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
her Lands in that Kingdom had also been seized on From which Sr Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore who having been clap'd into the Tower for Treason had made his escape into France as he was a most Politick and Vindicative Person took occasion to insinuate himself into the Queens Favour and by pretending to take her part against the Spencers the great Favourites of her Husband whom she extreamly hated involved her before she was aware into a Rebellion from which she could never extricate her self till she had ruin'd the King her Husband It is no way pleasant to me to relate the whole progress of that execrable Treason nor how the King of France being warned by King Edward durst not entertain any longer within his Dominions the Queen his Sister with this her Son Edward so that she was forced to flee to strangers for succour who being won by her charming tears adventur'd thô but a Few into this Kingdom where quickly encreasing their Numbers by a rash defection of the Giddy multitude they proceeded to the utmost Violations of Faith and Honour In short the old King at last was violently and illegally Depos'd and imprison'd thô with promise of security to himself AN. DOM. 1325. and the allowance of an Honourable Pension during life And our young Edward his eldest Son thô he could never be x Walsing hâ—st p 105. Hâ—â—â—nshead p 881. perswaded even to a Crown till he was made to believe his Father had desired it being at last won by the sight of his Father's seeming-voluntary Resignation which yet was extorted by fraudulent Promises and severe menaces took upon him the Crown and Government of this Kingdom III. Before this while the Realm was yet unsetled and the old King lay as then conceal'd in Wales y Sandford p. 158. He was by an Usurped Authority in an Assembly z Speed p. 564. Ashmole p. 644. of Lords met at Hereford the Queen and Sr Roger Mortimer being present made Custos or Lord Warden of the Kingdom by a common Decree bearing date the 20 of October whereupon all the Lords made him Homage and took an Oath of Allegiance to be Loyal to him as Lord Warden of England And on the twenty sixth of November following the Great Seal sent from the King his Father was deliver'd unto him at Martley Whereupon a a Walsingh hist p. 106. Sr The. de la Mere p. 8. l. 41. Parliament was summon'd to meet at Westminster about the Feast of Epiphany being called indeed in the old King's Name but the Briefs of Citation were signed by the Prince as Lord Warden of England In this Parliament thus called by his own Authority was the old King illegally depos'd when they had extorted his own consent to it by fair and foul means making so the young Prince believe that his Father had freely and willingly resign'd the Government of which matter we shall speak more largely when we come to relate the Murther of the said King Edward the Second But because many of our Historians lay some imputation upon the Name of King Edward the Third as if he was not wholly innocent of these Proceedings against his Father we are to consider the tenderness of his Age he being not then fourteen years old whereby he might very easily be impos'd upon by the treacherous subtlety of Mortimer and his Complices who were always about him also we should cast our eyes upon the severity he shew'd this same Mortimer when he understood the whole Treason nor is it a small sign of his innocence as to this point that he himself lived long and Reigned happily being blest with many Dutifull Children and that no other circumstance of his whole life can furnish us with any thing from whence we may suspect that he could be capable of so black and unnatural a Treason However b Ashmole p. 644 now the old King having resign'd the Crown great Preparations were made for this young Prince's Coronation he being on the 25 of January or the Conversion of St Paul and a c Lit. Dom. D. Sunday proclaimed King of England by Order and Consent of Parliament and Proclamations d Dugd. Warw. p. 165. a. were issued out in his Name declaring to the People that his Father the late King had made a Voluntary and free Resignation of his Regal Dignity to him as being his Eldest Son. And a week after by the direction of those who were Contrivers of this Revolution he was advis'd to Publish his Peace to the whole Kingdom which was done in these words Edward e Walsingh hist p. 105. Speed p. 565. Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 28. by the grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to N. Sheriff of S. Greeting Whereas the Lord Edward our Father late King of England by Common Council and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords as well as that of the whole Commonalty of the Realm did voluntarily resign the Government thereof willing and granting that We as his Eldest Son and Heir should take upon Us the Rule and Government of the Kingdom And We by the consent and advice of the Prelates Earls and Barons aforesaid yeelding herein to our Fathers good Pleasure have taken upon Us the Government of the said Realm and received as the manner is the Fealties and Homages of the said Prelates and Barons Desiring therefore that our Peace should be inviolably kept to the quiet and benefit of our Liege People We will and command that presently upon sight of these Presents you cause our Peace to be Proclaim'd thrô all your Bailywick charging all and every one in our Name under pain and peril of Disherison and loss of life and limb not to presume to infringe or violate our said Peace but every one to prosecute his Actions and Causes without any outrage whatsoever according to the laws and customs of our Kingdom For We are ready and ever shall be to exhibit and afford to all and singular Plaintiffs as well poor as rich full Justice in our Courts according to due Course of Law. Witness Our Self at Westminster l mo Februarii Annóque Regni nostri Primo On the f Sandford p. 158. H. Knighten p. 2550. Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 2. n. 13. same day being Sunday and the Vigil of the Purification was the young King by the hands of his Cozen Henry Earl of Lancaster first girded with the Sword of Knighthood at which time the King himself Knighted many others among whom were three g Sandford p. 109. Catal. Hono p. 575. Dagd 1. Vol. p. 145. 147. Sons of the Lord Mortimer That day he was Crowned at Westminster by the hands of h Ashmole calls him William by mistake vid. Godw. Catal. Bps. c. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury and thereupon as an Earnest of the many Advantages his People were to reap from his prosperous Reign a General Pardon
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâ—l 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung â—t bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâ—uth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
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.
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
he himself with the residue of his Standing Forces lying now in and about the strong City of St. Quintin After this King Edward went from Sarnaques to Morevil where he tarried one Night only the next Day he reached la Flamenguere where he lodged his Men all close about him l Frois c. 40. being in number more than Fourty Thousand strong And here it was resolved in Council that King Edward should abide his Adversary and give him Battle King Philip on the other hand being removed from St. Quintin with all his Army was gone to Vironfosse in Cambresis where he tarried his Forces dayly encreasing and protested That he would not stir thence till he had fought with the King of England and his Allies since they were now within two Leagues one of another When the young Earl of Hainault who was still at Quesnoy ready provided with Men of War understood that the French King his Uncle was with an Army Royal at Vironfosse resolved to give battle to the English he rode directly thither with 500 Spears and presented his Service to King Philip. But he might even as well have stay'd away for the Thanks that he had now or the Reward that he found after For King Philip was in his heart extreamly disgusted at him because he came but lately from the Service of his Adversary the King of England with whom he had been during the Siege of Cambray But the Earl excused himself so discreetly saying That what he did then was of meer necessity because he was bound to serve the Emperour or his Deputy within the Bounds of the Empire but what he did now was of his meer Choice and therefore ought to be taken as a token of his Good-will so that at last the King and his Council either was or seem'd to be content And so the Marshals of France order'd him his Station which either in spight or policy they appointed in the Main Battle thereby to fight against King Edward his Brother-in-Law Thus these two Puissant Monarchs lay both with their goodly Armies in the plain Fields between Vironfosse and Flemenguere within two Leagues one of another But as yet neither Army advanced King Edward therefore advising with his Lords in a Council of War asked them what they thought best to do for he said that his Intention was to fight it out without any more delay Then the Lords beheld each other and at last desired the Duke of Brabant first to open his Mind He like a Gallant Souldier presently advis'd to fight for otherwise said he we cannot part without some Blemish upon our Honour Wherefore I would counsel you to send Heralds to King Philip to demand of him a Day of Battle Accordingly an Herald of the Duke of Gueldre's being well-skill'd in the French Tongue was sent on this Errant he rode forth till he came to the French Host where being admitted before the King and his Council he spake aloud these Words Sir the King of England is here hard by in the Fields and desires to fight you Power against Power And if you please to appoint him a Day he will not fail to meet You upon the Word of a King. C. Lit. Dom. This Message being thus deliver'd on a Wednesday the 20 of October King Philip yielded either to give or take Battle two Days after to wit on the Friday ensuing and in token of his acceptance of the News richly rewarded the Herald with Furred Gowns and other Gifts bestow'd on him as well by himself as other the Princes and Lords of his Host and so dismissed him again Thus was the Day of Battle agreed on all the Lords and Captains on both Sides being informed thereof and commanded to be ready accordingly On the Thursday Morning being the 21 of October two Knights belonging to the Earl of Hainault the one the Lord of Faginelles and the other the Lord of Tupenay Mounting their Horses rode forth together without any other Company from the French Host with a Design to view the English Army So they rode along coasting from far the English Camp till upon their approach almost within shot of the first Battail the Lord of Faginelles Horse chanced to take the Bridle in his Mouth so strongly that his Master could not rule him Wherefore much against his Will he was carried by the Horse into the English Army among the Lords of Almaine who well saw he was not of their side and so took him Prisoner He and his Horse were taken by five or six Gentlemen of Almaine who straight began to examine him in order to appoint him his Ransom And when they understood he was of Hainault they asked him if he had any acquaintance with the Lord John of Hainault he answer'd yes and desired them for Godsake to carry him into his Presence for he said he knew well that he would acquit him of his Ransom The Almains did not care how soon their Money came wherefore they willingly carried him before the Lord of Beaumont who knew him presently and bought him of his Masters Thus was the Lord of Faginelles easily redeemed having his Horse also restored unto him at the Request of the Lord Beaumont Sr. John of Hainault No other Adventure worth our Notice happen'd that day On the Fryday early in the Morning m Freis c. 41. f. 23. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 648. both Armies prepared for Battle and every Lord heard Mass among his own Men making their Confessions and obtaining Absolution The English drew forth in the Field all ranged in three Battails on Foot their Horses and Baggage being put aside in a little Wood behind them which they had fortifi'd Their first Battail was led by the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord John of Hainault the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. William du Fort Sr. Arnold of Baquehen the whole Body consisting for the most part of Almains except 4000 English to the Number of 8000 in all 12000 Fighting Men ranged orderly under twenty two Banners and sixty Penons or Streamers The second Battail which in the March was the last the Duke of Brabant brought up accompanied with many Lords and Knights of his own Country as the Lord of Kuck the Lord of Bergen op Zoom the Lord of Breda the Lord of Rhodes the Lord of Bosleduc the Lord of Burgivalle the Lord of Stonenort the Lord of Wenden the Lord of Elka the Lord of Cassuben and Sr. John of Cassuben his Brother the Lord of Duysburg Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Sr. Ralph van Gratz Sr. John Iliffe Sr. Giles of Krainburg Sr. Walter of Horburg the three Brethren of Harlingen Sr. Henry Eam commonly call'd Sr. Henry of Flanders and divers other Barons and Knights of Germany who were all under the Duke of Brabants Banner that day as the Lord of Hailbrun the Lord of Guiten Sr. Hector Vilain Sr. John of Rhodes Sr.
