to Favour and seemingly pardon'd but the Lord Henry Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. William Trussel and Sr. Thomas Withers as not being included in this Pardon or not daring to trust to it were fain to fly the Land till the Death of Mortimer For to these Men he was implacable they being the first Persons who began boldly to challenge him for the Death of the Old King tho some of them had been concern'd in his Deposal for which this new Earl of March would gladly have had a full Revenge upon them But however upon this their flight he got many good parcels of their Lands and Possessions to be siesed on for the King's Use in name but for his own in reality V. Here because the foresaid Henry Lord Beaumont is not only mention'd on these great Accounts already but must challenge much more to be said of him hereafter as also that it may be seen what kind of Men this proud Mortimer levell'd his aim at and that I may at the same time do right to the Posterity of that Noble Personage I shall not here think it amiss briefly to touch at his Original Most of those that mention his Pedigree bring his Descent from Lewis Son to Charles Earl of Anjou t Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p 50. 〈◊〉 a younger Son to Lewis the Eighth King of France which Lewis Son of Charles being Lord of Beaumont in France begot of his Lady Agnes de Beaumont this valiant Lord Henry Beaumont and his Sister Isabell who was wife to John Lord Vesci of Alnwick in Northumberland and is called Kinswoman to Queen Eleanor that vertuous Consort of King Edward the First This Lord Henry married the Lady Alice one of the Cozens and Coheirs to John Cumin Earl of Boghan or Bucquain and Constable of Scotland in whose Title he afterwards obtained that Honour But whereas there are some who by mistake bring this Worthy much later into England in the company of Queen Isabella King Edward the Third's Mother this their error arose we presume from those passages of Froisard which make such frequent mention of the Lord Beaumonts assisting that Queen when it is plain that he means there the Lord John of Heinalt who was also called Lord Beaumont from another place of that name in Heinalt and besides this Lord was u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Claus 20. Ed. 2. m. 12. confin'd in England upon Suspicion at the time of Queen Isabell's Arrival And yet * Dugd. ibid. p. 50. others derive this noble Vicount Beaumont from Lewis de Brenne second Son to John de Brenne or rather Bremen the last King of Jerusalem VI. But now this Noble Lord with othes of Mortimers Enemies was fain to yield to the iniquity of the Times and to retreat into France till the Storm should be blown over Mortimer in the mean while securely basking in the sun-shine of his Prosperity as great as Heart could wish if Ambition knew any Limits to its Desires Soon after the Young King to do him further honour x Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 225. takes a progress toward the Marches of Wales where he gives this new Earl a visit He for his part as he was indeed descended of a very ancient and Noble Family from y Catal. Honor. p. 574. Hugh de Mortimer a Norman Baron who came into England with William the Conqueror and received of him in reward of his good Services the Castle and Lands of Wigmore was besides his natural Ambition very glorious and singularly magnificent in all his Publique Appearances But now upon this Visit 't is incredible what sumptuous Entertainments he gave his Royal Master in his Castles of Ludlow and Wigmore what Sports and Diversions in his Parks and Forests what Gallantry and Expence he exhibited in his Tiltings Tournaments and other Military Pastimes much whereof thô it might proceed from an honourable Disposition and a sense of Gratitude and dutifull Respect to his Soveraign yet as was thought not a little was upon the account of the Queen Mothers presence and that all of it in general smelt rank of a Popular Air and a vain-glorious Humour Whether it was really so or that Pride is so loathsom to all who are at a distance from it that it causes even our best Actions to be misrepresented and be view'd from the wrong Prospect CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward summon'd to do Homage to the King of France for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Lands of Ponthieu and Monstroile II. A solemn Just held in London for three Days together AN. DOM. 1329. An. Regni III. with the Queen's danger by the Falling of a Scaffold III. The Old Queen and Mortimer compass the death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle with the Manner and other Circumstances IV. King Edward goes privately into France V. Soon after his Return a Son born unto him called Edward afterwards sirnamed the Black-Prince VI. Mortimer taken and executed a Parliament I. NOW was a Froisâ—c 24. M. S. Ang. C. C. C. ibid. c. 219. Philip of Valois the French King well settled in his new-acquired Throne having received all the Homages and Fealties of his Subjects and Others who held under him as Peers of France or otherwise except only of the Young King of England his Cozen who by right had ow'd him homage for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstroile had not himself been Heir to the Crown of France and so Supream Lord not only of those Parts but of the Whole But King Philip being too much elevated with his good Fortune never consider'd any such thing or at least had no great apprehensions of King Edward's Courage or Conduct and therefore finding himself now in full and quiet Possession of so flourishing a Kingdom by the advice and consent of his whole Council he resolves to summon our King Edward to make his Personal Appearance before him in France there to do Homage unto him as to his Supream Lord for the Lands which he held of that Crown He therefore soon after dispatches into England the Lord of Ancenis and the Lord of Beausalt with Monsieur Peter of Orleans and Monsieur Peter of Massieres two famous Civilians which Four with all their Retinue after provision made departed from Paris directly for Whitsant where they took the Sea and arrived safely at Dover Here having tarried one day as well to refresh themselves as to unship their Horses and Baggage they rode the next day toward the Court which they heard to be as then at Windsor Being at last come thither in respect to their Master that sent them they were soon admitted to the Royal Presence where they gave the King a full account of their Errand His Majesty answer'd with good Deliberation That the Matter required advice that as for his Part very few of the Lords of his Council were then about him but if they would withdraw to London he
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
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
a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
he would have them order their Men. All the Carriages and Pages he sent into the Wood for their Security and so ranged his Troops into three Battalions all on Foot in most decent Order In the Front stood Sr. John Jones with his 300 Men of Arms and Archers of England and his Friend d Trâ—â— Use of Armory p. 120 Sr. James Planchine with 200 more both Archers and Men of Arms and these were all Chosen and Resolute Men. The Second Battail he led himself with 600 Fighting Men and with him was the Lord of Salses a lusty young Knight of Navarre the Lord William of Granville and the Lord Peter of Samville The Third he committed to the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon the Lord Bertram de la Franque and Sr. Bascels of Mareville and that Battail also consisted of 600 Men. Being thus order'd he took the Advantage of a little Hill hard by on the Right hand between the place where he order'd his Men and the Wood. And on the Brow of the Hill he stood in Battle Array directly before his Enemies with his Banner raised high on a Bush of Thorn about which stood sixty Chosen Men of Arms for its safeguard To the intent that if his Men should be scatter'd they might repair thither and rally again and so he determin'd not to descend from the Mountain for any Cause whatsoever but to let his Enemies come to him if they intended to fight him The Captals Banner war Or Five Escalopes Argent on a Cross Sable which Arms were richly depicted on his Shield and on the Crest of his Helmet was a dreadfull e True Use of Armory p. 110 p. 147. uâ—â— tamen maâ—â— legitur Midas Head Vid. Ashmoles Garter Plate 5. Medusa's Head Sable the Snakes Argent By this time were the Frenchmen also orderly ranged in three Battalia's besides a Rereguard or strong Body for a Reserve The f Frois c. 221. f. 117. First was lead by Sr. Bertram of Clequin and all his Bretons and he was design'd to oppose the Captal The Second was govern'd by the Earl of Auxerre with whom were the Vicount Beaumont and the Lord Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows and several other Knights of France Picardy and Normandy as Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and Others The Third was commanded by the Lord Arnold of Cervoles commonly called the Archpriest with whom were the Lord of Châlons the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord John de Vienne and Others and in the Rereward were all the other Gascogners as the Lord of Pamiers the Lord Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Perdiccas of Albret with the Lord of Albrets Troops but he himself was not there together with the Lord Petition of Courton and several Others These Gascogners observed particularly the Behaviour of the Captal and how his Standard was raised high on a Bush and the Guard that was set to defend it Whereupon they agreed that when the Armies were hotly joyn'd in Battle they should themselves endeavour to conquer the Captals Banner believing if they might gain that Point to be soon Masters of the Field And besides they had another Device which proved that Day very serviceable to the Lords of France For while in a Council of War they held a long Debate how to behave themselves so as morally to secure the Victory a certain Gascogner Lord let fall a Word which was very seasonable and well accepted Gentlemen says he We all know well that the Captal is as Worthy a Knight as can be found in any Land and that as long as he is able to endure he will be very terrible to Us both by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Conduct Let us therefore set apart Thirty Chosen Men of Arms on Horseback and let these Thirty mind nothing else this Day but to set upon the Captal at the same time that our Rereguard attempts to win his Standard and so by the strength of their Horses to break the stress till they can get to him to take him immediately upon which to bear him out of the Field For otherwise I cannot bode any good end of this Battle the Person of the Captal is that whereon all his Men do wholly depend If he is safe they win all if we win him the Victory comes to us of Course The Knights of France and Bretagne approved hugely of this Project and resolved to put it in Execution so they selected accordingly Thirty of the most Valiant Men of Arms and mounted them on Thirty of the best Horses in all the Company and drew them out on one side of the Field well informed before-hand what to do and all the rest of the Army remained on Foot in Battle Array as they had been ranged Now as yet there was no one that pretended to have the Chief Command over all in the French Army because there were several Persons of far higher Quality than Sr. Bertram of Clequin Wherefore in this Council of War they consulted what should be their Word that Day and to whose Banner they should all repair At last they all agreed to cry our Lady of Auxerre and to make the noble young Earl of Auxerre their Captain But he began with great Modesty to excuse himself saying Gentlemen I most heartily thank you all for the great Honour you are pleased to confer upon me but certainly as for my Part I shall by no means at this time accept thereof No I am too Young and Unexpert to sustain so great a Charge for this is the First Expedition that ever I was concern'd in Here are many good Captains as Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of Gervoles the Master of the Crossbows the Lord Lewis of Chalons the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Edward of Renty and the like These have all been in many great Hazards and also have held considerable Employs in the Wars and I am sure understand Military Conduct far better than as yet I do Wherefore Lords I desire your Pardon at this time Then the Lords and Captains began to look on one another and at last said O Noble Earl of Auxerre you are the most Eminent among us all and therefore it is all the Reason in the World You should now be our Head For Nobility reconciles Authority to a Captain Certainly Gentlemen replied the Earl You say after your Pleasure But this Day I am resolved to be but as one of your Companions and till I shall be able to rule will learn to obey Come Life come Death I promise to share with you in this Adventure but as to the Chief Rule You shall never perswade me to that Then again the Captains beheld each other and at last unanimously agreed that since Sr. Bertram of Clequin was the most practised in War among them all they would for that Day obey him and the Word should be our Lady of Clequin And thus the Tuesday was spent and both Armies prepared to fight
