at his Funeral Where his Son afterwards erected to his Memory a Fair Tomb on the Northside of the High Altar in the Collegiate Church of our Lady called the New-Warke But there is no Coronet on his Head. II. About this time there happen'd a memorable Revolution in Flanders which may teach us how uncertain Popular Favour is and how suddain the Fall of those Great Ones proves who are not fixed on a sure Foundation We have frequently had occasion to speak of Jacob van Arteveld of Gaunt who had long govern'd all Flanders with a more absolute Sway than ever the Earls themselves had done This Man whether thrô hopes of raising his Family to future Time or whether out of Inclination or of meer Policy to secure his own Greatness by the Aid of England was all along a fast Friend to King Edward and had again as much respect and favour from that Prince as his Heart could desire He now d Frois c. 115. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 854. in Confidence of his boundless Authority among the Commons of the Country grew so presumptuous as some while before this to entertain a Resolution of Disinheriting his Natural Lord Lewis Earl of Flanders and to put the Government thereof into the Hands of King Edward of England On Condition that He the said King should endow his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales therewith and make a Dukedom of the Earldom of Flanders These things being thus privately agreed on beforehand about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward having e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. left his Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp his Lieutenant at Home during his Absence took Shipping at Sandwich and came before Scluse with a great Navy the Young Prince Edward his eldest Son being with him and Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Seagrave John Lord Leiburn and many Others attending Him. The King lay at Anchor in the Haven of Scluse and there kept House on Board whither his Friends the Chief Men of Flanders came to visit him One Day the Flemish Burgesses being invited into the Kings Ship called the Catherine after a f Mezeray p. 23 ad hunc ann most Magnificent Collation bestowed on them by the King Jacob van Arteveld rose up and made a most plausible Oration extolling the King of England's great Power either to protect his Friends or to punish his Enemies he set forth also the notable Good-will which he had all along bore to his Allies and Subjects of Lower Germany That the Young Prince of Wales his Son did no way come short of his Fathers Steps but rather promised if God gave life to reach the very Height of all his Vertues That their own Lord Lewis unmindfull of the Welfare of his People had confederated with King Philip their Mortal Enemy and had himself made War against them and done unto them many great Inconveniences and Dammages Wherefore if they judged it fit to requite their Haters with Neglect and to pay unto their Lovers and Protectors Friendship and Service He must needs advise them either to make the Earl of Flanders pay his Homage unto King Edward to whom as to the Rightfull King of France it was only due or if thrô his Stubborn Obstinacy they could not prevail with him herein then wholly to cast off the hatefull Yoke of a Tyrannous and an Unkind Lord and submit to the pleasant and honourable Government of King Edward and his Son who would advance the Earldom of Flanders into a Dukedom and make them flourish above all other People in Trade and Prosperity III. When the Burgesses had all heard what secret Poison lurked in the Breast of this subtle Orator in their Hearts they utterly abominated his Perfidious Treason and firmly resolved never to be Guilty of so black and base a Deed as to disinherit and depose their own Natural Lord and his Young Son Lewis from their proper Right and Title But however to get off handsomly and make fair weather for the present after a little private Conference they gave this Answer to the King. Sir said they there is proposed unto us a Matter of no small Importance which may some Ages after very nearly concern the whole Country of Flanders and our Heirs for ever as well as our Selves And thô surely we know no Person in the World at this time whose Promotion and encrease of Wealth and Honour We so heartily desire as We do your Majesties Yet this Business we dare not of our selves determine unless the Commonalty of Flanders yield their Consent thereto Wherefore Sir for the present we crave leave to return every Man to his own City and there we shall confer with the Generality of every Town and Corporation and as the Major Part shall agree we shall act most willingly Within a Month at farthest we will all return hither again and bring your Majesty we doubt not such an Answer as shall be agreeable IV. The King and Jacob van Arteveld urged them much to make a more speedy Return but they could obtain no other Reply at that time wherefore they were all dismist to their own several Homes But Jacob tarried still with the King bearing him all along in hand that he would not fail to bring this Purpose to good Effect But King Edward who was not apt to be blinded with Prosperity and had a more piercing Judgment in publick Affairs doubted much not only lest this Business should miscarry but his Friend also incurr some Danger thereby Wherefore at parting he gave him great Caution in the Management of that Affair and allow'd him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 926. also for a Guard 500 Welchmen under the Command of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. William Sturry Sr. John Maltravers was indeed a Baron of the Realm and the same Person we mention'd to have been concerned together with Sr. Thomas Gournay in the barbirous Murther of King Edward the Second wherefore also as we shew'd he fled upon that Act and was three Years after condemned in Parliament to be put to Death wherever he should be found with the price of 500 Marks for his Head or a 1000 for any one that should bring him in alive For fifteen Years after he had lived in great Penitence and very privately in and about Flanders and either finding some hopes from the Kings Mercy or being not so guilty as he was represented or in Confidence of having merited something by his late Services for he had lost h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 101. 102. all his Goods and suffer'd much hardship upon the Kings Account in Flanders he came now voluntarily to the King and rendred himself into his Hands Whereupon especially since he had never undergone a legal Trial he was respited now and by the King set over these Welchmen and six years after fully pardoned But to return This Guard some i Holinshead ibid. p. 926. say that
that the p Frois c. 122. Burgesses being terrified thereby to save the Lives of themselves their Wives and Children against the Mind of all the Souldiers yielded up the Town to the English and offer'd for security of their Lives all their Goods to their Discretion When the Souldiers saw the business of the Inhabitants and that against their Wills it was impossible for them to make good the Place they retired to the Castle but within two Days after were obliged to yield thô on better Conditions than the Townsmen for these obtained security for Life and Goods So the Town and Castle of Carentan were taken and all the Inhabitants sent to the Ships as Prisoners but when King q Dase res in Philip de Valois p. 7. Rosse's Continuation of Sr. Walter Raleigh p. 291. Edward understood that the Heads of some of his Friends whom the French King had murther'd were upon the Gates of that Town he commanded them to be taken down and buried Reverently And order'd both the Town and Castle as a Sacrifice to their Ghosts to be burnt and rased to the ground These things were done by the Earl of Warwicks Battalia which went along by the Sea-Coast while on the other r Frois ibid. side the Lord Godfry of Harcourt rode forth on the Kings Left Hand for he knew all the Avenues and Passages of Normandy better than any other He had in his Battalia 500 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen and sometimes ranged six or seven Leagues from the Kings Battail as far as the Sea-Coast Westward where Normandy looks on the Isles of Jersey and Garnesey burning and spoiling all before him with no less Hostility and Fury than the English Lords used on the other side They all found the Country very Rich and Plentifull the Granges and Barns full of Corn and Provender the Shops and Houses full of Rich Stuffs and other Goods and Commodities and the whole Country abounding with Chariots Carts Horses Swine Sheep Oxen and Poultry For there had been a long Peace and Security in those Parts The Souldiers now took of all this what they pleas'd and brought it to the King but of what Gold and Silver they found they gave no account either to him or his Officers but kept it to themselves In this manner the Lord Godfry of Harcourt and the Earl of Warwick rode forth by Day but at Night for the most part they both lay in the Kings Field or very near him When thus all things were clear'd behind as to the North-point of Normandy King Edward began to March Eastward and went directly to St. Lo in Coutantine but before he came thither he encamped by the River Vire till his two Battails might come up to him and then he proceeded VII The mean ſ Frois c. 123. while King Philip was not negligent on his Part but enforced his Summons to his Subjects and others who held of him any way and sent for all his Friends and Allies as to the Noble and Valiant Old King of Bohemia John of Luxemburgh Son to Henry the VII once Emperour of Germany and to his Eldest Son the Lord Charles Marquess of Moravia who about this time was called Caesar being advanced in Opposition to Lewis of Bavaria upon whose Death a Year after He was made Emperour King John and his Son Charles came speedily to King Philip's Assistance with a goodly Number of Bohemians Germans and Luxemburghers as did also upon the said Kings Request Ralph Duke of Lorraine King Philip's Nephew and James Son and Heir to Humbert the Old Dauphin of Vienna which two lead 300 Spears Then came the Lord John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont who as we shew'd was lately brought over from the King of England's Service with a gallant Troop of Valiant Hainalders there was likewise Lewis Earl of Flanders who had but few Men under him and those only of the Gentry and Nobility of Flanders for the Commons of that Country held all for King Edward Thither came also James King of Majorica who being beaten out of his Kingdom by Peter King of Aragon had lately for an t Odoric Rainald ad an 1345. §. 13. 100000 Crowns of Gold sold unto King Philip of France his Right to Monpellier that thereby he might be enabled to give Battle to the King of Aragon But at this time he could not refuse with what Forces he had to Assist King Philip. While thus the French King was making himself strong on all sides he had full Information of the uncontroled Progress of his Adversary of England and sware openly That he should never return again into England without Battle And that all those Spoils Slaughters and Devastations should be dearly Revenged But many of his Auxiliary Friends came from far and so it was long before he had his full Assembly Wherefore the mean while King Edward went on without any considerable Opposition VIII The English Army still kept their first Order marching up toward High Normandy in three Battalions They went on fair and softly in Battle Array as if the Enemy was always before them and they took up their Lodgings every day early so that for the most part the whole Army except the Marshals Fore-runners was encamped betwixt Noon and Three of the Clock The Country was so Plentifull wheresoever they went that they had no need to look out for any other Provision but Wine and yet here and there they also found enough of that Althô the King to prevent the Worst had brought Provisions of all sorts along with him and besides u M.S. Vet. Latin. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr cui titulus Acta Edvardi Filii Edvardi Tertii he gave strict Command that none should presume to make any unnecessary waste of Victuals Drink or Forage It was no x Frois ibid. great Wonder if all the Country trembled at the sight of this Royal Army for till then they had seen nothing like War in those Parts nor knew any thing beyond the Ordinary Trainings of their Militia so that generally the People fled before the Face of the English as far as they might hear the sound of their Name leaving behind them their Houses full of Goods their Barns and Granaries full of Corn and their Cattle in the Fields for they knew not whither in that Hurry to bear them away Particularly the y M.S. Vet. Latin. id ibid. 29 Julii City of Bayeux for fear of him sending 15 Chief Citizens as their Deputies unto him and desiring to enter into his Homage and to be taken into his Protection were admitted And in this Manner King Edward rode forth burning wasting and ravaging the Country and leaving long tracks of Fire and Desolation behind him till he came to the Great Town of St. Lo the farthest z D'Avila p. 974. Port of Lower Normandy wherein were no less than Eight or Ninescore Rich Burgesses and exceeding much Drapery When the King came thither he
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and one more Antient and Mystical asserted The time of this First Round Table with the manner of its Solemnity William Montagu Earl of Salisbury dies his Praise Pedigree Issue King Edwards Buildings at Windsor his Institution of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER The Names of the XXVI Founders A short View of the said most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof King Edward hears how King Philip had put to death sundry Lords of Bretagne his Friends King Philip's Cruelty to the Messenger of these News King Edward's Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. King Edward sends a Defiance to Philip But is alarm'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and the Frontiers of Scotland He makes his Remonstrance to the Pope who endeavours to pacifie him A Parliament at Westminster The Earl of Darby lands in Gascogne His Acts. His Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philip's Lieutenant before Auberoche Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter named Mary John Earl of Monford acquitted his Prison The Lord Oliver Ingham dies his Issue From p. 287. to p. 312. Chap. XXIII King Edward tells the Pope that unless King Philip gives him Satisfaction he will renounce the Truce The Earl of Northampton commissioned to defie the French King. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce His New Commission to the Earl of Darby An account of his Actions in Gascogne this Year The Lord Walter Manny finds his Fathers Bones in Reole The Castle of Reole yielded The Earl of Darby's Victorious Progress and Return to Bourdeaux From p. 312. to p. 320. Chap. XXIV Henry Earl of Lancaster dies The motives and manner of Jacob van Arteveld's Fall. The Flemings appease King Edward The young Earl of Hainalt slain The Lord John of Beaumont brought over to the French side The Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts to England John of Monford amidst his Victories in Bretagne dies The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois and routs his Army The Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce The Death of one Lord and two Bishops From p. 321. to p. 330. BOOK II. CHAP. I. KIng Philip sends the Duke of Normandy against the Earl of Darby aliàs the Earl of Lancaster Duke John sits down before Angoulesme the Earl of Lancaster new Garrisons Ville-Franche and reinforces Aiguillon The Seneschal of Beaucaire wins Ancenis Sr. John Norwich escapes the Duke of Normandy by a quaint device The Duke of Normandy comes before Aiguillon with the Particulars of that Siege The French King's Seneschal of Guienne beaten by the Earl of Lancaster which Earl holds the Duke of Normandy short From p. 331. to p. 337. Chap. II. King Edward resolves to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament settles the Realm sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy and Knights his Eldest Son Prince Edward c. King Philip strengthens Caën against him A Cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to France King Edward marches thrô Normandy King Philip prepares to encounter him King Edward takes St. Lo and Caën Rejects the Cardinals Endeavours for Peace stays at Poissy to repair the Bridge and sends a Defiance to King Philip who goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives and replies to an Answer of King Philips to his Challenge His Progress thrô France His Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Inhabitants of Poix being found treacherous are put to the Sword. King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme A French Prisoner shews him the Passage at Blanchetteaque which yet he finds guarded but goes over and discomfits Godmar du Fay who kept the Passage King Philip rests at Abbeville King Edward encamps in the Fields of Cressy and prepares to receive him From p. 338. to p. 353. Chap. III. The Number and Order of King Edward's Forces the Names of his Chief Captains He creates 50 Knights King Philip goes out of Abbeville against him The Order of the French. King Philip advances his Oriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon The Battle of CRESSY The Earl of Warwick sends to the King for Succour with the King's Answer The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward against their Main Force routs the Marquess of Moravia kills the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers King Philip flies and leaves the Victory to the English The Number of the slain on both sides An Enquiry into the Antiquity of Guns King Philip retires to Broye thence to Amiens and so to Paris The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Bodies of the French defeated The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and care for the burial of the Dead King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais From p. 354. to p. 365. Chap. IV. The Description of Calais The strength of King Edward's Navy He lays a formal Siege to the Place Plenty of Provision in his Camp. The Earl of Warwick takes Teroüenne The Flemings besiege St. Omers Seventeen Hundred poor People being thrust out of Calais are relieved by King Edward The Copies of two Letters containing the summe of this Expedition from the Winning of Caën to the Siege of Calais The Duke of Normandy makes another attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss King Philip commands his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and perswades the King of Scotland to invade England The Duke of Normandy leaves the Siege of Aiguillon the Lord Manny cuts him off at the Reer His Agreement with a Prisoner of Quality The Prisoner brings him a safe Conduct and is set free The Lord Manny riding towards Calais in Confidence of this Conduct is seised by King Philip's Order But the Duke of Normandy saves his Life The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and Conquers in Sainctogne Rochellois and Poictou An Instance of this Earls Liberality and Munificence He wins Poictiers leaves it Desolate and Returns to Bourdeaux An Army of Poictevins discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan From p. 365. to p. 375. Chap. V. King Philip by his Ambassadors perswades the King of Scots to break with England King David resolves on a War Raises an Army and begins to march His Cruelty to an English Knight in cold blood He encamps near Durham Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York and sends an Expostulation to King David The Order and Number of the Scotch Army Also of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders Queen Philippa encourages her Men. She beats Douglas and Graham before the Battle Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is obliged to Retreat King David is taken Prisoner by
but is reconciled to the French King. The War breaks out again between England and France The Black-Prince his Exploits in Gascogne The Lord John Lisle Knight of the GARTER slain Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfields relating the Prince's Exploits King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England Barwick taken by the Scots Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Seventh Son Thomas of Woodstock Nantes taken and Recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion The Death of Peter Lord Mauley From p. 478. to p. 489. Chap. XIV King Edward recovers Barwick King Bailiol resigns his Right and Title to Scotland into King Edward's Hands King Edward wasts Scotland but losing a great part of his Navy is obliged to return He brings Bailiol into England with him A Parliament at Paris A Sedition at Arras supprest King John of France seises the King of Navarre confines him and executes several of his Friends The King of Navarre's Brother Philip obtains Assistance from England and being reinforced by the Duke of Lancaster makes hot War in Normandy King John goes against him but upon News of the Black-Prince's being in France turns back to oppose him The Duke of Lancaster having settled Affairs in Normandy goes into Bretagne to the Dutchess From p. 489. to p. 494. BOOK III. CHAP. I. KING John prepares to go against the Black-Prince The said Prince's Victorious Progress thrô Quercy Auvergne Berry and Touraine The French King follows him Two Cardinals haste after him in hopes to reconcile Matters Some French Troops cut off by the Prince King John having Order'd his Battails a Cardinal perswades him to desist a while till he had try'd to compose Matters But the French K. demands more than the Prince would grant A Quarrel between the Marshal of France and the Lord Chandos The Cardinal despairing of Peace leaves the Field Prince Edward encourages his Men. The Names of his Chief Leaders His speech to them His New Device against the Enemy The Lord James Audley and Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt begin the Fight The Famous Battle of POICTIERS wherein King John is made Prisoner The Prince of Wales his Bounty to the Lord Audley his Obliging Deportment to the French King. He returns to Bourdeaux King Edward's Moderation at the News of his Sons Success The Pope applauds the Prince of Wales for his Humanity to the Captive King. The several claims concerning the taking of the French King adjusted The Duke of Lancaster's proceedings in Normandy and Bretagne after the Battle of Poictiers The Troubles of France freshly fomented by a Seditious Parliament The Lord Godfry of Harcourt slain The Pope stirs up the Emperour to endeavour to compose Matters between the two Kings A Diet at Metz in Lorraine Seals changed in England From p. 495. to p. 525. Chap. II. The Black-Prince brings King John of France into England King Edward receives the Captive King with much Humanity Henry Duke of Lancaster holds a Siege before Rennes The Cardinals obtaine a Truce between the two Kings King David is redeem'd and returns to Scotland The Duke of Lancaster takes Rennes by Composition Sr. Robert Knolles beats the Marshal of France in Normandy The Lord of Granville takes the Castle of Eureux by a slight The Rise of Sr. John Hawkwood and Sr. Robert Knolles The Original of a sort of Free-booters call'd Companions in France The Insolence of the Parisiens and their Provost toward the Dauphin King Charles of Navarre gets at Liberty and grows Popular From p. 525. to p. 535. Chap. III. King Edward holds St. GEORGE'S day with great Solemnity A Friendly Treaty held between King Edward and King John but 't is dash'd The Jaquerie in France with their Cruelty and Extirpation Quarrels between the King of Navarre and the Dauphin and between the Dauphin and the Provost of Paris The King and Duke reconcil'd but the Provost continues Plotting The English Navarrois revenge the Death of their Countrymen on the Parisiens The Provost designing to betray Paris is discover'd and slain The King of Navarre breaks again with the Dauphin His several Garrisons the Dauphin's Difficulties The Confusion and Miseries of France The Constable besieges St. Valery The Captal of Busche comes to the King of Navarre's Assistance The several Garrisons of the Navarrois The Lord Canon Robsart discomfits a Party of them The happy Estate of England Two Kings keep Christmas with King Edward The Death of the Queen Mother of England of the Queen Consort of Scotland and of Orcanes the Great Turk A Quarrel between the Bishop of Ely and Blanche Lady Wake And another between the Four Orders of Predicants and the two Vniversities of Cambridge and Oxford From p. 536. to p. 552. Chap. IV. A Method of Agreement pitch'd upon by the two Kings but rejected by the French Parliament Whereupon King Edward resolves for War. St. Valery yielded up to the French. Sr. Peter Audley fails in his Design upon Châlons The Earl of Roucy taken Prisoner a second time Melun besieged but the Dauphin and Navarre are reconciled The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt taken Prisoner by the French. A Judgment on a Sacrilegious Souldier The Navarrois decline suddenly Vpon Sr. Peter Audley's Death Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt is redeem'd by the Navarrois and made their Captain Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition He retires being overmatch'd Submits to the King and obtains his Pardon The Flemings revolt from King Edward King Edward with his Four Sons and others holds a Solemn Justs in the Name of the Mayor and Aldermen of London John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond Marries the Duke of Lancaster's Daughter King Edward chooses the Place of his Sepulture in Westminster Abbey From p. 552. to p. 564. Chap. V. King Edward sends the Duke of Lancaster to Calais and follows himself with an Army of an Hundred Thousand Men. The Names of his Chief Captains with the Order of his Army The King Marches from Calais toward Rheims in Champaigne An adventure between the Lord Galahaut de Ribemont and the Lord Van Boulant The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes the French Master of the Cross-bows Prisoner King Edward lays Siege to Rheims The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt sends relief to the English Army Several Places taken by Detachments from the Camp before Rheims The King of Navarre breaks with the Dauphin again The Lord of Gomegines taken Prisoner by the French. The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes Cormicy and rases it From p. 565. to p. 574. Chap. VI. The Duke of Normandy's Methods to resist King Edward The French take Land at Winchelsea and having done much harm are beaten off Order taken to prevent the like for the future King Edward rising from before Rheims Marches thrô Champaigne Roger Mortimer Earl of March dies The Great Pomp and Order of the English Army King Edward is bought off from destroying Burgundy and turns toward Paris He sits down before Paris Two Treaties offer'd at in vain The King Challenges the Dauphin forth to Battle The Lord Manny
whom he is Godfather From p. 662. to p. 669. Chap. XIII A Parliament at Westminster wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Demand of the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid The Quarrel between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities taken up by the King. The Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford A Treaty of Marriage between Prince Lionel and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Duke of Milain Archbishop Islip dies his Foundation of Canterbury College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury On the French King's Complaint of the Companions King Edward prepares an Army against them But on the French King's being jealous desists The French King and the Pope endeavour to draw off the Companions into Hungary but it will not do From p. 669. to p. 672. BOOK IV. CHAP. I. DON Pedro's Character The Pope excommunicates him and legitimates his Bastard Brother The Companions joyn Sr. Bertram of Clequin and march against Don Pedro who being forsaken of all flies from place to place and absconds in Galizia Don Henry the Bastard is made King of Spain Don Pedro implores the Protection of the Black-Prince and arrives at Bayonne Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity The Reasons Pro and Con why the Prince should or should not assist him The Prince has his Fathers leave to undertake his Quarrel The King of Navarre is won The Copy of a Famous Grant of Don Pedro to King Edward and to the Prince and the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for Ever Prince Edward sends for his Captains who were then in the Bastards Service The Bastard's surprise at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram goes back into France to raise Friends Divers Opinions touching this undertaking of the Prince's The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon c. The Prince's Zeal for this War. The Lord of Albret engages to bring a 1000 Spears The Companions being besieged in Montabuan beat the French. James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to implore the Prince's Aid against the King of Aragon The Prince by Advice of his Council countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears From p. 674. to p. 694. Chap. II. A second Son Born to the Black-Prince named Richard. The Prince begins his March is joyn'd by the Duke of Lancaster He passes the Pirenaean Mountains the Order of his Army the Names of his Chief Captains Don Henry sends his Expostulation and Defiance to him The Lord Thomas Felton takes Navaret Salvatierra yields to the Prince The Lord Thomas Felton beats up the Bastard's Quarters and sends Intelligence to the Prince Don Henry goes forward but halts at St. Miguel The Prince expects him at Victoria The Earl of Sancelloni beats up the Prince's Quarters and takes the Lord Thomas Felton and all his Company The Discourse thereupon had in the Spanish Camp. The Prince passes the Ebro and answers Don Henry's Letters Don Henry's Resolution The two Armies move forward The Order and Number of the Spaniards The Lord Chandos made a Banneret The Prince's Prayer before the Fight The Famous Battle of NAJARA in Spain where the Bastard receives a Mighty overthrow The City of Najara taken The time and place of the Battle The Number of the slain on both sides The Prince obliges Don Pedro to grant a General Pardon All Spain comes in and submits to Don Pedro and the Prince The Prince demands his Souldiers pay of the King who goes to Seville but sends none The Great Renown of the Black-Prince after this Victory The Black-Prince returns home without his Money The first Change of King Edward's Fortune The Danish Fleet beaten by the English The Death of Don Pedro King of Portugal sirnamed the Justiceer From p. 695. to p. 718. Chap. III. Prince Lionel is Married to the Lady Violantis He falls sick and dies A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal A Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyder-zea Sr. Bertram by a Fineness obtains to be ransom'd The Companions wanting their Pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they go away and do much Mischief in France The Prince taxes his Subjects which occasions a Revolt From p. 718. to p. 725. Chap. IV. Don Henry the Bastard finding the Prince of Wales embroyl'd returns into Spain surprises the King Don Pedro beats him takes him and kills him with his own Hands The King of France being urged by the Discontented Gascogne Lords Summons the Prince of Wales to appear before him William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester c. The Prince of Wales falls sick of an incurable Disease He sends the Lord Chandos against the Gascogne Lords The French King surprises Ponthieu and defies King Edward Who in Parliament resumes his Title to France and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars The Black-Prince makes the Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is confirm'd by the King his Father From p. 725. to p. 742. Chap. V. The War begins in the Principality Mutual Losses and Gains The two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes their Rights argued The Pedigree of the Kings of France King Edward's Reasons for his Right and Title to France From p. 743. to p. 758. Chap. VI. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter Mutual Losses and Gains The Earl of Pembroke's Danger The Death of Queen Philippa The Duke of Lancasters Expedition The Earl of Warwick dies The Duke of Lancaster a Widower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester The French King raises a Tax From p. 759. to p. 782. Chap. VII The Death of the Lord John Chandos The War hot in Gascogne The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland The Genealogy of his Successor Robert STUART An Old Error concerning King Robert's Children confuted Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition into France The Black-Prince sacks Limoges and Sr. Bertram of Clequin made Constable of France Pope Urban dies Maximus Planudes flourishes From p. 783. to p. 812. Chap. VIII The Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols The Black-Prince his Eldest Son dies He returns into England sick The War in Gascogne A Parliament at Westminster King Edward beats the Flemings at Sea. James King of Majorica dies The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge Marry the Two Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Spain The Pope's endeavours for Peace The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl his Brother return with their Ladies into England From p. 812. to p. 826. Chap. IX The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny The War hot in Gascogne The Earl of Pembroke taken by the Spaniards Poictiers and Rochelle yielded to the French. Thoüars besieged King Edward sets sail to raise the Siege but the Wind will not serve so Thoüars is lost The Duke of Bretagne made
in England even Buchanan t Buchan l. 13. p. 286. himself acknowledges that King Bailiol was surprised almost asleep and half naked He for his part fled away directly for Caerlile where he was kindly u Knighten p. 2562. received of Ranulph Lord Dacres of the North then High x Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 22. b. Sheriff of Cumberland and Governor of Caerlile with whom he stay'd during the Holydays Thence y Rob. Southwell he went into Westmorland where he was honorably entertain'd by Robert Lord Clifford at his Castles z Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 340. of Appleby and Brougham a Rob. Southwell in requital whereof King Bailiol then and there granted unto him and his Heirs for ever Douglasdale in Scotland which had before been given to his Grandfather the Lord Robert Clifford by King Edward the First of England if ever again he should recover that Realm of his Adversaries Not long b Knighton p. 2562. n. 40. sed lege Lancastriam pro illius Leicestriam after this he went into to Lancashire to the Lady of Ghisnes then residing at Mourholme AN. DOM. 1332. An. Regni VI. where for one week more he tarried with his small Company who had with him escaped from the Scots and this Lady who was wife to c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. William Lord Goucy Earl of Ghisnes in France furnished him with Horse Arms and Money for he had lost all that ever he had when he escaped from the Treason of the Scots Moreover King Bailiol d M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. sent to King Edward his Letters Supplicatory Complaining unto him how falsly and treacherously he had been in a little while reduced to shame and sorrow by the perfidiousness of his Liege-men upon whom he had entirely trusted and praying him for the Love of Almighty God that he would maintain and help him against his Enemies On which Condition he would hold the Crown of Scotland of him and render homage unto him for the same King Edward had great commiseration of this his forlorn Condition and promised him very shortly to give him powerfull Assistance IV. In the mean time while King Bailiol was thus recruiting himself again in England and rallying his former Friends to his Assistance the e Buchan p. 286 Scots that held for Bruce nothing ignorant of what they were to expect apply themselves to Archimbald Douglas who was then Viceroy of that Kingdom in the place of the Lord Andrew Murray who had been taken before at Roxborough to consult with him about their Affairs For they had such an inveterate hatred against the English who still claim'd Superiority over them that even for their sakes by whose Assistance he sought the Kingdom and under whose Homage they rightly judged he would submit it as his Father had done before they now unanimously resolve no way to endure the Bailiol for their King. Him therefore they all mark out for a common Enemy and with more alacrity make provision of all things necessary to a War as knowing what a Potent Adversary they were to deal with 'T was here imagin'd how the English who were to take his part would first begin with Barwick that therefore they first furnish with a sufficient Garrison the Lord Patrick of Dunbar being appointed Governour of the Castle and Sr. Alexander Seton a worthy Scotch Knight to defend the Town and Suburbs But William Douglas Lord of Liddisdale a Man of great Wisdom and Courage is sent to Anandale to guard the West of Scotland Here Buchanan sends Andrew Murray the Viceroy to Roxborough but Archimbald Douglas was now Viceroy the Lord Andrew being a prisoner at Durham And Bailiol was not at Roxborough now as he says So mightily do great Men err sometimes for want of Diligence or Integrity The Lord Archimbald the Viceroy undertook himself with more than f Knigh on p. 2562. n. 60. Holinshea Eng. Chron. p. 895. Walsingh hist p. 114. n. 10. 3000 Choice men to enter the Marches of England and to rob and spoil the Borderers to his power as a while after he did by the way of Caerlile making great havock every where but especially in Gillestand and the Lands of the Lord Ranulph Dacres where for 15 or 16 leagues about he lay'd all wast before him And besides all this the Lord John g Bucha p. 286. Randulph is dispatch'd into France to implore the assistance of King Philip against his and their ancient Enemy V. The news of all these Preparations and the apprehensions thereof was that which allarum'd the Parliament at Westminster in that manner as I said before And indeed gave the first Occasion of renewing that War by discharging King Edward of his former Obligations which afterward proved so fatal to Scotland For immediately when the Parliament was reassembled at York Sr. Geoffry h M.S. 19. §. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 13. §. 6. Scroop declar'd That the King his Master having understood that the Lord Bailiol had proclaimed himself King of Scotland for which Crown on condition of Assistance he proffer'd to render Homage to the Crown of England now therefore demanded whether the Truce being fully expired He should fall upon Scotland in his own Name or claim the Demesne of the same or by making himself a Party should take advantage of Recovering those Services and that Homage which his Royal Ancestours have had before him But because most part of the States were absent these things at that time were not so fully determin'd so that the Parliament was adjourned till the Octaves of St. Hilary the King being fain to send out new Summons strictly enjoyning all Persons to attend and on no pretence whatsoever any longer to delay or hinder the Kings weighty Affairs by their Non-appearance This last default happen'd thrô the Pride of the Spirituality the Archbishops of Canterbury and York not agreeing about the Bearing of their Crosiers so that only the Archbishop of York whose name was William Melton Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln and John Kirkeby Bishop of Caerlile with the Abbots of York and Selby came thither But Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury with all his Clergy forbore coming whereby was occasion'd the loss of a fair Opportunity against Scotland besides the indignity put upon the King in thus Frustrating his Expectation and the Insuppoptable Expence and Trouble that must needs accrue to the whole State by a Reassembly I need not say any more of this Parliament because I cannot find it produced any thing answerable to the present Exigence of Affairs or to the King's Expectation Save that upon their Reassembly i M.S. p. 20. Sr. Rob. Cott. 1. p. 14. Wardens were appointed for the Marches of the North and the King enabled by his Subjects either to Invade or Defend But John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and other the Commissioners that were to consult about certain Matters put to them by
