days All which time the French stood ready to receive them but being with this long stay wearied out and their Provision wasted when the English came to land
Archbishop of Rheimes the Nobility by the Duke of Athens and the Good Towns by the Mouth of Stephen Marcel Provost of the Merchants at Paris That they were according to their Duty ready to live and die with their King and to spend both their Bodies and Goods in his Service only they required sufficient time to deliberate and advise together which the King granted them And the mean while viz. on the seventh of December He created his Eldest Son the Lord Charles who was Dauphin of Vienna Duke of Normandy for which he receiv'd his Homage the next day Now the Estates having seriously considered upon the Kings Requests and the Necessity of his Affairs consented to find him for One Year at their own Costs and Charges 30000 Fighting Men with all their Warlike Furniture Provision and Apparel but because the Sum of Money which at first they reckon'd sufficient for that Exploit together with the Gabel of Salt were both by many question'd to fall short they appointed to meet again on the First day of March following to enquire into the Matter and to make up what should then appear deficient The Progress of which Affair We shall refer to its proper place lest We should be carried too far abroad when We are called upon to stay at home But being brought to the end of this Year We shall now think of concluding this Chapter when We have after our usual Method inserted two or three occurrences which are most properly ranged in such places where they may appear without disturbing the Order or Coherence of greater Matters IX On the sixth of January or after the Roman way of reckoning l Walsingh hist p. 163. Knighton p. 1608. n. 33. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 169. Sandf Geneal p. 227. on the VII of the Ides of the said Month in the beginning of this Year 1355 King Edward received from the Hands of Heaven a lively Young Prince for a New-years Gift this being his seventh and youngest Son was born at the Kings Palace at Woodstock about seven Miles from Oxford Whereupon he bore the sirname of Woodstock being at the Font named Thomas and became in time Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester and was a Prince of High Stomach and Resolution King Edward upon the Queens m Stow p. 255. a Purification of this her Seventh Son held in her Honour a Solemn Justs and Tourneament at Woodstock where were present the greater Part of the Nobility of England It is said n Mezeray ad hunc ann 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 41. Frois c 154. f. 76. that on Shrove-Tuesday this Year at Night contrary to the Truce then in being two and fifty English Men took the Castle of Nantes in Bretagne by Scalado But the Lord Guy of Rochefort the Captain thereof who was at that time in the City was so well provided that he retook it again that same Night and cut them all to pieces without pity because they had so falsly violated the Truce This Summer o Knighton p. 2609. n. 40. ad n. 54. there raged a most strange and unaccountable Infirmity in England which was attributed rather to the Malignity of Evil Spirits than to any natural Cause For People of a sudden grew mad and went out of their Wits in most parts of the Realm whether they were in Towns or in Fields and so they ran about distracted to Woods and Groves to hide themselves as Wild Beasts avoiding the Company of Men And some ran out of the Fields to the Towns and out of Towns to the Fields void of all Care or Conduct and could hardly be laid hold on and some wounded themselves with knives and snapt and bit at those who endeavour'd to catch them And many were carried into Churches and there they lay bound till they might obtain ease from God by Prayer And in some Churches you might see ten or a dozen sometimes more sometimes less in this Condition so that it was a great Pity to behold their case But they soon recover'd by this means and the Malady was not lasting This Year p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 735. Peter Lord Mauley V. of that Name deceased upon the Festival of St. German in the Sixty sixth Year of his Age leaving behind him Peter his Son and Heir then Twenty four Years old called Peter VI. de Malolacu or Mauley who follow'd his Valiant Fathers steps thrô all the hazardous Paths of Glory CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward goes into Scotland and recovers Barwick AN. DOM. 1356. An. Regni Angliae XXX Franciae XVII King Edward Bailiol resigns his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland to King Edward of England II. King Edward ravages about in Scotland but losing a great part of his Navy is obliged to return III. He brings along with him the Bailiol into England IV. A Parliament at Paris with a Famous Tax therein ordained V. A Sedition at Arras prudently supprest VI. King John seises on the Person of the King of Navarre puts him in Prison and executes several of his Friends VII Prince Philip Brother to the King of Navarre obtains Assistance from England and being afterwards reinforced by the Duke of Lancaster makes hot War in Normandy VIII King John goes against him but upon News of Prince Edwards Invasion in another part goes back to oppose him IX The Duke of Lancaster having settled Affairs in Normandy goes into Bretagne to the Dutchess I. THE Parliament at Westminster of which we spake in the preceding Chapter being ended about the Feast of St. Andrew a Knighton p. 2611. n. 10. Holinsh p. 951. b. n. 34. King Edward immediately set forward for Scotland and rested not till he came to Newecstle where he solemnized the Nativity of our Saviour At which time He received Letters from his Valiant Son the Prince of Wales containing a full account of his late Exploits in Gascogne as we have declared On the b Holinsh p. 954. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. 14 of January King Edward having his Army encamped near the Town of Barwick and his Navy ready in the Haven to assail the Scots that were now therein enter'd into the Castle himself with some of his Guard that being still in the hands of his Subjects designing to let down the Bridge and fall in upon the Town that way while the Army from without attempted the Walls The Lord Manny also at the same time being busie in springing a Mine thereby to get entrance by Craft if Force should fail Upon this the Scots within being terrified with these dreadfull Preparations and seeing it impossible to hold out against such Forces and so various attacks began to capitulate desiring only to be secured of Life Limb and Liberty and they would forthwith yield up the Town Which Conditions the King accepted But the c Hector Boeth l. 15. fol. 325. n. 75. Buchan l. 9 p. 304. Scotch Writers say
on the Vambrace of his Sword Arm that the Lord Thomas his Weapon not being chained fell out of his Hand to the ground Whereupon he alighted suddainly from his Horse at the place where his Sword lay but as he stooped to take it up the French Esquire pricked at him from his horse with his Rapier and thrust him thrô both the Thighs in which he was not armed so that he fell down not being able to help himself Then John alighting first seised the Englishman's Sword which lay still on the ground and therewith came to him demanding whether he would yield or no Sr. Thomas said Who are you that I may know whether 't is fit to yield and what is your Name Sir said he I am called John de Helenes and am an Esquire of Picardy but who are you Truly replied the Knight my Name is Thomas and I am Lord of Barkley a fair Castle on the River of Severn in Gloucestershire upon the Marches of Wales Well Sir said the Esquire then you shall be my Prisoner and I shall take care to heal you of your Hurts and bring you to my House in safeguard I am content said the Knight for you have won me by the Law of Arms and so he sware to be his Prisoner Rescue or no Rescue Then the Esquire drew forth his Sword out of the Knights Thighs and the Wounds being open he carefully wrapped and bound them up and set him on his Horse again and so brought him fair and softly to Chastelleraut about four Leagues farther where he tarried above a Fortnight for his sake till the Cure was pretty forward And then he hired him a Litter and so brought him at his ease to his own House in Picardy Here he tarried more than a Year till he was perfectly whole and upon his Departure he engaged to pay for his Ransom six thousand Nobles for the payment of which Summ r Ex Aâ—tographo apud Castrum de Berkley vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 358. Henry Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Frank van Hall became his Sureties and so this Esquire was made a Knight by the Profit he had of the Lord Berkley Surely the Rencounters of Love and War as Froisard observes are very variable But especially this Battle of Poictiers was so full of sundry strange and memorable Circumstances that it is as difficult to recite them as no doubt it would be pleasant to read them But we shall pursue the end of the Matter since we cannot attain to many more Particulars at this Distance but what we have already drawn from Writers of that Age and other Good Authorities All this while the Battle endured thô apparently now enclining to the English for notwithstanding all those Great Men fell in Defence of the King their Master as became Valiant Souldiers and Loyal Men yet still the French King had a Knot of gallant Souls about him who disputed the Point so well as if they alone intended to attone for the Baseness of those who by turning their Backs had lost the Day But now the English and Gascogne Lords by their importunate Valour had beat down the Standard-Royal of France and slain the Bearer thereof as we said before and while many of the Enemies discouraged hereat fled away toward Poictiers they push'd on the Victory so home that now they won the last Stake also In the first Breaking of the Press near the King were taken the Lord James of Bourbon Earl of Ponthieu the Lord John of Artois Earl of Ewe and Charles of Artois his Brother Earl of Tancarville these were taken under the Banner of the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter there were taken also the Captain of Poictiers and the Seneschal of St. Omers the Lord of Bodenay the Lord of Ventador the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Mons and the Lord Arnold Cervoles commonly called the Arch-priest most grievously wounded and many other Knights and Esquires At which time a great part of this Battail fled away but were closely pursued by a Party of Gascoigners and English even unto the Gates of Poictiers Here many were slain and beaten down Horse and Man for those who defended the City when they beheld the Enemy so near closed their Gates upon their Friends for fear of being lost themselves Wherefore in the street before the Gate was horrible Murther so that the Frenchmen being now neither able to fly nor to resist Å¿ Frios c. 164. yielded themselves as far as they might discern an English Man whereby several Archers had four five or six Prisoners apiece The Lord of Pons a great Baron of Poictou was there beaten down in the street and slain with many other Lords Knights and Esquires The mean while the Kings Battail was grievously handled and there were taken about the Kings Person the Earl of Rochechoüart the Vicount of Narbon the Lord of Xaintogne the Lord of Montendre the Lord John Santerre who had the repute of one of the best Knights in France but he was so very much hurt that he never had his Health after There fell among the Dead the Lord Guischard D'Angle who was afterwards recover'd and leaving the French Side became a Valiant Servant to King Edward and at the Coronation of his Successor was made Earl of Huntington and in King Edwards Time Knight of the Garter But this Day he fought with singular Valour even to the hazard of his Life by the French Kings side But the Lord Geoffry Charny before he dy'd had an whole Tempest of War thundring upon him till he fell beneath it for all the Force of the English press'd upon him because he bare the Kings Standard-Royal and besides he had in the Field a Banner of his own which was Gules Three Eschutcheons Argent But now the French Kings Battail was quite open'd whereby the Frenchmen were so mingled among their Enemies that sometimes one Gentleman of France had four or five Men upon him at once There the Lord of Pompador was taken Prisoner by the Lord Bartholomew Burwash and the Earl of Dammartin was slain by the Lord Reginald Cobham and among 'um the Valiant Lord Geoffry Charny was there wounded to Death with whom the Standard of France also fell to the ground Then every Man press'd hard to take the King and such as knew him cry'd out Sir yield your self or You are but Dead There was then among the English a Knight of Artois retain'd for Wages in the King of England's service called Sr. Dennis of Morbeque who had served King Edward about five Years because in his Youth he was fain to fly the Realm of France for a Murder that he had committed at St. Omers It happen'd so well for this Man that he was near the King when he was e'n ready to be taken wherefore he stept forth into the Preass and by the strength of his Body and Arms made way up to the French King
desiring You as affectionately as we can and more earnestly beseeching You by the Bowels of the Mercies of God that rendring a return of Gratitude to the Lord your God for those things which he hath given unto You You would accommodate your Soul prepare your Heart and dispose your Mind to Peace and Concord For You know that the Great King of Peace by whom You live and reign doth command You to love Peace and refuses to dwell in the Hearts of the Unmercifull And lest we should more prolixly enlarge our Epistle we add unto our Prayers that those things which our Reverend Brother Talayrand Bishop of Alby and our Beloved Son Nicolas titulo Sancti Vitalis Priest-Cardinal Nuntio's of the Apostolick See or either of them in their own Persons or in Others shall relate unto You as to this Point or declare unto You by Letters You would undoubtedly believe and by a pious Prosecution fulfill them with the desired Fruits of your Actions Dat. Aven V. Non. Octob. Anno Pontificatús nostri IV. By other Letters also of the same Date the Pope highly applauded the Young Prince for that he had honourably received the Cardinal Talayrand and had in the midst of Prosperity overcome that insolence of Mind which usually attends Conquerours and gave him his Thanks for having entertain'd the French King with such singular Courtesie Our Reverend Brother says he Talayrand Bishop of Alby Nuntio of the Apostolick See wrote unto us by his Letters that You confirming and enhancing the Nobility which you derive from your Stock by your Generosity of Soul and the exercise of Vertues have entertain'd him with such Honours and such Favours as became a Son to exhibit to his Father in Christ And that which is greater than all these preparing your Mind equally for all Events and not being puffed up with any Prosperity of Successes but always more humble in the sight of the Lord your God attributing all unto him from whom you have received all You do graciously allow unto our Dear Son in Christ John the Illustrious King of France whom the Event of War hath brought into your Prison that Honour which belongs to so great a Prince Vpon which account returning unto your Highness our deserved Praises and hoping undoubtedly that the Omnipotent God who hath respect unto the Lowly but knoweth the Proud afar off will bestow on You more abundantly and freely the Grace of his Benediction c. Dat. Aven V. Non. Octob. Anno Pontif. IV. XV. All this while i Frois c. 169. fcl 75. did Edward the Black-Prince continue at Bourdeaux having with his ready Mony bought up of the Lords Knights and Esquires of Gascogne all those French Prisoners whom he design'd to carry along with the King into England For as for those whom the English Lords had taken he intended not to buy them till they were brought safe home The French King he lodged honourably in a magnificent Apartment in the Abby of St. Andrew and Himself kept Court in the other Apartment of the same Abby like unto it Now there were many Questions Contrasts and Challenges among several Knights and Esquires of Gascogne concerning the Taking of the French King divers of them affirming how they were the Men that took him But Sr. Dennis Morbeque by Right of Arms and true Tokens which he shew'd as the Kings own Gauntlet challenged him for his rightfull Prisoner Yet for all that this Mans Cause seem'd so evident insomuch that the Pretensions of all Others were silenced thereby an Esquire of Gascogne called Bernard de Troutes averred how he had more Reason to lay Claim to that Honourable Action Between these two there was much Fending and Proving in Presence of the Prince and other Lords that sat with him to hear the Cause But when once it came to a Challenge between them then the Prince commanded them both peremptorily to surcease and to forbear any further proceeding till they came into England on pain of his Displeasure for he said no manner of Decision or Determination should be made but by the King his Father However because the French King himself enclin'd more to Sr. Dennis of Morbeque than to any other and wish'd as he said privately that he alone might have the Honour which he had so well deserved the Generous Prince considering that being a banished Man he had little more than his Wages and what he purchased in War caused secretly to be deliver'd into his Hands 2000 Nobles to maintain his Estate handsomly withall against the time he should appear in the Court of England And to end this Matter once for all when the next Year King Edward and his Council had determin'd the Cause in his behalf the Prince k Paul. Aeonylius p. 288. gave him 5000 Crowns of Gold more as a Reward for that Service For as we shew'd before all Prisoners who are valued above 10000 Crowns belong not unto him that took him but to the Prince Thus the Prince of Wales tarried at Bourdeaux providing and ordaining his Affairs as he thought best till it was Lent during which time the Souldiers of England and Gascogne spent in Mirth and Revell especially in the Christmas Holy-days all the Gold and Silver which they had won with the hazard of their Lives For Souldiers and Seamen thô they court Money at the Highest rate of any others take their leave of it as pleasantly and as unconcernedly as any Men whatsoever Those Knights l Frois c. 169. Gentlemen and others who had been present in the Battle of Poictiers upon their return into England were welcomed treated and caressed highly by all Men where-ever they came and in all respects Prefer'd to others of their Rank and Condition So Honourable is it to be Brave upon a good and just account But on the contrary m Frois c. 170. all the Lords Knights and Esquires of France who had fled from the Battle were so hated reviled and pointed at whereever they came that they durst hardly venture to appear in any great Town or publick place of Resort Now about the time n Frois c. 170. that this Battle of Poictiers was fought Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster was in the County of Eureux in Normandy and toward the Marches of Coutances together with Prince Philip of Navarre and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt in his Company These Great Captains endeavour'd all they could to joyn the Prince of Wales before that Battle but they could not by any means Because all the Passages on the River of Loire were so surely guarded However hearing shortly after of the Prince's Success they were wonderfully pleased and Prince Philip of Navarre soon after went for England to speak with the King about the further Progress of his Affairs and the Duke of Lancaster as we shew'd before diverted into Bretagne to the Countess of Monford where shortly after he went and laid Siege to Rennes having constituted the Lord Godfry of
his Company On the Third Day he rode to Canterbury where also he stayed for some time and here the French King and the Prince of Wales made their Offerings at the famous Shrine of St. Thomas Becket The mean while King Edward being informed of the Arrival of his Son with the French King in his Company d Speed p. 582. gave Command to Sr. Henry Picard then Lord Mayor of London to make ready the City Pageants and to prepare for the Reception of King John with all their Formalities in the most honourable Manner that might be And now Prince Edward rode from Canterbury to Rochester from thence the next day to Dartford and the day after to London whither he came on the 24 of May being the Wednesday before Whitsunday and was met in Southwark by more than a Thousand of the Chief Citizens on Horseback King John being clothed in Royal Apparel was mounted on a large White e Ita Meâ—erâ—y ad aâ—n 1378. where Charles King of France had an Enterview with Charles the Emperour He entertained him says he with all the magnificence imaginable paid him all manner of Respects but such as denote Sâ—veraignty c. And at his Entrance into Paris the King affected to be mounted on a white Hâ—rse and order'd a â—â—â—k one for the Emperour Courser in token of Soveraignty and to be the more Remarkable the Generous Prince of Wales riding by his side on a little black Hobby as one that industriously avoided all suspicion of a Triumph They took their way over London Bridge and rode directly for Westminster and in all the Streets as they passed the Citizens of London set to publick View all their Riches as Plate Tapestry and the like in honour of the French King but especially they f Knighton p. 2615. n. 19. boasted of their Warlike Furniture and exposed that Day in their Shops Windows and Belconies such an incredible Quancity of Bows and Arrows Shields Helmets Corslets Breast and Back-Pieces Coats of Mail Gauntlets Vambraces Swords Spears Battle-axes Harness for Horses and other Armour both Offensive and Defensive that the like had never been seen in Memory of Man before The g Walsingh hist p. 164. Hyâ— p. 124. Speed p. 182. Concourse of People that came from all parts to behold this rare Spectacle was so great that the Solemnity of the Cavalcade held from Three of the Clock in the Morning till High-noon about which time the Prince got to Westminster-Hall where he presented unto the King his Father then sitting in Great Majesty on a Royal Throne the Person of King John his Prisoner King Edward could not long retain the Severe Majesty of a Conquerour for when the French King had humbled himself with such a serious thô Manly Submission as became his present Fortune he was immediately touch'd with a due Consideration of the Instability of his own Affairs by the instance of so great a Prince whom now he beheld in so low a Condition and so rising hastily from his Throne he h Mezeray p. 49 ad 〈◊〉 ann Caressed him with as much Honour and Respect as if he had only come to give him a Visit And the Father and the Son did so exactly resemble each other as well in Generosity as Valour that King Edward being now fully acquainted with the Particulars of his Sons humble Deportment after the Battle of Poictiers declared that he was more sincerely satisfied therewith than at the Victory it self Nor did that Great King make use of this solemn Entrance of his Royal Captive as a Matter of his own Triumph but rather of a devout Procession For i Polyd. Virg. l. 19 p. 381. n. 42. by his Order that very Day the Clergy of London came forth with their Crosses and singing Anthems to meet the Prince and after that for two Days together publick Supplications and Prayers with Thanksgivings were celebrated thrô the Cities of London and Westminster That Day King Edward treated the French King his Son Philip and the rest of the Noble Captives at a Princely Rate and order'd for the King an Apartment of his own Court to lodge in for the Present till the Savoy should be prepared for him being at that time a most splendid and magnificent Structure belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster and so called k Pol. Virg. p. â—82 n. 3. Speed l. 539. from its first Founder Peter Earl of Savoy Father to Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury who was Uncle to Eleanor King Henry the Third his Queen To this Palace soon after he was convey'd and there Honourably attended King Edward himself his Queen and the Prince giving him frequent Visits and devising all the ways they might both to Honour and Comfort him But nothing is perfectly agreeable while Liberty is wanting and therefore thô King John could not expect either more Diversion or more Respectfull Behaviour in the Court of his Brother in Law the Emperour yet something hung upon his mind which was not possible for him to shake wholly off till he should find himself at his own dispose 'T is said l Pol. Virgil. l. 19. p. 382. that when the King of England and his Son having often observed such a cloud of sorrow to obscure much of that serenity which was expected from him at those Princely Diversions wherewith they entertain'd him asked him thereupon to lay aside all Melancholy Care and sorrowfull thoughts he made this Answer with a smile m Psalm 137. v. 5. Quomodo Cantabimus Canticum in Terrâ alienâ i. e. How shall we sing a Song in a strange Land Thus was King John and his Son and the Chief of the Captive Nobles of France entertain'd in England n Pol. Virg. ibid. of the other Prisoners some were presently released upon King John's security in their behalf and the rest were severally bestow'd in safe Custody II. While things went thus in England Henry Duke of Lancaster lay at the Siege before Rennes in Bretagne which he had begun on the o Mezeray ad hunc annam Third of December in the preceding Year and had made many Assaults but to little purpose as yet the Place was so well defended For within was a good Garrison set there by the Lord Charles of Blois under the Viscount of Rouën the Lord de Laval Sr. Charles du Digne and others There p Frois c. 175. sol 87. was also in Rennes at this time a Valiant young Batchelour a Knight of Bretagne called Sr. Bertram du Clequin who soon after became a most Renowned Captain and was at length sirnamed the Restorer of France During this Siege there passed a Challenge between this Sr. Bertram and a young Baron of England named Sr. Nicolas Dagworth a Valiant Son of that Valiant Lord Thomas Dagworth of whose Actions and Life and Death we have already spoken The manner of the Combat was to run Three Courses with a Spear to strike Three Blows
d Asomole's Gartor p. 697. ex Rot. 31 Ed. 3 m. 5. Dat. 18. Novemb. granted unto the Lord Thomas Holland Earl of Kent the Custody of the Fort and place of Cruyck in Normandy part of the Kings late Conquests with all the Revenues thereunto belonging to hold durante Bene placito And a Command was given to Sr. Donald Heselrige Sr. Lewis Clifford and Sr. Walter Mewes to deliver them up to him or his Lieutenant accordingly III. We have declared largely enough how King David of Scotland was taken Prisoner also at the Battle of Durham and ever since that he wanted his Liberty being e Knighton p. 2616. n. 13. at this time in the Tower of London But now upon the Conclusion of the foresaid Truce between England and France the Cardinals together with the f Non enim ad Archiep. erecta est haec sedes ante Sixtum IV. P P. qui id fecit Ano. 1471 Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland began to enter into a serious Treaty with King Edward about the Delivery of King David from his Long Imprisonment Which Treaty was not a little further'd by the Prayers of Queen Joan of Scotland King Edwards Sister So that at last on the g Rot. Sect. 31. Ed. 3. m 2. Dâ—rso Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 658. 3d of October there met at Barwick Commissioners on both sides namely John Thoresby Archbishop of York Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham Gilbert Welton Bishop of Caerlile the Lords Henry Piercy Ralph Nevill Henry Scroop and Thomas Musgrave on King Edwards part and William Bishop of St. Andrews Thomas Bishop of Cathnes Patrick Bishop of Brechin Chancellour of Scotland Patrick Earl of March Robert de Irskin and William Levington Knights Deputies of Robert Stuart Guardian of Scotland on the other Part Between whom these Articles were agreed on viz. Imprimis h Knighton p. 2617. n. 40. Du Chesne p. 680. That King David should never after bear Arms against the King of England within this Realm nor either Counsel or Abett any of his Subjects so to do 2. Item That King David upon his Return into Scotland should use his utmost Endeavour to persuade his Lords and Others to agree that the Crown of Scotland might be held in Fee and by Homage of the King of England But that if the Scots could not be brought to yield to that yet however King David should swear solemnly to observe the Peace with the King of England punctually and duly 3. Item That King David should oblige and bind himself and his Heirs and the whole Realm of Scotland to pay unto the King of England and his Heirs within i Thô we find 24000 Marks of the said Summ upon Arrears 27 Years after Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 277. ex Rot. Sect. 7. Pic. 2. m. 8. ten Years after the Sum of one hundred thousand Marks Sterling 4. Item That King David in the mean time deliver unto King Edward Twenty good and sufficient Pledges and Hostages for the Performance of these Covenants as namely the Lord John Eldest Son and Heir to the Lord Robert Stuart and Nephew to King David and together with him the Earls of Southerland Douglas Murray and Mar and Fife the Baron of Vescy Sr. William Cathanes and Twelve others All who were to abide in England as Prisoners and Hostages for the King their Lord till the said Summ be fully paid and acquitted 5. Item That a Decennial Truce in England Scotland and the Isle of Man be inviolably kept between the two Realms on pain of Forfeiture of Body and of Chattels and that after ten Years the Scots might be free to choose Peace or War as they should like best Of these Articles there were made Indentures and Publick Instruments sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and so King David after almost 11 Years Imprisonment had his Liberty and rode homeward with his Queen Joan Sister to King Edward who attended him like a loving Wife all the time of his Confinement and came to Barwick on the Feast of St. Michael where they were met by several of the Scotch Nobility who brought along with them one Moiety of the Summ agreed on for their Kings Ransom and the Hostages who were to remain in England till the Remainder should be paid And then according to the Fifth Article above-written the Decennial Truce between the Scots and English was solemnly Proclaimed For all along till now whatever Truce was taken between the two Nations there was none entirely observed but either by the Robberies of the Borderers on Land or the Piracies of private Men by Sea was continually interrupted by the Scots Thô King Edward many times was content in a private manner to correct these Disorders without infringing the Publick Peace Particularly this very Year even while the two Kings were labouring what in them lay for an Everlasting Concord k Knighton p. 2617. n. 30. three Scotch Pirates with no less than 300 chosen Men of Arms went cruising about the Coasts of England to trepan Merchants and such as they could get they slew and rifled doing that way much Mischief But about Michaelmas there arose an high and strong Wind which drove them and many English Vessels also as well of War as others all together into Yarmouth Haven where it pleased God the Scots were taken every Man and brought to a just account for all their Piracies 'T is said of this King David l Speeds Maâ—s Nottinghamshire c. 34. §. 6. fol. 65. that during his Captivity here in England being much part of the Time confined in Nottingham Castle he left behind him in a Vault under the Castle curiously engraven with his own Hands on the Walls which were of Rock the whole Story of the Passion of our Saviour For which one says that Castle became as famous as formerly it had been for Mortimers Hole But He being now acquitted of his Imprisonment like a just Prince sets himself seriously to perform the Articles of Agreement between him and his Brother-in-Law of England and first according to a private Promise made unto King Edward he rased and demolished the Castles of Dalswinton Dumfres Mortoun and Durisdere Then m Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. he called a Parliament where he enacted sundry Laws for the Punishment and Disgrace of those who had fled from the Battle of Durham as in a Parliament n Holinshead ibid. p. 240. preceding that Battle he had very liberally rewarded all such as had either been Notable for their Actions or Sufferings in his Service among whom says Hector Boethius his Ancestor Hugh Boece in Consideration of his Fathers Death on his Account in the Action at Duplin was made Inheritor of the Barony of Balbrid the King giving unto him in Marriage the Heiress of the said Barony But now on the Contrary he was as Severe in punishing the Cowardise or Disloyalty as he thought it of those who had deserted him in the
This pious and reasonable Request King Edward granted but as for the Tender of his Service in the Wars he said he hop'd to have no more occasion of making War in France there being now such a likelihood of a lasting Peace to be established between the two Nations But shortly after he heard a Walsing Hyp. p. 125. n. 10. Knâ—ghton p. 2618. n. 60. how the French indeed were willing to pay unto him 600000 Florens in Part of the Three Millions for the Redemption of their King but they refused to deliver him such Hostages as he demanded for his Security Which when he understood being extreamly incensed he sent word to the Estates of France that then they should look to themselves and be ready to receive him by the time wherein the Truce was to expire King David of Scotland tarried several Weeks with his Queen at London having his Lodgings prepared in the Gray-Fryers now called Christ-Church During his Stay there were many friendly Entercourses between him and the two Kings of England and France King Edward feasting and caressing them in Royal Manner for it was not till the next Year that King John was closely confin'd thô we have mention'd it before Particularly this Year he kept his Christmas with them both at London where he sat between the two Kings at one Table and not as some report between the two Captive Kings in Ostentation of his great Fortune for as it appears these two Kings were not Captives together in England during any one Christmas at all King John being brought Prisoner into England in May and King David being released the September following But King David as his Guest might now be reasonably expected to sit at his Table And King John as Davids Friend and Edwards Cousin to have so much Respect shewn unto him for that time at least Besides since Pride is so loathsome especially to them over whom she insulteth it is not to be imagin'd that these two Kings should ever after so entirely love and respect King Edward as they did had he entertain'd them with such supercilious Haughtiness at this time That Monarch's Soul was elevated to such a degree of Generosity that he absolutely reigned in the Hearts of these two Princes who came after they were at Liberty of their own Accord to visit him as a Friend as we shall shew in due Place XIV This b Sandfords Geneal hist p. 146. Walsingh hist p. 165. Stow's Chron. p. 264. Survey of London p 421. Knâ—ghton p. 2618. n. 54. Year the Lady Isabella the Queen Mother of England who was Daughter to Philip the Fair King of France and Sister to Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair all successively Kings of France departed this Life in her great Climacterical or 63d Year after almost 28 Years Confinement because of her Concern in the Ruine of King Edward the II her Lord and Husband Her Punishment was easie and temper'd with Respect for all the while she had a liberal Allowance of 4000 l. per annum and freedom enough thô under the Eye of a Keeper and the King her Son did once a Year at least pay her a Visit and often shew'd her many notable Diversions and Princely Recreations Alan Buchet in his Annals of Aquitain and nom him c James Meyors Annal. Flandr l. 12. p. 152. James Meyor says that being big with Child by Mortimer she was presently put to Death by her Son Edward but the Notoriety of this Falshood appears not only from the concurrent Testimonies of all Authors and Records but especially from thus that besides many others at divers times we shall find Pope Innocent the IV to direct his Letters unto her bearing d Extant Tom. 4. Epist Secret. p. 158. vid. Odor Rainal ad ann 1356. §. 4. al as Date Avin XIV Kal. Julii An o Pontif. W. i.e. An o Dom. 1356. Wherefore let those Authors look to their Credit as well as they can 't is certain they wanted Care or Honesty but to return This Queen was married to King Edward the II in the 12 Year of her Age was his Wife 20 Years and his Widow about 31 being as was thought a Widow of her own making And yet truly I am persuaded partly from the Consideration of her long and happy Life after as well as from many other Circumstances apparent from the History that upon her first coming with Armed Force into England she had no design in the World against the King her Husband but only against the Spencers But that Mortimer and Others who were already obnoxious to the Law upon the account of Treason for their own Security drove her on so far by their Cunning that she was not able to retire And afterwards when the King was deposed they so terrified her with making her believe that if ever he recover'd his Crown he would certainly burn her that she complied with the Design for his Destruction However she proved occasionally almost Fatal to her Native Country of France her Birth affording that Title to King Edward which in those Days produced a War of above Fourscore Years Continuance wherein besides many thousand great Losses that Realm suffer'd three Memorable Defeats as at Cressy and Poictiers under King Edward and at Agencourt under King Henry the V. And even unto this Day the Kings of England are from her furnished with a just Pretence whenever they shall please to resume a Quarrel with that Kingdom She died at the Castle of Risings near London on the Wednesday before St. Bartholomew's Day being e Hoc ann G. Dom. Lit. the 22d of August An o Dom. MCCCLVIII having first lived to see her Son the most Glorious Prâ—nce of all Europe and the Right which she had convey'd unto him to be in a manner asserted by the Decision of God Himself in the Captivity of the French King by the Valour of her Grandson the Prince of Wales She was most honourably interred on the 27th of September following being a Thursday in the Midst of the Quire of the Gray-Friers now called Christ-Church in London under a magnificent Tomb of Alabaster The Church not being yet dedicated Queen Joan also of Scotland sirnamed Joan of the Tower Sister to King Edward of England and Daughter to Queen Isabel aforesaid deceased toward the end of this Year without Issue But that it is better to leave an Honourable Report than Children behind And certainly if King David her Husband had never been oppressed with Adversity she might have been accounted happy but then she had never been extolled with that Commendation which her Vertue and Conjugal Affection doth claim from all Posterity For f Holinsh Scotl. p. 244. during the seven Years Exile which King David had formerly led in France when he was expelled his own Kingdom by the English Forces she would by no means forsake Him oâ— his Fortune but faithfully and constantly adhered to him both then and
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
ready to sustain his Quarrel With these Words he left the King his Brother in an Huff and with four Persons only in his Company rode Post to St. Saviour le Vicount which was as we have shew'd an English Garrison under the Command of the Lord Thomas Holland a great Baron of England and n Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 7◠〈…〉 afterwards in Right of his Wite Earl of Kent and Lord Wake who received him very gladly and said how he had acquitted himself with commendable Loyalty and Honour towards the King of England However o Frois c. 198. by this Treaty of Peace the King of Navarre had the quiet Possession of certain Towns and Castles in Normandy and on the Borders thereof besiâ—es Mante and Meulan And now a Reconciliation was made between the Duke of Normandy and the young Earl of Harcourt chiefly at the Intercession of the Lord Lenis of Harcourt who was of the Duke's Council and of his Houshold So that the Duke gave in Marriage unto the said Earl the Daughter of the Duke of Bourbon who was Sister to his own Dutchess Upon this Peace the Siege before Melun brake up the Place becoming thereupon of the French Interest Thô the Realm of France gain'd little ease or respite by all this for the Truce between England and France being soon after expired those who before in the King of Navarre's Title had made War in Normandy Beauvais Picaray Champaigne or Brie now began to make War as hotly in the said Places in the Title of King Edward of England VI. Now the young Knight Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt had been for more than a Year signally Notorious for the Injuries he did to France in these times of Comâ—â—sion for p Frois c. 198. in Champaigne he had no less than 700 Fighting Men under him by whose Aâ—d he wan great Riches as in Plunder Ransoming and safe Conducts So that at last no fewer than Twelve good Fortresses were at his Command and as then he was in the Flower of his Age a lusty young amorous Batchelour And the Year q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 94 95. after this he Married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Jultere but now Countess Dowager of Kent in England altho upon the Death of John Pormagâ—â—s late Earl of Kent she had vow'd Chastity and was solemnly Veiled a Nun by Wâ—â—liam Edingdon Bishop of Winchester at Waverley in that Dioecese For this Noble young Nun upon report of Sr. Eustace's great Renown in Arms began withou thving seen him to set her Love about this time upon him and often sent him châ—â—e Geldings and Horses of Service with Love-Letters and other Favours wherewith Sr. Eustace was so elevated in his Courage that every day he grew more Notable So that all his Men thought themselves happy they gain'd such Riches under his Conduct But the Duke of Normandy who had heard of all his outragious Viclenâ—es upon the breaking up of the Siege of Melun desired the Lord Broquant of Fâ—â—â—strages a Lorraâ—ner who had 500 Companions at his Command to go into Gâ—ampaigne and help to expell this Sr. Eustace and his Englishmen that made War in those Parts on which account he undertook to pay him for himself and his Troops such a certain Sum of Florens Upon this Sr. Broquart having encreased his Forces with the Assistance of the Bishop of Troye the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Joâ—â—ville the Lord John of Chalons and others from Champaigne Lorraine and Burgunay to the Number of 3500 Men in all they began to set forward against the Enemy First they came to the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne which had been held by English Navarreis a Year and an half but now it was taken at the Third Assault and fourscore Englishmen slain even every Man in the Castle there was none had any Mercy shewn him After this hot Service the Frenchmen went to Troye to refresh themselves and within two or three days they sent out a strong Detachment of 1200 Spears and 900 others under the Lord Brequart of Fenestrages who took the way directly toward Nogent on the River Seyne Early that Morning Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt having heard of the Frenchmens being about in the Country chose out of his Garrisons 400 Spears and 200 Archers and with those Troops marched forth of the Castle of Pongny to sind his Enemies He rode on a stately Gelding Armed at all Points except his Head-piece which an Esquire carried after him his War-Horse being led by his side He had hardly passed the Seyne at Mery when he heard tidings of the French as they also by this had heard of him But surely had he known the Number of those who came against him he would have desired the Assistance of his Neighbour Sr. Peter Audley and the Lord de la Bret who could well have spared him 400 Fighting Men if they had not come to his Aid in Person Upon the First certain knowledge oâ— his Enemies and of the way they took he gather'd his Men together without the Town of Nogent sur Seyne and took the height of a little Hill among the Vines and set his Archers ready before him When the French Men of Arms came up in sight of him they ranged themselves in Three Battails The first was led by the Bishop of Troye and the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages the Second by the Lord John of Châlons and another good Captain the Third by the Earl of Vaudemont and the Lord Joinville besides a Fourth Battail of 900 Foot which was not yet come up The mean while Sr. Eustace spake aloud to his Men Gentlemen let us Fight with a good Courage for if this day be ours we shall be Lords of all Champaigne which was once an Earldom And I hope this day by your Valiant Assistance to do such a piece of Service for the King of England whom I account the Rightâ—ull King of France that he will bestow this Earldom upon Me And you shall all be the better for my Advancement Then he called unto him certain Young Gentlemen as the Couragious Manny who being his Cousin and Nephew to the Lord Walter Manny was constantly Honoured with the Epithet Couragious John de Paris and Martin of Spain with some others whom then and there he Knighted And all his Men being placed on Foot in a strong Battail his Archers a little forward on the left hand he himself stood in the Front of his Men of Arms his Standard waving before him which was Ermin three Hameds Gules When r Frois c. 199. c. Sr. Broquart of Fenestrages who was both very expert and couragious saw that Sr. Eustace designed not to come down to him and that he had wisely placed his Archers to gall them on the right side where they had not their Shields he said aloud Let us first of all fall on whatever happens changing our Shields to the Spear Hand till we have past the Archers
