Cosin the King of England or any of his so that He or they might come or go armed or unarmed at his or their pleasure That if King Edward would defie the French King he also would do the same and enter the Realm of France with Forces to the number of a thousand Men of Arms so that their Wages might be paid them from England And accordingly on the 13 of July we find that John Duke of Brabant Lorraine and Lomberg i Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 8. 2 Septem ibid. m. 6. ibid. m. 11. was retained for the King and with the assent of the Emperour was the Confederation made with Lewis his eldest Son there stiled Marquis of Brandenburgh Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and Arch-Chamberlain to the Emperour There passed also between the Emperour himself and the King of England and their Heirs an Union and Confederacy which obliged them to use all their Power particularly against Philip of Valois who bore himself as King of France and his Successors in that Kingdom for the Recovery and Defence of their Honours Inheritances and Possessions Things succeeding thus happily the k Frois ibid. English Lords return to the rest of their Company at Valenciennes whence by Letters and Messengers they so well managed the residue of that Affair that the Lord Reginald Earl of Gueldre and Zuitphen who had married Eleanora the King of Englands Sister and William Marquis of Juliers who had married Joan one of Queen Philippa's Sisters with Walram Archbishop of Cologne and the Lord Valeran his Brother and the Lord Faulquemont came all to Valenciennes to treat with the English Lords about the Premises before the Earl of Heinalt and the Lord John his brother And here at last on Consideration of certain Summs of Florens to be paid to each of them beside such and such Wages for their Men They all undertook to defie the French King and to bring into the Field against him every Man such a number to attend King Edward when and where it should please him Promising moreover on the like Conditions to procure other Lords of the Empire such as were best inclin'd to War and most able from beyond the Rhine After this Covenant thus made the Almaine Lords departed to their several Countries but the English remain'd still with the Earl of Heinalt whence they sent frequent Messengers to Adolph Bishop of Liege being very desirous to bring him over But he was so firmly knit to the French Kings Interest that there were but small hopes of ever prevailing with him As for the Valiant King John of Bohemia thô they wish'd for him he being a Prince of great Wisdom as well as Resolution and of great Power in the Empire which once was govern'd by his Father Henry of Luxemburgh yet they forbore to attempt any thing upon him because they saw plainly that having married his Daughter to King Philips Son John Duke of Normandy he could neither in honour nor interest move another way And indeed both he and the foresaid Bishop of Liege stuck so close to the Crown of France that nothing but Death could separate them from it which they both at last suffer'd in one day at the famous Battle of Cressy wherein the English obtain'd a most signall Victory But however they prevail'd elsewhere and retain'd in the Kings Name for his intended Expedition into France several other Noblemen of those Countries l Ashmole p. 647. as namely Adolph Earl of Mont who having done Fealty and Homage to King Edward received of him in reward thereof a Pension for Life of 1200 Florens of Gold per annum out of his Exchequer Everard eldest Son to Theoderick Earl of Limbergh Adolph Earl of Marlia Robert de Touburgh Lord of Warnich Theoderick Earl of Lossen and Heuseberg and the Lord Blatikenberg and Theoderick de Montjoy Lord of Walkenberg besides divers Valiant Knights and Commanders of eminent Note II. Moreover King Edward well considering how opportunely the Flemings lay to annoy the Kingdom of France and how their Trade in Wooll and other Merchandises which came from England made them in a great measure obnoxious to him resolves to attempt them And thereupon sends over m Fabian p. 204 an English Knight named Sr. Bernard Brett of an excellent Tongue and obliging Deportment who if upon tryal he should find any Difficulty with Lewis n English Atlas 4 Vol. p. 239. sirnamed of Cressy Earl of Flanders was then secretly by promises and other arts to work upon the Demagogues and such as were most acceptable to the Populace so as to perswade them to enter League and Amity with the Crown of England The Earl of Flanders thô he was perfect French at heart yet could not he thought in reason but propound this Request of King Edwards to his Estates being called together in Council In short the King of England found more Favourers here than the Earl had imagin'd many openly alledging that it was more for their Interest to prefer his Friendship than that of France the chief of whom was a Lord of Flanders named o Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 903. Sr. Siger of Courtray who stifly maintain'd that Opinion in Council for which he began to be in great dislike with the Earl. This Knight p Frois c. 29. fol. 18. had been accounted a Person of singular Honour and of unquestionable Valour and Fidelity to his Lord the Earl of Flanders but whether that he was won by the Policy and Golden Perswasion of this English Knight Sr. Bernard Brett or whether he indeed thought it the best Advice for the Wealth of his Lord and of his Country he was perfectly now for abetting the English Interest His usual Residence was in the City of Gaunt the Metropolis in those Days of all Flanders where he kept great Hospitality especially for the entertainment of Strangers for which he was extreamly dear to the common People who call'd him the Lord of Courtesie This his manner of being Free to all Men made him not doubt of entertaining the English among others with all civility and honour whereat the jealous Head of King Philip was so stung that upon News thereof he sent to the Earl of Flanders commanding him to strike off his Head as One whom he affirmed to be corrupted with English Gold from his Duty The Earl who was already not well-pleas'd with the Lord Sigar of Courtray not daring or not willing to give King Philip any occasion of Suspition sent for him accordingly Whereupon Sr. Sigar readily obeyed as one who having done no ill suspected none but when the Earl had got him once in his power without Process or Judgment he caused him presently to be beheaded This rash and illegal Action of the Earls did so incense the Commons of Gaunt and Bruges that they began plainly to Rebel against him openly rejected his Government and prepared to resist him by force of Arms. The q