and Bethune which three Towns the French King withheld from Flanders Upon King Edwards Request therefore Jacob van Arteveld came to this Parliament at Brussels with a great Retinue as if he had been Earl of Flanders and at his Motion all the Chief Burgesses of Gaunt and the other Good Towns of that Country by some called the Hanse-Towns of Flanders thô properly speaking they belong rather to the Four Provinces of Lubeck Cologne Brunswick and Dantzick All these were well pleased with the foresaid Promise of King Edward and thereupon desired to take Advice among themselves When having Retired and Debated sufficiently upon the Point they gave the King this Answer the Contrivance and Menagement of all which is Attributed to Jacob van Arteveld Sir You were pleased to require of Us that which of Our selves We would most willingly do if We might do it handsomly and without Loss or Dishonour But alas Sir We are Obliged both by Oath and a Bond of b Ashmole p. 650. Fox p. 340. Sandford p. 160 2000000 of Florens of Gold to be paid into the Popes Chamber never to make War against the King of France whosoever he shall be Which Forfeiture not only keeps Us in Aw but also the Danger of being Interdicted by the Pope if We break Our Oath made to him But Sir If You will but undertake to bear the Arms of France and Quarter them with the Arms of England and Own Your Self publiquely King of France as indeed You are and ought of Right to be Accounted then We will look upon You as the True King of France against whom We are not to make War and thereupon demand of You an Acquittance of Our said Bond which You may Grant Us as King of France By this means We shall be assured of Our Money and acquitted of Our Oath and then We will be ready to serve You in what You shall Command This Fine Trick was thus Invented by that subtle Demagogue Jacob van Arteveld to satisfie the unthinking Commons of the Equity of standing to King Edward against France notwithstanding all their Solemn Engagements to the Contrary However the King demurr'd at this their Answer For thô he knew he might Lawfully claim the Crown of France in Right of his Mother Queen Isabella yet he thought it neither Reasonable nor much for his Honour to take upon him the Arms and Kingly Title of that Realm before he had made Conquest of any Part thereof not being sure that ever he should be able to bring those Matters to effect On the other side he was very loath to refuse the Flemmings this their Desire because they might prove so Instrumental in his Service Whereupon he Advis'd in private with the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre the Earls of Juliers and Blankburg Mons and Bergen the Lords of Hainault and Valkenburgh the Lord Robert of Artois and his English Peers by whose Advice he return'd this Answer That if they would Swear and Seal to this Covenant and Engage to serve him upon all Occasions in his War he would then readily do all this since in Equity he might and further undertake to restore them those three Cautionary Towns of Lille Doway and Bethune which they had deliver'd as Pledges of their Faith to the French King. To this the Flemmings agree'd and d Joh. Villani l. 11. c. 108. Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 3. Hocsem l. 2. c. 25. so the 23 of January was appointed firmly to Ratifie these mutual Covenants and Conditions at Gaunt on which day the King and most of the forenamed Lords came to Gaunt where he was met by the Chief Burgesses of all the Towns of Flanders and then and there all the foresaid Agreements being ready Engrossed were rehearsed Sworn and Seal'd to and so the King took upon him the Style of France and Quarter'd the Arms of that Kingdom with those of England But thô e Speed p. 572. afterwards perhaps to gratifie the French Nation or because that was the more Ancient and Greater Monarchy he placed the Flowers de Lis in the Dexter and more Honourable Quarter yet it is highly probable that at their First Entermingling it was not so as appears not only by the Figure of this King in Armour trampling on a Boar by a Castle signifying France in a very Old Vellam M. S. now by me where the English Lions are ranged in the First and Last Quarters of his Shield but also from f Speed p. 572. a Seal of Queen Isabella this Kings Mother where the Arms of England as being those of the Husband's Line and therefore to have Precedence are Marshal'd where now the Flower de Luces shine But to put this out of all Doubt We shall further produce the Words of King Philip spoken at this time upon occasion of this Action of King Edwards to certain English Gentlemen sent to him about the present Affairs Our g Stâ—â— p. 236. Cosin says he doth wrongfully Quarter the Arms of England and France which notwithstanding doth not so much displease Us because indeed he is descended thô by the Weaker Sex of Our Kin and therefore as being a Batchelour We could easily be content to allow him part of the Arms of France but whereas in his Seals and Letters Patents he Styles himself King of England and of France in the One and sets the Quarter of his Arms with Leopards before the Quarter Charged with Lillies in the Other this is that which We disdain exceedingly For thereby it should seem he Prefers that Inconsiderable Isle of England before the Mighty Kingdom of France To this Complaint Sr. John Shoreditch the King of Englands Agent made Answer that it was the Custom of England to set the Title and Arms of their Progenitors before the Arms and Title of a Right derived from the Mother And thus said he doth my Lord the King of England Prefer his Paternal Coat both out of Duty and Reason But as it appears soon after they were alter'd even as now they stand at this Day only h Sandford p. 157. an Not. vid. eund ibid. in Notis p. 270. that when Charles the Sixth of France with Design to shew a Difference changed the Semee Flours de Lize into Three Our King Henry the V. also did the like and so it hath continued ever since Either at this time or soon after the King set at the Foot of his Shield beneath the Arms of France and England thus quarter'd this French Motto DIEV ET MON DROIT in English GOD AND MY RIGHT declaring thereby his Confidence to be only in God and the Equity of his Cause Which Motto with the Title of France hath been continued by the Kings of England his Successors even unto this day That King Edward might justifie his Title to the Kingdom of France whose Arms he thus undertook to Bear he sent his Ambassadors to the Pope with these Instructions following i Odâ—râ—â—uâ— Raynald ad hunc
to come from the Pope to shew them That if they would return to their Duty and own themselves to hold only of his Holiness and of the Crown of France forsaking King Edward who as he said had enchanted them then he would forgive them all their Trespasses granting unto them a General Absolution and also quit them of 2000000 of Florens in which Summ they were bound unto him by a Former Obligation and that he would further procure them many Advantagious Privileges and Franchises The Flemings answer'd That they look'd upon themselves as fully acquitted already of whatsoever they were bound in to his Holiness Since they fought not against the King of France but the Usurper of that Crown King Philip being nettled with this Answer made his Complaint to the Pope and so well handled the Matter with him that contrary to the Opinion of St. Austin who says u Neque Multitudo neque Princeps Pepuli sunt excommunicandi August in Glossa ad Matth◠c. 13. That neither a Common-Wealth nor a Prince of a People ought to be excommunicated he too easily interdicted all Flanders insomuch that no Priest there durst say or sing any Divine Service while they should continue unreconciled to the Church Whereof when the Flemings complain'd bitterly to King Edward he sent them word that when he should come among them he would bring along with him Priests out of England that should sing Mass and perform Divine Service among them whether the Pope would or no For he said He had Authority and Privilege so to do And this Answer contented the Flemings But when King Philip saw he could not win them to his side by fair means then he sent command to his Garrisons of Tournay Lisle Douay and other Frontier Fortresses to make War on the Flemings and to overrun their Country According to these Orders the Lord Godmar du Fay Sr. John du Roy Sr. Matthew du Trie Marshall of Mirepoix and divers other Lords and Knights from Tournay Lisle and Doway collected a Body of 1000 Men of Arms 3000 Crossbows and Others who all together one evening setting out secretly from Tournay and riding about six leagues Northward came early the next Morning before Courtray By that time the Sun was risen they had gather'd together all the Cattel about the Town while a Party of them rode up to the very Gates and slew and hurt all whom they found without the Walls Then they return'd homeward with all their Prey which they carried clear off and found when they came to Tournay that they had got more than 10000 Sheep and of Swine Beefs and Kine as many more VII The Flemings were extreamly fretted at this Inroad of theirs but especially Jacob van Arteveld who swore to take a bloody Revenge within a little space And presently commanded the good Towns of Flanders to get ready their Quota's of Souldiers and send them to him to Geertsberg or Mount Gerard directly between Antwerp and Tournay by such a certain day in order to go with him before Tournay He wrote Letters also to the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk being then at Ipres desiring them to come and meet him there at the same time He himself against the Day prefixed went out of Gaunt with his Men of War and made his Rendezvous at Mount Gerard aforesaid being on an Arm of the Skell where he resolved to stay for the Lords of England and the Men of Frank and Bruges The foresaid English Barons thought it dishonourable to delay a Matter of such Importance especially the Flemings being so forward in what they themselves on behalf of the King their Master extreamly desired wherefore they immediately dispatch'd an Answer to Jacob van Arteveld signifying that they would not fail to be with him at such a Day There was then at Ipre a Lord of Almain named Sr. Vauflart de la Croix who for a long time had made War against the Garrison of Lille by the Dutch called Ryssel whereby he was well acquainted with all the Avenues and Passages of that Country Him now the two English Lords took for their Guide and when the time appointed drew near marched out of Ipre with 50 Men of Arms and 40 Archers in their Company But as they came toward the Town of Lille either by Treason of some among them or by the Enemies Spies their Approach was signified to those of the Town who sent out beforehand 1500 Men both Horse and Foot in three several Bodies that the English might by no means escape It is likely they had at least a strong presumption some time before of this their Coming for in such a certain place they had made a great Dike where there never was any before that their Passage might be the slower and they might not slip quickly by unperceived Sr. Vauflart had guided them well till they came to this Dike but here he began to smell a Plot and making an Halt said to the English Barons My Lords now I see well you cannot pass without peril from the Garrison of Lille For this way is but newly thus stopped and without fail they have had notice of our Coming Wherefore by my advice you would do well to turn back again and take some other way But the Lords answer'd him Nay Sr. Vauflart it shall ne're be said that we went out of the way for fear of the Men of Lille therefore ride on before in Gods-name for we have promised Jacob van Arteveld to be with him as on this day And saying so they began to move forward but then Sr. Vauflart repli'd Gentlemen you have taken me in this journey for your Guide and I have been with you all this Winter in Ipres where indeed for your kind Company and singular Favours I have been particularly obliged unto you But if the Men of Lille once appear without the Walls never expect that I should stand by you For I design to save my self as soon as I may because if I am taken by them I am sure to die for it And you must pardon me if I love my Life something better than your good Company thô you are my Friends The English Lords laughed heartily at him and said Well Sr. Vauflart if it be so we freely excuse you from further Attendance And truly just as he had imagin'd so it fell out for unawares they were even then in danger of the French Ambush who cri'd out Hold Messieurs you are not like to pass this way without our Leave and at that instant they poured in a whole Flight of Arrows upon them and came out in good Order against them The Lord Vauflart had no sooner espi'd them but he turn'd his Horse and got out of the Preass as hastily as he might and setting spurs to his Horse escap'd away But the English Captains thought scorn to flinch and so rode forward till finding themselves enclos'd with their Enemies
should be forthwith raised the One consisting of the Men of Gaunt and Bruges and other Flemmings a Fabian p. 212. with a certain Number of English Archers b Du Chesne p. 651. making up in all 55000 Men which being commanded by the Lord Robert of Artois was to lay Siege to St. Omers And the other consisting of King Edward's own Forces with the rest of his Allies was to sit down before Tournay in like manner The Lord Robert of Artois was soon ready for his Task and went accordingly thô not so soon but that King Philip before his Arrival had sent thither the Duke of Burgundy named c Favine l. 4. c. 3. p. 6. Eudes the IV with many other Lords Captains and Men of Arms to the Reinforcement of the Earl of Armagnac Who Arrived there accordingly d Gaguin l. 8. p. 137. with two and fourty Ships furnished with Souldiers and Provision of all Sorts As for King Edward it was resolved that he should set forward with his Forces by e 22 Julii Magdalene-tide then next ensuing and lay Siege to the City of Tournay And that thither all the Lords of the League should repair to him with their several Forces except the Lord Robert of Artois aforesaid Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders and the rest who were to lie before St. Omers All these things being thus fully Established the Council brake up and every one address'd himself to the performance of this Agreement Now King f Frois c. 53. fol. 30. b. 31. a. Du Chesne Philip of France had presently secret Information of the greater part of the Resolutions of this Council Whereupon besides his foremention'd Provision for St. Omers he sent to Tournay the Chief of all his Men of War as Ralph Earl of Ewe and his Son the Young Earl of Guisnes Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Brethren Emery Earl of Narbon Sr. Emery of Poictiers Sr. Geoffry Charny a Valiant Young Lord of whose Exploits this History will not be silent with these he sent the two Marshals Sr. Robert Bertrand and Sr. Matthew de la Trie Sr. Gerard de Montfaucon the Lord of Caieux Seneschal of Poictieu the Lord of Chastelan and Sr. John Landas and many other Valiant Knights and Esquires to the Number of g Fabian p. 212. 4000 Men of Arms and h Gievana Villan l. 11. c. 111. p. 769. 10000 Footmen the City it self affording no less than 15000 Fighting Men effective Now therefore when this Great Recruit was come to Tournay the Captain thereof the Lord Godmar du Fay was wonderfully satisfied and so joyning all together they immediately took all Care possible to supply and furnish the Place with Provision of Salt Wine Flesh Fish Wheat Oats Attillery and what else might seem Necessary for the Maintenance of a Town Besieged II. Nor was King Edward himself unwilling that his Intentions should be known in France But according to the Law formerly Established with his Allies in Flanders besides his Defiance made last Year he sends i Walsingh hist p. 135. Edit Franes p. 149. n. 21. before he goes to the Siege of Tournay his Charter of Defiance to King Philip the Tenour whereof from the k Adam Murimouth Original French runs thus l l Id. Adam Mâ—rimouth Walsingh lote citato Fabian p. 212 Fâ—x Acts Monum p. 348. Sandford p. 161. Du Chesne p. 651. Mezeray p. 16. c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Noble and Puissant Lord Philip Earl of Valois Sr. Philip of Valois We have long and often peaceably demanded of You by Our Embassadors in the most Reasonable manner we could devise that You would restore unto Us Our Lawfull Right and Inheritance of the Crown of France which all this while You have with great Injustice and Violence detained from Us And whereas We well perceive that You intend to persevere in the same injurious Usurpation without returning any Satisfactory Answer to Our just Demands We give You to understand that We are entred into the Land of Flanders as Sovereign Lord thereof and are now passing thrô the Country And We further signifie unto You that by the help of Our Saviour m m Haec verba videntur alludere ad illud DIEU Eâ— MON DROIT i.e. God and my Right which words are still under the Arms of the Kings of England c. Jesus Christ and Our Righteous Cause with the Forces of the said Country Our Subjects and Allies We purpose to recover the Right which We have to that Inheritance which You by Your injurious Violence detain from Us. And therefore are We now approaching toward You to make a quick decision of this Our Rightfull Challenge if You also will do the like And forasmuch as so great an Army as We bring with Us on Our part supposing You also on Your Part to do the like cannot remain long in the Field without great Destruction both of the People and Country which thing every Good Christian ought to avoid especially Princes and others who have the Government of the same We are desirous by as short dispatch as may be to meet and therefore to prevent the Mortality of Christians since the Quarrel apparently belongs to You and Me let the Controversie between Us be fairly decided by Our own Persons Body to Body to which thing We offer Our Selves for the Reasons aforesaid that the Great Nobility and Valour of each other may be seen of all Men. But if in case You shall not vouchsafe this way then let Us end the Dispute by the Battle of one Hundred of the most sufficient Persons of Your Party and as many of Mine which each of Us shall bring into the Field But if You will not admit either of the One or of the Other way then that You will Assign unto Us a certain Day before the City of Tournay which Day to be within Ten days next after the Date of this Our Letter wherein to Combat both of Us Power against Power We offering unto Your Choice these above specifi'd Conditions as We would have all the World to know not of any Malice Presumption or Pride in Our Selves but for the Causes aforesaid and to the intent that the Will of Our Saviour Jesus Christ being declared between Us two Peace and Unity might grow more and more among Christians the Power of Gods Enemies may be abated and the Bounds of Christendom be enlarged and enfranchised Wherefore consider hereupon with Your Self which of Our foresaid Offers You will accept and by the Bearer of these Our Letters send unto Us quick and speedy Answer Given under Our Great Seal at Chyn upon the Skell near Tournay the n n Sandford p. 161. Fox 27 Julii Fab. 15 Julii Alii diem non assâ—gnâ—nt 17 Day of Julii A. D. 1340. This Letter was some Days after thus