and other great Lords in other Villages about the City which the King now design'd to block up Within the Place at that time was the Lord John de Craon Archbishop of Rheims the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh Porcien his Brother the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Carency the Lord of Annore the Lord of Lore and divers other Captains Knights and Esquires of those Parts King Edward intended after his manner to offer them the choice of his Favour before he gave them a tast of his Fury and many times y Matt. Villant l. 9. c. 67. p. 549 he proffer'd them by his Heralds to exalt and magnifie their City above all others in France if they would give their Consent that he should there receive the Crown of France promising to use them all most graciously But when he saw that he was not heard believing that they did thus because they were ashamed to surrender without having received any Loss he began to threaten them with a long Siege and the Desolation of their Land if they refused to do what he demanded But neither fair Overtures nor foul did avail any thing For by Common Assent this was their Answer That they had their Lawfull King to whom they intended whilst they had Breath in their Bodies to be loyal true and faithfull and if he used Force against them they design'd to defend themselves by Force Nor were these Mens Deeds disagreeable to their Words for they maintain'd their Loyalty so well that the Place suffer'd no great Dammage during the whole Siege which lasted from the Feast of St. Andrew till the beginning of Lent. For besides that the City was very Defensible and well provided of all things the King would not suffer any Assault to be made because he would preserve his Army entire for a greater purpose And truly the Lords of England wanted a little Rest at that time for they began their Siege in the Heart of Winter and there were high Winds and much Rain about St. Andrews and they wanted Litter for their Horses for the Country had layen in a manner waste for well nigh two or three Years before so that little Forage was to be got abroad under 10 or 12 Leagues off whereby there fell many dangerous Rencounters wherein the English sometime wan and sometimes also lost VI. During this Siege several strong Detachments were sent abroad from the Army especially into the Country of Rhetelois in Champagne to Warcq to Mazieres to Donchery and to Mouson some whereof would absent from the Camp three or four Days together ravaging and plundering the Country and then return again to the Camp before Rheims At that same time Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being newly redeem'd from Prison had begun to manifest by his Hostilities in France that he was at liberty He had lately won z Vid. l. 3. c. 4. §. 9. p. 561. by Surprize the Town of Attigny on the River Aisne in Retelois where he found plenty of Provision of all sorts but especially of good Wines whereof he sent the greater part to the King of England and his Son the Prince then lying at the Siege of Rheims who received it very kindly at his Hands Among the divers Adventures which fell during this Siege it happen'd that the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Richmond and March the Lord John Chandos the Lord James Audley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord of Mucidan and Sr. Richard Pountchardon rode forth about the Fields of Châlons in Champaigne where 't is believed that a Ano. Dom. 453. Attila King of the Hunns was overthrown with the Loss of an Hundred and Eighty Thousand Men by the joynt Forces of Merovee King of France Theodoric or Therry King of the Gothes and Aetius the General of the Roman Empire Thô Jornandes makes this Battle to have been fought near unto Tholouse and not to Chálons However in these Fields the foresaid English Lords ranged till they b Frois c. 208. Knighton p. 2621. True use of Armory p. 54. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788 c. came to Cernoy en Dormois a fair and strong Castle which upon view they resolved to attempt For it was a place of considerable moment In this Castle there were two Valiant Knights Captains the Chief whereof was Sr. John Caples who bare for his Arms Or a Cross Ancree Sable The English assaulted the Castle vigorously till the Lord Mucidan being among the foremost was slain with a stone from the Walls to the infinite regret of the English Lords and especially of his own Men the Gascogners who loved him entirely for his winning Carriage and resolute Conduct So that upon his Death all the Lords sware that they would not stir a foot thence till they had taken the Place and revenged the blood of so worthy a Gentleman And then the Assault was renew'd with all the Fury imaginable The Gascogners especially being enraged at their Loss plunged into the Ditches like Madmen without any care of themselves and approached the Walls and mounted up with their Targets over their heads while the Archers of England sent their Arrows so thick together that the Enemy durst hardly appear upon the Walls at their Defences and whoever did but presume to peep over was in evident Danger of their shot By this means thô not without the loss of many Men the Castle was at last taken by force and the two Captains only with some few Esquires received to Mercy all the rest were put to the Sword as Sacrifices to the Ghost of the Lord of Mucidan Thence they c Knightâ—n p. 2621. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 7â—8 marched about two Leagues farther to Autry en Dormois lying on the River Aisne which was accounted stronger than Cernoy but before they came thither the Inhabitants fled Thence they went back to St. Menehou in Champaigne a fortified Town also whence upon their approach the Inhabitants fled likewise whereupon they all returned to the Camp before Rheims and related to the King what they had won and whom they had lost VII Near this d Frof c. 208. time the inconstant and turbulent King of Navarre fell off again from the Dauphin without any known cause or provocation and leaving Paris of a sudden retired to Mante on the River Seyne whence he sent his Defiance to the Duke and his Brethren who wonder'd upon what Pretence or Title he thus renew'd his Hostilities Under pretence however of his Quarrel an Esquire of Brussels named Walter Ostraste surprized the strong Castle of Rolebois on the Seyne about a League from Mante where he kept a Garrison which did afterwards very much incommode the Parisians and the Vicinage While the Siege c Frois ibid. before Rheims lasted the Lord of Gomegines an Hainalder who went to England with a Message to the Queen from King Edward when he sent the Lords Strangers back to Calais repassed the Sea now again and rode into Hainalt
Knighton ibid. Du Chesne p. 682. Guil. Paradin Annal. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 345. seven Weeks all which time he never offer'd to attack the Place For he knew well it would have been either wholly in vain or very expensive of his Subjects Blood. But by this time being wearied out with this tedious way especially because Forage was so difficult to be got that his Men began to lose their Horses and to want Victuals themselves he resolved now to rise from before the Place and marched forth in good Order the way that leadeth to Châlons in Champagne which passing by he proceeded toward Troyes and encamped about Mery sur Seyne all his Host covering the Face of the Country for above 8 Leagues together While the King lay here the Constable went with the Vantguard to attempt St. Florentin where Sr. Edward Renty was Captain but after a great Assault made in vain he gave it over About which time the King came up to him and departed thence to Tonnerre in Burgundy which City he took by Assault but the Castle he could not win For the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows were there in Garrison with a great Number of chosen Men. But because the King found here 3000 Vessels of Wine he was pleased to tarry there five whole Days to refresh his Army in which time thô he gave many Assaults to the Castle he was yet never the nearer Thence passing over the River Armancon he refused the way on the Right Hand and went a little declining to the Left to Noyers which he took without any Assault for their Lord and Captain was still a Prisoner in England ever since the Battle of Poictiers Thence n Frois Holinsh Ashmole p. 660. c. he marched to Mont-Real and so to Avallon on the River Cousson where he tarried from Ashwednesday to Midlent because of the great Opportunity he found thereabout of receiving Supplies of Provision for his Army from a valiant English Esquire named John Argentine who bore for his Arms Azure an Escutcheon of Pretence Argent This Man had won the Town of Flavigny not far thence wherein he found sufficient Provision of all Sorts to serve the whole Army for a Month and accordingly he constantly supplied the King therewith Besides which his Marshals and Van-currours overran the Country wasting and ravaging all about and they also brought in much prey daily During the Kings stay here namely on the 26 of February o Lit. Dom. ED. Pascha 5 April being the Thursday in Quadragesima there departed this Life at the Town of Rouvray on the Coussin near Avallon in Burgundy the Noble and Valiant Young Lord Roger Mortimer Earl of March and Constable of the English Army leaving behind him one onely Son named Edmund then about nine Years of Age Upon whose Death we find p Rot. Franc. 34. Ed. 3. m. 45. vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 695. p. 692. that the King made the Lord John Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick Constable of the Army as also of Dover-Castle and of the Cinque-Ports the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Avallon in Burgundiâ Primo Martiâ— IV. Now the q Frois c. 210. f. 103. b. King and his Chief Lords had with them in this Expedition as we said before besides the usual Carriages Hand-Mills to grind their Corn Ovens to bake Bread Meat or Pasties Spits and Cauldrons to roast or boil and Forges to make Shoes for their Horses And over and above all this there were brought in Carts a sort of little Boats made artificially of Leather every one being able to hold Four Men to row on Ponds or in Rivers and to fish in them at their Pleasure Which Device proved both pleasant and very convenient to the Lords of England during the season of Lent. The King had also for his Diversion thirty Faulconers on Horseback with Hawks and sixty Couple of Hounds and as many Grey-hounds besides those Hawks and Hounds which his Sons and the Chief of the Nobility had wherewith they hunted and hawked by the River at their Pleasure And during all this Expedition from the time they left Calais till their coming to Chartres where the famous Treaty for Peace was set on foot the whole Army was divided into three Great Battalia's every Battalia subdivided into three Bodies each whereof lodged a-nights well-nigh a League from each other The Duke r Knighton p. 2623. n. 50. Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 85. p. 559. c. of Lancaster and the Earls of Northampton and Salisbury were in the first Great Battail the King Himself in the Second and the Black-Prince with his Three Brethren in the Last V. While King Edward lay thus at Avallon Å¿ Frois ibid. Paradin Annales de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 346. Mezer. Holinsh p. 965. Fabian p. 238. Speed Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 82. 84. p. 557. c. Philip the young Duke of Burgundy by Advice and at the Request of all the Country sent unto him in order to a Treaty Sr. Anselme de Saulieu Chancellour of Burgundy Sr. John de Vienne who had defended Calais so worthily against King Edward and Sr. Hugh de Vienne his Brother Sr. John Derie Sr. William de Thoraise and Sr. John de Mont-martin These Lords found King Edward in so good an Humour that they presently obtained this Composition That the King of England giving Security for Himself and all his Subjects not to ravage rob or commit any Hostilities within the Territories of Burgundy for the space of three Years then following in Lieu whereof the Duke should pay unto the King in ready Money the Summ of t De hac Summà variant Autheres Knighton Da Chesne Froi 200000 Motons Mat. Villani 100000 Motons Paradin 200000 Florens Walsingh M. S. vet Angan Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. 70000 Florens Paul. Aâ—â—yl 100000 numm 〈◊〉 â—elyd 〈…〉 non 〈…〉 sed 〈…〉 Speed. altiâ—ae meâ—â—â— sentiunt 200000 Florens of Gold which amounts to 35000 l. Sterling Besides which the Burgundians were to administer to the King and his People whatever Provision of Victuals or other things they wanted for their Money Some suppose n Matt. Villani l. 9 c. 82. 84. p. 557. 558. that the Burgundians having little Love at this time for the House of France and verily believing that King Edward would attain the Crown of that Realm entred a Secret Alliance with him on Condition that then the Duke of Burgundy should be the First Peer of France However when this Agreement between the King and the Duke was sealed and engrossed and mutual Security given the King of England decamped from before Avallon intending directly for Paris and so he passed the River of Yonne at Coulogne beside Vezelay and the Army spread along by the River almost to Clamecy at the Entry of Nivernois Which x Mezeray ad hinâ— ann
Treasures of You and your People but also a great loss of Time for if all things are duely consider'd You may chance to make War all the Days of your Life and yet never come to the end of your Design Sir in short since the Fortune of Battles is variable and You may perhaps lose more in one Day than You have won in twenty Years I would advise your Majesty to accept the Offers which are now made unto You in a time wherein You may leave the War both to your Honour and Advantage These reasonable and prudent Words thus utter'd with a Loyal Mind by the Duke of Lancaster for the Good of the King and his People being seconded by the immediate influence of Heaven fully wrought upon the enraged Prince and enclin'd him to Peace But surely the Occasion which wholly brought him over was very remarkable if not miraculous for presently upon these Words while yet the King was inexorable and refus'd to give the French Commissioners any agreeable Answer there g Frois c. 211. f. 105. Du Ches p. 684. Mezeray p. 59. Walsing hist p. 167. n. 30 Knighton p. 2624. n. 10. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Ashmole p. 660. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13 p. 184. Odor Rainal omnes fell from Heaven such a wonderfull Storm and Tempest of Thunder Lightning Rain and Hail among the English Army that it seem'd as if the whole Fabrick of Nature was falling to pieces and withall it was so excessive Cold at the same time that it cannot be imagin'd so that together with all these Arrows of Gods Anger there perished no less than 6000 Horses and well-nigh a 1000 Men among whom were several Persons of Quality Particularly the Lord Robert Morley was slain outright and the Lord Guy Beauchamp Eldest Son to the Earl of Warwick being wounded to Death in this Storm died thereof on the 28 day of April at the City of Vendosme in Beauce h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 235. id Warwicksh p. 319. sed in anno obitûs LI malè scribitur utrchique pro LX quod not andum where also he was buried in a Chappel behind the High-Altar toward the East having a Fair Monument of Alabaster with his Pourtraicture thereon neatly carved and over his Harness a Surcoat of his Arms with this Inscription on the Verge of his Monument Icy Gist Monsiegneur Guy de Beauchamp Fitz de tresnoble puissant Homme Monsieur Thomas de Beauchamp Conte de Warwick Mareschal d' Angleterre qui trespassa le XXVIII jour d' Averil l'Ann MCCCLX The boldest Heart of all these Valiant Souldiers trembled at the apprehension of this Dreadfull Judgment But King Edward like a Good and Pious Prince look'd upon it as a loud Declaration of the Divine Pleasure Wherefore immediately alighting from his Horse he kneeled down on the ground and casting his Eyes toward the Church of our Lady of Chartres made a solemn Vow to Almighty God That he would now sincerely and absolutely incline his Mind to a final Peace with France if he might obtain good Conditions at which time also he made a Devout Confession of his sins and so took up his Lodging in a Village near Chartres called Bretigny where the French Commissioners being come the next day with more ample Instructions the King was content to accept of Peace The Treaty i Ashmole p. 660 was menaged between Edward Prince of Wales and Charles Regent of France their Proctors and Agents in the Name of both the Kings these two Princes and all the Subjects of either Realm Those who were deputed on the English Part were Sr. Reginald Cobham Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Frank van Hall Bannerets Sr. Miles Stapleton Sr. Richard la Vache Sr. Nele Loring Knights and others of the King of Englands Council Those other on the French side were the Elect of Beauvais Charles Lord Monmorency Monsieur John le Meingre Marshal of France Monsieur Ainart de la Tour Lord of Viviers Monsieur Ralph de Ravenal Monsieur Simon de Bucy Knights Monsieur Stephen de Paris and Peter de la Charite Counsellours with many Others deputed by the Dauphin At first namely on the Seventh of May a Truce was agreed on to continue till Michaelmas following and thence till Michaelmas ensuing which upon the Return of King Edward into England was by Writs bearing Date the 24 of the said Month commanded to be published throughout all the Sea-Ports in England and by a like Writ notice was given to the Duke of Lancaster to proclaim it thrô Gascoigne And the next Day viz. the 8 of May the Articles relating to a Final Peace were agreed to on Behalf of both the Kings This is that Famous Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres so much spoken of by Writers to which the Eldest Sons of England and France were Principal Parties commonly called the Treaty of RENVNTIATION of both Kings in regard that the King of France Renounced the Soveraignty of several Territories to King Edward and he on the other side Renounced his Title to France and some other Places As will more particularly appear from the Copy of the Treaty it self as it was compared with the Original kept at Paris by one that was Master of the Rolls there k Extant Gallice apud Da Ches l. 15. p. 684. Dr. Stillingfl M.S. ad hunt titalum copia Tractatus magnae Facis in Latino inter Reges Anghae Francix factâ— apud Bretigny jurta Carnotum c. 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
Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Sainctogne on this side and on that side the Charente l This Clause omitted in Du Chesne's Copy sed ea Johannis Regis Franciae Recapitulatione alâ—is addo res â—â—sa prebat la Rochelle Angis traditam with the Town and Castle of Rochelle and their Appurtenances The City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agenois The City and Castle and the whole 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 the Land and Country of m i.e. Quercy Cahorsin 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 Angoulesmâ—is The City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rovergue And if there are any Lords as the Earl of Foix the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of L'Isle the n Hunc addo eâdem ratâ—one quâ clrâ—sulam super◠〈◊〉 Vicount of Carmaine the Earl of Perigort the Vicount of Limoges and Others who hold any Lands or Places within the Bounds of the said Places they shall make Homage to the King of England and all other Services and Duties due because of their Lands or Places in like manner as they have done in time passed 2. Item That the King of England shall have all that which the King of England or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Monstrevil on the Sea. 3. Item the King of England shall have the Earldom of Ponthieu all entirely saving and excepting that if any things of the said County and its Appurtenances have been alienated by the Kings of England which have been to other Persons than to the King of France then the King of France shall not be obliged to render them to the King of England And if the said Alienations have been made to the Kings of France which have been for the time without any o i.e. Middle Person Mean and the King of France holds them at present in his Hand he shall leave them to the King of England entirely excepting that if the Kings of France have had them in Exchange for other Lands the King of England shall deliver to the King of France that which he had by Exchange or quit those things so alienated But if the Kings of England which have been for the time have alienated or conveyed any things to other Persons than to the King of France he shall not be obliged to restore them Also if the things abovesaid owe Homages the King shall give them to another who shall do Homage to the King of England and if the things do not owe Homage the King of France shall put in a Tenant who shall do him Service within a Year following after he shall be gone from Calais 4. Item That the King of England shall have the Castle and Town of Calais The Castle Town and Lordship of Merk the Castles Towns and Lordships of Sangate Cologne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Lordships Advousons of Churches and all other Appurtenances and Places lying between the Limits and Bounds following That is to say to the Border of the River before Graveling and so by the same River round about Langle and by the River which runs beyond the Poil and by the same River which falls into the great Lake of Guisnes as far as Fretun and thence by the Vally about p i.e. Chalkhill Calculi Hill enclosing that Hill and so to the Sea with Sangate and all its Appurtenances 5. Item That the King of England shall have the Castle Town and the whole Earldom of Guisnes entirely with all the Lands Towns Castles Fortresses Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Forests and Rights thereof as entirely as the Earl of Guisnes last deceased had them in his Time and that the Churches and the good People being within the Limitations of the said Earldom of Guisnes of Calais and Merk and of other Places abovesaid shall obey the King of England in like manner as they obey'd the King of France or the Earl of Guisnes for the time being All which things of Merk and Calais being contained in this present Article and the Article next preceding the King of England shall hold in Demaine except the Heritage of the Churches which shall remain to the said Churches entirely wheresoever they be and so except the Heritages of other People of the Country of Merk and Calais seated without the said Town of Calais unto the value of an Hundred Pounds per annum of currant Money of that Country and under Which Inheritances shall remain to them even to the Value abovesaid and under But the Habitations and Inheritances being within the said Town of Calais with their Appurtenances shall remain to the King of England in Demain to order them after his Pleasure And also to the Inhabitants in the Countie Town and Land of Guisnes shall remain all their Demains entirely and fully and shall return to them again forthwith save what is said of the Frontiers Metes and Bounds in the last preceding Article 6. Item It is accorded that the said King of England and his Heirs shall have and hold all the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places above-named together with all other Islands which the King of England holdeth at this present 7. Item It is accorded that the said King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for all their Heirs and Successors as soon as may be and at the furthest 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 England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Rights mere and mixt Empire and all manner of Jurisdictions High and Low Resorts Safeguards Advousons Patronages of Churches and all manner of Dominions and Superiorities and all the Right which they have or may have had which did appertain doth appertain or might appertain by any Cause Title or Colour of Right to them to the Kings and to the Crown of France by occasion of the Cities Counties Castles Towns Lands Countries Isles and Places before-named and of all their Appurtenances and Dependances wheresoever they shall be and of every of them without retaining or holding back any thing to them to their Heirs or Successors or to the Kings or to the Crown of France And also the said King and his Eldest Son shall command by their Letters Patents all Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of Holy Church and also all Earls Vicounts Barons Nobles Citizens and Others whatsoever of the Cities Counties Lands
Countries Isles and Places above-named that they obey the King of England and his Heirs at their certain Commandment in such sort as they have obeyed the Kings and the Crown of France q This Clause added out of King Johns Recapitulation of the Articles And by the same their Letters shall acquit and discharge them in the best manner that may be of all Homages Fealties Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises in any sort by any of them made to the King and Crown of France 8. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named with all their Appurtenances and Appendages wheresoever they shall be to hold to him and to his Heirs and Successors Hereditably and for ever in Demain that which the Kings of France have had there in Demain and also in Fiefs Services Soveraignties or Resorts that which the Kings of France have had there in such manner Saving notwithstanding what was said above in the Article of Calais and Merk And if of the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or any of the Soveraignties Rights Mere and Mixt Empire Jurisdictions and Profits whatsoever which any King of England did there hold or their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever any Alienations Donations Obligations or Charges have been made by any of the Kings of France which have been for the Time within Seventy Years past by whatsoever Form or Cause it be that all such Donations Obligations or Charges are now at this time and shall be henceforth made void repeal'd abolished and annihilated and all things so given alienated or charged shall really and de facto be restored and delivered to the said King of England or to his Special Deputies in the same entire Condition they were to the Kings of England before or since the said 70 Years without Fraud or Deceit so soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing within one Year To be held by the said King of England and all his Heirs and Successors for ever by Right of Inheritance in manner above-written Except what is said before in the Article of Ponthieu which shall remain in Force and saving and excepting all those things given and alienated to Churches which shall remain peaceably in all the Countries here above and under named Provided that the Rectors of the said Churches shall diligently pray for the said Kings as for their Founders wherewith their Consciences are charged 9. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have and hold all the Cities Towns Castles and Countries above-named which anciently the Kings of England did not hold in the same state and manner as the King of France or his Children hold them at present 10. Item It is agreed that if within the Bounds of the said Countries which did anciently pertain to the Kings of England there shall be any Places which otherwise belonged not to the Kings of England but were possessed by the King of France at the day of the Battle of Poictiers which was the 19 Day of September in the Year One Thousand three Hundred Fifty and Six they shall be and remain to the King of England and his Heirs in manner as before 11. Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for themselves and for their Heirs and all the Kings of France and their Successors for ever shall without deceit as soon as may be and at the furthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing in one Year render and deliver unto the King of England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts Safeguards Dominions and Soveraignties which did pertain or do pertain or might any ways pertain to the Kings and Crown of France or to any other Person because of the King or Crown of France at any time in those Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or in any of them and in their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever or in any of the Persons Vassals or Subjects whatsoever whether Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church Barons Nobles and others whatsoever without retaining in them or reserving any thing to Themselves their Heirs or Successors to the Crown of France or to any other Person whatsoever Whereby they their Heirs or Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places above-named So as all the above-named Persons and their Heirs and Successors for ever shall be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall Have and Hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and Appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Soveraignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their Appurtenances and Appendages and other Places specified before with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without recognising any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort and Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognisance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them 12. Item it is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expressly the said Resorts and Sovereignties and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall renounce expresly all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd to or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Kingdom of France and the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dukedom of Normandy of the Dukedom of Tourain and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dukedom of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or could make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this Present Treaty ought to remain or to be
rendred to the King of England and his Heirs And the two Kings shall convey resign and leave the one to the other for ever all the Right that each of them hath or may have in all those things which by this Present Treaty ought to remain or to be rendred to each of them And the two Kings shall confer and appoint together at Calais concerning the Time and Place where and when the said Renuntiations shall be made 13. Item To the end that this Present Treaty may be the more briefly accomplished it is agreed that the King of England shall cause the King of France to be convey'd to Calais within three Weeks after the Nativity of St. John Baptist next coming all just Impediment ceasing at the expence of the King of England excepting the Charges of the Houshold of the King of France 14. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall pay to the King of England Three Millions of Crowns of Gold two whereof countervail a Noble of the Money of England and there shall be paid to the said King of England or his Deputies six Hundred Thousand Crowns at Calais within Four Months to be counted after the King of France shall arrive at Calais And within a Year thence next following shall be paid Four Hundred Thousand Crowns such as aforesaid at the City of London in England and from thence every Year next following there shall always be paid Four Hundred Thousand Crowns more such as aforesaid in the said City till the whole Three Millions shall be fully paid 15. Item It is agreed that at the Payment of the said six Hundred Thousand Crowns at Calais and on the Delivery of the Hostages here under-named to the King of England within Four Months accounting after that the King of France shall come to Calais as is said with the Town Castle and Fortresses of Rochelle and the Castles Fortresses and Towns of the Earldom of Guisnes and all their appurtenances and Dependencies the Person of the said King shall be wholly acquitted from Prison and come into his own Power without any Impeachment but he shall not arm himself nor his People against the King of England till the time that he shall have accomplished what he is obliged unto by this present Treaty And the Hostages as well Prisoners taken at the Battle of Poictiers as others who remain for the King of France are as followeth That is to say Monsieur Lewis Earl of Anjou Monsieur John Earl of Poictiers Sons to the King of France the Duke of Orleans Brother to the said King the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Blois and Lewis his Brother the Earl of Alenson and Monsieur Peter of Alenson his Brother the Earl of St. Paul the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of Porcien the Earl of Valentinois the Earl of Brayne the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Forest the Vicount of Beaumont the Lord of Coucy the Lord of Garencieres the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord of Hangest the Lord of Monmorency Monsieur William de Craon Monsieur Lewis of Harcourt and Monsieur John de Ligny And as for the Names of the Prisoners taken at the Battle of Poictiers they are these Philip of France the Earl of Eu the Earl of Longeville the Earl of Ponthieu the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of r Ità Corrigo Ligny apud Du Chesne authoritate M. SS Anglici Doctoris Spencer quod legit Oigny Latini Doctoris Stillingfleet quod legit expressè Joigny Praeter quodillius nomen inter Captivos apparet uti probâsse meminimus Joigny the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Dammartin the Earl of Ventadour the Earl of Salebruche the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Vendosme the Lord of Craon the Lord of Derual the Marshal D'Endreghan and the Lord of Aubigny 16. Item It is agreed that the said Sixteen Prisoners who are to remain Hostages for the King of France as is said shall by this means be discharged of their Imprisonment without paying any Ransom for the time past in case they have not already agreed on some certain Ransom by Covenant made before the Third day of May last past And if any of them be out of England and shall not render himself as an Hostage at Calais within the First Month after the said three Weeks following the Feast of St. John all just Impediment ceasing he shall not at all be discharged his Prison but shall be Constrained by the King of France to return into England as Prisoner or to pay the Penalty promised by him ſ Du Chesne incurred by his Default in not returning if he did not return 17. Item It is agreed that in lieu of the said Hostages which shall not come to Calais or which shall die or depart out of the Power of the King of England without leave the King of France is obliged to send others of a like Estate with them as near as may be within three Months next after that the Bailiff of Amiens or the Mayor of St. Omers shall be certify'd hereof by Letters of the said King of England 18. And the t Du Chesne hunc articulum pracedenti adjungit Nos sequimur M. SS suprâ citata King of France at his Departure from Calais may take in his Company Ten of the Hostages such as the two Kings shall agree upon And it shall suffice that of the foresaid Number of u This shews that in the XV Article where in all the Copies French English and Latine 't is read Charles of Blois or his Brother and the Earl of Alenson or Monsiceur Peter of Alensen his Brother in both places it should be and for or as I have corrected it or else the Number of the Hostages amounts but to 38 and not to 40 as it is here expresly said Fourty there shall remain the full Number of Thirty 19 Item It is agreed that the King of France within Three Months after he shall be gone from Calais shall send unto Calais for Hostages Four Persons of the Town of Paris and Two Persons of every other of the Towns whose Names follow that is to say of St. Omers Arras Amiens Beauvais Lille Douay Tournay Rheims Châlons Troyes Chartres Tholouse Lyon Orleans Compiegne Rouën Caën Tours and Bourges and that they shall be the most sufficient of the said Towns for the accomplishment of this present Treaty 20. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall be brought from England to Calais and shall stay at Calais Four Months after his coming but he shall not pay any thing the First Month because of his Keeping But for every other Month following that he shall stay at Calais thrô default of himself or of his Subjects he shall pay for his Keeping six Thousand Ryals such as are current at this present in France before his Departure from Calais and so proportionably for the time he shall stay there 21. Item It is agreed that as soon as may
be within One Year next after that the King of France shall depart from Calais the Lord John Earl of Monford shall have the Earldom of Monford with all the appurtenances he doing for the same Liege Homage to the King of France and all such Duties and Services which a good and Loyal Liege-Vassal ought to do to his Liege Lord because of the said Earldom And also his other Heritages shall be rendred unto him which are not of the Dutchy of Bretagne he doing Homage or other Duty therefore as it appertaineth And if he will challenge any thing in any of the Inheritances which are of the said Dutchy besides the Country of Bretagne good and speedy Reason shall be done him by the Court of France 22. Item Concerning the Question as to the Demaine of the Dutchy of Bretagne which is between the said John of Monford on the one Party and Charles of Blois on the other Party it is agreed that the two Kings having called before them or their Deputies the Principal Parties of Blois and Monford shall by themselves or Special Deputies as soon as may be inform themselves of the Right of both Parties and do their best to set them at an Agreement touching what is in Controversie between them And in case the said Kings by themselves or their Deputies shall not be able to bring them to an Agreement within One Year next after that the King of France shall be arrived at Calais then the Friends of the one Party and of the other shall diligently inform themselves of the Right of the Parties in manner abovesaid and shall endeavour to bring the said Parties to an Agreement to the best of their Power and as soon as may be And if they cannot bring them to an Agreement within half a Year next following they shall then report unto the said two Kings or to their Deputies all that which they shall have found about the Right of the Parties and touching the points of Discord which shall remain between them both And then the two Kings by themselves or their Special Deputies as soon as may be shall set the said Parties at an Agreement or shall declare their final sentence about the Right of the one Party and of the other and the same shall be put in Execution by the two Kings And in case they cannot do this within half a Year next following then the said Principal Parties of Blois and Montford shall do what they shall think best and the Friends of the one Part and of the other shall aid either Part as they please without any Impeachment from the said Kings and without any Damage Blame or Reproof by either of them at any time for the cause aforesaid And if it so happen that one of the said Parties will not sufficiently appear before the said Kings or their Deputies at the time which shall be appointed for them And also in case that the said Kings or their Deputies shall have ordained and declared that the said Parties should be at concord or shall declare their sentence for the Right of the one Party and either of the said Parties will not agree unto the same nor obey the said Declaration then both the said Kings shall be against him with all their Power and aid the other Party which is content to agree and to obey But the two Kings shall in no case neither in their own proper Persons nor by others make or enterprize War one against the other for the cause aforesaid And always the Sovereignty and Homage of the said Dukedom shall remain to the King of France 23. Item That all the Lands Countries Towns Castles and other Places yielded over to the said Kings shall be in such Liberties and Franchises as they are at this present And these Franchises shall be confirmed by the said Lords the Kings or by their Successors and by every of them so often as they shall be duly required thereto if they be not contrary to this present Agreement 24. Item that the said King of France so soon as he can and at the farthest within one Year next after that he shall depart from Calais shall without deceit render and cause to be rendred de facto to Monsieur Philip of Navarre and to all his Publique Adherents all the Towns Castles Forts Lordships Rights Rents Profits Jurisdictions and Places whatsoever which the said Monsieur Philip as well in his own Right as in the Right of his Wife or which the said Adherents do hold or ought to hold in the Realm of France Neither shall the said King do unto them at any time Reproach Dammage or Impeachment for any thing done heretofore but shall forgive them all Offences and Misprisions for the time past by occasion of the War. And of this they shall have his Letters good and sufficient so as the said Monsieur Philip and his said Adherents shall return to his Homage do unto him their Duties and be unto him Good and Loyal Vassals 25. Item It is agreed that the King of England for this time only may give unto whom it shall please him in Heâ—itage the Lands and Inheritance which sometimes appertained to Godfry of Harcourt to be held of the Duke of Normandy or of any other Lords of whom they should be holden of Right by the Homages and Services anciently accustomed 26. Item It is agreed that no Person or Country which have been of the Obedience of the One Party and by this Agreement shall come to the Obedience of the Other Party shall be Impeached for any thing done in time past 27. Item It is agreed that the Lands of the Banished and Adherents of the One Party and of the Other and also of the Churches of the One Kingdom and of the Other and all they who are disinherited or expelled from their Lands and Heritages or are charged with any Pension Taillage or Debt or otherwise grieved in any manner whatsoever because of this War shall be restored intirely to the same Rights and Possessions which they had before the War began And that all manner of Forfeitures Debts and Misprisions done by them or any of them in the mean time shall be wholly pardon'd and that these things shall be done as soon as may be effectually and at the farthest within one Year next after that the King of France shall be gone from Calais excepting what was said in the Article of Calais and Merks and other Places in the said Article named excepting also the Vicount of Fronsac and Monsieur John de Galard who are not comprised in this Article but their Goods and Heritages shall remain in the same State wherein they were before this present Treaty 28. Item It is agreed that the King of France shall effectually deliver unto the King of England as soon as may be and at the farthest before the Feast of St. Michael the Year next coming after his Departure from Calais all the Cities Towns Countries and other