by the Prowess of King Robert our Father from King Edward Father to the King your Master in time of Open War. And by the same Prowess he held it with Honour till by his Death it came with the rest of his Inheritance to Us his undoubted Son and Heir who intend also with our utmost Ability to hold it in the best manner we may But this Lords we require of you as Gentlemen and Christians that you would do your best to persuade the King your Master whose Sister we have taken into our Royal Bed that he will suffer us peaceably to enjoy our Rights and Franchises as his Ancestors have done before and leave freely in our Possession what our Father so valiantly wan and so quietly enjoy'd and at last so entirely transmitted to Us with his Crown and Kingdom Nor let the King your Master be too credulous of light Reports since we intend Religiously to keep the Peace so lately made at Northampton Nor let him give too much Faith to evil Counsellors whose restless Spirits stirr him up against us Since if any other Prince in the world intended to injure us He ought especially to aid succour and defend us for his Sisters sake whom we have Married and taken into our Bosom Upon this Answer the Ambassadors promising to acquit themselves as he had required them were dismissed but King Edward was nothing content when he heard them report the Answer I am well aware that the Scotch Writers imagining the better to colour all their losses deliver how their King David had before this even upon Bailiols Invasion convey'd himself with his Queen into France But neither doth it seem honourable nor reasonable that by so weak thô successfull an Enemy and at the appearance of such small Forces their King should be driven to such desperate Courses nor is it agreeable to other either Circumstances or Authors and it is utterly contradicted by Froisard who lived near those Days and took great Care and was very impartial in Collecting his History Wherefore with him we cannot admit that he left his Kingdom in this manner till the Main of his Forces were overthrown by King Edward in the Battle of Halidoun to which now we hasten III. The late-mention'd Answer from Scotland was no way pleasing to King Edward for whatever Natural affection for his Sister the Queen of Scots might persuade he saw plainly by the resolute Answer of King David that he was no longer to be rely'd on as a Friend than he should want Power of manifesting himself an Enemy to England that the Old League with France was more prevalent than this New Alliance with him that however now in his Pupillage he seem'd desirous of Peace within a few years he would prove both willing and able to wage the fiercer Wars It troubled him also not a little that while himself was under Age so Dishonourable a Bargain had been made wherein he had been induced to resign those Instruments of his Superiority over Scotland which as his Father had purchas'd with much Honourable Difficulty so till himself had regain'd them he could not be at friends with himself The present Occasion also seem'd more promising since the Scots had already broke the Peace and that on his Part beside the Limits of the Peace were fully expired that moreover King Bailiol had in Reality the best Right to that Crown from whom he might expect not only the accustomed Homage but also Restitution of what Himself in his Minority had by evil Counsel resign'd to the extream Diminution of his Honour and Royal Prerogative Add to all this that till he had settled his Affairs on that side he could not safely make any Pretensions to France which the Lord Robert of Artois from his first coming had vehemently instigated him unto according to that vulgar Saying He that the Realm of France would win Must with Scotland first begin Now therefore he calls his m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing hist p. 115. Parliament which as we said before met at York a little after the Purification of the Virgin Mary or rather in the beginning of March the * it began to sit in the 2d week in Lent Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. Second Sunday in Lent happening that Year on the last of February To this Parliment King Bailiol as holding of King Edward had his Summons but n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 6. 45. Walsing hist p. 115. n. 40. he understanding that his Enemies had laid wait for him in the adjacent Isles and elsewhere durst not adventure to come in Person but sent his sufficient Excuse by the Lord Henry Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the Lord William Montagu and other Lords and Knights who so evidently declared the Reasons of his Non-appearance at that time that their Apology was accepted by the King and his Council Here the King declaring to all his Lords the late Answer of the King of Scots to his Embassy o Frois c. 26. f. l. 15. b. demands their Advice thereupon and that they would consider what way he might best salve his Honour and maintain his Right The Result was The whole Parliament was of Opinion that the King could no longer with Honour put up those Wrongs and Injuries daily done unto him and his people by the Scots They humbly therefore pray'd and advis'd his Majesty to provide such force of Men and Arms as might not only reduce Barwick into his Power but also compell the King of Scotland gladly to seek his Peace by rendring unto him the accustomed Homage for that Kingdom In which Enterprise they all promised to assist him in Purse and Person The King as he was always very Gracious to his People thanked them heartily for the Loyal Affection wherewith they embrac'd his Honour and Interest and so having prefixed p Claus 7. Ed. 3. m. 19. Derse Trinity Sunday for the time wherein his Forces were to be Assembled at Newcastle upon Tine he Dissolv'd the Parliament Thus was a War resolv'd on But yet q Frois c. 26. ibid. before the King of England would draw his Sword he sends again to King David other Ambassadors to summon him to come and do the required Homage upon peremptory refusal whereof they were secretly instructed with full Authority to defie him But for all this the Scots were so Resolute upon their Liberty that no better Answer could be obtain'd than what was return'd before So that the Defiance was openly made and War Published between the two Nations r Virgil. l. 12. v. 503. Tanton ' placuit concurrere Motu O Deus aeternâ Gentes in Pace futuras IV. Before ſ Walsingh bist p. 114. n. 10. this King Edward had sent some Forces toward the North not to Invade Scotland but to make good the Borders in case of an Invasion from thence And well it happen'd that he had so provided For t Knighton p. 2562. n. 6◠before the Defiance was made the Lord
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
ready to accompany the French King to the Holy Land in order to fight against the Common Enemies of Christendom In the discussing and debating of these Articles the King of France was so zealously bent on the Holy War and such diligence was used by his Council not one at that time daring on the suddain to contradict that in the end a full Conclusion of the Peace on the Terms proposed was agreed on and Matters proceeded so far that Proclamation was order'd to be made thereof the next day in Paris and the Towns thereabouts But whether by the Fickleness and Inconstancy of King Philip or the Advice of some Scotch Pensioner in his Council or a sense of Generosity and a Commiseration of King David's exil'd Condition or by some secret Impulse of Heaven for the sins of Christendom and the punishment of France scarce were the English Ambassadors return'd to their Lodgings but they were remanded back again to Court where presently new Scruples were started which chiefly concern'd the third Article For thô as to the second Demand King Philip stood stifly against it at first unless all the Charges his Father Charles had been at in those Gascoigne Wars were repaid him by the King of England yet that when 't was made appear that the War it self was unjust he easily remitted But now as to the third Article King Philip answer'd peremptorily That he could not either in Honour or Equity desert his Friends the Scots in this their Oppression they being his Confederates and just Men Nor ought he to esteem King Edward worthy of his Friendship while he continued War against them That himself was as all Kings ought to be a Friend to Justice from which he should never swerve either for Affinity or Advantage or any other Consideration whatsoever but that he would to his Power vex and molest all the Disturbers of the Peace of Scotland For said he there will never be perfect Peace and Quietness in Christendom till the King of France shall stand as Umpire between the Realms of Scotland and England And therefore he briefly told the Ambassadors that having better consider'd of it he was resolv'd to conclude nothing as to Peace with England unless King David also might be comprehended in the same League so as that he might be restored to his Kingdom and the Bailiol wholly excluded Surely how gallant soever this Speech might seem 't was neither modest enough prudent nor seasonable For had he temporised so far as thereby to have obtain'd King Edward's Company in this Holy War the Bailiol might easily have been ruin'd by King David's Interest alone And it was more likely that then by fair means modest Reasonings King Edward might have been wrought upon by a personal Conference than by this rash and imperious way of Prescribing For from these peremptory Words the Breach became so wide that without bloody Wars Peace was not likely to be obtained Not to say that if King Philip did really intend this Holy Expedition he was not very wise to talk so high in such a juncture and if he did not intend it he was scarce sincere enough in his pious Resolutions However the English Ambassadors replied their Commission extended not so far as to reach to King David or to make any Concession to his Advantage so the whole matter was broke off and the Breach made wider than before Now the most exact Account of the first Original of these Unkindnesses between the two Kings of England and France which is by no Historian over exactly handled is to be found only in the publique Records of the Peace ten years before this made between King Edwards Father and Charles the Fair of France a Copy whereof was then sent to Pope John XXII and afterwards from the Library of Avignon brought into the Vatican and being seen and diligently weighed by my y Odoricus Raynaldus Continuat ad Baremum tom xv Ad an Christi 1327. §. 44. Author because from the Breach thereof the Wars which exercis'd England and France for so many Ages seem'd to take their first Occasion yield us these Observations In the Year 1325. which was the 19 of King Edward the II. of England by the diligence of Qu. Isabella with her Brother K. Charles of France together with the assistance of William Archbishop of Vienna and Hugh Bishop of Orange Nuntio's from the Apostolick Seat a Peace was made between the two Realms on this Condition z L. 9. c. 314. says Villani that what had been won by Charles of Valois in Aquitain should remain wholly to the French but in the publique a Extant in Arch. Vatican ex Avenion delat sign n. 10. in Chart. Pergam Records signed with the Seal of the King of France that Condition is not expressed but very cunningly cover'd with obscure and deceitfull Circumlocutions which when the Inventers of these politick Fetches contrived then they scattered the Seeds of a most inveterate Enmity between the two Realms to the infinite Dammage of France When the French wrested the Articles to their own purpose and the English exclaim'd that they were falsly and treacherously deceived for it was added that as to those Lands the French King should determin according to Law the King of England demanding his Right And so the Quarrel was not ended But now this Condition in that Treaty is evident that the French King should set over Aquitaine to administer justice a Person of integrity and one not suspected by the King of England and so the Armies on both sides should be disbanded and the King of England on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin should meet the French King at Beauvais and do Homage to the Crown of France for Aquitain which was then to be restored entirely unto him the foresaid Lieutenant being called back And this Agreement at the instance of Queen Isabell and the Pope was by consent of the Ambassadors of both Parties unanimously established in the Year aforesaid as appears by the Letters of both the Kings But now when afterwards King Edward II had conferr'd on his Son the Dukedom of Aquitain and a while after by Civil Tumults miscarried and Edward the III succeeded in the Throne the former Wars began to bleed fresh again our Young Edward being obliged to seek that Right by Arms which by Law he could not obtain but lest the Laws of Nature and the Peace of Christendom should be violated these Discords at the instance of the Pope who sent William Archbishop of Vienna and John Grandesson Bishop of Exceter for that purpose were composed on this Condition That as soon as might be what had been taken by the English in Aquitain contrary to the Form of the foresaid Agreement should be restored and on the other side that what had been taken by the French should be rendred to King Edward the said King Edward being to pay 50000 l. Sterling towards the reparation of Dammages and those Gascoigners who
before their coming having Intelligence of their Design upon her Castle had Requested King Edward's Aid which was one occasion more of this his Expedition But now the Fame of him did what was desired from his Sword for the Scots upon Report of his coming brake up their Siege and departed The mean while n Ashmele p. 646. Buchan p. 296. King Edward passed with his Army by Dunkelden thrô Athol and Murray as far as Elgin and Innernes where Scotland is bounded that way in pursuit of the Enemy if by any means he might come to a Battle But for all the Assistance from France they durst not at that time look him in the Face but o Adam Murimouth kept themselves in Forests and other Fastnesses only in the night times they would make false Alarms to terrifie the English but they knew them so well and kept such Watch that they easily prevented all their Attempts that way In the King 's Return on the left hand through Buquhan p Ashmole ibid. he took Aberdeen and burnt divers Towns and destroyed the Country but still the Scots kept aloof for they durst not hazard their only standing Forces against a Royal Army nor in common prudence could they Wherefore King Edward not relishing this dilatory Way and being perpetually both advised by his Friends and provoked by his Enemies to the French War leaving King Bailiol at S◠Johnston settled in the Goverment of that Kingdom with sufficient Forces to deal with the Scots returns himself for England resolved now either by fair Means or Force to keep the French quiet at home III. For besides q Knighton p. 2568 n. 30. p. 2569. n. 10. the Assistance King Philip had lately sent to the Bruceans in confidence of these Diversions in Scotland he began to take so much upon him that thinking those Forces sufficient to hold play with England he rashly and unjustly flies upon King Edward's Lands in France conquering surprizing and plundering Towns and Castles in Gascoigne and slaying his Subjects without any other reason but that he vow'd as he said to take revenge for his Friends the Scots Besides all these Provocations while King Edward was in Scotland he sent abroad no less than twenty six Gallies well mann'd with other Ships of War to cruise about the English Coasts for some Advantage or to make for Scotland to the Assistance of the Bruceans whereupon we find that the King who was not yet returned from St. Johnston sent forth his Commission to the Lord Geoffry Say then constituted his Admiral of the Southern and Western Sea and to the Lord John Norwich his Admiral of the Northern Sea a Copy whereof for that it proves the King of Englands Power over the English Seas I have thought fit to insert in this place translated from the r Vid. Selden's Mare Clausum l. 2. c. 23. p. 376 Ret. Secc 10 Ed. 3. Memb. 16. 27. Original The King to his Beloved and Trusty Geoffry de Say Admiral of his Fleet of Ships from the Mouth of the River Thames toward the Western Parts Greeting Whereas we have of late commanded you by our Letters that together with certain Ships out of the Cinque Ports which we have order'd to be furnished and made ready for War according to our Command you should set forth to Sea to oppose and resist certain Gallies provided and enforced with Men of War in divers Foreign Parts which as we are informed were set out toward the Parts of our Dominion to molest Us and our People or else to make toward the Coasts of Scotland for the succour and relief of our Enemies there and in regard that it hath been related by some that Gallies of that kind to the number of twenty six are newly come to the Coasts of Bretagne and Normandy and there still abide waiting as it is suppos'd to do what Mischief they can against Us and Ours or to succour our said Enemies as aforesaid We therefore calling to mind that our Progenitors the Kings of England have before these times been LORDS OF THE ENGLISH SEA on every side yea the Defenders thereof against the Encroachments of Enemies and seeing it would very much grieve us if in this kind of Defence our Royal Honour should which God forbid be lost or any way diminished in our time and desiring with the Help of God to prevent all Dangers of this Nature to provide for the Safeguard and Defence of our Realm and Subjects and to restrain the malice of our Enemies do strictly require and charge you by the Duty and Allegiance wherein you stand bound unto Us according to the special Trust reposed in you that immediately upon sight of these Presents and without any further Delay you set forth to Sea with the Ships of the Ports aforesaid and other Ships which are now ready and that in obedience to our Command you arrest those other Ships which we lately required you to arrest for our Service but so as they may be ready and provided to set forth according to our foresaid Command seeing we caused the Masters and Mariners of the said Ships to be prepared and gathered together whether they were within your Liberties or without and to cause them being well furnished with Soldiers and other Provisions to launch out to Sea with the aforesaid Ships and that with all diligence you make search after the foresaid Gallies and other Ships of War abroad against Us and stoutly and manfully set upon them if they shall presume to bend their Course for the end aforesaid either toward the Parts of our Dominion or the Coasts of Scotland And if they steal away from you so that you cannot meet with them then you are with the foresaid Ships of our Fleet without any delay to follow after the said Gallies and Ships of War set out against Us if they shall make toward our Kingdom or the Coasts of Scotland and them couragiously to destroy for the Conservation of our Royal Honour But yet we will not that you occasion any hurt or hindrance to Merchants or Others passing by Sea who have no intention either to offend Us and our Subjects or to succour our Enemies c. After all which there follows in the Commission a Power from the King to press Sea-men and some other matters of that kind the like Commission also was issued to the Lord John Norwich Admiral of the Northern Parts both bearing this Date Witness the King at the Town of St. Johnston the 16 day of August By the King himself IV. Presently after King Edward came ſ Knighton p. 2568. n. 40. Walsing hist p. 119. n. 10. back to Nottingham where he found his Parliament sitting as he had left them who had provided him towards the maintenance of his Wars in Scotland France and Gascoigne a Grant of one Twentieth or as others of one Fifteenth of their Temporalities of a Tenth or as some a Sixth of the
as some say in the latter end of * Fabian p. 203. Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. October at the Town of St. Johnston departed out of this Life the most hopefull young Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham in Kent the Place of his Birth who was only Brother to King Edward being the second Son of Edward the Second by his Queen Isabella Daughter to Philip le Bel King of France He was m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. advanced to the Title of Earl of Cornwall by his Brother King Edward the Third and was twice by him made Lieutenant of all England upon his Expeditions the one into France the other into Scotland during his Absence But in his Action of this Year he so heated himself that he fell into a Feavour upon his return to St. Johnston and now at last died in the very Flower of his Youth being but twenty Years of Age and a Batchelour His Body being embalmed and brought into England was with great Solemnity Interr'd n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 110. in St. Edmunds Chappel in Westminster Abbey on the Southside of the Choire and the Northside of the High Altar on the Left hand of the Door of the said Chappel Where the King his Brother raised for him a o Keep 's Monument Westm p. 66. c. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 155 ubi the Figure of it most Noble Monument of Grey Marble set about with 24 little Images of various-coloured Alabaster and white Marble under each whereof are the blank Escutcheons remaining whereon had been as many several Coats of Arms depicted which are now wholly worn away and decayed On this Tomb lies his full Image of Admirable wrought Alabaster in his Coat Armour his Visage bare and a deep Shield on his Left Arm whereon are engraven the Arms of England within a Bordure of France having two Angels on each side supporting his Head and a Lion Couchant at his Feet Carved and finely Pictured of the same Alabaster with a Canopy covering the whole with delicate wrought Spires and Masons Work every where intermixed and Adorned with little Images and Angels according to the Fashion of those times supported by eight Pillars of white Stone of the same Curious-wrought Work But there is no Epitaph or Inscription to inform us any further The Scotch p Hector l. 15. f. 320. n. 40. c. Writers tell the manner of his Death thus that having done many abominable Cruelties in that Kingdom and especially without any Regard to Holy Places after all he came to St. John's Town where say they the King his Brother then was in the Church at his Devotions near the Altar That upon sight of him the King who had heard of all his Barbarous and Profane Cruelties question'd him somewhat about those Matters But receiving from him an harsh and undutifull Answer was so far provoked that immediately drawing his sword he there slew him with his own Hands upon the Place adding this That an Altar ought not to be a Refuge for One who had by Fire and Sword violated both Churches and Altars Certainly this Sentence which Hector puts into King Edward's Mouth was no way unbecoming a Religious Prince even thô he had perform'd such a Fact upon such a Brother as they make this Lord John to have been But this very Author forgetting Decencies and Characters at another time makes the same King as great a Profaner of Holy Places himself and yet his Friend Buchanan likes not this Story of his so well as to set his Hand to it which he very seldom scruples to do but when the Lye is too apparent For indeed King Edward was not in Scotland at the time of Prince Johns Decease and the young Lord was neither so Barbarous nor Profane as Hector feigns and besides his Death was q Knighton p. 2568. n. 30. Holinsh Scot. p. 237. n. 50. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. c. Natural as all our Histories and the Records themselves agree In the r Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. Month of December there died also at St. Johnston the Lord Hugh Frenes who in Title of his Wife the Relict of Sr. Ebulo le Strange was called Earl of Lincoln of a Bloody Flux occasion'd by an excessive cold and indeed many other English were destroy'd by the vehement cold in those Quarters that Winter This Earl Hugh was the ſ Catal. Honor. p. 947. Third and Last Husband of Alice Daughter and Heiress of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln but neither he nor any of her other Husbands had any Issue by her Queen Philippa of England t Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 177. Walsingh Hypod. p. 113. n. 40. this Year was deliver'd of her second Son at Hatfield who in Memory of her Father William Earl of Heinalt was Christened by that Name and sirnamed of Hatfield the Place of his Birth as was customary in those Days But this young Prince William of Hatfield lived but a short while and was buried in the Cathedral at York IX About this time as it were to usher in those grand Affairs which King Edward was now entring upon there u Ashmole p. 646. Fabian p. 203. 208. Walsingh Hypod. p. 114. Hist p. 131. n. 30. Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 900. appeared a fearfull Comet which for a considerable time darted forth its Rays with long and terrible Streams toward the East and toward the South It was look'd upon as a Forerunner both of those Wars in the Holy Land wherein the King of Armenia lost all his Country to the Turks and also of the great Devastation that followed shortly after in the Noble Realm of France Althô if they might not be divers I had rather set the time of this Comets Appearance to the Year following For x Esq Sherburne in his Catalogue of Astromers at the end of his Manilius c. we find that in the Years 1337 and 1338. there were seen either two or one and the same Comet of such a remarkable Phaenomenon that together with that which happen'd in the Year 1330 they employed the Pen of that learned Astrologer of those Days Godfry de Meldis an Oxonian to write his Book called Judicium Stellae Comatae Also this Year in a Village called Leighton about six miles Westward from Huntingdon was calved a Calf with two Heads and Eight feet if y Walsingh hist p. 119. n. 20. 30. c. Walsingham may obtain credit as there is little doubt to be made of the probability of this Matter This Winter was very sharp in England there being a hard Frost from the 27 of November to the 9 of February but no Snow at all whence Wheat became dear but other Grain grew plenty In many Parts of England the Willow-trees brought forth Flowers in January like Roses for Bigness and Colour and Elder-trees bare fruit exactly
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
at this time was found to amount to One Hundred and Ten besides those in Ireland Aquitain and Normandy King Edward now thought fitting because of his Wars intended against France to confiscate unto his own Use all the Goods of the said Priories with all the Lands Tenements Fees and Advowsons of the same Letting out their Houses to Farm as his Grandfather before him had done in the 23 Year of his Reign upon the like occasion And this was Customary not only before this but also afterwards r id Clem. Reyner in Append Par. 3. p. 146. when ever the Wars brake out between England and France for the Kings of England to seise all the Possessions of the Cluniacks and other Aliens into their Hands and to put them out to Farm to the Religieux themselves on consideration of an annual Pension But when the War ended there was full Restoration made of all again as particularly we shall find four and twenty Years hence or in the 35 of this King. VI. While King Edward was thus busied at home and his Ambassadors equally concern'd in his service abroad there Å¿ Junii 9. obiit Vt apparet ex illius Historiâ in l. dicto Time's Storeh p. 720. Alii 6 Junii ponunt died at his Palace in Valenciennes William the Third Earl of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friseland Father to Philippa King Edward's beloved Queen who for his Great Mercy temper'd with Justice and other Princely Vertues was sirnamed the Good. One Example of his Exact Justice I shall shew whereby we may guess at his other Perfections The Deed was done not long before his Death upon a Bayliff of South-Holland t Vid. Time's Storeh p. 720. l. 7. c. 30. Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 153. who had unjustly taken a goodly fair Cow from a poor Peasant which had been the sole support of himself his Wife and Children As there are some Kine in that Country which can give twenty u To enforce the truth of this Relation a little Conradus Gesner hath these Words The Oxen of the Belgian Provinces especially in Friesland and Holland are of very great stature For it hath been found by experience that one of them hath weigh'd Sixteen Hundred pounds Trey Weight And when the Earl of Hâ—ochstadt was at Machlin in Friesland there was presented unto him a Fair Large Ox which being killed weigh'd above Two Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Pounds which I reckon to amount to 180 Stone and 8 Pounds Wherefore that succeeding Ages might not mistrust the Truth of so strange a Matter the said Earl caused the Picture of the said Ox to be set up in his Palace at his full Proportion with an Inscription signifying his Weight and the Day and Year when this Ox was deliver'd and killed Conrad Gesner Hist of Foursccted Beasts p. 70. Engl. folio Pottles of Milk and more in a Day The Earl lay then sick on his Death-Bed as it proved but it was his Custom never to Debar the meanest Suitors whether he was sick or well So that upon this poor Countrymans Complaint and Examination duly had the Bayliff was adjudg'd to give unto the Peasant an 100 Crowns of Gold for the great Wrong he had done him which was accordingly performed But then for his Affront to Publique Justice since he was an Officer and had thus abused the Authority entrusted to him the Earl sent for an Executioner and caused him to strike his Head off by his own Bed-side I shall only crave leave to add one more small digression of a matter happening in his Days which thô not pertinent to the History is yet well worthy Memory for its great Rarity In the Eleventh Year of this Earls Government which was the Tenth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Second of England and the Year of our Lord 1316 there happen'd even in England a great Scarcity of Corn as appears by x Walsing hist p. 83. our Historians but in this y Time's Store-house p. 720. Earls Country there was so terrible a Dearth and Famine that poor people fell down dead in the Streets for Hunger Many also were found Dead in the Highways and in Woods and Fields whither they went to seek for Herbs and Roots to stop the Importunities of craving Nature Little Children would die as they indeavour'd to suck at their starving Mothers Breasts and some Women could not refrain eating their Children In this time of Famine a certain Poor Woman of Leyden being extreamly opprest with Hunger came to a Sister of her own who was far better to pass begging of her for Godsake to lend her some Bread which she promised with Thanks to repay when it should please God to enable her The hard-hearted Sister deny'd her oftentimes notwithstanding the other was so importunate and withall told her that she was assured by her Countenance how she must needs have sufficient for her self if not to spare Hereupon the unmercifull Wretch lying both to God and her poor Sister said If I have any Bread to help my self withall I wish to God it may all instantly be turned into Stone It seems the heavy Displeasure of Almighty God laid hold on those rash Words of hers for going soon after to the Cupboard to relieve her self she found all her Loaves of Bread most plainly converted into solid stones so that she her self died for want of that which she had so wickedly deny'd her own Sister It is most credibly told us z Time's Stâ—â—ehouse ibid. that one or two of those Stone-Loaves are yet to be seen in St. Peters Church at Leyden in Memory of this most just and extraordinary Judgement However this Good Earl William King Edward's Father-in-Law having been all along a most Vertuous Prince Victorious in War Wise and Judicious Well-spoken and Learned a great Friend to Peace affable to all Men and universally Beloved after he had Governed his Provinces of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friesland for the space of 32 Years died as before we said and with a Frois c. 29. great Pomp was buried at the Fryers in Valenciennes The Bishop of Cambray himself sang the Mass and besides the English Lords there were present many Dukes Earls and Barons of sundry Countries as well for the manifold Alliances he had abroad as for that his Fame was Singular and his Memory Dear to all Men. He was succeeded by William the Fourth his Son and Heir who had Married the Lady Joan Daughter to John Duke of Brabant giving her for her b Vid. l. 1. c. 24. §. 7. Joynture the Land of Binche upon the Haysne a fair and goodly Inheritance As for the Lady Johanna Countess Dowager of Heinalt the young Earls Mother and Sister to King Philip of France she resolved to spend the rest of her Days in a Nunnery at Fontaine on the River Scheld where being soon admitted she gave her self wholly to Devotion Almsdeeds and other Pious Offices VII And now
the Lords of his z Frois c. 42. Council told him that he had not lost one jot of his Honour since he had Couragiously sought out his Enemies and Faced them boldly for several days and finally for by that time King Edward also was return'd to Antwerp had made them quit his Realm without any Great Advantage And they moreover said that the King of England must be fain to make many vast and expensive Voyages before he should be able to Conquer France unless the Frenchmen by their own heat and rashness would fling their Country away King Philip however went the next day to St. Omers and thence placed his Men of War in Garrisons especially at Tournay Lille and Douay and to other Towns bordering on the Empire Sr. Godmar du Fay a Norman Lord was now made Captain of Tournay and Sr. Edward Lord of Beaujeu was sent to Mortagne confining on Hainault near the Skell And having thus settled Affairs King Philip returns to Paris X. The mean while King Edward who knew nothing of the Departure of the French Army stood after his usual manner embattlel'd in the Fields the next Sunday on which Day the Lord of a Knighton p. 2575. n. 50. Andelys was taken by the English Then the King heard that the French Army was marched off and retired to their own homes Whereat he was extreamly amazed But on the Monday the Marquess of Brandenburgh Son to the Emperour the Marquess of Nuys his Son in Law the Duke of Brabant and the other Germans disposed themselves for home because of the sharpness of the Weather the Winter being already pretty well enter'd King Edward gave them his leave to depart and he himself went straight to Antwerp in Brabant where he had left his Queen and her young Son Prince Lionel Upon his Return to Antwerp he issued out another b Ashmole p. 650 ex Pat. inter Regem diverses Magnat German 15 Novemb 13 Ed. 3. m. 3. Commission to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knights and John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely to treat of Peace with Philip of Valois as he is called in the Commission or with Commissioners from him and a Month after to wit on the 16 of December the said Commission was renewed upon adding Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk to the forenamed Commissioners The mean while the King kept his Christmas in great Splendour at Antwerp together with his Queen and her Ladies and many German Lords c Walsingh hist p. 132. most part of his Army remaining still about him To adorn the Solemnity the better he had sent for his Eldest Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester for he was not yet creaated Prince of Wales whom he had left his Lieutenant or Warden of England being now a Proper Hopefull Young Gentleman of almost ten Years of Age. His great Grace and exact Shape made him as acceptable to the Ladies Eyes as his large and well-proportion'd Limbs rais'd a full Expectation of his future Manhood among the Lords both of England and Almain And here it seems by what follows in the next Year that a Match was if not fully concluded yet at least propounded and well-nigh agreed on between the said Young Prince and the Duke of Brabants Fair Daughter the Lady Margaret at that time but four Years old thô indeed the same thing had been projected the Year foregoing as appears by d Ret. Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. vid. Ashmcle p. 675. Sandford p. 184. the Rolls About the same time Prince Otho Duke of Austria stirred up with the Fame of King Edward with whom he had enter'd an e 16 Febr. Patentes inter Regem diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. Alliance this Year sent and required the Lady Isabella his Daughter in Marriage for his Young Son the Letters beginning thus f Walsingh hist p. 133. To the most Excellent and Magnificent Prince the Lord Edward the most Illustrious King of England his Sincere and most Dear Friend Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Austria Stiria Suabia and Carinthia Lord of Carniola Moravia and Portaenaon Earl of Hapsburgh and Chiburgh and Land grave of Alsatia with all Hearty and Devout Affection wishes a good Success of his Desires and a continual Encrease of Health and Felicity c. But neither g Ashmole p. 675. 676. of these Matches took effect the Pope by the King of France's underhand-dealing still refusing a Dispensation for the First they being within the Third Degree of Consanguinity and the Other being otherwise hindred as we shall see hereafter At the End of this Year there came from the Pope to King Edward this Letter following the like whereof He also at the same time sent to King Philip of France * * Walsingh hist p. 129. Censimiles Liter◠Regi Franciae directae exstant apud Odoric Rainald ad an §. 1339. 14. Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction While we seriously consider and deeply revolve in our Minds how great hath been the Bounty of the most High and Eternal King and the Abundance of his most mercifull Goodness that when lately your Army most Dear Son and the Army of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France stood so near together confronted in Battle Array furiously dispos'd to a terrible Conflict on both sides those miserable Effects did not ensue which those warlike Preparations and Force of Armed Men did threaten to him we pay the tribute of our Praise since it ought to be esteemed as the greatest Gift of Almighty God and no less than a Miracle gratiously wrought by the Goodness of the Wisdom of God which never fails in its Dispensations And surely it may be more evidently gather'd that so great an Effusion of Blood of those who had been redeem'd with the precious Blood of our Lord as must needs have followed if the said Armies had come to Battle at that time to the great loss and scandal of all Christendom and to the hazard of many Souls was by no means pleasing to the most High who maketh Wars to cease and by the Prophet threatens to scatter the Nations that delight in War. Your Royal Wisdom also may consider how deeply both You and the foresaid King must have incurr'd the Divine Anger if you had proceeded to hazard so many of those whose Souls and Bodies he hath so dearly ransomed And it is to be feared that without doubt God Almighty will most severely animadvert against him especially who of the two should be most forward in promoting such Mischief whereby such Slaughter and Confusion would follow that all Christendom would be shook thereby and a Reformation of