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
is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
Southerland As for the former King John Baliol he liv'd at this time a retired life in France having only two Sons the Lord Edward and Henry who as yet had no Issue and therefore their Father had on certain considerations resigned and quitted and given over to King Robert his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland so that Robert was now quit of all fear on that part and otherwise very strong in the affections of his People who were then a great and flourishing Nation And this was the state of Scotland when King Edward the Third of England came to the Crown wherefore encouraged with their former success and despising King Edwards Youth r Rich. Sâ—uthwell on the very night of that day whereon King Edward was Crowned the Scots had intended to take the Castle of Norham Å¿ Grafton p. 173. between the Marches of England and Scotland by surprize and so well they managed their design that about t Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 225 sixteen of them had already mounted the Walls but the Captain Sr Robert Manners being warned of the Matter before-hand by one of his Garrison who was a Scotchman had so well provided to receive them that of those who had mounted he took five or six and put the rest to the sword their Companions below upon this disappointment retiring This seem'd a good Omen of King Edward's future Victories over the Scots by occasion of the Lord Edward Baliol who was himself a Scotchman Presently after King Robert Bruce supposing it now a very fit season to take some advantage against his old Enemies the English during this their Kings Minority sends about u Frois c. 15. Grafton p. 218. Easter a short and brisk Defiance to King Edward and all his Realm telling them that he would shortly with his Power invade the Realm of England with Fire and Sword and there do as he had done before in his Fathers Reign at the Battle of Bannocksborn near Striveling or Sterling where the English received that mighty Overthrow we spake of by reason of those x Sr Tho. de la More Ed. 2. p. 2. Holingshead hist Scotl. p. 217. Hector and Buchan Pits into which the Scots had intrapt them unawares I must not omit that the Scotch Writers attribute the occasion of this Defiance to some fraud or other wherewith the English had lately endeavour'd to ensnare them by foul Collusion of their Ambassadours but neither can it be imagin'd what necessity the King of England should have either by fraud or force to attempt to injure the King of Scots with whom he stood on no ill Terms before his own Affairs were in any posture of Settlement nor do any of their own Historians assign what this fraud or injury was nor indeed was ever the English Nation noted so much for fineness or subtlety as for down-right Honesty and blunt valour Nor is the consideration of King Robert's Age and sickness sufficient to conclude that of necessity there must be some great Cause given that could provoke so decrepit a Man to begin a War toward the End of his Life since thô his Person was weak his Mind was strong and vigorous and Scotland was never in better case than at that time and the Generals he intended to employ were Barons of great Fidelity Conduct and Resolution and he might reasonably hope to have at least as much advantage over this Young King as he had over his Father in his Full Age when attended with a most flourishing Army Nor is any great Captain thô never so satiate with Lawrels so unambitious after all but that in his weakest condition he would lay hold on any occasion of so probable success against a professed Enemy 'T is sweet to an old Warrior to end his days among Triumphs and Victories This is certain King Edward the Third neither did nor could send any Ambassadors to him before his Coronation yet even then we shew'd before that the Scots began to break the Peace by attempting to surprize a Castle thô no less than y Hâ—linshead hist Scot. p. 224. Ashmole p. 645. ex Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 2. Dâ—rs Nine years were to come of the last Thirteen years Truce struck up between this Kings Father and King Robert of Scotland four years before And besidâ—â— we find that there had been since the Coronation of this Young King an Agreement for a further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on the Sunday next before Ascension Day then ensuing But as I said before King Robert imagining to make an easie prey of the young Monarch neither much valued the old Truce not yet ended nor the new Agreement not yet perfected but resolves upon War. Hereupon soon after he invades the North Borders with an z Hector p. 307 b. n. 60. Army of Twenty five thousand Men a Bachan p. 273 all Horse that they might do mischief more speedily and retire with more expedition if by any necessity they should be so obliged VI. The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance and to secure himself for the future from the like Contempt immediately with all his Power addresses himself to defend his Reputation And first he b Frois c. 17. sends his Uncle Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England with a choice number of Soldiers to Newcastle upon Tine who there made his Musters as he was appointed on the c Ashmole p. 645. Monday next before the Ascension in like manner the Lord Robert Hufford and the Lord John Moubray were commanded away to the Reinforcement of the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth then d Dugd. Baron 1 Vol. 565. a. Governour of the Castle and Town of Carlile At the same time the King issued out his General summons to his own People and moreover by kind letters invited his noble Friend John Lord of Beaumont in Heinalt and brother to William Earl of Heinalt by whose aid chiefly the Queen had deposed her Husband and who was but newly return'd home again to come over to his assistance about the time of the Ascension Sr John Lord Beaumont hereupon came over to the King to the City of York the place appointed for the general Rendezvous thô Newcastle also was pitch'd upon for the assembly of other Forces a week before within three days of Whitsuntide accompanied with more than fourty Lords and Knights of Heinalt Flanders and Bohemia with other Knights from Cambray and Artois to the number of Five hundred Men of Arms all well Arm'd and gallantly Mounted Soon after Whitsuntide follow'd for the sake of this John of Heinalt the Lord William Son to the Duke of Juliers or Gulick and Sr Henry Thyrry afterwards Earl of Lewis and with them another goodly Company all expecting to purchase much honour under this hopefull Young King and no less profit as well from his Royal bounty as from the
t Id. p. 633. Lord Montagu Robert u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Lord Morley John x Id. 1 Vol. p. 81. quem vid. ad singula haec nomina Lord Warren Earl of Surrey John Lord Ros younger Brother to William Lord Ros of Hamlake in Yorkshire with his other Brother Thomas Ros the Lord William Clinton afterwards Earl of Huntington the Lord Roger le Strange and Sr Ebulo le Strange his Kinsman the Lord Hugh Audeley junior and Sr James Audeley his younger Brother Thomas Lord Braose the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John St Philibert the Lord Peter de Malolacu or Mauley the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord Thomas Hastang the Lord Robert Pierpoint the Lord Thomas Furnival the Lord Robert Fitz-Walter Sr Walter Beauchamp of Alcester in Warwickshire with his Brother William Beauchamp Sr Nicolas Cantilupe and many other Barons of England Sr y Frois c. 17. John of Heinalt and all the Lords Strangers with their troops both in their March and when they took up their Lodgings were always placed immediately next the King 's own Guards as well to secure them from the Archers who still breathed after Revenge as for their greater Honour and to let the whole Army know thaâ— whoever sought their damage would at the same time highly trespass upon the King himself The first Night the Host reached sixteen mile onward of their way and there the King tarried two Days and three Nights partly to expect till the whole Army was come up but chiefly to examine by himself and his Officers whether any thing necessary for such an Expedition was wanting before they should be brought to a Pinch Early on the fourth day they began their March toward Durham which was distant in all from York about fourty eight or fifty Miles but from Topcliffe whereabout they had lodged little more than Thirty The second Night after they reach'd the City of Durham encamping thereabout till further notice of the Enemy of whom they had heard no News as yet The King had before this as we remembred to hinder their Progress in the Borders sent the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England to Newcastle and the Lords Hufford and Mowbray to Carlile with considerable Forces They for their part slack'd nothing of their Duty for they were Persons of great Worth and Honour But the subtle Scot e're the King could reach Newcastle which was but about z Ferrar. in Orthea twelve or fourteen Miles beyond Durham had pass'd the River of Tiâ—â— so privately that they were neither perciev'd by the Garrisons of New-castle nor Carlile and so for a while they wasted and robb'd the Country wherever they came and yet could never be overtaken or found by those who sought to encounter them but only a Holinshead Hist Scotl. p. 225 once at Darlington where being met by a disorder'd number of the Country Militia who came to oppose them they soon overcame them putting many to the sword and the rest to flight Their King Robert himself was not there at that time thô he was the most Valiant and most Successfull Prince that had reign'd in Scotland of many years For being now oppressed with age and sickness he was forced to send in his stead two the most Famous and Expert of his Captains the Lord Thomas Randulph Earl of Murray and the Lord James Douglas the latter greatly in those days Renowned for Hardiness above all the Scotchmen as the former was for Wisdom and Conduct Their Forces were b Hector Bachan twenty or twenty five thousand Men all nimble and expedite for suddain Invasion or quick Retreat for they were all mounted c Frois c. 17 f. 8. the Better Sort on good strong Coursers and the Common Soldiers on little but approved Hackneys and Geldings They brought with them no Carts nor Wagons because of the inequality of the Mountainous Countries thrô which they should pass nor had they with them much purveyance of Bread or Wine for in those days the Scots were so abstemious and patient in time of War that for a good while they could endure with flesh half-boiled and drink out of the Rivers Nor yet had they any Pans or Cauldrons to dress their meat in for what Beasts they found as they always did good store in those Northern parts they would seeth them in their own skins stretch'd out bellying on stakes in the manner of Cauldrons And having thus sod their meat they would take a little Plate of Metal which they us'd to truss somewhere in or under their saddles and laying it on the fire take forth some Oatmeal which they carried in little bags behind them for that purpose and having kneaded and temper'd it with water spread that thereon This being thus baked they us'd for Bread to comfort and strengthen their stomachs a little when they eat flesh That such hard Farers should prove good Souldiers is no wonder and that sometimes they should be able to baffle a great Army more encombred than themselves may very lightly be granted And now had the English been several days in those Parts before they had any knowledge where their Enemies were thô they dayly saw the effects of their cruelty and met with many of the Borderers who fled before them to avoid it But at last they saw great smokes and fires about the Country which plainly enough declared where they were and what was their Employment Immediately hereupon d Frois c. 18. fol. 8. the Alarum is given and a March sounded every Man being commanded to dislodge and in the Order before appointed to follow the Marshals Battail There were three great Battalions on Foot and to each Battail two Wings of 500 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 20000 others well-arm'd and provided the one half on little Hackneys and the other ranged on Foot who fought for Wages to be paid by those Towns Cities and Corporations that sent them to the Kings Service The Scotch Writers make the whole number of the English Forces to be more than an Hundred Thousand Men effective and Froisard himself besides those three Battails mention'd speaks of 24000 Archers if the figures are not mistaken and Grafton and Speed reckon up 30000 Archers in All Thô I believe if there were such a Number they were distributed proportionably among the foresaid Battalions according to the Usual Method of the Captains of those days and that there was no such great Battail of Archers distinct from all the rest And this Opinion agrees better with our Historians and Froisard's own Account of the Number in another place where he reckons the Whole but to something more than e Frois c. 16 fol 7. b. 60000 Men of War Thô f R. Burtons Engl. Mâ—narchs p. 104. others whose Authority I shall not here examin make them no more than 54000 Men which were thus disposed in the Main Battail with the King were two and