Sovereignty of the Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands that we have made or might make of our said Brother for whatsoever cause it be ever except all that which by this present Treaty ought to remain to Us and to our Heirs And We shall transfer convey and leave to Him and He to Us and so mutually each to Other in the best manner and as speedily as We may all such Right as Each of Us ought or may have in every thing which by this Treaty and Peace ought to abide and remain with and to be deliver'd to each other of Us Reserving still to the Churches and to Men of the Church all that which to them appertaineth or may appertain and all that is usurped and withheld from them by Occasion of the Wars shall be again recompenced restored and deliver'd And also all the Towns Forts and Habitations with the Dwellers in them shall remain and abide in their full Liberties and Franchises as they did before they came into our Hands and Dominion and that to be confirmed unto them by our said Brother of France if he shall be required so to do and that We do not the contrary in any of the foresaid Things or Subjections And as to Us and all things to Us our Heirs and Successors pertaining We submit our Selves in this Point to the Jurisdiction and Coercion of the Church of Rome and We will and consent that the Bishop of Rome shall confirm all these things in giving Monitions and General Commands for the Completion thereof against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Colleges Universities or single Persons whatsoever and in giving General Sentences Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to be laid upon Us or Them who shall do the Contrary And that the said Sentences may fall upon Us or Them as soon as We or They act or endeavour by seising any Town Castle City Fort or any thing doing ratifying or consenting in giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or openly against the said Peace Of which Sentences the Parties offending not to be assoyled till full satisfaction be made to all them who have had or susteined any Dammage in that Behalf And moreover to the intent that this said Peace be more firmly kept and holden for ever We will and consent that if any Pacts Confederations Alliances and Covenants howsoever they be called shall be any way prejudicial to the said Peace at this time or hereafter to be made even suppose they be firm and deliver'd on certain Penalties or by Oaths confirmed or otherwise ratified or embulled by our Holy Father the Pope or any other they shall notwithstanding be ipso facto cancell'd and of none effect as contrary to the Weal Publick unprofitable to Peace and to all Christendom and displeasing to God Almighty And all Promises and Oaths in such Cases shall be excused and disanulled by our Holy Father the Pope so that none be bound to hold or keep any such Promises Oaths Alliances or Covenants to the intent that hereafter the like may not be attempted And if any endeavour the Contrary that it be void and of none effect And as for our Part We shall not fail to punish all such as Violaters and Breakers of the Peace both in their Bodies and Goods as in equity and reason the Case shall require And if We procure or suffer to be done the Contrary which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and untrue and that we incurr such Blame and Infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We swear on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ to hold keep and accomplish the said Peace and to do nothing contrary thereto neither in our own Person nor by any other in any manner of case And to the intent that these said Bonds should be fulfilled We bind Us and our Heirs and all the Goods of Us and of our Heirs to our said Brother of France and to his Heirs and also We swear on the Holy Gospels by Us corporally touched that We will perform hold and accomplish in the foresaid Cases all the said Things by Us promised and accorded And We will that in like case our said Brother or his Deputies in Place Time and Manner as aforesaid present unto Us his Letters with a like Assurance on his Part comprised therein to the Effect and Strength of our Letters which We have promised and delivered as aforesaid Always saved and reserved by Us our Heirs and Successors that the said Letters above-incorporated be of none Effect nor bring unto Us any manner of Prejudice or Dammage untill the time that our said Brother and Nephew have made sent and delivered unto Us the foresaid Renunciations according to the manner above-devised And till that be done these our Letters not to be against Us our Heirs or Successors in any manner of wise but in the foresaid Case In witness whereof We have set our Seal to the present Letters Dated at Calais 24 of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLX XVI The same Letters were set forth in the Name of King John of the same Date and besides them there a M. S. Reverendi admodùm Edvardi Stillingfleet S.T.P. Ecclesiae Cathed D. Pauli Decan Cui titulus sequitur Renuntiatio pura per Regem Franci◠are others which contain the Renunciation of the French King the Tenor whereof followeth JOHN by the Grace of God King of France to all unto whom these Presents shall come Greeting We give you to know that We have promised and do promise to render or cause to be rendred and deliver'd really and de facto to the King of England Our Most Dear Brother or to his Especial Deputies in that part at the Augustin Fryars within the Town of Bruges on the Day of the Feast of St. Andrew next coming in one Year Letters sealed with our Great Seal bound with Silk and Green-Wax on Condition that our said Brother shall make the Renuntiations which he ought to make on his Part and on the Part of our Most Dear Nephew his Eldest Son and shall have rendred them to our People or Deputies at the said Place and Time in Manner as they are obliged of which our Letters the Tenor word for word followeth JOHN by the Grace of God King of France We give to know unto all present and to come that whereas Mortal Wars have long endured between our Most Dear Lord and Father late King of France when living and after his Decease between Vs on the one Part and the King of England our Brother who challenged unto himself to have Right to the said Realm on the other Part having brought many great Damages not only unto Vs and to all our Realm but to the Neighbouring Realms also and to all CHRISTENDOM For by the said Wars oftentimes have happen'd Mortal Battles Slaughters Ravagings and Destruction of People and Peril of Souls Deflowring of
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
of November he went thence to Monstrevil and thence Four Leagues farther to Hesdin and so to the Good City of Amiens where he tarried almost till Christmas On St. Thomas his Day being a Monday he rode thence to Paris where he was Honourably received of the Clergy with solemn Processions and the Universal Joy of all the People who convey'd him with great Demonstrations of Loyal Affection to his Palace Here He and his Son Philip and the rest of the Cavalcade alighted a most Royal and Magnificent Dinner being prepared for them But it is not my business to declare with what Welcome the French King was received by all manner of People at his return into his Realm For he was indeed a Better Prince than One would guess by his Ill-Fortune and had now been a Prisoner no less than Four Years One Month and six Days viz. from the 19 of September 1356 on which day the Battle of Poictiers was fought to the 25 of October 1360 when he was fully acquitted and went from Calais to Boulogne Wherefore his presence was much desired of all his Subjects and they welcom'd him where e'r he came with shouts and Viveleroys and presents of Gold and Silver and other Fair and Rich Gifts And the Prelates and Barons of all his Realm came to Paris to Visit and Congratulate him and they entertain'd him with Shews and Feasts and other Diversions to comfort his Mind according to their Duty And the King was hugely pleas'd with these things it being agreeable to have a Right Taste of Recreation after so much and so bitter Affliction III. Soon after this King Edward sent over the Sea such Persons as were Commission'd by Him to take Possession in his Name of those Lands Countries Earldoms Bayliwicks Cities Towns Castles and Forts that were to be deliver'd unto him by Vertue of the Peace and Treaty But this Matter was not over-hastily perform'd for divers Lords in Languedoc would not at first obey the French Kings Orders to yield themselves to hold of the King of England althô King John frankly quitted them of all the Faith Homage and other Tyes wherewith they had been bound unto Him It seem'd so hard to them to forget their Natural Lord and yield to obey Strangers Of this Humor especially were the Lords of the far Marches as the Earl of la Marche the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Chasbeau Darry the Vicount of Carmain the Lord of Pincornet and divers others all who were extreamly surprized that the French King should offer to acquit them of the Resort and Homage which they ow'd to him and enjoyn them to pay it to the King of England And some of them began to argue and said that the King ought not so to acquit them for they affirmed how there were in Gascogne Charters and Privileges above 500 Years old granted unto them by Charlemagne King of France which signified that their Resort and Allegiance should not be put to any other Court but his only And therefore at first they scrupled the Kings Commands but King John who was resolved to hold and perform the Articles of the Peace with all sincerity sent his Dear Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon unto them all severally who by good Words and found Reasons shewing them both the necessity of Affairs and that it was the Kings absolute Pleasure and Resolution perswaded the most part of the said Lords as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord De la Bret the Earl of Foix and many others thô much against their Wills to become Liege-men to the King of England The same Difficulty was found in the parts on the Sea-side as in Poictou Rochellois and Sainctogne Unto them this Composition of their King seem'd very grievous when they saw that thereby they were in a manner cut off from their Natural Country and that they must submit to the Government of strangers But especially the strong City of Rochelle would not of a long while admit of the English Yoke but excus'd themselves unto the King and beg'd earnestly of him still to continue their Protector and they wrote to him in the most endearing manner possible desiring him in their Letters and by their Representatives that for Gods sake he would please never to acquit them of the Faith that they ow'd unto him nor put them out of his Demaine into the hands of Strangers saying how they had rather be Taxed yearly even to the half of their substance than to be subject to the English which was a thing wholly insupportable to all true Frenchmen King John by these their frequent and humble Remonstrances saw well their Faith and Loyalty to him and was very compassionate of their case but he was a Prince of that Honour that he had rather lose half his Kingdom than break his Word and it was his ordinary saying That if Faith and Truth were banished from the rest of Mankind nevertheless they ought to be found in the Mouth of Kings Besides he was called upon by King Edward's Deputies for by this backwardness of the French Nation when it seems things were not made ready against Midsummer the First of the times appointed for compleating these Matters King Edward f Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. Franc. 35. Ed. 3. n. 3. on the 15 of November following constituted Sr. Thomas Vuedale Knight and Thomas Duncent Licentiate in the Laws his Agents whom he sent to Bruges with Power to make request to the King of France for the effectual Accomplishment of all things concluded on at Calais and to require that He and his Son should make the Renunciations and Transports according to all the foresaid agreements on the Reception whereof they were enabled to give Acquittance in the King their Masters Name These things quickned King John in his endeavours to reduce his People to acquiesce in his Determinations wherefore he wrote to those of Rochelle Desiring them to shew their Loyalty which they so much professed in denying themselves for his sake that otherwise the Peace would be broken upon their account which would be a great Imputation to his Honour and no less Prejudice to the whole Realm of France Hereupon when the Rochellers saw no other Remedy and that whether they would or no since their King would not admit of their excuses they should be compelled to undergo this hatefull Yoke then at last after much adoe they yielded full fore against their Wills the Honest Men of the Town saying to one another Well we shall then from henceforth obey the English but our hearts are tyed for ever to the French Interest And here it may be a matter of our Wonder how it came to pass that King Edward should ever expect otherwise from Frenchmen born but that they would bear a foreign Rider with a Mind always ready to fling him off upon the first occasion as afterwards it proved indeed Surely in this case I cannot tell what to say since that Prince's
them soon after returned into Burgundy and Sr. Seguin of Batefoile would not forsake his Garrison at Ance. But however France was in a far better Condition being thus happily purged of those noxious Humors which began to corrode and prey upon her Vitals The mean while these Companions were led by the Marquess into Piedmont where by their help he prevailed o Paulus Jovius in Galeacio secundo Matt. Villani l. 10. c. 43. c. mightily against the two Lords of Milain Galeas and Barnabo and conquer'd Alba Pompeia Pavia Novarre and other Towns Castles Lands and Fortresses belonging unto them and had several Rencounters and Skirmishes with them to his Honour and Advantage So that within a Year he obtain'd the better hand of the Brothers of Milan and had of them in a manner what he demanded Thô afterwards the said Lords by their good Policy surmounted these Matters and brought off the better part of these Companions to their own side whereupon their Dominion was enlarged and they ruled in great Prosperity as we shall shew more fully in another place VIII Nor was England much more happy all this while thô now in full Peace thô now free from all Foreign or Domestick Enemies thô now she had no such Thieves or Robbers to disturb her Quiet For there p Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 3. John Harding c. fell in England a New Calamity this Year a Plague something like the former and which in respect thereof was called the Second Plague nothing near so Dismal and Universally Fatal as the Former but much more Destructive of the Nobility and Prelacy where ever it went. Nor was this Visitation unaccompanied with Prodigies for on the q Labbe Chron. Technica ad hunc ann M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 231. Walsingh hist p. 171. habet 6 to Maii C. Lit. Dom. Pasc 28. Martii Vid. etiam Odor Rainal ad hunc an § 5. Walsing ibid. M.S. id ibid. Fabian Lanqet Stow Knighton p. 2626. Pol. Virg. l. 19. p. 385. John Harding c. 184. c. de omnibus hisce Prodigiis Fifth of May being a Wednesday the Eve of the Ascension at 14 Minutes after Ten in the Morning there happen'd a very remarkable Eclipse of the Sun which is mention'd also in the Turkish Annals and there followed such a strange Drought that there ensued great scarcity of Corn Fruit and Hay That same Month it rained Blood in Burgundy and on the 27 of the said Month at Boulogne in France there appeared in the Air a Bloody Cross from Morning until Six in the Evening at which time being seen of many it began to move and seem'd presently to fall into the middle of the Sea. After which there came forth of Woods into Towns many Foxes in the Dusk of the Evening which devoured Men alive in those parts And in the Summer of this Year both in England and France in Deserts and plain Countries there appeared suddenly at several times two Castles in the Air the One full South-East and the Other South-West whence there issued two Hosts of Armed Men the One whereof viz. That which came from the South-East bare Argent and the other Sable which engaging together the White would beat the Black but afterwards the Black recollecting their Forces would fall upon the others and extort the Victory back again And then each Party would return to the Castles from whence they came and so all things disappeared Those who are particular in these unusual Matters add that after Michaelmas the Rose-beds brought forth Roses of a perfect Growth Colour and Smell and that Crows and other Birds brought forth their young at the same time And in England on the 17 of January namely on the day of St. Anthony the Abbot there arose out of the South such an horrible and dreadfull Tempest of Wind with an Earthquake as the like was never known before for it blew down after an incredible manner strong and mighty Buildings Towers Steeples Chimneys Houses Woods Orchards and all kind of Trees bearing many a great way off with the very Roots and doing Wonderfull Harm to Churches Bells Walls Mills and Houses especially in the City of London And this Storm continued by fits more or less for the space of five some say six others eight days And in the same Year many Men Beasts Trees and Buildings were destroy'd with Thunder and Lightning from Heaven and the r M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. ad finem Devil appeared Bodily in humane shape to many People as they travelled in divers places in the Country and spake unto them to their great Affrightment Let no supercilious Critick be too rash in condemning me for inserting such Matteâ—s here as if thereby We Magisterially imposed upon the Belief of any Man. For we expect no more Credit from such an One than his Reason and Judgement may allow nor do we put any stress on these things But however think it our Duty to relate even doubtfull narrations when they are so generally attested as We find these to be Especially because there is no Age but has produced something as strange and incredible nor no Historian that pretends to be so discreet as not to take notice of such preternatural Accidents However at this time there happen'd a Second Plague which we shall spare to describe more fully any other way than from its Effects because in the First Plague which was of the same kind we were so large and so particular It took away as we said before Persons of the Highest Rank and Quality yet neither did it spare the meaner sort but especially it rag'd among Young Men and Children being less Å¿ Walsing hist p. 171. n. 36. fatal to Women as if choosing to be Cruel as well to the Better Sex as to the better part of that Sex. Whereupon 't is said t M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 231. that afterwards the Widows of those who died took unto them husbands at random of strange Countries or Vile Condition forgetting their Estate and Families On u Matt. Villani l. 10. c. 45. p. 54. St. John's day and the day following there died little less than 1200 at London at Paris above 30000 in the whole Year and besides the many Thousands of Common People that died at Avignon there fell no less than x Matt. Villani ibid. Mezeray p. 63. Od. ric Rainal ad hunc annun §. 4. Nine Cardinals and Seventy other Prelates But here in England I shall not stand to enumerate how many of the Vulgar perished our Loss will easily appear from the Quality and Worth of those Few whom I shall now name And first of all there died a Man Worthy to live for ever even the Great High-born Valiant and Liberal Prince Henry Plantagenet who was taken away y Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. by the Plague on the 24 of March being
the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin or as some say z Dugd. Warw. p. 165. ex Esc 35. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 122. on the Tuesday after the said Feast which that Year fell on the 30th of March. England had less wanted him now that the War was ended if he had not been as Eminent for Counsel in Peace as he was remarkable for Military performances He was only Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was younger Brother and next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who was Eldest Son to Edmund Sirnamed Crouchback Second Son to King Henry III of England and Brother to King Edward the First Grandfather to King Edward the Third This Illustrious Person in his life time did nothing degenerate from the Blood Royal of England of which he so largely partook as may be seen in those many foregoing Passages of this History which speak of his Warlike Actions His many Heroick Vertues obtain'd him the Glorious Sirname of Good he being generally called the Good Duke of Lancaster Wherefore his Death was universally Lamented especially by the Poor by the Clergy and by Scholars to whom he was a Constant Friend and Patron Nor was King Edward a Frois c. 216. less concerned for the loss of so Renowned a Kinsman and Captain as were also all the Barons of England Lords Knights and Esquires For he was in his Days an Ornament to the Nobility a Patron to the Church a Prop to Learning a Glory to the Souldiery and a shield unto his Prince He was b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. buried on the South-side of the High-Altar in the Collegiate Church of Leicester which c Knighton p. 2625. Speed's Maps in Leicester himself had founded and set over it one Dean Twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and others all sufficiently provided with Revenues Besides he consummated the Hospital there which his Father had begun wherein were maintain'd an 100 Infirm and Poor people d Stow p. 265. 50 Men and 50 Women together with 10 lusty and able Women to serve the said Infirm Ones with Meat and Drink and other bodily Necessaries day and night Both which Hospital and College of Canons he sufficiently endowed for ever and indeed they were the Greatest Ornament of that City until the heavy Hand of King Henry VIII among other the like Foundations laid their Ruines at his own Feet At which time the College Lands d Stow p. 265. were valued at 595 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence per annum He left behind him two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Mathilda the Eldest then 22 Years of Age at that time Married to William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the Emperour and Duke of Zealand Holland Hainalt and Friseland the other Daughter named Blanch then 19 Years of Age and the Wife of John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond but upon the Death of her Eldest Sister which happen'd shortly after without Issue in her Right Duke of Lancaster Earl of Darby Lincoln and Leicester Steward of England and also Lord of Brigerac Beaufort and Nogent Who had by her Henry Sirnamed of Bolingbroke who afterwards traiterously deposing King Richard the Second became King of England by the Name of Henry IV. Soon after his Death the Lady f Knighton p. 2625. Mathilda his Eldest Daughter came into England to claim her Purparty of the Inheritance where she died presently being g Id. p. 2626. n. 31. as was thought poison'd that the Inheritance might not be divided among Foreigners but go entirely as thereupon it did to her Younger Sister who was Married in England Besides this Great Prince there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. died this Year of the same Plague the Lord John Moubray a most Valiant and Noble Knight of England who was styled Lord of the Isle of Haxiholme and of the Honours of Gower and Brembre He died at York on the 4th of October leaving behind him John his Son and Heir a Valiant Young Gentleman then of full Age whom he had by his Wife the Lady Joan of Lancaster Sister to the Duke of Lancaster aforesaid But this Young Lord John Moubray brought more i Dudg ibid. p. 128. Honour and Possessions to his House and Name by taking unto him for Wife the Lady Elisabeth Daughter and Heir to John Lord Seagrave by Margaret his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Thomas of Brotherton k Fifth Son but Second surviving Second Son to King Edward the First Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England From which Marriage l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110. are Descended all the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Nottingham of the Sirname of Moubray and Howard the Earls of Suffolk and Barkshire and particularly the Thrice Noble Henry Lord Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 279. p. 312. Son of John Earl of Peterborough by his Lady Elisabeth sole Daughter and Heir of William Howard Lord Effingham Eldest Son to Charles Earl of Nottingham Nor ought We to forget the Death of the Valiant Lord n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Mills Catal. Honer p. 531. Edward Montague Brother to William the first Earl of Salisbury of that Name which happen'd in this Year he leaving behind him only one Daughter at that time XII Years of Age then Wife to the Lord William Hufford Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk Besides this o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 68. there died the Lord Reginald Cobham a Baron of great Renown in those days leaving behind him a Son of his own Name and Character Also William p Id. 1 Vol. p. 447. Lord Fitz-Warine of the House of the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine and Sr. Nicolas q Id. 2 Vol. p. 89. St. Maure alià s Seymor a considerable Baron of the Realm Besides whom there were now taken away six Bishops r Walsing hist p. 171. Gedw Catal. Bps Stow p. 265. as Michael Northborough alià s Northbrook Bishop of London who was succeeded by Simon Sudbury Reginald Brian Bishop of Worcester whose Chair was supply'd by John Barnet Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely a good Benefactor to Peter-House College in Cambridge whose loss was repaired by the Succession of Simon Langham also Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester into whose place came William Lenne alià s Lenlimere and John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln whose Successor was John Buckingham Lord Privy Seal but these two latter died in the beginning of the next Year There died also at this time that Famous Scholar Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland and Chancellour of the University of Oxford of whom we Å¿ Huius hist l. 3. c. 3. §. 15. p. 552. have spoken more largely elsewhere Only it is here to be added that this Archbishop t Vid. Odâ—r Rainal ad ann 1358. § 6. Wad in Annal. Minor. Tem. 4. ad cund ann had such a Reputation for Holiness and Integrity of Life that he is said to
have been conspicuous for Miracles even after his Death so that Pope Boniface IX gave order for an Inquisition to be made thereafter designing thereupon to Canonize him as 't is generally believ'd he deserved IX But yet among these frequent Funerals there was a Glorious Torch of Hymen lighted up at Court this Year For the most Heroick Prince of Wales who was all along unconquerable in War laid aside now his Lions skin and began to be soften'd with the warm Fires of Love. The Object of his Affections was that Incomparable Paragon of Beauty the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Countess of Kent at this time a Widow And yet neither in Age much unequal to this Great Prince nor in Vertue or Nobility thô a subject unworthy of him She was now in the 33d Year of her Age and the Prince in the One and Thirtieth of his He being Great Grandchild to King Edward the First and she Grandchild to the said King by a second Venture He the Glory of his Sex for Military performances and other Princely Vertues and She the Flower of hers for a Discreet and Honourable Mind sweetned with all the Delicacies of a most surprizing Beauty However 't is u Joh. Harding c. 185. f. 186. said the Prince only intended at first to endeavour to encline her to the Love of a certain Knight a servant of his whom he design'd to advance thereby but that after sundry Denials with which he would not be put off she told him plainly how when she was under Ward she had been disposed of by others but that now being at Years of Discretion and Mistress of her own Actions she would not cast her self beneath her Rank but remembred that she was of the Blood Royal of England and therefore resolved never to Marry again but to a Prince for Quality and Vertue like Himself The Black-Prince was a Passionate Admirer of every Gallant Spirit how then could he do otherwise but take satisfaction from so obliging a Declaration when he well knew that all she said was true and beheld her still Mistress of such Graces and agreeable Qualities as might worthily recommend her to the Love of the Greatest Prince on Earth He presently therefore returns her Compliment with an Affectionate Kiss and from that instant resolved to become her servant Soon after which having easily obtain'd the Consent of the King his Father and an especial Dispensation from the Pope not only because he was so near of Kin unto her but had x Ashmole p. 676. also stood Godfather for her Eldest Son Thomas he was solemnly Married unto her to the great satisfaction of the King and the whole Court. X. Much about this time also his Brother Prince Lionel one of the Loveliest shape in the World being about Twenty three Years of Age is y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. said to have taken to Wife the Lady Elizabeth sole Daughter and Heiress of William de Burgo alias Burgh alià s Burke once Earl of Vlster in Ireland in whose Right and Title he became Earl of Vlster But here we must excuse or at least explain Sr. William Dugdale Whose Words run thus z Id. ibid. that in the 35 of this King to wit this very Year being made Lieutenant of Ireland he took to Wife Elizabeth c. Which Words naturally seem to imply that he was not Married till this Year unto the foresaid Lady And yet this account is evidently too late by almost seven Years for it appears that his Daughter Philippa which he had by this Lady a Sandford's General Hist p. 221. was born no less than six Years before Ano. 1355 or the 29th of Edward the Third and that seven Years hence namely Ano. 1368 b Id. ibid. p. 222. Dugd. Use Bar. 2 Vol. p. 168. she was 13 Years of Age and that 3 Years after viz. c Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 228. a. Ano. 1571 She brought forth her First-born Daughter Elizabeth unto her Husband Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Otherwise She must have been a Mother at Nine Years of Age which is impossible But to proceed Prince Lionel her Father d Dâ—gd 2 Vol. p. 167. Holinsh Chron. Irel. p. 72. was this Year made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to which Charge he repaired immediately And upon his Coming thither published an Inhibition to all Irish-born not to dare once to approach his Court nor to take up Arms or to follow the Wars thô in his Service upon any account After which he vanquished Obrian the Rebel and yet once on a sudden thô all things were quieted he lost an Hundred of his Men no Man could tell how while they lay in their Quarters Which secret Mischief was judg'd to have been occasioned by that unpleasant Decree aforesaid Whereupon Prince Lionel taking better Advice began to receive the Natives of Ireland into the same degree of Favour as other Lieutenants had formerly held them in shewing a Princely Candour and tender Concern for their Welfare by which means he wan the Hearts of that stubborn People and ever after prosper'd in his Affairs relating to that Country He advanced to the Honour of Knighthood several of their most forward Gentlemen among whom were these Preston which Family was since better known by the Name of Gormanston Holywood Talbot Cusac Delahide alià s Hide Patrick Robert and John de Fraxinis all Persons of great Fame in the Wars And during his Stay in those Parts he removed the Exchequer to Catherlagh and bestow'd on Defence of that Town 500 l. Sterling XI Now that the Wars between England and France were ended King Edward was pleased to restore unto the Priors Aliens their Houses Lands and Tenements which e Vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 10. §. 5. p. 113. 23 Years before he had confiscated to his own Use letting them out to Farm as by his Letters Patents may appear f Weevers Faner Monuments p. 339. the Tenor whereof followeth viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitaine to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Whereas the Priory of Montacute in the County of Somerset by reason of the Wars between Us and France with all the Lands Tenements Fees Advousons together with the Goods and Chaâ—els belonging to the same hath been of late taken into our Hands and by Us farmed and rented forth as appeareth by divers Patents Now therefore since Peace is betwixt Us and the Noble Prince our most Dear Brother King of France We for the Honour of God and Holy Church restore unto the said Prior the Priory with all the Lands Tenements Fees Advousons and whatsoever else belonging to the same the same to hold in as free manner as they held it before And withall We forgive and Release all Arrearages of Rents which might be due unto Us by reason of any former Grants In Witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patents Dated
at Westminster the Sixth of February in the Thirty Fifth Year of our Reign The like Letters of Restitution were granted to all the rest of the Houses of Aliens thrô England All which Priories Aliens were many Years after g Weevers Fun. Monum p. 339. utterly suppressed and dissolved by another Martial King Henry the Fifth and their Lands given by him and his Son Henry VI to Colleges of Learned Men in Cambridge and Oxford and to other Monasteries CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. An Embassy from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus whom King Edward entertains with Justs and Tourneaments II. King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Aquitain with the Copy of his Charter III. The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophecy concerning the next Successor to the Crown after King Edward The Prince's Reception in Aquitain he creates Officers and settles his Court at Bourdeaux IV. A Parliament at Westminster the Jubilee of King Edwards Age He creates his Sons Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge and bestows many large Favours upon his People V. The King holds a solemn Hunting with great Royalty The Lord Faulconberg dies Sr. John Copland murthered I. AN. DOM. 1362. An. Regni Angliae XXXVI IN the beginning of this Year there came into England an Honourable Embassie of Gallant Knights of Armenia and of Cyprus sent from the two Kings of those Countries who were now engaged hotly in a War with the Saracens to request the King of England for his Aid either in Men or Money or in both towards the carrying on of those Holy Wars or at least-wise to prepare the Kings Mind against the time that the King of Cyprus should come hither for that purpose which he did not long after The King received them graciously and they were in a fair way to succeed with him according to their desire and he for his Part as well to entertain these Gentlemen Strangers as to divert the Princes and Lords of France now in Hostage with him began a Walsing Hist p. 172. Stews Survey of London p. 421. on the First of May to solemnize a Royal Justs and Tourneament in Smithfield which was held with great Honour for Five Days together the King himself the Queen and their Children being present with the most Part of the Nobility of England and those Noble Guests of France Spain Cyprus and Armenia II. A while after King Edward advised with his Council about the better Establishing of his Affairs and it was resolved b Frois c. 216. that since the Prince of Wales was now upward of Thirty and a Married Man the King his Father should give unto him the whole Dutchy of Aquitain to hold by Homage of the Crown of England Especially because the Lords and Knights of those Parts althó the Lord Chandos was not only blameless but dear among them did perpetually importune the King to send his Son the Prince unto them It is easily remembred that in the late Treaty of Peace among other things it was agreed and sworn to both by the French King and his Eldest Son afterwards called Charles V that all the Dutchy of Aquitain should from that time forward for ever remain to King Edward of England and his Heirs and Successors in such manner as that they should not owe or pay any Homage or Resort unto the King or Crown of France therefore but to be held by Them with all Freedom and Liberty perpetual as Sovereign Lords Allies and Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any kind of Superiority or making any Obedience Homage or Subjection and without yielding in time to come any Service or Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for either the Whole or any Part of those Lands whether Cities Earldoms Castles Countries Lands Isles Places or Persons named in the Articles of the said Treaty Now therefore King Edward having a full and peaceable Possession of the said Dutchy of Aquitaine according to the Tenor of the said Agreement c M. S. â—et Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Historici omnes resigns and gives unto his Son the Black-Prince by his Royal Charter all the Land of Guienne and Gascogne by the Name of a Principality for his Life in which Charter he created him Prince of Aquitain and Gascogne and also granted unto him those other Castles Towns and Counties of Poictou Saintogne Angoulesmois Agenois Limosin Quercy Rovergue and all other Places on the Borders of Gascogne which by Vertue of the Peace were to fall to King Edward reserving to himself Power of Erecting Guienne into a Kingdom and retaining also to himself the Resort and Sovereignty both over the Principality and the Rest that went with it And this Charter was Dated the 19 of July 1362 being the 36 of Edward the Third But besides this Charter of Donation and Creation there was another bearing Date the same Day of Explanation whereby the King more particularly declared the Sense of his Reservation of the Resort and Sovereignty and besides of an Ounce of Gold Yearly payable unto him by the Prince at his Palace of Westminster on Easter-Day The Charter of Creation is incorporated in that of Explanation the Margin of the d Ret. Vascen 36 Ed. 3. m. 18. n. 17. Roll being Pro Edvardo Principe Aquitaniae Walliae i. e. For Edward Prince of Aquitain and of Wales The Charter of Explanation is French and that of Creation Latine in the Originals which the Reader may find in e Seldens Titl Honor. Part. 2. ch 3. p. 487. c. Mr. Selden I shall here take leave to render the whole in English The King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas this present Day We have given to our Right Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales the Name Renown and Title of the Principality of Aquitain transferring unto his Person for his Life only all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places which We have and ought to have by Vertue of the Peace last made between Vs and our Right Dear Brother the King of France in the Country of Aquitain and also those which We have and hold or ought to have and hold in all Gascogne together with the Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patrenages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral Abbies Priories Monasteries Hospitals both Secular and Regular and of other Benifices of the Church appertaining unto Vs by Cause or on Occasion of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all manner of Rights and all other Appurtenances and Appendages as entirely and perfectly as We hold them or as any of our Progenitors have held them in any time past to hold under Vs
the occasion yet for the Eminence of the Person I shall not pass by the Murder of Sr. John Copland the same who at the Battle of Durham took the King of Scotland Prisoner as we have shewn already This Valiant and Worthy Gentleman upon what Quarrel doth not appear was this Year k Knighton p. 2626. n. 30. murder'd by the Lord John Clifford of Ewyas who thereupon was forced to fly the Land and could by no means obtain his Pardon till about 15 Years after or the last of King l Dagd 1 Vol. p. 341. Edward when upon the Testimony of divers English Peers in Parliament of his singular Valour and of his special Services in the Wars in France the King at last upon the instant Request of the said Peers and Commons of England then assembled in Parliament gave him his Charter of Pardon CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of the Country and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dying Urban V succeeds II. The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon to get and against the Saracens A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed whereof the King of France is made the General III. The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour the Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes IV. King Edward allowing the French Hostages some Liberty the Duke of Anjou makes his Escape V. The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edwards Answer to the King of Cyprus upon his demanding Assistance for the Holy War. VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII A Convocation wherein the excessive Number of Holydays are retrenched VIII The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells IX A Man who after execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. X. The King of Cyprus and the Shrine of St. Hugh of Lincoln robbed XI King David of Scotland comes into England upon a Visit A long and hard Frost I. AN. DOM. 1363. An. Regni Angliae XXXVII IN the preceding Year King John of France undertook a Journey to Avignon to visit the Pope and Cardinals but he chose to ride through the Dukedom of Burgundy because that Provence was newly fallen unto him by the Death of Philip the young Duke Grandson of Duke Eudes the VI and Son of that Philip who was slain at the Siege of Aiguillon and of the Lady Jane of Boulogne who afterwards was married to King John and died the Year before this her Son. In a Favine le Parisiens Theater t' Honour l. 4. c. 3. p. 7. his Person was extinct the First Branch of the Dukes of Burgundy being of the House of France which had produced no less than twelve Dukes and had lasted the space of 330 Years For this young Prince died b Paradin Annal Burgund l. 2. p. 348. about Easter 1362 without Issue himself being but Fifteen and his Lady Margaret of Flanders not above Eleven When therefore King John c Frois c. 216. fol. 112. was ready for his Journey and had appointed his Son Charles Regent and Governour during his Absence he began his Progress from Paris about the latter end of July 1362 having with him in his Company his Cousin the Lord John of Artois Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Bouciquault Marshal of France and many other Grandees Having by small Journeys and great Expence rode thrô Burgundy he came in the beginning of September to Villeneufe without Avignon where Lodgings were provided for Him and his Attendants He was entertained with great Magnificence of Feasting by the Pope and the whole College of Cardinals and many interchangeable Visits were made between the King and Them But in the heighth of all d Labbei Chronl Techn ad ann 1362. Pope Innocent the VI having sat Nine Years Eight Months and Twenty Days departed this Life at Avignon on the Twelfth of September Whereupon there arose much Difference among the Cardinals about Choosing of a new Pope for each of them aspired to the Dignity himself especially the Cardinal of Boulogne and the Cardinal of Perigort who were by far the Greatest and had most powerfull Friends Wherefore after much Altercation the rest of the Cardinals agreed to put the Decision of the Matter to these Two who finding thereby that neither of them could obtain the Papacy themselves agreed together that neither any of the rest should have it but rather that they would pitch upon some other Indifferent Person There was at that time in the Parts of Lombardy one e Vid. Odor Rainal ad ann 1362. §. 6. Ciacon cum Victor p. 925. c. who was employ'd thither by Pope Innocent about Affairs with the Lords of Milain named William Grisant by some named Grimoardi Abbot of St. Victor of Marseille a Devout and Holy Man of unblameable Life and eminent Learning who was called Anglicus whereupon f Walsing hist p. 172. many have believed him an English Man thô I rather believe he might obtain that name because he was a Gascogner and so by Birth subject to the King of England This Man the Two Ambitious Cardinals chose rather out of Envy to their Fellows than thrô any Love to Him or his Vertue He g Labbei Chron. Techn ad ann 1362. Lit. Domin B. was elected on the 28 or as Some say on the last of October and Crowned on the Sixth of November following being a Sunday at which time he took the Name of Vrban V. It is said of him h Walsingh hist p. 172. that having long waited at the Court of Avignon in fruitless expectation of Preferment he complained to a Friend of his saying I believe verily if all the Churches of the World should fall there would none fall upon my Head. Whereupon this Friend of his coming to visit him after his Coronation said all smiling You lately complain'd most Holy Father that if all the Churches in the World should fall yet none you thought would fall upon your Head. Behold now how God hath disposed things for all the Churches in the World are now fallen upon your Head together Soon i Frois c. 216. fol. 112. after this Mans Creation King John heard News that Peter of Lusignan King of Cyprus intended shortly to come to Avignon to give his Holiness a Visit and that in order thereto he had already passed the Sea whereupon he resolved to tarry still at Avignon till his Coming being very desirous to see him because of the great Renown he had heard of him both for his Valour and Piety and particularly of the great Honour he had won in the War against the Saracens and that among other his Successes he had lately taken from them Sattalia the chief City of Pamphylia and