the other of Roger Normans do constantly attend the Pleasure of the said Richard in the Port of South-hampton Further that all the Inhabitants should remain still upon the Place to Defend the same on Pain of loosing all they have Sr. Richard was to have all the Ammunition and Warlike Furniture of the same Town to be deliver'd into his Hands by Indenture and was endued with a like Power in all things as the Earl of Warwick had been when he was Governour there The Sheriff of Southampton having a Writ of Attendance on him for Victuals and other Necessaries Mr. Stephen Butterly and Mr. William Weston Serjeants at Arms were to provide sufficient Timber Boards and other Necessaries for the said Town by Indenture Thus much for the Sea and the Sea-coasts Now as for the Defence of the Marches of Scotland and the Places thereabouts which might want Strength or Provision William Snoring and John at Fennes Merchants of Lynn-Regis Robert of Bayon and Henry Smith Merchants of Barton upon Humber do undertake at a certain Price and by a certain Day to deliver Ten Thousand Quarters of all kind of Grain at the Town of Barwick and in the Road of Leigh Every Quarter of Wheat and Malt at 9 shillings of Oats Beans and Pease at 5 shillings To which there was added a Caution that under Colour of this Licence they should not serve the Kings Enemies Sr. Thomas Rokeby who for finding out the Scotch Army in the first Year of this King was by him Knighted as we shew'd in due place being now a Person of great Reputation for Valour Wisdom and Fidelity took upon him to keep the Castles of Edenburgh and Sterling till Midsummer next ensuing And the Division of all the Grain aforesaid and of other Victuals for the said Castles and the Town of Barwick being proportionably made the greatest Share was allotted to the Castles Next in Order to preserve the Isle of Wight this Wise and Great Assembly provided First that the inhabitants of the same during the War should be respited the Payment of any Aid to the King and that None of them should by any Means be dispensed with to travel abroad or to absent themselves out of the said Isle nor should be impannel'd or warned at any Assise or Inquest during the said War. Also that due Provision of Wine Grain Coals and other Necessaries for the Castle of Caresbrook in the said Isle be forthwith made the Kings Butler being appointed to deliver the Wine to Sr. John Langford Constable of the said Castle and William of Rewinock was commanded to provide the rest of the foresaid Necessaries Sr. John Ferrers Captain of Jersey Island was now appointed to send thither a sufficient Deputy to whom like Rules were set and Provision allow'd for Defence of the same Command being also sent to Bayliffs there to seise upon the Goods of one William Payne late Jurate of that Isle who Revolted to the Enemy and to Choose another On the back-side of this Roll are seen the Numbers of such Souldiers as were arrayed and set out by certain Nobles Knights and Gentlemen of the Counties of York Nottingham Derby Lancaster Westmorland and Cumberland by their particular Rates which in the whole amounted to 7400 Men of Arms 200 Archers on Horseback and two Thousand Halberdeers Those of the three first-named Counties were order'd at the Costs of the Country to March to Newcastle upon Tine only and they of Westmorland Cumberland and Lancaster to Carlile only And the Captains and other being together shall lie and forrage upon Scotland and not upon the Marches of England A Clergyman was appointed for the defraying of their Wages having the Lords Percy and Nevile to oversee his Accounts and to speak with the Nobles Knights and Captains to execute these Orders and to bargain with Merchants for Shifts and returns of Money The Lord Richard Talbot who was late Captain of Barwick upon his undertaking the Charge of Southampton was now discharged for a while thereof Sr. Walter Clark being appointed to keep the same till Easter next ensuing Those who had directed unto them the Commissions of Array for Souldiers for the County of York were Thomas Lord Wake William Lord Roos Sr. Thomas Vghtred Sr. William de la Pole and Sr. Michael Wath only afterwards Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 541. because the Lord Wake had been appointed Guardian of the Sea-coasts in Lincolnshire and had in that Service many Souldiers under him for whose support he had been at great Expences he was in consideration thereof discharged from finding such Men at Arms Hobelers and others as for his Lands in Yorkshire he had else been lyable to be charged with Those who had Commissions of Array for Nottingham and Derby were the Lord Nicolas Cantelupe Sr. Richard Willoughby and Sr. Thomas Longvillers all Noble Barons of the Realm For the County of Lancaster Sr. Henry Heydock and Sr. Robert Radcliff For Westmorland and Cumberland Anthony Lord Lucy Sr. Pierce Filliol Sr. Hugh Delowthrey and Sr. Robert Perning For Northumberland the Lord Henry Percy and Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby Ranulph Lord Dacres of the North Sr. John Fenwick and Sr. Thomas Helpscots all who were empower'd to Place and Displace Captains upon Reasonable Cause This is the Substance of the Parliament held at this time especially in Matters Relating to Scotland the Discourse whereof we shall refer to another Place and also to France CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Parliament of his Allies at Brussels in Brabant Where he takes upon him the Arms and Style of France the Flemings entring an Alliance with him and rendring him their Homage thereupon II. The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt with the Mannâ—r of King James the Second's Pedigree by the Mothers side down from him III. King Edward Publishes his Letters Patents Monitory to his Subjects of France to own his Authority as of their Rightfull King and to come to his Peace and Protection with a True Copy of the Letters IV. King Edward returns into England with Design to hold a Parliament the time whereof he fixes on the Wednesday after Midlent-Sunday which then fell on the Twenty Ninth of March. V. King Edward informs the Pope of his Reasons for Vsing the Style and Arms of France with the Popes Answer I. THE Sacred Solemnity of our Saviours Nativity being now over King Edward by Advice of the Lords of the Empire his Friends went from a Frois c. 43. Antwerp to Brussels the Chief City of Brabant there to hold a Parliament and to consult with his Friends how to proceed farther in his French Wars These Lords being there met accordingly first perswaded the King to require the Aid and Friendship of the Flemmings in this his Cause and that for his Sake they would defie the French King and March whither he should lead or direct them For all which he should Engage to Recover Lisle Doway
side the Parliament was Prorogued till the Wednesday next after the Translation of St. Thomas Becket II. And now the King having by Wise Counsel settled his Affairs at home resolves in all haste to cross the Seas in Pursuance of his War abroad and therefore goes the first Opportunity to b Stow p. 237. Ipswich where he kept his Whitsuntide intending thereabouts to pass over into Flanders While he lay here his Brother-in-Law Reginald the Second c Walsingh hist p. 134. Duke of Gueldre sent him word by way of Caution that he should take an especial Care of his Person for that King Philip had set a Price upon his Head and had withall given so strict a Charge to his Admirals that they had sworn to present him Alive or Dead at Paris And to that end they were furnish'd with the d Knighton p. 2577. n. 10. most Gallant Armada that ever any Man living had seen For there lay as then in the Haven of Sluce near Bruges in Flanders between the Isle of Cadsant and Blankeberg more than e Fox Acts and Monum p. 347. 400 Sail whereof 200 were Great Vessels well stuff'd with Frenchmen and all manner of Habiliments of War besides Spaniards Genoese Normans and Picards all Manned with above f Frois c. 50. Ashmole p. 651. 40000 Men Wherefore it behoved him to look to himself Now John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury having also received before this some Imperfect hint of the Strength of the French at Sea g Fox ibid. advis'd the King out of pure Love to his Person and Welfare by no means to Adventure to cross the Sea without a Royal Navy But he looking upon him as one whose blood Age had Frozen and that so he was apt to be timerous without Reason gave him an angry Check and resolv'd to set forward with what Strength he had Whereupon the Good Prelate resign'd his Chancellourship for sorrow and withdrew himself as one says from the Council Thô others h Pilipâ—tâ—s Catal Chancellors p. 39. more probably say that not till after this Expedition he was by the King in his Displeasure remov'd from his Office of Chancellour But when the Lord Morley his Admiral of the Northern Fleet sent him Word of the same and the foresaid Letters from the Duke of Gueldre made the Matter no more to be doubted then i Walsingh hist p. 134. althô he had already near two Hundred Sail yet he sent the Bishop of Lincoln to the Southward Ports and himself rode Northward to Yarmouth where he caused so many Ships more of the Cinque-Ports to be immediately equipped that now at last his Fleet consisted k Stâ—w p. 237. of 260 Vessels Great and Small all well Mann'd with Archers and Men of Arms besides those wherein many young Ladies and other Gentlewomen were to go over to see the Queen III. When he was thus provided at last on the l Ashmole p. 651. 22d of June being m B.A. Dom. Lit. the Thursday before the Nativity of St. John Baptist about the first Hour of the Day in the Name of God and St. George he departed out of the Haven of Orwâ—ll in Suffolk and set Sail for Flanders The n Knighton p. 2577. n 50. next day being the Eve of St. John Baptist and a Fryday about three of the Clock they came to the Coasts of Flanders about Blankeberg where o Frois c. 50. when King Edward p Adam Murimouth saw before him a Fleet so Numerous that their Masts and Streamers made them resemble a great Wood he demanded of the Master of his Ship what People he thought them to be To whom the Master reply'd May it please Your Majesty I take them to be Normans and others set out by the French King to Rob and spoil Your Coasts and if they may to take Your Majesties Person And among these I doubt not but We shall find those very Men who burnt Your Good Town of Southampton and took Your two good Ships the St. Edward and the Christopher Ha! said the King I have a great while desired to Fight with the Frenchmen and now by the Grace of God and St. George I shall Fight with some of thew if I may For surely they have done me so many Displeasures that I shall make them pay Dearly for all if God shall enable me Then * Knighton p. 2577. n. 50. 60. he commanded the Lord Reginald Cobham Sr. John Chandos and Sr. Stephen de la Burkin to take Land and to ride along by the Shoar to view the Countenance of the Enemy These Gentlemen rode so near that they saw all their Order and that the whole Fleet was divided into Three Squadrons being as they guess'd 400 Sail more or less all riding in the Harbour of Sluce among which they saw 19 Ships so Large they had never seen so many the like before whereof the Chief they knew to be the Christopher a Ship of England And having made this Discovery at their leisure for all Flanders was then free for Englishmen they return'd to the King who would needs for that time be Admiral of the Fleet himself and gave him an Account of what they had learn'd But by this time the Evening began to approach and therefore the King commanded to cast Anchor resolving to have the Day before him and to begin the Fight next Morning On the next day being a Saturday and the q Knighton p. 2578. Stow p. 237. Feast of St. John Baptist early in the Morning the French Fleet came forth of the Haven in good Order about the space of a r Adam Murimouth Mile approaching towards the English in Three Squadrons The French Writers indeed say that Sr. Peter Bahuchet would by no means permit them to quit the Haven but this is no way agreeable to the Fame of that Admiral the Harbour being a place too narrow for them to accept of a Battle in * Engl. Aâ—l. 4 Vol. p. 243. althô it is still accounted capable of 500 good Sail of Ships nor were they very secure there any longer than they were Masters of the Sea For the Men of Bruges King Edward's Friends were ranged in Warlike Order upon the Shoar to watch their Advantage And we find that King Edward took a Compass about in his very Address to the Fight whereby they had their Liberty to come forth So that their Opinion seems to me no better than a vain Pretence thereby to palliate the Truth About Nine of the Clock that Morning the King of England who saw well what they did and was prepared to Engage them set forward towards his Enemies He Å¿ Frois c. 50. had placed all his biggest Ships foremost being well furnished with Archers and other Souldiers and always between two Sail of Archers he Order'd One with Men of Arms He had also set one Squadron to lie aloof as well to keep the French who else might
notwithstanding the Popes Interdict open'd the Churches there and celebrated Divine Service without the least hesitation Whereupon the Fears of the Flemings were abated as such whom the Pope himself so much above all others could not materially endammage The mean while the French King having understood for certain of his great Loss at Sea brake up and dislodged from before Thine with his Son the Duke of Normandy at the same time that the Earl of Hainalt departed on the other side and drew towards Arras the chief City of Artois having dismist the greater Part of his Forces till they might hear other news from him But immediatly he sent the Lord Godmar du Fay with a good Number of Men of Arms to the City of Tournay to look that nothing was wanting there for he had an Eye especially upon the Flemings Wherefore he also sent the Lord of Beaujeu to Mortagne to keep the Frontiers against Hainalt and in like manner he provided for St. Omers for Aire for St. Venant and all the Fortresses fronting on Flanders VII It may be remembred that we spake x L. 1. c. 13. §. 9. p. 146. a little before of King Robert of Sicily of whom again we have something more to say his Zeal for the House of France bringing him again in our Way Now this Robert being the Son of Charles the Second King of Sicily and Naples was also nearly alli'd to King Philip of France y Odoric Raynald ad an 1339. §. 39. being his Uncle for his Sister the Lady z Mezeray 2 par 3 tâ—m p. 31. Margaret being formerly given in Marriage to Charles Earl of Valois was by him Mother to the said King Philip. This Robert at that time excelled all the Kings of Christendom in humane Learning especially in the more recondite Parts thereof but chiefly as we have intimated before he addicted himself to the Study of Astrology which he did with so good success that either from the Regular Conclusions of that Science for certainly that Study cannot be called wholly trivial or vain without as much Rashness as Ignorance or by some Natural Impulse or by Divine Direction and Inspiration he drew this for an undoubted Maxim That it was given to King Edward of England to succeed prosperously in all his Personal Undertakings So that both before at Vironfoss as we have related and now also again he warned the French King and his Council that King Philip should by no means adventure a pitch'd Battle where the King of England should be present in Person And besides all this he had such a tender and friendly Regard to the fair Realm of France that he us'd all the means possible to set the two Kings at Unity and when at last he found his Endeavours prove unsuccessfull was passionately concerned at the Destruction which he foresaw was coming upon that Famous Kingdom This Pious and Learned Prince was now with Pope a Labbâ— Chron. Techn ad hunc ann Benedict XII and the College of Cardinals at Avignion before whom with Tears he declared the great Miseries that were like to fall upon France by this War between the two Kings most earnestly desiring them to use their utmost Endeavours to reduce them Both to some Friendly Terms of Agreement The Pope and his Cardinals answer'd That for their Parts they both were and always would be ready with delight to promote so good a Work and would willingly bestow their utmost Labour therein if by any means they might obtain a Hearing Accordingly Letters were prepared and sent to the King of England by two Eminent Cardinals Pedro of St. Praxede and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro who had further Instructions to treat with him about a final Peace But these Endeavours being as useless as many the like before we shall say no more of them at this time CHAPTER the SEVENTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Council of his Friends and Allies at Villenort where the Method of the War is agreed on and St. Omers and Tournay appointed to be at one time besieged II. King Edward sends a Challenge to King Philip with the Answer III. King Edward lays Siege to Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies IV. The Earl of Hainalts Exploits and the Assault of the Flemmings upon Tournay V. King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps at Pont a Bouvines VI. The various Rencounters during the Siege VII An Account of a Parliament held at Westminster VIII Scotland recovers breath and takes Edinburgh by Stratagem other Places by Force IX The English Allies before St. Omers raise their Siege and in a Panick fear fly home X. King Edwards and the French Kings several difficulties at the Siege render them both uneasie XI Dr. Norwich comes with Instructions from the Pope to induce King Edward to a Peace The Lady Jane of Valois obtains from the two Kings a time for a Treaty with the manner thereof and the Articles of the Truce XII Vpon Proclamation of the Truce both Armies break up with divers Descants thereupon XIII In a Parliament at Arras the Truce between the two Kings prolonged for two Years XIV The Year concludes with the Death of sundry Great Personages a Notable Victory obtain'd by the King of Spain over the Moors and the Birth of a Princess of England named Blanch of the Tower. I. NOW the time being come wherein the Great Council at Villenort was appointed to meet there came thither accordingly King Edward with his English Nobles as did also all his Friends and Allies in the Empire and in Flanders namely the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Hainault and the Lord John his Uncle the Marquess of Juliers Earl of Cambridge the Lord Robert of Artois the Earl of Mons the Marquess of Nuys the Marquess of Blankeberg the Lord of Valkenberg the Earl of Namur Sr. William of Dunort and Jacob van Arteveld with many other Great Personages and three or four Burgesses from every good Town in Flanders In this Parliament there was a perfect Union Alliance and Concord made between the Three Countries of Flanders Brabant and Hainault that from thenceforward each of them should be aiding and assisting to the other and that if any one of them should either make War against or be warred upon by any other Prince or State thon the other two should take the Part of the Third And that if any Quarrel happen between any two of the foresaid Countries then the Third should be taken as Umpire in the case and if so they should not be able to adjust Matters fully then the whole to be left to the Decision of the King of England to whom the last Appeal was to be made And in Confirmation of this Triple League there was a Law Ordained and Established to be common and current thrô the whole Three Countries which was named the Law of the Allies Here also it was determin'd that two Compleat Armies
to an High Degree as indeed she well merited Then follow the Remembrances for the King to keep promise as to keep the Sea to purvey for the Navy and to defend the Isles of Jersey and Garnsey Sr. Anthony Bath was Order'd to see to the delivery of the Kings Jewells And Conrade Clipping and Godrick de Renley are Assign'd for the Customs of England Then there is the Copy of a Letter sent from the Lords of the Parliament to the King by Sr. William Trussel containing the Grant of the Ninths and their Policy in making present shift for ready Money by Woolls In the Postscript they direct him to buy at Sluce and other Ports of Zealand because the greatest store of Woolls had been convey'd away by stealth To which there is another secret Letter adjoyned sent as it seems from some of the Council to the same Effect And here 's the Substance of this Parliament and the Summe of all the Aid that came to the King during the Siege of Tournay thô it both fell short and came also too late and as is highly probable not till after the Treaty But We are also to remember that in this Parliament King Edward Bailiol was appointed to serve at Carlile with 40 Men of Arms being still allowed 300 l. per annum together with the Mannor of Hexlisham as in the last x I. 1. c. 16. §. 1. p. 180. Parliament And the Earl of Angos and the Lord Piercy were Order'd to set forth the Arrays of Yorkshire Nottingham and Darby to Newcastle upon the Tine and so to the Marches For about this time Scotland began to Raise up her Head again of whose Affairs it will not be amiss in this place to take some Prospect VIII About the time that King Edward Commenced his French Wars the Lord y Buchan p. 297. l. 9. Holinshead Scotl. p. 238. Hector Beeth p. 322. Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland Departed this Life and was buried at Rosmarkie being greatly desired by the Scots for his successfull Valour After his Death the Young Lord Robert Stuart was continued Viceroy till the Return of King David out of France This Lord Robert took up during his Viceroyship the most Successfull Arms against England that ever had been since the Death of King Robert his Uncle But in Process of time when he came to be King himself he first wholly cast off the English Yoke and maintain'd that Kingdom in Prosperity and Honour during his whole Reign as in part we shall shew hereafter But the uncertain and contradictory Reports with the false Computations of the Scotch Writers make it as impossible to give a succinct and exact Account of every Action as it is indeed unnecessary Let this suffice that Scotland being now left more at Liberty by King Edward's Absence while he was busied in the French Wars did by Degrees recover many Great and Important Places which before she had lost thô as yet she was unable to do any Notable Exploit upon the Borders of England And first by the High Valour of Sr. William Douglas all Tividale was clean Recover'd out of the English mens Hands for which piece of Service he was afterwards Rewarded with that Country He also overthrew the Lord John Striveling at Cragings Wan the Castle of Hermitage baffled Sr. Laurence Vaux and took Sr. William Abernethie Prisoner and then by the Lord Robert Stuart was sent into France to King David to Request his Counsel and Assistance in the War because a Tempest was expected from England The mean while the Lord Robert Besieges Perth alias St. Johnston which was by the English Valiantly maintain'd against him for the space of Ten Weeks When the Lord Douglas on a sudden Arrived from France bringing with him into the Tay 5 Ships well furnished with Men Arms and Ammunition the Captains whereof were two Knights belonging to Galliard Castle in France upon the Seyne which was allotted for King Davids Residence also two Valiant Esquires named Giles de la Hoy and John de Breis with a Pirate of great Renown whose Name was Hugh Handpile so that now the Captain of Perth Sr. Thomas Vghtred not being able to hold out any longer after he had z Holinshead p. 239. destroy'd the best Ship that Hugh Handpile had and perform'd all that could be expected was at last enforced to yield up the Town thô not without a Hector p. 322. Honourable Conditions Now beside the foremention'd Captains who were on the Brucean Side Patrick Earl of Dumbar Kenneth Earl of Southerland Sr. Robert Hussey Sr. Simon Frasier and Sr. Alexander Ramsey who were dispos'd about in Garrisons of those parts of Scotland which the English had not won during the space of seven Years made continual War upon the English with various Success sometimes loosing and sometimes winning as well by Open Force as by Surprise Till at last King Bailiol being wholly tired out by these their importune Hostilities retired into England as we shew'd before Thô others say he was brought hither by King Edward either for his own further Security or hoping by his Removal to keep the Scots more quiet or for suspicion of his Loyalty But now while King Edward lay at the Siege of Tournay the French King sent new Supplies of Men and Money into Scotland requesting withall the Lord Robert Stuart to make strong War upon England that by such a Diversion King Edward might be forced to quit the Siege The Scots taking heart upon this Reinforcement not only wan many Fortresses in Scotland but also adventur'd in several Bodies to enter England where they destroy'd the Country almost as far as Durham returning all safe again saving b Holinshead Sâ—ctl p. 238. that the Earls of March and Southerland being encountred by the Lord Thomas Grey of Werke Sr. Robert Manners and John Copland a valiant Esquire of Northumberland were utterly discomfited In short the Scots did so well use this Opportunity of King Edwards Absence c Frois c. 55. f. 31. b. c. that there was by this time scarce any Place of Moment left to the English in all Scotland except Barwick Striveling Roxborough and Edinborough Which last Castle stands on a Rock on an Hill so high that a Man who is no way resisted can yet hardly pass up to the Top without Resting so that it is in a manner impregnable The Captain of this Piece at that time was Sr. Richard Limesi who had so valiantly kept the Castle of Thine l'Evesque against the Duke of Normandy as we shew'd d Vid. l. 1. c. 15. §. 10. p. 174. before and was thereupon Commission'd by King Edward to undertake the Defence of this Place But althô the Strength of the Hold and the Resolution of the Captain were so notorious the Lord William Douglas invented a subtle Device wherewith to recover the Castle and which he discover'd only to three of his chief Companions and Friends Sr. Alexander Ramsey Sir
a due State Counsel and a Treatise thereupon had with the Earls Barons and other Wise Men of our said Realm And for because We never consented to the making of the said Statute but as then it behoved Us We dissembled in the Premises by Protestations of Revocation of the said Statute if indeed it should proceed to eschew the Dangers which by denying of the same We feared to come forasmuch as the said Parliament otherwise had been without any Expedition in Discord dissolved and so our earnest business had likely been which God prohibit in Ruine And the said pretenced Statute We promised then to be Sealed It seemed to the said Earls Barons and other Wise Men that sithence the said Statute did not of our Free Will proceed the same should be void and ought not to have the Name nor strength of a Statute And therefore by their Counsel and Assent We have Decreed the said Statute to be void and the same inasmuch as it proceeded of Deed We have brought to be annulled Willing nevertheless that the Articles contained in the said pretenced Statute which by other of Our Statutes or of Our Progenitors Kings of England have been approved shall according to the form of the said Statute in every point as convenient is be observed And the same We do only to the Conservation and Redintegration of the Rights of Our Crown as We be bound and not that We should in any Wise aggrieve or oppress Our Subjects whom We desire to rule by Lenity and Gentleness And therefore We do command You that all these things You do to be openly proclaimed in such places within your Bayliwick where You shall see expedient Witness my self at Westminster the First day of October the XV Year of Our Reign This is the Famous Revocation which thô put among the Printed Statutes was meerly the Result of the Kings Prerogative Royal and yet in those days Esteemed of sufficient Force and as so afterwards confirmed by Act of Parliament as We shall see two Years hence CHAPTER the NINETEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Philip of France wins the Emperour to his side II. The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward III. King Edwards answer thereto IV. The sudden Death of the Duke of Bretagne without Issue With the several Pretences of the Earl of Montford and Charles of Blois to that Dukedom V. Earl Montford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a. Parliament and goes forth with an Army to conquer his Inheritance VI. He goes into England does Homage to King Edward as true King of France for that Dukedom and implores his Protection VII On Charles of Blois his Complaint to King Philip Earl Montford is Summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France He comes to Paris but being in doubt gets secretly away again VIII The Dukedom adjudged to the Lord Charles of Blois IX King Philip promises unto him his Assistance and confiscates the Earldom of Montford which King Edward requites by giving the Earldom of Richmond unto the said Earl. X. Charles of Blois descends into Bretagne besieges Nantes and takes the Earl of Montford who is sent Prisoner to Paris XI The Countess of Montford prepares to renew the War. XII King Edward keeps his Christmas at Melros Abbey and the Earl of Darby at Roxborough whither certain Scotch Knights come to exercise Feats of Arms. XIII Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son called Edmund of Langley His Christening solemnized with a Feast and Turneament Which is falsly said to have been for love of the Countess of Salisbury XIV A small Digression concerning Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet. XV. The Lord Douglas besieges Striveling and takes it King Edward goes against Scotland with a Royal Army The Scotch Lords offer Conditions to obtain a Truce which are accepted XVI King David of Scotland returns home again raises an Army and enters England lays Siege to Newcastle but leaves it again XVII The Captain of Newcastle rides post with the News to King Edward who prepares for Resistance XVIII King David takes and destroys the City of Durham XIX He lays Siege to the Castle of Werke the Story of King Edwards Amours with the Countess of Salisbury exploded XX. The Captain of the Castle passes thrô the Scotch Host in the Night to hasten King Edward to his Relief On Knowledge whereof the King of Scotland Retires XXI King Edward comes before the Castle of Werke and the next Day follows the Scots XXII A Truce taken between the two Kings with the several Reasons inducing them thereto The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted their Ransoms I. ALL this while thô the Truce between France and England had more than Two Years to continue King Philip knowing that Truces are but Opportunities for Wise Enemies to improve to their Advantage like a Politick and Wary Prince thought good to take this time to recruit himself and to provide more strongly against a War which the Competition for a Crown seem'd to Entayl to future Ages And first after King Edward's own Method he desired to Establish himself with the Accession of some Powerfull Friends The Flemings he could by no means expect to prevail with while Jacob van Arteveld bore any Authority among them and the Earl of Hainalt was too much incensed to be wrought upon and the Duke of Brabant and other Lords of the Empire were still hamper'd in the Triple League made at Villenort Nor indeed did it seem feasable to gain any great footing in the Empire till the Emperour himself might be brought over The Emperours Friendship therefore seem'd as more considerable so upon many Accounts more attainable Lewis the Emperour had now to Wife the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to Jane of Valois King Philips Sister Besides he knew him extream desirous to be Reconciled to the Church if he might obtain Absolution from the Pope on no Dishonourable Conditions and King Philip had at that time the Popes Keys under his Girdle the Court of Rome being at Avignon in France The Emperour therefore he now secretly and effectually plyes by the Popes Letters and his own Ambassadors offering him both Temporal and Spiritual Advantages great Gifts and Pensions together with a Frank and easie Absolution from his long-continued Excommunication These things took with him so well that he presently sent unto King Edward these his Letters of Revocation II. a Walsingh hist p. 146. n. 30. Fox Acts and Monum p. 351. Stow p. 238. Odâ—ric Rainald ad hunc annâ—m §. 12. c. Lewis by the Grace of God Emperour of the Romans always Augustus to Edward King of England his Beloved Brother Greeting and unfeigned Love. Althô innumerable and arduous Affairs do lie upon our shoulders and We are variously and perpetually encumbred about them yet notwithstanding when the Discord arisen between You and Philip King of France our Beloved Cosin which unless it be appeased may for the future bring forth both to You and to your
Calamity both to Us and Our Subjects unless We take more sound and speedy Care in this Matter For the Right of Patronage which We and Our Subjects have in these Benefices is thereby infringed Our Court in which only Cases concerning the Right of Patronage to the said Benefices ought to be discussed is deluded and so the Rights of our very Crown are both shamefully and to our great Detriment invaded the Treasure of our Kingdom exported to Foreigners not to say to our Enemies perhaps with this subtle Intent that thus the Priesthood of the Kingdom being depressed and its Wealth exhausted the Realm it self may be rendred more weak against the Storms of Adversity All which Incommodities together with others which follow from the Premises were lately made manifest unto Us in our Parliament by the Community of the said Realm together with their Unanimous and Earnest Petition subjoyned that We would speedily prevent the foresaid Mischiefs which seem utterly insupportable to our said Community We therefore by this their Representation plainly beholding the Depression of the Church of England and the Disherison of our Crown with all the foresaid Evils which if longer dissembled would probably very much encrease do now refer them unto You who are the Successour of the Prince of the Apostles who received Command from Christ to Feed and not to Sheer the Lords Sheep and to confirm and not depress his Brethren heartily requesting that duly weighing and considering the Premises how of Right Magistrates are to be created from among the People and that according to the saying of the Prophet They shall make Vinedressers of the People from the same place Which We read to have been the Practise of the blessed Apostles when they set over the Converted Heathen Persons who had knowledge of their tongues And also remembring that Exuberance of Devotion wherewith our Royal Family and the Clergy and People of our said Kingdom have hitherto continued in the Obedience of the said See wherefore Your Paternal Affection ought not to heap Burthens and Grievances upon them but rather as a Father who lays up for his Children to alleviate the Weight of the said Impositions and Provisions and Burthens which thus arise from the Apostolick See Permitting further that Patrons may not lose their Right of Patronage and that the Cathedral and other Churches of the said Kingdom may have their free Elections and the Effects thereof Which Churches our said Progenitors have long since upon each of their Vacations freely of their Royal Prerogative confer'd on fit Persons and afterward at the Request and instance of the said See have under certain Forms and Conditions granted that the Elections should be made in the said Churches by the Chapters of the same which Grant was also on due deliberation confirmed by the Apostolick See. But yet now against the Form of the Concession and Confirmation of the said Churches the said See by these her Reservations and Provisions doth take away the said Elections from the said Chapters and from Us also our Right and Prerogative which according to the Form of the said Concession belong unto Us in this part wherefore by the Law of our said Kingdom since the Conditions of our Grant are not observed the Concession it self is revolved unto Us again and the whole state of the Matter reverts to its Original Upon the Premises therefore We pray that your Goodness would vouchsafe to the Honour of God and the salvation of Souls and also to take away the foresaid Scandals and Prejudices to provide a speedy and wholsome Remedy that We and our Subjects who desire as We ought to Revere your most Holy Person and the Holy Roman Church these Intolerable Evils being once removed may rest in the sweetness of your Fatherly Love and that our Devotion may flourish again being refreshed by the Clemency of your Pious Moderation extended unto Us The most High preserve You in the Government of his Church many and happy Days Given at Westminster the 26 of September in the 4 Year of Our Reign of France and of Engalnd the 17. This Letter is said to have been of such force i Walsing Brit. Antiq. in titulo hujus Epistolx that neither the Pope nor his Cardinals could tell reasonably how to answer it for that time wherefore they were obliged to comply therewith King Edward notwithstanding what Odoricus Rainaldus says by Advice of his Parliament k Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 922. proceeded to prohibit these Collations and Provisions in his Realm on pain of Imprisonment and Death it self Wherefore the Pope seeing him proceed with so High an hand thought fit somewhat to dissemble the Matter for fear of exasperating too far till at last by degrees his Compliance gain'd what by severity could not be expected However now We find that King Edward in the beginning of the next Year set forth his Royal Prohibition against the Popes Provisors bearing date 20 of January in the Year of his Reign of England the 18 and of France the 5. But this being extant in Adam Murimouth's Ancient M. S. We shall refer the Curious thither having already as We fear dwelt too long on this Matter And thus as my Author says had the King persevered accordingly he had utterly taken away all manner of Provisions but in such a noise of War as followed he thought it safer now and then to yield somewhat to so * Lat. tam irritâ—b lem patron powerfull a Father than to stand at open Defiance with him And now to the Wars of Bretagne wherein We shall find the King Personally Engaged about this time XIV King Edward according to the Vow he had made to take a severe Revenge for the Death of his Dear Friend the Lord Robert of Artois was within little more then a Moneth after his Death with a great Army ready to take the Sea at Sandwich On the l Ashmole p. 653. Fourth of October He went on board in a Ship called the George and landed at a Port not far from Vannes at the very place where the Lord Robert of Artois had landed after his Fight at Sea with Don Lewis The Kings Preparations m Frois c. 93. were so great that he was three Days in landing all his Warlike Provision and so on the Fourth Day he marched straight to Vannes which he intended to Besiege having before sent to view it the Lord Walter Manny who came to wait on him from the Countess then at Hennebond the Lord John Striveling and the Lord William Fitz-Warine le Frere who upon their return encouraged him to attempt the Place But they knew not how the City was now in an Extraordinary manner provided with all things necessary and many good Souldiers were there under the Command of the former Captains the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon n Knighton p. 2582. n. 40. to whom were added the Lord of Lomine and the Lord of