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
debasing of Your Royal State and Dignity And althô those who make themselves more than agrees with their Condition Rulers of the Land and Your Counsellors endeavour to perswade You that Your present Proceedings will be acceptable to Your People yet we most constantly averr that after this manner which You have begun there will happen nothing less and that Your Majesty will find at last And We doubt not a little that if You proceed as You have begun You will both lose the Hearts of Your own People and of Your Allies and also Your Just and Lawfull Right and will Raise up such Evil-will against Your Person here at home that Your will not be able to Maintain Your War whereby You will give occasion to Your Enemies of Rising against You to destroy You so that You will be in Danger to lose which God forbid both Your Good Name and Kingdom Wherefore Sovereign Lord I beseech You that for the Safeguard of Your Honour and Realm and the Maintenance of Your Quarrel You would Summon together Your Lords and the Wise Men of the Land and that Your Affairs may succeed more Prosperously take their Advice without whose Counsel and Aid You can neither Conquer abroad nor Rule happily at Home And because such as are near Your Majesty are not afraid to lay Treason and Falshood to Our Charge we hereby denounce that they shall be forthwith Excommunicate and as Your Spiritual Father We beseech You so to Esteem of them And whereas it is laid to Us that by Our Evil Administration of Affairs You both lost the Town of Tournay and much Honour also may it please Your Majesty to call together Your Prelates Peers and Nobles of the Realm in some convenient place where We may securely confer with the Prelates and make strict Enquiry into whose Hands from the beginning of Your Wars the Woolls Moneys and what else was granted to this Day came and how they were used and by whose Default the City of Tournay was not Won but left in that Dishonourable Manner and that so like a Good and Just Lord You will after their Demerits punish the Culpable according to Your own Laws And as for Us We shall ever be ready to submit Our Selves to the judgement of Our Peers the State of Holy Church of Us and of Our Order as We elsewhere have frequently Written still maintained And for Gods Sake Sir believe not either of Us or of any other Your Liege Subjects any thing but Good till the Truth be explored nor be too forward to lend Your Ear to any Man For if Men should be punished without answer given or the Truth known the Judgement would still be the same both to the Guilty and to the Innocent And Sir may it please You to Consider both maturely and seriously the Great Force of Your Foreign Enemies both of France and Scotland For if the Prelates Lords and Wise Men of the Realm should all without any difference with one consent both Night and Day joyn and combine wisely together to Menage Your Weighty and Arduous Affairs to Maintain the War You have begun and to preserve Your Honour and Kingdom 't would all be little enough Nor let it displease Your Majesty most Redoubted Lord that so rudely and grosly We declare the Truth unto You For the Great Love and Affection which We bear unto Your Person and Interest and ever by the Grace of God shall bear especially because We are tho◠Unworthy the Primate of all England and thereby Your Spiritual Father doth move Us to say Command and Provide for what may turn to the Benefit of Your Soul and the Advantage of Your People The Holy Spirit save and keep You my Lord both in Soul and Body and grant You the Grace both to hear and receive Good and wholsome Advice and moreover vouchsafe to give You Victory over all Your Enemies Dated at Canterbury January the First in the seventh Year of Our Consecration by Your Majesties Chaplain John Canterbury IV. Besides this the Archbishop for the further Declaration of his Innocence and Maintenance of his Authority wrote to Sr. Robert Bourchier then Lord Chancellor of England in these Words JOHN by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See Wisheth a Will to Conserve the Liberties of Holy Church and the Law of the Land entire For the Wise Man saith that the Truth being foreknown and foreseen doth cause Us to avoid great Dangers that else would happen Therefore We would have You understand that the Tenths of Holy Church last granted unto Our Lord the King for One Year by the Clergy of Our Province of Canterbury to be paid together with other Tythes then behind were granted on certain Conditions and certain Articles granted by Our Lord the King unto the said Clergy and confirmed by his Charter And moreover that the said Clergy for that time should not be burthen'd with any other Portion or Contribution to be made or granted unto our Lord the King. After this also in the Parliament Conven'd at Westminster on the Wednesday next after Midlent there were granted unto the King the Ninth Fleece the Ninth Lamb the Ninth Sheaf but on certain Cautions and Conditions namely that no Prelates or any of the said Clergy should be any way Obliged to the Contribution of this Ninth Part but only those who held by Barony and were bound to come to the Parliament And that the Prelates and Others of the Clergy paying the said Ninth should by no means be obliged to the Payment of the Tenth granted as aforesaid But yet certain Collectors of the Ninth of our said Province do endeavour by several Distresses to levy and raise the said Ninth of Prelates and Others of the Clergy who pay the said Tenth and hold nothing of the King by Barony nor are bound to come to the Parliament And on the other hand they exact the said Tenth of those who are obliged to the Payment of the Ninth by burthening Men of the Church contrary to God and Justice and the Grant aforesaid Wherefore we exhort and require you in the Lord that by no means You permit Religious Persons and Ecclesiasticks to be burthen'd and vexed unless according to the Form and Grant aforesaid Nor by any means yield either Counsel or Assent in prejudice of the said Charter or subversion of the Privileges and Liberties of the Church But that if any Brief Commission or Precept contrary to the Form of Magna Charta or the Privileges and Liberties aforesaid have already been issued out of the Chancery You cause them within ten days after the Receipt of these Letters as You are bound to be revoked and disanulled It is really the Will of our Lord the King to cherish and maintain the said Charter and the Privileges and Liberties of the Church as we are assured And it is not his Will nor ought to be that the Clergy should by any means be
burthen'd and grieved beyond their own free Grant For this would not a little tend to the prejudice and grievance of Holy Church which we cannot endure But if You shall take no care to revoke and disanull the Premises as is premised We shall not omit to take such Remedy as Holy Church will allow And what you shall do in the Premises as our Spiritual Son Faithfull and acceptable to God within eight days after the time above limited you shall take care to certifie unto us by your Letters The Holy Spirit as you shall keep his Privileges uninvaded vouchsafe to save and keep your Body and Soul. Given at Canterbury 28 day of January in the Seventh Year of our Consecration V. Beside this he also wrote a Remonstrance to the King and his Council in these Words To our Lord the King and his Council and all and singular Persons of his Council We John by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See do shew that whereas all those who seise on Clergymen put them by force or detain them in Prison and do not permit them to go where they shall please knowing them publiquely and notoriously to be reputed as such and bearing themselves as Clergymen who have not confessed Crimes nor have been convicted or indicted of Crimes nor have been openly taken in the Fact are entangled in the Sentence given by the Canon c. And that Sentence we have published in the Church of Canterbury and have caused it to be published by all our Brethren Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury After the Denuntiation or Publication of which Sentence made as is premised there have been taken and in divers Castles and Places of England imprisoned and forcibly detained John de St. Paul Michael de Wath Robert Chickwell John Thorp and Henry Stratford to the prejudice of God and Holy Church against the Laws and Privileges of all Clergymen and also to the endangering of the Souls of those who acted those things or gave their Counsel and Assent thereto Wherefore we earnestly entreat our Lord the King who hath always taken care to maintain the Liberties of Holy Church and its Laws and Privileges entire as our Lord God in all his Actions hath heretofore happily attested and made him Famous that it would please His Majesty without Delay to command a Release or Delivery from prison of the said Clergy-men and of every of them who are so detained against Magna Charta and the Laws and Customs of the Land. Moreover we desire and beseech in the Lord all those Counsellors who presum'd to give the King Counsel to do such things by no means to hinder the Delivery of them who are so detained For we cannot dissemble but that otherways we must do in this Matter according to our Duty Also that all Lay Persons and Free-men who were against Magna Charta and the Laws and Customs of the Land taken and yet detain'd in Prison may be deliver'd and that it would please our Lord the King to reform and correct other the Premises according to a Form contained in a Bull of q Anno Domini 1243 Papat initt An. 1254. â—â—â—it Innocent the IV. Whereby all who presume to go against Magna Charta or to violate it do incurr the Sentence of Excommunication Also that not only his Ministers and Officers of different Stations who passing thrô the Land enter the Houses Granges and other Places of Archbishops Bishops and other Religious and Ecclesiasticall Persons without the Will of the Farmers or Keepers do take away Goods at pleasure and carry them away forceably but also those who command the Premises or in their Names confirm and ratifie what is so done are involved in the foresaid Sentence Let therefore our Lord the King vouchsafe to apply a fit Remedy For we cannot dissemble but that we intend by our Selves and our Brethren and Suffragans to execute both our and their Duty against such as the Care of our Pastoral Office shall require But it is not our Intention that our Lord the King his Lady the Queen or their Children be involved or comprehended in the said Sentences as of Right they may be excused VI. The said Archbishop also sent Letters to the Bishop of London the Tenour whereof followeth John by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See to his Reverend Brother Ralph Bishop of London Greeting Holy Church which ought to be Free is unduly oppressed with divers Exactions and vexatious Burthens in these days Her Goods to which no Lay Hand ought to extend are seised on at will for Prey The Clergy also of our Province of Canterbury is vexed unjustly and vilely trampled upon by reproachfull Contempt Justice which principally ought to shine and whereby Kings Reign and the People are established in Peace is not duly honoured But many let loose the Reins to Injuries and unjust Oppressions without punishment We therefore taking a Fatherly compassion at the groans of the Oppressed and seriously considering that for this purpose the Divine Mercy hath exalted Us to this Apostolical Dignity not that We should spend our Days in quiet and affluence of Delights but according to the Duty of our Place being profitably instructed by the examples of our Predecessors that we should set our selves against those that come up against us as an impregnable Wall for the House of the Lord and by Gods Assistance reduce the wandring into the way of Truth have thought fit by publique Denuntiations to be made in eminent Places by us and others our Brethren and Suffragans openly to intimate unto all men certain Sentences of Excommunication by Holy Fathers and our Predecessors hitherto promulged against Delinquents in Cases hereafter mention'd That those who are wicked may not be able under the vail of affected Ignorance any way to excuse themselves in pretence that the Truth was unworthily hid and not manifested as it ought to be But rather that all may take better heed to themselves for the future And yet it is not our Intention that our Lord the Illustrious King of England our Lady the Queen or their Children should be involved or comprehended in the said Sentences or any of them or under the Denuntiation as of right they may in this part be excused Commanding c. that you publish them c. Dated c. The Tenour of which Articles follow VII In the Name of God Amen We John by Divine Permission Archbishop c. do denounce Publiquely and Solemnly in these Writings all those to be as by the Holy Fathers they are involved in the Sentence of Greater Excommunication and to have been and to be Excommunicate and we sequester them from the Pale of Holy Mother Church who do presume to deprive Churches of their Right or malitiously to infringe or violate the Liberties or Free Customs of the same and especially those who violate the
were Barons John Lord of Beaumont in Hainalt the Lord Charles Monmorency the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Aubigny and the Lord of Monfort l'Amaury besides the Archbishop of Rheimes the Bishop of Amiens and the Chancellor of France's Son all under the Standard of the Young Prince James Son of Humbert Dauphin of Vienna who was himself slain in the Battle The French Nation so well at that time allowed of this Flight of King Philips that as the Roman Senate approved of Terentius Varro who escaping from the Battle of Cannae did not yet despair of the Common-Wealth as his Collegue Aemylius had done by way of Commendation it hath been called to this Day m Walsingh Hyiâ—d Neusâ—r p. 119. Beau elim Masc Fâ—m Bel tunc Masc ut Philip le Bel. Nâ—nc le Beau la Belle. la Beau Retracte Thus slightly now attended this Unhappy Prince rode out of the Field till he came to the Castle of Broye on the Authie about two Leagues Northward from the Place of Battle The Castle was now shut up for it was by this time dark wherefore he called out for the Captain in haste who coming to the Walls demanded who it was that expected to be let in there at Dark Night The King reply'd Open your Gates quickly For I am the Fortune of France Perhaps secretly thereby taxing those Flatterers who had firnamed him le Bien-Fortunè or the Fortunate King which Title he holds to this Day thô as Mezeray observes at this time he was the Vnfortunate The Captain understanding by his Voice that it was the King made haste and open'd the Gate and let down the Bridge where he was Dutifully received but not without many sad Cries and condoling Lamentations of his sorrowfull Subjects who like poor frighted Children came flocking about the Distressed Father of their Country The Unhappy Prince could not long endure so pittifull a Spectacle and perhaps neither did he think himself secure so near the Enemy Wherefore having drank and taken some refreshment he departed thence about Midnight and by the help of his Guides which knew the Country came to Amiens the next Morning where having tarried a few Days he went to Paris But during his stay at Amiens instead of looking up to the Hand of God and Humbling himself under his Judgements the Passionate n Frois c. 134. King began to rail against several of his Captains but especially he was so Highly incensed at the Lord Gondemar du Fay that if he could have got him in his Fury it had cost him his Head for he said and believed that he did not do his Devoir truly in Defending the Passage at Blanchetteaque where the English went over the Somme Nor did the King only say thus but many of his Council also were of the Mind that he ought to die saying that he was a Traytor and the Chief Occasion of that Great Loss at Cressy But then John Lord of Beaumont began wisely to excuse him and to qualifie the Kings unjust Displeasure by putting in these few words only How could it lye in Gondemar's Power to Resist the whole Puissance of the King of England when a Royal Army it self and all the Flower of the Realm of France could not prevail against him This apt saying pacified the Kings Displeasure and soon after he return'd to Paris to consider of his Weighty Affairs in so sad a juncture XIII All that Saturday being the Day of Battle the English never broke their Ranks for taking of any Prisoners whatsoever but knowing how Numerous the Enemy was and that there were two or three Fresh Armies near those Parts they never offer'd to follow the Chace but stood ready upon their Defence And if o Knighton p. 2588. One says True they had need to do so for the French rallied upon them several times that Night thô they were still repulsed with Loss Certainly this Day King Edward shewed himself a most Accomplish'd Captain and all the Night too the greater Part of the Army especially all the Fresh Men who had not fought kept the Field standing to their Arms But I can no ways believe that the Frenchmen after so absolute a Discomfiture the Flight of their King and the Death of so many of their Prime Leaders could have the Courage to assault their Enemies Especially in the Night when all things are doubtfull even to a Conquerour Yet indeed the Earl of St. Paul had drawn off several entire Troops and had done more if in his last Attempt he had not been slain and more than Half the French Army escaped away thô in small scatter'd Parties that singly were no way formidable and some whereof by the errour of the Night fell among the English where they found no better Usage than they would have done in Battle Now p Frois c. 131. Edward the Young Prince of Wales whom from this time the French began to call Le Neoir or the q In the Records of 2 Riâ— 2. n. 12. he is called the 〈…〉 vid. M.S. Râ—t Parl. ad â—n praedict p. 171. Sr Rob. Câ—tton p. 168. Black-Prince when he heard no more of his Enemies for it was now so dark he could make no further Discovery began to repute the Victory his own and that all the French Host was totally discomfited Then he gave order for huge Fires to be made and Links Torches and Flambeaus to be lighted up all about At which time the King his Father being come down from the little Hill where he had stood with his Helmet on his Head which never came off till now all the time of the Battle drew near in the Head of all his Men and ran up to the Young Prince and embraced him in his Arms and kissed him and said My Fair Son God Almighty give you Grace to persevere as you have begun Now are you my Good Son and have acquitted your self right Nobly You are well worthy of a large Kingdom The Prince reply'd only by humbly enclining himself to the Earth honouring the King his Father That Night r Frois c. 131. the whole Army return'd their publique Thanks to God for their good Success and made no manner of Boasting for it was the express Command of the King that none should insult or make any Brags in Songs or otherwise but all humbly to give Thanks to God Almighty And Å¿ Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. so the High Mass of the Holy Spirit was solemnly sung and the Victory acknowledged to the Author thereof Moreover the next Day for the sake of the Dead the Pious King * Id. ibid. caused the Place of Battle to be Consecrated for the decent Sepulture both of his Enemies and Friends and that the Wounded being removed from among the Dead should be dressed to the meaner sort of whom he afterward gave Money and sent them away That Morning being a Sunday t Frois ibid. there was such a