put all the Infidels to the Sword. This Peters Ancestor Guy of Lusignan King of Jerusalem k Speed p. 477. §. 40. in Ricardo Primo purchased the Island and Kingdom of Cyprus of our Richard the First King of England sirnamed Coeur du Lyon by Exchange for his Kingdom of Jerusalem ever since which it remain'd in the hands of the said Guy and his Descendants II. King Peter came to Avignon l Frois c. 217. about Candlemas in the beginning of this Year of whose Coming the whole Court was glad and most of the Cardinals together with the French King went forth to meet him and conducted him with much Honour to the Popes Palace where they were highly caressed and after a splendid entertainment the two Kings returned to their Lodgings prepared for them in Villeneufe Thus they tarried during all the season of Lent and made frequent Visits to the Pope and discoursed him of many serious Matters concerning which they came thither While the Kings were at Avignon there happen'd a Controversie in Arms which by the Court Martial was adjudged to be tried by Combat between two Noble and Experienced Knights namely Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and Sr. Fulk de Orillac the King of France being to sit as Judge of the Field Both the Knights behaved themselves with that Activity Skill and Resolution that is was no easie matter to say who was the Better So that when after a long and gallant Fight neither had any apparent Advantage of the other and both their Spears and Swords being broken they were proceeding to Pole-Axes King John presently flang down his Wardour and caused the Combat to cease after which He reconciled them together Now the King of Cyprus spake more than once to the Pope his Cardinals and the French King That it would be both an exceeding Honour and Advantage for all Christendom if some Powerfull Christian King would undertake to lead the Way over the Sea and rear his Banners against the Enemies of the Christian Faith who for want of such Opposition overran all Asia and hung now like a dreadfull Storm over Europe These Words the French King consider'd well and resolved with Himself if he might live Three Years longer to be One among the Foremost in this Holy Expedition not only out of a pious Consideration backed with the Words of the Pope and the King of Cyprus but also for two other Respects the one because his Father King Philip had made a Vow so to do to the m Odâ—r Rainal ad hunc an §. 14 Breach whereof he constantly attributed all the Miseries which had befell France since that time and the other that by so doing he should not only drain his own Country of those Evil Companions who harassed his People without any just Title or Pretence but also thereby prove an Instrument of saving their Souls by making them draw their Swords in the more righteous Cause of Christ These were his Reasons and this his Resolution which he kept secret to himself till Good-Fryday at which time Pope Vrban himself preached in his Chappel at Avignon in the Presence of both the Kings of Cyprus and of Frâ—nce and also of Waldemar King of Denmark who was newly come thither for the same purpose Sermon ended the French King in great Devotion stept forth and professed himself a Champion of Christ and took upon him the Croisade which he solemnly sware personally to set about and to begin the Voyage within two Years from that Time it n Pascha 2 Apr. Lit. Dom. A. being then the last of March. He also requested the Pope to yield his Consent and Furtherance thereto and by his Bulls to authorise this his pious Undertaking The Pope not only most readily agreed to this Request but also granted him his Pontifical Diploma Dat. Aven Pridie Kal. April Anno Pontif. I. Wherein he constitutes him Governour and Captain General of all the Christian Armies and produces these three Causes of that Expedition First the Indignity of the Matter that Christians should suffer those places which our Saviour had honoured with his Footsteps and the Mysteries of our Redemption to be defiled and trodden down of the Mahometans also the seasonable Occasion of Recovering Syria now that the strength of the Saracens was exhausted with a Pestilence and lastly the great Necessity of repressing the growing Tyranny of the Turks when 't was to be feared that all Christendom would be a prey unto them unless their Fury should meet with a timely Check Talayrand the Cardinal of Perigort was the Popes Legate in this Holy Expedition and then Methods were taken how to support the Design with Tithes and other pecuniary Collections the Prelates were commanded to publish this Croisade from their Pulpits and to distinguish those who took it upon them with the Sign of the Cross And then Excommunication and an Anathema was set forth against them who should offer to disswade the French King from his pious Design of recovering Syria On which account circular Letters were sent and solemn Prayers were appointed to engage the Divine Assistance The Pope also sent his Letters to the Emperour Charles to King Edward of England to Lewis of Hungary and to other Kings and Princes that they would now employ all their power and Conduct toward the reducing of Asia unto Christ and because King John could not conveniently set forth till about two Years after by reason that his Realm was so unsettled and he could not in less time finish his Musters and other vast Preparations thereupon wherefore he tied himself to a certain Day which was to be the Kalends of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand three Hundred Sixty and five The King of Cyprus resolved in the mean time to go about and visit all the great Courts in Europe and as he should succeed to go over before the King of France to whom the Pope o â—dâ—r Rain ad hâ—nc ann §. 19. promised considerable Assistance And thus a mighty Resolution was taken up and the Cross of Jerusalem was worn by John King of France Waldemar King of Denmark and Peter King of Cyprus p Freis c. 217. also by Talayrand commonly called the Cardinal of Perigort thô he was Earl of Perigort and Bishop Cardinal of Alba the same was done by the Earl of Artois and the Earl of Eu the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and the Grand Prior of France and many other Lords and Knights then and there present The King of Cyprus was extreamly overjoy'd at the great Zeal he found in all these Christian Worthies and thought his Journey well bestow'd in so great a purchase towards the Advancement of Religion But yet not content with this he design'd to proceed and visit Charles the Emperour and all the Princes and Chief Lords of the Empire he intended likewise to see the King of England the Prince of Wales
the King was resolved to execute the Statute of Apparel and therefore charged them all to promote the same After which he demanded of both Houses whether they would have such Matters as they agreed on to be by way of Ordinance or of Statute they answer'd by way of Ordinance that they might amend the same at their Pleasure and so it was done Then the King thanked them for their Pains taken and so dismist them for that time VII A Convocation x Regist Arch. Cant. Simon Islip fol. 186. b. Selden's Titl Honor. c. 5. § 43. p. 815. of the Province of Canterbury being held this Year under Archbishop Islip the Holy-days were by a Canon retrenched to a far less Number than before which indeed amounted to few more than We now observe in England Excepting to particular places the Days of Dedication of Churches and the Saints days Patrons thereof and also the Double Festival of y Lindâ—ood de Feriis C. eâ— Scriptur is St. George liberty being left to Work on any other Saints Days VIII This Year z Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. departed this Life the Fair young Lady Elizabeth Dutchess of Clarence leaving one only Daughter behind her by Duke Lionel her Husband called Philippa who afterwards was Married to Edmund Mortimer Third Earl of March Lord and Baron of Wigmore Trim Clare and Connaught as also of the Lordship and Town of Ludlow By him She had Roger Mortimer Fourth Earl of March whose Son Edmund dying without Issue his Daughter Anne was Married to Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge Son to Edmund Langley Duke of York Fifth Son of King Edward the Third and so convey'd her Title to her Son Richard Duke of York who thereupon openly challenged the Crown of King Henry the Sixth the Son of Henry the Fifth the Son of Henry the Fourth the Son of John of Gaunt King Edwards Fourth Son when as by the Mothers side himself was the Son and Her of Anne Daughter and Heir of Roger Mortimer Son and Heir of Edmund Mortimer by the Lady Philippa sole Daughter and Heiress of Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence King Edward's Third Son. And thô this Richard failed in the attempt yet his Son Edward afterwards call'd the Fourth obtain'd the point having destroy'd the House of John of Gaunt in the Third Generation after his Son Henry of Bolingbroke had depos'd King Richard the Second by Rebellion King Edward solemnized the Funerals of this great Dutchess of Clarence and a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. gave Command to the Keeper of his great Wardrobe to deliver out Four Cloths of Gold Baudekin or Tinsell and Nine of Baudekin of Lucca to be offer'd for himself and his Queen at her Funeral Her Body b Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was solemnly interred in the Chancel of the Augustine Fryers at Clare in Suffolk Queen Philippa who together with the Lady Catherine Countess of Warwick and Daughter to Roger Mortimer First Earl of March had stood her Godmother took her young Daughter Philippa into her Care and Protection She being then in the Eighth Year of her Age. This Year also Edward Bailiol who was in his time King of Scotland till he resign'd his Title to King Edward of England c Knighton p. 2627. n 50. departed this Life at Doncaster in Yorkshire without Issue being the last of the Family of John Bailiol So that hereby there was no pretence left to any to disturb the Then-uncontroverted Right of David Bruce King of Scotland and consequently of Prince Robert Stuart who being the Eldest Son of King David's Eldest Sister succeeded him in the Kingdom upon King David's Dying also without Issue as we shall see about Ten Years hence On the d Gedw Catal. Bps p. 371. Walsing hist p. 173. Dagd Warw. p. 557. Fourteenth of August Dr. Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells departed this Life being succeeded by Dr. John Bernet who was translated thither from Worcester and William Wittlesey Bishop of Rochester supply'd his place at Worcester whose vacant See was filled by Dr. Thomas Trillick Dean of St. Pauls London IX About this time e Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. one Walter Winkeburne was for some Capital crime or other so violently prosecuted by one of the Knights Hospitallers that whether Guilty or no he received Judgment to be Hanged and Hanged he was Being after such a time cut down as he was carried for Dead to be laid in the Church-yard of St. Sepulchers at Leicester he began to revive in the Cart and being thereupon carried for safeguard into the Church was there perfectly recover'd and carefully watched by the Clergy of Leicester lest the Sheriff should take him away to hang him again while some were sent to tell the King who was then in those Parts of the Adventure and to beg his Charter of pardon since the Person had in a manner satisfied the Law and that his miraculous Recovery might seem no bad Argument of his Innocency Accordingly King Edward presently after granted him his Charter of pardon in the Abbey of Leicester saying these Words which Knighton affirms that himself heard from him Since God hath given him Life I 'll give him my Charter Such another Case happen'd at London in my Time about the Year 1670 upon the Body of one Savage an hopefull young Man who gave great testimony of his Repentance both before and at the place of Execution After he had hung a full Half Hour his Body being granted to his Friends for Burial they perceiving some signs of Life to remain put him into a warm Bed and at last perfectly recover'd him thô by his own Confession he had been guilty of the Murther and Robbery laid to his Charge But he had not such Fortune as this Walter Winkeburne for before King Charles the Second could be made acquainted with the Accident the Sheriff having an inkling of the matter by the indiscretion of his Friends came and took him away to the Gallows again where finally he died X. In this Season either because the Wars being now ended those who had been Souldiers had rather do any thing than return to their former Occupations or thrô relaxation of Discipline there Å¿ Knighton p. 2628. n. 10 c. arose Swarms of Theeves and High-way Men in several parts of England who set upon Travellers and brake up Houses and robbed Churches and the Shrines of Saints and carried away the more pretious Reliques and all the Rich Offerings Particularly they robbed the Abbey of Thornton in Leicestershire and took away the Image of our Lady of Mirivale out of her Chappel and the Image of our Lady of Monks-Kirkby and the like they did in many other places thô most of the Authors were taken and hanged Some of these People stole away the Head of St. Hugh formerly Bishop of Lincoln which after they had spoiled it of all the Gold Silver and precious Stones belonging unto it they
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
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
them to be reasonable for the ease of his People That 3 s. 4 d. laid upon every Sack of Wooll at Calais and all other unreasonable Impositions may cease The King willeth that all unreasonable Impositions should cease It is agreed that One Staple be at l Melcomb Regis in 〈◊〉 Melcomb and another at Ipsewich and that all Merchants and others for their Ease may ship Woolls at Lewes where the Customers of Chichester shall take the Customs and the Customers of Yarmouth shall take in like manner at Lynn As for the Statutes made in this Parliament I shall refer those who desire to Inspect them to the Statute-Books in Print especially because those of this Year do more exactly agree with the Record Only for my self I must put in this Caution that whereas in the Record and Statute-Books this Parliament is rightly fixed to the 38 of Edward the Third considering that he began not to Reign till the 25 of January before which time the Parliament sat yet I have placed it here as well because I begin the Year constantly with January as because it was indeed the Thirty Ninth of this Kings Inchoate before the Parliament was adjourn'd For on the m Ita M.S. Feâ—â—rd Paâ—l â—â—d Sr. Rob. Câ—ttâ—â—'s Abrid pâ—â—ent Seventeenth legit Seventh of February after the King in Presence of the Lords and Commons had given his Royal Assent to all the Premises He gave his Thanks to the Three Estates and so gave them leave to depart VII Now is King Edward said to have finished all his Wars for he had full Peace with France and Scotland and all the Quarrels about the Dukedom of Bretagne were ended and Aquitaine gladly embraced the Government of his Son Prince Edward and his other Son the Duke of Clarence had brought Ireland to a very good Settlement Wherefore thô in the Midst of his Wars he always would find leisure to exercise Actions of Devotion Piety and Charity yet now he more seriously apply'd himself and in a manner wholly Dedicated his time to such Matters as in his Buildings at Windsor Castle Queenborough Castle and Town St. Stephen's Chappel at Westminster Aberconney in Wales Henley and East-Hamstead and his Royal Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge which being afterwards augmented with the Addition of Two or Three other adjoyning Foundations was by King Henry VIII named Trinity-College and lastly by the Beautifull Accession of a Magnificent Building called the Library is rendred now the most August and Famous Structure that ever the Christian World hath seen Dedicated to the Studies of good Letters Which College is no less adorned with those Illustrious Lights of Learning that have continually shined there Nor have their Beams been confined to any Limits but have spread themselves like the Rays of the Sun over Earth and Heaven and enlightned the Church and State and the whole Universe 'T is now happily Govern'd by the Reverend Doctor John Montagu Brother to the Earl of Sandwich a Person no less conspicuous for his Eminent Parts and Vertues than for his Birth and Quality VIII This Flourishing Condition of our King Edward put the Pope it seems in mind of some Old Debts which he pretended to be due from England to the Apostolick See for the Kingdom of England and Lordship of Ireland which King John promised to hold of the Church as a Fee Farm for ever His n Extant apud Odor Rainald ad hunc an §. 13 Letters bear Date at Avignon Idibus Junii Ano. Pontif. III in which Letters it appears that the Sum demanded was but 1000 Marks sterling per annum and that the last payment was made by this King on the Seventh of July Ano. Dom. 1333 but had ever since by reason of the Wars been discontinued So that at this time there was due no less than 32000 Marks to the Apostolick Chamber Thô in good truth saving the Authority of these Letters I could never find o Vid. John Speed in the Reign of King John p. 500. §. 48. 49. that ever this Annual Pension was paid to Rome since the Days of King John. But in the next Year we shall see how King Edward now resented this Matter For the Pope had besides his foresaid Letters empower'd his Nuntio John Abbot of the Monastery St i Bavonis Gaudensis of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Tournay by process to cite the King unto his Court to answer for his Default on Condition he should refuse to pay the Arrears But the effect of this daring Summons we shall see in the Parliament of the next Year IX At this time King Edward p Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. Ashmole p. 669. Sandford p. 178 Dugd. p. 761. Mills Catal. Hon. p. 440. Knighton p. 2628. n. 40. c. gave his Daughter the Lady Isabella in Marriage to the Young Lord Ingelram de Guisnes the Rites being performed with Great Pomp and Splendor at the Famous Castle of Windsor The said Lord was by Birth a Baron both of England and of France and his Titles were Lord and Baron of Coucy of Oisey and Mount-Mirabel of Doüilly of Beauraine and of Barques Earl of Soissons and of Nide and some Years after Arch-Duke of Austria Besides which the King at this time created him Earl of Albemarle to have and to hold the said Earldom for him and the Heirs Male of his and her Body for ever He also confirmed unto him the Mannor of Moreholme the Moieties of the Mannors of Wyersdale and Ashton with the Third Part of the Lordship of Whittington in the County of Lancaster to him and to the said Isabell and to the Heirs of their Bodies lawfully begotten I say he confirmed them unto him For the q Robert Glover Somerset Herald set forth by Tho. Mills Author of the Catalogue of Honour mistakes in saying they were now given him in the name of a Dowry since we find the said Places or the greatest part of them did belong unto his Grandfather r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. William de Guisnes Lord Coucy What further Honours he obtain'd we shall see next Year wherefore at this time we shall only add this that the King gave him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. ex Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. leave to go over with his Lady into France declaring that whatever Children Male or Female they might have between them thô born beyond Sea they should enjoy and inherit all Lands descendible to them in this Realm as Freely as if they were born in England He bare for his Arms t Mill's Catal. Hon. p. 440. ubi haec Arma Periscelidi inveluta cernurtur the First and Fourth Barry of Viverry and Gules the Second and Third Gules A Fess Argent and in process of time he was elected into the Most Honourable Order of the Garter of which Grace he was well Worthy X. In these days King Edward caused the Lord
judicious Writer XIII Toward the End of the Year the Noble and Valiant Hero Thomas Earl of Warwick who had been in the Parts of Prussia g Hist M.S. Jehan Rous p. 253. c. return'd into England with his Retinue and the Voluntiers who accompanied him besides the King of Lithuania's Son whom as we shew'd before he caused to be baptized and called after his own Name Thomas he himself at that time standing for his Godfather Soon after that h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. Warwick p. 317. a. ex Claus 40. E. 3. m. 4. the said Earl of Warwick was sent by the King upon special Service into Flanders having an allowance of 7 Marks and an half per diem at which time also he had his Commission for Earl Marshal of England renewed CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1366. An. Regni Angliae XL. wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Citation to the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid thenceforward to the Pope The Quarrel taken up between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities The Kings Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford II. A Treaty of Marriage began between Prince Lionel King Edward's second Son living and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Lord of Milain III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury dies his Foundation of Canterbury-College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury IV. On the French Kings Complaint of the Insolencies of the Companions King Edward raises an Army to repress them but finding the French King jealous of his Designs desists in great anger The King of France and the Pope endeavour to have those Licentious Souldiers drawn off into Hungary but they would not stir till a business from Spain invited them that way the Relation of which Matter is refer'd to the beginning of the Fourth Book I. IN the beginning of this Year viz. a MS. Rot. Par. p. 98. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 102. sed ibi tempus aâ—â— gnatur esse The Monday next after the Invention of the Cross which is the 4 of May this Year quod mirè discrepat à M.S. on the 30th of March being the Monday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady King Edward held his high Court of Parliament at Westminster At the opening whereof Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in presence of the Lords and Commons the Reasons why that Parliament was called which in effect were these That since the King had sent his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales to govern the Country of Aquitaine as also the Duke of Clarence his next Son then living into Ireland to be his Lieutenant there his chief Care now was how he might best govern his Realm of England here at home And so having appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Isles and Places they adjourn'd till the next day And then the Chancellour in presence of the King Lords and Commons declar'd that he had the day before informed them in general of the occasion of their Assembling and that now they should know it more particularly there being a fresh Matter which the King was resolved to communicate unto them viz. The King had lately received Notice that the Pope in consideration of the Homage which King John of England acknowledged to the See of Rome for his Realm of England and Dominion of Ireland and because of the Tribute then by him granted unto the said See intended by Process to cite the King to the Court of Rome Then at Avignon to answer for his Default in not performing what the said King John his Predecessor had so undertaken for him and his Heirs Kings of England Whereupon the King required the Advice of his Parliament what Course he had best to take in case any such Matter should be attempted The Bishops by themselves and the Lords and Commons by themselves desire Respite to give in their Answer till the next day which was granted And then the Three Estates being met together with one Consent Enacted in effect following viz. That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring his Realm and People into such thraldom and subjection but by general Consent in Parliament which was not done and therefore what he did was against his Coronation Oath and moreover that he was notoriously compell'd by the necessity of his Affairs and the iniquity of the times besides many other Reasons if therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by Process or any other way that then the King and all his Subjects should with all their Force and Power oppose and resist the same Thus was this business quash'd for ever and it seems the King was so moved at the Insolence of the thing that over and above he caused it now to be b M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. ordain'd that from that time forward St. Peter's Pence should not be paid which the Noble King Ina sometime King of England of the West-Saxons who began his Reign about the Year of our Lord DCLXXV had first granted to the See of Rome in consideration of an English School there to be continued for ever That same day c M.S. Râ—t Par. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment ibid. the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Fryars of the Four Orders Mendicants within the said Universities made long and grievous Complaints by their Proxies each against the other to the King in Parliament But in the end they all submitted themselves to the Kings Order Whereupon the Lords having well deliberated on the whole Matter by full Assent in Parliament took Order that as well the Chancellour and Scholars as the Fryars of those Orders within the said Universities should in all Graces and School-Exercises use each other in Friendly manner without any noise and disturbance as before And that none of those Orders should receive any Scholar into their Orders being under the Age of 18 Years And that the Fryars should take no advantage nor procure any Bull or other Process from the Court of Ronie against the said Universities or proceed therein But that the King alone have Power to redress and determine all Controversies between them from thenceforth and the Offenders should be punished at the pleasure of the King and his Council The Parliament continued till d Lit. Dom. D. Vid. M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 99. §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 103. §. 13. Monday the XI of May at which time the Lord Chancellor declared how the King had given in Marriage the Lady Isabell his Daughter to the Lord of Coucy who had a Fair Estate as well in England as elsewhere and that it would concern the King's Honour to create him an
to give you some certain Information King Henry freely granted his Brothers Request and just at that instant Sr. Bertram of Clequin came to the Camp with 4000 Men of Arms of Bretagne France and Aragon whereat the King and all his Friends were extreamly refreshed and they were received with a mighty Shout The o Frois c. 236. c. next Morning the young Earl of Sancelloni forgat not his Design but took along with him his Brother Sancho and 6000 chosen Horse all well-Arm'd and such as he thought fittest for his purpose He would willingly have had with him Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of D'Endreghan the Beague of Vilain and the Vicount of Rochebreton of Aragon but the King charged him by no means to make any such Motion to them because they were but newly come wherefore he let them alone So with the Troops aforesaid he mounted early and began to ride in good Order from the Kings Host toward the English Camp. About Sun-rise he met with a part of Sr. Hugh Calverley's Company with his Armour for he had lodged that Night near a League from the English Army Against these Men the Spaniards immediately addressed themselves and presently slew and discomfited them most of them being slain but Sr. Hugh himself was not there he was behind the Spainiards riding after his Men but when he understood of this Matter he took another way and rode upon the Spur towards his Friends yet he was perceived and chased narrowly however he gat up with the rest of his Company to the Skirts of the Duke of Lancasters Battail where he took Refuge At the same instant the Spaniards fell in after him on the skirts of the Duke's Camp crying out Castilla Don Henrique and beating down Tents and hurting slaying and overthrowing much People So that the whole Host being alarum'd with the noise began to arm and to repair to their Colours and the Chief Lords of that Battail brought up their Men apace to the Duke's Lodgings who stood ready arm'd with his Banner before him and there the Englishmen and Gascogners ranged themselves hastily in their appointed Order Then the Duke being considerably supplied rode up a little Mountain and thither came to him the Lord John Chandos and the two Marshals with divers Knights and Esquires setting themselves in Array about the Duke and presently after came into the Field the Prince of Wales and King Don Pedro and ranged their Men in Order of Battle For they thought King Henry was coming on with all his Army The Earl of Sancelloni had thought to have first taken the foresaid Mountain for his better Advantage but when he saw himself prevented and that the whole Army would by and by be upon him he made haste to get off and so rallied his Men and began to retire in hopes to meet with some more easie Adventure elsewhere But before this was done many Feats of Arms were try'd For certain English Knights and Gascogners with the Marshals leave left their Army and struck in furiously among the Spainiards and overthrew several of them to the Earth but all the while the Main Body of the Host stood still expecting presently to be fought withall by Don Henry As the Spaniards were returning toward their Camp they met with Sr. Thomas Felton and his Brother Sr. William Sr. Richard Causton Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. Dangouses and Others to the number of 200 Knights and Esquires English and Gascogners and about 300 Archers whom they met in a Valley and at the first sight of them cry'd Don Henrique de Castille The English seeing how far they were overset by Numbers and that they had no means to escape them took the advantage of a little Hill and set themselves close together comforting one another as well as they might The Spaniards came and sat down before them devising by what means they might soonest bring them into their power At which time the Lord William Felton undertook a daring and desperate Enterprise for he descended boldly down the Hill with his Spear in his Rest to prove his Courser and rushed in among the Spaniards and at the first Encounter struck a Spanish Knight so violently with his Spear that it passed clean thrô his Body and the Knight fell down dead Then was Sr. William enclosed round about among his Enemies dealing of Blows and fighting valiantly with a good steel Ax wherewith he did as much as it was possible for any one Man to do his Brother Sr. Thomas and the other Knights with him beholding from the Mountain how gloriously he fought and what Wonders in Arms he performed and into what a desperate Condition he had plunged himself but they could not assist him without flinging themselves away together with him So they stood still in their former Order on the Mountain All this while Sr. William fought with great skill and fury and did his Enemies great Dammage receiving little or none himself he moved his Great Horse about so swiftly and turned and changed ground with so much Art and Dexterity but at last his Horse being first slain under him he was also beaten down and there died in the Bed of Honour as he desired Thus was this Valiant Gentleman being a Baron of England slain p Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 65. on the 19 day of March leaving behind him his Son and Heir Sr. John Felton at that time 28 Years of Age. He being thus dispatched the Spaniards began to consider how to win the rest who still kept upon the Mountain in wonderfull good Order And surely that Morning many gallant Feats of Arms were performed by the English for sometimes a Troop would descend from the Mountain and fight with their Enemies while the Archers secured them on the Flank with their thick flights of Arrows and then they would discreetly retreat again and a fresh Troop take their place In this condition they continued till past High-noon the Prince of Wales knowing nothing of their Danger for if he had he could easily have deliver'd them But now they were obliged to take what should fall When they had thus fought by turns for several Hours without suffering any great Loss the Earl of Sancelloni who fretted horribly that such a small Number should hold out so long and also he feared that some of the Princes Captains might hear of it or come up accidentally to their Rescue I say then the Earl of Sancelloni cried out aloud My Lords for shame What do we here thus all the Day We ought before this to have devoured them every Mothers Son. Advance forward in the Name of God and St. Jago and let us fight them stiffly There is nothing considerable to be obtain'd unless it be dearly paid for With these Words the Spaniards began more boldly to mount the Hill in such close Order that they could not be broken Then the Englishmen and Gascogners defended themselves with a Courage which their Despair had heightned and
Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. in the Month of June there appeared in the Northern Sea a great Navy of Danes who purposed to come into England and overrun rob and slay as their Ancestors had done in the time of the Saxon Kings But they were encountred and met with at Sea by a good Fleet of English Mariners and other Valiant Men who overthrew and scatter'd them and made them return inglorious into their own Country But among others there was a Mighty and Strong Ship called the Denmark which being oversailed by the Englishmen was taken and sunk and in her was found the High-Steward and other Great Officers and Lords of Denmark who being brought into England were by Order from the King and Council cast into Prison Shortly after there came certain Danish Deputies to negotiate for the Delivery of the foresaid Lords of their Country with their Goods but receiving an answer no way pleasing unto them they return'd home again having left behind them in their Inns written on Scrolls and Walls this threatning Verse Yet shall Danes Ering you n Despair or Loss ab AS Wanian to Diminish wanes Which Rhymes being seen by an English Poet he immediately wrote underneath them Here shall Danes o i.e. Fetch or find Frett their * Destruction Banes. XXIV And now We shall close close up this Active Year when We have first made mention of the Death of a Person whose Memory ought not to be forgotten This was Don Pedro Son of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal who for his love to Equity obtain'd the Honourable Sirname of The Justiceer This Man that p Joseph Teixera de Origin Regum Portugallix he might remove the Fuel of Contention compell'd the Lawyers Pleaders and Proctors of his Kingdom to till the Land thô he himself was a most strict Observer and Maintainer of the Laws He punished two Forsworn Traytors by causing the Heart of One to be thrust out at his Breast and of the other out at his Back both which at his Command were torn in pieces It is attributed unto him as his Familiar saying q Vid. Marian. l. 17. c. 9. Odor Rainald ad hunc ann §. 19. that a Prince did seem unworthy of the Name of a King on what day he had done no Grace or Kindness to any Body AN. DOM. 1368. An. Regni Angliae XLII He died this Year having Reign'd Nine Years as many Months and Eight and Twenty Days and left behind him his Son Hernando or Ferdinando who r Odor Rainald ibid. soon after sent his Complement to the Pope after the Custom of Christian Kings newly come to the Crown and received an answer full of Good Counsel and Ghostly Admonitions CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. Prince Lionel is married to the Lady Violantis Daughter of Galeacius Duke of Milain with the Magnificence and Splendor of the Nuptials II. He falls sick his Testament Death and Burial III. A Parliament at Westminster IV. The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal V. A strange Relation of a Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyderzee VI. Sr. Bertram of Clequin by a pretty Conveyance obtains to be admitted to Ransom VII The Companions waiting for their pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they depart and go into France where they do much Mischief VIII The Prince to recruit his exhausted Stores ordains a Tax throughout Aquitain which occasions a Revolt of some Malecontents I. IN the Fourtieth Year of King Edward it may be remembred how We spake of an Overture made by Galeacius the second Duke of Milain unto the said King about a Match to be struck up between the Daughter of the said Duke and Prince Lionel second Son living to the said King Edward The Negotiation concerning this Affair had been carried on till this time when all Conditions were fully adjusted on both sides among which these were not the least considerable a Paul. Jovius in Galeacio 11. p. 151. That together with the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel should receive 2000000 Florens of Gold together with the Cities of Mons Regalis or Mondovi and Alba Pompeia by the Name of a Dowry I shall not here be particular in relating how the two Brethren Dukes of Milain Galeacius and Bernabo recover'd from those troubles whereunto John Marquess of Monferrato had some Years before cast them Nor shall I insist on the Eminent Worth and Military services which Sr. John Hawkwood an English Knight performed for them in those their Wars with such considerable Advantage that Duke b Paul. Jovius in Barnabâ p. 159. Bernabo gave unto him the Lady Donninia one of his Natural Daughters in Marriage with a Portion of 1000000 Florens Let it suffice for this place that the two Brethren Dukes being assisted by this Valiant Knight Sr. John Hawkwood began again to flourish in great Prosperity which that they might the better preserve to their House and Family it was thought fit to enter Affinity with King Edward of England at that time by many Degrees the most Powerfull and Renowned of all the Princes in the World. And so when all things were fully adjusted the Marriage c Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was concluded at Windsor on the 25 of April at which time the King acquitted the Duke of Milain of 10000 Florens by him paid in consideration of the said Treaty and then with all speed the Prince made his Preparations to go over the Sea and to consummate his Nuptials It is said d Joh. Harding c. 186. fol. 186. that the two Dukes of Milain the Marquess of Monferrato the Dukes of Venice Mantua and Florence the Lords of Genua Pisa and other chief Princes of Italy had with the unanimous Consent of the whole Senate of Rome sent their Ambassadors to King Edward before this to assure him that upon this Marriage of his Son Prince Lionel with the Duke of Milain's Daughter all the Princes and States of Italy should own him for their Lord and by their joynt Interest at last raise him to the Title and Dignity of Emperour For besides the Reputation of the King his Father's Glory he himself was generally fam'd and extoll'd for one of the most Accomplish'd Personages in the World. Of Stature he was beyond the Ordinary Proportion of Men Tall and streight as a Palm-Tree exceeding Well-set Shap'd and Featur'd in his Chamber Modest and Gentle as a Virgin Affable Sweet and Pleasant in Conversation but Bold and Fierce as a Lion in the Field So that for all Accomplishments of Mind and Body he had not his Fellow in all England except only his Elder Brother the Prince of Wales than whom he was yet eight Years younger being now in the very Flower of Manhood in the Thirtieth Year of his Age. Thus about the latter end of April the Lord Lionel Duke of Clarence and Earl of Vlster Third Son born but the Second living of King Edward the Third
deliver them to whom they ought to be deliver'd And of this there should be made Obligations and Bonds as sure and perfect as can be devised as well by the Bishop of Rome and the College of Cardinals as by others There was also another Article in the same Treaty which ran thus Item In token and perfect Assurance that We desire and intend to have and to nourish perpetual Peace and Love between Us and our Brother of France We shall renounce and by these Presents do renounce all Graces and other Process of Deed against our said Brother his Heirs and Successors of the Realm of France and Subjects thereof and do promise swear and have sworn on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for Us and for our Heirs and Successors not to do nor suffer to be done either by Word or Deed any thing against this Renuntiation or against any thing contained in the foresaid Articles And if We do or suffer to be done the Contrary any manner of way which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and forsworn and incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We positively Renounce all Dispensations and Absolutions of the Pope and if any be obtained We will that they stand for nought be of no force nor avail Us in any manner of case And the more firmly to uphold the said Articles We herein submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Correction of the Church of Rome and Will and Consent that the Bishop of Rome confirm all the said Treaty and ordain Monitions and General Commands against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Universities Colleges or any other Bodies Politick or single Persons whatsoever they be in giving Sentence General of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to run upon Us or any of them as soon as We or They shall do or attempt any thing against the said Treaty in occupying or withholding any Towns Castles or Fortresses or any other thing doing Ratifying or giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or apertly against any of the said Articles And further We have caused our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales to swear unto the same and also our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Ulster John Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley together with our Right Dear Cousin Philip of Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and of Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Captal of Busche the Lord of Monferrant Walter Manny James Audley Roger Beauchamp John Chandos Ralph Ferrers Edward Spencer Thomas Felton William Felton Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John Mowbray Bartholomew Burwash Henry Piercy and divers others and also as soon as We can conveniently We shall cause to swear all our other Children and the Major part of the great Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles of our Realm of England In Witness whereof We have put our Seal to these Presents Given at our Town of Calais the 24 day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX Among many other Writings that had been made as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais when King John was there this said Chapter being one was chiefly now insisted on and was well read and examin'd by King Charles in presence of his Council and after they had spent their Thoughts thereon then the Prelates and Barons of France said unto him Sir it is most evident that the King of England and his Son the Prince have not duly kept the said Peace but have taken Towns and Castles and do still hold them to the infinite Dammage of this your Realm and they Ransom and Pillage your People because the Money for the King your Fathers Redemption is yet in part unpaid Wherefore Sir You and your Subjects have good Right and just Cause to break the Peace and to make War against England and to endeavour to take out of their hands all that they hold on this side the Water Also certain of his Council advised him secretly upon mature Deliberation Sir boldly undertake this War for there is good Reason You should so do For as soon as ever You have once open'd the War you shall see and find that all the Dutchy of Aquitain will turn to your side as well Prelates Barons Earls Knights and Esquires as the Burgesses of the Good Towns. You may see Sir how the Prince would have proceeded in raising of his Foüage but he cannot bring his purpose about and yet thereby he hath lost the Hearts of all Men for those of Poictou Rochellois Sainctogne Quercy Limosin and Rouvergue are of such a Nature that they can by no means love the Englishmen nor the Englishmen them they are so proud and presumptuous nor never did And besides all this the Princes Officers commit such Extortion among the People of Sainctogne Poictou and Rochellois for they take all at Random and raise so much in the Prince's Name that no Man is sure of any thing that is his own And further the Gentry and Chief Men of the Country are disgusted because they can attain to no Office of Dignity or Profit For the Englishmen and the Prince's Servants run away with all By such Words as these was the French King encouraged to begin the War and especially he was instigated and moved thereto by his Brother the Duke of Anjou who lay at Tholouse wishing nothing more than to see the War open For he could never endure the Englishmen because of such Displeasures as they had done Him and His formerly And frequently the Gascogne Lords would say to the King Most Dear Sir We are obliged to have our Resort in your Court wherefore we all humbly require that you would please to do us Right and Law and as you are the most Just Prince in the World let us have Justice against the great Extortions Grievances and Oppressions that the Prince of Wales and his Men have and would put upon us For Sir if you refuse to do thus much for us we must then seek some other Remedy elsewhere and shall be obliged to yield and submit our selves to the Jurisdiction of such a Lord as shall see We have Reason done us Whereby you will lose your Sovereignty over us for ever The French King who was extream loath to let them part as also he was doubtfull of embracing their Interest knowing that by them his Realm would receive much Strength and Advantage answer'd these Complainants very courteously Surely Gentlemen says he for want of Love and good Counsel you shall not need to make your Resort to any other Court but only to Ours But yet in a matter of this Consequence we ought to move with much Caution and Deliberation And thus the King drove them off for the space of well-nigh a Year but kept them still with him at Paris and paid for all their Expences and gave them many Rich Gifts and Jewels