shall find Complaint made in Parliament the Year following by the Owners of the said Vessels X. On the r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. Tenth of October this Year there departed this Life the thrice-Noble and Valiant Lord David Strabolgi Earl of Athol leaving only two Daughters his Heirs behind him And the most Honourable Heroe Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 318. Catal. Henâ—â— p. 650. died on the Ninth of the Calends of February this same Year in a good old Age leaving behind him three Sons and three Daughters Richard the eldest of his Sons succeeded him both in his Honours and Vertues Helming t Stow's Survey of London p. 217. Legat Esquire having obtained Licence of the King gave at this time one Tenement with a Cartelage or Yard thereto belonging and a Garden with an Entry leading thereto unto Mr. John Hariot Parson of Fen-Church and to his Successors for ever the House to be a Parsonage-House and the Garden to be a Church-yard or Burying-place for the Parish And about the same time u Dugd. Warw. p. 781. a. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton founded an House at Atherston in Warwickshire called the Fryars-Hermits of St. Augustin over the Gate whereof is yet to be seen his Coat of Arms cut in a fair Shield of Stone CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. Ingleram Lord Coucy makes an Expedition a second time into Austria but to no purpose II. Another Treaty at Bruges which only produces a short Truce and that another At which time King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it III. The Jubile of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster IV. During whose Sessions the Black-Prince dies his Will Character AN. DOM. 1376. An. Regni Angliae L. Franciae XXXVII Burial and Epitaph V. The Captal of Busche takes his Death to Heart and pines away VI. The Black-Prince's Character again his Children VII The Continuation of the foresaid Parliament at Westminster VIII A Censure thereof who the First Speaker of the House of Commons IX The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche X. Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome I. IN these Days Ingleram de Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earl of Bedford and King Edward's Son-in-Law a Frois c. 314. fol. 195. Gallicè f. 266. De bello inter Bernabonem Pentifices gesto vid. Odor Rainal ab Ano. 1360. n. 6. c. returned into France from the Wars in Lombardy which at the Instance and on the Behalf of the Pope he had maintain'd together with John Galeas Earl of Vertus Son of Duke Galeas against his Uncle Duke Bernabo and his Allies the Recital whereof would be Foreign to the Matter now in Hand This Lord of Coucy was Son to the Lady b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. a. Catherine of Austria who was Sister to c Catal. Hener p. 440. Peter Duke of Austria last deceased so that the said Duke dying without Issue lawfully begotten the Lord of Coucy was of Right to succeed in that Dukedom to his Uncle Peter aforesaid But the d Pannones olim dicti People of the Country had already given the Dukedom to another further removed than he whereof he had before this made frequent Complaints to the Emperour Charles the Fourth Who very well knew the Right which he had but durst not interpose too vigorously on his Behalf because the Austrians were a considerable Nation and Hardy in War. Wherefore the Lord of Coucy seeing he could not be righted otherwise had his last recourse to Arms wherein thô assisted by his Aunt Sister to the late Duke and his Mother he nevertheless had but small Success wherefore having afterwards exercised his Arms for some time in Lombardy he now returned as We have shewn into France where he was received very gratiously of the King who highly esteem'd him for his Valour and imagin'd by what means he might win him over from King Edward unto himself The Lord of Coucy understanding that there was a Truce at that time between England and France which was in a fair way to be prolonged and that there were many Men of War then in France without any Employment who as he thought might prove very serviceable to him in Recovering his Right in Austria began now to request of King Charles that he would permit those Bretons and Companions who during the Truce were like to be but a Burthen to his Realm to go along with him into Austria to help him to recover his Right The King as well to rid himself of that Charge and Trouble as to oblige him granted this his Request and besides that either gave or lent him 60000 Franks to bestow among his Followers Wherefore several French Lords themselves when they saw how well their King himself wish'd to this Cause joyned themselves with the Lord of Coucy as the Vicount of Meaux the Lord of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy the Baron of Roye and the Lord Peter de la Bar with many other Lords and Knights of France Bretagne Artois Vermandois Picardy and Hainalt all desirous to advance their Bodies in Quest of Military Honour With these Forces the Lord of Coucy rode forth towards Austria about the Feast of St. Michael in the Year 1375 the Companions that were with him after their manner doing much Mischief all the way But when the Austrians and the Almaignes with their New Duke whom they had chosen understood for certain that the Lord of Coucy was coming against them with such Forces they immediately burnt and destroy'd for three Days journey along by the River Danube after which they retired into the Mountains and other Places hard of Access So that the Lord of Coucy and his Men who had expected to have met with Victuals could find none at all whereby they suffer'd that Winter infinite Loss and Trouble for not knowing where to get Forage or Victuals for themselves or their Horses many of both Sorts died what with Hunger Cold and Sickness These Afflictions put an end to this Expedition so that in the Spring the poor Remainders of the Army returned into France where they divided into several Quarters to refresh themselves But the King sent the most part of the Companions into Bretagne and Low Normandy to quarter there till he should have occasion for them which he expected shortly For there was only a Momentary Truce taken between the Realms of England and France of which we shall now speak a little II. When the Feast of e Vâ—d l. 4. c. 12. §. 7. p. 876. All-Saints drew near which was the Time appointed for a Meeting at Bruges in order to prolong the Truce beyond the forelimited time of the First of April or if possible to settle a lasting Peace there came again to Bruges for the French King the Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Amiens but the
John Copland an Esquire of Northumberland The Third and last Battalia of the Scots discomfited The time and place of this Battle certainly Assign'd A Gross Mistake of Hector Boëtius the Scotch Historian How long the Fight lasted the Loss on both sides The Names of the Scotch Nobility slain and taken John Copland bears away the King of Scotland the Queen sends to him for the King She returns to York and King Bailiol and the English invade Scotland John Copland being sent for to Calais by King Edward is Knighted and Royally rewarded King David secur'd in the Tower of London The Earls of Menteith and Fife executed The Earl of Lancaster returns into England and the Queen goes over to the Siege at Calais The Pope endeavours for Peace in vain From p. 376. to p. 385. Chap. VI. A Parliament at Paris Another at Westminster The Pope writes to King Edward to perswade him to Peace King Edward's answer Odoricus Rainaldus refuted King Philip seeks to bring over the Flemings but misses his Aim The Earl of Flanders confin'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais The Earl of Flanders escapes into France Two Frenchmen put to Death for favouring King Edward's Right The Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel The frequent Attempts to relieve Calais frustrated The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. Sr. Robert of Namur enters King Edward's service before Calais An account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of DURHAM An account of the Affairs of Bretagne Sr. Charles of