Hosts lodged that Night which was in the beginning of August a full Month after the English had first set out from York The next Morning both Armies faced each other as before till Noon but neither Party seem'd yet dispos'd to move forward there was such apparent disadvantage in the attempt However several English Youth ventur'd to pass the River on Horseback and some also on Foot to skirmish against whom came certain Scots issuing out of their Battails so that divers were slain wounded and taken Prisoners on both sides But for all this neither Army brake their Order till afternoon it was proclaim'd that all men should draw back to their Camp For now it appear'd for certain that the Scots would by no means come to a pitch'd Battel Thus for three Days they faced each other but neither would move first to pass the River there was such hazard in the matter The King of England was yet too young to undertake of himself so great an Enterprise as afterwards he did many far greater with success and the English Lords however gallant they were durst not be the Authors unto him of such Counsel which for ought they knew by its doubtfull Event might hazard their Heads Yet not a day passed without sundry adventures on either side and several were interchangeably slain wounded or taken Prisoners And still the Scots kept their barbarous Custom every Night of Crying shouting and winding of Horns most dismally keeping all the while rousing Fires thrô all the Host but especially between themselves and the Enemy that the English might not be able from far to observe their Behaviour King Edward's intent was to hold the Scots thus after the manner of a siege for if they came over they were apparently lost and if they fled his Horse was to pursue and entertain them till the Gross of his Army might come up and so force them to an Engagement One of these things they must do or be famished For he understood by Prisoners that had been taken that they had neither Bread Wine nor salt left nor any thing else but Flesh of which they had enough for those Parts abounded with Cattel but now their Oatmeal of which they made their Cakes being spent Flesh alone was not good Diet. The Scots on the other side hoped that this Carriage of theirs would soon weary the young King out but they were mistaken for as for him his Resolution was much greater than might be expected from his Age and for his Army that was now well enough furnished with Victuals by the Purveyers which he continually sent out over all the Northern Parts as well as by others his Friends and Subjects t Walsingh hist p. 108. Now on the fourth day as soon u Knighton p. 2551. as it was light the English directing their Eyes towards the Camp of their Enemies beheld the Mountain whereon they had Posted themselves quite void and naked For about Midnight they had retreated thence to another more strong Mountain by the same River side which was also advantaged by a great Wood on the one side thrô which they might pass and repass secretly when they pleased this place also being in Weredale x Tinemouth Aur. hist fol. 229. near Stanhop-Park in the Bishoprick of Durham This account of the Scots was brought back to the King about Noon by certain Horsemen who had been sent to scout after them Hereupon the Army began to dislodge and march after them in Battel array Being come over against them they found another Mountain where they also encamped as the Scots had done on the other opposite to them But the way to come to handy stroaks was still as difficult to either Part as before Only this advantage the Scots had that they were something the nearer on their way homeward and the Wood by them was very fit to lay an Ambuscado or to favour a Retreat Thus here they faced each other after the old manner for y Knighton p. 2551. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 214. fifteen days together more to the great vexation of the English but much more to the trouble and misery of the Scots who knew not well what to do in this condition The English so well watched them both by Night and by Day ever since that Desperate attempt of Earl Douglas one of the first Nights after they had come to this second Mountain which thô the action of an Enemy must not by any means be forgotten by Us who resolve to write impartially and rob no man of his just Honour Whether by Treason of some English or no I will not affirm thô z Knighton p. 2552. that has been said and the Lord Mortimer was afterwards question'd for such matters but the a Frois c. 18. fol. 10. first night that the Scots were come to the second Mountain Earl Douglas understanding the English kept but slender watch either as being over-wearied with this troublesome Journey or as the nature of man is b Hector p. 308 contemning their Numbers and growing secure upon this their late Flight understanding this I say the adventerous Lord passes over the River far beyond the English Camp with 200 Men of Arms well mounted and marches with great caution and silence toward the English Host The Scotch Writers and Froisard also affirms that just as he came to the first Watches he and his men with great fury and outcries dashing their spurs to their Horses rushed into the midst of their Camp still crying a Douglas a Douglas Ye shall all die ye Thieves of England And that so he slew 300 e're he ceased some in their beds and others ill prepared for Resistance by reason of the sudden surprize That thus he proceeded even to the Kings Tent always crying a Douglas that he strake in sunder two or three Cords of the Royal Pavilion and so got off safe only in the Retreat some few of his Men were lost as Froisard confesses who lived about that time but not one saies honest c Hector p. 308 Hector and his sworn Friend d Buchan p. 276 Buchanan the former whereof lived about two hundred and the other almost three hundred Years after I profess to be desirous of telling the Truth but can by no means admit this Action to have been done in this manner because the Undertaking is utterly improbable and the Success much more incredible and Authorities are not wanting to prove the Relation erroneous For who will believe that so well-formed an Army should be thus openly despised by a Man who knew their Strength very well but could not be suppos'd to know the Avenues of the Camp so well Besides the choicest Knights and Barons of the Army lay most of them about the Kings Person not to mention his ordinary Guards nor to insist on the Heinalders near two Thousand in number whose place we shew'd to be near the Kings Person and who were all
Thy Son submits and doth thy Will obey But grieves thus long he did this Work delay Now then my Father view my wretched Case And shine upon me with a smiling Face Forgive what 's past For what 's to come assist Then I 'le take gladly what my Murd'rers list I 've lost my Kingdome yet I sha'nt repine If after all I gain but that of Thine To thee sweet Jesus humbly here I bend I loath my sins do thou thy Pardon send Fountain of Love allow my hearty Prayers Remember thine own Blood thô not my Tears When Man afflicts then Lord do thou forgive And when I die grant that my Soul may live Thus did this poor King ſ Fabian ibid. p. 194. Speed p. 566. Fox Acts c. p. 486. repent all his former Vanities most heartily no way repining at this punishment and heavy stroak of Gods Hand but made so good use of these Afflictions that 't is more than hoped he fitted himself for a Kingdom more durable to which his Enemies long'd to send him For now when the first Heats were over and the vizard taken off from all these fair Pretences the embers of Loyalty that seem'd before extinct began to kindle a great flame in the Hearts of his abused Subjects the late Proceedings of Parliament were look'd upon as traiterous and contrary to the Laws of God and the Land and the Young King was murmur'd against as too soon invading his Fathers Throne And sundry t Speed p. 564. a. §. 4. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. great Persons and others particularly the whole Order of Fryars Preachers began to take pity of his Unworthy captivity and to consult how best they might work his Deliverance But his watchfull Enemies having some way or other intimation of these matters since they saw in his Recovery their own Downfall resolv'd rather by destroying him to secure themselves Especially the Queen was perpetually alarm'd with fears of being call'd shortly to an account by her Husband whom she had so wronged and whose Restoration she now greatly dreaded Mortimer had all along put it into her head that if e're the King should get at liberty he would be sure to burn her to death and that neither she nor they could be secure while Revenge from him was possible And she her self being extreamly terrified with these thoughts u Sr. Th. de la More complain'd of dismall and frightfull Dreams to her Counsellor the traiterous and crafty Bishop of Hereford Adam Orleton who cunningly took occasion thence to urge her on to that which by this time she her self 't is thought too much desired In short his Death is resolv'd on but the Execution put off till this Scotch Expedition which we have related that the Authors might not lie so obnoxious to suspicion being so far off at York and about the Borders But now Henry Earl of Lancaster his Cozen who was a Man of much Honour and began also greatly to commiserate his Royal Kinsmans Condition is therefore thought too good a Keeper for him wherefore on x Dugd. Warw. p. 165. a. Palm-Sunday which was then the y D. Lit. Dom. Pascha 12. Apr. Labbe fifth of April he was by Indentures deliver'd to the Custody of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. John Gournay two blemishes of Knighthood but the worse Men the better for their Purpose These two ungracious Villains with their Attendants z Sr. Th. de la More had Commission to enter at any time into any Castle or Fortress within the Kingdom and there to abide during their pleasure commanding all within the place By them therefore he is soon after removed from Kenelworth Castle in Warwickshire and hurried about in the night from one Place to another that no body might know certainly of his aboad First they brought him with all secrecy imaginable to the Castle of Corfe in Dorsetshire thence a while after to Bristow-Castle where they kept him privately in hardship and fear enough Till it being a Sr. Tho. de la More scented by some of the chief Citizens out of a due Commiseration of his undeserved Troubles and a just sense of the Duty they ow'd him putting their lives in their hands they secretly combin'd to deliver him from these his inhumane Keepers and so to convey him to some place of safety beyond the Seas which was the utmost the distressed King did desire But his hard Destiny permitted this Counsel to take wind or however caused such a Suspition to enter the minds of these Ungracious Wretches his Keepers in so much that on that very night wherein his Deliverance was to be effected they very secretly remov'd him from Bristow and convey'd him to b Dugd. Warw. p. 165. Barkley Castle in Glocestershire And here they shew'd the Baseness and Barbarity of their Mungrel Minds by inhumanly insulting over that Majesty in adversity which lately by all Men was honour'd next to Adoration They made him ride on an ill-favour'd Beast thô nimble and strong enough for their purpose very meanly clad who of late was Lord of a great Kingdom Bare-headed in whose presence Princes were used to stand so and still they c Sr. The. de la More took by-ways crossing the Country lest he should be met by any and rescued In this passage to Barkley-Castle as they went by some Granges near Bristow the Villain Gournay for I will not disgrace Knighthood by giving him the honourable title of Sr. Thomas clapt on the Head of his Master the Lords Anointed a Crown made of a wisp of Hay adding this bitter and sarcasticall Jeer d Sr. Tho. de la More The words are old Engl. and are as much as Set forward Sr. King. Fare forth Sr. King. Nor did the insolent Indignities they put upon him end here for having a mind by and by to cut off the Hair of his Head and Beard that he might be more disguis'd from the knowledge of any they should chance to meet they made him alight at a certain Ditch in their way whence an insolent Barber fetch'd him cold and dirty Water in an old rusty Helmet as he sat on a Mole-hill to be Trimm'd saying as others also did That cold Water should serve him for that time to which the abused Prince reply'd e Sr. Tho. de la More p. penult lin 34. c. meekly But whether you will allow it or no I will have warm Water for my Beard and therewith he let fall a showre of warm Tears that overflow'd his Face and Beard This Story was attested to Sr. Thomas de la More who liv'd in his Days and wrote his Life and Death by William Bishop one of the Accomplices who was present at the doing thereof and afterwards heartily repented that ever he had a hand in so wicked a Concern And thus at last they brought him to Barkley-Castle where they would create horrid noises to interrupt his