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
stirr for any News that he heard for so the King his Brother had strictly charged him by no means to make any War against the Prince till he should receive express Order so to do And all the while this Politick King was getting together good Captains and Souldiers in the most secret manner that it was possible and particularly he wan to his side certain of the Companions whom he sent into the Marches of Berry and Auvergne permitting them to live there upon the Country something loosely that they might not be suspected for Friends but withall he commanded them to make no War upon the Prince till they had his express Word for it For he took all the Care in the world not to create the least Suspition that he intended a War till all his Designs against the Earldom of Ponthieu should be ripe Nor without cause For if the King of England could but have guessed that the French King would have broke the Peace he could have very easily prevented the Losses which he received afterwards in Ponthieu and especially he would have made such good Provision for the City of Abbeville and all the other Garrisons in that Country that he should still have kept the Soveraignty thereof maugre all the Power of France And yet at that time the Seneschal of that County for King Edward was a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Louvain who was in great Favour with the King his Master as he well deserved For he was so True Loyal and Couragious that he would rather have been drawn in pieces by wild Horses than consent to any thing that might reflect upon his Faith and Honour Yet not only he but King Edward and all others were deceived at this time by the overreaching Devices of the French King who the more to amuse King Edward had a little before sent over the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman to adjust Matters fully with him and his Council and these Men the better to conceal the Malice they intended complained of Wrongs done as they said unto them for they declar'd unto the King and his Council how on their Part the Peace was but slightly kept at the best not only by reason of the War which the Companions who were generally Subjects of England had kept in France for about six whole Years but also upon divers other Accounts whereat the King their Master had no small cause to be disgusted These Embassadors King Edward detain'd in England for about two Months during which time thô he expected to settle a right Understanding between the two Realms they only made many frivolous Complaints to delay time which almost tired the Kings Patience but they were not much concerned at that because they knew they did but follow the Commission they had from their Master However they u Walsing hist p. 177. 178. made unto the King a Present of certain Vessels of Choice Wines and other Gifts from the French King as a Token of his Brotherly Love and Good will. The mean while King Charles having understood for certain that the Inhabitants of Abbeville were willing to own his Interest and that the Wars were already open in Gascogne and all his Friends stood ready to strike as soon as ever they had the Word for it resolved now to put things to the issue Yet however either being secure of the Advantage he had by taking this Start of King Edward or desirous as far as he might to avoid all Reproach lest Posterity might cry shame of him if he should invade any of the King of England's Lands or the Prince's without Defiance he resolv'd by Advice of his Council to send and defie the King of England and all his Adherents and so he did by his Letters Sealed which to his great reproach he gave to a mean Valet to carry And yet before this even while King Edward was giving his Audience of Leave to the French Ambassadors he heard a Rumour that the French King had sent Men of War into Ponthieu and that he had notoriously broken the Peace by certain overt Acts of Hostility whereupon in great Indignation he bad the Ambassadors get them Home with their Deceitfull Presents to their Deceitfull Master and commanded them to tell him how he detested from his Heart and Soul the dishonourable and unprincely Falseness which he had shewn For which he doubted not by the Grace of God but to make him repent before long Away went the Ambassadors with all speed and at Dover they met with the Valet who was come with the Defiance from France the Substance whereof he secretly told them as he was enjoyned to do that they might make hast Home But for all that they x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 10. were met with upon the Sea by some Men of War belonging to Calais who knowing the War was already begun on that side by the Frenchmen set upon them and took away their Wines and other Presents which King Edward had refused to accept and brought them to Calais the Earl of Salebruche and Sr. William Dorman escaping away to Boulogne IX A little before this the y Frois c. 246. fol. 149. Prince of Wales had sent Sr. Guischard Dangle to Rome whither Pope Vrban z Vid. Oder Rainald ad hunc aun 1367. §. 2. c. was then gone for some while to confer with his Holiness about certain Matters relating to Aquitain and having found the Pope very complying in all his Concerns about this time he returned homeward when being upon the way he heard for certain how the Gascogners and Frenchmen made War upon the Prince and had already invaded the Principality He was extreamly surprised at the News and began to doubt how he should get home without being entrapped by his Enemies however first he went to the Valiant and Noble Earl of Savoy whom he found in the City of Pignerol in Piedmont making War against the Marquess of Saluzzo The Earl entertain'd Him and all his Company very honourably and gave the Chief of them many rich Gifts especially to Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he respected more particularly for the sake of his Abilities in War of which he had heard ample Commendations Having here taken his leave as he drew near to France he heard more and more of the Difference between the Prince of Wales and the French King So that he saw it impossible for him to return openly into Guienne he was so generally known Wherefore he gave the Charge of his Company to his Son-in-Law Sr. John of Issoire and he himself being disguised like a poor Priest in evil Habit and on an old Hackney took another way and so at last with much adoe came safe to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him with much joy But 't is now time to return to this French Valet who after the departure of the Earl of Salebruche and Dr. William Dorman out of England rode strait for London Where
found his Adversary of France wanted no Cunning nor Industry whereby to oppose him And he heard particularly how the Scots also had engaged against him in a new Alliance with the French King and design'd to give him a Diversion at the Back-door Whereat he was grievously displeased for he doubted the Scots more than the Frenchmen not only because they were a more implacable and obstinate People and kept their former Losses in mind but also because they were his near Neighbours and could do him an Injury more easily and escape Revenge more securely Wherefore first he sent a considerable Number of Men of Arms Archers and Others to the Frontiers of Scotland as to Newcastle to Caerlile to Barwick to Roxborough and other Places Besides which he rigged forth a good Fleet which was to ply about Southhampton Jernsey and the Isle of Wight For he heard how the French King was setting forth a great Navy to Sea which was to come and invade England or as others said Ireland wherefore thither also he was obliged to send no small Reinforcement under the Command of the Lord William Windsor d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 509. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 27. who being at the same time constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had in consideration thereof for his better Support in the Kings Service a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Kings Exchequer untill such a time as the King should settle upon him Lands and Rents of that Value for Him and his Heirs for ever and immediatly thereupon he had a Grant of the Mannor and Castle of Dungarvan as also the Castle called the Black-Castle to Him and the Heirs of his Body With him went in this Irish Expedition e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 32 the Lord Thomas Fauconberg and other Persons of Rank and Conduct for King Edward not knowing on which side the storm would fall was obliged to take Care on all Sides Though indeed he himself was not without some anxious Thoughts by reason of the unexpectedness of this Alarum But having thus for the present provided for all as well as he could he calls together his High Court of Parliament f M.S. Rot. Par. p. 103. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridg. p. 108. which according to the Summons met at Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity At which time William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in Presence of the King Lords and Commons the Reasons of their present Assembly saying How the King had always in his greatest Affairs used their Advice and Counsel and especially in making the last Peace with the French which was yet made on Condition that by such a Day the French King should surrender up unto him certain Countries beyond the Seas that within such a time he should pay unto the King certain Sums of Money and that he should never pretend for the future to any Jurisdiction or Soveraignty over Gascogne or the Parts thereabouts in Consideration whereof the King of England should from thenceforth lay by the Stile of France which he had accordingly done That whereas he for his Part had not slacked his Duty the French King had done the quite Contrary for neither had he made a full and due Payment of the said Monies and also he had summon'd the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and Others who were of the Kings Allegiance to answer to certain Appeals at Paris nay further he had summon'd the Prince of Aquitain himself who was also of the Kings Allegiance to appear among the Rest Besides all which he had sent certain Troops into Ponthieu where he had surprised several of the Kings Garrisons and Forts Whereupon the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain by Advice of his Council had sent to the King his Father wishing him to Resume the Title and Stile of France And therefore the Chancellor desired the Lords and Commons to take Counsel in the Matter and to advise the King to the best of their Power about the Premises Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland and also for Gascogne and other Foreign Places and Isles and after that Triers of the said Petitions for all the said Places On the Wednesday after the Bishops Lords and Commons answered the King with one Consent That considering the Premises He might with a Good Conscience take up again the Stile and Name of King of France and use his Arms as before Accordingly the King at that instant took upon him the Name Stile and Dignity of France and on the Eleventh Day of June being a Monday and St. Barnabas Day his Seal of England being safely laid up another Seal engraven with the Stile and Arms of France was taken and used and several Patents Charters and Writs therewith sealed and the same Day all the Kings other Seals were Changed one g Ashmole p. 665. being circumscribed with the Word Franciae in the first Place and the other with Angliae as at the Beginning From which Time even to this Day the Kings of England his Successors continue their Arms Quarter'd with France in token of that Right to which King Edward so justly now renew'd his Claim After this upon a full Account given of the Kings great Necessities the Lords and Commons granted unto him for Three Years following of Denizens for every Sack of Wooll Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twenty Dozen of Fells Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence and of every Last of Skins Four Pounds But of Aliens for every Sack of Wooll Fifty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twelvescore Fells as much and of every Last of Skins Five Pounds Six Shillings Eight Pence over and above the Old Customs Then it was Enacted That all the Kings Forts and Fortresses should be surveyed repaired and edified And it was caution'd by another Statute that no Religious Aliens should be left in a Capacity to discover the Secrets of the Realm and now again were all the Lands of Religious Aliens seized into the Kings Hands and lett to Farm to the Sovereigns of the same That Remedy may be had against the excessive Selling of Armour and the unreasonable Demands of Horse-Coursers The King will appoint the Officers of every Town to provide therefore That the Time of Prescription may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First The Old Law shall stand That Sylva Caedua may especially be declared The Statute shall be observed That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Indicted upon any Trespass or Felony may upon Issue joyned have a Nisi Prius against the King. So the same concerneth Treason the Chancellor or Keeper of the Privy Seal shall therein do Right That such as dwell upon the Sea-Coasts may set up Poles
exclude a Man from impugning an Act by reason of his Minority in years Of whom some moved perhaps by too free favour to prevent and provide against the Grievances of Minors do then only admit of this Authenticall when full Puberty to wit the Age of XVIII Years is accomplished That the Written Rigour to the cruel undoing of Minors may so proceed that it shall rather fall than rise But here it was not sworn in that manner or by such a Person the Minor being within the Compass and Course of that time Yea the Truth is That no Oath was made at all Thus were the several Causes of the two Kings set forth and maintain'd by Law and Argument but 't is seldom heard that ever a Crown was won by pleading the sword being too Powerfull for the Law and Prejudice more prevalent than Justice or Reason Wherefore now we hasten to the second Argument which was to be discussed in the Field but as yet the two Main Disputants were not matched together However a Frois c. 252. f. 153. first of all the Duke of Guelders and the Duke of Juliers who were perfectly English in Heart as well as in Blood took it in extream Indignation that the French King had sent a Defiance to so Mighty a Prince as King Edward by the Hands of a mean Valet horribly in their minds blaming both him and his Council for putting so unworthy an Affront on so Honourable a Monarch For said they the War between two such Potent Kings ought surely to have been published and denounced by Persons of the best Rank and Quality as Prelates either Bishops or Abbots or some Noble Baron or Valiant Knight at least and not by a simple Valet as the French King had most insolently and presumptuously done Wherefore they vow'd forthwith to send and defie the French King resolving shortly after to invade France with Fire and Sword and there to leave such Marks of their Resentment as should be legible for more than 20 Years following Althô this their Resolution was disappointed by the Celerity of the French King For hereupon the Earl of St. Paul being order'd to joyn with the Duke of Brabant went against these two Dukes of Juliers and Guelders Toward the Declining of this Year b Mezeray p. 83. the two Parties met together in a place called Baeswilder between the Rhine and the Meuse where after a Bloody Fight on the one side the Duke of Juliers was slain and on the other the Duke of Brabant taken Prisoner but soon after by the Emperours means he was deliver'd and so this Matter was ended CHAPTER the SIXTH The CONTENTS I. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter II. King Edward renews Friendship with the King of Navarre III. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt sent by the Prince of Wales to Montauban IV. The French lay Siege to Ardres but rise in Despair V. Realville taken by the French The English make fierce War in the Lands of the Rebel Lords of Gascogne VI. Sr. Thomas Wake maintains his Post La Roche de Pozay taken by the French the Lord of Chauvigney falls off to the French and the Lord of Rochechoüart imprison'd upon suspicion VII The Lord James Audley makes havock in the Lord of Chauvigney's Lands VIII Sr. Robert Knolles sent forth by the Prince upon an Expedition brings over Sr. Perdiccas of Albret and 300 Companions to his side and lays Siege to Durmel where he is joyn'd by the Lord Chandos and others from Montauban by whom Moissac was taken in their way IX The English rise from before Durmel and sit down before Domme but get nothing there however they take Gavaches Foines Roquemadour and Villefranche X. The Earl of Cambridge takes Bourdeilles after a long Siege by stratagem XI The Lord Chandos returns to the Prince having settled Affairs XII The English Companions take Bellepeche and therein the Duke of Bourbon's Mother XIII King Charles preparing to invade England King Edward sets himself in a posture to receive him XIV And sends over the Duke of Lancaster with an Army to Calais XV. The English take the Castle of La Roche Sur Yon. XVI The Lord James Audley Seneschal of Aquitaine returning into England is succeeded by the Lord John Chandos XVII The Vicount of Rochechoüart being released from Prison revolts from the Prince and defies him XVIII John Duke of Lancaster makes great havock in Ponthieu at which News King Charles leaves off his Design of invading England and sends the Duke of Burgundy against him with a Mighty Army XIX The Duke of Lancaster goes forth to meet him and encamps at Tournehan The two Armies confront one another for many days XX. The Lord Chandos intending an Expedition desires the Earl of Pembroke's Company but is deny'd however he goes forth and does what he pleases in Anjou Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and on Prospect of a great Advantage over the French sends again to the Earl of Pembroke to come and joyn him but is again deny'd Whereupon the Lord Chandos desisted for that time XXI The Earl of Pembroke deals severely in Anjou and Touraine and the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart but being surpris'd by the French at Puirenon loses many Men and is besieged in a Church-yard whence he sends to the Lord Chandos for Succour and being hotly assaulted the next day sends again XXII The Lord Chandos hardly at last resolves to help him but upon News of his approach the Frenchmen retire XXIII The Death of Philippa Queen of England her Tomb Epitaph and Praise XXIV The Lord Robert of Namur's Quarters beaten up by the French but he beats them back XXV A story of the Earl of Warwick exploded XXVI The Frenchmen break up and march off in the Night whereupon the Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais to refresh his Men. XXVII The Earl of Pembroke makes another Expedition into Anjou and takes Pont de Cè St. Maure and other places XXVIII The Duke of Lancaster's March thrô Picardy into Normandy with Design to burn the French Fleet. But the Earl of St. Paul being got into Harfleur with 200 Spears saves the Town and prevents their Design XXIX Sr. Nicolas Lovaine takes the Lord Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France XXX The Duke of Lancaster returns to Calais The Earl of Warwick dies XXXI The Duke of Lancaster returns into England and finds himself a Widdower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester XXXII The French King raises a Tax I. WE spake before how King Edward labour'd earnestly about Five Years ago to make up a Match between the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders who was Dowager to the last Young Duke of Burgundy a Mezeray p. 78. and the most Wealthy Heiress in all Christendom and a Son of his named Edmund Earl of Cambridge all the particular Negotiations of which intended Match are both too long and
6000 Franks for such Provision and Goods as were left in the Castle So Sr. John Blondeau marched away with his Men to Angiers where as soon as he came thither he was arrested by the Governor of the City and clapt up close Prisoner in the Castle And 't is said that soon after he was one Night sow'd up in a Sack and flung into the River by the strict Command of the Duke of Anjou because he took Gold and Silver for his Castle which said he was able of it self to have held out an whole Year if need had been XVI However when the English Lords had thus received the strong Castle of Roche sur Yon toward the Limits of Anjou they set there a good Garrison and repaired what was out of Order and then went back to Angoulesme to the Prince and some took their leave of him for a while and retired to their own Houses Among others 't is said r Frois c. 260. c. that the most Valiant Lord James Audley Seneschal of Poictou going into fresh Quarters at Fontenay le Comte fell there sick and shortly after died to the great Regret of the Prince and Princess and all the Loyal Barons of Poictou And that his Obsequies were performed in the City of Poictiers the Prince Himself being present But this was a Mistake of Froisard's which yet he might easily fall into because indeed his Son Sr. ſ Ashmole p. 706. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 750. ex Lab in Offic. Principal Cantuar vecat Countney f. 121. b. James Audley died in Gascogne at this time upon which the Lord James Audley the Father with the Prince's leave retired into England where he lived many Years after and departed this Life not till the 73 Year of his Age namely on the first Day of April Anno Dom. 1386. which was the Ninth of Richard the Second having a little before made his Will at Heligh Castle wherein he appointed his Body to buried in the Choir of his Abbey at Hilton before the High Altar in case he should die in the Marches but if in Devonshire o◠Somersetshire then in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Excester before the High Altar However Poictou being thus by his Absence thô not by his Death deprived of her Grand Seneschal at the Request of all the Barons and Knights of that Country the no less Valiant Lord John Chandos at that time Constable of Aquitaine t Frois c. 262. f. 169. b. was now by the Black-Prince made Seneschal of Poictou and so he went forthwith and resided in the City of Poictiers and made many journeys against the Frenchmen and held them so short that they durst not ride near those parts but in great Bodies together XVII About this time the Vicount of Rochechoüart whom the Prince had for some Weeks held in Prison at the Request of his Friends in Poictou and others of the Prince's Council was set at liberty again and restored to all his Lands But whether he was all along false at bottom or whether the Prince's suspecting of him had exasperated him to that which else he had not thought on so it was that immediately upon his Delivery he went secretly to Paris to the French King and became his Liegeman and so returned into his own Country without the least notice taken that he had been at Paris But now having set all things in Order and placed Sr. Tibald du Pont a Valiant Breton in his Fortress he presently sent and defy'd the Prince of Wales and began to make War upon him XVIII This while John Duke of Lancaster the Prince's Brother having u Frois c. 263 c. well refreshed himself and his Men at Calais thought not to lie idle there any longer but rather to ride abroad and seek for some adventures in France So one day he left Calais with 300 Spears and as many Archers in his Company and passed by the Castle of Guisnes and rode beyond Ardres till he came to the Abbey of Liques where he found much prey and brought it away to Calais Another day he took the way towards Boulogne and destroy'd all the Plain Country thô at the same time Guy Earl of St. Paul and his Son the Lord Valeran lay within 8 Leagues of Boulogne in the City of Terouenne with a competent Number of Men of War But he stirred not althô he heard the English were abroad for he thought himself unable to deal with them at that time The News soon flew to the French King who was then at Rouën taking Care of the Armada which he was in all haste fitting forth to send against England as We said before how the Duke of Lancaster was come to Calais with a Mighty Power and how he made incursions daily into the French Pale At this sudden Alarum all his former Measures were broken and thô it had been Decreed by him and his Council that the Duke of Burgundy should as that very Week set sail for England now after some debate upon the Matter it was concluded how that Expedition should be laid aside for the Present and all the Men of War design'd for the Fleet should be led by the Duke of Burgundy toward Calais to resist the Duke of Lancaster who was then on that side the Sea. Wherefore soon after the Duke of Burgundy marched thence with all his Army taking his way toward the River Somme which he passed at Abbeville and so by several journeys he went to Montrevil and there and about Hesdin and St. Paul he staid for those that were behind XIX The Duke of Lancaster when he heard how the Duke of Burgundy was coming towards him was exceeding glad and began to march out of Calais with all his own Forces with design to meet him and encamped on the Mountain of Tournehan between Ardres and St. Omers Where he had been not passing a day but thither came x Frois ibid. to him the Noble and Valiant Knight Sr. Robert of Namur to joyn him with 300 Spears The Duke of Lancaster was very glad to see him and said unto him among other things My Dear Uncle You are heartily Welcome and Sir rejoyce with us for I hear for certain that the Duke of Burgundy comes on apace to fight us so that We shall not miss of Deeds of Arms. Sr. Robert reply'd Be it so Sir in the Name of God We would gladly look him in the Face Thus the English Army lay encamped on the Mountain and about the Vale of Tournehan having entrenched themselves strongly and fortify'd their Camp with Hedges and Ditches so that their Post was very advantageous and their Currours overran the County of Guisnes and the Sovereignty of Ardres for forage and what else they could get but they found little for all the plain Country had been destroy'd before and all things profitable convey'd into Places of strength Wherefore daily there came unto them Victuals and other Provision from Calais Soon after the
Frois c. 268. many of either Party that they lay thus long confronting one another to no purpose thô on both Sides they were alarum'd every Day by Reports that they should fight without fail on the Morrow which Morrow notwithstanding never came For as we shew'd before the Duke of Burgundy durst not disobey the Command of the King his Brother who had most strictly charged him by no means in the World to fight the Englishmen without an express Order from Him. It is reported Å¿ Walsing hâ—st p. 178. n. 30. 40. M. S. vet Ang. in Bâ—bl C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. c. that Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick hearing how unworthily the English at this time declin'd Battle hasted out of England with some Choice Troops and sailed toward Calais Whereof the Frenchmen having notice left their Tents with all their Victuals behind them in great Amazement and fled That as soon as the Earl of Warwick came to the English Camp he highly blamed those who occasion'd that shamefull Delay and said I will go on and fight the Enemy before the English Bread which my Men have eaten be digested and thereupon that he immediately entred the Isle of Caux in Normandy which he wasted However this Account I cannot admit for several Reasons For thô Authorities are produced to shew that he came not over together with the Army because his Will is said to t Dugd. Warwickshire p. 317. ex Libro Wittlesey dicto f. 110. bear Date at Chelchench vulgarly Chelsea near Westminster on a Tuesday being the Sixth of September this Year whereby he must be granted to have been in England at that time Yet the Truth of this Matter may be justly question'd for the Dominical Letter this Year being G it is plain that the Sixth of September was not then a Tuesday but a Thursday Wherefore I rather concurr with Froisard who says expresly how he came along with the Duke of Lancaster at his first setting forth and gives another Occasion of the French Armies breaking up which now as the more Authentick we shall relate When we have also enforced this Argument by remembring that without such Reasons as we have shewn it was not at all probable that the Lord Walter Manny of whose undaunted Courage this History affords many notable Testimonies and Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and many other Great and Gallant Men who were in this Expedition being accounted little Inferior to this Earl of Warwick himself for Audacity and Presence of Spirit I say it is no ways probable that these Men and the like even thô the Duke of Lancaster should have been of another Opinion would ever have consented to lie thus like Dastards had there not been apparent Rashness in offering Battle XXVI To proceed therefore with Froisard The Duke of Burgundy as that Author who flourished at that time was credibly informed consider'd with himself how he had layn thus idle a long while at great Expence and that he could no longer continue so without a soul blemish upon his Honour Because he so far outnumbred his Enemies that they seem'd but an Handfull in Comparison to him And yet he neither had offer'd them Battle nor durst do it because of the King his Brothers Charge to the contrary Wherefore he sent certain Knights to the King his Brother to deare unto him that either he desired leave to put all things to the Issue of a Battle or that he might have Licence to depart The King knew well his Brothers demand was but reasonable and therefore commanded him now at last on sight of his Letters forthwith to break up his Camp and to dislodge with all possible Circumspection and so having discharged his Men of War to come unto him to Paris adding that He himself would go in Person against the English When the Duke of Burgundy had read these Letters he gave private Notice thereof to the Chief Officers of the Army telling them how the King had commanded him to rise and march off And at Midnight accordingly they trussed up all their Carriage without making any noise and mounted their Horses and so setting fire to their Tents began to march away in silence Sr. Henry of Flanders kept the Watch that Night with the Lord Robert of Namur's Men and he first chanced to espy the Fire and then two or three more and after that others Sr. Henry said when he saw the light Ah! I doubt these Frenchmen intend to awake Us this Night as it should seem by their Dealing Let Us go and awake the Lord Robert of Namur that if they do come they may not find Us sleeping And with that he rode himself to the Lodgings of the Lord Robert and called to his Chamberlains telling them how it was fit they should awaken their Lord for he believed the Enemy was coming upon them They went presently to his Bedside and awoke him telling him what Sr. Henry had said Well said He I perceive shortly We shall have some News call up our Men and bid them all make haste to Arms. This was done and he himself was dressed and arm'd as soon as might be and when he had seen his Men in good Order his Banner being raised he went to the Duke of Lancaster's Pavilion who by that time was almost armed too for he had notice of the Matter before So in short the whole Army was ready and drew together about the Duke in good Order of Battle still taking their Places as they were brought up by their Leaders fair and softly without any Noise or Light And all the Archers were ranged before them in such a Place where it was concluded the French would attaque them When they had stood thus without hearing any News for nigh the space of two Hours the Duke demanded of the Lords about him what they thought best for him to do Some said one thing and some another Then the Duke spake to the Lord Walter Manny who stood next him what say You Sir Why truly Sir said he I can hardly tell what to say But if You were to follow my Opinion You should ordain your Men of Arms and Archers in manner of Battle and advance forward by Degrees For Sir it will be day anon and then You will see perfectly before You. The Duke approv'd of his Advice but others contradicted it saying how they would not by any means have the Duke as yet leave that place of Advantage After some Altercation about this Matter it was concluded to send forth certain of Sr. Robert of Namur's and of Sr. Valeran van Bormio's Company on Horseback because they were the fittest for such an Enterprise and so Thirty of the best light Horse were sent forth to view the French Host Immediately upon their Departure Sr. Walter Manny said to the Duke Sir never believe me if the Frenchmen are not fairly fled Therefore mount your Horse and follow with all your Forces presently and no doubt You 'll
English who were not ignorant thereof took care of all their Traps neither venturing to ride loosely nor to leave the High-ways for fear of Ambushes they constantly Marched in Battle Array as ready for Fight And in this Manner they rode thrô Vimeux and the Earldom of Eu and entred into the Archbishoprick of Râ—üen and passed by Dieppe till they came in sight of Harfleur where they began to pitch their camp but the Earl of St. Paul had gotten into the Town beforehand with 200 Spears Three Days the English lay before the Place but gave no Assault for they saw this Succour rendred their Design fruitless so on the Fourth Day they began to Decamp and returned thrô the Lands of the Lord Stouteville where they burnt and destroy'd most part of his Country and wasted the Region called le Pais de Caulx whence they took their way thrô le Vexin Normand and having left severe Marks of their Displeasure whereever they came at last they approached toward Oisemont to repass the River of Soame at Blanchetteaque XXIX At this time the Captain of Abbeville for the French King was Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France who perceiving that the Duke of Lancaster Designed to pass the Soame Armed himself and only Ten or Twelve more of his Men with whom he took Horse saying How he would go and visit Rouvray and see how the Gate there was Defended because if the English passed that way they should not say but that it was carefully provided for This was done early in a Morning and it was a great Mist for it was now the bleaky Month of November At the same time there was in the Army with the Duke of Lancaster a Valiant English Gentleman named Sr. Nicolas Lovaine who had been Seneschal of Ponthieu for the King of England but was taken Prisoner as We shew'd the Year before by Sr. Hugh de Chastillon who Ransomed him at 10000 Franks This Ransom stuck grievously in his stomach and he sought all Opportunities to make a Reprisal It chanced so well for him that this very Morning whereon Sr. Hugh de Chastillon went abroad so slightly attended this St. Nicolas Lovaine had left the Army with Twenty Men of Arms in his Company as One that knew all the Passages Streights and Avenues of the Country for he had been acquainted thereabout for the space of three or four Years even during all the time of his Government For once therefore he resolv'd to venture himself between Abbeville and the Castle of Rouvray And so he rode by a little streight Passage thrô a Marish and planted himself and his Men among certain old waste and broken Houses but they stood so near to Abbeville that a Man would never have suspected that any English Men durst have laid an Ambush in that Place However here Sr. Nicolas and his Men lay close observing as well as they could with their Eyes and Ears who ever should pass that way backward or forward At last came Sr. Hugh of Chastillon thrô the same narrow way with Ten or Twelve Men in his Company himself all Armed except his Helmet which his Page bare after him riding on his Masters great Courser and so he passed over a little River that was there thinking to go and speak with the Crossbow Men that kept the Gate to know what they heard of the English By that time the Mist was pretty well clear'd up and Sr. Nicolas Lovaine saw and knew him perfectly and could not have been better pleas'd if One had given him 20000 Franks Then he came out of his Ambush and said to his Men Come on now Sirs lustily yonder 's the Man I look for 'T is the Master of the Crossbows whom I desire to have above all Men living And with that he couched his Spear in his Rest set spurs to his Horse and came upon Sr. Hugh de Chastillon all of a sudden and said aloud Yield your self Chastillon or You are but a Dead Man. Sr. Hugh much wonder'd whence these Men of Arms should come so suddenly upon him for he had not time to clap on his Helmet nor to mount his Courser which his Page rode on while he us'd a light Gelding So that being sensible of his Disadvantage he asked who he should yield to Sr. Nicolas answer'd to your old Acquaintance Lovaine There Sr. Hugh was fain to yield himself but in taking of him and his Men there was slain a Valiant Citizen of Abbeville called Laurence Denson which was a trouble to Sr. Hugh but 't was his own fault for he made Resistance When Sr. Nicolas had taken Sr. Hugh de Chastillon he said unto him Come on Sr. Hugh See yonder there Marches the Duke of Lancaster and his Men who intend to pass the Soame hard by And thus Sr. Nicolas Lovaine by good Fortune took Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France and Captain of Abbeville for whose Loss the said City was much troubled but the Duke of Lancaster and the English were well pleased And afterward Sr. Nicolas made him pay a Ransom of Twenty Thousand Franks which was Double the Sum Sr. Hugh had before extorted from him XXX That Day the Duke of Lancaster passed the River of Soame at Blanchetteaque after which he Marched toward the strong Town of Rue on the Maye and so to Montrevil till at last by several Journeys he return'd again in safety to Calais But the Renowned x Walsing hist p. 178. n. 40. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick died in the way of the Plague as some say thô I am not enclin'd to Credit that any more than what the same Author says of his frighting away the French Army and of his going up as far as Normandy and wasting the Land of Caulx whereas we find the Duke of Lancaster the Head of this Expedition and the Earl one of his Marshals But Walsingham flourish'd in a time when the House of John of Gaunt was commonly hated and slander'd as it was in the Days of Richard the Second so that no doubt common Report did more readily attribute all Successfull Matters to any other than to the said Duke of Lancaster However that part of this Great Earls Character deserves our Credit where t is said that he hardly left his Equal behind him for Courage and Loyalty His Death happen'd y Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 234. on the 13 of November in the 62d Year of his Age and his Body was afterwards brought over into England and Solemnly interred in the Midst of the Choire of the Collegiate Church of Warwick according to the Direction of his last Will and Testament Where his Tomb is still to be seen with the Statues of him and his Countess in White Marble excellently Cut the Sculp of which Monument is to be seen in Sr. William Dugdale's z P. 318. Antiquities of Warwickshire He left many Children
behind him but the Eldest was of his own Name and the Heir as well of his Vertues as Titles XXXI When now the Duke of Lancaster had been a few Days at Calais he gave leave to Sr. Robert of Namur Sr. Henry of Flanders Sr. Valeran van Bormio and all the Germans and other Strangers to go home having first promised them by the Grace of God to return the next Year more strong than he was as then and by them desiring the Duke of Gueldre and the Duke of Juliers to joyn him also at that time and to March with him into France And soon after he himself return'd for England thinking it unseasonable to attempt any thing more till next Summer G. Lit. Dom. For it was now the 19 of November and a Monday when he went on Board for England and thus ended this Expedition and all Warlike Attempts for this Year The Duke of Lancaster upon his Return into England found himself a Widdower for the Lady a Vid. Sandsord p. 244. c. Catal. Hen. p. 327 Walsing Hypod p. 131. Blanch his Wife was newly Deceased having left behind her One Son Henry sirnamed of Bolingbroke afterwards King of England by the Name of Henry IV and two Daughters Philippa and Elisabeth The said Lady Blanch was buried in the Famous Cathedral of St. Paul's Church in London There died also this Year b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48. on the 4 of November being the Sunday after All-Saints the Good Old Warrier Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk leaving behind him William his Second Son and Heir for Robert le Fitz his Eldest was Dead at that time 30 Years of Age. Dr. John Grandesson Bishop of Excester Departed this Life on the 15 of July after he had held that Seat almost 42 Years and was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Brentingham of both whom the Curious Reader may inform himself by Bishop Godwin's Catalogue XXXII King Charles of France c Mezeray ad hunc ann on the 7 of December held an Assembly of the Estates where there was granted unto the King an Imposition of one Sol per Liver upon Salt of Four Livers upon every Chimney in the City and of 30 Sols in the Country As likewise upon the Sale of Wine in the Country the 13th in Gross and the 14th upon Retail and upon entry at Paris 15 Sols for every Pipe of French Wine and 24 per Pipe for Burgundy Wine To which the Cities joyfully consented as knowing these Levies would be well menaged and cease again with the War. CHAPTER the SEVENTH AN. DOM. 1370. An. Regni Angliae XLIV Franciae XXXI The CONTENTS I. The unfortunate Death of the Lord John Chandos II. His Legacy to the Prince of Wales the Lord Thomas Percy succeeds him The Frenchmen taken at Lussac redeem'd Some French Lords stand Neuters some firm to England and some Change. III. King Edwards Letters of Indemnity to the Gascogne Lords IV. Chastelleraut taken by the French V. The Duke of Bourbon besieges the Companions in Bellepeche the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke go to their Succour VI. The English Earls desire to have Battle of the Duke of Bourbon who refusing the Companions leave the Castle and carry away the Dukes Mother Prisoner before his Face VII King Edward sends for Sr. Robert Knolles and makes him his General and strengthens Himself by Allies VIII The French King prepares for the next Campaine and invites Sr. Bertram of Clequin to his Service The Dukes of Anjou and Berry resolve to invade the Principality IX King Edwards Preparations against France The Lady Isabella of Valois deliver'd out of Prison X. A League between France and Navarre XI The Duke of Anjou invades the Principality on one side and the Duke of Berry on the other XII The Prince prepares to oppose them XIII La Linde being on the point of being betray'd to the French is suddenly rescued by the English XIV The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland He is succeeded by his Nephew Robert Stuart the Genealogy of that Glorious Family and an old Error of the Scotch Historians concerning King Roberts Children exploded XV. The Copy of an Authentick Scotch Record with other strong Arguments for that purpose XVI King Robert enters a Truce with England Sr. Robert Knolles sent over with an Army to Calais with his Exploits He dares the French King before the Walls of Paris The Dukes of Anjou and Berry not daring to meet the Black-Prince break up their Armies Limoges betray'd to the Duke of Berry XVIII The Black-Prince goes and lays Siege to Limoges XIX Sr. Robert Knolles rises from before Paris XX. Limoges taken and sack'd by the Black-Prince XXI A Grant of the Prince's to his Brother the Duke of Lancaster with his Stile and Seal described XXII Vpon the Vacancy of the Constableship of France King Charles creates Sr. Bertram of Clequin his Constable XXIII Sr. Bertram goes against Sr. Robert Knolles and cuts off a Party of his Army XXIV Sr. Robert Knolles clears his Innocence and Sr. John Menstreworth proclaim'd Traytor XXV Pope Urban X dying is succeeded by Gregory XI Maximus Planudes the Collector of the Greek Epigrams called Anthologia flourishes I. TOward the Declining of the last Year there was given an Occasion of a very unhappy Accident which befell England this Year whereof thô unwilling We shall now discourse The Town a Frois c. 268. 270. D◠Chesne p. 704. of St. Salvin on the River Gartempe in Poicton about seven leagues from the City of Poictiers was before this an English Garrison and all the Inhabitants and the Monks belonging to the Abbey there had sworn Allegiance to the King of England But there was in this Abby a certain Monk who so extreamly hated his Superior the Abbot that thrô very Rancour of heart and out of pure spight to him he at last found an opportunity to betray the Abbot and all his Covent and Abbey and Town also into the Hands of Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton who took Possession of the Place in the French King's Name and repaired and fortified it and put a good Garrison therein Of this loss of St. Salvin when the Lord John Chandos heard he was vext beyond measure because he was Seneschal of Poictou and that Place among others pertained to his Province And he thought with himself that if he liv'd a little longer he would endeavour to recover it at any Rate and make those pay dearly for their Boldness who had presum'd to take it without his leave He thought b Frois c. 27◠c. on nothing in the World but how to recover this Place either by Force or Surprise he cared not much whether but to have it he was resolv'd or to lose Himself in the Attempt For this purpose he laid several Nights here an Ambush and there an Ambush and now one Stratagem was devised and then another but all his Care and Policy