Blois taken Prisoner at the Battle of ROCHE D'ARIEN by Sr. Thomas Dagworth Roche d' Arien taken by the French and the English Garrison murder'd by the Commons of the Country The French Navy defeated Five hundred more poor People thrust out of Calais The Calisians send an Account of their Case to King Philip. The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philip's March returns to Calais The French Kings strength he desires leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings Besiege Aire but upon King Philip's approach rise King Philip comes to Sangate and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair The manner how Calais was yielded Calais settled by King Edward A Truce between the two Kings King Edward returns for England A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case From p. 385. to p. 415. Chap. VII The Glory and Prosperity of King Edward's Reign corrupts the Nation A Parliament Justs and Turneaments How Avignon came to belong to the See of Rome Philip of Valois and Edward of England could cure the Kings Evil. An Order concerning the Kings Purveyors The Truce between England and France prorogued for another Year King Edward solemnises the Translation of St. Thomas c. The Earl of Flanders does Homage to King Edward but afterwards rebelling is beaten King Edward being inform'd of a Design to betray Calais goes over privately and beats the Frenchmen He presents a Rich Chaplet to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont and sets him free Having settled Calais he returns for England The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The two Royal Widowers Marry again From p. 416. to p. 428. Chap. VIII Treats of the Great Plague that happen'd in the Year 1348. From p. 428. to p. 442. Chap. IX King Edward Founds the Chappel of St. George at WINDSOR with the Copy of his Letters for that purpose The Pope furthers the Matter by two Bulls The Progress in Building Enlarging and Beautifying the Castle of WINDSOR The Institution of the most Noble Order of the GARTER Henry Earl of Lancaster Leicester and Darby made Earl of Lincoln and sent into Gascogne The Lord Thomas Dagworth slain in Bretagne Earl Henry's Exploits in Gascogne He brings the French to Terms A Famous Combat between 30 English and 30 French. Of certain who arrived to Great Wealth and Splendour by the Wars Of Sr. Thomas Rokeby Deputy Lieutenant of Ireland and of Sr. Robert Savage and his Son Henry Savage who lived in Ulster A Grant of the Black-Prince's to the Lord Henry Eam of Flanders confirmed at this time by the King he being then newly chosen one of the First Knights of the GARTER From p. 442. to p. 448. Chap. X. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the 100th to the 50th Year The Original of Jubilees King Edward forbids his Subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Pope's Expostulation thereon The Sect of Whippers rises and is supprest King Edward's Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. King Philip of France dies King John succeeds A Duel fought before King Edward between a Knight of Cyprus and the Bastard of France King John puts the Bastard of France and the Earl of Eu and Guisnes to Death Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in Order to King David's Redemption From p. 449. to p. 455. Chap. XI A Parliament wherein King Edward advances sundry of his Grandees to Honour The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle Sr. Robert's Acts. A Truce with France Another with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldan of Babylon King John of France renews the Order of the STAR The Castle of Guisnes taken by the English King John seeks to recover it in vain Sr. Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole The Lord Guy de Nesse slain by Sr. Walter Bentley The Earl of Stafford Lieutenant of Gascogne beats the French. The Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the GARTER King Edward provides for the Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries Mathilda Daughter of the Duke of Lancaster The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick King Edward prepares against the French. Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London From p. 455. to p. 467. Chap. XII An Hard Winter Storms Drought and Dearth A Riot at Chester The Black Prince's Munificence King Edward Founds a College at Westminster A Treaty with Scotland A Treaty and Truce with France A Parliament The Names of the Lords summon'd thereto Another Parliament A Treaty at Avignon which begets a short Truce The Foundation of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge A Quarrel between the Town and Vniversity of Oxford Two Fryars burnt at Avignon And a Third recants at Paris From p. 468. to p. 477. Chap. XIII The King of Navarre Murders the Constable of France and Invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance
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
14 day of September VI. And now for a while we shall leave King Edward at the Siege of Calais and look what became of the Siege of Aiguillon in Agenois the News whereof had lately incited the King of England to make this Expedition All this while r Prâ—is c. 134. the Duke of Normandy lay before the strong Castle of Aiguillon not now so much in hopes to win the Place for not only the English held out still with their usual Bravery but he also himself was held short by the Earl of Darby as because he had rashly made a solemn Vow never to depart thence till he had the Fortress at his Devotion Now a few Days before the Battle of Cressy was fought Duke John hearing that King Edward was marching through France resolved to give one more general Assault if by any means he might by Carrying the Place both save his Oath and also be at liberty to go and assist his Father It was then about the middle of August and the Frenchmen being irritated with their long stay here became more resolved to do their Utmost in order to end so tedious a Siege with Honour Nor were encouragements wanting from the Duke nor provocations from the Enemy But for all that althô in a manner the whole Army was engaged in a general Assault carried on with the utmost vigour for the space of an whole Day yet all was in vain and their Losses were doubled but their Advantages no whit better'd Among many others there fell that day the young Lord Philip of Burgundy Eldest Son to Eudo the IV. Duke of Burgundy who was Earl of Artois and Boulogne and Cousin-German to the Duke of Normandy This Gallant Gentleman was in the Flower of his Youth and but newly come thither But being desirous at this time to signalize himself when the Skirmish was begun he set Spurs to his Courser and came onward to the Assault But the mettlesome Horse taking the Curb between his Teeth ran away with his Master and chanced to stumble in a Ditch where they fell both Horse and Man The young Lord being so rudely handled that he died within a few days after leaving behind him Å¿ Favine le Parisien l. 4. c. 3. p. 7. one Infant Son and a Daughter VII Now King Philip was returned to Paris where he busied himself in Thoughts nothing unworthy the Grandeur of such a Monarch nor did all this Adversity abate his Courage or extort one Low thought from him He resolves to try all means to uphold his Sinking Honour and take a severe Vengeance of his Enemies for the Loss he had received First therefore he sends a peremptory Command to his Son John who lay still before