The Pope writing about the Matter of Provisions gains ground III. King Edward begins his Round-Table at Windsor with the Description Antiquity and Gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip in Emulation hereof sets up also a Round-Table at Paris IV. The Round-Table of Windsor being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was Instituted Five Years after the said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and One far more Ancient and Mystical Asserted V. The time of this First Round-Table of King Edwards with the Manner of its Solemnity The Death of William Montagu Earl of Salisbury occasion'd thereby with an account of his Worth Pedigree and Issue VI. King Edwards Buildings at Windsor and his Institution of the most Noble Order of the Garter with the Names of the First XXVI Founders VII A short View of the Honour of this most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof VIII Word brought to King Edward how King Philip of France had put to Death several Lords of Bretagne his Friends IX King Philips cruelty to the Messengers of this News and King Edwards Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. X. King Edward sends a Defiance to King Philip. XI But is Alarum'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Isles XII King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and to the Frontiers of Scotland XIII And sends a Remonstrance to the Pope with the Popes Endeavours to pacifie him and the Sum of a Parliament at Westminster XIV The Earl of Darby Lands in Gascogne His Actions XV. His Triumphant Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philips Lieutenant before Auberoche XVI Queen Philippa of England deliver'd of a Daughter John Earl of Montford acquitted his Prison Oliver Lord Ingham Senescal of Bourdeaux dies His Issue I. NOW it is to be remembred that whereas in the Articles of the Truce AN. DOM. 1344. An. Regni Angliae XVIII Franciae V. it was agreed that each Party should send their Commissioners to the Court of Rome in order to hold a Treaty of Peace before the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24 of June following King Edward upon more mature Deliberation and Advice wrote unto the Pope a Oderi◠Rainald ad an 1343. §. 24. desiring the Term to be prolonged unto the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin or the 8 of September That in the mean while the Earl of Montford who in the beginning of the Wars of Bretagne had been taken Prisoner at Nantes might be restored to his Liberty and that King David of Scotland might be admonished to keep the Truce Religiously But whatever King Edwards Meaning hereby was the Pope being jealous that he had his thoughts upon War b Tem. 3. Secr. Epist 718. extat etiam in M.S. Arch. Vat. de rebus transmarin p. 63. Odoric Raynald ad an 1344. § 4. wrote earnestly unto him in the beginning of this Year taking occasion from the late Winning of Smyrna from the Turks by the Christians to exhort him to turn his victorious Arms against the Enemies of Christendom where he should find such matter for his Sword as would crown his Name with Immortal Honour And that he would seriously resolve on Peace with France in order to distress the Pagans Dat. Avin Kal. Februarii Ano. Pontificatûs nostri III. To the same purpose also he wrote to the French King who according to the First Agreement made in the late Truce sent his Ambassadors to the Court of Rome at Avignion where they were punctually met by King Edwards Commissioners c Ashmole's Garter p. 653. Walsingh hist p. 153 Holinshead p. 921. who were Hugh le Despenser or Spencer Lord of Glamorgan Ralph Lord Stafford William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Sr. William Trussel and Andrew Hufford a Civilian Their Commission bearing Date 20 Maii gave them Authority to treat in Presence of the Pope not as a Judge but private Person and Friend to both Parties with the Agents of his Cousin the Lord Philip de Valois upon the King 's Right to the Crown of France as also upon whatsoever Dominions Dignities Honours Lands Possessions Places and Rights appertained to Him concerning which any Controversie had risen between them or was like to arise And d Ashmole ibid. on the 19 of August following another Commission issued forth containing the same Powers to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Darby Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolk Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan Ralph de Nevil Bartholomew de Burghersh John le Grey de Ruthyn Reginald de Cobham and Thomas de Bradestan Barons of the Realm William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln John de Hufford Archdeacon of Ely Robert Herward Archdeacon of Taunton and Andrew de Hufford Professor of the Civil Law or to any 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 or 3 of them who were to treat before his Holiness of the King their Master 's Right to the Crown of France not as before a Judge but only as a Private Person and Common Friend not in Form or Judicial Manner of Proceeding Here again was the Kings Right stated by the English before the Pope and several Cardinals with all the Arguments e § Dr. Stillingfleet's M. S. n. 8. which may be seen at large in the M.S. of the Reverend and Learned Dean of St. Paul's at the Title De jure titulo Regis Angliae ad Coronam Regnum Franciae Primò factum praesupponitur sequuntur Rationes Argumenta pro utrique Parte It begins thus Philippus Filius sancti Lodovici Rex Francorum genuit Philippum dictum Pulchrum Carolum de Valois Eidem Philippo filio sancti Lodovici successit in Regno Philippus Pulcher ipsius Primogenitus qui decessit relictu tribus Filtis videlicet Lodovico Philippo Carolo unâ Filiâ videlicet Dominâ Isabellâ Reginâ Angliae quae vivente Patre suo peperit Dominum Edvardum tunc Regem Angliae c. And so it goes on propounding Arguments and solving Objections of all sorts by the Laws of the Tables by Reason by Example and Scripture but because most of these things have been touched before we shall only instance a little in the Objection of his Homage done to the King of France and in the Famous Question of the Salique Law which latter was yet little on either Side insisted on in those days Nec Homagium quod fecit Rex Angliae Possessori Regni Franciae sibi nocebit quia prastitit Homagium ut Dux Aquitaniae ergo si veniat alio jure ut proximier Masculus in gradu non ut Dux sibi non nocebit Quia dicitur in Textu ei qui alio jure venit quà m eo quod amisit non nocet id quod perdidit sed prodest id quod habet c. Praetereà praestitit Homagium ut Ducatum
And we find remaining upon this Registry of True Glory no less than Eight Emperours of Germany Five French Kings Five Kings of Denmark Three Kings of Spain Two Kings of Scotland before the Realms were happily United Five Kings of Portugal Two Kings of Sweedland One King of Poland One King of Bohemia One King of Aragon Two Kings of Castille Two Kings of Naples Two Arch-Dukes One Duke of Guelderland One Duke of Holland Two Dukes of Burgundy Two Dukes of Brunswicke One Duke of Milain Two Dukes of Vrbin One Duke of Ferrara One Duke of Savoy Two Dukes of Holstein One Duke of Saxony and One Duke of Wertemberg Seven Count Palatines of the Rhyne Four Princes of Orange One Marquess of Brandenberg all Strangers besides many other Worthies and Persons of the Highest Rank and Vertue both at home and abroad to the Number of well near 500 since the First Institution All whose Names together with the Escutcheons of their Arms are still remaining Engraven on Square Plates of Mettal affixed to their several Stalls in the most Beautifull Chappel of St. George and every Knights Banner is set up over his Head during his Natural Life So that We may justly conclude with our Learned Selden that it exceeds in Majesty Honour and Fanie all Chevalrous Orders in the World. VIII No less Designs than these busied the Active Mind of this Illustrious Monarch when he met with any Respit from War which now is hasting on apace For while by the Device of his Round Table He was thus laying a Foundation for this Royal and Heroick Institution King Philip of France who already had begun to countermine him with another Table of his Erecting at Paris and was extreamly offended with whatever King Edward went about began to be jealous of certain of his Lords and others who hitherto had served him faithfully as if they secretly for all that favour'd King Edwards cause Whether that was True or no whereof they were suspected is no where made appear but however King t Frois c 99. Mezerâ—y p. 21. Philip under pretence of a Solemn Tourneament which he then held at Paris in imitation of King Edwards at Windsor as we shew'd train'd thither the Lord Oliver Clisson with ten or twelve other Lords of Bretagne in company of the Lord Charles of Blois and there the most Loyal and Valiant Lord Clisson was suddenly by the jealous Kings Order apprehended and clapt up in Prison no Man being able to imagine for what reason unless that because King Edward had chose rather to release him by Exchange for the Lord Stafford he was therefore suspected to be a secret Friend to the English And notwithstanding that he had so gallantly recover'd Vannes from the English and at the same time had rid King Philip of the Lord Robert of Artois one of his most mortal Enemies nowwithout any Process or hearing he was adjudged to be drawn thrô the City to the Place of Execution where u Fabian p. 272. he lost his Head and after that his Body was hanged in Chains upon a Gibbet and his Head sent to Nantes in Bretagne where it was advanced upon a Pole over the Gates of the City To the great x Mezeray p. 21. Astonishment of all Men and the infinite Regret and Indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till now was not used to be shed but in Battle for that Cruel Princes quarrel This Lord Clisson left behind him a young Son named Oliver as his Father was him his Relations upon this Disaster took up presently and carry'd unto the Countess of Montford where he was bred up with her young Son John who was just about the same Age with him Soon after there died in the same manner and for as little matter Sr. John and Sr. Godfry de Malestroit the Father and Son two Valiant and Worthy Bretons also Sr. John de Montauban Sr. William Bruce Sr. John Cablet and Sr. John du Plessis Knights and John Malestroit Nephew to the foresaid Sr. John the Elder Esquire as also Robert Bruce John and David de Sennes Esquires Shortly after there were also Executed in Paris or as some say y Frois c. 99. starved to Death three Valiant Knights of Normandy Sr. William Bacon Sr. Richard Percy and Sr. Rouland de la Rochetessone all whose Heads were sent to Carentan a Chief City in Normandy which afterwards proved the utter Ruine of that Place as we shall shew Sr. Godfry of Harecourt himself who was Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother of the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had been served in no better manner but that he wisely kept aloof nor would he by any means obey King Philips Summons but at last despairing of any tolerable security in those parts he came over into England to King Edward who received him gladly and made good use both of his Valour and Counsel in the following War whereof he became a second Firebrand as the Lord Robert of Artois had been before him And King Philip after his old manner to enflame the business the more proceeded against him with an High Hand and openly proscribed him as a Traytor and Enemy to the Crown of France but King Edward on the other hand being then again at Enmity with Philip called him Cousin allowed him an Honourable Maintenance and made him one of the Marshals of his Host But this happen'd after the Death of the Lord Clisson z Frois c. 114. almost a Year Thus King Philip when he should rather have endeavoured of Enemies to make Friends by his rash severity and want of Princely connivence and temporizing a little rendred even many of his own Subjects Enemies unto him IX Of the first part of this Tragedy King Edward had News immediately for while a Frois c. 101. at Windsor he was busied in preparing his Round-Table of which we have spoken Mr. Henry b Fabian p. 273. Malestroit a Deacon in Holy Orders Master of the Requests to King Philip and younger Brother to Sr. Godfry of Malestroit whom the said King had unjustly put to Death came over to England in deep displeasure and told the King complaining unto him most lamentably of the Death of his Father Brother and Cousin and how cruelly and without all Reason King Philip had Executed several other Lords Knights and Esquires and especially the noble Lord Clisson who had so faithfully and valiantly served against the English only because he had a jealousie that they were secretly King Edwards Friends Wherefore he exhorted him earnestly that since the French King had thereby broken the Truce he would renew the War against him and Revenge the Blood of those his Innocent Friends How King Edward resented this News We shall shew when we have first dispatch'd what concerns this Messengeâ— Mr. Henry Malestroit To him the King presently assigned a place of good Authority in the City of Vannes in Bretagne which was then held of England
abated But by this time his House was so broken up that near upon four Hundred Persons were enter'd in one of whom named Thomas Dennis gave him his Deaths wound thô others say that a certain Cobler whose Father Jacob van Arteveld had formerly caused to be slain followed him so close as he was fleeing into a Stable where his Horses stood that overtaking him he clove his head in sunder with an Ax so that he fell down stark dead upon the ground Thus Jacob van Arteveld who by his Popular Air his Policy and Wisdom had arrived to the most absolute Government of all Flanders was by a sudden turn of Fortune miserably slain on a m Holinshead p. 927. Sunday in the afternoon being the * B. Dom. Lit. Labbè ad hunc an 17 of July There accompanied him in his Death ten other Principal Persons of his Council among whom were a Brother and a Nephew of his besides as many of the Welchmen as made Resistance to the Number of 70 in all the Rest being spared in respect to the King their Master got away safe unto him again as he lay at Scluse waiting for other kind of News than what these Men brought him VI. As n Frois c. 115. for Lewis Earl of Flanders who was then at Dendermonde a City of that part of Flanders which belong'd to the Empire he was very well pleas'd when he heard of the Death of this his old Enemy And yet for all that he durst not put any entire Confidence in the Flemings nor venture as yet to go to Gaunt But when King Edward heard of it he was infinitely displeas'd at the loss of so serviceable a Friend and immediately departed from Scluse and took the Sea again grievously threatning the Gauntois and the whole Country of Flanders and vowing that his Death should be dearly Revenged But for that time he returned into England The People of Flanders expected no less for now when the Murther was known abroad among all the good Towns of that Country they seriously began to consider how ill King Edward would in all likelyhood resent this Matter wherefore in time they determin'd to go and excuse themselves before him especially the Burgesses of Bruges Ipres Cassel Courtray Oudenarde Antwerp and Franker And it was high time for them so to do for the Parliament of England had o Sr. Winston Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 24. already made their humble address to the King to break the Peace with Flanders Presently therefore they sent after the King into England to request his safe Conduct that they might come according to their Duty to make their excuse And this the King at last yielded to his first fit of Passion being blown over So that about Michaelmas certain Burgesses of the best Quality came from all the Towns of Flanders except Gaunt only for as yet the King would not permit any of them to see his Face The Rest were introduced before the King then at Westminster where they humbly excused themselves of being any way accessory to the Death of Jacob van Arteveld and sware solemnly that they knew nothing of the Matter till it was done and that if they had he was the Man whom to the best of their Powers they would have defended and that they were extreamly concerned for his Death for he had governed their Country very Wisely and to their great Advantage They added further that the Gauntois themselves who had done this barbarous Act should make satisfaction therefore And they told the King and his Council that althô this Man was Dead yet the King of England was not a jot fallen in the Love and Fidelity of the Good People of Flanders as he should find in all things except what pertained to the Inheritance of Flanders which they said the Flemings were resolved by no means to presume to give away from the Right Heirs They said also to the King Sir You have a Fair and Noble Progeny both Sons and Daughters and as for the Prince of Wales your Eldest Son he cannot choose but be a great Prince without the accession of Flanders But then Sir You have a Young Daughter and We have a Young Lord the Earl's Son who is the Heir Apparent of Flanders and he is now in our Custody So that if it please You to make a Match between a Daughter of Yours and this Lord the Earldom of Flanders will be for ever after in the hands of your Posterity From these words of theirs we are to observe a Mistake of p Mez. p. 24. Mezeray's who tells us how they offer'd King Edward a Daughter of their Earls to be Married to his Son the Prince of Wales when as we can find no Daughter that Lewis had nor could such a Marriage have signifi'd any thing to the Prince of England when there was a Son also living who was to inherit Flanders and besides before this Offer a greater Match had been q Sandford p. 184. ex Pat. 19. Ed. 3 p. 3. m. 11. this Year proposed between the Prince of Wales and a Daughter of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal The Flemings also added at the same time how r Holinshead p. 927. they doubted not to perswade the Earl their Lord to do Homage unto the King of England till when they promised not to receive him These and the like Protestations somewhat pacified the Kings displeasure so that soon after the League between England and Flanders was renewed and the Death of Jacob van Arteveld was quite forgotten Thô he left a Young Son Philip behind him who after King Edwards Death became as Great in Flanders as ever his Father had been and by involving those People in new Combustions occasion'd a severe Revenge of his Fathers Blood by the Lives of many thousands of the Flemings As may be seen in the Stories of Flanders and particularly in the second Volume of Froisards History However the Earl of Flanders would by no means consent to make his Homage to the King of England but remain'd still firm to the French Interest and Title whereby his Troubles continued till the next Year he lost his Life fighting against the English in the Famous Battle of Cressy to which we are now hasting VII About this time ſ Frois c. 116. vid. Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 155. Prince William the Young Earl of Hainalt Holland Zealand and Friseland King Edwards Brother in Law having also met with some Rebellion among his Subjects both of Holland and Friseland resolved to reduce them both to a sense of their Duty and first he went and laid Siege to Vtrecht in Holland where one Robert van Arckell was Governour against him after a long Siege he wan the Place and took his Pleasure of his Enemies making t Eng. Atl. ibid. five Hundred of the Principal Citizens come forth bare headed and bare footed and beg his Pardon And shortly after in the Moneth of * Giov.
Villant p. 862. l. 12. c. 53. September he went from Dort in Holland with a great Fleet of Valiant Souldiers gather'd from Hainalt Flanders Brabant Holland Guelderland and Juliers to take Revenge of his Rebells of Friseland For he claimed to be Lord thereof and it was indeed his by Right if the Frisons had not been of Barbarous and Unreasonable Principles But here at last it was his ill Fortune to be met by the Frisons in a narrow passage near Staveren where being unknown he was presently slain before any of his Friends could come up to his Assistance He was a Prince of high Merit and a most Famous Souldier whereof for the short time he lived u Tâ—â—e's stcrehouse p. 721. he gave many good Testimonies in his Wars against the Saracens and Moors in the Kingdom of Granada and against the French in the behalf of his Brother in Law the King of England also in his Victories in Lithuania and Livonia and against the Russian Infidels where he loaded himself with Honour and his Men with spoil and booty Lastly in his Conquest of Vtrecht and his frequent Victories over the Frisons till this unhappy encounter wherein he lost his Life He died without Issue whereupon he was succeeded by his Eldest Sister Margaret the Empress whose Son William of Bavaria was Earl after her Decease Which William Married the Lady Mathilda Daughter to Henry Plantagenet now Earl but then Duke of Lancaster by whom yet he had no Issue There was slain at the same time with this Young Valorous Earl of Hainalt his Sisters Son William x Giov. Villani p. 862. c. Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge a Lord of great Power and Valour and while he lived a sure Friend both to him and King Edward His Uncle Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont was y Frois c. 116. not in Friseland at the time of this woefull chance but soon after coming thither when he was told of the Death of his Nephew he rag'd like a Man distracted and would immediately have taken the Field against the Frisons But he was hinder'd by his servants and especially Sr. Robert Gluves who was his Armour-bearer and by a Dutifull Violence forced him into his Ship against his Will. So he return'd into Holland with a small Company and came to St. Geertruydenberg where he found the Young Lady his Niece late Wife to the said Earl named Joan the Duke of Brabant's Eldest Daughter who being informed of this heavy loss went and lived disconsolate in the Land of Binche about three Leagues Eastward of Mons z Vid. c. 10. §. 6. p. 114. which had been assign'd her for her Dowry The Government of Hainalt was menag'd by the Lord John till the Empress Margaret his Niece came thither to take Possession in her own Person VIII After this News was spread abroad in France King Philip whom it became to be vigilant about this own Advantage began to think how he might bring over the Lord John of Hainalt to his Side now the Earl was dead with whom since his Invasion of his Lands he could never have hopes of Reconciliation But the Lord John's Resentments he knew were not so deep wherefore he spake to Guy Earl of Blois who had married the Lord John's Daughter and had by her three Sons Lewis John and Guy besides the Lord Charles whom he had by a former Venter to use his Interest with him to bring him over to the French Side and he himself also by his Royal Letters assured unto him greater Revenues in France than he had in England which he promised to assign unto him in Lands where he should think best himself But to all these Arguments the Noble Lord was wholly Deaf for he consider'd that he had spent all the slower of his Youth in the King of Englands Service and ever found great Favour and Love from him wherefore now he had no mind to leave him When the Earl of Blois saw there was no sixing on him this way he resolved to try another and first to win the Lord of Saginelles his Chief Companion and Counsellour and so by his means to work further upon the Lord of Beaumont This Man being soon gain'd as one that had no such Obligation to England it was agreed between him and the Earl of Blâ—is to make the Lord John believe that King Edward would no longer pay him his usual Pension but had absolutely refus'd upon Demand to pay it to his Use as he had been wont This Device took for the Lord John without enquiring into the Bottom of it was so displeas'd at this supposed Unkindness that he forthwith renounced his Service and Good-will which hitherto he had born to King Edward The French King hearing hereof sent immediately sufficient Deputies to him and chose him of his Council and retained him in his Service for War at certain Wages assigning him moreover in France as much Land or more than he had in England But to require the Loss of these four Friends of King Edward's Earl William his Uncle John the Marquess of Juliers and Jacob van Arteveld about a Frois c. 114. this very time came over to his Side the Couragious and Politick Lord Godfry of Harcourt Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother to John Earl of Harcourt He had been once as Dear to King Philip of France as any Lord of his whole Realm but on b Fabian p 271. Occasion of a Quarrel between his Brother and Sr. Robert Bertram Marshal of France which was hugely fomented by Partakers on both Sides he so greatly displeased King Philip that if he could have got him into his Power 't was concluded he had found no better usage than the Lord Clysson had done before But he having timely Notice from his Friends withdrew into Brabant to the Duke his Cousin by whom when all his Lands were seised on by King Philip he was advised to go into England and proffer his Service to the King there He did so and was welcome to the King who received him with large Demonstrations of Good-will and made much use of him in his following Wars And this Displeasure of his cost the Realm of France dearly especially the Dukedom of Normandy for there the sad Effects thereof were seen an hundred years after IX In the Close of the foregoing Year it may be remembred c c. 22. §. 1â— p. 312. how we spake of the Deliverance of John Earl of Montford who claim'd the Dukedom of Bretagne from Prison And that by Vertue of the Truce King Philip was obliged in a manner to give him his Liberty but it was done with this Proviso that he d â—â—bian p. 270. should not go into Bretagne nor make the least offer to intermeddle with the Affairs of that Country Notwithstanding this Tye of his Promise Earl Montford took the first Opportunity to make his Escape into England as he did about
own Castle called Castillon upon the Dordonne where he found the Frenchmen who had invested it the Day before and made a vigorous Assault or two but to little Purpose The English immediatly set spurs to their Horses and assailed the Frenchmen with such fury that after a sharp and hard Rencounter they totally routed them having slain and taken Prisoners no less than 2000 Foot and 400 Horse among whom the Seneschal himself and many other Persons of Quality were taken The Residue made their escape by reason of the Weariness of the English in obtaining this Victory Many such Successes the Earl of Lancaster had against several of the French Detachments which either Himself or some of his Captains Chanced to meet with So that the Duke of Normandy was in a manner besieged himself by him and his Garrisons for he durst never send out any Parties but in very considerable Numbers whereby he was not without his difficulties Neither was he able as oft as need required to get in sufficient Provision for the Army for fear of the Earl of Lancaster who thô he was not strong enough to raise the Siege yet so well watched his Advantages that the Besiegers were likely to be soon wearied out CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward resolved in Person to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament at Westminster and takes Order for the Government and Defence of the Realm during his Absence II. He sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy III. Vpon his Landing he Knights his Son Edward Prince of Wales and together with him certain young Noblemen IV. King Philip hearing of his Adversary's Landing sends some Troops to defend Caen against him V. A cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to the Crown of France VI. King Edward marches thrô Normandy in Hostile Manner VII King Philip prepares to oppose him VIII King Edward takes St. Lo and Caen. IX Two Cardinals sent to him from the Pope to exhort him to Peace but in vain While he tarries at Poissy to repair the Bridge in order to get over the Seyne he sends a Defiance to King Philip with different Remarks thereupon X. King Philip goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives an Answer of his Challenge from King Philip to which he replies His Progress thrô France XI King Edward's Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Men of Poix being found Treacherous are put to the Sword. XII King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme the French King following with a great Army The Opinion of some Authors as to his Flight examin'd XIII A French Prisoner offers to shew King Edward a Passage over the Somme Which yet King Philip for fear of the worst had guarded XIV King Edward passes the Somme at Blanche ttaque and discomfits those that kept the Passage XV. King Philip displeased hereat returns to Abbeville for that Night while King Edward prepares to receive him and encamps in the Fields of Cressy I. THE mean while King Edward had full Information from the very beginning of the Duke of Normandy's Descent into Guienne and had particular Notice from the Earl of Darby of all the Occurrences in those Parts from time to time Wherefore he resolved to go now in Person to save his Lands and succour his Loyal Friends and Subjects But first to settle Matters at home He held his High Court of Parliament a Holingshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. at Westminster about the Season of Lent where he took into his own Hands all the Profits Revenues and other Emoluments which the Cardinals and other Foreign Clergy held within the Land for he thought it not reason that those who favour'd the Pope who was b M.S. Author is Anâ—nymi ea Vaticano sign n. 3765. in Clem. Vl. Odoric Rain ad ann 1342. §. 6. a Frenchman born and the French King who was his Adversary should enjoy any such Promotion or Advantage in his Realm Here he Order'd that all his Justices throughout his Dominions should renounce and utterly forbear taking of Pensions Fees Bribes or any Sort of Gratuities which before they were found to receive both of Lords Temporal and Spiritual and Others that so their Hands being free from Bribery Justice might be by them more purely and uprightly administred For this Pious Prince then thought he might expect a Blessing upon the Justice of his Cause when he took Care that his Subjects might meet with Righteous Judgment Here therefore it was that a Form of Oath was drawn up for all Justices which thô in the Book of Statutes falsly placed in the 18 Year of this King as we observed before in the last Clause of Paragraph XIII doth properly belong to this Place and for its Rarity deserves also to be here repeated Ye shall swear c Statute Beck p. 88. that Well and Lawfully Ye shall serve our Sovereign Lord the King and his People in the Office of Justice and that Lawfully You shall Counsel the King in his Business and that Ye shall not Counsel nor assent to any thing which may turn him in Damage or Disherison by any Manner Way or Colour And that Ye shall not know the Damage or Disherison of him Whereof Ye shall not do him to be warned by your self or by other That Ye shall do even Law and Execution of Right to all his Subjects Rich and Poor without having Regard to any Person And that Ye take not by your self nor by other privily nor apertly Gift nor Rewards of Gold nor Silver nor of any other thing which may turn to your Profit unless it be Meat or Drink and that of small value of any Man that shall have any Plea or Process hanging before You as long as the same Process shall be so hanging nor after the same Cause And that Ye take no Fee as long as Ye shall be Justice nor Robes of any Great Man or small but of the King himself And that Ye give none Advice nor Counsel to no Man Great nor Small in case where the King is Party And in case that any of what Estate or Condition they be come before You in your Sessions with Force and Arms or otherwise against the Peace or against the Form of the Statute therefore made to disturb Execution of the Common Law or to meance the People that they may not pursue the Law that Ye shall do their Bodies to be arrested and put in Prison And in case they be such that Ye may not arrest them that Ye certifie the King of their Names and of their Misprision hastily so that he may thereof ordain a covenable Remedy And that Ye by your self nor by other privily nor apertly maintain any Plea or Quarrel hanging in the Kings Court or elsewhere in the Country and that Ye deny no Man Common Right d i.e. upon occasion by the Kings Letters nor none other
Mans nor for none other Cause and in case any Letters come to You contrary to the Law that Ye do nothing by such Letters but certifie the King thereof and go forth to do the Law notwithstanding the same Letters And that Ye shall do and procure the Profit of the King and of his Crown with all things where Ye may reasonably do the same And in case Ye be from henceforth found in Default in any of the points aforesaid Ye shall be at the Kings Will of Body Lands and Goods thereof to be done as shall please him As God You help and all his Saints A like form mutatis mutandic was set for the Clerks of the Chancery for which we refer the Reader to the Statute-Book Where also he will find an excellent Statute made 7 Maii Anâ— Reg. Angl. 20. Fr. 7. which is to be refer'd hither Now also the King hearing e Holinshead Eng. Chr. p. 929. Complaints made against the Purveyors of Victuals for his Houshold who under Colour of their Commissions abused the same in taking up whatever they pleased among the Commons at the rate only set in their Commission he caused strict Inquisition to be made of these Misdemeanours and those who were found Offenders in the Premises of which there were many all condemned some to the Gallows and other to Great-Fines whereby the Groans of the Commons ceased and other of the Kings Officers were made more Wary and Discreet Having thus provided for the settlement of Justice during his Absence he f Frois c. 121. left his Queen to the Care of his Cousin John Plantagenet the Young Earl of Kent his Second Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp he g Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 167. ex Rot. c. constituted his Lieutenant of the Realm appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury and others of his Council to assist him And to Watch the Motions of Scotland b Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. he left the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby together with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Lincoln and the Chief Lords of the North But he gave an especial Charge to Sr. Geoffry Witchingham Lord Mayor of London and to John Croyden and William Clopton Sheriffs to take diligent Care of the Peaceable and Quiet Government of the City and particularly he i 20 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 18. 26. commanded them to look after the Spreaders of False News in and about the City and to apprehend all such Persons and lay them up in the Prison of Newgate II. And having thus providently settled Affairs at home k 6 Maii Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 11. dersc vid. Rot. Franc. 20. Ed. 34. 2. m. 2. and sent to the Prior of the Order of Fryers Preachers in London to offer up Prayers that God would please to Protect and Defend him and give his Forces Victory over his Enemies he repaired to his Army which was now ready to go on board And there he spake aloud to all his Captains and Officers which was also communicated to the whole Army l Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872 That he had more Right to the Realm of France upon the account of Queen Isabella his Mother Daughter of Philip the Fair than Philip of Valois had who was Son of the Lord Charles Second Brother which was of the said Philip the Fair who now usurped the said Realm thô he was not in the direct Line but collateral He therefore earnestly desired them to play the Men forasmuch as it was his Resolution to send back his Navy again as soon as ever he was Arrived in the Realm of France Wherefore it behoved them to be Valiant and either to Win the Land with their Swords or resolve to die every Man for they would have no place to flye But that if any one was in doubt or fear to pass the Seas with him he might ev'n stay in England with his good leave To this they all answer'd as it were with one Voice That they would follow him as their Good and Dear Lord with a good Will even to the Death Then the King seeing his Men well disposed to the War deliver'd his Letters close Sealed to the Admirals of his Fleet least it should happen that by force of Wind they should be separated from the Rest in which letters was contained where he would have them Land and commanded them unless they were divided by Storm not to open them till they came to Land. And so he went on board in the Name of God and St. George at m Frois c. 221. Southampton in the close of June with a Fleet of n Mezeray ad hanc an p. 24. ubi 200. Knighton verò 1100 magnas naves 500 mineres ponit p. 1585. n. 40. Stow p. 241. has a 1000 ships of Barthen and Pinaces Speed p. 577. about a 1000 Sail. Gaguin 1100. Grov Villani 6â—0 c. 200 Sail thô Authors vary much in the Number wherein were 4000 Men of Arms 10000 Archers and Footmen of Wales 12000 and 6000 Irishmen The King had with him in his Company the Young Prince of Wales at that time about sixteen Years of Age There was also Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel John Vere Earl of Oxford William Clinton Earl of Huntington Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and of Barons the Young Lord Roger Mortimer the Lord Gerard o Dudg 1 Vol. p. 738. Lisle and his Kinsman the Lord John Lisle the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lords John and Roger Beauchamps the Lord John Moubray the Lord William Ros of Hamlake the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth the Lord William Felton the Lord Thomas Bradestan the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcoate John Lord Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Peter Mauley V. of the Name * Hâ—c nemina â—u sequuntur ad numerum 22. er M. S. Vetust Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. cui titâ—â—us Acta Edvardi Fihi Edvardi Tertii Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Fitz-Walter William Lord Kerdeston the Lord Roger Say the Lord Almaric de St. Amand the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John le Strange the Lord Edward Montagu the Lord Richard Talbot the Lord John Mohun of Dunster William Lord Boteler of Wemme Robert Lord Ferrers John Lord Seymor John Lord Grey William Lord Botreaux the Lord Hugh Spencer the Lord John Striveling Michael Lord Poynings Robert Lord Morley Thomas Lord Ashley John Lord Sutton the Lord Nicholas Cantilupe and Others and of Knights Batchelours the Lord John Chandos the Lord Peter Audeley and the Lord James Audeley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash junior the Lord Thomas Holland the Lord Fulk Fitz Warine Sr. Richard Pembroke and several others There were but a few Strangers at this time with King Edward because his Friends of Germany had fell off together