he would sit and declare a Bastard preferable to the Brother of his own Lady and also to his own Lady who would have succeeded if her Brothers had died without Issue And then it is most evident that when John was thus Designed Heir the Queen Euphemia Ross was not dead as the Scotch Writers say and the King Married to his Mother For as there is extant a Grant given by the said King to Paul Metine confirming unto him a Charter Granted by the Earl of Ross Father to Euphemia wherein the said John is Witness by the Name of Eldest-Son and Heir so there is a Charter granted unto Her by the King upon the very same day of the Lands of Lochleaven both Grants bearing Date Junii 1 mo Ano. Regni Primo And it is against all sense and reason to think he could have been acknowledged Heir Apparent during her Life if he had not been Legitimate Nay further we find by our Records that x Rot. Scotiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. Vid. Hujus Hist l. 2. c. 11. §. 8. p. 445. 19 Years before this he is stiled John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart as also seven Years after he bears the same Title being ranked * Vid. Hujus Hist l. 3. c. 2. § 3. § §. 4. p. 529. First among the Hostages which lay for King David And further to put all out of Question there is extant in Fourdons History a Charter granted by King David wherein the Witnesses are Robert Stuart Earl of Strathern our Nephew John Stuart Earl of Carric his Eldest Son and Heir Thomas Earl of Mar George of Dumbar Earl of March and William Earl of Douglass So that here again Buchanan is found Tardy who says that John was created Earl of Carrick by the King his Father after the Death of Ephemia Ross when here we find him stiled Earl of Carrick by his Great Uncle King David who also attests that he was Eldest Son and Heir to his Nephew Robert and surely he could be no wayâ— byassed in the Affair But if any one shall say what need then had there been of this Act or Declaration if the Title of John had not been Doubtfull We answer that King Robert could not forget y Hector Buchan ibid. c. how William Earl of Douglas by pretending a Right from the Bailiols and the Cumins had like to have disturbed his own Coronation but that he was not allowed in his Design by his Friends And therefore to stop all Controversies for the future he thought good to fortifie his Right and the Right of his Children for ever by a National Declaration as well as by Statute And thus much for this Important Matter in this Place we now return to the Point from whence we digressed XVI This King Robert the Second of Scotland who had been well acquainted with the Power and Force of King Edward and knew what Havock of that Nation he had made in time past being now in the beginning of his Reign desirous to establish his Kingdom in Peace made a Motion for a Treaty with England which King Edward most readily embraced because of the great War that he expected from France So that at last a firm Truce and Peace was taken and settled between the two Realms to endure for the space z But for 3 years Mezeray for 14 Buchan and 9 Frois of Nine Years All which time it might be lawfull for the Scots to take Arms at their Pleasure and to serve for Wages either the King of England or of France without any Imputation of Breach of Peace So that Sr. Robert Knolles whom King Edward design'd to send into France with a Considerable Army had now with him no less than a Frois Gall. f. 231. Angl. c. 278. an Hundred Spears all Chosen Men of that Warlike Nation In relation to which Expedition b 6 Maii. Claus 44. Ed. 3. m. 15. Derse Proclamation was sent forth that all Souldiers design'd for Picardy and other Parts of France under Sr. Roberts Command he being c Rot. Franc. 44. Ed. 3. m. 14. constituted the Kings Lieutenant in those Parts should be at Southhampton by the Octaves of St. John Baptist following ready fitted to take Shipping there with him So that in the beginning of July Sr. Robert finding all things ready went on Board at Southhampton and arrived safely and landed with all his Men at Calais where he was highly welcom'd by Sr. Nicolas Stambourn Captain of the Town Here he tarried seven Days to refresh his Men and to consider what Course to take on the eighth Day early in the Morning he began to march out of Calais with an Army of d Mezeray ità sed 12000 Holinsh ego priâ—rem praefere quia dicitur Exercitus magnus M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Walsing hist p. 179. 30000 Men among whom were 1500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers on Horseback the Chief Captains whereof were Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Thomas Grandison Sr. Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Gilbert Gifford Sr. John Menstreworth Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Hugh Meinill Sr. Geoffry Vrswell and Others The first Day they reached Fiennes but Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France was then in the Place with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires all well provided and ready to receive their Enemies The next Morning the whole Army faced the Castle but when it plainly appear'd that much might be there lost and little or nothing won they passed by without attempting it and marching thrô the Earldom of Guisnes enter'd the Land of Fauquenberg burning all before them till they came to Teroüenne which yet they attempted not for seeing it well provided they thought 't would be but lost Labour Then they passed the River of Lys and began to enter Artois but they never went above four or five leagues a Day because of the Infantry and their Carriages still taking up their Lodgings early in the Afternoon and near some considerable Village or other At last they drew near to the City of Arras and took up their Lodgings in the Town of Mount St. Eloy near to the said City where they tarried two Days to refresh themselves all the while destroying and burning round about as far as the Marshals durst stretch Now the French King had already provided for all the Defensible Places in those Parts as well as elsewhere strictly enjoyning his Chief Officers not to be easily tempted out to a Battle but only to stand on the Defensive part Which Order was generally obey'd and prov'd more mischievous to the English than open Opposition could have done for by this means they could get very little Provision without Blows but could never come to a Battle as they desired and expected On the third Day they left St. Eloy and passed by Arras but Sr. Hugh Meinill and Sr. Geoffry Vrsewell who were the Marshals of the English Army resolved however to
return'd with much Honour to Paris leading thither with him the greater part of the English Prisoners whom the Frenchmen are said to have used very courteously and to have ransomed reasonably letting many of them go only upon their Faith and Promise It was not then the manner of the English and French to put their Captives in Stocks in Chains and Dungeons and to use them severely as the Germans and Spaniards would do in those Days by that means to extort an high Ransom from their Prisoners Wherefore Honest Froisard is here a little concerned against those Nations and curses them for that their Unknightly Severity saying also that because they were so void of Pitty and Honour they ought to have no Mercy shew'd unto them But Sr. Bertram of Clequin and the other Frenchmen says he were very courteous to their English Prisoners and put them to easie Ransoms And yet I find g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 222. that the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter was so highly rated at this time that he was fain to mortgage his Castle and Lordship of Egremond in Cumberland for the Summ of a 1000 l. for certain Years towards raising of the Fine which he was demanded for his Redemption Sr. Bertram of Clequin having obtain'd so remarkable a Success against so formidable an Enemy just upon his Entrance into the Office of Constable gain'd much Honour and Commendation of all Men especially of the King his Master and other true Frenchmen who began already to look upon him as THE RESTORER OF FRANCE a Title which afterwards was appropriated unto him But the Black-Prince and the Duke of Lancaster who lay then at Cognac were extreamly concern'd at this Loss chiefly because it fell in such a juncture when a little Fresh Reputation was most necessary for their Affairs As for Sr. Robert Knolles when he understood how he had been traduced to the King his Master as the Occasion of that Loss he sent two discreet Persons of his Esquires to make his Excuse and to give the King a true Prospect of the whole Matter and these Men by the help of Sr. Alan Boxhull and other Knights of sound Reputation who voluntarily went to the King in his Behalf did their Devoir so well that the King and his Councill held him blameless and plainly saw how they had been misinformed So Sr. Robert was again settled in the Favour of the King and his Son the Prince of Wales and Sr. John Menstreworth was summon'd in by such a Day to give Answer to the King and his Council to what should be objected against him But not appearing at the time limited he was proclaimed Traytor and Outlawed if again by such a Day he should not submit himself to a Legal Tryal But his evil Conscience would not give him the Courage so to do he rather chose to forfeit his Allegiance and so turned Runagate and fled over to the French King but was taken some Years after and executed in England as we shall shew in due place XXV While these Broils were thus hot in France Pope Vrban the V who had been for about two Years and an Half at Rome was now return'd again to Avignon and used all his Endeavours to make a Peace between the Realms of France and England But the Two Kings remained Deaf to all his Proposals and shortly after viz. on the h Labbe Chron. Techn ad ann 1370. vid. Odor Rainal ad eundem annum §. 23. c Mezeroy Walsingh M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Victorell Freis c. 279. 19 of December his Holiness departed this Life having enjoy'd the Papacy the space of 8 Years one Month and 23 Days He was succeeded by Peter Rogerii a Cardinal but of Fourty Years of Age who was Son to William Earl of Beaufort by the Lady Joan sister to Pope Clement VI. This Man who took unto him the Name of Gregory the XI first return'd back the Papal Seat to Rome after that it had continued at Avignon in France for the space of i Victerell Cracon 1 Vol. p. 949. 70 Years in all To which Removal thô not undertaken till about six Years after this he was prompted by this Occasion As he k Sabeilicus Ennead Paul. Aemyl p. 297. Blondus Jaceb Meyer Ann. Flandr p. 193. beheld once a certain Bishop whose presence perhaps he was not over-fond of standing by him he demanded of him why he was absent from his Pastoral Charge adding That it became not a good Shepherd to remove himself so far from his Flock Whereupon the Bishop replied If so why then is your Holiness who are the Chief Bishop and ought to be a Pattern to us all so far from Rome where your Charge doth lie and where St. Peter resided This is said to have been an occasion of the Removal of that Chair and the Pope was convinc'd it was his Duty and went thither as soon as he might accordingly Which I wonder at not knowing how it should come to pass that he should forget how he was an Universal Bishop and so might reside any where as having a like Pastoral Authority every where but when Conscience appears witty Evasions a vail but little Nor shall we forget to mention a Son of the Muses perhaps as Great thô not as Dignified as either of these Popes especially because Learned Men have a Title to the Laurel and a Right to be recorded in History as well as Captains themselves This Man was Maximus Planudes a famous Greek Monk who flourished l Job Gerard. Vessus in l. de Scient Mathem repenit illum ad hunc ann 1370. Vid. Guliel Burten in Gracae Languae hist p. 57. at this time thô some by Mistake have put him later However as if his Prophetick Genius had even then foreseen the Downfall of the Greek Empire which yet was not compleated till 83 Years after at which time Constantinople was taken by Mahomet the Great he made it his chief Endeavour to advance or at least to preserve that then-decaying Language To which end he translated into the Greek Tongue that small Book of Morals which is called Cato and also all the Works of St. Augustine which he finished not till he was very old He is moreover believed to have collected those Fables which bear the Name of Aesop the Phrygian Fabulist to which he added the Life of that merry conceited Philosopher Further yet he turned into Greek the Poet Ovid's Books of Metamorphâ—sis with his Heroick Epistles besides Macrobius his Saturnalia and Somnium Scipionis and which I value above all his Labours collected those m De quibus haec clim lust 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Seven Books of the Greek Epigrams commonly called the Anthologia as they are now extant For all which commendable Industry his Name deserves highly to be respected by the Learned and Ingenuous of all Nations He died in a good Old Age several Years before Constantinople was
Parliament it was u M.S. Rot. Par. 45. Ed. 3. n. 7 11 13. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 111 c. agreed that a Staple should be held at Melcomb Regis in Dorsetshire after which the Petitions of the Commons not before answered were now read and answer'd before the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons which done the King licensed the Estates to depart and the Parliament ended Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That Magna Charta and the Charter of the Forest may be observed in all Points and also that every Petition now exhibited may be by some of the Lords considered It pleaseth the King. For that the Realm hath been of long time governed by Men of the Church to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons required that Lay-men only may be Principal Officers of the Kings Courts and Houshold and that none of the Clergy be saving as before unto the King his Free Election c. The King will therein do by Advice of his Council That all Lands holden of the King in Chief may be let for Life without Licence The King will do his Pleasure That there be no Fines for any Writs of Chancery The Chancellor shall consider the state of the Person That no Purveyance be made for the King but for ready Money and that the King be served by common Measure The Statute made shall be observed That no Eyre or Trailcbaston be used during the Wars It pleaseth the King. That in the Extracts of Green Wax mention may be made at whose Suits such Amerciaments were lost in what Term in what Plea and between what Parties Let the same be provided at the next Parliament That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Birth of any Man may be try'd as well of the Country where the Birth is alledged as where the Writ is brought The Law used herein shall stand That no Mayor Bailiff or any Sergeants be Victualler x i.e. Hosteller Diverserii Deminus Hostler or Taverner during their Offices on pain of 20 l. There is in this Case a certain Law. That the Easterlings may give Security to treat the English Merchants in their Country in such manner as they are here The same hath and shall be done as need shall require That all Merchants may pass over Wooll freely The King will be advised That such Statutes as restrain English Merchants from fetching Wines at Gascogne may be utterly repealed The Statutes heretofore made shall stand That all Corporations may enjoy their Liberties any Statute to the contrary notwithstanding Such as be grieved upon Complaint shall be answer'd The Commons affirm the Decay of the Navy to arise from three Causes First because several Mens Ships are stay'd for the King long before they serve whereby the Owners are compelled at their own Charges to find their Mariners to their undoing Secondly because Merchants the Nourishers of the Navy are often restrained their Shipping that Mariners are forced to seek out for other Trades to get a Livelihood Thirdly because Masters of the Kings Ships do take up Masters of other Ships as good as themselves so that most of these Ships lie still and the Mariners are enforced to seek out for a new Livelihood For all which they pray that Remedy may be had The King will provide a Remedy That all such Merchants as plead the Kings Pardon for Goods not Customed may have the same allowed The Grieved upon Complaint shall be heard That every Man may freely make Fortresses Towns and Walls y Vid. Skinner in vice Kernells à Cornelle c. Karnelled and Embattled The King will be advised That such as sue forth Assises be not obliged to pay for the Justices Patent The same shall be as formerly That the Commissioners for the Kings Affairs may be allow'd their Charges of the Profit of their Sessions The King will provide therefore That in Villengage alledged in the Plaintiff as regarding a Mannor the Issue may be where the Mannor is laid The King will be advised That no Man be put from his Possession by an Inquest of Office before the Escheator or other Justice by Commission untill the Right be try'd by Scire Facias The Statute made heretofore shall stand That no Sheriff or Escheator do remain above one Year The Statute made shall be kept That the Boys or Valets of France being here shall be used as Servants or Bondmen Let them stay till the next Parliament That the Statutes whereby Justices are not to defer doing Justice for the Great or Privy Seal or other Commandment and that no Man be put to answer but by due Order of Law may be kept Such as are grieved shall be heard That none of the House of Commons be appointed for Collecting the Subsidy The King will be advised That such as remain on the Sea-Coasts by the Kings Command may have Protections with the Clause Volumus c. The same is to the apparent Loss of the Commons That such as counterfeit any Mans Seal to any Deed may remain in perpetual Prison The Statute made therefore shall stand That all Scotch Money may be brought into the Kings Exchequer by a Day And that the Statutes of the Priests by Assent of the Clergy may be observed The Answer to both these Petitions cannot now be read from the Records IX During this z M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 23 p. Walsingh hâ—st c. Od. Rainal ad hunc an §. 1. Session there came from Pope Gregory two Legates the One having been Chancellor to the King of England and the Other to the King of France namely Simon Langham titulo S ti Sixti and John titulo Sanctorum Quatuor Coronatorum Priests Cardinals of the Apostolick See who were sent from his Holiness with Letters bearing Date VII Idûs Martii Anno Pontific I. to treat effectually with King Edward about the settling of Peace between the two Crowns of France and England But althô in this case the Pope shew'd how willing he was to follow the pious Footsteps of his Predecessor yet he also found no better effect than the other had And so the Breach continued as wide as before X. This Year King Edward a Frois c. 292. f. 177. Walsing hist p. 181. Ashmole p. 666. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 235. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr ad hunc ann l. 13. p. 190. sent the Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton to treat and confer with John Duke of Bretagne his Son in Law about some important Matters But because the War was open and the Seas infested with the Fleets of France and Spain there went in this Voyage many Noble and Valiant Knights of the Kings Houshold The Chief of these was Prince Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Youngest Son then about sixteen Years of Age who shortly
of Galizia A little after whose Departure on that very Day of St. John Baptist there came by Land to Rochell a great Number of Men of Arms English and Gascogners who as yet knew nothing of this Mischance of their Friends They had only heard that for certain the Spiniards lay before Rochell with design as it should seem to block it up and therefore they came thither now to preserve the Place The Chief Captains of these Men were the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche Sr. Beras du Launde Sr. Peter of Landuras the Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Bertram de France and of Englishmen the Lord Thomas x Vid. de his Barenibus Dug Bar. ad ecrum nomina Percy the Lord Baldwin Frevile the Lord John Devereux Sr. Richard Ponchardon Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. William Fermin and others When these Lords and Knights with their Troops which were to the Number of six hundred Men of Arms were come to Rochell the Citizens made them extream Welcome as it should seem For as then they durst not shew the Malice of their Minds But when Sr. James of Surgeres had inform'd them of the Spaniards Victory by Sea in which Engagement he himself had been taken and ransomed these heavy Tidings all the Barons and Knights took mightily to Heart and thought themselves the most unfortunate Men Living that they had not come thither time enough to their Friends Assistance But they were beyond measure displeased that they had lost the Earl of Pembroke and Sr. Guischard Dangle However there they tarried certain Days to consider how they should now proceed and because the Seneschal of Rochell Sr. John Harpedon was taken by the Spaniards the Captal of Busche as being one of the Duke of Lancasters Chief Deputies in those Parts constituted Sr. John Devereux Seneschal of Rochellois of which We shall speak hereafter VI. Many French Writers talk of one Owen or Evan which they corruptly call Yvan making him to be Son to a Prince of Wales whom say they King Edward the Third put to Death and gave the Principality to his Son Edward the Black-Prince But those that are better acquainted with the Welch Story can tell that Lhewellin ap Griffith the last Prince of Wales of the Brittish Blood died without Issue being slain at Buelht in the Days of King Edward the First Grandfather to our Edward in the Year of our Lord MCCLXXXII which was full 90 Years before this time That indeed y Lloyd's Hist of Wales p. 374 one Madoc of the Kindred of the said Lhewellin rebelled afterwards but being taken was kept a perpetual Prisoner in the Tower or as some say submitted and was received into Favour on Condition he would bring in another Rebel named Morgan and put him into the King's Hands which he did That z Lloyd ibid. p. 382. ex Rot. Turr. Edward of Carnarvon afterwards King Edward the Second was by his Father stiled Prince of Wales and received the Homage of several Lords and other Free-Holders of Wales That his Son Edward of Windsor in time King of England by the Name of Edward the Third about the Sixteenth Year of his Fathers Reign was in a Parliament holden at York created Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain thô as a Vid. huâ—us Hist l. 1. c. 1. § 2. p. 2 we shew'd before he is no where found to have used the former Title of the two But this is most certain that his Son the Black-Prince in the b Vid. huâ—us Hist l. 1. c. 3. § 5. p. 45. l. 1. c. 21. §. 9. p. 273. Seventeenth Year of his Fathers Reign was created Prince of Wales and that by this means Wales was ever after joyned to the Crown of England even to this Day From all which it appears that this Owen however otherwise commendable was but a Counterfeit as to this Point And yet it might be no ill Policy for the French Kings to entertain him as being a Declared Enemy to the English Having thus by a sincere Antidote taken away the Venom of this Upstart Prince's Pretensions I shall now proceed to shew what Use the French King made of him at this time in his Affairs It was reported that our King Edward the Third took one Edmund Prince of Wales who was never else heard of and beheaded him that his young Son this Owen forsooth being by some means or other brought over into France was nourished up by King Philip of Valois as a Child of Honour in his own Chamber That he bare Arms for King John at the Battle of Poictiers but that after the famous Peace at Bretigny he retired into Lombardy Whence upon the Renewing of the War between the two Realms he came back again and offer'd his service to King Charles against the English The King received him gladly and advanced him in his Court committing to his Charge certain Troops of Souldiers particularly this Summer he gave him 4000 Men and sent him to sea against England VII Prince Owen for so however We will take leave to call him went on â—oard having imbarked his Men at Harfleur in Normandy and so set Sail taking his Course to the left hand for the Isle of Garnsey the Governour whereof for the King of England was Edmund Ros a Valiant and Hardy Esquire When this Gentleman heard how the French had took land in the Isle and that Owen of Wales was their Leader he made his Summons immediately thrô the Country resolving to march forth against him and to give him Battle The whole Isle is not c Speeds Maps p. 94. above 36 Miles in Circuit But however what with his own Men and the Inhabitants he presently raised 800 Fighting Men and so came and presented Battle to Owen of Wales The Fight proved fierce and obstinate on both sides but at last the Englishmen who were far outnumbred by the Enemy were discomfited and fled leaving behind them 400 dead upon the Spot Ros himself with the rest made shift to retire into a strong Fortress about two leagues from the place of Battle called Cornet-Castle which he had exceedingly fortified and victuall'd before and there he resolv'd to expect what God would please to send him After this Victory Prince Owen rallied his Men together and went directly and laid siege to the Castle of Cornet whither he heard Edmund Ros the Captain was retreated But the Place was so strong and as we shewed before so well provided that it was not to be won without much time and labour wherefore Owen sat down before the Castle It was in the time of this Siege that the late unhappy Adventure fell to the Earl of Pembroke and the Lord Guischard Dangle and their Men in the Haven of Rochell as we have related At the News whereof the French King was extream glad and assumed the greater Courage to pursue the Wars in Poictou and elsewhere For now he thought when the Good Towns and Cities of those Parts did
Sr. Dangouses Captains of Niort Who sending also to those of the Garrison of Lusignan and of Dangousay to come and joyn them they went all together from Niort to the number of 607 Spears all good Men of War besides Footmen and others Being come near to Sivray for it was distant but four Leagues from Niort they made an Halt to be the more fresh and ready But it had been better for them to have made a sudden Attempt upon the Constable in his Entrenchment For upon this their Demurr he had perfect knowledge of their Coming and that they were ranged in the Field ready for an Onset He was not much disturbed at the Report but forthwith commanded his Men to be armed and to repair to their Colours which being done he said Gentlemen how say you Are you really disposed to fight For I verily believe it will behove us to fight They all answer'd with one Voice Sir we thank God a Battle shall be welcome to us Then Sr. Bertram order'd an Ambush of 200 Chosen Men to receive those of the Garrison if they should offer to make a Sally as he verily believed they would and at the same time he caused the most part of the Pales that were about his Camp to be cast down lest they should create any Hindrance to him when he should resolve to come forth And so he stood still ready ranged in three Battalia's two of them being as Wings to the Third which himself lead and one Wing was governed by Sr. Alan of Beaumont and the other by Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel Command being given that none should pass before the Constable's Banner without a special Licence but that all should keep their Places still within the Entrenchment The mean while Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot when they saw from the Walls and Battelements of their Fortress how their Friends the English were ready ranged in the Field said to one another Let us now arm our selves and make a brisk Sally We shall soon pass thrô these Bretons and when our Friends find that we are engaged they will come on to our Rescue and utterly spoil the Enemy Before they can tell who hurts them With that they sallied out on Horseback to the number of Fourty Spears well armed thinking to skirmish with the Host But they were suddenly entrapped by the Ambush which was laid for them and there arose a smart Skirmish But the English were overmatch'd and so enclosed on all sides that being neither able to retreat nor to go forward they were all either taken or slain not a Man of them escaped The two Captains were taken alive All this while the English stood ready ranged in the Field and the Constable in his Enclosure from whence he stirred not For he feared that the English had some great Ambush for him in the Wood behind In the English Army there were 200 Poictevins and Bretons Robbers and Pillagers that fought for Spoil and lived by Rapine These Men being sent beforehand to skirmish with the French and to provoke them forth of their Hold as soon as they came to the Constable's Battail turned to him saying How their Hearts were good French and they would be on the Constable's side if it pleased him The Constable said he was content to receive them and so set them in a Wing on one side having first learned of them all the Behaviour Number and Quality of the English and that they had no manner of Ambush or Reserve behind them With this Discovery Sr. Bertram was extreamly satisfied and so drawing all his Men together the Pales were all cast down and he caused his Banner to advance forward and went forth on Foot with the two Battalions for Wings and crying out Our Lady of Clequin When the Englishmen saw their Enemies to issue forth of their Enclosure they advanced themselves forward with much Courage to receive them At the first joyning they encountred the Constable's Battail and fought there so furiously that they passed clean thrô reversing and spoiling many a Man as they made their way along But then the Bretons who had wisely order'd themselves in a Wing on each side being all Fresh and Lusty returned all together upon the English who were now wearied and dash'd in among them with such Fury that they were all mightily shaken The mean while the Constable's broken Battail was repairing it self and began to rally and recover its former Order However still the English fought most valiantly like Persons of Courage and Honour with good Axes and Swords of Bourdeaux wherewith they gave many fatal strokes that Day There were on both sides many Valiant Knights and Esquires who freely adventur'd their Lives to purchase Honour So that this Battle was fought as well and as many gallant Actions were then done in Taking and Rescuing again as had been seen of many a Day before in plain Field without any material Advantage on either hand saving that the French and Bretons did more than twice exceed the English in Number besides that Accession of 200 Fugitives before the Battle However the matter was disputed on both sides with great Obstinacy every Man setting himself forth to do his utmost So that many a Valiant Knight was sore hurt and not a few slain and trod to Death But in the end the Victory abode with the French and the English and Poictevins were utterly discomfited most of them being either taken or slain but a very few escaped they tarried so long contending in Battle There were slain two Gallant Esquires of England Richard Meinil and William Vrsewell and James Willoughby was grievously wounded Sr. Dangouses escaped away but there were taken Sr. John Vbrues Sr. Emery of Rochechoüart David Holeroft Richard Oliver John Cresswell and many more both of England and Poictou This Battle was thus fought near Sivray on the twenty second Day of March in the Year of our Lord God c 1372 / 3. Vid. Frois c. 306. Du Chesne p. 710. MCCCLXXIII II. The Victory being thus obtained the Constable returned to his former Camp where having taken Care of his Wounded and Prisoners of both which sort he had Plenty he sent Sr. Alan de Beaumont to denounce against those that remain'd in Sivray that if they held out till they were taken by Force they should all die without Mercy Upon this terrible Threat which was the usual way with the Constable especially because of their late Loss and that their Succours were overthrown the Garrison submitted and had the favour to go off without suffering any Harm either in their Goods or Persons the Constable allowing them a Convoy to Bourdeaux Thus this Fortress and all the Land pertaining thereunto returned to the Obedience of the French King. After this the Constable went with his Bretons and Frenchmen and came before Niort in a great Heat This was a strong Town in Poictou standing on the Sevre which had held for the English while they had a good
at this present in the Hands of Italians and other Strangers what they be and of what Value and how every of the said Benefices are named and how much every of them is worth by the Year not as by way of Tax or Extent but according to the true and full Value of the same As also to know the Names of all and singular such Strangers as are now Incumbents or occupy the same and of every of them Likewise the Names of all those whether English or Strangers of what State or Condition soever they be who have the Occupation or Disposal of any such Benefices with the Fruits and Profits of the same on the Behalf or by Authority of any of the foresaid Strangers by way of Farm Title or Procuration or by any other way or means whatsoever and how long they have occupied or disposed of the same and withall if any of the said Strangers be now resident upon any of the said Benefices We command you as heretofore We have done to send Us a true Certificate of all and singular the Premises into our High Court of Chancery under your Seal distinctly and openly before the b b Whitsunday fell this Year on the 21 of May. Lit. Dom. A. Pascha 2 April Feast of the Ascension of our Lord next coming without further delay returning also this our Writ at the same time Witness our Self at Westminster the 16 Day of April in the 48 Year of our Reign of England and of France 35. By Vertue of this Writ Certificate was accordingly sent up to the King into his Chancery out of every Dioecese in England of all such Spiritual Livings as were then in the Occupation either of Priors Aliens or of other Strangers whereof the Number is said to have been so great that it would take up several sheets of Paper to set them all down Wherefore it seem'd high time for the King to seek a Remedy in that Case either by Treaty with the Pope or otherwise considering what a vast proportion of the Revenues of his Realm was by this means convey'd away being either employ'd to the Relief of his Enemies or however of such who were neither his Subjects nor Friends An Instance whereof may be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments at the last Year of the Reign of King Edward III. II. Shortly after the Return of the said Certificates the King sent Mr. John Wickliffe who was afterwards an Eminent Reformer in England and at that time Divinity Professor in the Famous University of Oxford together with certain others his Ambassadors beyond the Seas with full Commission to treat with the Pope's Legates concerning the foresaid Matters and other Affairs then depending between his Holiness and the King. The Tenor of their Commission runs thus viz. Rex * Fox Acts Men. p. 554. al. Edit p. 390. Vniversis ad quorum notitiam praesentes literae pervenerint c. The King unto All to whose knowledge these Present Letters shall come Greeting Know Ye that We reposing assured Confidence in the Integrity and Abilities of the Reverend Father John Bishop of Bangor and other our loving and Loyal Subjects as Master John Wickliffe Reader of the Divinity Lecture Master John Guttern Dean of Segovia and Master Simon Multon Dr. of the Law Sr. William Burton Knight Master John Belknap and Master John Honington have directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the Parts beyond the Seas giving unto our said Ambassadors and Commissioners or to any Six or Five of them among whom I will that the said Bishop shall be One full Power and Authority with special Command to treat and consult mildly and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of our Lord the Pope touching certain Affairs about which We before have sent the said Bishop William Vghtred Monk of Durham and Master John Shepey to the Apostolick See and to make full Relation of all things done and transacted in the said Assembly That all those things which may tend to the Honour of Holy Church and the Advancement of our Crown and this our Realm may by the Assistance of God and the Wisdom of the Apostolick See be brought to good effect and accomplished Witness our self at London the 26 day of July in the 48 Year of our Reign These Commissioners were met at Bruges about the beginning of August by the Pope's Nuntio's Bernard aliàs Benedict Bishop of Pampelone and Ladulph or Rodulph Bishop of Senigaglia and Giles Sancho Provost of the Church of Valenza Who were likewise commission'd from the Pope to treat c Odor Rainald ad hunc annum §. 21. quem vide sis Concerning the Liberties of the Church of England and of the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the said Realm of England But this Treaty held off and on for about two Years after when at last it was concluded d Walsingh hist p. 184. n. 10. Churchill's Divi Britannici p. 36. that for the future the Pope should desist from making use of Reservations of Benefices and that the King should no more confer Benefices by his Writ Quare Impedit But as to the Elections aforesaid concerning which Ambassadors had been sent to the Court of Rome the Year before there was nothing mention'd in this Treaty The Reason whereof was ascribed to the Politick Dealing of some who knew they could more easily attain to the Episcopal Dignities which they aim'd at by the Court of Rome then by due and regular Elections that is rather by Money Favour and Interest than by any true Worth or Merit of their own III. But now 't is time to see what Deeds of War were performed this Year or rather what Advantage France gain'd and what Losses England suffer'd for things were grown to that pass at this time Soon e Frois c. 311. fol. 192. after Easter the Duke of Anjou being at Perigueux raised a great Army consisting of 15000 Footmen besides a considerable Number of Genoüese and Crossbows and the most part of all the Barons and Knights of Bretagne Poictou Anjou and Touraine with whom also the Constable of France was joyned and several Lords of Gascogne as the Lord John of Armagnac the Lords of Albret and of Perigort the Earls of Cominges and of Narbonne the Vicounts of Carmaine and of Villemur and of Talart the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicount of Mende the Lord de la Barde Sr Robert of Charde and the greater part of the Lords of Auvergne and Limosin With this Great Army the Duke of Anjou marched towards High Gascogne and came before Mont de Marsan which having took he proceeded to St. Sever whereof an Abbot was Lord who thô the Town was strong yet doubting to lose it by force fell to treat with the Duke of Anjou telling him that his Town and Fortress was but a small Matter in respect of other Towns and Castles in High Gascogne whither he suppos'd his Highness