Aiguillon with a very considerable Army immediately to rise up and all Excuses laid aside to come away to aid his Country nearer Home against the Enemy who had already drank deep draughts of her best Blood and now lay gnawing at her very Bowels At the same time he seriously bestirs himself to raise another Mighty Army wherewith he design'd to go and drive away King Edward from before Calais Which he intended to succour in Person very early the next Campagne And besides this in hopes to divert the War from his own Doors into England or at least to repay the Losses of France with the like in England he presently after the Battle of Cressy sent his special Messengers to his Old Friend and Ally David Bruce King of Scotland Not only desiring him earnestly to remember former Obligations and their late strict Alliance but encouraging him at such a time t Knightâ—n p. 2589. n 40. when all the strength of England was drain'd out in the parts of Gascogne Bretagne and before Calais to invade the Northern Borders of his and their Inveterate Enemys the English and to revenge the manifold Injuries they had Both received earnestly requesting him not so much to stand upon a slight Truce which King Edward had only made for his own Advantage as to value and respect those sacred Tyes of mutual Amity and Entercourses that have been not only for many Generations inviolably maintain'd between both their Ancestors but also in especial manner had been cultivated and confirmed between them two And besides all these Arguments he sent him a good round Summ of Mony and 15000 Crossbows of Genoua to his Assistance thô not as some say under the Command of Antonio Doria and Carolo Grimaldi for they were both slain in Cressy-Field as we have shewn from the Testimony of Giovanni Villani who was himself an Italian And truly it might be wondred that any of the Genouese should now care to serve King Philip any more after that great Affront at Cressy but that it is to be remembred how these People were in those Days Mercenaries to the Crown of France as of late the Swissers have been and so might well be now appeased with gracious Words especially attended with Gold which always bears a Great Sway not only among Souldiers of Fortune but also with the major Part of Mankind The Effects of this Message we shall shew by and by when we have first related how the Siege was broken up from before Aiguillon VIII And as for John Duke of Normandy when he had received his Fathers peremtory Command he became infinitely displeas'd as well at the unhappy News of King Edwards Victorious Progress as because he saw his own Honour so apparently touched in that he had received such Opposition before so inconsiderable a Fortress Indeed he had met with many Checks and Rebuffs during this Siege not only from the Besieged themselves who maintain'd the Place with invincible Courage as we have particularly shew'd but also from the most Noble Earl of Darby who held him so short with his flying Troops that scoured about the Country for that purpose having certain strong Garrisons for their Retreat that he could never get in Provisions fast enough to supply the wants of his Army and what he got was not many times without great Labour thô fetch'd in by Considerable Bodies Wherefore that he suffer'd some Difficulty is very easily granted but that he was thereby obliged secretly to forsake his Army and escape away by stealth I cannot by any means allow thô u Knighton p. 2589. n. 30. c. some of our Writers have too heedlesly ventur'd to say as much And that his Headless Army thereupon flying away after him in much Confusion they were between the People of the Country and the Earl of Darby almost all reduced to nothing I have all along professed to have a zeal for Truth and must not therefore here allow of those improbable Relations of some of our Countrymen For it is certain that Prince John was a Man of truly Royal Courage and Magnanimity and the Army he lead very formidable for the Fame of its Captains and Officers as well as its own Numbers And we are sure not only that the
Prisoner and at that time had the Custody of him to deliver him up to the Bishops of Durham and Caerlile to William Earl of Northampton the Lords Henry Piercy and Ralph Nevill or to any Four Three or Two of them and at the same time another Command was issued out to them to deliver him under the form and upon the Conditions agreed on And so toward the latter end of October King David being at liberty upon Parole went into Scotland in hopes by his Presence to quicken his Subjects to come to a Composition with King Edward but not being able to accomplish his intention so soon as he had design'd x Knighton p. 2603. n. 1â— c. the Scots refusing also to redeem him on such Conditions as King Edward propounded he return'd into England about half a Year after at which time a Command bearing date y Râ—t Scâ—tâ—â— 26. Ed. 3. n. 3. 28 March an 26. Ed. 3. was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages of Scotland to Barwick they to be there in Quindena z Pasha 17. Aprâ—s B. Dom. Lit. Paschae it being the Day fixed for King Davids return to that Town And so he remain'd a Prisoner still in England CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1351. An. Regni Angliae XXV Franciae XII wherein the King advances several Great Men to Honour II. The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle His Acts a Truce III. A Truce with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner before the Truce with France IV. Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldane of Babylon V. King John renews the Order of the Star. VI. The Manner how the Castle of Guisnes was taken by the English of Calais VII King John of France endeavours to recover it in vain VIII The Lord Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole IX The Lord Guy de Nesle slain in Battle by Sr. Walter Bentley X. The Earl of Stafford created Lieutenant of Gascogne wins a Victory over the French the Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the Garter XI King Edward provides for Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries the Eldest Daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster XII The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick XIII King Edward prepares to resist the French. XIV Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London I. ON the a M.S. Record Parl. p. 71. c. Sr. Rob. Cottâ—n's Abridgment p. 73. c. Seventh of February being the Monday in the Vtas of the Purification of our Lady at the Opening of this Year King Edward held his High-Court of Parliament at Westminster Over which at first Prince Lionel the Kings Third Son was commission'd to preside because the King and his Eldest Son Prince Edward were then preparing to cross the Seas thô afterwards that Voyage being defer'd we shall find them both present at this Sessions Thô the Parliament began so early to sit yet by reason of several Continuations from Day to Day because many of the Lords were not yet come it was not open'd till Tuesday the 15 of February At which time Receivers being appointed to gather and Tryers to consider of the several Petitions from England Wales Gascogne Scotland Ireland Bretagne and other Foreign Isles and Places the Reasons for the Calling of the Parliament were declared in Presence of the King and his Nobles As first because the King having in the Twenty second Year of his Reign summon'd a Parliament was both hindred