Confederates convey'd thither their Cattle and other Commodities to be sold Besides which the Maishals of the Host would scour the Country daily and rode often toward Guisnes and Terouenne and to the Gates of Ardres and St. Omers and sometimes to Boulogne and mightily refreshed the Army with Prey which they brought thither in great abundance III. One time especially the f Knighton p. 2588. Earl of Warwick went forth with a Detachment of Men of Arms as far as Terouenne where he heard a Great Fair was then kept Here they sound the Bishop of Terouenne with 10000 Souldiers ready to Defend the Fair but this strength was not sufficient for they were all Worsted by the English the Bishop himself being grievously Wounded and hardly escaping with Life all the Merchandise and Riches of the Fair taken and carried away in Carts and upon Horses to the Camp before Calais to the Infinite Loss of the French and the Comfort and Satisfaction of their Enemies But as to this Action g Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 937. another Reports that the Bishop himself not daring to expect the English fled away to St. Omers leaving the Defence of Terouenne to a Valiant Captain Sr. Arnold D'Andreghan who is said to have made a good Resistance thô in vain For the English enter'd the Place by fine Force slew all his Souldiers and took him Prisoner And having Sacked the City set it on Fire But as for my part I rather encline to believe the first Account because We shall find the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan to be now in Calais and the Bishop could not come with any hope of Protection to St. Omers for that was the same time actually Besieged by King Edwards Friends and Allies of Flanders Brabant and Hainalt who h Knighton p. 〈◊〉 n. 6â— seeing the Great Fortune of the King of England not only sent i 〈◊〉 Voâ—ages 1 Vol. p. 119. 38 Vessels well Mann'd to encrease his Fleet before Calais but also raised an Army by Land werewith they laid Siege to St. Omers and other Places as We shall shew hereafter And these Flemings k Holinshead â—â—gl Coron p. 937. when they understood what the English had done at Terouenne sent out a Party of their own thither who began a new Spoil and Slaughter of those Persons and things which had escaped the English Particularly they fired the Canons Houses and other Religious Places which in Devotion the Earl of Warwick had spared IV. Now there was at this time Captain of Calais a Renowned Knight of Burgundy named l Frois c. 133. John de Vienne afterwards Marshal of France and with him the Valiant Lord Arnold D'Andreghan Sr. John Surrey Sr. Barton Belborne Sr. Godfry de Lament Sr. Pepin de Vermand and divers other Knights and Esquires were there in Garrison all Brave and Resolute Men full of Courage and Loyalty to the King their Master When Sr. John de Vienne perceived that King Edward intended to lye long there he thought to rid the Town of as many useless Mouths as he could and so on a Wednesday being the 13 of September he forced out of the Town more than 1700 of the poorest and least necessary People Old Men Women and Children and shut the Gates upon them Who being demanded wherefore they came out of the Town Answer'd with great Lamentation that it was because they had nothing to live on Then King Edward who was so fierce in Battle shew'd a truly Royal Disposition by considering the sad Condition of these Forlorn Wretches For he not only would not force them back again into the Town whereby they might help to consume the Victuals but he gave them all a Dinner and two-pence a piece and leave to pass thrô the Army without the least Molestation Whereby he so wrought upon the hearts of these poor Creatures that many of them prayed to God for his Prosperity V. Of all this Years Expedition from the time that King Edward wan the City of Caen in Normandy even to this time One of the Kings Chaplains who was present and attended him all along wrote two Letters which for their Authority and further Confirmation of what We have said We here think good to subjoyn The First Letter of Michael Northborough a Dominican Fryer and Chaplain and Confessor to King Edward the Third m m Fox Acts and Mon. p. 504. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Benedicere Debemus Deum Caeli c. We have great Cause to Bless and Magnifie the God of Heaven and Worthily to Confess his Holy Name who hath so wrought his Mercies for Us. After the Conflict at Caen where many were put to the Sword and the City taken and sack'd even to the bare Walls the City of Bayenx immediately yielded of its own accord fearing least their Councils had been discover'd Thence our Lord the King directed his Progress towards Rouen and being at the City of Lisâ—eux there came unto him from the Pope two Cardinals to perswade him to admit of Peace These Cardinals being Graciously Received by the King had this Answer How the King being very desirous of Peace had used all Reasonable Ways and Methods to cultivate it and therefore had made many Fair Overtures and Conditions to the no small Prejudice of his own Cause And even yet was ready to admit of any Reasonable Offer if it might be secured unto him With this Answer the Cardinals being dismiss'd went to the French King the Kings Adversary to Treat and Sound him in like Manner and upon their Return to King Edward offer'd unto him in the French Kings Name the whole Dukedom of Aquitaine in as Ample Manner and as Full Assurance as everthe King his Father had it before him Besides further hopes of Obtaining more if a Treaty of Peace might take Place But forasmuch as that could not satisfie the Kings Mind and the Cardinals had not found the French King so tractable and inclin'd to the study of Peace as they expected they return'd to Avignon leaving the Matter as they found it And so the King Marching forward in his intended journey subdued all the Country and the great Towns without any Resistance of the Inhabitants who all fled and ran away before us God Almighty strack such a terrour into them as if they had lost their hearts So that in this Expedition as the King had taken many Towns and Villages he also subdued several strong Castles and fortify'd Places with little Labour His Enemy being then at Rouën had Raised a Mighty Army yet notwithstanding his Forces were so Numerous he still kept on the other side of the River Seyne breaking down all the Bridges that We might not come over to him And thô the Country was continually harassed spoiled sacked and consumed with fire for more than 20 Miles in circuit yet the French King thô sometimes distant scarce a Mile from us either would not or else durst not for he might have easily passed over the
besides the Prisoners who were David Bruce King of Scotland the Earl of Fife the Earl of Menteith the Earl of Southerland the Earl of Wigton the Earl of Carrick the Earl Douglas with a Brother of his the Lord James Douglas the Lord Robert Vescy the Bishop of Aberdeen and the Bishop of St. Andrews the Lord William Kinaston the Lord William Ramscy the Lord Malcolm Flemin the Lord David Banant the Lord John St. Clare the Lord William Moubray besides those of less Mark. In the Field many Spoils of great Value were taken together with the Holy-Cross of Halyrood House which was found upon the King who bare it about him in confidence of its Vertue and that thereby he should be secur'd from all Danger But he was now spoil'd both of that and other his Jewels which were found about him Now also was all the Booty recover'd which the Scots had taken in this Expedition and all the Provision which they had left for their own use at Hexham or elsewhere and the Chace of them was held as far as m Stow p. 243. Pruddo-Castle and Cerbridge for about 14 or 16 Miles together XII John Copland the Esquire of Northumberland immediately after he had taken his Royal Prey rode out of the Field with him and having Eight of his Friends and Servants in his Company all well mounted and armed never left riding till he had gotten above twenty Miles from the Place of Battle unto the strong Castle of Ogle in Northumberland on the River Blithe whereof He was Captain and then he said He would not deliver the King of Scots to any Man or Woman living but only at the Command of the King of England his Sovereign And so with great Care he apply'd himself to heal the Kings Wounds and sent for his Friends and Allies and others whom he could procure for Money or Friendship to help to defend the Castle because he well knew he must give an exact Account of this his Royal Prisoner The Queen of England tarried in the Field till toward the Evening with her Guard about her at which time most of the English Captains were returned from the Chace unto her But when she heard that an Esquire named John Copland had taken the King of Scots Prisoner and carried him away no Man could tell whither She dispatched a Pursuivant after him with Command to bring forth his Prisoner the King of Scots unto her gently admonishing him that he had not done well in carrying Him away without leave All the Remainder of that Day and the Night following the English Army kept the Field as well for their greater Honour as for the security of their Friends many whereof were still in the Chace But the Queen had Lodgings provided for her in the City of Durham After which she rode back with her Guard to York leaving Edward n Hector Buch. Aiscue's Hist Scotl. Holinsh c. Bailiol and the other English Lords of the North to prosecute the War with Scotland who forthwith entring that Land with fire and sword took the strong Castle of Hermitage for Roxborough was English before and without any Resistance subdued the Countries of Anandale and Galloway the Marches Tividale and Ethrick Forest extending their Arms to Cockburne-Peke and Sowtray-Hedge And thus for that time Scotland was subdued XIII The mean while Esquire John Copland o Frois c. 139. having received and perused the Queens Letters returned this bold Answer That as for the King of Scots he should be safely kept and he would be answerable for his forth coming upon occasion But that He was resolved to deliver him at the Command of no Man or Woman living but only at the Pleasure of his Sovereign Lord and Master the King of England This Answer did not well satisfie the Queen wherefore she sent to the King her Husband who lay before Calais Letters of Complaint desiring to know what he would have done in this case when one of his Subjects refus'd to Obey her Commands And fully enforming him of the Affairs of the Realm particularly of this last Success near Durham King Edward having received these Letters from his beloved Queen sent immediately for John Copland to come over the Sea to him to Calais which Command the Esquire most readily obey'd and having put his Royal Prisoner in safe Custody under the Hands of the Lord Ralph Nevill and other his Friends and Allies he rode thrô England till he came to the Lands end at Dover Where he went on Board a good Vessel arrived safe at the Camp before Calais and so was brought to the Presence of the King. As soon as the King saw him he took him graciously by the hand and said Ha! now welcome my Loyal Esquire that by your Hardiness have taken mine Adversary the King of Scots Sir said the Esquire kneeling if God of his Grace have suffer'd me to take the King of Scots by true Conquest of Arms I think no Man ought to look with an Evil Eye upon me For God of his Goodness may as well send such Fortune to a poor Esquire as to a Great Baron And Sir I humbly intreat Your Majesty not to be displeased with me thô I did not deliver the King of Scots at the Queens Command For Sir I held Service of Your Majesty as mine Oath is also made only to You and not of the Queen but only in Good Manners Besides I did not think fit to commit so great a Prisoner to any small Company least had he been lost by a Rescue I my self had incurr'd the forfeiture of my Head to Your Majesty and thô the Queen sent Messengers indeed yet there came no Forces sufficient to have secur'd his carrying up to London if I had deliver'd him upon Command The King took him up graciously from the ground saying John the good Service that You have done Us and your known Loyalty and Valour are of so high Merit that they must countervail your trespass So that We admit well of your Excuse and shame light on them that bear You any Envy or Evil Will. But now it is our Pleasure that within these three days You return home and upon the next demand deliver up your Prisoner to the Queen my Wife And to encourage You to pursue Honour as well as to requite this last piece of Service I hereby assign You near to your House where You shall think best 500 pounds Sterling of yearly Rent for You and your Heirs for ever Which till it shall be fully settled shall from this day forward be paid You yearly out of my Exchequer and here I make You Esquire for my Body By this we must understand him to be made Knight Banneret as Mr. p Stow ex Re cordo p. 243. Speed p. 580. Stow proves out of the Record who also shews from thence how this Annual Donation was paid viz. 400 l. out of the Kings Custom of the City of London and an 100
Prince Lionel holds another in King Edwards Name at Westminster III. The Pope writes to the King of England to perswade him to Peace King Edward's Answer and Odoricus Rainaldus refuted IV. King Philip attempts to gain the Flemings but in vain The Earl of Flanders returning home is imprison'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England V. King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais VI. The Earl of Flanders by pretending a Compliance gets his liberty and escapes into France VII Two Frenchmen for favouring King Edwards Right put to Death at Paris VIII John Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel in Flanders IX The French make several Efforts to relieve Calais but fail The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. X. Sr. Robert of Namur tenders his Service to King Edward before Calais XI A short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of Durham XII An Account of the Affairs of Bretagne The Battle of Roche d' Arien where Sr. Charles of Blois is taken Prisoner by Sr. Thomas Dagworth XIII Roche d' Arien retaken by the French and the English Garrison put to the Sword by the Men of the Country XIV The French Navy intended to Victual Calais defeated The Calisians thrust 500 Poor out of the Town XV. And send a Letter of their Case to King Philip c. XVI The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philips Approach returns to the English Camp The French Kings Strength he desires Leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings besiege the Town of Aire but upon Philips Approach rise XVII King Philip comes to Sangate near Calais and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer XVIII Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair XIX The Manner how Carais was yielded XX. Calais settled by King Edward XXI A Truce betwen the two Kings King Edward returns for England XXII A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders XXIII Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case I. THE mean while King Philip of France AN. DOM. 1347. An. Regni Angliae XXI Franciae VIII having now about him his Son the Duke of Normandy with his Forces thô he had by this heard also of the great Loss that his Friend the King of Scots had suffer'd for his Sake was not able as yet to attempt any thing against his Enemy of England because of the Winter Season further than that he provided a Frois c. 140. Du Serres for the Cities of Picardy that lay nearest unto Danger and set Men of War in every Fortress in the Marches of Guisnes Artois Boulogne and about Calais But however being desirous to employ that Unactive time of the Year to the best Advantage that he might as well further the next Campagne as also seek the Advice of his Peers Lords and Commons of France he b Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 893 calls a Parliament of the Estates to meet together at Paris on the Palm-Sunday following which fell that Year c Lit. Dom. G. Pasch Kâ—l Apr. on the 25 of March or the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and so became a double Holy-day Requiring all the Barons Prelates and Commons of his Realm to assist him in Leavying a mighty Army against the King of England who lay as then before Calais For he said how he had sworn not to make a Peace or so much as a Truce with his Enemies untill he had taken full Revenge for the Loss he had received at Cressy and of the high Indignities which the King of England had put upon the Crown of France as well by Invading his Realm in Hostile Manner as now by holding a Siege before Calais Which Oath tho it could not be punctually observed yet prov'd a strong Enforcement to assemble together all his Barons Prelates Chief Burgesses and Citizens to his Parliament Here several Ways were in this Great Council devised to raise Mony for the maintenance of his Wars and leavying of two Formidable Armies For King Philip had long since in his Secret Council resolved to carry on the War against England with an High hand this next Campagne Himself intending in Person to go at the Head of one Army against King Edward to raise the Siege of Calais and at the same time to send his Son the Duke of Normandy with another mighty Army into England to attempt the Conquest thereof And upon this latter Point there had been an Ordinance drawn up and contrived called the Ordinance of Normandy of which we shall speak when we come to the English Parliament held at Westminster in the beginning of this Year Now for the Procuring of a sufficient stock of Money for the Kings Service d Du Serres p. 12. it was in this Assembly agreed first of all to call the old Treasures and other Great Officers and Ministers of State to an exact Account for Abusing their Places and embezling or converting to their own Use the Taxes and other the Kings Monies they had been entrusted with and to leavy and raise of all such Offenders Fines and Mulcts proportionable to their Offences And for the future to refer the Government of the Treasury to the most eminent Persons of the Clergy and Nobility thereby to free the People from suspecting that their Contributions were any more like to be ill employed Of this Affair the Abbots of Marmoutier and Corbie are chosen Superintendants to whom Four Bishops and Four Temporal Lords were joyned Assistants Monsieur Peter of Essars Treasurer of France is flung into Prison and condemned in a vast Fine to the King and together with him many other great Officers being condemned whether justly or unjustly yield up that at once for a satisfaction which they had been so long in heaping together the Golden Spunge of Oppression being now squeez'd by the Iron Hand of the Law. Then the Banquers Lombards and other Usurers are call'd to a strict Account for all their unjust Exactions upon the poor Subjects of France The interest is proved to exceed the Principall wherefore the Principal is adjudged forfeit to the King and the Interest to be remitted if not paid or if paid to be refunded to the Debtor who had borrowed the Mony upon such Interest and all the Bonds and Obligations therefore to be cancell'd and made void And yet after e Fabian p. 274. this Wipe the Usurers themselves were not released out of Prison without large Fines to the King. But the chief Honour of this Assembly was that the whole Body tenderly sympathizing with the Head was unanimous to serve the King with their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Crown and Dignity Wherefore at that time they leavied vast Contributions among themselves according to
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
being joyned began to March toward St. Johnston with a Resolution to bring all Scotland to their Subjection the Scots made such humble Instance that they obtain'd a Truce for one Year on Condition to pay immediately to King Bailiol 9000 pounds Sterling Whereupon it was ordained that King Bailiol should reside the mean while in the Castle of Lanerock on the Borders of Galloway with competent Forces for fear of the Scots and the other English Lords and Captains that could be spared returned to King Edward to the Camp before Calais XII We have not of a long while made any mention of the Affairs of Bretagne which now seem not out of season to call upon Us For they are fruitfull of Actions neither unworthy Memory nor foreign to our Purpose and yet can no where be more conveniently handled than in this place and at this time wherein they had their Birth King Edward thô he lay all this while before Calais did yet by his Working Genius actuate and influence more distant parts as we have already instanced in Matters both at Home and Abroad in England Scotland Gascogne and Flanders Now as for what relates to Bretagne we shew'd before e L. 1. c. 21. §. 18. Article 2. p. 283. in the latter end of King Edwards 17 Year that a triennial Truce had settled Matters there In which Truce were comprehended the Kings of France and of Scotland with their Allies however the two said Kings afterwards brake the Truce the One in the first Year by putting King Edwards Friends to Death and the Other not till the Third by invading England whence succeeded the Battle of Durham Yet for all this the Lord Charles of Blâ—s and the Countess of Montfort her husband who brake the Truce being dead kept strictly to the former Articles But now the Truce being to expire in Bretagne also on the 19 of January this Year King Edward thought fit to send some necessary Aid to the Countess as well for his own Honour he having espoused her Quarrel as also with design to weaken his Adversary the French King who had undertaken the Protection of the Lord Charles Wherefore on the f Dagd 2 Vol. p. 148. 10 of January he created Sr. Thomas Dagworth a Valiant Baron of England his Lieutenant and Captain-General in the Dukedom of Bretagne and sent g Frois c. 142. him together with Sr. John Hartwell Sr. Alan h M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 84. p. 117. b. Zouch and Sr. John Lile alias L'Isle from the Siege of Calais into Bretagne with an 100 Men of Arms and 400 Archers who all came in good time to the Countess at Hennebond where they found her attended with her Men of War of whom was Captain Sr. Tanguy de Castelle Breton Bretonant As the Year began to open these English and Bretons began to make their Incursions on those who held for Charles Earl of Blois And sometimes they wan and sometimes they lost as the Course of War is but the Country always suffer'd whoever had the better One day Sr. Thomas Dagworth laid Siege to a good strong Town standing between Pontrieux and Lantriguet called Roche D'Arien in English the Rock of Arrian whose Captain for Sr. Charles of Blois was Sr. Tassart of Guisnes Here he gave many fierce Assaults but the Place was so strong and so well Defended that by force they were likely not much to prevail However whether by secret Intelligence i Du Chesne p. 667. as some say or any other consideration the Majority of the Town enclin'd to the English and seising on their Captain Sr. Tassart said how they would kill him unless he would be for the Countess Hereupon he yielding to their desires they all together deliver'd up the Town to the English who left Sr. Tassart there still as Captain with a sufficient Recruit for his Defence and so went back again for that time with the Countess When Sr. Charles of Blois heard of this k Frois ibid. Du Chesne Vid. Fabian p. 276. Knighton p. 2593 n. 40. 50. Walsingh hist p. 158. Reb. Aveâ—bury Oiov Vallanil 12. c. 92. p. S. 8. Helâ—nshead p. 941. he sware Matters should not go so over long and immediately he sent his Summons both thrô Bretagne and into Normandy among his Friends so that he muster'd at Nantes no less than 1600 Men of Arms 12000 Footmen and 2000 Balisters and he had in his Company 400 Knights and 24 Banners With these Forces he went and laid Siege to Roche D'Arien so lately won by the English here he is said to have used such terrible Engines that neither Walls nor Towers nor any thing else could long resist them perhaps these might be great Ordnance so that thô the Garrison had already sent to the Countess for aid yet by the excessive fury of these Engines which beat down all before them one huge stone or bullet making its way even thrô the Roof of the Chamber where the Captains Wife lay in Childbed to her Infinite Affrightment the Captain and all others were in such a Consternation that they offer'd forthwith to deliver up the Place on Condition they might depart with their Lives and Goods where they would But the Lord Charles being too eager of Revenge and blinded with security refused this Advantageous Offer to his almost utter Ruine For the Countess of Montfort who knew the Condition of her Friends as well as of her Enemies had by this time provided a 1000 Men of Arms and 8000 Footmen whereof Sr. Thomas Dagworth was Principal Leader with Sr. John Lile S. John Hartwell and Sr. Alan Zouch aforesaid under his Command These all agreed to raise the Siege or never to return alive to the Countess and with this Resolution they set forward till they came near to Sr. Charles of Blois his Camp where for that Night they pitch'd up their Tents by the River Trieu designing to fight the next day But when they had all refreshed themselves at Supper Sr. Thomas Dagworth caused half the Host to arm with whom about Midnight he sent forth Sr. John Hartwell commanding him to give a brisk Camisade upon Sr. Charles his Host and then to retire after some Execution in seeming Confusion and as if he was utterly Routed This Brigade went forward and dash'd suddenly into the Lord of Blois his Camp on the nearer-side and beat down Tents and slew much People but being too eager in the pursuit of their good Fortune they tarried there so long that all the Host being come to the Rescue they were so beset that they could not retreat without Battle or downright flight which had exposed them all to the sword of their Enemies When they saw this they were not wanting to themselves in Courage thô so lately they had forfeited their Discretion But they were now already pretty well tired with Action and their Enemies encreased upon them on all Hands so that finally they were overcome
his Preparations were great so they took up much time however in answer to the foresaid Letters he sent word to King Edward that he would shortly come and look upon his Siege and to the Calisians that now he would by no means fail to bring them a speedy and powerfull Succour All this while John Duke of Normandy had made several Offers to draw near Calais with a great Power and sometimes he came within two Leagues and sometimes within three but the English had so drain'd the Countrey that for lack of Victuals he could not subsist thereabout for any time and thereupon as y Knighton ibid. n. 40. some will have it he made that Expedition into Flanders where he had such Success as we have shewn before XVI On the z Knighton p. 2593. n. 60. 18 of July being a Wednesday Henry the Thrice-noble Earl of Lancaster and Darby went from the Siege of Calais about ten Leagues into the Realm of France with a strong Detachment of 800 Men of Arms and 20000 Archers His Design was to go to the General Fair that was held for Cattle of all Sorts near Amiens on the Day of Sr. Margaret the Virgin and Martyr which is kept on the 20 of the said Month of July But when he had rode one Day and a Night intending to have been at the Fair the next Day he received upon the way certain Information that the French King was marching toward Calais with a mighty Army of about 200000 Men. For the Inhabitants of Picardy and Artois had lately sent to King Philip telling him That if he did not make haste to succour Calais and drive the Enemy away they were not able any longer to endure such a Neighbour but must of necessity yield up all their Towns to the King of England Wherefore King Philip made haste and began his March thitherward upon News whereof the Earl of Lancaster hasted back immediately for Calais but however he had in this short Expedition so well ransackt the Country that he brought back with him no less than 2060 Oxen and Kine and more than 5000 Sheep which was a great Refreshment to the Army We shew'd before how the French King had made his Summons commanding all his Lords and Others who held of him to be with him at the General Rendezvous at Amiens by the Feast of a 20 May. Pentecost with their respective Troops There came thither by the time appointed the King of France himself attended with a great number of Nobles and Men of War where the held a solemn and magnificent Feast b Frois c. 144. Du Câ—ejne p. 667. Helâ—â—shead p. 941. Soon after there followed Duke Eudes or Otho of Burgundy as also John Duke of Normandy the Kings Eldest Son and Philip then Earl of Valois afterwards Duke of Orleans his Youngest Son the Duke of Bourbon Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix Amadis Earl of Savoy John Lord Beaumont of Hainalt the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Valentinois and divers other Great Princes Earls Barons and Knights Here King Philip held a Council of War to consider which was his best way to March in order to raise the Siege of Calais more successfully or at least to relieve the Town with Men and Provisions He chiefly desired to have the Passages of Flanders open for so he thought to put some Troops into Graveling and thence to recruit the Town of Calais while he gave a Diversion to King Edward another way To this end he sent Messengers into Flanders to treat upon the matter but they were too fast Friends to the English to comply so far with the French Wherefore King Philip resolved to take the way on the left hand towards Boulogne and so Order was given for all Men to provide forthwith against this Expedition for as yet the whole Number of the French Forces was not compleated Now the Flemings c Frois c. 144. were not only content to have sent this Denial to King Philip but to give King Edward a further Proof of their Good-will they sent an Army of near an 100000 Men and laid Siege to the strong City of Aire on the River le Lys in Artois and wasted and burnt the Country all about as Merville or Mergen Le Gorgue Eyterre Leventis and a March called Loos by the River Deulle and on the other hand up to Teroüenne and even to the Gates of St. Omers Upon News hereof King Philip was obliged to remove from Amiens to Arras that so he might be nearer at hand to watch the Motions of the Flemings and upon occasion to give them Battle and all the Garrisons of Artois he reinforced with fresh Men of War but especially he sent the Lord Charles de la Cerda commonly called Don Carlos of Spain who was Son to Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands now lately deceased and Son in Law to Guy late Earl of Blois and now in the Absence of the Earl of Eu and Guisnes who was then Prisoner in England Constable of France this Man he sent with a strong Reinforcement to St. Omers for its greater Security But notwithstanding the Flemings had done excessive Mischief about in the Country and had slain many Frenchmen and won much Booty before King Philip removed to Arras but upon the News of his Arrival doubting lest he should come upon them with all his Forces they raised their Siege and returned into Flanders XVII When King Philip understood that by his drawing so near them he had obliged them to quit the Siege of Aire and that their Army was now disbanded being tid of that Fear he began to march with all his Forces from Arras to go the way he had before resolved on toward Calais The first Day he went to Hesdin on the River Canche where he tarried one Day for his Carriages the next day he removed forward to Blangys en Ternois where he also tarried the remainder of that Day to advise further what Course to take now Here it was agreed to take the direct way thrô Boulonois and that way accordingly King Philip took the next Day with a mighty Army of about d Ita Frois sed Mezeray 150000 tantùm 200000 Men one with another so that his Host together with his Carriages took up in length above three Leagues of the Country For there was now with King Philip besides the Lords and others aforemention'd and their several Retinues the Lord e Stow p. 244. Charles King of Bohemia Marquess of Moravia and Elect Emperour thô as yet Lewis of Bavaria was not dead who brought with him a great Army of Bobemians Luxemburghers and other Germans and sware to King Philip that he would either by Force or Treaty raise the Siege or at least victual the Town for another Winter But how well he kept his Word we shall see hereafter The Army passed on leaving on the Right hand the County of Fauquenbergh and so proceeded
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
in Hostile Manner is beaten by the Flemings and English IX King Edward inform'd of a Design to betray Calais pardons the Lombard Captain and gives him Instructions how to behave himself X. King Edward goes privately over Sea to Calais and discomfits the Frenchmen XI King Edward at Supper presents a Rich Chaplet of Pearls to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont a French Prisoner and in contemplation of his Valour acquits him his Ransome XII The Lombard Captain put to Death by the Frenchmen King Edward rewards his Friends and having settled Calais under a New Captain returns for England XIII The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The French King and the Duke his Son marry again I. NOW doth King Edward the Third seem to stand in the full Zenith both of his Age and Glories He had but just past the 35 Year of his Life and yet was crown'd at Home in his Family with a Lovely Row of Hopefull Children and a Vertuous and Beautifull Consort in his Kingdoms with Peace and full Prosperity And abroad he was renowned above all the Kings of the Earth for his Notable Victories by Sea and by Land in Scotland France and Bretagne for set Battles or Taking of Towns for Kings slain Kings routed and Kings taken Captive Nor was his Moderation less admired and commended which he shew'd in Refusing the Title and Dignity of an Emperour This in my Opinion is the Brightest part of all his Reign thô yet another King remains to be Captive by his Arms and another King is destin'd to recover an Usurped Crown by the Aid of his Sword and Fortune For now a Walsingh Hypod 121. hist 159. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 943. Stow p. 245. by means of so honourable a Peace founded on so many remarkable Victories it seem'd as if the Golden Age was reduced to England and a New Sun began to shine in our Horizon So great Riches and Plenty the usual Attendants of Conquest being generally diffused over the face of the whole Land. For there was scarce a Lady or Gentlewoman of any Account which had not in her possession some precious Houshold-stuff as rich Gowns Beds Counterpains Hangings Linnen Silks Furs Cups of Gold and Silver Porcelain and Chrystal Bracelets Chains and Necklaces brought from Caen Calais or other Cities beyond Sea. And yet as the Roman Historians complain that they were overcome by the Luxury and Fashions of the Nations they had conquer'd So from this time the Native Candour and simplicity of the English Nation did visibly empair and Pride Superfluity and Vanity began to lift up their hatefull Heads till they provok'd the Author of the World to visit this Land also with his awakening Judgments Some whereof were not wanting even in the Days of this Great Monarch but did especially take rise in the Reign of his Successour from a Cruel and Unnatural civil War which was not wholly extinct till it had prey'd upon the Lives of Five Kings very many Princes Dukes and Earls and Hundreds of the Prime Nobility of England besides those many Thousands of the Common People who perished in the Quarrel even thrô the Reigns of Seven Kings till in a more mercifull Providence King Henry the VII happily united the two Roses and Peace and Humanity and Arts began again to revive and flourish among us II. But that the Blessings of Peace and Plenty might be preserved unto England as much as lay in King Edwards Power as well for the Support of his own Honour as for the Security of his People's Advantages and the Conservation of the good Laws of the Realm he begins this Year with a Parliament Which he b 14 Febr. Teste Rege apud Westminest M.S. Record p. 66. Sr. Rob. Gott n's Abridgâ—n p. 68. summons to meet him at Westminster on the Monday in Midlent From which time because several of the Peers were not then come the Parliament was continued from day to day untill Wednesday When Sr. William Thorp then Lord Chief Justice by the Kings Command declared in presence of the King and Lords for what Reasons the Parliament at that time was called As that the King had according to the Truce taken at Calais sent Commissioners to the Pope from whom he had long since expected some Satisfactory Answer but as yet had received none Also that sundry Articles of the Truce touching both the Kings and their Allies were not duely performed and further that the French were preparing a Puissant Army wherewith to invade the Realm From all which it appeared that the Truce was but very fickle and that it was neither safe nor prudent to rely upon it but rather betimes to be armed against the worst that might happen Besides he added that the Conservation of the Publique Peace at home was a main Point for their Consideration to employ it self about and that this must be done by wholsom Laws duely and impartially put in Execution Upon these Matters the Lords and Commons debated earnestly for several Days and at last answered the Kings Wants and prepared their own Petitions in manner following They c M.S. Record p. 68. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abidgment p. 69. first shew the great Charges laid upon the Commons as the Reasonable Aid being pardon'd in the 14 Edw. 3. Whereof every Fine was forty shillings whereas by Statute the same should be but twenty shillings also the setting forth of Men the taking up of Victuals without Ready Money and the Charge for keeping the Sea The very Subsidy of Wooll amounting to 60000 l. per annum and yet without Law the Lending of 20000 Sacks of Wooll and the Restraint of Exporting Wooll Notwithstanding they grant to the King Three Fifteens in three Years so as the Subsidy of Wooll might cease and on Condition that David Bruce William Douglas and other Chief Captains of Scotland be not deliver'd for Ransom or on their Faith Yet so that if the Wars do cease within three Years then their Grant might cease also this Condition being likewise understood that their following Petitions be granted and these their Conditions enrolled and exemplified Petitions of the Commons with their Answers Pet. That the Falseness of those who were appointed to gather the 20000 Sacks of Wooll lent to the King may be determin'd by some of the Parliament and that all Acquittances made to any such may be repealed Ans This Petition was answer'd in the last Parliament and therefore Command was given anew to execute the same Pet. That the King would command the Nobles in no wise to take any common Thief or Robber into their Protection And that in every Shire-Town two Knights and two Learned in the Law be appointed to determin all Offences and to enquire of False Money they to have some Fee to encourage them in their Duty and to prevent Receiving of Bribes But this also was said to have been answer'd in the last Parliament Pet. Whereupon the
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