lived but Miserably The Principal Authors in due Season we shall see brought to Condign Punishment VIII The young b Walsing hist p. 109. n. 20. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 345. King in his return to London was heartily welcomed by the Mayor and Aldermen and the whole City For he was a Prince of great hope and had much vivacity in his Countenance and courage in his Breast upon which account all his Subjects lov'd him entirely The gratefull Prince to set a Mark of his Royal favour upon that famous Metropolis in a Parliament held at Westminster c Joh. Tinemouth Aur. hist p. 229. a. in Bibl. Lambeth which began on St. Brices Day of his own accord confirmed unto them their former Liberties and granted new ones which they never had before Ordaining that the Mayor of London for the time being should sit in all Places within the Liberties as the Kings Chief Justice and that every Alderman who had been Mayor should while he continued true to the King and his Laws be always Justice of the Peace within his own Ward He also granted unto the Citizens the Fee Farm of London for three hundred Pounds per annum And that the lawfull Franchises of the City should not be seized into the Kings Hands but only on Occasion d Inst par 2. f. 20. Mirror c. 5. §. 2 Fleta l. 2. c. 48. Plowd com fol. 40. Instit par 4. f. 253 Rich. Grafton p. 217. of Abuse or Misuse e Stow's Survey London p. 248. p. 604. or for Treason or Rebellion countenanced or done by the whole City Further he ordain'd that Southwark should be under the government of the City and that the Mayor of London as Bailiff of Southwark should depute after his own pleasure the Bailiff of that Burrough under him About the same time also he made the Company of Skinners in London a Corporation as they have ever since honourably continued even to this day Himself for their greater Honour vouchsafing to be of their Brotherhood as afterwards other Kings did in imitation of so great a Precedent namely Richard the Second Henry the Fifth Henry the Sixth and Edward the Fourth Nor hath this Honourable and Ancient Company been ungratefull to the Memory of this their Glorious Founder but take all occasions to testifie their Respect to his Name and to preserve his Glory to Posterity Particularly of late they have at their own proper costs and charges erected his Statue among the Kings of this Land in the Royal Exchange in London To accompany the late unhappy King of England to his Grave there died about this time many other Potentates Princes and Prelates thô none so unfortunately and by such treacherous Cruelty as our Edward of Caernarvon And first there died Charles Earl of Valois younger Brother to Philip the Fair late King of France and Uncle to Charles the Fair then King of France and Father to Philip of Valois afterwards in Opposition to King Edward the Third made King of France He had been all his time a right Frenchman that is an inveterate Enemy to the English Nation Nor did his Nephew Charles King of France himself long survive him But departed this life without Issue being then about 32 years of Age on the Kalends of February Anno Dom. MCCCXXVIII when he had Reigned six Years and one Month leaving his Queen big with Child which notwithstanding died shortly after the Birth So that the Right to the Crown devolved thereupon to our King Edward the Eldest Son and Heir of Isabella the said Charles his only Sister surviving and the Daughter of Philip the Fair. But the French Nation either despising King Edwards Youth or moved by their own evil Genius for it was afterwards the occasion of unspeakable Calamities to that Kingdom prefer'd Philip of Valois the Nephew of Philip the Fair before King Edward the Son of Philip's Daughter to the Throne of France Accordingly on the 29 day of May following * Lit. Dom. CB. Pascha 3 April being then Trinity-Sunday he was Crowned at Rheimes f D'Avila l. 2. ad An. 1561. where the Holy Oyl wherewith Cloüis their First Christian King was anointed is still kept with great Veneration But the ill consequences of this his Coronation will abundantly appear hereafter There died also this Year the Lord g Buchan p. 277. Walter Stuart of Scotland Son in Law to King Robert Bruce and by the Lady Margaret Father to Robert Stuart who was afterwards King of Scotland the First of that Glorious Family From whom is descended our Present Gracious Soveraign King James the Second whom God grant long and happily to Reign About the same time Elizabeth Queen of Scotland deceased and not h Id. Junii An. 1328. long after there departed this life the King himself Robert Bruce that valiant Captain very old and as was said infected with the Leprosie leaving behind him David his only Son and Heir a young Prince of about Eight Years old of whom we shall say much in the Process of this History This King i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 447. Robert Bruce was by birth an English Baron as was also John k Id. ibid. p. 523. Baliol his Competitor thô by Marriages of their Houses with the Royal Line of Scotland they Both at last had a Title to the Crown of that Kingdom King Robert beside his Brother l Speed p. 558. §. 33. Edward who was slain in battle by the English in Ireland had a younger Brother named Bernard Bruce from whom descended the Noble Edward Bruce of Kinlosse in Scotland a Person of great esteem and Merit in the Court of our English Solomon King James the First His Son m Wright's Hist of the Antiq of Rutlandshire p. 50. c. Thomas Lord Bruce was by Letters Patents dated the 21 of June in the Ninth of the said King James created Earl of Elgin in Scotland and on the First of August the Seventeenth of King Charles the First advanced to the Degree of a Baron of this Realm as his Ancestors for many Ages before had been by the Title of Lord Bruce of Wharlton in the County of York Whose Son and Heir Robert Lord Bruce was a Person of such eminent merits as well for his signall Loyalty in the late unhappy Defection as since the Happy Restoration of Monarchy that for a further addition of Honour King Charles the Second of Blessed Memory by Letters Patents bearing Date the 18 of March in the Sixteenth Year of his Reign advanced him to the Titles of Lord Bruce of Skelton in the County of York Vicount Bruce of Ampthill in Bedfordshire and Earl of Aylesbury in the County of Buckingham And being also Hereditary High Steward of the Honour of Ampthill Lord Lieutenant of the Counties of Bedford Huntington and Cambridge Lord Chamberlain of the Kings Houshold and One of the Lords of His Majesties most Honourable Privy Council he lately departed
this life to the infinite regret of all good and Loyal Men and particularly of the whole Clergy of England and all other Sons of Learning But the Memory of him and his vertues is again revived in his Noble Heir and Successor Thomas now Earl of Aylesbury and Elgine Who together with the Honours his Father enjoy'd is now Lord Lieutenant of Bedford and Huntington and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the most Prudent and Heroick Monarch King James the Second His two younger Brothers Robert and James whom I have had the honour to know here in Queens College in Cambridge being most towardly Branches of that Ancient and Flourishing Family Nor is it altogether unworthy to mention the Great Ottomans Death which n Labbeâ— Chronologia Technica ad hunc annum happen'd this year being the 727th of the Turkish Hegira after he had been rearing that vast Monarchy on the ruines of Christian Princes for about 27 Years together This Man was the first Founder of the Glorious Family of the Ottomans which has ever since continued a Plague and Terrour to all Christendom Orchanes his Son succeeded him in the Turkish Empire Also this Year departed three famous Prelates of this Nation the one Dr. James Barkley descended from the Noble House of the Lord Barkley * Bp. Gâ—dn Catal â—pp p. 406. who was consecrated Bishop of Excester on the 15th of March 1326 / 7. by Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury at the Commandment of Queen Isabell being reputed a very holy and discreet Person But he enjoyed the Title not long for about the 24 of June following he deceased and was succeeded by one of equal wisdom and Nobility Dr. John Grandesson of whom as also of his Family more hereafter Dr. Thomas Cobham also Bishop of Worcester died about the 20 of August he was a very learned Man and a great Author o Pits de illust Angl. script An. 1316. Bp. Godwin Catal. p. 443. as his Works declare and by his wonderfull Meekness Bounty Sobriety and Modesty obtain'd an universall love and respect insomuch that he was commonly called the Good-Clerk When he was Canon and Subdean of Salisbury he was first upon the vacancy of that See elected Archbishop of Canterbury but King Edward the Second in favour of Dr. Walter Reginald vacating that Election he was glad in the end to accept the Bishoprick of Worcester He was now buried in the North Isle of the Body of Worcester Cathedral which Isle he had Vaulted over at his own Expence The Bloody Bishop of Hereford succeeded him of whom more in another place Another that went off this Year was p Godwin Catal. p. 129. Dr. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury of whom something must be said for the Instruction of others He had been Chaplain to King Edward the First by whom he was made Parson of Wimberton and after that Schoolmaster to his Son Edward the Second who in the first Year of his Reign Anno MCCCVII advanced him to the place q Philpot's Catal Treas and Chancel p. 24. p. 37. of Lord Treasurer of England and in the year following to the Bishoprick of Worcester and two years after he made him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Chancellor of England After this King Edward was so good a Master to him that upon the Death of the good and learned Dr. Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury he vacated the Election of Dr. Cobham as we shew'd before and caused this Man to be prefer'd to that eminent Dignity And accordingly he was with great Pomp and Solemnity r Godwin p 129. Walsingh hist p. 78. Installed on the 19 of April Anno MCCCXIII the King himself with the Queen and many Nobles honouring him with their Presence He is indeed Å¿ Pits p. 419. by some commended for his love to Learning and Vertue I am sure he wanted these three no mean Qualities Loyalty Constancy and Gratitude For upon the Return of Queen Isabell into England in such Hostile manner as was shew'd before against her Lord and Husband this Man at that time manifested himself to be indeed a good Politician but as Bishop Godwin too mildly phrases it a very t Godw. p. 130. weak Man. For thô a while he seem'd outwardly to adhere to the King his Master yet even then privately he assisted the Queen with vast Sums of Mony as resolving to play his own Game whatever Conscience might perswade or Religion teach to the contrary But when the Kings downfall was now no longer doubtfull then he openly play'd the Traitor forsaking his Lawfull Prince his good Lord and Patron who had gradually advanced him from a mean Condition to the highest Titles of Honour For which thô he scap'd the publique censure of the Law yet did he enjoy the fruits of this double-hearted Dealing but for one Year For on the u Godw. p. 130. c. Thâ—rnes Chron. p. 2039. n. 30. 16 of November following this first Year of King Edwards Reign he died of grief and horror of mind at Mortlack after he had held that Seat 13 years and about seaven Months from his Instalment But here he shall stand mark'd out to Posterity for an Example and terror to all Traitors whom neither the Sacred Function it self nor any other either Dignity or Merit ought in my Opinion to defend from deserved Infamy Since Treason cannot proceed but from the most unworthy and ignoble Minds in the World or however it renders them so Ingratitude of it self is the basest most unjust and ungenerous thing in Nature but Ingratitude to our Natural Prince most abominable beyond all Expression since to his Service we are most strictly obliged by Laws Divine and Humane How much more then when he is unto us a Good and Gracious Lord and heapeth upon our Heads many signall and personal Favours He was succeeded by a very Worthy and Learned Doctor in Divinity x Thornes Chro. p. 2039. Walsin hist p. 109. Godwin p. 131. Pitsae p. 429. Simon Mepham an Oxford Man by Education by Birth of Kent and Canon at that time of Chichester This Year were seen y M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 214. ad fin two Moons in the Firmament the one was clear and the other dark as at times might be seen over all the World and now the Quarrel was high between Pope John XXII who kept his Court at Avignon in Provence and Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany who in revenge of his being Excommunicated by the said Pope went to Rome being invited thither z Labb Chron. Techn ad hunc ann by the Faction of the Gibellines where he set up an Antipope against Pope John by whom he was crowned Emperour But this new Pope was soon laid aside thô the Dissention between the Emperour and the Pope was never sully made up And because of the foresaid Prodigy and others that happen'd about the same time it was commonly