to continue that Session and also to b From hence it appears that the Printed Statutes pretended to be made anno 23 Fd. 3. are falsly dated call them to another by reason of the late dreadfull Plague untill this time Also that the Business of his Wars required their Concurrence because the Peace was not punctually observed and Domestick Matters were likewise to be taken into Consideration for that Labourers refused to do their Service at reasonable and usual Rates and lastly because the Treasure of the Realm was exported For these Considerations was the Parliament convened and hereupon to consult the King did especially command and require them and Sr. William Shareshull Knight the Kings Chief Justice repeated the Substance of all this to the Commons willing them to weigh all things well and provide for them effectually The whole Process and Matter following as it is to be seen at large in the Record was deliver'd by Dr. John Thoresby Bishop of c Ita emendo Winchester in M. S. Sr. Bob. Câ—ttâ—n ea I hâ—lpets Catal Chaccell Worcester then Lord Chancellour to John Codington Clerk of the Parliament at the Kings Command to be entred into the Rolls of the same Parliament In this d Godw. Catal. Bâ—sin Câ—nter §. 54. p. 14. Parliament the old Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York concerning Bearing their Crosiers began to be renew'd with the usual Heat but at last it was wholly referred to the King 's Hearing Who set down this final Rule to be observed for the future That the Archbishop of York might bear his Cross in the others Province saving the Preeminence to Canterbury but that in token of Subjection every Archbishop of York at his Entrance into that Bishopâ—â—ck should offer an Image of Gold to the value of Fourty Pounds at the Shrine of Thomas of Canterbury The same Image to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two Months after his Inthronization In this Parliament Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel by his Petition prayeth that his Restitution granted in the e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 6. p. 52. 53. Fourth of Edward the Third may be now better declared and confirmed Which the King in Consideration of the Equity of his Request and also of his many worthy Services done to the Crown most ready granted Whereupon the said Act made in the Fourth of Edward the Third Tit. 14 touching this Earl was read over and afterwards this Clause thereto adjoyned That it is by the King and Parliament Agreed that the said Restitution be Confirmed and shall remain of such full Force and Effect that John now Earl of Kent and his Heirs shall neither Challenge nor Obtain against the said Richard Earl of Arundel in any Court of England or in Wales by Writ or otherwise by any Petition in Parliament any of the Possessions or Titles that the said John or Edmund his Eldest Brother long since deceased ever had in or to the said Castle of Arundel or of any Part or Parcel thereof So as by this Restitution the said Earl Richard shall have the like Estate and Title as he should have had by Descent of Inheritance as well to all other Hereditaments whereof
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
debasing of Your Royal State and Dignity And althô those who make themselves more than agrees with their Condition Rulers of the Land and Your Counsellors endeavour to perswade You that Your present Proceedings will be acceptable to Your People yet we most constantly averr that after this manner which You have begun there will happen nothing less and that Your Majesty will find at last And We doubt not a little that if You proceed as You have begun You will both lose the Hearts of Your own People and of Your Allies and also Your Just and Lawfull Right and will Raise up such Evil-will against Your Person here at home that Your will not be able to Maintain Your War whereby You will give occasion to Your Enemies of Rising against You to destroy You so that You will be in Danger to lose which God forbid both Your Good Name and Kingdom Wherefore Sovereign Lord I beseech You that for the Safeguard of Your Honour and Realm and the Maintenance of Your Quarrel You would Summon together Your Lords and the Wise Men of the Land and that Your Affairs may succeed more Prosperously take their Advice without whose Counsel and Aid You can neither Conquer abroad nor Rule happily at Home And because such as are near Your Majesty are not afraid to lay Treason and Falshood to Our Charge we hereby denounce that they shall be forthwith Excommunicate and as Your Spiritual Father We beseech You so to Esteem of them And whereas it is laid to Us that by Our Evil Administration of Affairs You both lost the Town of Tournay and much Honour also may it please Your Majesty to call together Your Prelates Peers and Nobles of the Realm in some convenient place where We may securely confer with the Prelates and make strict Enquiry into whose Hands from the beginning of Your Wars the Woolls Moneys and what else was granted to this Day came and how they were used and by whose Default the City of Tournay was not Won but left in that Dishonourable Manner and that so like a Good and Just Lord You will after their Demerits punish the Culpable according to Your own Laws And as for Us We shall ever be ready to submit Our Selves to the judgement of Our Peers the State of Holy Church of Us and of Our Order as We elsewhere have frequently Written still maintained And for Gods Sake Sir believe not either of Us or of any other Your Liege Subjects any thing but Good till the Truth be explored nor be too forward to lend Your Ear to any Man For if Men should be punished without answer given or the Truth known the Judgement would still be the same both to the Guilty and to the Innocent And Sir may it please You to Consider both maturely and seriously the Great Force of Your Foreign Enemies both of France and Scotland For if the Prelates Lords and Wise Men of the Realm should all without any difference with one consent both Night and Day joyn and combine wisely together to Menage Your Weighty and Arduous Affairs to Maintain the War You have begun and to preserve Your Honour and Kingdom 't would all be little enough Nor let it displease Your Majesty most Redoubted Lord that so rudely and grosly We declare the Truth unto You For the Great Love and Affection which We bear unto Your Person and Interest and ever by the Grace of God shall bear especially because We are tho◠Unworthy the Primate of all England and thereby Your Spiritual Father doth move Us to say Command and Provide for what may turn to the Benefit of Your Soul and the Advantage of Your People The Holy Spirit save and keep You my Lord both in Soul and Body and grant You the Grace both to hear and receive Good and wholsome Advice and moreover vouchsafe to give You Victory over all Your Enemies Dated at Canterbury January the First in the seventh Year of Our Consecration by Your Majesties Chaplain John Canterbury IV. Besides this the Archbishop for the further Declaration of his Innocence and Maintenance of his Authority wrote to Sr. Robert Bourchier then Lord Chancellor of England in these Words JOHN by Divine Permission Archbishop of Canterbury Primate of all England and Legate of the Apostolick See Wisheth a Will to Conserve the Liberties of Holy Church and the Law of the Land entire For the Wise Man saith that the Truth being foreknown and foreseen doth cause Us to avoid great Dangers that else