of Archimbald Douglas who fell in the Battle of Halliden Earl of Douglas and committed to his Charge the Leading of one Brigade III. The first e Holinshead Scotl. p. 240. c. â—t ante Fortress they came to near the Borders was Lidel round which they lay encamped for three Days but on the Fourth after a Vigorous Attack carried it by fine force where they put most of those they found to the Sword But the Captain Sr. Walter Selby before he would deliver his Sword compounded with a Scotch Knight to have his Life and the Lives of his Children saved which was thereupon assured him But when King f Stow p. 243. Holinshead ibid. c. David heard of the Captains being taken he gave order that his Head should be cut off Then the Scotch Knight who had taken him began to intreat in his behalf at least that he might be admitted into the Kings Presence this with much adoe being granted the English Knight upon his knees requested that his Life might be saved for a Ransom But notwithstanding he was again adjudged to die Nor only so but the Cruel Prince commanded two of his Children to be strangled in sight of their Father and having thereby afflicted his Mind almost to Madness with rage and grief he presently caused his Head to be stricken off not allowing him so much time as to make a Confession thô like a good Christian he instantly desired that Ghostly comfort Surely that hatred is Diabolical and Implacable nor only unworthy of a Christian but even exceeding the Barbarity of Infidels which extends beyond this Life and endeavours not only to destroy the Body but also to plunge the Soul into Eternal Ruine After this Merciless Execution the Scotch Army marched to Lenercost where they spoil'd the Abbey of all its Ornaments and whatever was valuable therein and so passing the River Irthing they went by Naworth Castle and leaving Cumberland enter'd on the other side the Picts-Wall into Northumberland wasting all along with fire and sword till they came to the Priory of Hexham which was also pillaged and sacked but the Town was saved from fire by the Kings Command for he was advised to spare four Towns from fire in his Passage to York whither he thought to go without Resistance namely this of Hexham Cerbridge Durham and Darlington to the end they might serve him as so many storehouses to lay in what quantities of Victuals and Provender he should find about in the Country therewith to sustain his Army upon Necessity if he should either stay long in England or be reduced to any extremity At Hexham he lay three Days and thence Marched to Ebchester beyond the River Derwen being one of the first Towns on that side within the Bishoprick of Durham As thus he marched wasting and spoiling the Country on every side toward the City of Durham he destroyed many of the Farms belonging to the Abbey of that City and had utterly ruin'd them all had g Knighten p. 2590. n. 40. Stow p. 243. not some of the Monks who were taken thereabouts and were kept as Prisoners to be Ransomed made an agreement for themselves and the rest of their Fraternity to pay the next Day ready down a 1000 pounds Sterling on Condition they would forbear spoiling the Residue of their Mannors or their Tenents But of all others they h Knighton ibid. n. 10. took one penny for every Head and one penny for every Foot which being done they were left free but otherwise put to the sword And thus they intended to do to every Soul they should meet with even to the River Trent but that they found a stop long before At last King David came and encamped by the Wood of Beare-Park within three Leagues of Durham not far from Nevils-Cross He took up his Lodgings in the Mannor there and daily sent forth strong Detachments to fetch in Booty and to burn and destroy Houses and Villages The Spoil Desolation and Slaughter which Rapine Fire and Sword spread along before the Enemy was both Barbarous and terrible for they spared neither Young nor Old neither Church Chappel nor Monastery but in their blind fury made one General Heap of both Sacred and Profane Not so much as the Goods and Lands belonging to the Patrimony of St. Cuthbert were exempted from Rapine and Plunder as the Scotch Writers themselves confess thô not only the Monks of the Abbey dedicated to that Saint had compounded for their exemption but also as Hector says King David was strictly admonished in a Dream by no means to presume to touch any thing belonging unto his Church IV. Now the Noble Queen of England Philippa being at that time in the North-parts about York when she heard of the first Motions of the Scots was not forgetfull of the King her Husbands Honour and of the Good of his Kingdom But putting on a Spirit worthy of Her that was Confort to King Edward and Mother to the Black-Prince sent out her Summons to all the Lords and Prelates of those Parts and others left by the King for the Defence of the Borders to repair with all speed unto her The Summons were sent forth in the Name of the King of England by the Queen and the Archbishop of York and soon after there came the Lords and Captains of England with their Retinues to York to the Queen where she made her General Musters Then the Queen and the Archbishop sent away an Herald at Arms to King David requiring him to desist from further invading the Country and to return into Scotland till some Reasonable Order for a final Peace might be agreed betwixt him and the King his Master Otherwise he should be sure to have Battle to the Uttermost within three Days after i Hector Beeth l. 15. fol. 324. But that if he refused all terms of Agreement he should remember that there was in Heaven a Just God of Power sufficient to Revenge the Injuries done unto England and especially to his Servants the Priests and other Holy Persons whom he had slain with the Sword neither sparing Church nor Church-Lands nor weak Women nor Innocent Children But all this signified little or nothing to that Prince who was not only stirr'd up by his Youth and an Emulation of his Fathers Glory but also provoked to Revenge as well by the former dealings of his English Enemies as by the manifold Benefits received of his Friend of France Wherefore he sends back a Mortal Defiance and the next Day set his Men in Order to receive their Enemies if they should come forward The first Battalia he committed to the Care of the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland as being Eldest Son of King Davids Eldest Sister Margaret Bruce with whom was the Lord Patrick Dumbar Earl of March The Second was commanded by John Randulph Earl of Murray and William Earl of Douglas And the Third he Lead himself having with him the French Auxiliaries
of this Place And be assured of this that he intends not to let You and those that are with You go away so easily but that You should all entirely submit your selves to him upon Discretion some to be Ransomed and others to be Punished as they have Deserved For the Men of Calais have so highly provoked him by their Obstinacy and frequent Injuries and Piracies against him and his and have now particularly put him to such Charges and Labour and cost him so many of his Men that he is very much incensed against You indeed Why Truly Gentlemen said the Captain this is something too hard a case for Us We are here within a small parcel of Knights and Esquires who have Loyally and Honestly served the King our Master as You serve Yours and in this our Service We have endured as You know many Hazards and Difficulties But for all that We shall yet further undergo as much misery as ever any Knights did rather than consent that the poorest bad in the Town should surf fer harder Conditions than the very best of Us all Wherefore Lords I beg of You that of Your great Generosity You will go and Intercede with the King of England for Us For We trust his Goodness is so large that by the Grace of God he will remit something of his more severe Determination Upon this Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Ralph Basset went both to the King and declared unto him all the Captains Words but the King answer'd that he would not receive them unless they yielded simply to his Mercy without any Capitulation at all Then the Lord Manny said Sir saving your Majesties Displeasure in this Point You may be in the wrong For hereby You will set an ill Example to your Enemies to use a like severity against your Subjects So that when You will send any of Us your Servants into any Castle or Fortress We shall not go with a very good Will If You put any of the Calisians to Death after they have yielded for then the French will serve Us in the same Manner as often as We fall into the same Condition These Words many of the Lords of England that were present approved and maintain'd adding further Å¿ Paradin's Ann. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 333. That the most Noble and Magnanimous Princes made not Wars with Design to exercise Cruelty and to shed the Blood of their Enemies for the sake of Revenge but to purchase Honour and Reputation by being Gracious and Mercifull whereby they obtain more Renown than by being Bloody and Cruel as We may judge by Tyrants who are rendred Odious and Detestable in History Wherefore at last the King said Well my Lords I will not be alone against You all But Sr. Walter You shall go now and tell the Captain that all the Favour they are like to expect from me is this that six of the Chief Burgesses of the Town comeforth to me bare-headed bare-footed and in their shirts with Halters about their Necks and the Keys of the Town and Castle in their hands and upon Condition that six such Men resign themselves in this Manner purely unto my Will the Rest shall all be taken to our Mercy Other Favour than this from Me have they none With this Message Sr. Walter Manny return'd to the Walls where he found the Captain 〈◊〉 waiting for an Answer who having heard the utmost Grace that the King would shew said Well Sir then I only desire You would please to tarry here a little till I declare thus much to the Commons of the Town who sent me hither And with that Sr. John went into the Market-place and order'd the Larum Bell to be rung to call the People together And when the Assembly was full Sr. John related unto them all the Kings last Resolution saying You t Paradin's Annals de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 334. Good People of Calais there is no need for me to put You in mind of the Evils Affliction Distress Necessity Famine and Diseases to which We are at this Day reduced for want of Succour However in this extremity there are two things for our Comfort the One that We have approved our Loyalty both before God and Man even to this time the Other that our Succour from the King failing Us no Man can impute unto Us that We have failed in our Faith or Duty Wherefore following the Resolution taken in Council I went to speak with the Enemy who having Sword in hand and Power without question propounds unto You a Matter most Sad and Lamentable saying this the Tears flow'd from his Eyes in abundance so that he could not presently proceed which is this he Commands That to save the Lives of the Multitude of People within this City Six of the Principal Burgesses of this Town of Calais go forth in their Shirts bare-footed and bare-headed with Halters about their Necks and in that Posture present unto him the Keys of the Town of which Six Burgesses he will dispose at his Pleasure This is the Will of the Conquerour and I would have You to know that I endeavour'd with those who were sent from King Edward to mitigate the Matter and to bring it to a more Favourable Issue But it is not possible for me to draw him from his Resolution He is so fixed and Resolved wherefore my Friends since it will be no otherwise consider of it and make a quick Dispatch Upon this all the People Men Women and Children began such a pitifull Lamentation that it would have melted an heart of Marble into Tears to behold so sad an Object The Captain himself could not refrain from weeping But in the End u Frois ibid. Mezerâ—y ad hunc anâ—um Da Châ—sne p. 66â— c. there rose up the very Richest and most substantial Alderman of the whole City named Eustace de Sanct Pierre who spake thus unto the Heads of the Corporation Gentlemen it would surely be a great Cruelty to suffer so many Christian Souls as are in this Town to perish either by Sword or Famine when there are any means left to save them I am verily perswaded that He or They who could prevent so great a Mischief would do a very acceptable Service in the sight of God. And for my part I repose so much Confidence in the Goodness of our Lord Jesus that if I die in the Quarrel to save the Residue God will receive me into his Mercy Wherefore to save this poor People I will be the First that will offer my Head to the King of England as a willing Sacrifice for my Dear Country When he had thus spoken all the Assembly was ready to adore him and many kneeled down at his Feet with heavy Sighs and condoling Lamentations Then straight arose another Honest Burgess whose name was John Dayre and said I'll keep my Friend Eustace Company in this Honourable Danger After him rose up James of Wissant who was very Wealthy in
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
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
so well that he absolutely rejected these honest and advantagious Conditions But it happen'd soon after that having bought a young mettlesome Horse for 300 Crowns he would needs try him himself and in riding so spurr'd him that the Horse ran away with him and in running fell in a great Ditch where poor Croquart brake his Neck to the infinite regret of his Men but to the full satisfaction of all the Country thereabouts which he had so wonderfully harassed ravaged and plunder'd X. As for the Affairs of Ireland I have all this while forbore to speak more particularly of them because neither is the Matter it self of any great Moment and there is not only much variety and confusion in the Relation but also what is related is done very imperfectly at least nothing that I have met with hitherto hath given me satisfaction But however I shall not omit one or two Occurrences that are coincident with this Year in that Kingdom The Kings Lieutenant of Ireland at this time was k Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 72. Sr. Robert Darcy Second Son to John Lord Darcy deceased and Brother to John Lord Darcy Junior under whom Sr. Thomas Rokeby l L. 1. c. 1. §. 6. p. 11. of whose being Knighted we spake in the beginning of this our Work was now Deputy-Lieutenant He had besides his ordinary Retinue assign'd him by the King for the defence of his Person and Authority 30 Men of Arms and 200 Archers on Horseback so long as it should be judged needfull This Gentleman was a Person of great sincerity and integrity and being once twitted for suffering himself to be served in Cups of Wood answer'd These homely Cups and Dishes pay truly for what they contain I had rather drink out of Wooden Cups and pay Gold and Silver than drink out of Gold and Silver and make Wooden Payment In the time of this Mans Governance there dwelt in the Province of Vlster a substantial English Knight called Sr. Robert Savage who the better to preserve his own from the suddain Incursions of the Wild Irish began to enclose and fortifie his Mannor-Houses with strong Castles Piles and Trenches exhorting his Son and Heir Henry Savage to pursue the same Work as a thing likely to be beneficial to himself and his Posterity Father replied the young Savage I am for that Proverb which says a Castle of Bones is better than one of Stones When Strength and Courage of valiant Men may be found to help us never will I by the Grace of God seek to lurk behind dead Walls My Fort shall be wherever young Blood is stirring and where I can find room to fight in Upon this Answer his Father in a heat surceased the Building and sware never to proceed any further therein But however the gallant young Henry Savage maintain'd his Possessions by the Valour of his Hands as he had promised And among many other of his Acts all worthy of eternal Memory I shall choose to relate this one not doubting but it s own Worth may attone for the Digression Having one time gather'd a little Band of Men to go forth against the Irish he allow'd to every Souldier to drink before they began their March a good Draught of Aqua-Vitae Wine or strong Ale and for Provision against their Return had kill'd ready beforehand great store of Beef Venison and Fowl Whereupon some of his Officers considering the uncertainty of War told him it would be better Policy to poison the Meat or at least to destroy it than to leave it there perhaps to feed and cherish a sort of Rude Barbarians their Enemies at so splendid a rate if being a few against many they should as 't was most likely miscarry in this Adventure Now God have Mercy replied this Worthy Gentleman smiling You are too full of envy against your Fellow Creatures This World is but an Inn to which we can claim no Propriety but are only as Tenants at will to the Landlord If it please him to command us to leave it as it were our Lodgings which he had lent us and to set other good Fellows in our Room what harm is it for us if we leave them some meat for their Suppers of which we our selves have no Occasion Let them win it hardly and they deserve to eat it For if they enter our Dwellings common Civility would do no less than welcome them with such Fare as the Country affords and with all my Heart much good may it do them Notwithstanding I repose such an assurance in the Grace of God and in your noble Courages that I am fully perswaded in my Mind we shall return Conquerours at Night and feast our selves with our own Provision Thus he said and thus accordingly he returned at Night having with a small Number slain no less than Three Thousand of the Irish his Enemies But however this Valiant Gentleman was of the Opinion with the Lacedaemonians and scorned to be defended by any other thing than his own Courage it is certain that for want of Walls and other places of Strength not only the family of the Savages but also most of many other English Gentlemen have been greatly diminished in Vlster and other parts of Ireland the lack of Walled Towns being one of the Principal occasions of the rude barbarity of that People XI But before we close this Year we think fit to remember a remarkable Instance of the Generous Prince of Wales his Bounty to a Valiant Servant of his Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders which will best be discover'd from an Instrument made unto him by the said Prince two Years before and now confirmed by the King his Father the Copy whereof being to be seen according to the Original French and Latine in m Ashmole Instit Garter p. 707. ex Pat. an 23. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 24. Esquire Ashmole's noble Work of the Garter we shall take leave to set it down in English The King to all to whom these presents shall come Greeting We have seen the Letters Patents of our most Dear most Well-beloved and most Trusty Son Edward Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester in these Words EDWARD Eldest Son of the Noble King of England and of France Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester to all who shall see or heat these Letters Greeting Know that whereas our Thrice-Dear and Well-beloved St. Henry Eam from the time that he hath taken at our hands the Order of Knighthood hath offer'd and promis'd of his Free-will to be intending to our Service during his Life and while we shall sufficiently furnish him with Arms to go along with Us to what part We shall please as well in Peace as in War and to bear Arms with Us at our Pleasure against all Men except the Duke of Brabant his Liege Lord in defence of his own Lands We accepting of this his Offer and Promise and being willing to retain him for our Service