said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
while to delay by reason of a War with the Flemmings which about this time he undertook on the behalf of the Earl of Flanders their Lord whom they had seditiously expell'd And indeed he found such c Frois c. 21. 22. Fabian p. 264 c. Success at Cassell that he slew 16000 of them and reduc'd all Flanders to his Obedience obliging them by Bond never to bear Arms against the King of France and so having restored the Earl to his former Authority being elevated with the conceit of this Success he began to look at Higher things But we are not yet called to Foreign Affairs Wherefore for a while we shall be content to speak of matters at home Inglorious truly for the most part and therefore Ungratefull but such as may bring Profit to the Observant Reader and are by no means to be omitted being necessary for the making out the Series of this Story and also very Usefull to inform Persons of High Condition how to bear themselves by the Example of others who went before them in the like Honours IV. Roger Lord Mortimer d Knighton p. 2553. now does all Influences all and Personates all He only places and displaces Great Officers and wholly Assumes the King's Authority and solely possesses his Ear. The e John Tinemouth Aur. hist ex Aed Lamb. p. 229. Earl of Lancaster himself cannot be permitted to approach his Lord and Master to inform or advise him nor any either Uncle or other Baron how Great soever unless of Mortimer's Opinion and even then whatever they said was watch'd by such as he had planted about the King for that purpose Among other instances of his Towring Spirit he presum'd to hold a f Knighton p. 2553. n. 50. Round Table at Bedford in imitation of King Arthur that Famous Breton Others confounding this Mortimer with a Former of the same Name place this Round Table at Kenelworth Castle in Warwickshire where they reckon up an hundred Knights and as many Fair Ladies besides other Guests and Spectators Many other Knights and Gentlemen repairing thither from Foreign parts for the Exercise of Arms by Tiltings and Martial Tournements While the Ladies sported themselves and delighted the Presence with the more feminine Diversion of Dancing being all richly clad in silken Mantles and other Ornaments agreeable to their Sex and Quality But here the Lord Mortimer appeared as the occasion so the Chief of all that were there both in the Ladies Eyes and the Opinion of the Knights themselves These Sports were begun on the Eve of St. Matthew the Apostle Mortimer perhaps out of a vain and cruel Pride insulting over the Ashes of the Dead King whom he had caused a year before to be murder'd on that Festival and so continued till the Morrow after St. Michael being the space of 11 days Let none conclude this last Reflection to be Malicious since not only the Day seems to warrant my Opinion but the place also of the Solemnity being that very Castle where that poor King first lost both his Crown and Liberty But in very deed this Round-Table at Kenelworth was g Monastic Ang. p. 223. a. another thing at another time and held by another Roger Lord Mortimer in the days of King Edward the First For thô a h Dugd. Warw. p. 164. b. Great Man calls that Roger Earl of March 't is done only by inadvertency for even this Roger was not yet Earl of March thô he was the * Catal. Hâ—nâ—r p. 574. First of that name ever so called But because the Round-Table is not only here mention'd but must hereafter be much more spoken of I shall here once for all observe i Cambden in Hamshire s 191 Dugd Warw. p. 154. that the Round-Table was devised to avoid Contention about Precedency and Athenaeus observes it to have been Customary among the Ancient Gauls to sit at their Round Tables their Esquires waiting behind with their Targets in their hands But to return to Mortimer this his High Carriage was so greatly stomacked by the King's Uncles and the Earl of Lancaster that they resolv'd to pull down the Pride of this Man or to die in the Undertaking But as yet there could none of them come to the private Speech of the Young King to lay before him the true State of Affairs they were so well watched by Mortimer On the Quindene k Dâ—gd 1 Vâ—l. p. 541. Catal. Hâ—â—â—â— â— p. 574. Thô the year there is said to bâ— 1327. by Mistake of St Michael a Parliament was called at Salisbury whither thô it had been Decreed that no Person whatsoever should presume to come Armed the Lord of Wigmore notwithstanding came with a great Rout of Armed Men at his Heels so that the Earl of Lancaster durst not come but for his own Defence put himself in Arms and then sent to the King his Reasons both of taking Arms and absenting from Parliament And it seems his Design was so apparently for the King's Honour that it was countenanced with the Presence of the King 's two Uncles Thomas Earl of Norfolk and Edmund Earl of Kent Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London and John Stratford Bishop of Winchester who was afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Wake Governour of Hertford Castle Henry Vicount Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. Hugh Audley and others several whereof were of the twelve appointed to be the King's Guardians and the rest all Persons of Worth and Nobility The first occasion of this breach besides the Insupportable Pride and Avarice of the Lord Mortimer was this The Lord l M. S Vet. Aug. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 218. Robert Holland who had in the days of King Edward the Second occasion'd the Death of Thomas Earl of Lancaster however he had thereby incurr'd the indignation of the people upon Queen Isabella's return into England was not only deliver'd from Prison but became very Gracious with the said Queen and was of her Council and of Mortimer's But for all that being about the Sessions of this Parliament taken m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 73. in a Wood near Henley-Park as he was riding to Queen Isabell then at London by Sr. Thomas Withers the said Sr. Thomas smote off his Head and sent it to his Master Henry Earl of Lancaster then at Waltham-Cross in Essex as an acceptable present This was not so well receiv'd by the said Earl of Lancaster whose Brother had been betray'd by Sr. Robert Holland as it was resented by the Queen Mother who had a great Favour for him and therefore she instantly urged the King her Son to take vengeance of his Murtherers especially of Sr. Thomas Withers But him the Earl of Lancaster had concealed till being therefore threatned by the Queen Mother and also stirr'd up by the Publick Clamours of the People who were extreamly opprest by her and Mortimer whereof the King bare all the blame thô he was but young and of tender
Age as a Man zealous for his Masters Honour of whom the Chief Care had been committed to him by Parliament he began to Assemble his Friends and Retinue unto whom he spake of the King's Honour which was now expos'd to obloquy and it seems the matter was so manifest that the King 's two Uncles and many others of the Highest Quality and the Chief Citizens of London swore unto him to stand by him in Opposition to Mortimer And this was the substance of their Design n M. S. id ibid. 1. That the King should hold his Houshold and his Meny according to the Dignity of a King having all his Royalties entire to himself and that the Queen Mother should deliver up into the King's hands all manner of Lordships Rents Towns and Castles that pertained to the Crown of England and that she should live on the Third part of the Rents of England as other Queens before her had done and on nothing else 2. Also that Sr. Roger Mortimer should live upon his own Lands for which yet he had already disinherited many so that the Commons might not be destroyed thrô his wrongfull encroachments 3. Also to make inquisition how and by whom the King was betrayed and falsly deceived at Stanhop and thrô whose Counsel the Scots were suffer'd to escape by Night out of the King's hands 4. Also how and by whose Counsel the Ordinance that was made at the King's Coronation was put down viz. that the King for the good of the Realm and safety of his Person and Honour should be Governed and Ruled by Twelve the Greatest and Wisest Peers of the Realm without whom nothing should be Granted nor done which Order being neglected many Harms Grievances and Scandals have happen'd unto the King and to his Realm And that is to understand Forasmuch as Edward sometime King of England was ordained by consent of the Community in full Parliament to remain under the Custody and Governance of Henry Earl of Lancaster his Cozen for safety of his Person he was taken out of the Castle of Kenelworth where he was in Custody and thrô Counsel of the Queen Mother and Mortimer without consent of any Parliament they took and lead him where none of his Kindred might come to the speech or sight of him And after traitrously took and murd'red him for whose Death a foul Slander arose thrô all Christendom 5. Also all the Treasure that Edward of Carnarvon had left any where either in England or Wales was wasted and carried away without the Will or Knowledge of King Edward his Son to the great Detriment of him and his People 6. Also thrô whose Counsel it was that the King gave up the Kingdom of Scotland for the which Realm the King's Ancestors had full sore travailed and so did many a Noble Man for their Rights But now all was deliver'd up unto David the Son of Robert Bruce who had no Right unto that Realm as all the World knows 7. Also by whom the Charters and Remembrances that the King had of his Right to Scotland were taken out of the Treasury and given to the Scots the King's Enemies to the Disherison of him and of his Successours and to the great Loss of his Liege People and the Reproof of all English men for evermore 8. And lastly wherefore the Lady Joan of the Tower the King's Sister was disparag'd and Married unto David the Son of Robert Bruce that was a Traytour and Enemy unto England and through whose Counsel she was given into our Enemies hands out of England While the Earl of Lancaster the Earl of Norfolk and the Earl of Kent with their Council were contriving how to pursue this matter the Parliament sat at Salisbury to which they refus'd to come because of Mortimer's formidable Retinue and put themselves in a Posture of Defence against the Queen Mother and Mortimer being enforced with 600 men of Arms from London But certainly 't is good for Great Men at Court when they see a Favourite solely to possess their King not therefore to be carried away with unjust and causless Envy if they can perceive the Person to be notwithstanding blameless or usefull to the King's Affairs For Envy is a fierce unbridled and devouring Evil always ungenerous and void of Equity and withall often thrô Precipitancy more hurtfull to its Owner then its Object But if the Favourite appears really Haughty beyond Sufferance and dangerous to the Publique a Man truly Loyal and Brave ought by any means to consult the Interest of his Master Yet this he must not think to perform well by flying out first for that makes his own Cause seem the worst but rather by wisely concealing his Resentments till a fit Occasion offers it self For otherwise we do but rashly declare we are Enemies to One who is better provided than We our selves and will be sure to make use of his present Advantage to our Ruine The truth of this Aphorism appears from the sequel of this Story for by this publique Breach which the Earls of Kent and Lancaster with their Associates seem'd first to make Mortimer held the better appearance and so lightly perswaded the young King that these Men sought no less then his Life and Kingdom Whereupon he obliged him to ride out against them in Person about o An non Bradford legend quod est in Wilteniâ 24. Mill. à Sarisberiâ Bedsord immane quantum distat 24 miles in one Night towards p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 145. ex Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 685. Bedford where they were assembled in Arms thô only resolv'd to stand on the Defensive part But by Mediation of Dr. Simon Mepham q John Tinemouth p. 229. Archbishop of Canterbury and others upon their submission Mortimer also cunningly pretending to befriend them therein a formal Peace was huddled up and all taken to Mercy thô not without severe Fines imposed on them all which for the most part were converted to the profit of Mortimer And particularly the Earl r M. S. Vel. Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 216. of Lancaster was then Fined at no less then 11000 pounds thô that summe was never paid We shall see notwithstanding shortly by what subtle contrivances this aspiring Great One could find Occasion to destroy the Noble Earl of Kent and perhaps he would have done as much to the Earl of Lancaster had he not despis'd his Age which by that time rendred him almost decrepit On the contrary he himself at this very Parliament attain'd to greater Honour for here the King 's own Brother John of Eltham being made Earl of Cornwall and Sr. James ſ Dugd. Warn p. 445. a. Butler of Ireland Earl of Ormond this Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore against the liking of many Great Men was at the same time Created Earl of March in the Marches of Wales Thus did this notable Politician overreach all his Enemies the King's Uncles and the Bishops being indeed taken