would happen Therefore We would have You understand that the Tenths of Holy Church last granted unto Our Lord the King for One Year by the Clergy of Our Province of Canterbury to be paid together with other Tythes then behind were granted on certain Conditions and certain Articles granted by Our Lord the King unto the said Clergy and confirmed by his Charter And moreover that the said Clergy for that time should not be burthen'd with any other Portion or Contribution to be made or granted unto our Lord the King. After this also in the Parliament Conven'd at Westminster on the Wednesday next after Midlent there were granted unto the King the Ninth Fleece the Ninth Lamb the Ninth Sheaf but on certain Cautions and Conditions namely that no Prelates or any of the said Clergy should be any way Obliged to the Contribution of this Ninth Part but only those who held by Barony and were bound to come to the Parliament And that the Prelates and Others of the Clergy paying the said Ninth should by no means be obliged to the Payment of the Tenth granted as aforesaid But yet certain Collectors of the Ninth of our said Province do endeavour by several Distresses to levy and raise the said Ninth of Prelates and Others of the Clergy who pay the said Tenth and hold nothing of the King by Barony nor are bound to come to the Parliament And on the other hand they exact the said Tenth of those who are obliged to the Payment of the Ninth by burthening Men of the Church contrary to God and Justice and the Grant aforesaid Wherefore we exhort and require you in the Lord that by no means You permit Religious Persons and Ecclesiasticks to be burthen'd and vexed unless according to the Form and Grant aforesaid Nor by any means yield either Counsel or Assent in prejudice of the said Charter or subversion of the Privileges and Liberties of the Church But that if any Brief Commission or Precept contrary to the Form of Magna Charta or the Privileges and Liberties aforesaid have already been issued out of the Chancery You cause them within ten days after the Receipt of these Letters as You are bound to be revoked and disanulled It is really the Will of our Lord the King to cherish and maintain the said Charter and the Privileges and Liberties of the Church as we are assured And it is not his Will nor ought to be that the Clergy should by any means be
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
and Robbers and Delinquents against the Laws of his Kingdom and as such out of his Protection nor could he justifie them And further there is found rather an instance of King John's Insincerity in this matter for the same n Knighton p. 2619. n. 24. Author assures us that when the English Ambassadors were returning from Avignon having compleated their Business it was found out that King John contrary to his Oath had sent Letters into France importing That whatsoever he had agreed to for Convenience sake in the present Necessity of Affairs it was never in his Mind to part with one Foot of the Land of France unto the King of England And the Bearer thereof was taken at Sea and upon Search these Letters found about him sealed with King John's Privy Seal Upon notice of this double Dealing King Edward thought fit to confine him a little more closely and so first order'd him to be convey'd to Hereford Castle from whence the next Year o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 168. 1 Vol. p. 3â—â— Heimâ—â— Engl. Chron p. 964. Knightâ—n ibid. Ashmole p. 659. his Keeper Sr. John Kirketon was order'd to remove him to Somerton-Castle in Somersetshire where also for some time he remain'd under Custody of the Lord William Deincourt and Sr. William Colvile who therein supplied the Place of his Brother the Lord Robert Colvile he being indisposed at that time And lastly he was removed thence to the Tower of London his Son Philip being constantly with him But as we said before these Removes were made the next Year when King Edward was in France III. The mean while as if all the Vials of Gods Wrath were now to be poured out all together upon that unhappy Prince's People there arose in France another Plague more terrible than any hitherto mention'd For whether on occasion of the Oppression of the Great Men or the intoâ—erable Presumption of the Poor soon after the Deliverance of the King of Navarre p Frois c. 182. f. 88. c. Mezeray Da Serres c. a sort of Rascally Clowns began their seditious Assemblies in Beauvoisin and Brie about Soissons and the River of Marne which threatned a total Destruction to all the Nobility and Gentry of France For they prov'd just such Levellers as some twenty three Years after in the Days of King Richard II Wat Tyler and Jack Straw were here in England At first they were not passing an Hundred or such a matter who gathering together out of the little Villages without any Head or Captain and being met somewhere in Beavoisin said among themselves How their Nobles Knights Esquires and Gentlemen were a shame and burthen to the Land and that it would be as laudable to destroy them for their Villany as profitable for their Wealth And they all cried out that it was true and said with one Voice A shame on him that doth not his best to root out all the Gentlemen of the Land. Being thus suddenly gather'd and agreed without either Captain or Weapons except what their own ungodly Madness armed them with as Prongs Staves and the like they went forthwith to a Knights house hard by which having broke up they slew him and his Lady and all his Children great and small and fired the House upon them which done they proceeded to another House a Castle where they took the Captain thereof a Knight and bound him fast to a Stake and ravished his Wife and his Daughter before his Face and then slew the Lady and her Daughter and the rest of his Children and lastly tormented the Knight himself to Death and burnt and beat down the Castle the like whereof they did to several other Castles and Gentlemens Houses And still as they went on they encreased like a rowling Snow-ball so that presently they were grown to above 6000 in Number for all ungracious Villains like themselves fell to them Wherefore all the Gentlemen about the Country with their Wives and Children fled away before them ten or twenty Leagues off for their better Security leaving both their Houses and Goods at the discretion of these base Rascals Thus did this disorderly Multitude range about robbing and burning of Houses Palaces and Mansions murdering and tormenting all Gentlemen they could lay their hands on and ravishing young Ladies and Gentlewomen and committing such horrid Villanies as can hardly be imagin'd And he of their Company who was most daring and exquisite in Câ—uelty and Wickedness had the highest Esteem among them At first they had no Head to follow or obey but now there was found among them one Jaques of Clermont in Beauvotsin who was so diabolically excellent at these Damnable Inventions of doing Mischief that as the most ungracious of all they chose him for their King and Captain naming him Jaques the Good-Man And thence their whole Tribe obtain'd to be called q Cotgrave in his Dictionary says they had the name of la Jaquerie or les Jaquiers from a short Country Jacket worn in those days 〈…〉 hâ—c arridet Opinâ—e the Jaquerie This incarnate Devil of a King having first cruelly slain a Noble Knight of those Parts caused him to be spitted and roasted at a Fire in sight of the Lady his Wife and Children and after that