his Cardinals in Council yet it is likely that they enjoy'd the said Benefit at last h Odor Rainal ad an 1350. §. 2. for it appears that soon after the same was granted to King Edward of England and to his Son Edward Prince of Wales to the Queens of England Isabell and Philippa and to Elisabeth Queen of Hungary II. The Jubilee began i Knighton p. 2602. n 29. vid Walsingh Hist p. 160. on the 25 of March being the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and lasted until the said Feast of the Year following during the most part of which space especially about Easter Ascension-Day and Whatsuntide there was such a crowding rather than concourse of People at Rome k Vid. Matur Annot. ad D. Antenin Chron. p. 355. that Francis Petrarch who was then present says how it seem'd the late horria Plague had done little or no harm there came thither every day such Incredible Multitudes of Christian People from all parts of Europe Althö few or none went out of England upon that account except the l Dudg 1 Vol. p. 550. Lady Margaret Mother to William Lord Res of Hamlake King Edward m Knighton p. 26â—â— n. 30 40 50 c. expresly forbidding it as of ill Consequence to his Realm very considerable Sums of Money being necessarily on such occasions transported out of the Kingdom When the Pope understood this he sent his Nuntio's to the King of England desiring of him First that he would not hinder the Passage of those who desired to visit the Places of the Holy Apostles Item that he would grant a Truce that so the Earl of Lancaster might not act any Hostilities in Aquitain to the himdrance of those who desired to visit Holy Places Lastly that he would not hinder or permit to be hindred those who were promoted by his Bulls at the Court of Rome from receiving Benefices so incumbent on them To the first Article it was answer'd that the King being busied in his Wars did therefore Want to be Aided of what was his own and that it was necessary to provide for the Treasure of his Kingdom lest while the War endured it should be exported out of the Realm to the Prejudice of Him and of his Subjects And further as to this point the King caused to be proclaimed that all Englishmen as well at Rome as any other place beyond Sea should make haste to return home as soon as might be on pain of forfeiture of Life and Goods As to the second Article relating to the Truce it was answer'd that the King of France had often acted Hostilities during such a Truce upon the Lands of the King of England treacherously to the destruction of his People and contrary to the Conventions contained in the said Truce And as to the Third Article respecting the Provisors it was answer'd that the King would graciously receive Clergy-men making use of Papal Provision who were of good Condition and worthy of Promotion but not others And with this Answer the Popes Nuntio's returned III. About the n Vid. Odoric Rainald ad an 1349. §. 18. Albert. Argent in Chron. Ianquet Chron. ad an 1350. Walsing hist p. 160. Stow p. 246. same time there arose a certain Sect of People who were seised with a pious Frenzy and went about in several Parts of the World whipping themselves with four-corded Whips and Preaching Singing and Praying with much seeming Devotion but it proved no better than Hypocrisie or misguided Zeal at the best as may appear to any that shall consult the Places quoted in the Margin Wherefore the Pope wrote his Letters to the Archbishops and Bishops of Germany Poland Sweedland England and France enjoyning them to extinguish this Sect of Whippers and also to the several Kings that by their Kingly Authority they would uphold the said Prelates in this matter Particularly there are extant to our King Edward Letters from the Pope wherein he writes thus concerning the Rise of these Whippers o Tem. 8. Epist seer p. 104. apud Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 22. Latclym the Parts of Almain under the pretence of Piety and doing Penance there hath arisen a Superstitious and vain Generation and so having at large declared how they had been condemned by the Apostolick Decree and that Patriarchs and Archbishops had been enjoyned to pluck up that poisonous Plant which the Heavenly Husbandman had not planted he adds these Prayers Do You therefore ô most Dear Son not only drive away the same Wicked Persons if perhaps they should presume to come into your Kingdom out of the Limits of your said Kingdom but also that they may repent of their Follies and Errours and return to Modesty correct and punish them That so the Purity of the Catholick Faith may always shine forth and the leaven of the Malice of these Men may by your provident Care be taken away from among all your Subjects Dat. Avenion III Non. Decembris Anno Pontif VIII About p 〈…〉 p. 〈…〉 2â— b. Michaelmas this Year above an hundred and twenty Noblemen and Others Natives of Zealand Holland and Hainalt in the same blind Devotion passing thrô Flanders came into England and at London sometimes in the Cathedral of St. Paul sometimes in other Religious Places of the City made their procession all together being coverd from the Loins to the Heels with Linnen marked with Red Crosses before and behind and on their Hats all the rest of their Bodies being bare they had every one a Three-corded Whip in his hand well knotted wherewith twice or thrice in a Day they beat themselves on their bare bloody Bodies most cruelly Four of them singing all the while in their own Language and all the rest making up the Chorus King Edward thô he strictly forbad all others from joining with them inflicted no other Punishment on them than what was the effect of their own Folly seeing how severely they chastised themselves and knowing such Smarting Devotion could not hold out long if no manner of notice was taken of them I remember to have read q Vid. Diâ—gen Lâ—ert that when Diogenes the Cynick stood naked out of an Ostentatious humour in a very cold Season embracing a Pillar of Marble and all the People slocking about him pitied the poor Mans Condition the Divine Plato passing accidentally by told the Spectators If they really pitied him they should take no notice of him but pass regardless on and then they should see the Vain-glorious Philosopher make haste away and gladly â—un to a Fire In like manner these Enthusiasts when they saw none took notice of them and that but a few of the Common People afforded them any pity or respect the most part of them also flouting and deriding their Madness began to cool in their warm fit of Penance and at last vanished away as ashamed of their former folly Certainly the soundest and most effectual Devotion consisteth not
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
and said in good French Sir yield your Person The King looking on him said To whom shall I yield And where is my Cousin the Prince of WALES If I might see him I would speak with him Sr. Denis answer'd Sir he is not hereabout but if it please You to yield to me I shall bring You to him Why Who are you then said the King Sir said he I am Denis of Morbeque a Knight of Artois but I now serve the King of England because I am banished the Realm of France and have forfeited all I had there Then the King gave him his Right Gauntlet saying Vnto you I yield my self But still there was so great a Crowding among those who pretended to have taken him that the King and his youngest Son Philip who now shared in his Fathers Fortune could not be suffer'd to go forward The mean while the Prince of Wales who was Couragious as a Lion took great Delight and Pleasure all that Day to Fight and break the Power of his Enemies and so did the Lord John Chandos who never stirr'd from the Prince's side all the time of the Fight He never troubled himself to take any Prisoners thô never so Rich but leaving that as too mean a Consideration for him he wholly apply'd himself to Fighting and Chacing and Destroying the Frenchmen Whereever any strong Body of the Enemy appear'd thither went the Prince and my Lord Chandos and brake their Ranks and brought them to Confusion and then leaving others to perfect the Conquest they removed to another Quarter where they did the like Thus the Noble Prince of Wales had much trouble and pains before he won the Garland but toward the end of all about the time that King John was taken the Lord Chandos said unto him Sir methinks it would be convenient for your Highness to rest here a little and to set up your Standard on High in this Bush that your Men may draw hither about your Person for they are very much scatter'd abroad And I can see no more Banners nor Penons of the French in the Field Wherefore please Sir to take some rest now and refresh your self a little For You are too much heated and chased with this Days service Hereupon Sr. Walter Woodland was order'd to set up the Prince's Standard on High in the Bush and Trumpets and Clarions began to sound a Retreat and the Captains hasted to obey the Summons The mean while the Prince pull'd off his Helmet and the Knights of his Body and those of his Chamber were ready about him and a Pavilion of Red Silk was pitch'd up for him and then Drink was brought forth for the Prince and such Lords as were about him whose Number still encreased and as they return'd from the Chace there they tarried with their Prisoners in their Company When the two Marshals were come back to the Prince he demanded of them whether they knew any tidings of the French King. They answer'd Sir We hear of nothing certain as to that Point but We verily believe he is either Dead or taken for We are sure he is not gone out of the Field Then the Prince said to the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Cobham Sirs I require You to ride forth and learn what You can as to this Matter that at Your return We may know the Certainty These two Lords took their Horses again and departed with an Hundred Spears from the Prince and rode up a little Hill to view more plainly about them over the Field From whence they might perceive a Flock of Men of Arms coming together toward them very wearily Now among these was the French King on foot in great Danger of his Life for the Englishmen and Gascoigners who had taken him perforce from Sr. Denis of Morbeque were now his Masters and among these some said I have taken him nay said others but I and I and I have taken him and thus the Chief Men and those of most Power contended about him Wherefore He to avoid the Danger that might ensue said Pray Gentlemen contend not thus about me 〈◊〉 Conduct me and my Son Civilly to my Cousin the Prince and concern not your selves who it was that took me For I am so great a Lord as to be able to Enrich you aâ—â— who make any such pretence These Words somewhat pacified them but yet as they went along they could not forbear making a noise and a brawling about the taking of the King. But when the two foresaid Lords of England saw and heard that noise and strife among them they rode up to them and said Sirs what is the Matter that You contend so one with another My Lords said one of them it is for the French King who is here taken Prisoner and there are more than Ten Knights and Esquires who challenge to themselves the Taking of Him. Then the two Marshals open'd the Preass and commanded aloud in the Prince's Name that no Man whatsoever be so hardy to make any noise or to approach the Kings Person unless they were so ordered Then every Man made way for the Marshals and they alighted and did Reverence to the King and after that conducted Him and his Son in Peace and Safety to the Prince of Wales X. Now this mean while t Frois c. 165. that the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Cobham were sent away by the Prince to enquire after the French King the Prince demanded of the Lords about him if any of them knew what was become of the Lord James Audley and it was told him that being grievously wounded He lay there in a Litter hard by By my Faith said the Prince for his Hurts I am heartily sorry but go and see if he can conveniently and without Danger be brought hither or else I will make him a Visit where he lies At this two of the Princes Knights went to the Lord Audley and said Sir the Prince desires mightily to see You and if You can't go to him he says he 'll come hither to You. Ah! sirs said the wounded Knight I heartily thank the Prince that he would vouchsafe to think on so mean a Souldier as I am And therewithall he called Eight of his servants and caused them to carry him softly in his Litter where the Prince was When the Prince saw him he took him in his Arms and kissed and caress'd him highly saying Sr. James I ought in especial manner to Honour You For by your Valour this day You have merited the High Esteem of Vs all and You are justly reputed the most Heroick and Couragious of all others Ah! Sir said the Knight You say as it pleaseth You I would it were so indeed but alas if I have this day done any thing beyond my ordinary way in the service of such a Prince and to accomplish my Vow it ought not to be ascribed to any particular Prowess in me Sr. James said the Prince both I my self and all others acknowledge
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
Pope and the Emperour And moreover they made a solemn Renuntiation to all Wars against each Other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renuntiation their Eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both Sides were sworn And then also a Proclamation issued forth from King Edward to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and to all other Captains of Towns Castles Forts c. held for the King in France for them to give Notice to all Places within their Command of this Peace and final Accord thus made between the two Kings After h Frois c. 213. all these Articles Letters and Commissions were made devised finished and deliver'd by the Advice and Consent of the Councils of England and France so that as to that Point both the Kings were well contented then they fell into a close Communication concerning the Lord Charles of Blois and the Lord John of Montford and their several Claims to the Dutchy of Bretagne for each pretended the whole and sole Right to that Heritage Some have been so bold in venting their Opinions as to say that King Edward and his Council were not over-warm in this Matter and surely in meer Policy he might well enough be supposed something cool For if now the Wars of Bretagne should be shut too there had been no Vent left for those many boistrous Troops which as yet lay in several Garrisons and upon their resigning those Fortresses must needs otherwise have filled England with Theeves and Robbers But certainly whoever impartially observes the honourable and sincere Practices of King Edward upon all Occasions and duly compares them with what relates to this Matter in the Articles and Letters foregoing will not so rashly attribute the ill Success of the Treaty of Bretagne to King Edwards Insincerity but rather to the Impracticableness of the Affair it self Since two such Valorous Young Princes had so fair a Pretence to so Noble a Dukedome that there could hardly remain any Prospect of deciding the Controversie without the Sword or the Death of one of the Parties But however it was when now upon Conference this New Treaty seem'd so hard to be brought to any good Issue Henry Duke of Lancaster who was a most valiant and expert Souldier but chiefly favour'd the Earl of Montford and wish'd his Advancement spake these words to the King of France in Presence of the King of England and the greater Part of both the Kings Councils Sir said he the Truce that was taken before Rennes between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Earl of Montford is not yet expired but is still to hold to the first Day of May next coming The King of England my Master here present by Advice of his Council and with Consent of my Lord the Prince his Son shall before that time send the Young Duke the Lord John of Montford with certain of his Council into France to your Majesty with full Power and Authority to confer and determine about the Right which the said Lord John ought to have as