Lords and Knights to meet him These found King Edward at Monstreul where they received him in their Kings Name with high Expressions of Respect For the French are a wonderfull free and civil People when they design to do honour to any Person Thus both Nations rode very friendly together towards Amiens enterchanging many courteous Speeches with great Familiarity King Edward upon his Arrival at Amiens was honourably welcom'd by King Philip the Kings of Bohemia Navarre and Majorica with many Dukes Earls and Barons and the Eleven Peers of France he himself being the Twelfth who were all there to do him Honour as was pretended but indeed to bear witness to his Homage There for Fifteen Days together he was entertain'd with great Royalty many things being canvas'd and discours'd of the mean while at intervals in order to the present Affair But on the Day appointed King Edward came into the Cathedral of Amiens in order to his Homage in a long Robe of Crimson Velvet pouder'd with Leopards of Gold his Crown on his Head his Sword by his Side and Spurs of Gold on his Heels King Philip of Valois sat ready to receive him on his Royal Throne in a Robe of Violet-colour'd Velvet pouder'd with Flowers de Luce's of Gold his Crown on his Head his Scepter in his Hand with other Ensigns of Majesty besides his Royal Attendants When e Frois c. 24 fol. 14. a. Martin p. 105. King Edward saw in what scornfull manner King Philip sat to receive him his High Courage instantly resolv'd upon a different Way from what he had before intended so that only bending his Body a little toward the Throne he said aloud with a truly Royal Boldness I Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain do hereby do Homage to thee Philip King of France to hold the Dutchy of Guien as Duke thereof and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul as Earl thereof and as Peer of France in like manner as my Predecessors did Homage for the said Dukedom and Earldom to thy Predecessors At this unexpected Gallantry of King Edward's thô Philip of Valois inwardly repin'd yet he seem'd to take little notice of it but only order'd his Chancellor to direct the King his Cozen That the manner of his Predecessors was by Putting off the Crown and Laying aside both Sword and Spurs to do it Kneeling with their Hands between the King of France's Knees or his great Chamberlain's hands and this they were always to do either in Person or by sufficient Proxy of some high Prince or Prelate then and there promising Faith and Homage to the King of France as to their Soveraign Lord of whom they held those Lands and Honours But this King Edward would by no means yeeld to alledging that they could shew no such Precedent For one Crowned Head so to humble himself to another and that he was not as yet satisfied of any such matter Hereupon they produced some Old Memorials which were read to him purporting that certain Kings his Ancestors had done in like manner to the Kings of France when summon'd on the same Occasion But these Records the King of England would not allow to be Authentick and therefore said he was determin'd as then to proceed no further till he had consulted his own Records wherein if he should find that any thing more had been done he would recognize the same by his Letters Patents to the French King. And whatever Monsieur du Serres alledges that the Vicount Melun Great Chamberlain of France having made him put off Crown Sword and Spurs joyned his Hands together and received his Homage yet that no more than a Verbal Homage was then done appears not only from the Acknowledgment of Monsieur f Mezeray p. 6. par 2. â—im 3. Mezeray an Author infinitely more diligent and wise than Du Serres but also by the King of England's own Letters afterwards which in order shall follow according to the Originall This was a mighty Disappointment to the King of France who had expected a more formal and full Homage in Presence of all these his Honourable Friends and Allies But no more could now be obtain'd and since no Evidence to the Contrary appear'd as yet Authentick enough at least to King Edward's satisfaction he was obliged in Honour to smother his Discontent before that Royal Assembly and so said openly Dear Cozen of England we will not here be thought desirous to impose any thing upon You against Right and Equity What you have already done sufficeth for the Present So that upon your Return when you have consulted your own Records and seen what your Predecessors have done on like Occasions you will send unto us under your Broad Seal an acknowledgement of the same Thus he spake and so the Assembly broke up as it should seem in friendly manner howbeit King Philip revolved deeply in his Mind of this affront put upon him where he had look'd for such High Honour and upon that account as well as because of those pretences which he knew King Edward might justly make to his Crown he secretly devised how when most separated from his people he might g Knighton p. 2555. n. 10. surprize and seise his Person till he should make his own Conditions with him But this Counsel was not so closely agitated but that Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln a Man of a great Reach who came over as the King 's Chief Counsellour and Governour had got some inkling or conjecture thereof at least and so privately informed the King his Master of the Danger he was in He for his part easily apprehending the matter left France suddenly with his whole Company e're any Man imagin'd how or why and so coming safely into England went directly for Windsor where his Queen Philippa lay who was extreamly satisfied with his safe Return and there had her Female Curiosity abundantly satisfied as to all her Enquiries after the State and Welfare of her Uncle King Philip and the rest of her kindred whom he had lately seen But King Edward brought home a sting along with him whereby he thought his Honour wounded and which never let him be at rest till he had prov'd himself Worthy of the Crown of France thô he never attain'd to the Possession of it From this time it run continually in his Head that France was too Noble a Kingdom to be despised for he had never before seen any thing so Pompous there or if he had his tender Age would not permit him to make any just estimate thereof But now whatever he had met with gave him the more concern because he look'd on it as of Right his own however injuriously taken from him The mean l Frois ibid. while as if all this was too little provocation King Philip not thus satisfied resolves to press the unwilling Prince to a more particular acknowledgement and therefore soon after pursues him
time to appear and all publique Affairs happily succeeded henceforward both to the King and his People Doctor Walter k Holinst Eng. Chron. p. 1002. Burleigh or Burley who had been bred up in Merton College in the famous University of Oxford was at this time of such Fame for learning and piety that he was taken into Queen Philippa's Service at her first coming into England and became her Almoner still encreasing in great Estimation at Court Insomuch that when this Young Prince Edward was able to learn his Book this Doctor was appointed to be his Tutor whereupon Simon Burley who was son to Sr. John Burley a near Kinsman of the Doctors was admitted among other young Gentlemen to be School-fellow with this Hopefull Prince By which occasion he wan so much upon the Princes Favour that afterwards by his means he was advanced to great Honour being in time made Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and also had the Government and Education of the Prince's Son Richard of Bourdeaux comitted to his Trust As for the Young Prince Edward the King his Father by l Ashmole p. 670. Sand-Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Cart. 7. Ed. 3. m. 4. ex Pat. 7. Ed. 3. p. 1. m 13. his Charters dated the Eighteenth of May in the Seventh Year of his Reign when he was but in the Third Year of his Age granted unto him by the Title of Edward his most Dear and Eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flint and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their Appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights-Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said County Castles Lands and Cantreds as well in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same Conditions as himself had received them before he was King from which time he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his Style But intending to enable him yet better to maintain this his Dignity the next day the King gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also all the Arms Victuals Cattle Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other Places to him before granted together with all Debts Arrearages of Accounts and other Services due to himself But in the m Cart. 11. Ed 3. n. 55. Eleventh Year of his Reign and the Seventh of this Princes Age upon the Death of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the King created him Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing Date the 17 of March the same Year investing him by the Sword only which was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England At the same time the King setled upon him divers Mannors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of his Ducal State and Honour all which thô some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patents dated the same day he granted unto him the Stanneries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tynn and all the Issues and Profits thence arising as also the Profits and Perquisits of the Courts of the Stanneries except only a 1000 Marks granted to William Montagu then Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly Value And afterwards granted that all the Castles Honours Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of Life or Years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the Eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom After this in the Parliament held in the Seventeenth of this King his Father he n 12 Maii Car. 17. Ed. 3. m. 24. n. 27. Created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod And the better to support his State as Prince of Wales he gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writt directed to William Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attourney He also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North-Wales and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses and other Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. After all which this Noble Prince was made Knight of the Garter at the First Institution of that Famous Order and lastly Prince of Aquitain in France and for his Courage and Conduct his Policy and Courtesie became in time the most Renowned Captain in the World being for his Dreadfull Deeds in War as most agree sirnamed by the French le Neoir or the Black-Prince VI. In these Days the Young King of England finding himself a Father began indeed to play the Man and thô he was then but 18 Years of Age takes a resolution to govern his Realm no more by Others but Himself in Person hearing and learning the Truth in weighty Affairs and distributing Justice and Mercy to such who should lay the best claim to either But while Mortimer held his present Station 't was not possible the King should be Master of his own Purposes Now therefore to him we hasten who seems already to have been too long free from that Vengeance which always pursues ambitious and bloody Traitors Of his Treachery and Cruelty we had no small Instances before But by a certain fatal Ordinance that wicked Men must of themselves advance and further their own Ruine his insupportable Arrogance and too opiniative Security thence proceeding was the chief Occasions of his suddain Downfall In the Quindenes of St. Michael the King holding a Parliament at Nottingham Mortimer appear'd in such splendour and so well attended that he became both the Envy and Terror of all the Kings Friends no man durst name him by any other Title than his new-acquired but much-envy'd one the Earl of March And his Interest and possessions bound those to him whom his Power could not move For in these days he bore such sway that he obtain'd whatever he had a mind to as appears by these following Grants from the Young King who by his o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. Cart. 4. Ed. 3. n. 64. Charter dated this Year besides all he had got before granted unto him the Castle and Mannor of Hanley with the Chaces of Malverne and Cors in the Counties of Worcester and Glocester also the Town of Wiche in Worcestershire with the Castle of Clifford and Mannor of Glasebury part of the Possessions of Hugh Spencer the younger not yet free from