ten or a dozen had in most shamefull manner violated the Lady they compelled her to eat her Husbands Flesh and then put to Death both her and her Children And at this rate they raged and prevailed in Beauvoisin about Corbie Amiens and Mondidier destroying and burning more than threescore good Houses and Castles And at the same time the like Fury seised the Peasants and other villanous Wretches in Brie and Artois but especially in Brie so that all the Ladies Knights and Esquires of those Parts were fain to fly away to Meaux on the Marne for their Defence And among them were the Dutchess of Normandy and the Dutchess of Orleans the one Sister in Law and the other Daughter in Law to King John with several other Ladies and Gentlewomen all who were obliged to fly thither for preservation of their Lives and Honours And all the Country on each side the Marne as between Paris and Noyon and about Soissons and Cressy en Valois and on the other side as far as Mortmireil and Espernay was overrun by these Wretched Creatures and more than an hundred Castles and strong Edifices belonging to the Nobility and Gentry utterly defaced and ruined Wherefore the Gentlemen of Beauvoisin Corbois and Vermandois being alarum'd at the horrible Outrage of these People sent to their Friends in Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Luxemburgh for their Assistance Whereupon being speedily re-enforced they took Courage and rode about the Country in strong Bodies and whereever they met with any of these ungracious Levellers they slew them without Mercy and hanged them on the trees in Clusters and surely it was high time to take them up for if they had all been joyned together they had
be abroad in those Parts but yet they were somewhat more assured because the Bridge was drawn up Wherefore they adventured to call aloud saying Sirs what manner of Men are You that approach our Town at such an unseasonable time The Constable answer'd We are such and such who desire to pass this way so to get before the Navarrois who are stolen out of Thorigny and are fled from us wherefore in the Kings Name we command you to open your Gates and let us through The Watchmen then told him how the Keys were in the City with the Jurates but they had sent two Men for them who would shortly return But to those Men that went for the Keys the Jurates answer'd that no Gates should be opened there without the Consent of the whole Town and before their Minds could be known the Sun was up Then those who were appointed to make answer to the Constable went up to the Walls over the Gate and look'd out and said to the Constable and to the Earl of St. Paul Lords we desire your Excuse for the present for the Commons of the Town are resolved in this dangerous Juncture not to open their Gates to any Armed Men But they are pleased that five or six of you may enter if you are so minded and as for the rest they may go about their business The Lords of the Army were extreamly vext at this Mockery and gave them many angry Words and horrible Threats but for all that the Gates were kept shut so that when the Constable saw that after all these Delays he could never expect to overtake the Navarrois he disbanded his Men in no very good Humour But the Earl of St. Paul went to his Castle of Bouhain so vext and displeased at the People of St. Quentin that no Body hardly durst speak to him The mean c Frois c. v. 5. fol. v. 5. while the Navarrois rode on by great Journeys to Veilly upon the Aysne having also by help of a Guide passed the River of Oyse and there they rested and refreshed themselves after their great Travel And then finding themselves past all danger they returned thrô the Isle of France and Beauvaisis into Normandy riding by small Journeys from Fortress to Fortress for they were Masters of the Rivers and plain Country So being safely arrived in Coutantine again they made War as before in Normandy the King of Navarre being then at Melun on the River of Seyne with considerable Forces Now the Lord Thomas Holland f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. was Governour of the Castle and Fort of St. Saviour le Vicount and of all the Castles and Places which formerly belonged to the Lord Godfrey of Harcourt having with him of his g Dugd. ibid. p. â—9 Retinue the Lord Nicolas de St. Maure alià s Seymor and Others But he being King Edwards Lieutenant in those Parts made no manner of War during the Truce III. At the same time Sr. Peter Audley Brother to the Valiant Lord James Audley h Frois c. 195. was Captain of Beaufort Castle in Champaigne between Troye and Chálons which Castle of old belonged to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster as part of his Inheritance in right of his i Sandfords Geneal Hist p. 125 Grandmother Blanch Queen of Navarre Countess Palatine of Champaigne and Brie Daughter of Robert Earl of Artois Brother to St. Lewis King of France and Dowager of Henry de Champaigne King of Navarre This Sr. Peter Audley was a Man of great Valour and good Conduct but his ardent delight in War rendred him less just than Honour required so that now he was not content to maintain and keep the Duke of Lancaster's Castle but he must also undertake Actions that were no way warrantable as long as the Truce was in being He had already consider'd with himself k Frois ibid. that if he could get over the Marne some Night a little above Chalons and so come secretly to St. Peter's Abbey he might easily thereby get into the Town This purpose of his he delay'd to put in practise till he understood the River of Marne was very low and then with great privacy he assembled his Men for he commanded at least Five or Six Fortresses about him Being therefore at last 400 strong he began his March one Night as soon as it was dark from Beaufort Castle and by Country Guides came to the place where the Marne was Fordable here they all alighted on Foot and having deliver'd their Horses to their Valets waded over the River all in safety Being got over they Marched in good Order fair and softly toward St. Peter's Abbey but as they went along the Wind being on that side several Watchmen that were about in the Town next the Abbey which was without the Walls thô by a Gate it open'd into the Town heard plainly the noise of their Armour which clatter'd and made some noise upon their Motion When first they heard it they wonder'd what it shou'd be for sometimes the noise ceased namely when the Naverrou stood still and again it gâ—en plainer and nearer viz. when they moved forward However upon the whole one of them said I believe there are some Thieves of England and Nâ—vâ—râ—e coming hither now to surprize the Town let us search out the Matter and Raise the City betimes And with that some went into the Town to give the Alatum and others toward the Abbey to see what was the business But before these latter came thither Sr. Peter Audley and his Men had got into the Abbey-Court for the Walls thereof were not above Four Foot high and immediately Marched forth at the Abbey Gate into the City by a great Street directly before them At which time the Watchmen gave the Alarm crying Treason Treason Whereupon the whole City hasted to their Arms gather'd together and came against Sr. Peter but many of them were slain at the First Brunt and Sr. Peter by obstinate Valour wâ—n the first Town even to the Bridge over the Marne But this mean while the â—â—â—ens being very Numerous rose in all places and armed themselves and stood stiffly to it to defend that Descent into the City It happen'd unluckily for them that Sr. Peter de Chalons who with an 100 Men of Arms had been Captain there for above a Year before had newly forsaken them because they did not pay him his Wagâ—â—duly So that they were in great Danger of being utterly lost had not another Captain by accident come in to their Assistance now in the time of their greatest Exigence For the Lord Otho de Grancey having had some inkling the day before that Sr. Peter Aâ—â—ley prepared to ride abroad suspected that his Design was upon Chilens and because he knew there was at that time no considerable Captain there he gather'd about 60 Spears and â—ode great part of that day and the night following till he reach'd the Place Sr. Peter the mean while assaulted