succeeding his Father in the Dutchy of Bretagne So then by You and your Council and by Ours together some agreeable Way may be taken between them for the better Security of which Affair I think it would be well to prolong the said Truce yet farther till the Feast of St. John Baptist next following According to this Device of the Dukes so it was done and concluded and the Truce relating to Bretagne prolonged to the Feast of St. John Baptist and then they fell to other Matters XX. And i Frois c. 213. f. 108. now that the Peace between England and France was fully confirmed King John was so elevated with the Assurance of Returning into his Country that he then first seem'd sincerely to rejoyce since his being taken Prisoner He shew'd unto King Edward such an hearty Good-Will that it appear'd plainly to have no mixture of Dissimulation and to his Nephew the Prince of Wales he declared all the endearing Signs of Royal Love and Affection that might be As also King Edward and his Son the Prince were exceeding Frank Generous and obligingly Open unto him These two Illustrious Monarchs who from this time till Death parted called themselves Brethren as a mutual remembrance of their Brotherly Amity gave now unto Four Knights of either Party such as chiefly in their stations had promoted this Peace 8000 Franks of Yearly Revenues for them and their Heirs for ever King John giving the said Summ to Four Knights of England and King Edward a like Revenue to Four Knights of France And at the same time because the Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantine in Normandy were the King of Englands Right by a Deed of Gift and Sale from the Lord Godfry Harcourt deceased which Lands were not comprised in the Ordinance of the Treaty of Peace so that whoever held those Lands must do Homage therefore to the French King King Edward k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. now in respect of the many Laudable and Heroick Services of that Valiant and Renowned Knight the Lord John Chandos gave unto him and his Heirs for ever a Grant of the Baronies of St. Saviour le Vicount aforesaid of Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and of all other the Lands and Possessions of the said Godfry of Harcourt Which Princely Gift King John at the Request of King Edward confirmed now unto the said Lord John Chandos he doing Homage therefore unto him bating that Allegiance which he owed unto his Master the King of England And now when all the foresaid Agreements were as well made and devised and as firmly established as Human Wit could contrive so that it seem'd by reason of the sundry strict and solemn Engagements Counter-bonds and mutual Obligations between the two Kings and their Sons that the Peace would prove everlasting and when the Hostages were all come to Calais and the 400000 Crowns of Gold were paid down to the King of England and the remaining 200000 secured which was the First Payment then King Edward made a most Royal and Magnificent Supper for the French King within the Castle of Calais at which the Black-Prince and his Three Brethren Lionel John and Edmund with the Greatest Lords and Barons of England served the two Kings bare-headed After Supper the two Kings bad each other Good Night in the most Obliging Manner imaginable King Edward remaining still in the Castle and King John going to his Lodgings in the Town which had been prepared for him upon his being set at Liberty The next Morning l Fabian p. 243. being the 25 of October and a Sunday King John and all those who were to go with him took his leave of Calais and rode forth of the Town in the Forenoon King Edward himself conveying him a Mile onward of his Way and then the two Kings took
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
are contained divers Passages intimating that You would gladly know why We take to our Friend and Lover your Enemy our Cousin the King Don Pedro and by what Title We make War upon You being enter'd with an Army Royal into Castille To this We now answer Know You for a truth that it is to sustain Right and Justice and to uphold Reason and Equity as it appertaineth to all Kings and Princes to do And also to cultivate and cherish the strict Alliances which the King of England our Dearest Father and King Don Pedro have of long time held together However because You are a Renowned and Right Worthy and Valiant Knight We are willing if We may to reconcile him and You together and We shall so perswade our Cousin Don Pedro that he shall yield unto You a considerable part of his Realm of Castille but as for the Crown and Inheritance Royal that You must Renounce for ever In which case Sir You may take Counsel and be advised And as for our entring into Castille We will enter and proceed as We think best at our own pleasure Dated at Groing the 30 of March in the Year of Grace MCCCLXVII X. This Letter being folded up and sealed with the Prince's Seal was deliver'd to the same Herald that brought Don Henry's Letters and had tarried for an answer now about three Weeks So the Herald was dismissed and rode on till he came to Najara where he found King Henry was encamped among the Bushes He went directly to the Kings Tent whither the greater part of the Chiefs of the Army went to hear what News the Herald had brought He for his part kneeled down and deliver'd the Prince's Letters to the King who took them and open'd them and caused them to be read before Sr. Bertram of Clequin and others of his Council Then Sr. Bertram spake to the King Sir said he be assured of this that now You shall have Battle speedily I know the Prince of Wales so well Consider therefore Sir advisedly on the Matter for 't is necessary that You take great Care of your Affairs and order your Battails in such manner as may appear best Sr. Bertram said the King be it so in the Name of God I value not the Power of the Prince For I have besides our Auxiliaries from Bretagne France and Aragon 10000 Barbed Horses which shall make two Wings to our Army and 20000 Men of Arms on lusty Genets the most Chosen that can be found in all Castille Galizia Portugal Corduba and Sevile and 10000 good Crossbows and 60000 others on foot with Pikes Halberds Launces and other Habiliments for the War And all these have sworn not to fail me thô they die for 't Wherefore Sir I trust to have the Victory by the Grace of God in whom is my Confidence and in the Right which I have in the Quarrel And so my Lords I desire You all to be of good Courage Thus King Henry and Sr. Bertram of Clequin talk'd together and no more was said about the Prince's Letters For King Henry who knew no Composition would be able to secure his Life resolv'd to be content with no less than a Kingdom and so prepared for Battle and took care that his Men should be well-order'd And all the while the Earl of Sancelloni and his Brother Sancho were mightily extolled thrô the Spanish Host for the Success they had against the English which added much to the Courage of all the Army On Fryday q Lit. Dom. C. Pasch 18. April the second day of April the Black-Prince began his March from Logronno or Groing upon the River Ebro and went forward in Battle Array to find his Enemies That day he advanced little more than two Leagues for about Three of the Clock in the Afternoon he came before Navaret where he encamped and then sent forth his Currours to aview his Enemies and to know exactly where they lay These rode so far that they saw all the behaviour of their Enemies and how they were lodged before the City of Najara whereof they brought Word to the Prince and He thereupon gave Order to be convey'd secretly thrô the whole Camp that at the First sound of the Trumpet they should all rise at the Second be armed and at the Third Mount their Horses and follow the Marshals Banners with the Ensign of St. George and that on pain of Death none presume to go before the Marshals unless they were commanded so to do XI As the Prince on the Fryday had sent out his Currours so did King Henry the same day on his part to learn where the Prince was encamped and when they had brought him the Certainty as to the Matter he called unto him Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and others and fell to advise with them what was next to be done 'T was here concluded that first the Army should be well supp'd and so order'd to take their repose to be the more fresh and lusty the next day at the hour of Midnight to be ready apparel'd and to draw into the Field to be ranged by their Captains in the Order as had been devised For none doubted but to fight the next day So that Night however hard the English fared and therefore the rather desired to come to a quick Decision yet the Spaniards who had plenty of Victuals and all other necessaries took their repast and repose as they themselves desired About Midnight the Trumpets sounded in King Henry's Host and then every man made him ready at the Second Blast they came out of their Lodgings and order'd themselves in Three Battalia's The first was led by Sr. Bertram of Clequin who r True Use of Armory in the life of the Lord John Chandos p. 79. bare for his Arms in a Field Argent the ſ i.e. Spread Eagle Sable Imperial Eagle over all a Dexter Battoon Gules With him was joyn'd the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan Marshal of France whose shield of Gules was charged with a Fez Checquee Argent and Gules between six spur Rowels Argent And in this Battail was the Lord Robert of Rochebreton the Earl of Denia in Valencia and all the Strangers as well of France and Bretagne as of Hainalt Aragon and of other Countries as the Lord of Dantoing and Sr. Alan Lord of Brusnel Sr. Guy Bailleul the Beague of Vilaine the Beague of Villiers Sr. John of Bergues the Almain of St. Venant who was then made Banneret with many Persons more of Note and Valour to the Number of 4000 Knights and Esquires all arm'd after the manner of France and 20000 Footmen The Second Battalia was led by the Earl of Sancelloni and his Brother Sancho with 5000 Genettours and 10000 Foot and these stood a little back on the Left-hand of the First Battail the Third and the greatest of all was govern'd by the King himself and he had with him 7000 Men of Arms and 60000 Foot with the Crossbows besides
Lawfull King and that there were none who rebell'd or held out against him then he spake these Words unto him Sir Blessed be God You are now again peaceably established King over this your Realm without any Rebellion or Opposition And Sir I and my Men tarry here at our great Charge and Expence Wherefore I request you to provide Money to satisfie those who have holpen me to Reinstate you in your Throne as well as to compleat your Promise to which you have sworn and set your Hand and Seal And Sir the sooner this is done the more acceptable will it be to Vs and the more also to your Advantage For you cannot be ignorant that Men of War if they are not paid will make hold to pay themselves Sir We call not your Justice in question but only put you in Mind that at this time there are many Souldiers of Fortune among us and as it will be your Discretion to satisfie them so will it be just and equitable to be punctual in your Word to all who have been assistant to you in this Enterprise To this the King answer'd Fair Cousin We are firmly resolv'd to hold keep and perform to our power what We have sworn and sealed to But truly Sir as for the present We have no sufficient Quantity of Money ready at hand However now we intend to take our Progress toward the Marches of Sevil where we will make such provision of Gold and Silver as to be able to satisfie all Men. Onely Sir We desire you to tarry here in Valladolid where You will find a Plentifull Country and surely We shall return unto You as soon as We may conveniently but at the furthest by Whitsuntide This Answer was nothing disagreeable to the Prince and his Council who consider'd the hard Circumstances of that King and so within a few Days after Don Pedro took his leave of Prince Edward and rode toward Sevil the chief City of Andaluzia with a Design to raise Money to pay off the Men of War as he had covenanted and the Prince went and quarter'd in Valladolid his Lords and Captains being spread abroad in the Country at large the better to provide Victuals and other Necessaries for Themselves and their Horses Thus they tarried in Castilla Vieja not much to the advantage of the Country For whatever strict Discipline the rest of the Army kept the Companions could not for their Hearts forbear stealing plundering and defrauding the People XVIII The News presently spread abroad thrô England France Germany and other Countries far and near how the Prince of Wales had discomfited in Battle King Henry and all his Power having routed taken slain and drowned a well-Order'd and Royal Army consisting of more than an 100000 Men whereby the Prince was greatly renowned and his Valour and Conduct highly extolled in all Places whither the same flew especially in the Empire and in England for France had no cause to boast thereof But the Germans Flemings and Englishmen said that the Prince of Wales was the very Fairest Flower of Knighthood and that such a Prince was well worthy to govern all the World since by his exalted Prowess he had atchieved Three such extraordinary Enterprises as he had done First at the Battle of Cressey in Ponthieu where by Him the whole Power of France was broken Two Kings slain and a Third put to Hight Secondly at the Battle of Poictiers ten Years after where again he overcame the whole Power of France and took the King of the said Realm Prisoner And Thirdly now in Spain near Najara where at one Blow he decided the Fate of a Kingdom XIX But in England especially were great Triumphs made particularly in the Kings-Chamber the City of London Where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen celebrated the Memory of this Victory with great Solemnity and Triumphal Arches in like manner as they were formerly accustomed to do for their Kings when they had obtain'd any notable Success against their Enemies But in the Realm of France there was a quite different Scene representing nothing but deep Displeasure and unfeigned Sorrow because so many Gallant Knights of that Country were lost in that Battle And the taking of Sr. Bertra◠of Clequin and of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and other Frenchmen Prisoners at that time prov'd a great Corrosive to the minds of those who lov'd the Honour and Interest of France for they were all Persons of undoubted Worth and therefore now their Condition was lamented because they were little better than Dead to their Friends while thus buried in Captivity Thô surely they were all kept with much Courtesie and Respect and all of them shortly after put to easie Ransoms except only Sr. Bertram of Clequin who staid longer before he could be acquitted because the Lord John Chandos who had him in Keeping would not as yet deliver him for any Ransome and also Sr. Bertram did not much urge him to let him go XX. Now after the Battle of Najara Don Henry the Bastard escaped out of the Field as We intimated before from the reach of his Enemies and having with much difficulty got his Wife and Children about him went to the City of Valencia where he found King Pedro of Aragon his Godfather Friend and Ally and recounted unto him all his Evil Adventure with the Prince of Wales Within a while after the Aragonian advised him to go to Mompellier to Lewis Duke of Anjou and there to open his Case unto him and this Advice the Bastard was well pleased with because he knew the Duke of Anjou secretly maligned the Prince and all Englishmen in General Having therefore committed his Wife and Children to the Protection of the King of Aragon he took his leave and rode beyond Narbonne the First City of France on that side from thence he rode to Besiers and so to Mompellier in Languedoc where he found the Duke of Anjou who made him heartily welcome For he now lov'd him the more in despight of the English whom he naturally hated thô as yet he had no manner of Pretence to make any War against them When this Duke had fully heard all King Henry's losses and the present state of his Affairs he comforted him to his Power and while he tarried entertain'd him very obligingly indeed Shortly after Don Henry went to Avignon to visit Pope Vrban V and to have some secret Conference with him which done he return'd back again to Mompellier to the Duke of Anjou between whom there was a long and close Treaty held And as it was then reported and afterwards appeared to be manifest at that time King Henry obtain'd of the Duke of Anjou a Fortress bordering on the Principality of Aquitain called Castle-Moron where he assembled together Companions and other Men of War Bretons and Others who had not gone into Spain with the Prince so that presently he got about 300 Men of Arms. However all this was not carried on so privately but that News thereof
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