of the Assumption past over without the appearance of any One in the King of England's behalf he sent word to the Earl of Foix the Vicount of Chastel-Bon to the Lords of Mont de Marsan of Chastelneuve and of Lescar and to the Abbot of St. Sever letting them know that if they did not now stand to their Bargain he would forthwith put all their Hostages to Death and after that enter their Lands with such a Power as to oblige them all to cry Mercy Hereupon they all freely submitted themselves and their Lands to the Obedience of the French King and the Inhabitants also of Moissac which was a Fair Garrison open'd their Gates and their Chief Burgesses went out with the Keys to the Duke of Anjou rendring their Fealty and Homage unto him as unto the French Kings Lieutenant Then the Duke and all the Lords with him enter'd the Town and tarried there 18 days during which time they had Counsel which way to draw next for the Month of August was past at which time the Truce was ended and as yet there was no News of the Duke of Lancaster's being at Calais to renew the Truce wherefore now again the War was open So after this Success the Duke went with his Army before la Reole which he besieged three days and on the Fourth was received into the Town the Inhabitants returning to the Obedience of the French King. After that the Duke took in Langon St. Macari Condom St. Bazeille or Basil la Tour de la Prudence Mauleon la Tour de Drû and other Towns and Castles to the Number of Fourty in all the last being the strong Town of Auberoche in Perigort in all which he set good Garrisons VI. When things were thus happily settled and in a manner all Gascogne and Guienne except Baionne and Bourdeaux were thus either conquer'd or revolted from the English the Duke of Anjou and the Constable being sent for by the French King gave leave to their Men to go whither they would and they themselves return'd into France But the Lords of Clisson of Beaumanoir of Roye of Riom and of Anaugeur with the Vicount of Rohan and of Lavalle and many more went to the Siege of Becherel which was not yet yielded up nor was to yield till the Feast of All-Saints by which time it had been covenanted that if it was not rescued it should be yielded And now these Lords went thither because they heard that the Duke of Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles and the Lord Edward Spencer would be there in Person to raise the Siege Thô in the end this Rumor prov'd false and no Succour coming Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard yielded up the Place and return'd into England as We said before VII It may be remembred that we h Vid. L. 4. c. 6. §. 29. p. 781. shew'd how Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France was taken near Abbeville by Sr. Nicolas Lovaine and carried Prisoner into England Ever since that even for the space of near five Years he continued in that Condition and could not be redeem'd because they asked so great a Ransom for him Thô now by the Assistance of a certain Merchant of Flanders he paid down 20000 Franks being but the Moiety of what he was to pay but when this Merchant by paying that Summ had got him out of England he escap'd all further Obligation by a subtle Device too long to be remembred here and perhaps the Recital would rather instruct Knaves than pleasure Honest Men. However when thus Sr. Hugh de Chastillon was return'd into France King Charles restor'd unto him his Office of Master of the Crossbows and sent him to Abbeville his old Province there to keep the Frontiers with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and he was obey'd as Chief by all the Captains of the Neighbour-Garrisons as Sr. John of Bournonville Captain of Boulogne and Sr. John Lisle Captain of Dieppe and the Captains of Teronenne St. Omers of Liques Fiennes and Montrevil Now it happen'd one Morning that the Lord of Gomegines who was still Loyal to King Edward being an Hainalder by Birth and by him made Captain of Ardres a Town of Picardy about three leagues from Calais prepared early one Morning to ride abroad so together with the Lord John of Vbrues he left his Garrison with about 800 Men of Arms collected from several Places with a Design to ride towards Boulogne to seek for some Adventure That same Morning it chanced that Sr. John Bournonville Captain of Boulogne had left his Garrison with 60 Spears and rode towards Calais with a like Design But when he had met with nothing of that kind as he was returning not well pleased that he had succeeded no better he met with this Lord of Gomegines who had been riding towards Boulogne with his Men. The Captain of Boulogne at sight of this great Power drove down another way which he knew as fast as ever his Horse could carry him but he was so closely pursued that he lost 14 of his Men of Arms and very narrowly escaped himself with the rest After which Chace the Lord of Gomegines was returning homeward not thinking to meet with any more Adventures But it happen'd otherwise For that same Morning St. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows had left his Garrison also with 300 Spears of Artois Vermandois and other Countries whom he had collected from the Neighbour-Fortresses for that Purpose At which very time the young Earl of St. Pol being newly come into Picardy from his Lands in Lorraine was riding on a Pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne But hearing by the way that the Master of the Crossbows was riding thitherward also he went and joyned him and rode with him first before Ardres where they tarried a while in the Field altogether to shew themselves to the Garrison not knowing any thing that the English were abroad at that time no more than the English knew where they were When the Frenchmen had been a while before Ardres and saw none would offer to come out against them they rode back as far as the Abbey of Liques But upon their departure there presently rode forth out of Ardres an Englishman who taking several By-ways as one that well knew the Country met at last with the Lord of Gomegines as he was returning toward Ardres to whom he told how the Frenchmen had been just before to view his Garrison with about 400 Spears but that now they were gone off When the Frenchmen were got a little beyond Tournehan toward the Abby of Liques they also were informed how the English were abroad with the Captain of Ardres but their Number was not known However upon the Information they agreed to meet them and so turning coasted on one side and laid an Ambush of 300 Spears whereof Sr. Hugh Chastillon was Captain in a little Wood hard by the Abbey of Liques The Earl of St. Pol being appointed
Mortimer Earl of March the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Kent the Lord Edward Spencer and the other English Captains returned also for England But the Lord Spencer presently upon his return fell grievously Ill wherefore he began to dispose himself for another World and among other things i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. ex libro Sudbury dicto fol. 89. made his Testament which bears Date at Lanblethian a Castle of his in the Marches of Wales upon the Sixth of November Anno 1375. Wherein he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abbey of Tewksbury in Glocestershire near his Ancestors on the South part and gave to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash his Great Bed of Camaka-Blew with Griffons as also another Bed of Camaka striped with White and Black and all the Furniture belonging thereto Moreover to the Abbot and Covent of that House of Tewksbury he gave an whole Suit of his best Vestments as also two Gilt Chalices and an Hanap or Bason Gilt likewise an Ewer wherein to put the Body of Christ on Corpus Christi Day which Ewer was given him by the King of France I shall mention no more Particulars but that he died shortly after viz. on Martinmass-Day in the same Month at his Castle at Kaerdiff leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then but Two years of Age and four Daughters Cecily who died young Elizabeth first married to Sr. John Arundel and afterwards to the Lord de la Zouch Anne who became Wife to Sr. Hugh Hastings and after his Death to the Lord Morley and Margaret the Wife of Sr. Robert Ferrers This Lord Edward Speucer was a Mighty Baron of the Realm and so Valiant that his Death was look'd on as a National Loss and a great Empairment of the Strength of England He died too soon being but in the 39 Year of his Age and was descended from those Delespencers Earls of Glocester who were such Favourites to King Edward the Second the Greatness of whose Condition may be estimated from this Inventory which was found to have belonged to Hugh Delespenser the Younger k Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. 2. n. 58. vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 372. Sr. W. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 396. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton his térve corrigendus ex Dug as Ten Good Castles in Wales and Twenty Three Mannors besides the Countries of Lantrissan Glamorgan and Wenceland with the County of Galesy and it appear'd that Hugh the Elder had at the time of his Fall no less than Fifty Nine Lordships in sundry Counties Twenty Eight Thousand Sheep One Thousand Oxen and Steers One Thousand two Hundred Kine with their Calves and Fourty Mares with their Colts of two Years one Hundred and Sixty Draught Horses two Thousand Hogs three Thousand Bullocks Fourty Tuns of Wine six Hundred Bacons Fourscore Carcasses of Martinmas Beef six Hundred Muttons in his Larder Ten Tuns of Cider Armour Plate Jewels and ready Money better than ten Thousand Pounds Thirty six Sacks of Wooll and a Library of Books VI. About this time there were sent into Scotland by Commission from King Edward the Lord l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 236. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Guy de Brian and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham to treat with William Earl of Douglas and Others appointed by Robert Stuart King of Scotland touching the Restitution of those Lands which by Vertue of the Truce formerly made did belong to England and m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. for Settling all things amiss which had fell out contrary to the Truce and Agreement made between the Kings of England and Scotland VII Now when the Truce of which we spake was thus made at Bruges being to continue for one whole Year unto the First of April 1376. between the Kings of England and France and their Allies the Duke of Lancaster on the one Part and the Duke of Burgundy on the other sware to uphold the same and that at the Feast of All-Saints next coming they would return again to Bruges in order to treat further about Prolonging the Truce or Compleating a Peace Each Party being permitted to hold and enjoy every thing which at that time they had in Possession untill the said First of April From this latter Clause the English concluded that St. Saviour le Vicount would be secure but the Frenchmen who always got the Advantage of them by Treaties resolved that the First Covenant should take place of the Latter At Whitsuntide therefore which was the Time appointed that the Garrison of St. Saviour was to yield unless rescued by their Friends the French King sent thither no less than 6000 Spears Knights and Esquires besides Others but none appear'd on the Behalf of the Garrison either to raise the Siege or hold the Field against them When therefore the appointed time was come and expired the English much against their Wills yielded up to the French the Captain Thomas Katrington Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs with the Three Brethren Mauliverers and the rest of the Garrison being convey'd to Carentan whence they all took shipping for England VIII And thô during King Edward's Reign this Esquire Katrington was never question'd in the least for this Matter yet a few Years after in the Days of King Richard the Second a Noble Knight named Sr. John Annesley n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. who had married the late Lord John Chandos his Niece o Sr. Rich. Baker p. 150. ad ann 1381. accused him of flat Treason in thus Delivering up that Fortress and thereupon challenged him to a Combat which the Esquire accepted and the King granted resolving to be himself a Spectator as He was with all the Court the Lists being made in the Palace Yard of Westminster This Esquire Katrington was a mighty Man of Valour of a large stature and far overtop'd the Knight being also of greater Expectation in such Matters But however whether Justice or Chance or Valour only decided the Business the Knight prevail'd and Katrington the day after the Combat died of his Wounds as some say thô considering the Laws attending the Duello in such Cases I rather here encline p Fabian p. 324. to Fabian who affirms that he was drawn to Tiburn and there hanged for the Treason whereof by being vanquished he was proved Guilty IX But to return besides this Encroachment on the Truce made by the French in taking St. Saviour le Vicount after that Manner q Rot. Par. 50 Ed. 3. n. 127. certain Ships of England which had lately carried over into Aquitain the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne whom they had landed at Bourdeaux being now return'd thence to le Baye in Bretagne were Boarded by certain Spanish Gallies and taken on the Tenth of August thô the late Truce extended unto the Spaniards also as being Allies of France Of which we
Duke of Anjou tarried still at St. Omers From King Edward there came John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster John Dreux commonly called Monford Duke of Bretagne William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and William Courtney Bishop of London Sr. Robert of Namur was also with the Duke of Lancaster and waited on him to do him Honour while he staid in Flanders and the two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras went between the two Parties and took much Pains shewing many weighty Reasons to induce both Sides to Moderation but all to no purpose the Lords were so far asunder in their Resolutions For the French King demanded back again 1400000 Franks which had been paid for the Redemption of King John and also to have Calais rased and beaten down to the Ground To neither of which would the King of England by any means consent Then the f Fabian p. 258. c. French Deputies required Licence of the Legates that they might ride to Paris to declare more particularly unto the King the Offers made on the English Part after which they promised to return with an Account of his Pleasure as to the Premises Upon this Demand it was at last resolved that certain sufficient Persons for that purpose appointed should go and shew unto King Charles How the English Negotiators besides that they absolutely refused to refund the Money or to rase Calais as aforesaid stood stifly for the Absolute Sovereignty which they said belonged to the King their Master and that the King of England and his Heirs Kings of England should for ever enjoy all the Lands comprised in the former Peace made between Him and King John without any Homage or Resort or any other Duty paying or owing therefore Upon this King Charles summon'd his Peers and Nobles about him and there came many Lawyers and Doctors of Divinity unto him to Paris to hold a Debate and Argument on this Matter And here at last it was peremptorily determin'd that the King might not part with his Right of Sovereignty without great Peril of his Soul because he was so manifoldly engaged to maintain the Rights of his Kingdom This Report being brought to Bruges the Treaty immediately fell to pieces without any further Effect but only that by the earnest Intercession of the Legates the Truce however was prolonged to the g Rot. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. m. 16 21. Last of June then next ensuing and afterwards was lengthen'd out farther to the First of April of the Year MCCCLXXVII to give notice whereof to the English Subjects h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. a Proclamation was set forth So these Lords on both sides tarried at Bruges the Remainder of the foregoing h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. Winter and most part of the Lent following keeping great State especially the Dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy But in the Spring they all return'd to their several Countries except the Duke of Bretagne who tarried still in Flanders with the Earl Lewis his Cosen k Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. who made him extream welcome for the space of a Year i Fabian p. 258. But we must not forget to make mention of the great Good-will which King Edward and his Children still manifested to the Person of the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who being taken as we have related before Soubise was all this while kept a Prisoner in the Tower of the Temple at Paris Him they l Frois c. 315. earnestly labour'd to get at Liberty and made frequent Overtures to that purpose but especially now by their Ambassadors and Negotiators at Bruges they offer'd in Exchange for him Valeran the young Earl of St. Pol and Three or Four other Knights besides m Frois c. 332. fol. 210. b. Gold and Silver in Abundance But the French King and his Council would by no means consent to deliver him n Frois c. 315. fol. 196. b. Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 194. unless he would swear Never more to bear Arms against the Crown of France To which Proposal the Loyal Gascogner stoutly reply'd That thô he was sure otherwise to die in Prison yet he would never make any such Oath But of this Valiant Prince's Death we shall speak hereafter III. This Year being the Fiftieth of King Edward's Reign over England he kept o Daniel's History p. 256. a Second Jubilee in consideration thereof and gave Pardons Immunities and Graces and shew'd many Notable Acts of Bounty and Goodness to his People as in the First Jubilee which was the Fiftieth Year of his Age. A singular Blessing which very few Monarchs have ever arrived to either before or since that time Soon after viz. on the 28 of April p M.S. Ret. Par. 50. Ed. 3. p. 116. n. 1 c. Item Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 120. c. being the Monday after the Feast of St. George FE Lit. Dom. the King of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster On which Day there was a considerable Appearance both of Lords and Commons before the King in his own Chamber Royal. But because divers of the Lords and some few of the Commons were not come Proclamation was made in the Great Hall at Westminster that all such who had received Summons to Parliament should be there the next Morning by Eight of the Clock At which Day Sr. John Knevet Knight Lord Chancellour of England §. 2. declared before the King Lords and Commons the Causes of the present Parliament to be Three viz. To enquire how the King should best provide for the Government of the Realm Secondly for the Defence of the same as well beyond the Seas as on this side both by Sea and by Land and lastly how he might prosecute his Quarrel against his Enemies and make good the same the Chancellour adding That as the King had always in all his Attempts follow'd their Good Counsel so now he meant to do no less Wherefore in the King's Name he wish'd them to go together the Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves and speedily to consult and return an Answer So when there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places and Isles beyond the Seas Tryers of the said Petitions after the Custom being subjoyned §. 3 4 5 6 7. the * §. 8. Commons were willed to depart to their accustomed Place being the Chapter-House of the Abbot of Westminster whither they went accordingly And then certain of the Lords and Nobles who are particularly named in the Records were order'd for the quicker Dispatch of Affairs to go and consult with the Commons In consideration of the necessary
certain of the Kings Subjects to be their own and so by sinister means have obtained the same The Grieved upon suit to the Council shall have Right That no Lands or Tenements be seised by any of the Kings Officers of any Person not attainted of Treason or Felony in his Life time Let this be more fully opened That no Sheriff Under-Sheriff or Goaler be Justice during their Offices neither that they be put in any Commission other than what Concerns their Offices It pleaseth the King. That the Bishops do certainly appoint what shall be taken for a Probate of a Testament and for an Acquittance upon the Account The Statutes therefore made shall be kept That for Goods of Felons found by Office every Man may traverse such Offices and upon the Reversing of the same be discharged The Law shall stand as it doth That no Man be charged upon an account in the Exchequor of Scottish Money sweet Wine sold without Licence Corn Lead Tin Worsted Butter and such like whereby no Profit comes to the Prince For Scottish Money Remedy was provided Ano. 47. Ed. 3. tit 19. For sweet Wines Remedy was appointed the last Parliament And for the rest Care shall be taken the first Opportunity That the Clerk of the Mercate of the Kings Houshold do not by Extortion take Fines in Gross or certain of any Towns and that there may be appointed a Certainty of Measures and weight according to the Standard He shall see punishment done according to the Quality of the Fault without any such Fines taking there where he doth not his Office And the Measure shall be according to the Standard and Statute made That no Patent of any Lands found by the Escheators Inquest be granted so as the Party will stand bound to answer the King the Profits thereof if upon Tryal it be found for the King. The King will be advised That the Chancellour upon the Writ of z Vid. Cowell Skinner Champartie may grant forth Writs at the suit of the Party and that he may recover Damages in his suit The King will be advised until the next Parliament They Require Remedy against Reservation of Benefices from the Court of Rome The Bill is elsewhere answer'd That the Lord Steward and Marshal of the Kings Houshold do hold no other Pleas than are contained in the Statute called Articuli super Chartas That for twelve Miles they may be certainly limited whether from the Kings Presence or the Place of his Houshold and not from both unless they be together And that the Steward do keep his Session within three Miles about the Presence of the King as it hath been accustomed They shall have Jurisdiction from the Place where the King himself is or from the Place where the Houshold is kept twelve Miles in circuit and not from the One and the Other at one time And further the Statute therefore made shall stand That every Man in the Exchequor being impleaded may wage his Law as in other Courts where Wage doth lie They shall not wage their Law in the Exchequor as in other Courts where the King is not Party That the Chirographer may be sworn that neither He nor none of his Clerks do take for the engrossing of a Fine but only Four Shillings The Statute made therefore shall stand Then there was prefer'd a a M.S. Rot. Par. p. 127. n. 85. Srâ— Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 128. Fox Acts c. p. 552. long Bill against the Usurpations of the Pope as which were the Cause of all the Plagues Injuries Famine and Poverty of the Realm so as thereby was not left the Third Person or other Commodity within the Realm as lately was That the Tax paid to the Pope of Rome for Ecclesiastical Dignities doth amount to five fold as much as the Tax of all the Profits as appertain to the King by the Year of this whole Realm and for some one Bishoprick or other Dignity the Pope by Translation and Death hath three four or five several Taxes That the Brokers of that sinfull City for Money promote many Caitiffs being altogether unlearned and unworthy to a thousand Marks living yearly whereas the Learned and Worthy can hardly obtain twenty Marks whereby Learning decayeth That Aliens Enemies to this Land who never saw nor care to see their Parishioners have those Livings whereby they despise God's Service and convey away the Treasure of the Realm and are worse than Jews or Saracens It is therefore to be considered that the Law of the Church would have such Livings bestowed for Charity only without Praying or Paying That Reason would that Livings given of Devotion should be bestow'd in Hospitality That God hath given his Sheep to the Pope to be pastured and not shorn or shaven That Lay-Patrons perceiving this Simony and Covetousness of the Pope do thereby learn to sell their Benefices to Beasts no otherwise than Christ was sold to the Jews That there is none so Rich a Prince in Christendom who hath the Fourth Part of so much Treasure as the Pope hath out of this Realm for Churches most sinfully After a Repetition of their Zeal for the Honour of the Church it was declared that all the Plagues there particularized have justly fallen upon this Realm for suffering the Church of England thus to be defaced and that these Mischiefs will dayly encrease without Redress Whereupon followeth an earnest Persuasion to reedifie and reform the same and the rather for that this was the Year of Jubilee the Fiftieth Year of the King's Reign the Year of Joy and Gladness than the which could be no greater The means how to begin this was to write two Letters to the Pope the one in Latine under the Broad Seal the other in French under the Seals of the Nobles importing these Particularities and requiring Redress And for a further Accomplishment hereof to Enact that no Money be carried out of the Realm by Letter of Lombardy or otherwise on Pain of Forfeiture and Imprisonment and to Enact the Articles hereafter ensuing The King hath heretofore by Statute provided sufficient Remedy and otherwise pursueth the same with the holy Father the Pope and so mindeth to do from time to time untill he hath obtained the same as well for the Matters before as for the Articles ensuing they being in a manner all one Then it was remonstrated that the Pope's Collector and other Strangers the King's Enemies and only Leiger-Spies for English Dignities and disclosing the Secrets of the Realm ought to be discharged That the same Collector being also Receiver of the Pope's Pence keepeth an House in London with Clerks and Officers thereunto belonging as if it were one of the King 's Solemn Courts transporting yearly to the Pope 20000 Marks and most commonly more That Cardinals and other Aliens remaining at the Court of Rome whereof one Cardinal is a Dean of York another of Salisbury another of Lincolne another Archdeacon of Canterbury another Archdeacon of
Durham another of Suffolk and another Archdeacon of York another Prebendary of Thame and Nassington another Prebendary of Yorkes in the Dioecese of York have divers other the best Dignities in England and have sent over Yearly unto them 20000 Marks over and above that which English Brokers lying here have That the Pope to ransom Frenchmen the King's Enemies who defend Lombardy for him doth always at his Pleasure levy a Subsidy of the b In M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton legitur Holy. Whole Clergy of England That the Pope for more Gain maketh sundry Translations of all the Bishopricks and other Dignities within the Realm That the Pope's Collector hath this Year taken to his Use the First-Fruits of all Benefices That therefore it would be good to renew all the Statutes against Provisions from Rome since the Pope reserveth all the Benefices of the World for his own proper Gift and hath within this Year created Twelve new Cardinals so that now there are Thirty whereas there were wont to be but Twelve in all and all the said Thirty Cardinals except Two or Three are the King's Enemies That the Pope in time will give the Temporal Mannors of Dignities to the King's Enemies since he dayly usurpeth upon the Realm and the King's Regality That all Houses and Corporations of Religion which from the King ought to have free Elections of their Heads the Pope hath now c Vid. Skinner's Etymolog accroached the same unto himself That in all Legations from the Pope whatsoever the English Clergy beareth the Charge of the Legates and all for the Goodness of our Money It also appeareth that if the Money of the Realm were as plentifull as ever the Collector aforesaid with the Cardinals Proctors would soon convey away the same For Remedy whereof it may be provided that no such Collector or Proctor do remain in England upon pain of Life and Limb and that on the like Pain no Englishman become any such Collector or Proctor or remain at the Court of Rome For better Information hereof and namely touching the Pope's Collector for that the Whole Clergy being Obedient to him dare not displease him it were good that Dr. John Strensall Parson of St. Botolphs in Holborn may be sent for to come before the Lords and Commons of this Parliament who being straightly charged can declare much more for that he served the same Collector in House five Years The Commons require that the Statute made in 14 Ed. 3. that the King's Ward should be committed to the next Heir of the Ward to whom the Lands cannot descend he yielding therefore as much as another would might be confirmed The King granteth thereto saving his Regality That time of Prescription in Writ of Right may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First and in Writs of Mort D'Auncester nuper Obiit d In hec lâ—co jus Cognationis significat Cosenage c Vid. Cowell in hac vece Ayel and such other Writs may be from the Coronation of the King now being The King will be advis'd for Changing the Law heretofore used That no Alien do enjoy any Living that hath Cure or requireth Residence This Bill is answer'd before in the two long Bills of Rome For that Errors had before Justices of Assise are Revocable before the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas they require that the Chief Justice there be appointed no Justice of Assise The King granteth when the Number may spare him That a General Pardon may be of all Misprisions and Intrusions made into any Lands holden of the King in Chief The King will shew Favour where him liketh That they may have an Action of Account against the Executors of the Guardian in Soccage The King will be advised untill next Parliament That Restitution may be made to Englishmen Farmers of any Religious Aliens House Touching Farmers abovesaid the King granteth so it concern Priors Churches Conventual Collegiate and Parochial but for English Governours the King will be advised That no Special Grant be made to any Man for singular Profit which may redound to the Disadvantage of the King or Realm Let them declare themselves more particularly That the Statute made for Buyers in f Inter Statuta Gallica M.S. Câ—ll Eman. ipud Cantabr ut Statata Anglica impressa nil tale occurrâ—â— sed potrus reseruntur ad An. 27. Ed. 3. c. 10. 36 Ed. 3. tit 10. c. may be kept and that Justices of the Peace may enquire of the same The Statutes therefore made shall stand and the Justices of the Peace shall determine the same That an Infant within Age levying a Fine may have Respit two or three Years after his full Age to reverse the same The King will be advised That no Alien be made Head of any Religious House belonging to Aliens and that during the Wars all French Religious Persons may be banished the Realm To this nothing was done Certain being taken Prisoners and unable to ransom themselves viz. Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Gregory Say Sr. Geoffry Werkesley Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. John Bourchier and divers other Good Knights and Esquires pray the King to ransom them The King is willing to do for their Comfort as far as Reason would The Commons of the County of Devon for divers Oppressions done by the Officers of the Stanneries there under Colour of their Liberties require the King by Parliament to explain his Grant to them made which being divided into particular Branches is done but too long to be here abridged The like Bill did the Commons of Cornwall exhibit for the Liberties of their Stanneries the Grant and Answer agreeing with the preceding but that also is too long for this Place The Commons of the County of Cumberland require Aid of the King for the Repairing the City of Carlile being in a manner spoiled and fallen down for that the Townsmen are not able to do the same and also for the Appointing of one to be Warden of the Marches there The Bishops and Lords together with the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Guy Bryan shall assemble and appoint reasonable Order therein The Inhabitants of the Port Towns in England pray that whereas it often happens that a Man or a Boy being in one of their Ships or other Vessels and by misadventure falling therefrom is drowned their Ship or Vessel is thereupon seised as a Deodand and that therein Remedy may be had If the Vessel be upon the Sea it shall be adjudged no Deodand if upon the Fresh-Water let the Owner complain to the King who will extend Favour The Watermen of London complain of leaving of Locks Stanks and Weares upon the River of Thames and namely of a Lock called Hamelden-Lock and for that there is Custom demanded of them passing the Bridges of Stains Windsor and Maiden-head and other Locks against their Franchises As for the Locks and Kidels the Statute made in the
Matter of Tythes under the Name of Chattels be depending before any Temporal Judge the Ecclesiastical Judge affirming the Contrary shall decide the same That upon any Conditional Consultation the Ecclesiastical Judge may take upon him the very true Understanding thereof and so proceed therein That no Man shall have any Prohibition unless he do bring to the Chancellour the Libell signed with the Judges Seals before whom it is hanging for the more perspicuity thereof That no Clerk or his servant being with him be arrested by any Officer while in the Church-yard or other Sacred Place or in carrying the Communion to any Man. The King granteth the same so as none do keep himself in the Sanctuary by Coven ¶ The Commons of the Town of Calais pray that the Staple may only be holden there and in this their Request it appears by the Records that when the Staple stood there upon all Roads or Excursions made by the Captain of Calais the Mayor of the Staple furnished him out of the Number of Merchants and their Servants with One Hundred Bill Men and two Hundred Archers Wherefore the King granteth that the Staple shall be holden there and no where else in the Parts beyond the Seas as well of all Staple-Ware as of Lead Tin Worsted Butter Cheese Feathers for Men of War c. That the Old Charter of Maud Countess of Artois which was confirmed by the King may be allowed except the Tryal of Land and Liberties of Staple The King will be advised in this Matter That in stead of Bayly-Eskmins and Cornmans granted in their Old Charter they may have a Mayor and twelve Aldermen and the Mayor one of the Twelve at their Election as in London And whereas the Mayor heretofore without any charge had two Hundred Pounds Fee that he may have now but one Hundred Pounds bearing the Charge of six Men as every Alderman now doth They shall have such Mayor and Aldermen so as they be English and bear the Reputation of the Payments and such like Charges af the Town towards the bearing whereof they shall have the Office of Wine Beer and Ale the Stallage of Drapers Mercers and Butchers the Pickage in the Market all Issues Fines Profits and Amercements of the Mayors Court excepting to the King the Fines of Strays and Bloodshed and Escheats of Lands and Goods they to be discharged of all Watches and Wards but only before their own Houses Many other Liberties are also to the same Town of Calais granted not unworthy to be seen especially if that Place had still bore the same Relation to England as in those days and 200 Years after even till the Reign of Queen Mary The Commons upon Delivery of the Bills aforesaid required that they might be executed That done the Chancellour willed them to sue their Writs for their Fees according to the Custom After that the Bishops arose and took their leaves of the King and so this Parliament ended at Eltham having been continued from day to day until Thursday the Tenth of July in the whole Ten Weeks and more VIII And thus ended this Notable Parliament commonly by our Historians called the Å¿ Daniel's hist p. 257. Good Parliament thô more upon the Account of those many convenient and usefull Statutes than for that Popular Air and Quarrelsom Humour which appeared therein For we find the very next Parliament condemned their Proceedings as to that Point and it is said t Walsingh Hyp. p. 134. n. 30. how upon that and the like Accounts Sr. Peter de la Mere was committed to perpetual Imprisonment in Nottingham Castle thô about two Years after he was again released But that vulgar Error of our Historians which makes this same Sr. Peter de la Mere to have been Speaker at this time in the House of Commons must not pass here without Correction For it is undoubtedly u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 203. ex Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. m. 87. recorded of Sr. Thomas Hungerford that in the Year following he was Speaker of the House of Commons in the Parliament then held at Westminster that being the First Parliament in which that House had a Speaker he being then a Knight But indeed the Year after that being the First of King Richard the Second x Rot. Par. 1 Rich. 2. m. 15. Vid. M.S. Rot. Par. p. 157. Sr. Râ—b Cotten p. 155. we find this Sr. Peter de la Mere as it were in Reward of his Imprisonment or in Despight of the Duke of Lancaster to be the Speaker of the House of Commons IX Dr. Simon Langham once Archbishop of Canterbury when by Vrban V. he was created Cardinal Titulo St. Sixti upon which he resign'd his Archbishoprick and afterwards by Pope Gregory XI was made Bishop-Cardinal of Praeneste being suddenly after Meat taken with a Palsie and loss of Speech four Days after y Godw. Catal. Bish p. 144. Walsingh hist p. 187. departed this Life viz. on the XI of the Calends of August being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen and after our Account the 22d of July in this Year z M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 238. ad finem He was first buried in the Church of the Carâ—husians whose House he himself had founded at Avignon with this a Ciacon Vict. de Vit. PP Rom. p. 963. Epitaph HIC IACET DOMINVS SIMON DE. LANGHAM DE. ANGLIA QVONDAM ARCHIEPISCOPVS CANTVARIENSIS S. R. E. PRAENESTINVS EPISCOPVS CARDINALIS QVI. ISTAM ECCLESIAM DE. NOVO. CONSTRVXIT ET OBIIT XXII MENSIS IVLII ANNO. DOM. MCCCLXXVI ORATE PRO. EO But however b Antiq. Britâ—n Matth. Parkerâ— p. 250. Godw. ut suprá three Years after according to his own former Appointment his Bones were taken up and buried the second time at Westminster in a goodly Tomb of Alabaster And well ought his Body to find Repose there where during his whole Life his Heart seem'd to rest For not to mention his other Acts of Munificence nor to speak of the foresaid Monastery of Carthusians at Avignon it is almost incredible what wonderfull Bounty and Liberality he shew'd to the famous Abbey of Westminster all along When he was first made Abbot there he bestow'd all that ever he had gathered together while he was Monk and Prior in paying the Debts of that House which amounted to the Value of 2200 Marks But all this he wholly discharged besides divers other Sums of Money which particular Monks ow'd here and there And as for them he constantly tender'd and nourish'd them as his own Children never taking any thing from them but rather Augmenting their Portions and Dividends out of what was his own Due When he was Lord Chancellour and Treasurer of England he purchased divers good Pieces of Land which he gave unto them and their House for ever And upon his Departure out of England he left them in Books to the Value of 830. l. Copes Vestments and other Priestly Ornaments
and Suffolk besides many other Lords and Ladies In the First Division of these Mummers there rode Fourty Eight habited like Esquires Two and Two together all clothed in Scarlet Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendal with comely Visards on their Faces After whom went Fourty Eight Knights in like Order and in the same Livery of Stuff and Colour Then came One richly Arrayed like an Emperour and some distance after him Another Gorgeously attired in Pontificalibus representing the Pope with Twenty Four Cardinals attending him In the Reer of all came up Eight Persons with Black Visards and strange as if they had been Ambassadors from some Foreign Princes These Mummers being enter'd the Court of Kennington alighted all from their Horses and went orderly into the Great Hall Whereupon the Young Prince his Mother and the Great Lords who were acquainted with the Matter came out of the Chamber into the Hall and received the Salutations of the Mummers They by a pair of Dice flung upon the Table signified their Desire to play with the Young Prince and upon his Accepting their Motion they so obligingly contrived the Dice that the Prince always won whether He cast at Them or They at Him. Having thus lost some considerable Sums of Gold then they set to the Prince Three Jewels one after another viz. a Bowl of Gold a Cup of Gold and a Ring of Gold all which the Prince wan at three Casts Then they set to the Lady Princess to the Duke the Earls and other Lords to every One a large Ring of Gold which as the Dice were order'd those Illustrious Personages also wan After Play succeeded a Splendid Entertainment accompanied with most exquisit Musick the Prince and the Lords dancing on the One part and the Mummers on the Other And then all being concluded with a Banquet of Wine and Spices the Mummers departed in Order as they came III. Now it is to be observed that althô King Edward was something recover'd from his Sickness yet not being very Current and especially because of his great Age he had lately associated unto Himself his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Regency Who thô perhaps he might be Ambitious enough yet being of too Rough and Martial a Temper to please the People was not thereby in any great likelyhood of Injuring the Right of the Young Prince of Wales who besides the Advantage of his Title was also for his Great Fathers Sake most strongly rooted in the Affections of all True Englishmen However the Duke of Lancaster being thus advanced shew'd himself Terrible to all his Enemies especially to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester whom he hated mortally for what Cause I shall not here enquire and caused him e Fex p. 392. to be deprived of all his Temporalities with a Prohibition not to come within 20 Miles of the Court. And not being well assured of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March at that time Marshal of England with a Design to remove him out of the way he commanded him in the King's Name toward the End of the preceding Year to haste over unto Calais according to his Office and there to take a diligent View of the Castle and Town of Calais as also of all the Castles and Forts in the Marches thereof and to cause such Repairs to be made as should seem needfull and likewise to see them well Manned and Victualled But the Earl of March who saw how hereby he was set as a Mark for Envy declin'd the Matter and chose rather to yield up his Rod with the Office of Marshal thereto belonging than obey in so hazardous an Employ The Duke gladly accepts his Rod and gives it with the Office to his sure Friend the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the First of that Name and Family who was then f Dagd 1 Vol. p. 276. b. assign'd to the same Employ thô he had not full Commission till this present Year IV But now a Parliament is summon'd to meet at Westminster D. Lit. Dom. as on the Quindene of St. Hilary being the Tuesday g Vid. Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. M.S. praedict p. 143. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 144. next after the Conversion of St. Paul that is the 27 of January the Writs of Summons bearing Date at Westminster on the 1 of December preceding And here for instance-sake I shall set down the Names of those Peers to whom the Kings Writs were directed with a Copy of the Writ it self as taken from the Latine only premising that the King herein calls his Nephew Prince Richard by the Name of Son as well to set the higher Character upon him as because he was now in Law to be look'd on as his Son being come into the Place of his Deceased Father EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to his most Dear SON Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting Whereas concerning divers and Weighty Matters relating especially to Us and the State of our Realm We intend to hold our Parliament at Westminster on the Quindene of St. Hilary next ensuing and there with You and others our Peers and Barons of the Realm to consult about the Premises We command You upon the Faith and Allegiance which You owe unto Us firmly enjoyning that at the said time and Place all other Business laid aside You be personally present there to consult and advise about the Premises with Us and other our Peers and Barons and that this You omit by no means Teste meipso apud Westmonast primo Decembris Ano. Regni nostri Angliae 50 Franciae verò 37. Per ipsum Regem The like Letters were directed besides the Clergy to these Peers following viz. John King of Castille and Leon Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Cambridge Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas of Woodstock Constable of England Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos William Vfford Earl of Suffolk William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Henry Lord Percy Marshal of England William Lord Latimer William Lord Bardolph Guy Lord Bryan Roger Lord Beauchamp John Lord Clinton Gilbert Lord Talbot William Lord Botreaux John Lord De la Warre Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Nevill Thomas Lord Rous of Hamlake Richard Lord Stafford Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin John Lord Grey of Codnovre Henry Lord Grey of Shereland Nicolas Lord Burnel William Lord de la Zouch of Harringworth Roger Lord Clifford And the Lord Almaric of St. Amand. The Quindene of St. Hilary as We said before was the First Day of the Parliament At which time the Noble and Puissant Lord Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester together with the Bishops Lords Justices Commons and others summon'd to the Parliament assembled at the Palace of Westminster in the Painted-Chamber where