judicious Writer XIII Toward the End of the Year the Noble and Valiant Hero Thomas Earl of Warwick who had been in the Parts of Prussia g Hist M.S. Jehan Rous p. 253. c. return'd into England with his Retinue and the Voluntiers who accompanied him besides the King of Lithuania's Son whom as we shew'd before he caused to be baptized and called after his own Name Thomas he himself at that time standing for his Godfather Soon after that h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. Warwick p. 317. a. ex Claus 40. E. 3. m. 4. the said Earl of Warwick was sent by the King upon special Service into Flanders having an allowance of 7 Marks and an half per diem at which time also he had his Commission for Earl Marshal of England renewed CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1366. An. Regni Angliae XL. wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Citation to the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid thenceforward to the Pope The Quarrel taken up between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities The Kings Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford II. A Treaty of Marriage began between Prince Lionel King Edward's second Son living and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Lord of Milain III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury dies his Foundation of Canterbury-College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury IV. On the French Kings Complaint of the Insolencies of the Companions King Edward raises an Army to repress them but finding the French King jealous of his Designs desists in great anger The King of France and the Pope endeavour to have those Licentious Souldiers drawn off into Hungary but they would not stir till a business from Spain invited them that way the Relation of which Matter is refer'd to the beginning of the Fourth Book I. IN the beginning of this Year viz. a MS. Rot. Par. p. 98. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 102. sed ibi tempus aâ—â— gnatur esse The Monday next after the Invention of the Cross which is the 4 of May this Year quod mirè discrepat à M.S. on the 30th of March being the Monday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady King Edward held his high Court of Parliament at Westminster At the opening whereof Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in presence of the Lords and Commons the Reasons why that Parliament was called which in effect were these That since the King had sent his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales to govern the Country of Aquitaine as also the Duke of Clarence his next Son then living into Ireland to be his Lieutenant there his chief Care now was how he might best govern his Realm of England here at home And so having appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Isles and Places they adjourn'd till the next day And then the Chancellour in presence of the King Lords and Commons declar'd that he had the day before informed them in general of the occasion of their Assembling and that now they should know it more particularly there being a fresh Matter which the King was resolved to communicate unto them viz. The King had lately received Notice that the Pope in consideration of the Homage which King John of England acknowledged to the See of Rome for his Realm of England and Dominion of Ireland and because of the Tribute then by him granted unto the said See intended by Process to cite the King to the Court of Rome Then at Avignon to answer for his Default in not performing what the said King John his Predecessor had so undertaken for him and his Heirs Kings of England Whereupon the King required the Advice of his Parliament what Course he had best to take in case any such Matter should be attempted The Bishops by themselves and the Lords and Commons by themselves desire Respite to give in their Answer till the next day which was granted And then the Three Estates being met together with one Consent Enacted in effect following viz. That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring his Realm and People into such thraldom and subjection but by general Consent in Parliament which was not done and therefore what he did was against his Coronation Oath and moreover that he was notoriously compell'd by the necessity of his Affairs and the iniquity of the times besides many other Reasons if therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by Process or any other way that then the King and all his Subjects should with all their Force and Power oppose and resist the same Thus was this business quash'd for ever and it seems the King was so moved at the Insolence of the thing that over and above he caused it now to be b M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. ordain'd that from that time forward St. Peter's Pence should not be paid which the Noble King Ina sometime King of England of the West-Saxons who began his Reign about the Year of our Lord DCLXXV had first granted to the See of Rome in consideration of an English School there to be continued for ever That same day c M.S. Râ—t Par. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment ibid. the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Fryars of the Four Orders Mendicants within the said Universities made long and grievous Complaints by their Proxies each against the other to the King in Parliament But in the end they all submitted themselves to the Kings Order Whereupon the Lords having well deliberated on the whole Matter by full Assent in Parliament took Order that as well the Chancellour and Scholars as the Fryars of those Orders within the said Universities should in all Graces and School-Exercises use each other in Friendly manner without any noise and disturbance as before And that none of those Orders should receive any Scholar into their Orders being under the Age of 18 Years And that the Fryars should take no advantage nor procure any Bull or other Process from the Court of Ronie against the said Universities or proceed therein But that the King alone have Power to redress and determine all Controversies between them from thenceforth and the Offenders should be punished at the pleasure of the King and his Council The Parliament continued till d Lit. Dom. D. Vid. M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 99. §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 103. §. 13. Monday the XI of May at which time the Lord Chancellor declared how the King had given in Marriage the Lady Isabell his Daughter to the Lord of Coucy who had a Fair Estate as well in England as elsewhere and that it would concern the King's Honour to create him an