his Blood should yield to try a Combat before a King his Enemy was mortally displeased at him and thô he had gain'd such Honour both in the Holy Wars and in the late Duel absolutely deny'd to admit him into his Presence But after a few days having with much adoe and earnest Intercession obtain'd admittance the said Lord Thomas as one that was desirous to shew himself a true Subject and so to recover his Brothers favour besides his declaring the necessity which the Christian Lords had put upon him to go into England began among his excuses highly to extoll the Generosity of King Edward and to shew how justly his Fame was spread throughout the whole World Nor did he forget to commend his Equity which he had shewn in his cause not at all accepting the Person of the Cypriote althô it was well known what a Friend he was to the King of Cyprus himself but Prefer'd and Honoured and Rewarded me said he thô I am a Frenchman and Brother and Servant to you my Lord the King of France These Words the Noble Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes and Constable of France then Present not knowing how distastfull they were to King John confirmed by his own experience and rose up and shew'd among other instances n Knighton p. 2607. n. 1. c. how far that Noble King had banish'd all envy and hatred from his Bâ—east insomuch that lately in a solemn Tourneament at Windsor he had not only admitted him being a Prisoner to that Honourable Exercise but gave him an allowance of all necessary accoutrements and at last rewarded him with a Rich Pâ—ize and new had sent him home upon his Parole in trust of a small Ransom and other as Negotiator for the Redemption of others than a Prisoner himself whereby said he I am put in a Capacity to serve your Majesty as I served your Father or blessed Memory These true Praises of King Edwards Princely Disposition enflam'd the envious heart of lâ—ing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thâ—â— consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâ—ung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 namely on the 19 of November to be beheâ—ded by night in the Presence of the Duke of Bourbon and seven or eight other Lords of Note before whom the Earl of Ewe is said to have confessed certain points of Treason whereof he stood guilty But however all the Treason that Envy it self could lay to the Bastards Charge was only that as he was bound by Oath to 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes in the Holy War he had accordingly committed his cause to the Arbitration of the King of England And as for the Earl of â—â—we whatever at that time was devis'd to blacken him he was notoriously a Person of such Gallantry and had already so eminently signaliz'd his Loyalty that to this day it could never be believed that he could be really guilty of any manner of Treason tho some rather by way of conjecture than proof pretend to colour the Matter that his require passing too and fro between England and France which he did in order to hasten the Redemption of his Fellow-Prisoners was with Designs in favour of the 〈◊〉 Others say p Stâ—w p. 251. that he was suspected of being over Familiar with the French Queen and that therefore King John after the fall of these two Great but Unfortunate Gentlemen famished his Queen to Death thô she was Daughter to John of Luxemburgh that Noble King of Bohemia who lost his Life at the Battle of Creâ—â— in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâ—hus first Wife q L. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 427. who indeed was Daughter to the said King of Bohemia died as we shew'd two Years before And his second Wife his Queen at this time who was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne lived in his Favour and died not till many Years after However the Earl of Ewe's Lands and Honours r Frois c. 153. Mezeray ibid. Mâ—rtâ—â— p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâ—s his Office of Constable of France in January following was by the King confer'd on the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain whom already he had made Earl of Argulesme his Earldom of Eu he gave to the Lord John of Artois Eldest Son to Sr. Robert of Artois of whose Revolt from France and Friendship to King Edward we have spoken in the first part of this our History Only the Earldom of Guisnes he left with the Lady Jane sole Daughter of the Defunct Earl of Ewe who was then Married to Walter Duke of Athens and after his Decease to Lewis Earl of Estampes of the house of Eureux from whom are derived the present Earls of Eu Princes of the Blood. VIII About this time the Scots not yet agreeing to redeem their King David who was still a Prisoner here nor admitting of any just offers of Composition but rather provoking the King of England farther by their Insolencies Cruelties and Depredations He for his part considering that the Truce with France would either be soon ended by violation or of its own course sent his Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. p. 275 p. 294. Commissioners viz. Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill to treat with the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland and other Nobles of that Realm then met at York about a firm and final Peace between the two Nations And this Treaty was held on with good hopes of Success even till the end of the next Year for we find that it was at last between them agreed t Rot. Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. that upon the coming into England of the young Lord John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King he himself should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be deliver'd The Kings Letters of safe Conduct to the Hostages and of Power to certain Commissioners to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his Return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were all come bear date the 5 of September an 25. Ed. 3. to continue in force till the Quindena of the Purification next following and on the 3 of November after they were renewed with a further term even to the Feast of St. Philip and James ensuing According to this agreement the Hostages being come and disposed into the Castles of York and Nottingham King Edward sent his Command u Râ—s Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. bearing date the 5 of October to Sr. John Copland High-Sheriff of Northumberland the same who first took the King of Scotland
Archbishop of Rheimes the Nobility by the Duke of Athens and the Good Towns by the Mouth of Stephen Marcel Provost of the Merchants at Paris That they were according to their Duty ready to live and die with their King and to spend both their Bodies and Goods in his Service only they required sufficient time to deliberate and advise together which the King granted them And the mean while viz. on the seventh of December He created his Eldest Son the Lord Charles who was Dauphin of Vienna Duke of Normandy for which he receiv'd his Homage the next day Now the Estates having seriously considered upon the Kings Requests and the Necessity of his Affairs consented to find him for One Year at their own Costs and Charges 30000 Fighting Men with all their Warlike Furniture Provision and Apparel but because the Sum of Money which at first they reckon'd sufficient for that Exploit together with the Gabel of Salt were both by many question'd to fall short they appointed to meet again on the First day of March following to enquire into the Matter and to make up what should then appear deficient The Progress of which Affair We shall refer to its proper place lest We should be carried too far abroad when We are called upon to stay at home But being brought to the end of this Year We shall now think of concluding this Chapter when We have after our usual Method inserted two or three occurrences which are most properly ranged in such places where they may appear without disturbing the Order or Coherence of greater Matters IX On the sixth of January or after the Roman way of reckoning l Walsingh hist p. 163. Knighton p. 1608. n. 33. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 169. Sandf Geneal p. 227. on the VII of the Ides of the said Month in the beginning of this Year 1355 King Edward received from the Hands of Heaven a lively Young Prince for a New-years Gift this being his seventh and youngest Son was born at the Kings Palace at Woodstock about seven Miles from Oxford Whereupon he bore the sirname of Woodstock being at the Font named Thomas and became in time Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester and was a Prince of High Stomach and Resolution King Edward upon the Queens m Stow p. 255. a Purification of this her Seventh Son held in her Honour a Solemn Justs and Tourneament at Woodstock where were present the greater Part of the Nobility of England It is said n Mezeray ad hunc ann 2 Part. 3 Tom. p. 41. Frois c 154. f. 76. that on Shrove-Tuesday this Year at Night contrary to the Truce then in being two and fifty English Men took the Castle of Nantes in Bretagne by Scalado But the Lord Guy of Rochefort the Captain thereof who was at that time in the City was so well provided that he retook it again that same Night and cut them all to pieces without pity because they had so falsly violated the Truce This Summer o Knighton p. 2609. n. 40. ad n. 54. there raged a most strange and unaccountable Infirmity in England which was attributed rather to the Malignity of Evil Spirits than to any natural Cause For People of a sudden grew mad and went out of their Wits in most parts of the Realm whether they were in Towns or in Fields and so they ran about distracted to Woods and Groves to hide themselves as Wild Beasts avoiding the Company of Men And some ran out of the Fields to the Towns and out of Towns to the Fields void of all Care or Conduct and could hardly be laid hold on and some wounded themselves with knives and snapt and bit at those who endeavour'd to catch them And many were carried into Churches and there they lay bound till they might obtain ease from God by Prayer And in some Churches you might see ten or a dozen sometimes more sometimes less in this Condition so that it was a great Pity to behold their case But they soon recover'd by this means and the Malady was not lasting This Year p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 735. Peter Lord Mauley V. of that Name deceased upon the Festival of St. German in the Sixty sixth Year of his Age leaving behind him Peter his Son and Heir then Twenty four Years old called Peter VI. de Malolacu or Mauley who follow'd his Valiant Fathers steps thrô all the hazardous Paths of Glory CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward goes into Scotland and recovers Barwick AN. DOM. 1356. An. Regni Angliae XXX Franciae XVII King Edward Bailiol resigns his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland to King Edward of England II. King Edward ravages about in Scotland but losing a great part of his Navy is obliged to return III. He brings along with him the Bailiol into England IV. A Parliament at Paris with a Famous Tax therein ordained V. A Sedition at Arras prudently supprest VI. King John seises on the Person of the King of Navarre puts him in Prison and executes several of his Friends VII Prince Philip Brother to the King of Navarre obtains Assistance from England and being afterwards reinforced by the Duke of Lancaster makes hot War in Normandy VIII King John goes against him but upon News of Prince Edwards Invasion in another part goes back to oppose him IX The Duke of Lancaster having settled Affairs in Normandy goes into Bretagne to the Dutchess I. THE Parliament at Westminster of which we spake in the preceding Chapter being ended about the Feast of St. Andrew a Knighton p. 2611. n. 10. Holinsh p. 951. b. n. 34. King Edward immediately set forward for Scotland and rested not till he came to Newecstle where he solemnized the Nativity of our Saviour At which time He received Letters from his Valiant Son the Prince of Wales containing a full account of his late Exploits in Gascogne as we have declared On the b Holinsh p. 954. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. 14 of January King Edward having his Army encamped near the Town of Barwick and his Navy ready in the Haven to assail the Scots that were now therein enter'd into the Castle himself with some of his Guard that being still in the hands of his Subjects designing to let down the Bridge and fall in upon the Town that way while the Army from without attempted the Walls The Lord Manny also at the same time being busie in springing a Mine thereby to get entrance by Craft if Force should fail Upon this the Scots within being terrified with these dreadfull Preparations and seeing it impossible to hold out against such Forces and so various attacks began to capitulate desiring only to be secured of Life Limb and Liberty and they would forthwith yield up the Town Which Conditions the King accepted But the c Hector Boeth l. 15. fol. 325. n. 75. Buchan l. 9 p. 304. Scotch Writers say
of Westminster visiting the Ancient Monuments of his Predecessors he q M. S. Vet. Angl. â—n Bill C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. chose a Place for his own Sepulture and Burial in the Chappel of St. Edward hard by the Shrine of that Royal Saint and Confessor Commanding his Son the Prince and his other Children upon his Blessing when it should please God to call him out of this transitory Life to a better to lay his Body there and no where else And thô the Prince his Son died before him yet we find the rest of his Sons were not forgetfull of this his Fatherly Injunction for there he lies buried to this Day as we shall shew more particularly when we come to treat of his Death which happen'd 18 Years after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Foreign Succours being come to Calais King Edward sends thither the Duke of Lancaster who leads them forth thereby to ease the Town II. King Edward follows the Duke with an Army of an 100000 Men. III. The Names of his Chief Leaders with the Numbers and Order of the Army the King marches from Calais toward Rheims in Champaigne IV. An Adventure between the Lord Galahaut de Ribemont French and the Lord Reginald van Boulant English V. The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes the French Master of the Crossbows King Edward lays Siege to Rheims VI. The Lord Eustace Dambreticourt sends Relief to the English Army Cernoy en Dormois and other Places taken by Detachments from the Camp before Rheims VII The King of Navarre breaks with the Dauphin again The Lord of Gomegines taken Prisoner by the French. VIII The Lord Bartholomew Burwash takes Cormicy and rases it I. ALL this while the whole Realm of England and the Dominion of Ireland were hot in Preparations for War and King Edwards Friends wherever they were resolved at this time to embark with him in this bold Enterprise especially such Lords and Knights of the Empire as had served him before These Men a Frois c. 205. fol. 99. made great Provision of Horse and Arms and other Necessaries according to their Degrees and Qualities and when they were ready they all came together by the way of Flanders to Calais and there waited till the King should come from England But he did not come thither so soon as was expected because he had so many weighty Matters to settle before he could leave his Kingdom During therefore this time of their Stay many more Strangers flocking thither there was hardly room in Calais for Lodging or Stabling for the Horses and besides Bread and Wine Hay Oats and other Provision was very scarce so that they could hardly be got for Gold or Silver wherefore there b Knighton p. 2621. n. 10. were some insolencies committed by the Strangers as is usual in such cases But still the general Comfort was King Edward would presently come thither and the News ran always that he would be there the next Week And yet if he had been there all things would have been much dearer and Lodgings harder to be got onely indeed then 't was expected that the King would draw off presently into the Field Thus the Lords of Almain Bohemia Brabant Flanders and Hainalt tarried there at their great Charges from the beginning of August till October so that many of them were fain to sell the best part of their Jewels and some had spent almost all they had Whereupon some Quarrels arose between them and their Hosts and some Mischief was done and more had been if the King finding now that his Affairs would not be ripe till after the time he had appointed which was the 8 of September had not sent over the Great Henry Duke of Lancaster with 400 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers to lead these Strangers forth lest they should eat up the Town of Calais For he had heard c Frois ibid. that many more were come than either he expected or desired hoping belike to enrich themselves by the Spoils of France The Strangers received the Duke upon his Arrival with great Joy and asked him News about the King and when he would follow and complain'd a little how they had been disappointed The Duke excused unto them the Kings Delay by telling them that it was not possible so soon to furnish so great an Army as the King design'd to bring over with all manner of Necessaries for so long a time as he intended to stay in those Parts And says he surely Gentlemen to lie here idly till then is neither honourable nor profitable I am therefore resolved to ride forth into France and do something the mean while Only I desire of you so much Money as will pay off your several reckonings here at your Quarters and I 'll furnish you with Provision of Victuals to carry on your Sumpters These Gentlemen were asham'd to deny the Duke what it seems they had deny'd their Landlords and so they all satisfied their Hosts punctually and new shod their Horses and trussed up their Baggage and rode forth with the Duke and went to St. Omers being in all 2000 Men of Arms besides Archers and other Footmen St. Omers they passed by without Medling and so they went to Bethune which they left likewise and rode forward about 6 French Leagues further till they came to Mount St. Eloy a large and rich Abbey within two Leagues of Arras Here they tarried four Days to refresh themselves and their horses for they found Provision enough in the Abby and then they marched about ten Leagues further and passed the River d Leland Collect. Vol. 1. p. 824. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 788. Frois ibid. Knighton p. 2621. n. 40. c. Somme and began to assault Bray sur Somme a considerable Town in Picardy where the Duke caused his Men to wade up to the shoulders that they might get to the Walls and so a fierce Attack was made in which Sr. Thomas Murrers an English Banneret was unfortunately slain with a shot from the Walls and several others wounded For the Inhabitants made a good Defence by the Assistance of the Earl of St. Paul and the Lord of Rayneval and other Gentlemen who a little before came into the Town at a back-Gate with 200 Spears The Duke of Lancaster therefore failing here went along by the River Somme in great want both of Bread and Wine till he came to Ceresy a Town on the same River between Bray and Corbie where he found good Plenty of both and having supplied himself therewith he repassed the River in the same place for the Bridge was not broken and went to Chipilly where he tarried to refresh his Men the remainder of that Day and all Night it being then the Feast of All-Saints On that very Day he had notice that King Edward was arrived with all his Forces at Calais and commanded him on sight of his Letters to draw thitherward to meet him II. Now e Frois c. 206.
with certain Knights and Esquires of Gascogne and of England in his Company intending from thence to repair to King Edwards Camp before Rheims These Men the young Lord of Gomegines being inflam'd with a desire to advance his Reputation in War encreased to the Number of 300 Men of Arms and then set forth in the Head of them from Maubeuge and went to Avesnes in Hainalt whence he proceeded to Terlon Now the Lord of Roye who lay in Garrison at Roye in Picardy with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires heard of these Preparations of the Lord of Gomegines and that he was going to serve King Edward in the Siege before Rheims and must of necessity as he also knew pass through Tierasche and being exactly inform'd at what time he was to set forward sent word thereof to certain Captains his Friends of the French party But especially to the Lord Canon Robsart an Experienced and Valiant Gentleman who then menaged the young Earl of Coucy's Lands and lay at the Castle of Marle in Tierasche The Lord Robsart at the time appointed joyn'd the Earl of Roye with 40 Spears But the Earl was Commander in Chief of the whole Enterprise not only in consideration of his Quality but because he had been the first Deviser thereof So he led forth in all 300 Men of Arms and went and laid an Ambush where he knew the Lord of Gomegines musts needs pass who suspecting nothing of this Matter was already enter'd Tierasche taking his way toward Rheims where King Edward lay On a morning he came to a certain Village called Hercigny where he thought to refresh his Men a while and so to proceed But as his Men were setting up their Horses he himself being young lusty and desirous of Honourable hazards said that for his part he would ride a little way out of Town to see if he could meet with any forage and thereupon selecting out 50 Men he marched out of the Village a Valiant Esquire of England named Christopher Moor bearing his Banner before him Now the Frenchmen who knew all their Motions were not far off from the said Village in a close Ambush thinking because the other equall'd them in Number not to stir till Night and then by surprising the Town make their Advantage For they were fully informed of their being there But it seems the Lord of Gomegines thrust himself now into their hands before they had hoped for such fortune themselves When the Frenchmen saw him at first with so small a Company they wonder'd who it should be and sent out a couple of light Horse to view them who returning brought word that they were a party of those they had expected At this they all brake out of their Ambush crying Roye in the Name of the Lord of Roye who rode foremost with his Banner displayed before him and the Lord Flamone of Roye his Cousin was with him together with Sr. Lewis of Robsart and the Lord Canon Robsart his Brother Sr. Tristram of Bonroy and others When the Lord of Gomegines saw what a case he was in like a resolute Gentleman he stood still to receive them and scorn'd to flinch a Foot. But at the very first brunt he was overthrown Horse and Man and finally there taken Prisoner and with him two Esquires of Gascogne who had fought with singular Valour as did also Christopher Moor Esquire who bare the Standard but at last together with that fell into the Frenchmens hands To be brief all on that side were either slain or taken except the Valets who escaped by running away the Enemy slighting to pursue them especially seeing they took not the way to the Town where the rest of their Men lay to discover unto them what had been done But the Field being f Frois c. 209. c. now clear'd the Conquerours took their Horses and rode into the Village upon the spur crying Roye in the Name of the Lord Roye whereat those in the Town were extreamly surprized to see their Enemies so near them they not knowing what was become of their Captain and beside most of them were unarmed and scatter'd abroad in the Town Wherefore being out of hope to make any tolerable Defence they began to yield themselves and the Frenchmen bestow'd them about in their Lodgings The Lord Canon Robsart had a great many Prisoners because he was best known to the English and Gascogners by his Banner with which they had been acquainted But some fled into a little House of Defence at the end of the Town which was moated about and might perhaps have proved a Refuge at that time had they been all of one mind but some said it was best to make good the place because it was strong enough to secure them till they might send word to the Army before Rheims from whence they should doubtless have a speedy Succour Others said 't was difficult to send now the Enemy was there and impossible to defend it till the return of an answer While thus they were concerting of Reasons the Lord of Roye with one decisive peremptory threat commanded them to yield up immediately For if they put him to the trouble of taking them by force they were all no better than dead Men. At these Words the stoutest of them all began to misdoubt the Event and so they presently agreed to yield only on security of their Lives After this all the Prisoners were sent to the Castle of Coucy and other French Garrisons to be kept till their Ransoms should be paid But when King Edward heard of the Matter he was greatly displeased but was obliged to digest it as well as he could For the only cure for irreparable Afflictions is Patience And this Adventure happen'd in the latter end of December in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX the Siege then enduring before Rheims VIII On the 20 g Frois c. 209. Knighton p. 2622. Lord Montagne's Essays c. 5. l. 1. p. 11. of the said Month the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter went with a Detachment from before Rheims and laid Siege to the Town and Castle of Cormicy which was near unto his Quarters for all the Great Lords were disposed about in strong Bodies abroad in the Country as well for Conveniency of Quarters as to stop up all the Avenues that no Provision should enter the City This Fortress belonged to the Archbishop of Rheims and was now by him so well furnish'd that it seem'd far enough out of all Danger For therein was a square stone Tower with Walls of a Wonderfull thickness and at all Points sufficiently provided for a Siege and moreover the Town it self was fenced with a Double Ditch and High Walls But against this Place came the Lord Burwash together with the Lord John Botetourt and other Knights as well of his own Retinue as belonging to the Prince of Wales to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Richmond These Men
Aquitaine To all our Captains Keepers of Towns and Castles Subjects Adherents and Allies being in the Parts of France as well in Picardy Burgundy Anjou Berry Normandy Bretagne Auvergne Champaigne Maine Touraine as in all the bounds and limitations of the Demaine and Tenure of France Greeting A final Peace and accord having been made between Us and our Brother of France our Allies and Adherents comprising all the Debates and Discords that have been in time past or may be to which We have sworn on the Body of Jesus Christ and also our Eldest Son and our other Children and others of our Blood with divers Prelates Barons and Knights and the most Noble of the Realm of England and in like manner hath sworn our said Brother and our Nephew the Duke of Normandy and other our Nephews his Children and divers Prelates Barons and Knights of the Realm of France to keep the said Peace Yet lest it might so fortune or fall out hereafter that any Men of War of our Realm or of our Subjects should take upon them to do or attempt any thing contrary to the Peace in taking or with-holding Forts Towns Cities or Castles or in taking of Pillage Prisoners or Merchandise or any other thing against the Peace the which to Us would be right Displeasant and We neither may nor will suffer any such thing to pass under the shadow of Dissimulation in any manner of wise but will with all our Power in all the said things find a Remedy We therefore Will Require and Ordain by the Advice of our Council that None of our Subjects of whatsoever State or Condition they be presume to do or endeavour to do any thing contrary to the said Peace in taking any Pillage or in taking or withholding any Forts Prisoners or Goods whatsoever pertaining to the Realm of France or to our said Brother his Subjects Allies and Adherents or any other whatsoever they be And whosoever shall be thus Guilty of Doing against the said Peace and will not leave or cease so to do or will not restore again the Damages by them done within a Month after they shall be thereto required by our Officers Serjeants or Publick Persons that then by that Deed alone without any further Process or Condemnation they be all reputed for out-law'd as Men cast out of our Realm and Protection and also out of the Realm and Lands of our said Brother and all their Goods shall be forfeited to Us and to our Demaine and if they may be found within our Realm We Will and Command expresly that on them Punishment be forthwith taken as on Traytors and Rebels against Us according to what is accustomed to be done in the Crime of High-Treason without giving in that case any favour or remission sufferance or pardon And in like manner to be done to our Subjects of whatsoever Estate they be who in our Realm on this side the Sea or on the other take occupy or hold any Fort whatsoever against the Will of those to whom they should pertain or that burn or ransom Towns or Persons or commit any Robbery or take any Pillage in Violation of the Peace and in moving War within our Dominions or on our Subjects And We do hereby command and expresly enjoyn all our Seneschals Bailiffs Provosts Governors of Castles and other our Officers in avoiding of our high Displeasure and on pain of losing their Offices that they publish or cause to be published these Presents in certain notable Places within their Rules and Precincts and that this our Command once seen and heard no one be after that so hardy to remain longer in any Fort pertaining to the Realm of France and exempted from the Ordinance of the Treaty of the said Peace on pain of being proceeded against as an Enemy to Us and to our said Brother the French King and that they see all these Things be duly and punctually observed And We give all persons concerned to know that if they be negligent and fail thus to do beside the foresaid Penalty We shall cause them to make good all Dammages unto those who by their Default or Negligence shall be so grieved or endammaged And moreover We shall inflict such further Punishment on them as shall make them an Example to all Others In Witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patents Given at Calais the 24 Day of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLX XIX Besides all this there were several other Letters of Alliance made even for the space of 15 Days together which was the time that these two Kings their Sons and Councils were at Calais all which time was chiefly spent in Conferring Devising and Settling new Ordinances not contrary to the old but such as should better explain and confirm them And for the greater Security all the Letters bare one Date All which were enrolled in the Chanceries of both the Kings but as it is tedious to refer them hither so also is it needless All these mutual Renuntiations Covenants and Agreements were drawn up sworn to and sealed at the same time but e Ashmole p. 663. ex Rot. de Tract Pacis Franc. 34. Ed. 3. n. 7. 8. not as yet Exchanged because as yet the King of France was not at Liberty and the Towns Castles and other Places could not as yet be deliver'd But it was now nevertheless agreed and promised that they should be surrendred to the Special Deputies on both Sides by Midsummer following if it might be and the Renuntiations sent at the Assumption of our Lady next ensuing to the Church of the Augustin Fryars at Bruges to be deliver'd to those deputed to receive them Or if they were not sent till Allhallontide after then they were to be deliver'd in the said Church on St. Andrews day following at which Time and Place both Kings engaged to send thither and cause to be deliver'd to the Deputies of both Parties their and their Eldest Sons Renuntiations But if they were not then deliver'd not any thing agreed on was to take Effect There was also another Instrument Dated at Calais at the same time whereby King Edward was obliged to deliver up to the French King before Candlemas come Twelve Months all those Castles and Towns which he now held being Places that by Vertue of the Treaty were not to remain with him the Particulars whereof from the Records are to be seen in my worthy Friend Esquire f P. 663. c. ex Râ—â—praed de Tract Pacis Franc. m. 5. Ashmole's Elaborate History of the Garter For the Surrender of all which the King of England made forth Commissions to several Persons bearing Date at Calais as aforesaid Now g Ashmole p. 664. ex Rot. Tr. Pacis Franc. 34 Ed. 3. n. 6. also the two Kings made a League for them their Heirs and Successors of perpetual Friendship and Alliance to become thenceforward Faithfull Friends and to assist each other against all Persons whatsoever except the
Wisdom is by no means rashly to be call'd in Question unless that he thought it reasonable to expect as true Service from these Men as he had his Ancestors had constantly found from the Inhabitants of Gascogne and Guienne and besides being himself a Just and Gracious Prince he might have a confidence by his Good and easie Government to bind them unto him for ever as surely he did several and had done all had all been alike capeable of being justly affected with Obligations But indeed nothing is more changeable and irrational than the Vulgar and more forgetfull of Benefits IV. However thus the King of England had now the Possession and Seisin of the whole Dutchy of Aquitain even from the River Loire to the Pirenean Mountains and on the other side toward Flanders of all the Earldom of Ponthieu and Guisnes and of all the Lands which he ought to have on that side the Sea that is to say in the Realm of France by Vertue of the said Treaty And so this Year the Lord John Chandos passed over the Sea as Regent and Lieutenant for the King of England in whose Name he began to take Possession of all the said Lands and received the Faiths and Homages of all the Earls Vicounts Barons Knights and Esquires and had deliver'd unto him by the Lord James of Bourbon all the Towns Forts and other Places which were to be deliver'd by the Tenor of the Peace And every where he set Captains Constables Bayliffs and Officers such as he thought good to ordain But himself resided for the most part at Niort a strong and great Town on the Borders of Poictou standing on la Sevre Niortoise g Ita Ferrar. in Neverâ—gus i. e. Nicrt about Nine Leagues from Rochelle Where he kept a Court like a Prince having an allowance sufficient for that purpose For King Edward who understood Men as well as any King in his Days sent him thither upon the account of his Sweet and Winning Behaviour which being accompanied with exquisite Prudence and unparallel'd Courage and Conduct made him appear the fittest Person to enter first upon that Government And because he knew Authority would grow cheap without external Pomp and Splendor he allow'd him to keep an house like a Prince and set the highest Marks of Honour upon him empowring him h Asâ—â—â—le p. 7â—2 even to grant Pardons for Treason Murder and Felony the King promising to Ratifie under his Great Seal whatsoever he should do in such cases Nor was this Noble Gentleman unworthy of this Advancement For as Froisard says he was a Good Knight Courteous and Benign Well-shap'd Liberal Heroick Wise and Faithfull in all Matters And had worthily behav'd himself among all Lords Knights Ladies and Damsels so that there was no Knight in his Days more generally beloved and praised of all People V. Now the mean while i Frois c. 214. fol. 109. b. that the Deputies of the King of England were taking Possession of the foresaid Lands according to the Tenor of the Treaty there were certain other Deputies appointed by the said King on the Marches and Limits of France and elsewhere who being joyned with others commission'd from the French King for that purpose were to deliver up unto him all that which being then in Possession of the King of England ought to go now to the King of France In order thereto these Deputies began to cause all manner of Men of War to avoid and depart out of the Holds and Garrisons which they held for the Kings Command ran strictly that all such who held of England should on peril of their Lives and Goods and of being reputed as Enemies and Traytors to the said King immediately leave and deliver up such Forts as they occupied to the French King and his Deputies they being his by Vertue of the Peace Now those Captains Knights and Esquires who were natural Subjects to the King of England and who valued their Duty readily obey'd the Kings Command and rendred up or caused to be rendred the Places under them But some refused to obey pretending now to make War in the Name and Title not of King Edward but of the King of Navarre thô that King was now a Friend to the House of France There were also many Strangers great Captains and Robbers who would not depart upon any account as Almaines Brabanders Flemings Hainalders and others besides some wicked Renegadoes both of England and France who being poor thought it the best way to enrich themselves by making War still in France And moreover many Hundreds of Common Souldiers whom their Captains having resign'd up their Fortresses according to King Edwards Command had dismissed and disbanded gather'd themselves now together again as thinking it better to continue the Wars with others like themselves than to return home to their poor Trades and perhaps many of them durst not go home again they were guilty of such Villanies or so mightily in Debt These Men being thus gather'd together elected from among them new Captains the main Qualities which recommended them to their Choice besides Courage and Skill in Arms being Cruelty Lust and Love of Rapine At first they rode about in small Companies and made their general Rendezvous in Champaigne then in Burgundy where they assembled in great Numbers being called Les Tard-Venus or the Late-Comers in respect of the other Companions who had before pillaged and destroy'd the Flower of all the Country These Robbers for their first Handsell went and took by Surprise the strong Fortress of Joinville where they found great Riches for all the Country thereabouts had entrusted the best of their Goods to the strength of that Place The Spoils taken here were estimated to the Value of an hundred thousand Franks aâ—â— given up wholly to the Conquerours who kept the Castle for some time overrunning and wasting from thence the Country of Champaigne and the Bishopricks of Verdun in Burgundy and Langres in Champaigne and when they had sufficiently ravaged these Parts then they sold the Castle of Joinville to those of the Country for 20000 Franks This done they enter'd into Burgundy where they rested themselves expecting a Reinforcement of Men like themselves all which time they were not idle but practised many Villanous Deeds For they had among them several Knights and Esquires Renegadoes even of those Parts who directed where and how to get Plunder and do Mischief They lay a long while about Besancon Dijon and Beaulne chief Cities of Burgundy and robbed and commanded all the Country about for there were none to encounter them After this they took the Town of Givry in Bresse which they plunder'd and so tarried thereabout because that was a plentifull Country and daily their Numbers encreased For all the Common Souldiers that came out of English Fortresses and had leave of their Captains to go whither they pleased drew thitherward continually so that by Lent they were in all about 16000 strong Now when