was slain with 7000 Christians the Pagans obtaining but a bloody Victory with the loss of no less than 58000 Men This Battle was struck on the Feast of St. Catherine being the 25 of November The Other was between the Castilians of Spain and the Moors of Granada of which because it bears some reference to the succeeding Affairs I shall take leave to speak something more particularly It may be remembred that when I spake of the Dishonourable Peace made with Scotland at Northampton I took occasion to mention a Voyage which the Lord James Douglas the famous Warriour of Scotland had undertaken to the Holy Land there to offer up his dead Master King Robert's Heart at the Sepulchre of our Blessed Saviour Now as soon as he had well provided for so long and important a Journey he took the Noble Heart of his Lord King Robert g Hector Bâ—et l. 15. fol. 311. b. n. 70. embalmed and enshrin'd in a Golden Box and with a Gallant company of choice Knights and valiant Gentlemen of whom the Lord William Sinclare and Sr. Robert Logan were chief he set forth for the Holy Land. And here Hector according to his usual way makes no more adoe but boldly affirms that he came to Jerusalem offer'd up the Heart stay'd a while fought many Glorious Battels wan much Renown brought the Saracens to a Peace on conditions very advantageous to the Christians richly rewarded the Priests and Holy Men there and away came he again safe and sound as could be till he touch'd the Spanish Coast about Andaluzia or the Boetic Province where finally he lost his Life But Buchanan in this place more modest h Buchan l. 8. p. 279. acknowledges that his Death happen'd not in his Return but in his Passage to Jerusalem and therein agrees with i Frois c. 20. fol. 11. Froisard a most credible Historian in the main who thus reports the whole matter Earl Douglas being well purvey'd of all things sets sail immediately from a Port of Murray in Scotland directing his course for Sluce in Flanders where he design'd to enquire if there were any Knights or Noblemen who to advance the honour of Christ and purchase unto themselves true Renown would adventure to accompany him in this his Expedition to the Holy Land. Having therefore accordingly sent into the Country thereabout to publish his Intention he lay on Board before Sluce the space of twelve Days himself not once offering to touch the Land so firmly was he set on the performance of his Royal Master's Injunctions And all the while that he might the better allure Companions in Arms to partake with him in this hazardous Enterprise he kept a stately and magnificent Port making on Board triumphant Noises with Trumpets Clarions and other Instruments of War as if he had been King of Scotland himself He had with him in his own Ship two Knights Bannerets and six other Knights with 26 lusty Esquires and other young Gentlemen to attend his person and all the Vessels he was served in were of Gold or silver And whoever came on Board to visit him were nobly entertain'd with Banquets Wine and spices every one after his Quality While thus he lay to the great pleasure and satisfaction of the Country at the end of twelve days he had certain News that Alphonso the XI King of Castille and Leon held war with the Moors and Saracens of Granada Upon this report he thought it every whit as meritorious to fight against Infidels in Spain as in the Holy Land and that it could no way thwart with his dead Masters Command if he should endeavour to exalt the Cross of Christ against Mahometanisme to which cause himself had both living and dying devoted his own Royal Heart Desirous also to leave some Token of the Scottish Valour in the furthermost Parts of Spain and concluding after all to perform at his leisure the Voyage to Jerusalem he at last resolves to be a partaker in these honourable Wars Whereupon hoising sail directly for Spain he arrived happily at the Port of Valencia where he landed with all his Company but such as were appointed to look to the Fleet. Thus this Gallant Scot having well refreshed himself and his Troops rode bravely forward toward the King of Spain whom he found with his Army facing the Enemy on the Frontiers of his Kingdom toward the Realm of Granada To make short his service was well accepted and thereupon the King of Spain resolv'd to give his Enemies Battle The King of Granada seeing the Christians advance set forward also to meet them with innumerable Forces And now both Armies wanted but little of joyning when the Generous Earl Douglas fearing to come too late to so glorious a Banquet with all his Company strake spurs to his Horses sides and couching his Spear rushed fiercely among the thickest of his Enemies all the way crying out a Douglas a Douglas as he that nothing doubted but to be well back'd by King Alphonso The Enemy thô vastly Numerous was strangely amaz'd at this vigorous and resolute Onset and either out of Dismay or Policy open'd their Ranks to receive them giving also back a little to abate the Fury of the first shock Certainly had the Castillians immediately seconded this Noble Knight with but half that Bravery the Moors had either wholly been overthrown or at most gain'd but a Bloody Victory But whether 't was Fatal oversight or Discretion not to Engage with such vast Numbers in confidence of a few seeming-rash Strangers or whether 't was a certain stupor and excess of Admiration or a desire to stay a while beholding the Effects of such Gallantry or foolish Envy or base Cowardise or that they could not come up timely enough King Alphonso however Brave and Victorious at other times stood now still and joyned not the Battle Whereat the Moors encouraged immediately surrounded the Deserted Scots with their Numerous Forces and there the Gallantest Captain in the World being abandon'd to Infinite Multitudes of Barbarians was miserably at last hewen in pieces with all his Martial Company Thô they left such Marks of their exceeding Valour behind that the Infidels who felt and saw their Fury thought them Invincible till they beheld them slain before their Eyes Thus by occasion of a superstitious Vow of the Late King Robert was Scotland unfortunately depriv'd of a Noble Captain and many other Brave Souls at a time when most she needed their Assistance at Home This Lord Douglas bare for his Arms k Frois c. 17. fol. 8. Azure a Chevron Argent but his Posterity in Memory of this his Enterprise and Death do l Hâ—linshead hist Sâ—ctl p. 227. bear the Bloody Heart for their Arms to this day And indeed he was one of the first Builders of his Name and Family in Scotland being a great Champion to his Native Country and as great a Terror to all the English Borderers For m Knighton p. 2559. n. 50.
wholly acquitted thereupon As indeed by this time both his Father and Grandfather too might have been had not the too speedy violence of their Enemies taken them both out of the way Yet 't is observable by this Sr. Hugh the younger whose Manuprizors were Sr. Ebulo le Strange and eleven other Knights as also by Thomas Lord Barkley who had as many Manuprisors thô he was acquitted the last year that it was a custome to say no more in those days when any one had been tryed as an Offender against the King thô he were thereof acquitted or had his Pardon yet ſ M. S. p. 15. 16. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. notwithstanding he was to provide Twelve of his Peers to be Sureties for his Forth-coming during the Kings pleasure The Discontinuance of which custom has been too usefull to Traytors in our days It was also here moved by the whole Parliament either in compassion of Innocence or because all their Rancour was satisfied in the execution of Mortimer that the King's Majesty would be graciously pleased to extend some Favour to Sr. Edmund Eldest Son to the late Earl of March. At which bold request the King being offended as imagining they petition'd for his full Restoration to his Fathers Lands and Honours asked them with some Emotion What they would have since the King his Father had been murder'd by the procurement of the said Earl The Parliaments Answer was they only spake in the Young Man's behalf for some certain Lands Intail'd to which the King replied That he himself would do what to him should seem best at his Pleasure Which severity went so near to the heart of the young Lord that before the end of the Year t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. he died in the Flower of his Age leaving behind him Roger his Son and Heir then but three Years of age which Roger three and twenty Years after was fully restor'd to all the Lands and Honours of his Grandfather It is u M.S. p. 14. §. 5. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. §. 5. c. agreed that all Feats of Arms shall be defended as well by the Justices as Others untill the King and his Council do otherwise appoint It is agreed that Queen Isabell the King's Mother shall have yearly four thousand Pounds in Rents or Lands All the Estates in full Parliament do agree that none of them shall retain sustain or avow any Felon or other common Breaker of the Law. It is enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King Queen and their Children and that by good Warrant and ready Payment The King shall appoint certain Persons to determine the Office of Thomas de Ferrers and Other his Brethren of the Parsonage of Marleston in the County of Leicester Commandment is given to the Abbot of Crowland and Thomas Lord Wake of Lidel between whom there had been debate to keep the Kings Peace The like command was given to Sr. William de la Zouch of Ashby and Sr. John Grey of Rotherfield Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London was taken into the Kings Privy Council and took his Place at the Board accordingly At the request of the whole Estate the King now at last dischargeth the Lord Thomas Barkley of his Mainprisors day being given to him to appear at the next Parliament Whereas Sr. Henry Percy for the Yearly Fee of 500 Marks stood bound to serve the King with a certain number of Men as well in Peace as in War The King in release of the said Fee granteth to the said x In my M.S. and Sr. Rob. Cotton too he is here called an Earl thô the First Percy Earl of Northumberland was not till the Coronation of King Richard the Second An. 1377. vid. Mills Catal. He p. 718. Sr. Henry in Fee the Castle of Workworth in Northumberland and the Mannor of Rochbury In this Parliament Sr. Robert y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Benhale who was then or soon after a Baron of the Realm and a most noble and couragious Knight in his time as we shall have Occasion to see hereafter with William Clopton and John Clopton all young spritely Gentlemen having been convicted before the Justices of Assize in Norfolk and Suffolk of certain Ryots and other youthfull Extravagancies were brought to appear in full Parliament with several Knights and Esquires their Sureties where each of them was fin'd and further bound with other Sureties for his good Behaviour For at this time Justice being provok'd by the Insolence of those who took too great liberty during the Kings Minority was every where severely administred as in the next years Parliament we shall see more particularly Sundry Merchants of Brabant having been arrested by English Merchants for Wools taken up to the use of the Duke of Brabant upon the said Duke's request the King commands all the said English Merchants to appear before the Council and abide further Order therein About this time King Edward z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. confer'd on the young Sr. Walter Manny Carver to his Queen the Honour of Knighthood here in England by Bathing and other sacred Ceremonies with allowance of Robes for that Solemnity out of the Kings Wardrobe as for a Baneret And in the Sequel of this History we shall see how worthily he behav'd himself in this Honour VII There a Mill's Catal. Hener p. 683. departed this life on the 19 of April this Year the Lord Robert Vere called the Good Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Samford and High-Chamberlain of England So Valiant that King Edward the First often employ'd him in his greatest Affairs with equal success so Temperate that he had the common Repute of a Saint He was solemnly interred at the Priory of Colne and because he left no Issue of his Body was succeeded in his Honours by his Nephew Sr. John Vere son of his Brother Alphonso who was now about Nineteen years of Age The Arms of this Honourable Family are Quatterly Gules and Or in the First a Mullet Argent which have belonged to the Earls of Oxford of that House and Name from the Year of our Lord 1140 even down to our days In these days John of Luxemburgh Son and Heir to Henry of Luxemburgh once Emperour of Germany the most valiant King of Bohemia * Lanquets Chread hunc annum invading Italy brought under his subjection Brescia Bergamo Lucca Parma Reggio and Modena of whose noble Exploits and Death we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter But the Occasion of his Wars in Italy may be seen in the Writers of that Nation and no where more particularly than in Odoricus Rainaldus his Continuation of Baronius his Annals of the Church at the Year of our Lord 1330 and after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster II. The true Grounds of the Scotch War enquired into III. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs from the first Invasion of Bailiol to this time IV.