conceived during the servitude of his Father q Inst de pa. po §. fi d. c. patrem he shall not be in the Power of his Grandfather because the Grandfather receiveth Power over the Nephew by the Father Here then he was free when he begat him of whom the question is made but afterwards he became r Vid. the Words of Joh. in his Collect. because the Book which I have seen is very false a slave And this maketh against the King of England For admitting that he might have Right in the Kingdom of France yet it is by no other way but by his Mother as the same King acknowledgeth But the Mother is disabled to succeed in the Kingdom Ergo. c. Also the Mother when living claimed nothing as in Right she could not therefore 't is impossible that King Edward should have any Right For it is hard and repugnant to reason that a Man should come to the extreams but by the Meane as it is expressed Å¿ Incip Vaam Sanctam in the Extravagant of Pope Boniface And hereof I have spoken in * C. Cum Marthâ— de Celebr Mis another place For if ye exclude him from whom I have or may have Title you t C. quamvis de sen re judicat do thereby also exclude me And if the Grandchild should succeed by the Person of his Mother she being excluded he cannot come in as in the Case propounded u Guliel Durandi in speculo Juris tit de Success ab Intest Versic Quid si Speculator hath also noted Thus far against England Here follow Arguments for King Edward's Right to the Crown of France To the Contrary for King Edward these Proofs do stand And First We may be induced to be of Opinion that the Statute beforemention'd should not be of force For that the Daughter should succeed in the Inheritance of her Parents it is a Precept of the Law of God as it is expressed Numbers XXVII V. 6 7 8. upon Petition of the Daughters of Zelophehad whereto served that of Tobit VI. V. 11. 12. It is also a Precept of the Law of Nature which x Auth. de Her. falc §. semper ibid. Glo. noâ— in ver filiis ff de Bon. Damnatorum l. cum ratio ibi similiter bena Gloss in verb. Parentes is also confirmed by the Canon Law and by the last Civil Law whereby all difference of Sex and of Kindred whether by Father or Mother is taken y D. Auth. post Liberos away Therefore seeing it is against the Law of God the Law of Nature the Law Canon and Civil to exclude a Woman from Succession to a Kingdom which is carried in Course of Succession by Right of Blood as the z In C. Grandi de sup negl prael lib. VI. Law expresseth and as Baldus after Inno a In Repertorio suo super Inno. in verb. Rex questione 2. firmly holdeth it followeth that this Statute is not of any strength in b Arg. Inst de Jur. Nat. Gent. Civili §. sed Naturalia ff de sepulchro viclato l. 3. §. Divus funct nâ—tat Bartholi in lâ—omnes populi in 3. quaest Principali suae Repetitionis ubi videte notat Cy. C. de precibus imp offerend l. rescriptum q. 3. unà cum notat Joh. Fabri in d. §. sed Naturaliq Law. But admitting that this Statute should be of strength yet shall it not hurt King Edward that his Mother althô disabled thereby should the less transmit the Right of Royalty unto him This is plain For where there is Ability in regard of the Common Law althô there be a Disability by a special Law yet this Impediment of Disability shall not be any hindrance that a Right should not be conveyed by such a disabled Person to another as appeareth by the Law where c ff de Legatis praestand l. 3. §. sed si proponas a Stranger being of Ability by the Common Law althô disabled by special Law to receive a Benefit by Title there expressed yet he transmitteth that Benefit to another Therefore seeing Isabell is of Ability by Common Law as it is manifest by the Premises althô I should confess that she is disabled by special Law of the said Statute yet this Right of the Kingdom may be carried from her unto King Edward Again by a Disabled Meane so it be not altogether of no Ability a Right may d ff Quod cujusque Vnivers nomine l. item eâ—rum §. si Decurienes be transmitted to another which the Interpreters of the Law do note in handling the Question of a Procurator not enabled having a Warrant to make a e Joh. And. in de Religiosis in fi de Procur ubi etiam Gessal in in verb. substituere Paulus in verb. Commissum Card. ext de usur c. 2. junct in c. fi de Procur Substitution But here the Meane which is Isabell is not altogether of no Ability as appeareth by that which hath been said Therefore c. And that Isabell being the Meane is not altogether disabled by the Statute whereof we spake it is plain For the Right of a Kingdom is carried by way of Inheritance in respect of the Royal Blood as it appeareth by that which hath been alledged and said in the First Reason of this part But the Right of Blood cannot by any Covenant of Man by any Civil Law be altogether broken or determin'd against Therefore the Right of Royal Blood which is in Isabell remaineth still enabled at least in Habit and Power to this Kind f Ar. l. Jus Agnationis ff de pactis l. Jura sengainis ff de Reg. Jur. l. Abdicatic C. de patrià petestate of Succession It seemeth also that this Royal Blood in Isabell is considerable two ways One as Royal Blood another as Royal Blood qualified Therefore althô such Blood may be said to be disabled from Succession to the Kingdom in regard it is in a Woman yet can it not be so said in regard that it is simply g Arg. l. Celsus ff de Arbitris Royal In which regard it shall be esteem'd of Ability to transmit and carry a Right to another But althô I should confess which yet I do not that by such Statute the Mother is altogether disabled from Succession yet it seemeth We may hold that King Edward is to be admitted to the same Right And that by a notable Law h ff ad Tertull. l. 2. §. fi where it is said that althô the Mother be incapable of the Succession there mentioned yet others who are descended of her must be admitted as if the Mother were not For that must not hurt or prejudice which cannot help or benefit a Man Ergò c. Yea althô We should grant that the Mother is so disabled that she can transmit no Right unto King Edward yet may he make claim from his
Prince of Wales had threatned to make shorter by the Head. This Bishop had the fortune to have many Great Friends among the English themselves particularly the Duke of Lancaster who cunningly pretending to be his Enemy easily obtain'd of the Prince his Brother to have him deliver'd into his Hands to do with him as he should think fit the Prince believing that he would put him to condign Punishment The Duke of Lancaster that he might not displease his Brother by wholly acquitting the Bishop upon his own Account wrote secretly to the Pope m Urbanus V. rediit Avinion hâ—c anno xxiv Septemb. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1370. §. 20. c. who was just then return'd from Italy to Avignon enforming him of the Bishops taking and Danger and that a Letter from his Holiness directed to himself on the said Bishops Behalf might be very beneficial unto him Hereupon the Pope as it were of his own Head with sweet Words wrote unto the Duke of Lancaster desiring him for Reverence of the Apostolick See to pardon the said Bishop and to send him unto him to Avignon The Duke of Lancaster shew'd this Letter to the Prince his Brother who could not deny but that he ought to grant the Pope's Request confessing that now he had the sole Dispose of him but wish'd he had not defer'd his Punishment so long However the Bishop was sent away to Avignon having very hardly by the Duke of Lancasters Favour evaded the Fury of the Prince After this n Frois c. 284. Destruction of Limoges the Prince and his Brethren return'd with their Spoil and Prisoners to Cognac where the Lady Princess was At which time the Prince gave leave to the greater part of his Forces to go to their several Quarters resolving to do no more at that season for it was now late in the Year and his Sickness encreased more and more upon him whereat his Brethren and Friends were much discouraged And indeed this prov'd the last Warlike Exploit which that Gallant Prince ever performed XXI About the time that Limoges was thus taken by the Prince he was pleas'd to express his love to his Brother the Duke of Lancaster by o Sandford Geneal Hist l. 3. c. 4. p. 185. ex Instrumento in Camerâ Ducatûs Lancastriae granting unto him the Castle Town and Chastellanie of la Roche Sur Yon in the Instrument whereof bearing Date the Eight of October this Year he styles himself Edward Eldest Son of the King of France and of England Prince of Aquitain and of Wales Duke of Cornwall Earl of Chester Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Ordiales Appendant to which in Green-silk-strings p Vid. illius fermam Sandford p. 125. is his Seal also of Green Wax on which he is represented in his Robes sitting on a Throne with a Circle on his Head and a Scepter in his Right Hand as Duke of Aquitain between two Ostrich Feathers and Scroles whereon were the Words ICH DIEN over which are the Letters E. P. viz. Edvardus Princeps in Capitals On the Reverse he is figur'd on Horseback his Surcoat Shield and the Caparisons of his Horse charged with the Arms of France and England quarterly a Labell of three Points And for his Crest a Lion Passant-Guardant Crowned and gorged with a Labell also of three Points The Seal and Reverse being thus circumscribed in * Sâ—xâ—n Capitals in the Original after the manner of that Age. Capitals S. EDVARDI PRIMOGENITI REGIS ANGL PRINCIPIS AQUITANIAE ET WALLIAE DUCIS CORNUBIAE ET COMITIS CESTRIAE XXII Now when the French King heard of the Ruine of Limoges and how it was level'd with the ground and left utterly desolate he was infinitely displeas'd and had great Compassion of those poor Souls who suffer'd so much for his sake But since there was no Remedy now his next Care was how to strengthen himself against a like Mischief for the Future A little before this Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France who had been in his Days a most Valiant and Accomplisht Knight but was q Mezeray p. 85. now quite worn out with Age and the Fatigues of War resign'd up his Office into the King's Hands and obtain'd his Quictus est Whereupon the French King being assured how it was necessary that France should in such a juncture have some Extraordinary Person for her Constable resolved at last by consent of his Council that Sr. Bertram of Clequin if he might be won to accept it was the most Expert in Arms the most Valiant and Vertuous and every way the Fittest to Execute that High Office being also the most Fortunate and Successfull of any One they knew who bore Arms for the Crown of France Hereupon as we said before the King caused Letters to be writ unto him in his Name requiring him to come immediately to confer with him at Paris Now after the two Dukes of Anjou and Berry had finish'd their Expedition Sr. Bertram of Clequin r Frois c. 282. entred into the Vicounty of Limosin a Country which was yielded to and held of the Lord John of Monford Duke of Bretagne thô the English had also many Garrisons and Towns in those parts There Sr. Bertram began to make heavy War in the Name of the Lady the Relict of Charles of Blois His Success was considerable for his Invasion was sudden the Duke of Bretagne never imagining that at this time Sr. Bertram could find any the least pretence to quarrel with him But whether his Conscience perswaded him that the Widdow had the better Title or that he might Revenge that Indifference which the Duke had lately shewn to the Crown of France when he gave leave to the Earl of Cambridge to pass thrô his Country or being himself a Breton because he thought it his Duty to take the part of his Lawfull Prince which he took to be the Widdow of Charles of Blois and her Children upon some or all of these accounts Sr. Bertram began this unexpected War and first went before the Town of St. Hyrier which not being commanded by any Gentleman of Name yielded up for fear to Sr. Bertram who took it in the Name of the Lady of Bretagne And here at St. Hyrier Sr. Bertram and his Bretons made a strong Garrison whereby they wan divers other Towns in Limosin When the Å¿ Frois c. 284. French King's Messengers came to him they found him in these Parts having lately taken a Town called Brantosme and just then riding to besiege another He received the Messengers with great Respect and Honour for he was very well-bred and a Discreet Person but when he saw the King's Letters and had read his Express Command he resolved to make no excuse but immediately to wait upon him to know his Pleasure Wherefore having dispos'd of most of his Men into Garrisons and left all to the Care and Conduct of his Nephew Sr. Oliver Manny he rode
and Defensive thereby to support himself the better against the Power of England The first Opportunity accordingly he dispatch'd away his Ambassadors to the Court of France who were graciously received at Paris by the French King and there between him and these Deputies who had Procurations from King Henry ready sealed whereby they were fully Authorised to treat and to proceed effectually in all Causes in the Name of their Master in any Parliament or Council whatsoever there were accorded ordained and confirmed certain mutual Alliances and Confederations Engrossed and solemnly sworn to on both Parties them firmly to hold and maintain nor by any means to infringe or do any thing contrary thereto But that the two Kings should for ever abide firmly in mutual Unity of Peace Love and Alliance and then and there the French King sware upon the Word of a King to aid and assist the King of Castille and his Heirs in all his Business and never to make any manner of Peace or Agreement with the King of England unless he should be comprised in the same And to this League Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Constable gave much furtherance for he as Dearly loved King Henry as King Charles loved and believed him So the Spanish Ambassadors return'd back to their Master whom they found at his City of Leon in Spain and he received extraordinary satisfaction from this his Alliance with France and entertain'd less doubt of the English than before However like a Wise Prince he neglected no means of Establishing his own Affairs but began to strengthen himself by Sea and Land as One that knew foreign Amities of small force as well as of slow approach where due Care is not taken at home Nor indeed was all this his Caution wholly needless or vain For soon after John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster in Right of this his Lady Eldest Daughter to Don Pedro the last Lawfull King of Spain took upon him the style of King of Castille and Leon and l Archbishop Abbet's Description of the World p. 7. Vid. Mr Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 238. p. 253. empaled the Arms of Castille and Leon with his Ducal Coat Nor only so but some Years after began a fierce War against the Bastard Usurper of his Crown which at last could no other ways be ended but by a Match between the Sole Daughter and Heiress of John of Gaunt by this Spanish Princess and Henry Grandson and Heir of the said Henry the Bastard in whose Line and Posterity thus legitimated that Kingdom hath ever since remained XIV Before this Solemn League was thus Established between France and Spain the Pope being alarum'd with the Wonderfull Success of the Turks against Christendom used all his Endeavours to close the Breach between England and France and especially to heal the exulcerated Mind of our King Edward To which end he wrote to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge that they would joyn to move the King their Father to dispose himself towards a Peace with France he also wrote to the King himself the Form of his Letters m Extant apud Oder Rainald ad hunâ— ann §. 3. ex Tem. 1. Fp. secr p 112. being very near the same with those which Pope Innocent VI wrote n Vid. Hujus Hist Lib. 3 c. 1. § 14. p. 517. formerly to the Black-Prince upon his Victory at Poictiers wherefore we purposely omit them in this Place But I shall here set down another Letter which this Pope sent a little before he wrote to the King to that Renowned Warrier John Greilly Captal of Busche whom he knew to be very Gracious with King Edward and of a truly Heroick Mind thô most able for War yet exorable and apt to embrace an Honest Peace o Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 8. GREGORY the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Beloved Son in Christ John Captal de Busche Greeting and Apostolick Benediction The Eastern Parts being exposed to heavy Dangers and in a manner obnoxious to utter Ruine do cry unto the Vicar of Christ unto Christian Princes and other Nobles The Holy Land also being violently possessed by the most impure Saracens of a long while basely detained and polluted by their filthy Touch doth cry unto them doth open her Wounds unto them with ardent Desire expecting an healing Assistance from them Certainly when late we understood those things p p In hâ—c leco voculam quae deleo concerning the miserable Condition of the said Parts and heard also those things which our Beloved Sons the Ambassadours of the whole City of Genoa sent unto Us particularly for this purpose did declare unto Us concerning this miserable State of the said Parts We were inwardly wounded with the Compunction of bitter Sorrow For it was their Assertion that the Turks and other Enemies of the Cross of Christ being gather'd together in a great Multitude do with heavy tempests of Wars afflict waste and consume the said Eastern Parts earnestly affecting to abolish the Christian Name and Worship in those Parts nay even utterly to exterminate from thence the poor Remainders of Christianity And that unless there be made in the next March Expedition a powerfull Resistance to the fury and malice of the said Insidels there will hardly be found in those Parts to invoke the Name of Christ And 't is probably feared nay 't is by many held for certain that the foresaid Turks and other Miscreants are preparing to invade Sicily and by Consequence other Countries of the Christians Wherefore the foresaid Genoans from an inward compassion of their Hearts condoling with the sad Tribulations of the foresaid Parts and together with the Aid of other Faithfull Christians willing to comfort them with the Remedy of a speedy Assistance neither sparing their own Goods nor Persons are now Rigging forth a mighty Fleet of Gallies to pass the Seas this next March-Expedition But they do not think themselves any ways able to resist in the Premises unless they are assisted by other Christians Oh! How unpleasant is the Memory of these things to Us O how bitter the Recollection considering these and other so great Dangers of the Faithfull For while we revolve these sad things in our Mind while with sollicitous thoughts We meditate thereon our Zeal is kindled like a Fire Tears being conceived spring forth as witnesses of our Grief nor can we forbear sighing chiefly for this that as to the Readiness of hasting with so great Succours the Measure of Possibility can no ways equal as We would the vastness of our Wishes many Confusions in the Parts on this side the Sea hindring and especially the heavy Discord which long since the Grand Disturber of Peace and Enemy to Charity hath stirred up between our most Dear Sons Edward and Charles the Illustrious Kings of England and France For the allaying whereof We have destin'd to send unto the said Kings two of our