the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin or as some say z Dugd. Warw. p. 165. ex Esc 35. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 122. on the Tuesday after the said Feast which that Year fell on the 30th of March. England had less wanted him now that the War was ended if he had not been as Eminent for Counsel in Peace as he was remarkable for Military performances He was only Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was younger Brother and next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who was Eldest Son to Edmund Sirnamed Crouchback Second Son to King Henry III of England and Brother to King Edward the First Grandfather to King Edward the Third This Illustrious Person in his life time did nothing degenerate from the Blood Royal of England of which he so largely partook as may be seen in those many foregoing Passages of this History which speak of his Warlike Actions His many Heroick Vertues obtain'd him the Glorious Sirname of Good he being generally called the Good Duke of Lancaster Wherefore his Death was universally Lamented especially by the Poor by the Clergy and by Scholars to whom he was a Constant Friend and Patron Nor was King Edward a Frois c. 216. less concerned for the loss of so Renowned a Kinsman and Captain as were also all the Barons of England Lords Knights and Esquires For he was in his Days an Ornament to the Nobility a Patron to the Church a Prop to Learning a Glory to the Souldiery and a shield unto his Prince He was b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. buried on the South-side of the High-Altar in the Collegiate Church of Leicester which c Knighton p. 2625. Speed's Maps in Leicester himself had founded and set over it one Dean Twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and others all sufficiently provided with Revenues Besides he consummated the Hospital there which his Father had begun wherein were maintain'd an 100 Infirm and Poor people d Stow p. 265. 50 Men and 50 Women together with 10 lusty and able Women to serve the said Infirm Ones with Meat and Drink and other bodily Necessaries day and night Both which Hospital and College of Canons he sufficiently endowed for ever and indeed they were the Greatest Ornament of that City until the heavy Hand of King Henry VIII among other the like Foundations laid their Ruines at his own Feet At which time the College Lands d Stow p. 265. were valued at 595 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence per annum He left behind him two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Mathilda the Eldest then 22 Years of Age at that time Married to William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the Emperour and Duke of Zealand Holland Hainalt and Friseland the other Daughter named Blanch then 19 Years of Age and the Wife of John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond but upon the Death of her Eldest Sister which happen'd shortly after without Issue in her Right Duke of Lancaster Earl of Darby Lincoln and Leicester Steward of England and also Lord of Brigerac Beaufort and Nogent Who had by her Henry Sirnamed of Bolingbroke who afterwards traiterously deposing King Richard the Second became King of England by the Name of Henry IV. Soon after his Death the Lady f Knighton p. 2625. Mathilda his Eldest Daughter came into England to claim her Purparty of the Inheritance where she died presently being g Id. p. 2626. n. 31. as was thought poison'd that the Inheritance might not be divided among Foreigners but go entirely as thereupon it did to her Younger Sister who was Married in England Besides this Great Prince there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. died this Year of the same Plague the Lord John Moubray a most Valiant and Noble Knight of England who was styled Lord of the Isle of Haxiholme and of the Honours of Gower and Brembre He died at York on the 4th of October leaving behind him John his Son and Heir a Valiant Young Gentleman then of full Age whom he had by his Wife the Lady Joan of Lancaster Sister to the Duke of Lancaster aforesaid But this Young Lord John Moubray brought more i Dudg ibid. p. 128. Honour and Possessions to his House and Name by taking unto him for Wife the Lady Elisabeth Daughter and Heir to John Lord Seagrave by Margaret his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Thomas of Brotherton k Fifth Son but Second surviving Second Son to King Edward the First Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England From which Marriage l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110. are Descended all the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Nottingham of the Sirname of Moubray and Howard the Earls of Suffolk and Barkshire and particularly the Thrice Noble Henry Lord Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 279. p. 312. Son of John Earl of Peterborough by his Lady Elisabeth sole Daughter and Heir of William Howard Lord Effingham Eldest Son to Charles Earl of Nottingham Nor ought We to forget the Death of the Valiant Lord n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Mills Catal. Honer p. 531. Edward Montague Brother to William the first Earl of Salisbury of that Name which happen'd in this Year he leaving behind him only one Daughter at that time XII Years of Age then Wife to the Lord William Hufford Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk Besides this o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 68. there died the Lord Reginald Cobham a Baron of great Renown in those days leaving behind him a Son of his own Name and Character Also William p Id. 1 Vol. p. 447. Lord Fitz-Warine of the House of the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine and Sr. Nicolas q Id. 2 Vol. p. 89. St. Maure alià s Seymor a considerable Baron of the Realm Besides whom there were now taken away six Bishops r Walsing hist p. 171. Gedw Catal. Bps Stow p. 265. as Michael Northborough alià s Northbrook Bishop of London who was succeeded by Simon Sudbury Reginald Brian Bishop of Worcester whose Chair was supply'd by John Barnet Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely a good Benefactor to Peter-House College in Cambridge whose loss was repaired by the Succession of Simon Langham also Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester into whose place came William Lenne alià s Lenlimere and John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln whose Successor was John Buckingham Lord Privy Seal but these two latter died in the beginning of the next Year There died also at this time that Famous Scholar Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland and Chancellour of the University of Oxford of whom we Å¿ Huius hist l. 3. c. 3. §. 15. p. 552. have spoken more largely elsewhere Only it is here to be added that this Archbishop t Vid. Odâ—r Rainal ad ann 1358. § 6. Wad in Annal. Minor. Tem. 4. ad cund ann had such a Reputation for Holiness and Integrity of Life that he is said to
to Calais where they took the Sea all together and Landed at Dover where at that time the King was with certain of his Council ready to receive them and to Treat further with the Earl of Flanders about the Consummation of the foresaid Affair This was the occasion of the Kings being there at that time when the foremention'd Pursuivant came and brought him the News of the Victory near Auray Whereat the King was wonderfully pleased and all the Court the Earl of Flanders being no less glad than any of them because of the Advancement of his Cousin German the Earl of Monford which must needs happen thereby Thus King Edward tarried with the Earl of Flanders at Dover for the space of Three Days which were spent in Royal Feastings and Princely Recreations And then Matters concerning which they met being adjusted He took his solemn leave of the King and sailed back for Flanders being attended to Bruges by the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother But yet this Intended Match was soon after d Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. broke off by the French Kings envious Policy he craftily hindring the Pope from granting a Dispensation and then he never left Courting the Earl of Flanders till he had given his Daughter in Marriage to that Kings Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Notwithstanding which it appears e Rot. Franc. 39. Ed. 3. m 9. Vid. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. that the Year following Sr. Nicolas Tamworth Knight and John Wyn Esquire were sent by King Edward to all the Nobles and other his Friends beyond the Seas to sollicit their Help for expelling those Strangers who had invaded the Lands of Burgundy Nivers and Reth of Right belonging to the Countess of Flanders and her Son which were to return unto Edmund Earl of Cambridge and to the Dutchess of Burgundy Daughter to the same Earl of Flanders in regard of that Matrimonial Contract made betwixt them as the Record doth manifest XIII This Year on the Feast of All-Saints f Walsingh hist p. 174 n. 20. there was fought a great Battle on the Plains of Turkey between the Christians and Pagans where the Christians after a long and doubtfull Fight obtain'd a Bloody and Cadmean Victory For on their side there fell the Great Master of the Hospital of Rhodes and one or two Kings and of the meaner sort to the Number of 5210 But of the Infidels there were slain more than 40000 of their Men of Arms besides an incredible Number of the Common Souldiers The Chief Captains of the Heathens were the Soldan of Babylon and the King of Turkey Kinstut or Keystut the King of Lithuania Janibech King of Tartary King Baldoc and King Belmarine three whereof were slain in the Field and the King of Lithuania's Son g Dugd. 1 Vol. Bar. p. 233. id in Warwickshire p. 317. a. was taken Prisoner by Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who afterwards brought him into England and made him a Christian calling him Thomas after his own Name as being at that time his Godfather But whereas Walsingham says that among other Christian Princes I King of Hungary was slain at this Fight there is a double mistake for it should be written L in stead of I that King's Name being Lewis and it is most certain that he lived many Years after h Vid. Odor Rainal Câ—ntin Baron Tom. XVI Tom. XVII as will appear to any that shall enquire CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. John of Monford having taken Auray goes before Jugon which yields thence to Dinant which at last yields also then he invests Quimpercorentin II. The Prisoners taken in the Battle of Auray secur'd for fear of new stirs while Earl Monford takes in all Bretagne III. The French King perswaded to admit John of Monford for true Duke of Bretagne AN. DOM. 1365. An. Regni Angliae XXXIX sends unto him to try him He has King Edwards leave to hold the Dukedom of France and so Bretagne is settled in Peace and John Monford sirnamed the Valiant own'd Duke thereof IV. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre by Vertue whereof the Captal of Busche is acquitted his Prison the French King endeavours to win him but in vain V. The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII King Edwards Buildings and the Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity College VIII The Pope Demands the Annual Fee which King John of England engag'd to pay to the Apostolick Chamber and orders King Edward upon his refusal to be cited to answer the Contempt at the Court of Rome Which Matter the King refers to his Parliament IX The Lady Isabella Daughter to King Edward given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy X. The King punishes the Lord Chief Justice and others his Justices for Male-Administration of the Laws XI The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but is forced to leave it again XII Dr. Thoroton twice corrected XIII The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuania's Son his Prisoner whom he makes a Christian and stands his Godfather naming him Thomas after his own Name I. BEing now enter'd upon the Thirty Ninth Year of King Edwards Reign it will be necessary for the understanding of what follows to set down an account of Matters which happen'd in the close of the foregoing Year namely after the Battle of Auray And we shall find that the Earl of Monford upon that notable and entire Victory return'd a Frois c. 228. fol. 128. unto the Siege of that Fortress which he follow'd with greater application than ever before and made a Vow not to Rise thence till he had the Besieged at his Devotion And surely those within were much diminished in Courage thô not in Provision for they had lost in the late Battle their Captain Esquire Henry of Tintineac together with Fourty Men of Arms the very Flower of all their Garrison Wherefore since now they could not expect any further Succour they at last resolved to yield while they might hope to obtain tolerable Conditions and so they began to enter a Parly with the Earl to that purpose The Earl was not willing to lose much more time here and besides he knew not how other Places stood affected to him and he had a mind to try the Country while the Terrour of his Arms was fresh on which Considerations he received them to Mercy and gave them leave to depart with their Goods for they would not yet own his Authority or submit to his Government Having now placed in Auray a good Garrison of his own he rode on with his Army which encreased daily Men of Arms and Archers continually flocking to him Nay the very Bretons who before rejected his Yoke being now won by the Reputation of his Sword came in to him apace especially the Bretons Bretonant or those of Lower Bretagne First he marched
therefore King Edward sent his Letters of Proclamation commanding them on their Allegiance to go out of France and no longer to infest that Kingdom Some few obey'd but others made answer that as they held nothing there of the King of England so neither for him would they leave their Garrisons and that Livelihood they had got with so much labour The King was so enraged at this piece of Insolence that immediately he prepared to Chastise them in Person with a Royal Army But when the French King heard of his vast Preparations he began to fear lest after he had destroy'd the Companions he himself might be prey'd upon by him to the hazard of his Crown under colour that he ought to pay the Wages of the Army or by whatever other pretence a Conquerour should please to make Wherefore he now again sent to him desiring him to desist and keep at home At which affront the King was so displeas'd that he sware by the Virgin Mary Never to stir again about aiding the King of France no thô the said Companions should endeavour to thrust him out of his Kingdom But yet soon after these outlaw'd Captains having at the King of England's Command deliver'd up their Fortresses and Castles were content to go along with Sr. Bertram of Clequin into Spain upon an occasion of which we shall discourse more fully by and by As yet the Wise Men of France could find no way to purge the Land of them but they saw evidently that unless they could think of a Remedy and a speedy One too either by beating them or buying them out of the Realm they would shortly prey upon the very Vitals of France and perhaps of a good part of Christendom for they were reckon'd to be about 60000 Fighting Men And by Success they were like to be augmented with new accessions of Men of their own ungracious Principles At that time ſ Vid. Odor-Rainal ad hunc ann §. 3 c. Lewis the Valiant King of Hungary having at Buda made an Alliance with John Palaeologus the Greek Emperour who requested his help against the Turks made great Preparations for the War and among others desired much to have these bold Fellows in his Service And thereupon t Frois c. 229. fol. 125. b. wrote to Pope Vrban V then at Avignon and to the French King and also to the Prince of Wales shewing how desirous he was to employ these Warriers in a more Righteous Cause against the Enemies of Christ and to give them good pay So these Three Grand Personages agreed together and offer'd the Companions Gold and Silver and free Passage and the Pope's Pardon but nothing would do they were not so devout to change their Quarters when they were well and they said they would not go so far to fight when they might do it nearer at home For they were well informed by some of their own Company who had already been in Hungary that in those Parts there were such straits that if among any of them they should meet with an Enemy they could never escape but must inevitably die a shamefull Death with which words whether true or false they were so terrified that they absolutely refused to go thither When the Pope and the French King saw they could not be rid of them this way they knew not what course to take till at last another occasion offer'd it self as we shall shew in the following Book more largely The End of the Third Book THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FOURTH CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Character and Manners of Don Pedro Sirnamed the Cruel King of Castille and Leon He is Excommunicated by the Pope and his Bastard Brother made Legitimate The Companions and others joyn to go and Depose him Sr. Bertram of Clequin being their General II. Don Pedro provides to oppose this Army but being forsaken of all flies to Seville thence to Portugal and thence escapes into Galizia where he absconds a while III. Don Henry the Bastard Conde of Trastamare is by General Consent accepted and Crowned King his Acts Liberality and Designs IV. Don Pedro advis'd to implore the Protection of the Black-Prince sends his Letters Supplicatory unto him for that purpose V. While the said Prince is fitting out a Fleet to fetch Don Pedro from Galizia to Aquitain in safety Don Pedro himself arrives at Bayonne VI. Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity VII The Prince's Council give their Reasons why they would not have him to meddle with Don Pedro with the Prince's Reasons why notwithstanding he thought himself obliged thereto VIII Don Pedro's great Promises to the Prince's Souldiers and Captains the Prince calls a Parliament of his Barons of Aquitain Which Parliament advises him first to learn his Fathers pleasure therein IX King Edward directs his Letters to the Prince and his Council wherein he Wills him to take in hand the Defence of the Exil'd King and Commands all his Subjects of those Parts to be aiding unto him in that his Vndertaking X. The King of Navarre his Friendship being found necessary to this Affair is on certain considerations brought over Don Pedro engages by Oath Bond and Pledges to make suitable Returns to the Prince XI A Copy of a Famous Grant of King Don Pedro's to King Edward and the Prince and to the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for ever whereby the Memory of this Favour of the Prince's might be Honourably Recorded in Spain to all Generations XII Prince Edward sends to his Captains then in the Bastards service commanding them home the Bastards surprize at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram of Clequin gives him Counsel and hasts back into France to raise him Friends XIII Divers Opinions concerning this Vndertaking of the Prince's XIV The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon which occasions great difficulties to the Companions that came out of Spain with Design to serve the Prince XV. Prince Edward sends the Lord Chandos to retain the Companions in his service and to get the Earl of Foix his leave that they might pass thrô his Country XVI The Prince's zeal for the War and his Methods for raising Money The Lord of Albret promises to bring a 1000 Spears to the service XVII The Companions being Besieged in Montauban beat the French Lords with a great overthrow XVIII They get at last into the Principality where yet they cannot forbear doing much Mischief XIX James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to beg the Prince's aid against the King of Aragon who withheld Majorica from him XX. The Prince by advice of his Council having Men enow otherwise countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears which prov'd the first occasion of Discontent to that Gascogne Lord. I. AT this time a Frois c. 229. fol. 126. a. there Reigned in Castille a Kingdom of Spain Don Pedro the Son of Alphonso the Eleventh who because of his many Barbarous
of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lords of Cande De la Barde and Pincornet all who made heavy Complaints to the King how the Prince of meer Pride and Presumption would tread them under his Feet and raise new and unheard of Taxes upon their Lands which they said they would never suffer considering their Resort was to the Chamber of France Wherefore they humbly desired that the Prince might be summon'd to make his Appearance in the Parliament Chamber before the Peers of France there to Answer concerning those Grievances and Innovations which he had began to exercise against them The French King was not unwilling to entertain these Gascogners who thus required Justice of him as of their Sovereign Lord lest otherwise they should seek for Redress in some other place and so he should for ever lose the Sovereignty over them And on this account he at last condescended to their Request thô half against his Will for he could not but see that an open War would ensue thereby which he was very loath to move first at least without some plausible Pretence Besides at that time he saw his Realm not a little molested with the Companions and other Enemies and also he consider'd that his Brother the Duke of Berry with many others were still Hostages in England Wherefore he thought to deal wisely and get first his Hostages home and be fully provided of all things and to try the Hearts of the People thoroughly before he could absolutely resolve to summon the Prince of Wales And accordingly there were such subtle devices used that before any open Breach was made most of the Hostages got out of King Edward's Power as we shall see hereafter Particularly Prince John g Frois c. 244. Duke of Berry having received a private hint of these Matters obtain'd of King Edward to return into France and there to recreate himself among his Friends and Relations for the space of One Year but he order'd his Affairs so cunningly by his frequent excuses and the like that he drove off the time till the War was open and then he thought himself freed from all obligations of Returning And the Lord Guy of Luxemburgh Earl of St. Pol made shift by much subtlety to get into France without taking his leave of King Edward This Man was an Implacable Enemy to the English Nation so that he could neither endure to hear nor speak a good Word of them and now he urged on King Charles as much as he could to take the Gascogne Lords into his Protection for he verily believed that if once the Prince of Wales should be summon'd a War would most certainly ensue And to this Opinion of the Earl of St. Pol agreed several of the Chief Prelates Earls Barons and Knights of France who added how the King of England had not truly kept the Peace to which he had sworn and sealed according to the Tenor of the Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres and afterwards confirmed at Calais For they said it was manifest how the English had hated and molested the Realm of France more since the Peace was made than ever they had done before And Sir said they what We now averr You shall find to be true if it will please You to cause the Charters of the Peace to be inspected and read before You even such as the King of England and the Prince his Son are by Faith and Oath obliged to perform Hereupon King Charles to be the better enformed of all the Truth and that he might not suffer any Encroachment upon the Rights of his Realm caused all the Charters of the Peace to be brought into the Council-Chamber and heard them read over more than once the better to consider and weigh the Point and Articles therein comprised Among others there was found One Letter on which the King and Council stood most because it seem'd to speak more clearly and plainly of what they now look'd for the Tenor whereof ran thus viz. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine to all who shall see these present Letters Greeting Know that in the final and last Accord and Peace made between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King are contained two Articles comprised in the form following The First Where it is said how the foresaid Kings are bound to cause to be confirmed all the said Articles comprised in the Peace by the Bishop of Rome they to be deliver'd from the Court of Rome confirmed by Sentence touching the full Perfection and Accomplishment of this present Treaty unto each of the said Parties at least within three Weeks after the French King shall be arrived at Calais and also how to the intent that these Articles and Treaties passed may be more firm and stable there shall be made certain Bonds and deliver'd as followeth that is to say Letters sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and their Eldest Sons such as should be devised by the Councils of both the Kings And also the said Kings and their Children and others of the Prime Nobility to the Number of Thirty on either Part should swear that they would strictly observe and cause to be observed to their Power all the said Articles accorded and agreed on and perform the same without fraud or deceit And also that both the Kings and all their Friends and Allies should do their utmost to bring all Rebels to Obedience according to the form and true Intent of the Peace And also that both the Kings should submit themselves and their Realms to the Correction of the Bishop of Rome to the end that he should oblige by Ecclesiastical Censures those who should otherwise refuse to comply with this Peace and Accord And further both the Kings and their Heirs by Oath and Promise should renounce all Graces and Absolutions of any thing herein agreed to by them And thô by Disobedience Rebellion or Force of any of the Subjects of the French King the said King should be hindred from performing all the said Articles yet neither shall the King of England nor his Heirs for all that make any War upon the Realm of France but both Kings shall joyn together to bring those Rebels to Obedience and to acquiesce in the said Peace and Concord And thô the Subjects of the King of England should refuse to yield up any Towns Castles or Fortresses which they held in the Realm of France and which by reason of the Peace ought to be deliver'd or what any other Cause should hinder that the King of England could not perform what he ought by reason of this Treaty to perform yet the King of France shall not make War therefore upon the Dominions of the King of England but both the Kings shall joyn together to reduce those Rebels to Obedience and by force to recover such Towns Castles and Fortresses and to
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
understanding that the King was then holding his Parliament at Westminster he obtained to be admitted into the Painted-Chamber where then the King sat with the Chief Lords of his Council Before whom having declared that he was an Esquire sent from the French King with Letters to the King of England he kneeled down to the King and deliver'd him the Letters The Valet being then dismist the King who was very desirous to hear News from France especially to know the Purport of these Letters caused them immediately to be open'd and read All that were present wondred extreamly when they heard the Defiance and saw the Seal and other sufficient Marks of its Authority But King Edward was mightily astonished that a Prince who was no a Mezeray p. 80. Man of his Hands should ever dare to defie Him and admired whence this strange Confidence should arise little thinking what crafty Measures had been taken while he was lull'd asleep by their subtle Overtures However for the present he gave order to tell the Valet how he had perform'd his Duty very punctually and might now e'n go about his Business for he should have no hindrance at all But both the King and his Council took it in great Indignation that so mean a Fellow should be sent with this Defiance and they all agreed That it was neither Reason nor Decorum that a War between two such Princes as the King of England and the French King should be published by a contemptible Valet It was more fitting to have been done by the hands of some Eminent Prelate or some Valiant Man either a Baron or a Knight at least And indeed this Indignity put upon so Great a Monarch was not well resented by many that were Friends to France but the French Ambassadors b Dinothi Advers p. 278. excused it to the Pope and to the Emperour that therefore their King chose to make his Defiance unto the King of England by Letters because he was but a Vassal unto France for the Lands of Aquitain and Poictou However King Edward who own'd no such Matter as knowing himself Absolute Lord of those Countries by the Tenor of the Peace took this Affront in great Despite But now it was past and no Remedy could be had Wherefore the Lords advised the King to send forthwith a Considerable Army into Ponthieu to keep the Frontiers there and especially to take Care of the good City of Abbeville which they knew to be in great Danger of loosing This Motion the King approved of and presently appointed the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil the Lord William Windsor and one Lord more to go thither with 300 Men of Arms and a 1000 Archers in their Company But as these Lords made themselves ready with all the Expedition imaginable and were even now at Dover ready to cross the Seas there came other News into England For the French King had play'd his Cards too sure to be baffled now so that as soon as by all likelihood it might be conjectur'd that King Edward had received the Defiance Guy Earl of St. Paul and Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France drew toward the Parts of Ponthieu having secretly sent Command to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of Artois Hainalt Cambresis Picardy and Vermandois such as were their Friends to come to them immediately Wherefore being of a suddain reinforced with above sixscore Spears they came to Abbeville early in the Morning as they had determin'd before by private Agreement with the chief Burgesses and finding the Gates ready open for them went in directly without the least Opposition not doing any harm or violence in the World. But Sr. Hugh de Chastillon one of the chief Leaders marched straight forward without any noise and surprised Sr. Nicolas Louvain the Seneschal of Ponthieu and together with him the Treasurer of Ponthieu a Valiant Gentleman thô of the Clergy Thus the Frenchmen took many a Rich Prisoner with ease and the Englishmen lost all that ever they had in the City of Abbeville That same Day another Party of Frenchmen ran up to St. Valery and Crotoy and enter'd both Places and took them together with another Town on the Sea side called Noyelle sur Mer. A little after the Earl of St. Paul with another Party went to Pont de Remy on the Soame whither certain English had withdrawn themselves The Earl assaulted them briskly and was well received by the Defendants so that a fierce and notable Skirmish arose at which time the Earl Knighted his Eldest Son Valeran who shewed that Day by his Exploits how worthy he was of that Honour In short the English being both too inconsiderable in Number and also surprised were put to the Worse being all either routed slain or taken together with the Town and Fortress And thus in a manner all the Country and Earldom of Ponthieu was of a sudden cleared of the English so that they were now no more Formidable in those Parts Now there were still in England sundry of the French Hostages as the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Porcien the Lord of Roye the Lord of Mauliverer and divers Others besides most of those of the Good Towns of France who were all much troubled when they heard of the Defiance but now when News was brought how all Ponthieu was revolted overrun and conquer'd they were in a wofull Taking not knowing what King Edward would do with them in such a Case And surely when He heard the News from Ponthieu he was horribly incensed that the Country had so treacherously revolted from him and had many an Hard Thought against the French Hostages who remained still with him at London But yet he consider'd with Himself how it would be but fruitless Cruelty and a sign of Irrational Revenge to wreak his Displeasure upon them Wherefore he only resolved to keep them shorter of their Liberty and not permit them to take their pleasure as formerly and so he sent the Burgesses of the Cities and Towns of France into divers strong Fortresses about in several parts of England Nevertheless the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne he released for a Ransom of 30000 Franks and the Earl of Porcien for 10000. But the Lord of Roye could not be admitted to any Ransom For he was not at all beloved either by the King or any of his Court wherefore he was still detain'd a Prisoner in great fear and sorrow till by good Fortune he also happen'd to be delivered as we shall shew hereafter X. When the King of England c Frois c. 248. saw that he was not only Defied by the French King but had also actually lost the greater Part of Ponthieu for the safety whereof it had cost him more than an 100000 Franks besides the Revenues which the Country yielded to his Exchequer in repairing of Towns and Castles He saw plainly that it was high time to have an Eye on all Parts for he
the said Duke of Hainalt and yet by many other Ties were they obliged to the English Interest and each of them was by Covenant retain'd to serve King Edward with a 1000 Spears apiece at their own Charges And therefore they not only advised the King now to bring over Duke Albert but they also Themselves joyn'd their Perswasions so that what by their Means and the English Gold he was at first won to declare himself for England But when the Lord of Cominges who was then in the Court of France heard thereof he hasted into Hainalt where he menaged Matters so cunningly with the Lord John Verchin Seneschal of Hainalt by whose Advice all the Dukes Matters were chiefly order'd and who in his Heart lov'd the Interest of France beyond that of England that by the Concurrence of the Earl of Blois and the Lord John of Blois his Brother together with the Lord of Ligny and the Lord of Brabanson who were all well belov'd with the Duke and Dutchess of Hainalt King Edward's Design was wholly quash'd and the labour of his Ambassadors overthrown Thô even they could obtain no more of the Duke than this that both He and his Country would stand Neuter in the Affair and the same Answer was also return'd by the Lady Jane Dutchess of Brabant For at that time her Husband was absent being in France where he contracted secretly a League with that King. VI. And surely King Charles of France who was a notable Politician had secretly prepared himself many Friends both in Hainalt and Brabant almost two years before and had brought over to his Interest the greater part of the Chief Counsellors and Friends of all the Great Lords of both Dukedoms And now to put the better Gloss upon his renewing the War and to make his Cause more plausible in the Eyes of the World he copied out divers Extracts of the Letters relating to the Peace made at Bretigny and ratified at Calais and therein he set forth the Substance of what he according to his Obligation had done and of what the King of England and his Children had not done thô by Oath and Honour bound thereto All along producing such Articles and Points as made for Himself and against King Edward but cunningly concealing smothering or colouring what made to a contrary purpose So that his Cause seem'd only just and the English bare all the Blame And also he privately caused certain Learned in the Laws to be Feed to set forth their Opinions at large concerning the Right of the French King against the King of England both as to the Matter of the Crown and also to the Superiority and Resort of Aquitain and there are yet f M.S. Reverendi Dr. Joh. Spencer S.T.P. C.C.C. apud Cantab Magistri Decani Ecclesiae Cathed Eliensis Extant two Discourses on that Point written by two Famous Doctors of those Days belonging to the University of Bononia in Italy whose Names were John de Lyana and Richard de Salicete Many of which Papers and others of the like Nature together with his own Letters the French King procured to be published in the Courts of all the Princes and Great Lords his Neighbours the better to prepare them to allow of his Quarrel So that King Edward to save his Credit was obliged also to use his Pen against this New sort of Enemy and to justifie and defend his Claim and to prove the Breach of the Peace to lie wholly at the French Kings Doors which he performed notably by his Letters sent into Germany and other Places where he valued his Reputation or thought to have any Friends From which Humour of both the Kings g Paul. Aemyl p. 294. c. Paulus Aemylius rather ambitious to shew his Rhetorick than Historical Fidelity has invented two notable Declamations which he ingeniously enough fancies to have been said before Charles the Emperour and his Son Wenceslaus the one by an English Orator in Behalf of his Masters Cause and the other by a Frenchman who holds the contrary opinion Whereas if that Author had consulted Decorum he would have remembred that King Edward often protested to acknowledge no Mortal whether Pope or Emperour as Judge of his Controversie and that he had but little Reason to expect to find the Emperour any thing favourable to him since he slew his Father at the Battle of Cressy and could not be ignorant how mightily he was addicted as well as more nearly allied to King Charles and the House of France Wherefore we who religiously endeavour to avoid these Gaudy Vanities thô we have Matter enough of Authentick Arguments to fill up a Speech or two yet preferring the venerable simplicity of Truth to all the Fucoes of Vain-Glory shall here set down the Arguments on both Hands as they were then really stated by the Best Lawyers of both Kingdoms in which doing 〈◊〉 where our Authorities cannot be seen our Faith be called in question We declare not only that our selves are wholly ignorant in this as well as many other Sorts of Learning but that the Ancient Copies are to be seen in Latine in a M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls and in English in another M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Spencer Dean of Ely and Master of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge which English Copy appears to have been with much Care translated from the other by some Person of Quality for the Use of that Most Noble Prince of Wales Henry Eldest Son to King James the First And to omit the several Preambles touching Succession of Women and Succession by Representation as also touching Distance of Degrees and Collateral Succession I shall the readiest way come to the Matter but first thô in some measure we have more than once stated the Case before it is necessary for Evidence sake here again to set down the Matter of Fact as it happen'd in the Realm of France Videlicet That King Philip Son of St Lewis King of France had two Sons lawfully begotten Philip the Fair and Charles of Valois And that the said Philip being Eldest after the Death of his Father obtain'd the Kingdom and that Charles deceased leaving behind him Philip of Valois his Son lawfully begotten That afterwards Philip the Fair begat Three Lawfull Sons Lewis Philip and Charles and also One Daughter named Isabel who was married to the King of England and brought forth Edward the Third whilst the foresaid Philip Grandfather to the said Edward remain'd alive That at last Lewis and Philip Brothers to Isabell being Dead without Issue Male King h This to be favourably taken for Philip died first and then his Three Sons in order succeeded Arguments for the French Kings Right Philip their Father also died That after him reigned the foresaid Charles his only Son surviving who likewise died without Issue Now according to the State of the Fact the Question doth rise in Law to be this The Lady Isabell next