that the Marshal should play the Master there as he had begun even althô he said Nay At last after much crowding they all got thrô and came into our Ladies Chappel where the Duke and other Barons sat themselves down with the Archbishop and other Bishops John Wickliff standing before them according to the usual Manner ready to answer what should be objected unto him The Lord Marshal first brake silence desiring Mr. Wickliff to sit down and alledging that he had many things to answer to and therefore had need of some Repose But the Bishop of London said He should not sit down there for neither was it according to Law nor Reason that He who was cited there to appear to answer before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer but rather stand These Words created others and they brought forth more the Bishop standing upon the Privilege of his Place and Function and the Marshal on his own and the Duke's Authority so that many bitter words and Menaces passed on both sides to the great Offence and Scandal of the People But then the Duke began to take the Marshals part and warmly chode the Bishop who was not a whit behind hand with him so that the r Erubuit Dux quod non petuit praevalere litigio hist Men. D. Albani ibid. Duke was asham'd to find himself worsted by the Bishop and threatned that he would shortly bring down the Pride not only of him but of all the Prelacy of England and to the Bishop he said Sir You are too bold and all in Confidence * He was a Younger Son to Hugh Courtney second Earl of Devonsâ—ire of that Name and of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Humphry Behun Earl of Hereford and Essex Eighth of that Name by his Wife Elizabeth Daughter of King Edward the First His Parents were both now living thô the Earl his Father died on the 2d of May this Year of your Parents who yet will not be able to help you they shall have enough to do to help themselves To whom the Bishop reply'd That he ought to be bold in declaring the Truth but that his Confidence was not in his Parents nor in any Mortal Man but in the living God alone in whom he trusted Then the Duke softly whisper'd to one that sat next him how he had rather drag the Bishop out of the Church by the Hair of his Head than take this at his Hands However this was not utter'd so softly but that some of the Londoners overheard him who being enraged thereupon cry'd out that they would never see their Bishop so abused but rather lose their Lives then that any one should draw him out of his Church by the Hair. Upon this Contention that Council was dissolved before Nine of the Clock and the Duke with the Lord Percy return'd to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster Wickliff being easily dismiss'd thô not without a Prohibition neither to preach nor write any more in defence of those Articles which were objected to him VII 'T is said that that same day before Dinner there was put up in Parliament by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock the Kings youngest Son and the Lord Henry Percy Marshal of England a certain Bill as in the Kings Name importing that the City of London should no more be govern'd by a Mayor but by a Captain as in times past And that the Marshal of England should have the sole ordering of Arrests within the said City as elsewhere with many other Articles tending to the Diminution of the Liberties of London Which Bill being read there stood up a Worthy Patriot Alderman John Philpot one of the Burgesses of that City who spake so notably against the said Bill and pleaded so strongly in behalf of the Charters and Privileges of that Famous Metropolis that immediately the Bill was flung out of the House and the Name of Alderman Philpot much set by I can find no Warrant for this indeed in the Records of the said Parliament which we have faithfully exhibited before and therefore dare not absolutely lean to the belief thereof But whether it was really so or only cunningly nois'd abroad by some seditious Arts to stir up the People however we find that the next day the Londoners assembled in Council to consider of the Matter and also how far the Power of the Marshal extended not forgetting to take notice of the Affronts put upon their Bishop the Day before While thus the Chief Citizens were entertain'd with sober Debates and perhaps only prepar'd some Petition or Remonstrance to shew unto the Parliament in the behalf of their City the Commons understanding that One of their Body was then in Prison in the Marshals House which stood within their Liberties being secretly animated by some considerable Beautefeus whom for several Reasons I cannot with others believe to have been the Lord Guy Bryan and the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter went immediately in great Fury to the House of the Lord Percy where breaking up the Gates they took out the Prisoner by force and burnt the Stocks wherein he had been set in the midst of the City Then they sought for the Lord Percy for whom all Corners and Privy-Chambers were searched and the Beds and Hangings torn in pieces with their Bills and Javelins But He it seems was at that time happily out of the way being together with the Duke of Lancaster invited to Dinner by one John of Ipres at his house Å¿ Stow's Survey of London p. 260. called Ipres-Inne in Knight-Riders Street of which the Londoners knew nothing but thought they were at the Dukes House called the Savoy and so posted thither in great fury But one of the Dukes Knights observing this madness of the People went in great haste to the Place where his Lord the Duke was and when for all his Knocking he could not be admitted he said aloud to the Porter whose name was Haveland Hark you Haveland If you love my Lord the Duke and your Life open the Gate At these Words he was let in and in great fear told the Duke that there were infinite Numbers of Armed Men searching for him so that if he had not a Care that day would be his last At this the Duke leap'd so hastily from his Oysters that he hurt both his Legs against the Form Wine was offer'd but he could not drink for haste and so fled at a Back gate with the Lord Henry Percy and taking a Barge at the Thames never left Rowing till they came to an house near the Mannor of Kennington where at that time the Princess-Mother of Wales lay with her young Son Richard before whom he made his Complaint against the outragious Insolence of the Citizens And the Princess promised him to take such Order in this Matter as should be to his Content The mean t Fox Acts Mon. p. 394. while the Commons of London had beset the Dukes House called the Savoy where
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâ—is c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. â—d 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Râ—â— Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
departed with all his Men to Calais where Sr. Hugh Calverly seized upon him and sent him into England to answer for the Fact. He was for the present committed to the Tower but during King Edward's Reign was proceeded against no further The Duke of Bretagne q Frois c. 314. s 196. id Gallicè fol. 267. b. who had been more than a Year with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders seeing now the War open again took leave of the Earl and went to Graveling whither there went to meet him the Earl of Salisbury and Sr. Guischard Dangle with a Select Body of Men of Arms and Archers and so conducted him safely to Calais The next Day some of their Retinue r Stow p. 276. to the number of about Fifty suddenly of their own Heads took Ship thinking so to pass securely to Dover But they were presently snapt by some French Gallies and every one of them except two Men and two Women slain in the sight of the Calisians who were not able to give them any help at that time Sr. Hugh Calverley who was then Captain of Calais took this in very ill part especially because the Injury was done to such as being concerned in the Treaty had the French King's Security to come and go without Danger but since it was impossible to remedy the Matter he resolved to revenge it and presently taking with him some Choice Troops he made an Inroad into the French Pale where he slew many Men retook the Castle of Outwick and returned safe with a great Booty of Artillery and Cattle And indeed many Å¿ Vid. Walsing hist p. 199. c. notable Actions were afterwards done by this Valiant English Knight of which notwithstanding We are forbid to speak because they will not fall within the Compass of our History XV. When t Frâ—is ibid. the Duke of Bretagne the Earl of Salisbury and Sr. Guischard Dangle with their Company had tarried now about a Month at Calais having at last got a sufficient Convoy they set Sail for England about the Middle of June and arrived safe at London And from thence the Lords and Knights took Boat and went to Sheen in Surry by the Thame's side where at that time King Edward lay very sick and soon after departed this Life on the XI of the Calends of July that is on the 21 of June being the Day of St. Alban the Protomartyr of England and a Sunday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXVII which was the One and Fiftieth of his Reign of England but of France the Thirty Eighth and of his Age the Sixty Fifth In Memory whereof his Anniversary Obit was ordain'd to be held for ever on the u Ashmole's Gâ—rter p. 151. 21 of June in the Famous Chappel of St. George at Windsor And thus by the Death of this Great Conqueror and his Son the Black-Prince we may see that no Worldly Grandeur can secure us from the Reach of Fate But Monarchs althô they bear the Stamp Divine And o'r the World their Awfull Scepters sway Thô Subjects their Commands obey To Death's High Hand must all their Crowns resign The Godlike Heroe that from every Field Reaps a Full Harvest of Immortal Fame To Conquering Fate his sinewy Arms must yield At whose First Frown the Fiercest Warrier's tame Beauty it self her Heavenly Lustre vails And all her dazling Glories die Those Swelling Charms puff'd up with Flattery 's Gales Shrink into Dirt and wound th' offended Eye When Death attacks the once-relentless Fair Cruel to her as she to them whom once she bad Despair But Vertue Heavenly Vertue that can save Th' Owner from wholly passing Lethe's Lake Vertue can even the Dead Immortal make And like some Heaven-born Plant sprouts fresher from the Grave Wherefore now it will become us to clear the Reputation of this Mighty Prince from those foul Reflections which Malice or Ignorance may have cast upon his Declining Age for till then the Fiercest Envy durst not attack him and lastly to sum up his Character and as in a Looking-Glass exhibit Him fully and faithfully to the World. XVI Most of our Historians taking it from one another x Walsing hist p. 189. Stow p. 276. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 145. Daniel p. 260. c. talk very dolefully of his forlorn Condition at the point of his Death and tell us that first his Concubine as they call her Alice Perrers took the very Rings off his Fingers and so left him after whom other Servants went away in like manner with what they could carry That at last only a poor Priest remaining in the Room out of Christian Piety and Loyal Respect to his dying Master went boldly up to him and admonished him to lift up his Heart to God in the Heavens and humbly with contrition to ask Mercy of Him whose Divine Majesty he must needs have grievously offended whereupon the King say they being awaken'd somewhat from his former Lethargy began by Signs for his Voice had by this time almost wholly fail'd him as by taking a Crucifix in his hands and kissing it with many Tears flowing from his Eyes to signifie a Declaration of his Faith and Repentance and so with much adoe making shift to pronounce the Adorable Name JESVS with that Sweet and Salutiferous Word He finished his Speech and Life together Well might the Death of this Monarch be in such a Penitent Manner whose Life had afforded so many Instances of Piety and Devotion But as for Dame Alice Perrers her Rifling him of his Rings from his Fingers it is no way credible not only from what We y I l. 1. c. 11. §. 1â— p. 872. said of her before and that upon her Convention in Parliament in the Year following there was no such thing laid to her Charge by her most inveterate Enemies but also because if she did it before Witnesses it must have come out and then could not but have been faral to her and if not it could not have been known And whereas it is said that this Woman flatter'd the King that He should still live untill his Speech fail'd him whereby he neglected to prepare for his Soul as he ought to have done this savours of a Monkish Lie too grosly and of that Spirit so visible in many of their Writings which either from any Judgment falling upon a Man presently attributes unto him some Failure against the Liberties of the Church or some Saint or else when they find the Person to have in any thing thwarted their Interest is apt to invent some Tale or other which may insinuate his Dereliction of God. And this use only doth z Vid. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 6. §. 3. p. 392. Odoricus Rainaldus make of this Story which none ever had before Walsingham and none since but from his single Authority Whereas not only the Silence of all other Authors before his time as to any such thing may evince the Falshood of this matter
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
doth raise And Jovius rears a Statue to thy Praise By the Lady Donna aforesaid he had a Son called also Sr. John Hawkwood naturalized in the Eighth year of King Henry IV ten Years after the Death of his Father as e Johannes filius Johannis Hawkwood miles natus in partibus Italiae factus Indigena An o VIII Henrici IV. Mater ejus nata in partibus transmarinis M.S. in Bibl. Cotton in Archiv Turris Lond. 1 Part. Pat. 8. Hen. 4. m. 20. appears by the Record Nor was Sr. Robert Knolles less remarkable in these days who being born of mean Parentage in Cheshire was by his Valiant Acts advanced from a Common Souldier to a Great Commander his first Rise was in these Wars of Normandy of which we are speaking where with his English Troops and Navarrois he wan from the French Towns and Castles driving the Country before him like sheep and winning Prizes at such a Rate that all Men * Frois c. 178. were willing to follow his Fortune For he loaded all his Men with Plunder and was himself worth more than an 100000 Crowns VIII But besides this double torment which the French Nation at that time felt both in Bretagne and Normandy there arose in other parts of France a sort of Free-booters who were men neither provoked nor employ'd by any but therefore provoked because not employ'd they banded together to afflict rob and plunder the poor Country The Chief whereof at that time was g Frois c. 177. Sr. Arnold Cervoles a Gascogner who at the Battle of Poictiers was armed like one of the French Kings Sons being commonly called the Arch-Priest He was very wealthy and had for some while at his own Charges retained a good Number of Men of Arms and others of several Nations with whom he lately served the French King. But upon that Kings Imprisonment missing of his pay he thought he could not better employ himself and keep his Men together than by paying himself at the Countries cost This Arch-Priest knew the Clergy was Rich and therefore he took his way towards Provence intending to give his Holiness a Visit and to finger some of his Gold and all along in his way thither he plunder'd and pillag'd and took Towns and Castles Pope Innocent VI. was so terribly alarum'd at the noise of this approaching Storm that he fell to retain Men of War on all hands and made the Cardinals do the like moreover h Oder Rainâ—l ad hunc annum §. 3. 4. he wrote earnestly to the Emperour Charles requesting his Assistance as also to the Imprison'd King of France because the Dauphin was of no Authority But these Friends were far of and Sr. Arnold came daily nearer and nearer having harassed at his pleasure in Venaissin till coming toward Avignon i Frois ibid. Mezeray ad hunc annum the Pope and his Clergy not daring to trust to their Arms to be fairly rid of him fell into a Treaty with him till at last upon good security given and taken he was permitted to enter the City with certain of his Troops where he was as Honourably received as thô he had been Son to a King. Heâ—frequently dined with the Pope and the Cardinals and there obtained a Revocation of the Curse lately laid upon him and his Men and also a full pardon ab omni panâ culpâ which was made more relishing with an addition of 60000 Crowns of Gold presented unto Sr. Arnold he thereupon promising to leave those parts This he punctually observed but thô certain of his Men being now satisfied of their pay disbanded he kept the greater part of them still together and only changing his Quarters continued his new Profession At the same time there k Frois c. 178. arose another Warlike Company of Robbers under one Griffith a Welch Captain who kept between the Rivers of Loire and Seyne so that none durst travail on Horse or Foot between Paris and Orleans or between Paris and Montargis but all the People of the Country fled before them either to Orleans or to Paris This Captain Griffith whom some way or other his Men had made a Knight became wonderfull Rich by his excessive pillaging and plundering One day he would ride up almost to Paris another day to Orleans and a third to Chartres insomuch that there was no Town Castle nor Village except those that were fortify'd to purpose which they did not overrun rob and plunder as Espernon Gaillardon Rambouillet Alais Estampes Chastres Montereau Pluviers en Gastinois Milly Artenay Chastillon Montargis Illiers and divers other great and small Towns that You 'ld admire to think it And besides this they infested the Roads robbing all Passengers by 20 30 and 40 in a Company nor did they meet with any Resistance the Noble Realm of France was at that time in such Disorder These sort of Men called themselves La grand Compagnie and Les Compagnons and grew by Degrees numerous and lasted long and ravaged about in divers Countries to the great Terrour and Affliction of the whole Kingdom For the Three Estates did so clash with the Dauphin and with one another that they did to their Country more mischief than good and the Regent was not able to do any thing of Moment because he wanted both Money and Authority Wherefore the l Frois c. 179. fol. 98. Noble Men of France and the Prelates of Holy Church being weary of the troublesome Government of the Three Estates voluntarily gave up their share in the Rule and permitted the Provost of the Merchants to call some of the Burgesses of Paris and other Towns to an account because they had presum'd to call others to account whom they had no power to question IX At this the Provost taking more confidence upon him than hitherto he had done began to assemble certain of the Commons of Paris who were of his Mind and to all these he distributed Hats half-red and half-sky-colour'd to distinguish them from others With 3000 of these fellows being all armed he marched from the Augustins to the Palace of St. Paul where then the Dauphin was lodged having about him sundry Prelates and Noblemen of France But the Provost upon his coming having seised on the Gates and guarded all the Avenues mounted boldly up into the Prince's chamber with a great Rout of Armed Rascals in his Company Here he peremptorily desired the Dauphin to take upon him the Government which belonged to him by Inheritance that so the Realm which one day would be his might be defended better than it was and that those Companions who began to swarm about in the Nation plundering spoiling and ravaging without controll might be subdued The Dauphin said he would willingly take in hand so good a Work if he had wherewithall but that it ought to be rather expected from those who had received the Profits and Rents belonging to the Crown And says he for the reason of
Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Skipworth another of his Justices to be arrested and imprison'd on the account of many notorious Enormities which he understood they had committed against Law and Justice Nor could they redeem themselves from Prison without refunding to the King many large Sums of Money which by Injustice they had got from others But for ever after they were secluded both their Places and his Favour XI We have frequently heretofore mention'd the great Diligence which Peter King of Cyprus us'd in travelling to most Courts in Europe in Order to raise a Power sufficient to stem the furious Tide of Pagan Insolence which threatned a Bloody Inundation to all Christendom Now therefore being pretty well furnish'd with Valiant Souldiers of several Nations after that by the Pope's means he had made a Peace with Genoa which had some resentments against him u Philippus è Mazeriis c. 15. c. in Vità Becti Petri Thomx â—pud Bâ—llâ—nd Tâ—n 2. XXIX Januar. he went from Venice to Rhodes where he was Magnificently received by the Master of the Hospital and whither he had sent before many Ships laden with Armed Men and about 500 good Horses for the War. He had some Months before wrote to his own Brother the Prince of Antioch his Lieutenant in the Kingdom of Cyprus that having left a sufficient strength at home he would by such a time send an Army of his Realm of Cyprus to meet him at Rhodes which was done For the King had been but a little while in that Island when an Army of Cyprus came thither namely sixty sail one with another laden with Men of Arms Arrows Crossbows and other Weapons in good quantity to which the Master of the Hospital added an hundred chosen Knights of his Order and commanded his Gallies to be fitted up And all the while St. Peter Thomas Patriarch of Constantinople the Pope's Legate who had an extraordinary Zeal for the Work encouraged the King and his Souldiers and blessed them and pray'd and preach'd and signed them with the Cross and heard Confessions and absolved and reconciled Sinners one while labouring in the Kings Council another while among the Mariners and poor People now among the Lords and Knights and the Master of Rhodes and now again with the Common Souldiers in great humility Now he visited the sick and presently he fell to pacifying of Rumors sometimes he conversed with the English sometimes with the Cypriotes Venetians French Spaniards and Germans but always he exhorted to Unity and Charity to Faith and Courage and to the War of God And every Christian Soul in this small Army was by this Holy Legate a few days before they left Rhodes admitted to the Sacrament of Gods Body and strengthned with Divine Power by feeding on their Redeemer whose Cross they were going to advance At the time of their Departure from Rhodes the King in secret Council proposed to invade the Soldan of Babylon who usurped the Holy City of Jerusalem and his Inheritance not in the Tail but in the Head and to Steer his Course towards Alexandria and so taking leave of the Grand Master he went on board his Galley with a Fleet consisting of more than an 100 Vessels of all sorts above 10000 good Souldiers and about 1400 Nobles and Men of Arms with their Horses besides Mariners Being come to the Haven of Alexandria after about an hours resistance made by the Saracens they gain'd Land and soon after put all their Enemies to flight and made them retire into the City in great Confusion and shut their Gates But their Hearts were so lost that upon the Christians approach to the Walls and setting fire to their Gates they fled away towards Grand Cairo or New-Babylon Wherefore the City of Alexandria was taken by the Christians on the Fourth of October 1365 about Nine of the Clock in the Morning and all the Pagans found therein put to the Sword. But many of these Christians being now satiated with spoil began forthwith to cool in their Devotion and so were for leaving the City now it was rifled nor could the King of Cyprus nor the Zealous Legate with all their Endeavours prevail with them to the Contrary wherefore upon News of the Soldan's Arrival with the Prince of Assyria and a Mighty Army who were coming to relieve the City on the Fourth or Fifth day after he had won it he was forced to leave it to his great Grief The occasion of which dishonourable Departure is by the Legate in his x Eâ—tant apud Odor Rainal ad hâ—nc an § 20 Letters attributed to the English and to their Leader and by y Petrarch l. 8. Senil Fp. 8. l. 13. â—p 2. Petrarch to the Transalpine Auxiliaries in General who he says being always better at Enterprising than at Compleating forsook the King in the midst of a most Glorious Work and because they follow'd him not for Devotion but for Gain when they had laden themselves with spoils went away and being rendred Masters of their Greedy desire made him fail of his Godly Design The Prosecution of this Matter may be seen at large in the foremention'd Philip è Mazeriis who was himself present in this Expedition and also in z Odor Rainal ad 〈◊〉 §. 18. ad §. 22. Vid. Pan 〈◊〉 1. V 3. Odoricus Rainaldus We shall only add that the Englishmen and Gascogners who had been at the taking of Alexandria upon a Walsing â—â—st p. 174. n 30. Speed p. 584. §. 129. their return into England and Aquitaine brought many rich pieces of Cloth of Gold Velvets and Precious Stones as witnesses of their Success in those parts XII It is said by some b Therton's Nottinghamshire p. 116. that John Lord Roos after this Expedition died at Paphos in the Island of Cyprus leaving no Issue behind him by his Wife the Lady Mary de Orrebe So that his Brother William succeeded in his Honours Thô to say the Truth this Lord John was not Born till this Year For Sr. William Dugdale shews c Dugd. 1 Vol. Baren p. 551. that his Death happen'd about 28 Years after this viz. in the Seventeenth of Richard the Second at which time he was but d For 18 years old Ano. 7. Rich. 2. id Dugd. ibid. p. 550. ex Esc 7. R. 2. n. 68. 28 Years of Age. Notwithstanding I grant that about this time as e Thoroton Nottingh p. 455. Thoroton says there died the Lord Thomas Furnival Sirnamed the Hasty leaving no Issue behind him whereupon he was succeeded by his Brother William Lord Furnival Who about 17 Years after died also leaving behind only One Daughter Joan. Her Sr. Thomas Nevile Brother to Ralph Earl of Westmorland and Treasurer of England taking to Wife became in her Right Lord Furnival But here again I am fain to correct Thorton's many mistakes by comparing him f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 727. with a more accurate and
Licence From whence he obtain'd Obedience from the Souldiery Good-will from the Country People and Love from his Prince by whom he was Honour'd with the Seneschalsy of Poictou While he bare that Office the Commons were not opprest with unjust exactions nor vexed with the Rapines or frequent Incursions of the Enemy to all which they were abundantly exposed after his Death In the Battles of Since of Cressy of Poictiers of Auray of Najara and others he gain'd much Renown as will appear by several Passages of this History however at last by Mischance he received his Fatal Wound at Lussac He was Honourably interred in the Fortress of Mortimer where he died leaving no Issue of his Body behind him for he was never Married Whereupon i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503 ex Rot. Fin. 50. Ed. 3. m. 21. Ashmole p. 704. ex Commun Term. Mich. an 3. H. 5. Elizabeth and Eleanor two of his Sisters the Latter being then the Wife of Sr. Roger Collings and Isabell Daughter to Margaret the Third Sister at that time Married to Sr. John Annesley were found to be his next Heirs Thus Rest Immortal Heroe for thy Name Shall last till Heaven and Earth's devour'd by Flame And thô Base Envy at these Works repine Yet even they shall if Mortals can Divine Live for the Great Black-Prince's Sake and Thine II. Upon the Death k Frois c. 271. fol. 166. of the Renowned Lord John Chandos who left his Dear Lord the Prince of Wales Heir to all that he had in Normandy which amounted to the Yearly Revenue of 40000 Franks or 4000 l. Sterling the Lands of St. Saviour the Vicount fell into the King of England's Hands to bestow as he should think fit Wherefore he gave the Charge and Government thereof to a Knight of his House a Valiant and Expert Leader called Sr. Alan Boxhull who l True Use of Armory in the Life of the Lord Chandos p. 108. Ashmole Plate 52. bare for his Arms in a Shield Or a Lion Rampant Azure cover'd with a Fret Argent he to defend the Place and to menage the Revenues thereof for the Profit of the King and of the Prince To him shortly after succeeded William Lord Latimer who bare * Ashmole Plate 42. Gules a Cross Pateé Or and being Steward of the King's Houshold was before the end of this Year m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. made Lieutenant Captain and Governour of the Castle Town and Vicountie of St. Saviour And the Office of High Seneschal of Poictou being void also by the Death of the Lord Chandos the Prince of Wales gave it to Sr. Thomas Piercy a Gentleman of Great Valour and Experience n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 285. who was Younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy and afterwards was created Earl of Worcester Soon after the Frenchmen who were taken Prisoners at the Bridge of Lussac having by the Assistance of the French King in whose Service they were taken paid the several Ransoms which were set upon them returned all back again to their several Garrisons as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton Sr. William Bourde and others of whom we shall say more anon At this same time there were several Barons and good Knights of France who became very much concerned when they saw the War of the two Crowns grow hotter and hotter every day especially the Lord Ingelram Coucy whom it affected deeply for he had a Fair Inheritance in England as well upon his own account for his Fathers had been Barons of that Realm ever since the days of King John of England as by the Lady Isabell his Wife who was Daughter to King Edward Which Lands he must not only Renounce but prove ungratefull to his Friend and Father-in-Law if he should serve the King of France and yet on the other hand he would seem no better than unnatural and a Traytor if he should bear Arms for England against the King of France to whom he was both an Ally and Subject And yet he thought to stand Neuter would be to befriend neither but rather to disoblige both Wherefore he took a Fourth Course resolving for a time to bid Farewell to France and to go and Travel abroad to inform his mind and to seek Adventures So having discreetly taken his leave of the French King he set forth with a small Retinue and went into Savoy where he was Honourably received by the Earl and by the Barons and Knights of his Court. Having spent some time there he rode forward into Lombardy and went to the Lords of Milain Galeas and Bernabo to whom he was welcome In the same Manner thô upon another occasion the Lord Edmund of Pamiers one of the most Loyal Knights in the World went away from the Prince's Service the reason was this In those days when there were so many Lords of Gascogne and others who daily revolted from the Prince to the French King's side it could be no otherwise but that the Prince and his Officers should be very jealous of the Faith of those who gave but the least umbrage of Discontent But however it was in this case whether only Suspicion or something more solid the Lord Thomas Felton o Frois Vol. 2. c. 1. Gallice c. 318. fol. 199. B. Angl. who was Seneschal of Bourdeaux for the Prince of Wales and so consequently Lieutenant for the King of England caused the Lord William of Pamiers and a Lawyer his Secretary and one of his Council named John Coulon a Native of Bourdeaux to be apprehended and flung into Prison Being brought to their Tryal it was proved home upon them as was then affirmed that the said Lord of Pamiers had covenanted to yield himself and all his Castles to the Protection of the French King and had actually deliver'd his Castle of Fronsac into the French Hands of all which the said Lawyer and Counsellour were conscious and accessary thereto wherefore neither the Lord of Pamiers nor his Clerk nor the other having any thing to say why sentence of Death should not proceed against them they were all three condemned by the Judgement of the Lord of L'Esparre and other Loyal Gascogners and openly beheaded in the City of Bourdeaux before an infinite concourse of People to the astonishment of many But especially those of the Lord of Pamiers his Kindred took this Execution hainously and upon this occasion it was that the most Gallant and Noble Knight in the World Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Uncle to the foresaid Lord William of Pamiers left Bourdeaux and Bourdelois resolving however in his Mind neither for that nor any other Provocation on Earth to turn Traytor to his Lord the Prince of Aquitaine but with all he took the Death of his Nephew so ill that he sware never from that time to bear Arms for the King of England or his Son the Prince while he lived And so he went on divers Pilgrimages to Cyprus to the Holy sepulchre
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
Garrison among them But now that the Flower of the English Forces was lost before Sivray when the Inhabitants heard that the Constable himself was coming against them they went out to meet him with the Keys of the Town in their Hand and so conducted him into the Walls with great joy Having tarried here four Days to refresh his Army he went thence in great Array his Forces consisting of 1400 Spears besides others and presented himself before the Castle of Lusignan which yielded unto him upon Composition those of the Garrison being permitted to go off with their Lives saved and of their Goods as much as they could carry on their Horses before them and so to be safely conducted to Bourdeaux And thus was this strong Place also reduced to the French King's Devotion From hence the Constable rode to Chastellacher and summon'd the Lady thereof which was Madam d Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 918. Constance Wife to Sr. Guischard of Angoulesme to yield up the Castle unto him But she only desired of the Constable his safe Conduct that she might go to Poictiers to speak with the Duke of Berry which request Sr. Bertram granted and caused her to be attended thither with one of his own Knights Being come before the Duke she kneeled down but the Duke presently took her up demanding what her Pleasure was Sir said the Lady I am strictly summon'd by the Constable of France to submit my self my Lands and Castle to the Obedience of the French King. And Sir your Royal Highness knows very well how my Lord and Husband lieth as yet a Prisoner in Spain his Lands being left to the Government of me a weak helpless Woman Sir I may not dispose of mine Husbands Inheritance after my Pleasure for if I should do any thing of such high Moment without his Knowledge he would surely give me no Thanks therefore and so I might incurr blame which God forbid I should ever justly deserve from my Lord and Husband But Sir to satisfie Your Highness and to preserve my Lands in Peace I shall compound with You for my self and all mine that You shall make no War upon Vs nor We upon You till my Husband be released out of Prison At which time I believe he will make for England And then I 'll send him word of this our Composition and he will most surely let me hear whether he will agree thereto or no And so your Highness shall have a final Answer To this the Duke reply'd Fair Madam I am well content to grant your Desire on this Condition that neither You nor any Captains of your Fortresses make any greater Provision of Men Victuals or Artillery during this Cessation than you have at this present time And this also being agreed to by the Lady she return'd to her Castle where she caused the Siege to be raised by shewing unto the Constable the Duke of Berry's Letters to that Effect From thence the Constable went before Mortimer the Lady whereof submitted her self and her Lands to the Obedience of the French King and she also deliver'd up the Castle of Didonne which belonged to her Thus was all Poictou Sainctogne and Rochellois quite rid of the Englishmen Whereupon the Constable having set good Garrisons in all Places when he saw no sign of Resistance in those Marches even as far as the River Garonne returned homeward into France as also did the Dukes of Berry Bourbon and Burgundy and most of the French Barons who had been concern'd in those Parts All these were highly feasted and entertain'd by the King at Paris but none so much as Sr. Bertram of Clequin the rest were no more than Shadows to him his Glory eclipsed them all and when he came to Paris the King thought he could not honour and caress him sufficiently III. Now e Frois c. 307. f. 187. b. sed Gallicè s 256. b. while the Constable remain'd with the King at Paris in much Honour the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord de la Val the Lord of Vangoure the Lord of Tournemine the Lord of Rieux and the Lord of Rochefort with the Vicount of Rohan Sr. Charles of Diguier Banneret of Bretagne the Marshal of Blaroville the Lords of Hambie of Ruille of Fonteville of Granville of Farnville of Dennevalle and Des Cleres Bannerets of Normandy went with a great Army of Bretons and Normans and laid siege to the strong Castle of Becherel in Bretagne which they very much streightned by their continual Assaults But there were two Valiant English Captains within namely Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who with certain Choice Troops defended the Place couragiously and made many Sallies and Skirmishes and endured many warm Attacks to their Honour In Normandy the Frenchmen maintain'd at the same time another Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount wherein were Captains Sr. Thomas Tribles Sr. John de Burgo Sr. Philip Picard and the Three Mauliverers Brethren And it is to be noted that these two Garrisons before they were now besieged had overran all the Country of Base Normandy so that nothing could be secure from them but what was in strong Fortresses Besides which they ransom'd and took Prisoners as well in the Bishoprick of Bayeux as in Eureux the King of Navarre himself conniving thereat nay and sometimes assisting them with Victuals and Men such as he had disposed about in Garrisons in the Country of Eureux For as then he was not agreed with the French King So that the Garrisons of Cherbourg of Conches of Bretevil of Eureux of Cocherel and others under the Obeisance of the King of Navarre had made great Havock in Normandy as well as the English themselves But as f Vid. hujus Hist Lib. 4. c. 7. §. 10. p. 795. we shew'd before there had lately such Means been made between the two Kings of France and Navarre especially by the diligent Promotion of the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Eureux that they came to an Accord and so met together in Friendly manner at the Castle of Rohan on the River of Seyne And there besides the two Kings many Great Lords on both Parts were solemnly sworn to cultivate a mutual Peace Friendship and Unity for ever After which Assurance thus given and taken on both Sides the King of Navarre went along with the French King as we shew'd to Paris where He and all His were received with much Honour and Royal Magnificence And then and there the King of Navarre put all his Lands which he held in Normandy into the Hands and Disposal of the French King he undertaking their Protection and that the Propriety should remain entire to the King of Navarre but the Use of them to the French King during the Wars with England This done the King of Navarre left his two Sons Charles and Peter with their Uncle the French King and so took his leave of Paris and returned into Navarre And this Peace indeed he kept and upheld
beyond his usual Custom for the space of five or six Years at which time there fell a new Occasion of Dissention and so the War began again as violently as ever But nothing of this will fall within the Compass of our History which is to end with the Life of King Edward IV. Now while the two Sieges were held by the Frenchmen before Becherel and St. Saviour le Vicount there being a strong Report how Owen of Wales was coming by Sea with 6000 Men of Arms designing to take Land in England and to burn and destroy about in the Country King Edward g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. appointed the Noble Earl of Salisbury William Montagu to guard the English Seas he himself being at that time h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. retain'd by Indenture to serve the King with no less than 300 Men of Arms whereof 20 besides himself were Knights and 279 Esquires and 300 Archers Not to mention the several Retinues of the other Lords and Captains with him as Sr. John Montacute Brother to the Earl of Salisbury i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 649. Sr. William Nevil Sr. Philip Courtney Sr. William Lucy Sr. Brian Stapleton and others This Fleet k Dugd. ibid. p. 647. Frois ut ante consisting of Fourty Great Ships besides Barges and of 3000 Men of Arms besides Archers set forth from the Coasts of Cornwall and made directly for the Port of St. Malo in Bretagne Being arrived and finding in the Haven seven huge Spanish Carracks they burnt them all whereat all the whole Country was surprised verily believing that the English had had their Intelligence and Direction from the Duke himself Hereupon in all Towns Castles and Fortresses the Bretons held their Duke in great suspicion and had a stricter Eye to their own Defence than formerly V. Now the Duke's most secret Intentions had before this been fully discover'd to the French King by certain of his own Knights to whom he had let fall some Words in Favour of the King of England and his Title Whereupon he commanded his Constable to undertake an Expedition into Bretagne enjoyning and empowering him to take into his Hands all Towns Cities and Fortresses and to siese on the Bodies and Goods of all that should resist For the l Frois ibid. f. 188. k. sed Gallice f. 257. c. King and his Council had already agreed that the Duke had now forfeited all his Lands as having received his Enemies the English into his Towns and Castles and he also himself took Part with the King of England and had entred an Alliance with Him against the Crown of France of which he held his Dutchy of Bretagne by Faith and Homage So the Constable went from Paris to Angiers where he made his Rendezvous and there came to him thither the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Earl of Perche the Earl of Porcien the Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicounts of Meaux and of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy Sr. Robert de St. Pol Sr. Ralph de Ravenal Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France and at great Number of the Barons and Knights of Vermandois Picardy and Artois besides those that came thither from the Marches of Anjou Poictou and Touraine On the other side the Earl of Salisbury who lay with his Fleet in the Port of St. Malo was well enformed of these mighty Preparations of the Constables and how in a manner all the Dutchy of Bretagne was ready to revolt from the Duke Whereupon he sailed thence till he came to Brest which was one of the strongest Places in the World but threatned as he heard to be besieged by the French Wherefore he reinforced the Place with Men and Victuals VI. A little before this the Duke of Bretagne was gone for England For when he heard how the Constable was coming with such a Power against him He durst not repose any Confidence in the strength of Vannes or of Dinant nor indeed in the strongest Fortress of Bretagne lest the Inhabitants should deliver him up to the French as they had done to his Father before him Wherefore he resolved for England as well to avoid the impending storm as to hasten Succours but first having constituted Sr. Robert Knolles his Deputy Governour of all Bretagne during his Absence he went to visit his Castle of Auray between Vannes and Hennebond which held firm to him still An English Knight named Sr. John Austen being Captain thereof under Him. With this Knight he left the Lady his Wife desiring Him to keep her well which he promised to do against all the World to his Power From Auray the Duke rode to Sr. Matthew du Fine-poterne which undutifully closed her Gates against him wherefore he passed on to le Conquet and there took shipping for England VII The mean while the Constable was come into Bretagne with a great Army to whose Banners there resorted all those Lords and Knights of Bretagne who had been at the Siege before Becherel leaving that affair to be carried on by the Lords of Normandy When the Constable was thus reinforced he went first to Rennes the Inhabitants whereof knowing how their Lord was adjudged by the Peers of France to have forfeited all his Lands and that these Forces were accordingly sent to take them in resolved by no means to stand out against the Constable but without any further Scruple received him peaceably acknowledging him for their Sovereign Lord in the Name of the French King whose Person he now represented Having thus taken Possession of Rennes He presently rode before Dinant which also submitted in like manner so did afterward the Great City of Vannes But Luzemont after a bold Resistance being taken by Force all within were put to the Sword. Thence the Constable went to Jugon which yielded unto him so did Gony en la Forest so did la Roche D'Arien and the Town of Guingand St. Matthew du Fine-Poterne and St. Malo in the Isle After this he took in Quimpercorentin alias Cornovaille then Quimperlay and other Fortresses thereabout all which yielded without a stroke except Quimperlay whereof John Rous an English Esquire was Captain who when the Town was taken was slain by the hands of Sr. Oliver Clisson who for all the Benefits he had formerly received from England did now so hate all Englishmen that he hardly took any to Mercy that once fell into his Hands It was the Constables Resolution first to reduce Bretagne Britonant because that part was always more inclinable to Duke John's Interest than Bretagne Gallicant and therefore he chiefly bestirr'd himself in these parts But now 't is time to see what became of Sr. Robert Knolles who had been made the Duke's Lieutenant of all that Country His Courage was so notable and his Conduct so good that there is no doubt to be made but he would have given the Constable Battle before this had he but had the Hearts of the People But alas His