see the English once begin to decline a little they would presently put themselves into his Hands Wherefore he forthwith determin'd to send his Constable into Poictou to the Parts of Sainctogne and Rochellois especially there to make hot War both by Land and by Sea for he said the English had never a Considerable Captain in those Countries And that he might be well furnished with a Navy he sent his Letters to Owen of Wales who lay at that time before Cornet-Castle in the Isle of Garnsey of all which the King was informed and how in all likelihood the Fortress was impregnable commanding him on sight of his Letters to break up his Siege and leave Garnsey and forthwith to go on Board a swift Sailer which the King had sent him for the same purpose and to make for Spain and in his Name to require of King Henry his Confederate that he would lend him once more his Admiral and Men of War with a Fleet of Barks and Gallies to go and block up Rochell by Sea while others held Siege thereto by Land. This Command of the French King's Owen resolved forthwith to obey and so having sent his Men away by Sea to Harfleur himself went on board that good Ship which the King had sent him and set Sail for Spain Whereby the Isle of Garnsey and Cornet-Castle were preserved VIII King Edward was extreamly d Frois c. 301. c. displeased when he heard how the Fleet which he had sent into Poictou with the Earl of Pembroke was overthrown in a Sea-fight by the Spaniards and so many Brave Men and all his Money lost So that all those Parts were left in a manner defenceless And indeed both the King and his Council and all the Wise Men of the Realm concluded that now all Poicto◠and Saintogne were in great likelihood to be lost by reason of that Mischance Wherefore about this weighty Affair much Consultation was held and for the present the King order'd the Earl of Salisbury to go into those Parts with 500 Men of Arms besides Archers But whatever was now determin'd there was no such Matter done For the Affairs of Bretagne coming on presently after put this Business by which thing King Edward repented when it was too late IX The mean while the Spaniards who had taken the Earl of Pembroke were detain'd on the Sea several Days by contrary Winds but however at last they arrived without much loss at the Port of St. Andero in Biscay Where they landed and entred the Town about Noon bringing all their Prisoners into the Castle bound with Chains after the Spanish manner of Treating their Captives Which was far from that Courteous and more Human way of Entercourse held between the French English and Scots of those Days That same Day in the Afternoon arrived in the same Port Owen of Wales who came as we shew'd from the French King to request a Naval Assistance from King Henry of Spain Being landed he went to the Castle where Don Hernando du Leon and Don Cabesso di Vaccadent had placed the Earl of Pembroke and the other Prisoners So that as soon as he was conducted into his Chamber he was informed that in the same House there were several English Captives Owen had a great mind to see these Men and to know who they were and so immediatly went forth into the Hall and as he was going thither encountred the Earl of Pembroke whom he knew very well althô he had seen him but once in his Life before Then he said to him by way of Taunt O Sir Earl of Pembroke are you then at last come into this Country to do Homage unto me for such Lands as you hold in the Principality of Wales whereof I am the True Heir Althô your King hath taken it from me by bad Counsel and rash Advice The Earl of Pembroke was asham'd to see himself a Prisoner and thus affronted in a strange Land by a Man of whom he had no knowledge thô he spake to him in his own Language So he only asked him briefly Pray Sir who are you that give me these Words Why Sir said he I am Owen Son to Edmund Prince of Wales whom your King of England put to Death wrongfully and without title of Reason and hath disinherited me his Son and Heir But I hope shortly to find a Remedy for these Evils by help of my Gracious Lord the King of France And I give you now to understand that if ever I may find you in any place convenient to fight you I shall not fail to do it But then and there I will prove upon your body the Wrong you have done unto me As also I shall prove upon the bodies of the Earl of e He now lately deceased But this Owen might not know Hereford and the Lord Edward Spencer if I may but once light on them For by reason of your Fathers and other bad Counsellors my Lord my Father was betray'd whereat I ought to be displeased and seek amends as soon as I can At this there stept forth a Knight of the Earl of Pembroke's named Sr. Thomas of St. Albans and making haste to speak said Sir Owen if you will say and maintain that my Lord the Earl of Pembroke hath ever done any thing false or unknightly or that he oweth or should owe any Homage to you or to any of your Ancestors cast down your Gage in that Quarrel and you shall soon find him that will take it up To this Owen reply'd scornfully Sir you are a Prisoner I can have no Honour in Challenging you For you are not at your own Dispose but at the Command of those who have taken you However when you shall be at Liberty we shall talk further about this Matter For the Quarrel shall not end thus At which words certain Knights of Spain came between and so parted them asunder Soon after the Spanish Admirals led forth their English Prisoners toward the City of Burgos to present them unto King Henry who then held his Court there He for his part hearing of their Coming sent forth his Eldest Son Prince John who was then stiled the Infant of Castille with an honourable Retinue of Knights and Gentlemen to meet the Englishmen and to do them Honour For this King knew very well what belong'd to Generosity and therefore he himself when they were brought before him shew'd them much Respect and Honour both in Word and Deed as unto Men of High Birth and Merit Thô however within a while after he sent them into several parts of his Realm to be put in safe Custody as having been his Enemies X. Now let us see what became of the Business of Poictou after this loss of the Earl of Pembroke and those who came with him for the Defence of those Parts It may be remembred how that presently after the Spanish Fleet was gone from before Rochell there came thither the Captal of Busche with six hundred
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
Inspection of his Body and other sufficient ways where it is not return'd by Office. The Chancellor upon sight of the Bodies of such Heirs and of Offices returns shall do what shall seem best to be done That the Lord Latimer being in the last Parliament by untrue Suggestions deprived of his Offices and of the Privy Council may by Authority of Parliament be restored thereto again The King granteth thereunto at the Instance of certain Bishops Lords and Commons John Hawkwood Knight requireth of the King such Charter of Pardon as was granted to Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. John z Fifteen years before this Sr. John Clifford slew John Copland who had taken King David of Scotland Prisoner at the Battle of Durham But for his other Merits now at last he obtain'd a Pardon Dug Bar. 1 Vol. p. 341. vid. hujus Hist l. 3. c. 8. §. 5. p. 626. Clifford Knight requireth the same The King meaneth and will shew favour to whom him liketh That the Statutes of Provisors made at any time may be executed and that Remedy may be had against such Cardinals as have within the Provinces of Canterbury and York purchased any Reservations to the value of Twenty or Thirty Thousand Scutes of Gold as also against the Pope's Collector who was wont to be an Englishman and now is a meer Frenchman residing in London who conveyeth Yearly to the Pope twenty Thousand Marks or twenty Thousand Pounds and who this Year gathereth the First-Fruits of all Benefices whatsoever The Means to obviate these Reservations and Novelties are to command all Strangers to depart the Realm during the Wars That no Englishman do become their Farmer or do send to them any Money without special Licence on pain of forfeiting the King's Protection The Statutes and Ordinances therefore made shall be observed Petitions of the Clergy with their Answers That upon Prohibition for Sylva Caedua Consultations may be readily granted The Law heretofore reasonably used shall continue That touching Pensions claimed by one Church or Benefice out of another there may no Prohibition be granted and that the Definition thereof may be only in the Ordinaries The King will make search in his Common-Pleas-Treasury or elsewhere and will thereafter deal therein That of every Consultation conditional the Ordinary may of himself take upon him the true Understanding thereof and proceed therein accordingly The King cannot depart with his Right but will yield to his Subjects according to Law. Touching the Bishop of Winchester and Matters by him attempted to be reformed Order was that his Temporalities should be seised into the King's Hands This done the Knights and Burgesses were willed to sue forth their Writs for their Fees And so the Parliament ended On the last Day of this Parliament Sr. Thomas Hungerford Knight Speaker of the Parliament declared how that during the Parliament he had moved the King in general to pardon all such as were in the last Parliament unjustly convicted And how the King willed him to make a Special Bill therefore which was done to Seven whose Names follow First the Commons moved for a Pardon for Richard Lyon Merchant of London and for his full Restitution then they made the like Motion for Revocation of the Judgment given against Alice Perrers and for her Restitution as also for the like Favour to be extended to John Lister Adam Bury and Walter Sporior John Peach of London made the like Request for himself and William Ellis of Great Yarmouth made the same Request for himself But nothing was at that time answer'd to this Bill because the Parliament ended that very Day However before they brake up the Commons shewed that whereas Hugh Stafford of Great Yarmouth had been accused of divers Extoritions in the last Parliament whereupon Commission was granted to the Earl of Suffolk and Sr. John Cavendish Knight to make Inquiry and determine of the same and they had since so done and by Eighteen Inquests had found him Guiltless as the same Sr. John in open Parliament witnessed he might therefore be in statu quo priùs but neither in this Matter was any thing done at that time because the Parliament ended the same Day V. But now We are called to another Matter which that we may make more manifest we must fetch a little Compass about so to afford a fuller prospect of the Person who gave the first Occasion to the thing in Hand We have already spoken of one John Wickliff an Oxford Divine who flourished toward the Declining of our King Edward's Reign About this time he began to be Famous in England for certain Opinions which he publickly maintained for True and Orthodox and together with a Hister Mâ—nast D. Albani his Eloquence in Preaching and Teaching gain'd b Vid. Aâ—ton Wâ—d's Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 186. Fex c. Many and Considerable Proselytes unto them althô by Others they were condemned as Heretical and Erroneous It is yet confessed on all Hands even by his c As Fryar Wedesord Walden Knighton Walsing c. most inveterate Enemies that he was in Learning equal if not superior to the very Best of his Age. One particularly d Knighton p. 2644. n. 30. confesses of him That he was Doctor in Divinity the most Eminent in those Days in Philosophy accounted Second unto none and in School-Learning Incomparable And no doubt if Sbinko Archbishop of Prague had not burnt 200 Volums of his Works we should have seen no small Arguments thereof However from those many various M. SS of his still remaining in Bennet College in Cambridge and the Bodleian Library at Oxford it appears that he held no such Monstrous Opinions as some have laid to his Charge as may be distinctly seen in those small Treatises set forth An o Dom. 1608. by the e Mr Thomas James who published 2 of John Wickliffes Treatises edit Oxford Printed by J. s Barnes Printer to the University 1608. together with an Apology for the said John Wickliff shewing his Conformity to the Church of England Collected out of divers M.SS. still remaing in the Bodleian Library Library Keeper of Oxford He received his First Education in Merton-College of which he was made Fellow and where he is supposed to have Translated the Old and New Testament into English from the Original Hebrew and Greek with no bad Design as we may presume thô Honest Knighton complains thereof grievously saying That so the Pretious Pearls of the Gospel are cast before Swine About the Year 1361. He was Master of Bailiol College and Four Years after by Archbishop Islip made Warden of Canterbury-College then newly by him Founded which is now a Part of Christ-Church as appears by the said Archbishops own Letters which follow Word for Word from the Original Latine f Fâ—tâ—d apud Anton. Wood's Antiq. Oxond 1. p. 184 ex Reâ—ish Islip dicto fol. 306. SIMON by Divine Providence Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan of all England to the Beloved Master John
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
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
in England and so without Fear it is answer'd that even so it was not without Fear when there was a fear of losing the whole Dukedom aforesaid by reason of an Army then ready to invade the King himself in the Dukedom and in England by the way of Scotland and that the said Letters were sealed while the said King was notoriously under Age as aforesaid not of the perfect Knowledge of the said King nor upon due Notice of his Right or Prejudice as neither by reason of the frailty of his Age could then be had Besides he the said King ought to be restored in full in this Case within the Times thereto limited if he had had a Competent Judge and because he had not a Competent Judge he used in due time other Remedies whereby there was taken better Provision as to his Right And the King of England would have our Lord the Pope to be more surely informed that the said King never did any thing on purpose to the Lord Philip bearing himself as King of France for which he ought to cease or desist from the Prosecution of his said Right or for which he thought or doth think his Conscience wronged in this part and that it was so He calls God to Witness As to the Objection wherein 't is said that the said Lord the King of England is not of the Blood of France but by means of a Woman who is not capable of the Right of the Hereditary Realm of France it is answerd that althô by the Custom of the Realm of France a Woman of the Royal Blood be excluded from the Hereditary Rights of the Realm of France yet hereby it doth not follow that her Son being a Male and able to Reign ought to be excluded from the Succession of his Forefathers devolved unto Lawfull Heirs because the King of England claims the Succession of his Uncle the Lord King Charles deceased according to the Prerogative of his Degree as next of Kin to the deceased King who ought not to be excluded from the Inheritance of his Uncle or his Grandfather by any Kindred more remote in Degree even althô the Mother of the said King by reason of her Sex should be excluded or put by And if it be said that some Nephews and Kindred of the Lords Lewis and Philip Brethren of the said Lord King Charles successively have been excluded from the Royal Succession upon that Account that they were only allied to the said Kings by the means of Females as also the King of England was allied to the said Lord King Charles by means of a Female only namely of his Mother it is answer'd that not upon that account were the said Nephews excluded but upon this that none of the said Nephews was in Being at the Time of the Death of the said King about whose Inheritance the Controversie was and this will evidently appear by matter of Fact underwritten For it is to be known that the Lord Philip the Fair King of France deceased leaving behind him three Brothers namely Lewis the Eldest Philip the Long the Second Born and Charles the Third and Youngest and one Daughter namely Isabell Queen of England Lewis the Elder Son succeeded his Father Philip the Fair immediately in the Kingdom of France and got one Daughter after which King Lewis died leaving the said Daughter which had no Issue during the Life of the said King Lewis and his Wife impregnate who after the Death of the said King brought forth a Male Child named John who after Nine Days wherein he was accounted King of France deceased And Philip the Long the Middle Brother of the said Three succeeded him immediately in the said Kingdom This King Philip begat three Daughters but no Male the Elder Daughter whereof was coupled in Matrimony to the Duke of Burgundy the Second to the Dauphin of Vienna the Third and Youngest to the Earl of Flanders Of the First Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy was born a Male Child called as is said Robert during the Life of King Philip but that Robert died before King Philip his Grandfather and so was not in Being at the time of the Death of the said Lord Philip his Grandfather Of the Second Daughter married to the Dauphin there was no Issue at all during the Life of the said King Philip as neither of the Other who was married to the Earl of Flanders After the Death of the said King Philip his Third and Younger Brother namely the Lord Charles immediately succeeded who in the end leaving two Daughters unmarried deceased without Issue Male. From all which it is evident that the said Lord Charles was True and Lawfull King of France and by Consequence that the Lord the King of England who was Son of the Lady Isabella Queen of England Sister to the said Charles as aforesaid ought as his Nearest Kinsman to succeed him in the Kingdom These Instructions were given to Nicolas de Flisco and his Son Andrew who were to be follow'd by others with Letters from the King to his Holiness sealed with the Arms of England and France which New Seal was not yet made But while the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco remained at the Court of Avignon under the Pope's Protection certain wicked Persons thinking to curry Favour with the King of France about Midnight on Good Fryday Eve enter'd his House by Violence broke open his Chamber and hardly giving him time to put on one thin Garment hurried Him and his Son and one young Gentleman away and carried them down the Rhosne to a certain Tower where they kept them close till Saturday and then convey'd them into the Parts of France At which Injury his Holiness was so moved that he began to thunder out the most heavy Edicts against the Authors and Accomplices of that Crime and put France under Interdict as appears by an Expostulatory Letter of King Philips to the Pope Wherein calling God to Witness that this Violence was neither done by his Command nor Will or Knowledge and that when he heard the English Men thus taken were within his Kingdom he had given Order to make diligent Search for them and to return them to Avignon again he complains that those Processes were too sudden and too rigorous since he was wholly innocent of the matter and so to the blackning of his Honour and that for the future he would not be so hasty in acting against him without giving him Notice c. Dated at Moncell near Pont St. Maixence 21 of Maii. To which the Pope return'd That he could never think the Knowledge of that Fact did belong to him however it was so horrid that the Severity which he had used was necessary But that his Paternal Affection toward him was no way diminished thereby nay he would rather conspire with him in a mutual Agreement of Good-will and kind Offices Dated at Avignon iii Kal. Jun. Anno Pontif. vi Soon after at King Philips Command Nicolas