also unworthy to be related The Earl of Flanders b Frois c. 253. fol. 153. himself was not unwilling and had also enter'd Solemn Engagements by Covenant to promote and effect the Nuptials But the Lady Margaret her Grandmother a Frenchwoman both in Blood and Affection opposed her self against this Alliance with all her Power being rather minded to fortifie the House of France Wherefore she prest her Son with all the Vehemence imaginable even so far as to threaten c Mezeray ibid. to cut off those Breasts of hers wherewith she had given him suck because they had nourished up such an ungratefull and unnatural Son. These Words of hers touch'd him to the Quick so that he resolved in his Mind to bestow his Daughter elsewhere As he had opportunity enough to do for many great Princes Courted the Young Lady with assiduous application but especially he was call'd upon by the French King to bestow his Daughter upon his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this Politick King had secretly so tamper'd with Pope Urban that he could by no means be prevail'd with to allow a Dispensation for the King of England's Son to Marry her for they were within the Degrees forbidden The Earl of Flanders therefore d Frois ibid. being thus press'd upon by his Mother as well as by the French King and finding by the Pope's obstinacy that the Marriage would not presently take with England especially considering that it was high time for his Daughter to be Married because he had no more Children and also believing that the Young Duke of Burgundy would be no improper Match for his Daughter who before had been Married to that Title upon these and the like accounts he sent certain Messengers into England desiring the King to acquit him from his Obligations since a Dispensation for a Marriage with his Son could not be obtain'd by any means King Edward who was not apt to suspect any fraud in Princes and Men of Honour considering withall that the Young Lady was not to lose her time since he could not hope for any timely Dispensation freely releas'd him of all Covenants to that purpose of which he gave his Letters wherewith the said Messengers return'd to Bruges and shew'd their Lord the Earl how they had succeeded which pleas'd him wondrous well And soon after the Marriage was fully agreed on between Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Earl's Daughter these being the Conditions That the Earl of Flanders in consideration of this Match should have 50000 Franks that the Towns of Lisle and Doway should be deliver'd up unto him in gage for certain Sums of Money which the French King hereupon undertook to pay to the Earl of Flanders Who accordingly had present Possession thereof and placed his own Subjects therein This Composition being made and Ratified they proceeded to the Marriage which was held and consummated in the City of Gaunt with great Pomp and Solemnity many High Lords Barons and Knights being present especially the accomplish'd Young Lord Ingleram de Coucy Earl of Bedford who was sent thither by the French King to add Grace to their Dancing Justs and Triumphs But when King Edward of England saw that the Earl of Flanders was by means of his Daughter allied thus to the House of France he knew not what to think whether or no the Earl would take Part against him for the sake of the Duke of Burgundy his Son-in-Law and Presumptive Heir For he doubted much what kind of Covenants might have passed on that Occasion between the French King and the Earl to his Prejudice Wherefore he became now more severe with the Flemings and vexed them more than heretofore both by Land and by Sea as they were about their Merchandise And at this the French King was not at all displeased but rather laughed in his sleeve for he hoped that thereupon a War would ensue between the English and the Flemings But however the Wise Men of Flanders and the most Wealthy Burgesses of the Good Towns had no mind to break with England not only because of their loss of Trade consequent thereupon but because in a manner all the Commons of Flanders were absolutely enclin'd to King Edward's Side and generally believed his Title to the Crown of France to be much fairer than that of the French Kings II. The mean while King Edward who was as busie to procure himself Friends as the French King was on the other hand to ballance this Loss of the Earl of Flanders sent to his Cosen Charles King of Navarre whom he knew to be at no good Terms with the French King Because he claimed a Right of Inheritance to certain Lands which he held concerning which both their Councils had often treated But still the King of France denied that he ought to inherit them and so Matters rested at this time both the Kings being not yet come to Daggers drawing but exceeding Jealous of each other Particularly the King of Navarre who was then in Base Normandy began seriously to fortifie his Towns and Castles in Coutantine and the Earldom of Eureux and other Parts of Normandy which came unto Him by his Mother the Countess of Eureux or otherwise He himself making his chief Residence at Cherburgh with Men of War ready in that as well as all other his Garrisons Among others at this time in his Service there was that Eminent Warrier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt who as then govern'd Carentan a City beyond the Passage of St. Clement in the Limits of Coutantine which belonged to the King of Navarre's Inheritance This Sr. Eustace was one of the King of Navarre's Principal Councellors but a Subject and Liegeman to the King of England wherefore King Edward sent now to him to sift the King of Navarre throughly and he so far prevail'd with him that at last the King of Navarre with a private Company went on Board an English Vessel called the Lynne and set sail for England where he was heartily welcome to King Edward And here at last it was agreed that the King of Navarre immediatly upon his return to Cherburgh should admit English Troops into all his Garrisons and also send and defie the French King. After which he returned with a strong Convoy of English Knights and Archers into Normandy where he dispos'd of most of the Men in Garrisons but those few who returned home with the Ships had but ill Fortune For they met with certain Pirats Normans and others who being far stronger set upon them fiercely and within a while took and slew them every Man they would not receive one to Mercy Which was a great Trouble as well as Loss to King Edward but the matter was past all Recovery III. Soon after the King of Navarre was return'd safe to Cherbourgh Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being sent for by the Prince of Wales took leave of him to go and serve the Prince according to his Duty thô the King was at
Licence From whence he obtain'd Obedience from the Souldiery Good-will from the Country People and Love from his Prince by whom he was Honour'd with the Seneschalsy of Poictou While he bare that Office the Commons were not opprest with unjust exactions nor vexed with the Rapines or frequent Incursions of the Enemy to all which they were abundantly exposed after his Death In the Battles of Since of Cressy of Poictiers of Auray of Najara and others he gain'd much Renown as will appear by several Passages of this History however at last by Mischance he received his Fatal Wound at Lussac He was Honourably interred in the Fortress of Mortimer where he died leaving no Issue of his Body behind him for he was never Married Whereupon i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503 ex Rot. Fin. 50. Ed. 3. m. 21. Ashmole p. 704. ex Commun Term. Mich. an 3. H. 5. Elizabeth and Eleanor two of his Sisters the Latter being then the Wife of Sr. Roger Collings and Isabell Daughter to Margaret the Third Sister at that time Married to Sr. John Annesley were found to be his next Heirs Thus Rest Immortal Heroe for thy Name Shall last till Heaven and Earth's devour'd by Flame And thô Base Envy at these Works repine Yet even they shall if Mortals can Divine Live for the Great Black-Prince's Sake and Thine II. Upon the Death k Frois c. 271. fol. 166. of the Renowned Lord John Chandos who left his Dear Lord the Prince of Wales Heir to all that he had in Normandy which amounted to the Yearly Revenue of 40000 Franks or 4000 l. Sterling the Lands of St. Saviour the Vicount fell into the King of England's Hands to bestow as he should think fit Wherefore he gave the Charge and Government thereof to a Knight of his House a Valiant and Expert Leader called Sr. Alan Boxhull who l True Use of Armory in the Life of the Lord Chandos p. 108. Ashmole Plate 52. bare for his Arms in a Shield Or a Lion Rampant Azure cover'd with a Fret Argent he to defend the Place and to menage the Revenues thereof for the Profit of the King and of the Prince To him shortly after succeeded William Lord Latimer who bare * Ashmole Plate 42. Gules a Cross Pateé Or and being Steward of the King's Houshold was before the end of this Year m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. made Lieutenant Captain and Governour of the Castle Town and Vicountie of St. Saviour And the Office of High Seneschal of Poictou being void also by the Death of the Lord Chandos the Prince of Wales gave it to Sr. Thomas Piercy a Gentleman of Great Valour and Experience n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 285. who was Younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy and afterwards was created Earl of Worcester Soon after the Frenchmen who were taken Prisoners at the Bridge of Lussac having by the Assistance of the French King in whose Service they were taken paid the several Ransoms which were set upon them returned all back again to their several Garrisons as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton Sr. William Bourde and others of whom we shall say more anon At this same time there were several Barons and good Knights of France who became very much concerned when they saw the War of the two Crowns grow hotter and hotter every day especially the Lord Ingelram Coucy whom it affected deeply for he had a Fair Inheritance in England as well upon his own account for his Fathers had been Barons of that Realm ever since the days of King John of England as by the Lady Isabell his Wife who was Daughter to King Edward Which Lands he must not only Renounce but prove ungratefull to his Friend and Father-in-Law if he should serve the King of France and yet on the other hand he would seem no better than unnatural and a Traytor if he should bear Arms for England against the King of France to whom he was both an Ally and Subject And yet he thought to stand Neuter would be to befriend neither but rather to disoblige both Wherefore he took a Fourth Course resolving for a time to bid Farewell to France and to go and Travel abroad to inform his mind and to seek Adventures So having discreetly taken his leave of the French King he set forth with a small Retinue and went into Savoy where he was Honourably received by the Earl and by the Barons and Knights of his Court. Having spent some time there he rode forward into Lombardy and went to the Lords of Milain Galeas and Bernabo to whom he was welcome In the same Manner thô upon another occasion the Lord Edmund of Pamiers one of the most Loyal Knights in the World went away from the Prince's Service the reason was this In those days when there were so many Lords of Gascogne and others who daily revolted from the Prince to the French King's side it could be no otherwise but that the Prince and his Officers should be very jealous of the Faith of those who gave but the least umbrage of Discontent But however it was in this case whether only Suspicion or something more solid the Lord Thomas Felton o Frois Vol. 2. c. 1. Gallice c. 318. fol. 199. B. Angl. who was Seneschal of Bourdeaux for the Prince of Wales and so consequently Lieutenant for the King of England caused the Lord William of Pamiers and a Lawyer his Secretary and one of his Council named John Coulon a Native of Bourdeaux to be apprehended and flung into Prison Being brought to their Tryal it was proved home upon them as was then affirmed that the said Lord of Pamiers had covenanted to yield himself and all his Castles to the Protection of the French King and had actually deliver'd his Castle of Fronsac into the French Hands of all which the said Lawyer and Counsellour were conscious and accessary thereto wherefore neither the Lord of Pamiers nor his Clerk nor the other having any thing to say why sentence of Death should not proceed against them they were all three condemned by the Judgement of the Lord of L'Esparre and other Loyal Gascogners and openly beheaded in the City of Bourdeaux before an infinite concourse of People to the astonishment of many But especially those of the Lord of Pamiers his Kindred took this Execution hainously and upon this occasion it was that the most Gallant and Noble Knight in the World Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Uncle to the foresaid Lord William of Pamiers left Bourdeaux and Bourdelois resolving however in his Mind neither for that nor any other Provocation on Earth to turn Traytor to his Lord the Prince of Aquitaine but with all he took the Death of his Nephew so ill that he sware never from that time to bear Arms for the King of England or his Son the Prince while he lived And so he went on divers Pilgrimages to Cyprus to the Holy sepulchre
however of what might be resolv'd not to leave so Considerable an Entrance unguarded and therefore having obtain'd from his New-Confederate of Spain a strong Navy of Fourty Great Ships and Thirteen Barks well trim'd and furnish'd with Men and Artillery he order'd them to ply about Rochelle either so to trap the Earl of Pembroke whom he heard to design for that Port or at least to encourage those Rochellers who enclin'd to a Defection and to frighten the others of the English side into a Revolt The Admirals of this Fleet were Four Valiant Gentlemen of Spain viz. Sennor Don Ambrosio di Baleguer Don Cabesso di Vaccadent Don Hernando Du Leon and Don Rodrigo de Roses all who had layn at Anchor about Rochelle and the Isle of Re many days expecting the return of the Poictevins with the Earl of Pembroke for they were certainly informed how they intended that way to come into Poictou On the 22d day of June the Earl of Pembroke came up to the Port and should have taken Land happily enough with all his Company But there he found this Fleet of Spaniards ready to impeach his Landing He saw now it was too late to avoid them wherefore he comforted his Men and began to arm the Archers being placed to the best Advantage But surely the Match was nothing equal neither in Numbers of Men nor bulk or strength of Ships to say nothing of the Artillery of the Spaniards among which p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 89. Angl. p. 391. One places Canons and other Fire-Arms And indeed Froisard himself witnesses the same For he tells us how the Spanish Fleet being well-provided with a vast Number of Men of Arms Brigands Cross-bows and Canons great Barrs of Iron and heavy plumets of Lead to fling down first fetch'd a course and tack'd about to get the Wind of the English and so came upon them with full Sails in manner of an Half-Moon making a High and horrible noise which rebounding from the shoar ascended the Skies The Earl of Pembroke having Knighted several Young Esquires for their better Encouragement received them warmly without the least sign of Fear and that day in person performed most worthily doing many notable Exploits with his own Hands and exhorting his Men by telling them these were the same Spaniards over whom they had triumphed at Najara Indeed all the Lords both of England and Poictou shew'd that day extraordinary Manhood in Offending and Defending while the Spaniards from their High-built Carracks thundred down among them huge Barrs massy Stones and heavy Plumets of Lead wherewith they extreamly frustrated the Valour of the English Knights who were not permitted to cope with an equal Enemy but lay thus obnoxious to every Disadvantage However they and their Friends the Poictevins were all greedy of Honour and so became well Content to Court her in the greatest Difficulties And many of their Enemies who saw and felt them acknowledged afterwards q Frois c. 298. c. that they doubted no Attempt whatsoever but to Advance their Names readily accepted the most hazardous offer and that never any Men did fight more Valiantly thô they were but a few in respect of the Spaniards and had also both fewer and smaller Vessels So that it was wonderfull how they could subsist so long had not those Generous thoughts within them supply'd them with fresh Courage and that Courage rendred them for a while Invincible Insomuch r Frois ibid. that it was thought the Spaniards would have got but very little or no Advantage over them had they been in Ships no Higher nor Stronger than theirs For they held themselves so close together and fought with such Resolution and Animosity that none were able to abide their stroaks but those who were exceeding well arm'd and shielded from their Fury But the rowling down of Stones Lead and Barrs of Iron afflicted them and endammaged their Vessels and hurt and wounded many good Knights and Esquires The Citizens of Rochelle saw all this Engagement but they made not the least Motion to come and help the Earl of Pembroke and his Men who fought so obstinately with their Enemies at such mighty Disadvantage They were indeed at that time under the subjection of England but in their Hearts they wished small Success to any of that Nation And thus much the Spaniards knew before by the private Intelligence they had or else they durst not have engaged in the very Mouth of the Channel of Rochelle which was a Place so Considerable Thus the Rochellers left the English to their Fortune not affording them any Succour thô however they maintained themselves with Excessive Bravery till Night coming on the two Fleets with One Consent separated from each other and cast Anchor The English having lost this first day two Good Barges laden with Provision together with all the Men within them That same Night Sr. John Harpedon who was then Seneschal of Rochelle for King Edward spake to John Chaudron the Mayor and to the Chief Burgesses of the City desiring them to take Arms like good Loyal Friends and to muster such a Number of the Commons of the City and so to go on Board to the Assistance of the Noble Earl of Pembroke and the rest of their Friends who came thither only to Succour them and had endured so much all that day in Valiantly resisting their Enemies But these false-hearted Men who had no mind to the Matter but had kept secret Correspondence with the Enemy began to excuse themselves saying how it was as much as they could do to maintain the Town against the Spaniards and how they were no Men for Sea-fights nor should be able to do any Service upon the Water But if the Battle was to have been on the Land he should see how gladly they would go into the Field to serve their Lord the King of England And more than this the Seneschal could not perswade them to and to offer to force them was not seasonable in that juncture And yet besides the Constant Garrison there were at that time in the City the Lord Taniboton Sr. James of Surgeres and Sr. Maubron of Liniers who also earnestly desired the Mayor and Burgesses to send assistance to the English in this their extremity But when they saw they could not prevail they three together with Sr. John Harpedon having left a sufficient Garrison in the Castle went and arm'd themselves and all the rest of their Men such as could be spared and would partake with them which yet was but an Inconsiderable Number and so went on Board in Four Barks and at the break of Day when the Floud came set forth and joyn'd the Earl of Pembroke who thanked them heartily for their Good-Will These Knights told the Earl and Sr. Guischard Dangle how the Rochellers had resused to come to his Assistance Well then said the Earl We must Couragiously expect what Chance it shall please God to allot Vs And I
doubt not but one day We shall find a time to make these Rochellers repent their unkind Dealing On Å¿ Frois c. 299. that same Morning when the Floud was now pretty High the Spaniards weighed Anchor making a great noise with Trumpets and Clarions and set themselves in good order as they had been the Day before verily believing that the English were by this time quite tired out and much impaired in their Numbers Being all ready they began to take Advantage of the Wind and so to come upon the English who were nothing equal to them in any thing but Courage However they and their Friends the Poictevins who saw well what their Enemies did prepared to receive them and drew all boldly together setting their Archers before them and with that the Spaniards came upon them with full Sail and the Battle began to wax hot on all Hands Certainly never did Men endure more Difficulty in a Naval Fight than the English did that Day for thô the most part of them were grievously wounded and bruised with the fall of Barrs of Iron and the slinging of Leaden Bullets and the t Vid. Skinner's Eâ—ymol Lang. Angl. in vâ—ce Gunstones shooting of Stones yet for all that they fought while they were able to stir and by a Generous Importunity courted Victory who first now began wholly to turn her back from King Edward till Three of the Clock in the Afternoon But the Fickle Goddess was coy unto them notwithstanding For now the Spaniards finding the English mightily wasted and that they themselves had far more and stronger Vessels better furnish'd with Men and Artillery began to cast their Grappling-Irons and so fastned themselves to the English that they could not get asunder To the Earl of Pembroke's Ship there were no less than Four Spaniards fastned at one time in all which there were many Chosen Men of Arms under the Command of Don Cabesso di Vaccadent and Don Hernando Du Leon two of the Admirals With the Earl of Pembroke at that time was the Lord Guischard Dangle and Two and Twenty other Valiant Knights besides Esquires and Archers who fought as Gallantly as was possible and held out a long while notwithstanding the Spaniards had such Advantage of them many ways But there Sr. Emery of Tarse a Valiant Knight of Gascogne was slain by the Earl's side and with him a Gallant English Gentleman Sr. John Lawton who was Knight for the Earl's Body so that at last the Earl's Ship was Boarded and then was done many a Noble Exploit but there was no more room for Valour the Spaniards rush'd in like a floud on all sides So that there the Earl himself was taken Prisoner and all his Men either suffer'd the same Fate or a Worse Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Curson and Sr. John Grimston were taken alive But the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and Sr. John Lawton were slain Yet still the Lord Thomas Grandison and the Poictevins as the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton Sr. James of Surgeres Sr. Maubron of Linieres and others fought on in other Ships But finally they were all overmaster'd by Number so that none escaped being either taken or slain And when the Lords and Knights were all conquer'd they desired the Spaniards to forbear shedding the Blood of their servants For they said how they would pay a Ransom for the Lives of them all It was impossible for any Men to be have themselves better in those Circumstances the English and Poictevins were in at that time than they did And the stoutest Heart alive must yield to Necessity But surely the Lord Guischard Dangle thô he u His Arm. Or Bilette a Lâ—on Rampant Blue Vid. Tho. Mili's Catal. Honour p. 918. Asomole's Garter-Plates Plate 4â— Sr. Will. Dagd Baron 2 Vol. p. 173. was a most Valiant and Noble Knight and after this deservedly made Earl of Huntington did not advise King Edward well when he told him that now a small Convoy would suffice because they had Friends enough beyond the Seas And it must be attributed to some secret Ordinance of Providence that so Wise a Prince was now perswaded to commit so Fatal an Oversight For a Victorious King who is no longer so without Reputation ought never to commit any considerable Adventure meerly to the Will of Fortune especially in so doubtfull a juncture as this was since One Great Miscarriage undoes all his former Deeds as now it happen'd Whereas had this Fleet been but well fitted out they had infallibly Conquer'd and thereby all France had been saved and King Edward had dy'd as Victorious as he liv'd But it pleas'd God to order it otherwise Among other Losses that Ship wherein lay all the Treasure wherewith Sr. Guischard Dangle should have paid the Souldiers their Wages was unhappily sunk and drown'd and all within lost to the value in Money of 20000 l. Sterling besides other things But this was nothing comparable to the Loss England received in the Death and Taking of so many Valiant and Noble Gentlemen And yet the ill Consequences of this Day were far greater than the Loss it self and it was evident that King Edward now received the greatest Blow that ever he had felt before For by this Discomfiture he lost in a manner all that ever he had got in France except Bayonne Bourdeaux and Calais as will appear in the Sequel of this History V. All that Day which was the Three and Twentieth of June and the Eve of St. John the Baptist and the Night of that Day and the next Day till Noon the Spaniards lay still at Anchor before Rochelle triumphing and making much joy at their hardly-obtained Victory And it happen'd well for Sr. James of Surgeres a Knight of Poictou that they staid so long there For he spake such fair Words to his Spanish Master and in subtlety so obligingly humbled himself that he was immediately acquitted only for paying 300 Franks or Thirty Pounds Sterling And so on St. Johns Day having his full Liberty he came and din'd in the City of Rochell and there made a particular Relation of all the Engagement and who were kill'd and who were taken Prisoners at which heavy Tale the Burgesses that were present seem'd to be very much concerned but indeed they were glad of it For naturally they never cared for the English Nation Now on the Feast of St. John about Noon when the Tide was up the Spaniards weighed Anchor and hoised their Sails and so left that Coast with a merry Noise of Trumpets and Clarions their Masts and Foredecks being adorn'd with Long Streamers and rich Penons and Standards beaten with the Arms of Castille and Leon which made a glorious Shew as they waved about in the Wind. Thus the Spaniards left the Haven of Rochell with the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners in their Company and set Sail for the Coasts
with his Hundred Knights and Esquires to ride abroad so to entice the Enemy into their Ambush Not far thence along by a great Hedge were the Lord of Gomegines and his Men who stood there on Foot all in good Order only Sr. John Harleston i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 154. Captain of Guisnes was sent forth with 20 Spears to see if he could find the French his Orders being on sight of them to fly and suffer the Enemy to pursue him towards this Hedge where his Friends stood ready for them As Sr. John was riding forth in the Fields with this Design the young Earl of St. Pol espi'd him and said aloud to his Men Sirs now let us advance forth Yonder are our Enemies and so clapping Spurs to their Horses they set forward full Speed Sr. John Harleston flying as fast before them till he came to the Hedge where his Friends stood ready ranged with the Archers in their Front. As soon as the Frenchmen came in their reach the Archers received them warmly shooting and overthrowing to the ground Men and Horses and immediatly the Men of Arms came up with them having remounted their Horses with Spears and Axes in their Hands while Sr. John Harleston with his twenty Spears fetching a Compass about came behind and fell in upon their Backs with great fury Many gallant Deeds were done by the Young Earl of St. Pol and the Frenchmen but being thus surrounded and overpower'd with Number they were all slain or taken to a Man. The Earl of St. Pol was taken alive by the hands of an Esquire of the Dutchy of Gueldre and together with him by other Hands the Lord of Pons the Lord of Clery the Lord William of Nesle Sr. Charles of Chastillon Sr. Lionel D'Araines Sr. Gawen de Vesley Sr. Henry de Lisle and Sr. John his Brother the Chastellain of Beauvais and many more Knights and Esquires Immediately after which Discomfiture the Lord Hugh de Chastillon came thither with his three hundred Spears and his Banner before him he rode up almost to the Hedge end but understanding then how his Friends Business was already done and that the English so far outnumbred him he drew his Men together and wheel'd off without giving a stroke for he doubted more to encrease the Loss than to repair it Upon this good Success the English return'd to Ardres with their Prisoners and that very Night the Lord of Gomegines bought the Young Lord Valeran Earl of St. Pol of the Esquire that took him and soon after carried him into England and presented him to the King who thanked him very much and rewarded him more for that acceptable Piece of Service But this young Earl found such Gracious Dealing from King Edward that he became ever after as great a Friend as his Father had been an Enemy to the English Nation * Mili's Catal. Hen. p. 765. being Married to the Half-sister of King Richard the Second VIII About that time the Duke of Anjou and the Constable return'd as we observ'd before into France where they found the Archbishop of Roüen and the Bishop of Carpentras who had been long with the King at Paris making instant and continual Application unto him in the Pope's Behalf as other Legats at the same time dealt with King Edward for the same Purpose Wherefore according to a former Agreement between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster both the Kings were now again obliged to enter a Negotiation thereby if possible to accommodate their Differences The Place appointed for the Assembly was Bruges in Flanders but first the Duke of Anjou according to his Obligation went to St. Omers in great Array having sent for his Cousin Guy of Blois to come thither to him out of Hainal◠about which time the Duke of Lancaster arrived at Calais soon after which both the Dukes with their several Retinues went to Bruges And all the while there lay on the Marches between France and Flanders towards Aire and about Belle or Baillieul and Cassell in Flanders and near those Parts the Constable of France the Lords of Clisson and la Vall and Sr. Oliver Manny with above 600 Men of Arms to keep the Country least any thing should be innovated by the Earl of Flanders For these Lords being all Bretons could not repose any Trust in that Earl because he was so firm a Friend to John of Monford Duke of Bretagne against whom they fought Wherefore neither would they ever come to Bruges whatever the Commissioners on both sides could say or do There were present at this Treaty on the French Kings Part Lewis Duke of Anjou and Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruce the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop Elect of Bayeux and others And for the King of England there was John Duke of Lancaster William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Simon Sudbury Bishop of London Sr. John Cobham of Kent Sr. Frank van Hall Sr. Arnold Savage Mr. John Shephey and Mr. Simon Multon This Treaty was carried on by Snatches for k Mezeray two full Years with incredible Expences the Frenchmen all the while preparing at Home l Walsingh Hyp. p. 133. n. 40. for War fitting and making of Arms of all sorts and providing all manner of Warlike Habiliments And thus even in those Days were the French always too hard at Council for the English However for the present m Frois c. 312. fol. 194. Angl. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. that no Harm or Molestation should come to any of the Lords of either Party or to any of their Men by subtlety or other means since there were Hundreds that rode in and out daily of both Sides thô they could not settle a Firm and General Truce because of the Duke of Bretagne's Concerns and other Matters which render'd the thing impracticable yet first of all they settled this Point by agreeing on a Partial Truce to endure till the First of May in the Year following in all the Marches of Calais as far as the River of Somme all other Lands being left in their former state of Hostility Whereupon the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord de la Val hasted with their Troops into Bretagne because the Truce extended not to that Dukedom About this n Frois c. 311. time also there was a Treaty set on Foot concerning the Delivery of the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners out of Spain especially because the Earl of Pembroke o Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 10. not enduring the hard Usage of the Spaniards sent to Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France whom he knew to have great Interest with the King of Spain entreating him to use his power to deliver him out of that inhumane Thraldom Whereupon Sr. Bertram upon delivering back his Lands belonging to Soria Castle and acquitting certain Sums of Money due unto him from the King of Spain his Nephew Sr. Oliver
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâ—gree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâ—imus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâ—is c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. â—d 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Râ—â— Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced 〈◊〉 but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing â—ypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâ—w p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
with the Emperour but the Lord Henry Eam of Brabant in Flanders was here and 7 or 8 Knights of Germany whose Names are so corruptly written that they are not to be recovered aright And lastly the Lord Godfry of Harcourt a Valiant Baron of Normandy was there at this time enflaming the Kings Mind against his Native Country upon all occasions Being thus therefore embarqued on the last of June King Edward sets Sail designing as was thought for Bayonne or Bourdeaux that so he might Raise the Siege from before Aiguillon but being pretty forward on his way toward Gascogne on the third Day there arose a Contrary Wind which without any further harm drove the whole Fleet back upon the Coasts of Cornwall There having layn at Anchor six Days waiting for Wind they made forward again but a like Wind in the very same manner drove them back again to the same place without any Damage as before Which Chance happening thus p Mezeray ad hunc an p. 25. twice together and the Wind still continuing against them the Lord Godfry of Harcourt being of the Kings Cabinet-Council began to take hold on that occasion to divert the King from Gascogne to Normandy and told him that it seem'd Heaven it self directed him to take another Course and therefore Advis'd him to take Land in his Country which was one of the most plentifull Provinces in the World and had not seen any War for two whole Ages Sir q Frois c. 121. said he if You will please to make thither on hazard of my Head You shall find no Impeachment in your Landing For besides that the Commons of Normandy are unexpert and wholly ignorant of War all the Lords Knights and Esquires of the Country are now with the Duke at the Siege before Aiguillon And here Sir You shall meet with great Towns without Walls or strong Fortifications so that your Men may gain such Wealth and Riches as to be the better for it for Twenty Years hence And thus You may do without any stop till You come to the Great City of Caon in lower Normandy I only beg Your Majesty would put some Confidence in me at this time for as I have been a Lord of that Country so I understand it as well as any other And being now unjustly cast out of it own her for my Enemy and England that receives me for my better Country The King who was then but in the Flour of his Manhood for he had not yet seen 34 Years and desired nothing more ardently then Deeds of Arms readily enclin'd to the Lord Harcourt's Advice whom he had look'd on as his Friend and called him Cousin and so he suddenly commanded his Pilots to direct their Course for Normandy Thereupon he took into his own Ship the Standard of the Chief Admiral who was then the Earl of Warwick saying that he himself would be Admiral in that Expedition and so set forward as chief Governour of the Fleet And now as if Heaven consented to all this had Wind at Will on the 11 day of July he happily arrived with all his Fleet at the Haven of la Hogue St. Vast in Coutantine a great Cape or Peninsula in Normandy within 9 French Leagues of St. Sauveur la Vicomte the right Hetitage of the Lord Godfry of Harcourt In this Haven the King found r Knighton p. 1585. n. 50. 30 great Ships and Gallies all which he took and then endeavouring first of all to take land he leap'd on the shore with such violence that by a suddain Antispasis or contrary Attraction the Blood gushed out of his Nose Whereat his ſ Frois c. 122. Du Chesne p. 663. Lords abominating such an ill-boding Token desired him to reenter his Ship and not to land that Day for that was no good Sign for them But the King briskly reply'd That it was only a sign the Land desired to have Him. One reports t Walsing hyp p. 118. that there being some Opposition at their Landing the Earl of Warwick with one Esquire and six Archers only Himself by reason of the great Haste not having a very good Horse lifted up his Hand couragiously against an Hundred Men striking every one he met to the ground and together with those his seven Assistants slew no less than 60 Normans whereby he made way for his Army to land But althô Sr. William u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Dugdale passes by this Story without the least Remark yet we who have a greater Obligation to examine the Truth and Probability of Reports must either not allow this Action at all or not in this Place but rather at Caen as we shall shew hereafter For by the Kings Landing in that Manner as we related it appears there was no Opposition made against him and 't is x Du Serres Speed p. 577. certain that no Soul in France knew of King Edwards Design against Normandy much less could they be ready to resist him at this time Nor can I understand the Connexion of the Matter that the Earl of Warwick fought against an Hundred For either there were more to oppose his Landing and then he might being but so thinly attended be said to list up his Hand against them all Or if but an Hundred there was no need of any Man of Honour to beat them away The Boys and Pages of the Navy might have done it A MS. by me with more probability reports this Action of the Earls to have been done afterwards in the Night against a Company of Rovers who thought to have made a Prize of him III. Upon that pleasant Diversion of the Omen which King Edward gave his Lords smil'd for the good Hopes they conceived and so landed all with much Ease and in good Order In which Action the residue of that day was spent The y 12 July M.S. Vet. Lat. in Biblicth C.C.C. cui Titulus Acta Edvardi Filti Edvardi Tertii approach of the next Morning brought an unwelcome notice of their Arrival to the Inhabitants of those Parts so that leaving their Goods behind them they fled to hide themselves in Woods and Caves before the face of the Enemy At * Id. M.S. vet Lat. ibid. la Hogue the Lord Godfrey of Harcourt paid his Homage unto King Edward professing to hold his Lands and Possessions in Normandy of him as Rightfull King of France That same Day about Noon the King removed and took an high Hill near the Shore from whence he made a Dreadfull Appearance over all the Country And here z M.S. id ibid. Oxon. in Biblioth Bodlei K. 84. fol. 116. a. Stow p. 241. he presently Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales then just 16 Years and 27 Days old and together with him several young Noblemen as William Montagu a Nat. annos 18. Earl of Salisbury Roger b Nat. annos 20. Lord Mortimer William Lord c Nat. annos 19. Ros Roger d