the Scots having gotten together a considerable Army resolv'd to raise the Siege from before Barwick but when they saw too much difficulty in the undertaking they proceeded over the Tweed into Northumberland where being informed that the young Queen of England was in the Castle of Bamburgh near the River Warne they immediately laid their Siege thereto if by any means for her sake at least they might so oblige King Edward to rise from before Barwick But this Prince was not so Uxorious and besides he well knew the Great strength of that Place and that his Queen had sufficient Provision both of Men and Victuals so that for all this he stirred not thô he heard likewise how the Scots during this their Siege before Bamburgh f Walsingh hist p. 114. n. 30. overran the whole Country with their Detachments Ravaging and Destroying whatever they could find for six days together During this Siege of Barwick there arose g Powel's Hist of Wales p. 147. ex Joh. Bâ—sweâ—'s Concords of Armery fol. 80. a great Controversie between two English Knights the one Sr. William Fackenham Appellant and the other Sr. John Sitsylt alias Cecil Defendant The Quarrel was concerning an Ensign of Arms which were h Ashmole p. 715. 716. in Kts. 355. 391. 400 417. Sandford p. 378 In Margin A Field Barry of Ten pieces Argent and Azure on six Escutcheons three two and one Sable as many Lions Rampant of the First Which Arms each of these Knights challenged as his Right and proffer'd to maintain the same by Combat in their proper Persons But it pleased the King that the Heralds should decide this matter by Law and Justice without shedding of Blood and so the Right of bearing those Arms was solemnly adjudged to Sr. John Cecill as Heir of Blood lineally descended from the Body of James Cecill Baron of Beauport slain at the Siege of Wallingford Castle in the Fourth of King Stephen Which Lord James Cecill was Son of Sr. Robert Sitsylt for that is the right Ancient Name who in the Days of King William Rufus went with Robert Fitz-Haimo to the Conquest of the County of Glamorgan after which he Married a Lady by whom he had Alterennes and other Lands in Hereford and Glocestershire From these Cecills in a direct Line is the Right Honourable i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 408. Vid. Powel's Hist of Wales ubi tâ—ta hujus Familâ—ae Genealogia à p. 142. ad p. 147 James the Present Earl of Salisbury Vicount Cranburne descended Who when at St. Johns College in Cambridge was pleas'd to allow me the Honour of his Acquaintance whereby I am able upon Knowledge to declare that he is a Gentleman who for Loyalty Generosity and affability is most likely to Advance the Ancient and Honourable Name of the Cecills to the utmost Period of Glory But to proceed to our History all this while the Scots within Barwick had not been idle but always defended themselves gallantly and sometimes by brisk and vigorous Sallies offended their Enemies not a little For the Town was well furnished with Men of War and Provision of all sorts as having had a timely warning of what they were to expect beforehand Once they undertook to fire the English Navy thô without effect at which time Sr. William k Buchan l. 9. p. 287. Seton the Bastard of Sr. Alexander Seton a Man of great valour being about to leap on board an English Ship his own Vessel was suddenly wrought so far by the violence and motion of the Waves that falling short between the two Vessels he was unfortunately lost in the great hurry of the Engagement to the infinite regret of all that knew him Once there happen'd a sudden fire in the Town when the Captains fearing the English might make use of that advantage to their Ruine begg'd a Truce and Respit only while they might quench the Fire promising thereupon to yield the Town afterward if they had no Succour by that time But the danger of the Conflagration being once overcome they persisted in their Obstinacy Thus for three Months the Siege continued with much trouble to the Besieged as well otherwise as because of their frequent Sallies wherein for the most part they always had the worse in one of them One of Sr. Alexander Setons legitimate Sons being also taken Prisoner So that at last Sr. Alexander was so much opprest that he gave his Eldest son Sr. Thomas Seton an Hostage to King Edward that he would now without fail yield up the Town if he were not succoured by such a Day The King of England l Frois c. 26. fol. 16. would have had all yielded up simply on Discretion whereas the Besieged required their Lives and Goods to be saved till he was obliged to comply with their Request by the Advice of his Council especially of the Lord Robert of Artois who being with him in all this Expedition and observing the Barrenness of Scotland and the unprofitableness of these Wars still egg'd him on with all the earnestness imaginable to make an end here and to enterprise the Conquest of France which was his by Right of Inheritance and was rich enough to fill his Armies with Plunder Upon this account the Truce being granted and the Hostage deliver'd m Walsing Hist p. 114. Vid. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. the Lord Patrick of Dumbar and Sr. Alexander Seton sent away Sr. William Keth to the Siege of Bamburgh to require the Scotch Lords speedily to come back to their Assistance assuring them That if they would Couragiously dispose themselves to fight with the two Kings they would undoubtedly prevail great Numbers of the English Army being bestow'd about in Garrison and as for the Rest they must either divide themselves when they were to fight or the Town and Castle would be at liberty to fall on their Backs while the Army engaged them in the Front. Now when Sr. William Keth had brought this Message to the Scotch Lords before Bamburgh they because also by this time the Castle seem'd impregnable as we may partly guess by those Ruins of the Walls which are yet or were very lately to be seen resolve to Rise from before the Place and to advance against the Enemy Wherefore the seventh Day from their coming thither they began their March toward Barwick and so repassing the Tweed fetch'd a compass and at last encamped in a place called Bothul near Halliden vulgarly Halidoune Hill on the North side of Barwick But before I come to the Battle I must not omit a Story which the Scotch Writers call thô nothing at all credible lest thereby I may seem partially to rob that Nation of what is esteem'd so honourable by those indiscreet Authors Both the Besiegers and the Besieged saw this Approach of the Lord Archimbald Douglas with an Army of above Sixty thousand Men At which time as they n Buchan l. 9. p. 288. Hector l.
Honor. p. 603. ad p. 6â—6 yet to have been and continued in this Family of the Dreuxes ever since the year 1268 in the days of King Edward the First untill this time and seven years after when upon the Death of this John de Dreux without Issue King Edward gave this Earldom to his Fourth Son o Ib. d. p. 610. John Plantagenet sirnamed of Gaunt Nevertheless thô I know not how nor when the Lord Robert of Artois had the Title of Earl of Richmond but I never could find that he had any Creation thereto But this John Dreux as we intimated just now died seven years after in the 15 of this King leaving no Issue behind him thô he had been thrice Married To whom John Earl of Montford his Half-brother succeeded in the Dukedom of Bretagne which John was Father to John sirnamed the Valiant after his Fathers decease Duke of Bretagne of whose Wars and gallant Exploits this History makes honourable mention III. Immediately after this Enterview at Newcastle the two Kings parted the One toward Scotland the Other for Windsor whence King Edward speedily issued out his Summons to the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal commanding them to meet him at Nottingham on the 10th of that instant July there with him to advise about Affairs concerning the Weal of the Realm In this Council 't was ordain'd that a Parliament should be call'd at Westminster to meet on the 24th of September or the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the day bearing some proportion with the Design which was to exalt the interest of Christendom At which time the Parliament being assembled the Pious Young King did then declare That being thereto invited by his Kinsman the Duke of Bretagne who came in Embassy from France he had formed a Resolution to march with his Cosen the French King and other Christian Princes into the Holy Land to advance the Cross of Christ against the Turks and Infidels For thô he had not as yet answer'd King Philip directly when he requested his Society in this Croisade because he had been credibly informed that King Philip about this time had victuall'd and mann'd out ten great Ships which he design'd for Scotland in pursuance of King Davids Quarrel yet forasmuch as those Vessels being miserably shatter'd at Sea were at last forced to return home without any effect and because now Scotland seem'd fully settled under the government of King Bailiol all things appearing safe from those Quarters and quiet at home himself also flourishing with Riches Honour Children and full and vigorous Youth he declares as we said before to this Parliament his Resolution to partake with Christendom in this pious and honourable Enterprise And thô he did not expresly limit the time since there can be no exact certainty before hand of such weighty and slow-moving matters yet then he appointed Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury as his Ambassador to go to the Pope and to the French King to consider and agree with them as of other things so especially about the Time when the two Kings should set forward to the Holy Land together But for all this althô the Lord Robert of Artois could by no means prevail to divert the King from this Design to that of claiming his Right in France which he earnestly labour'd to persuade him to Yet thrô some secret Ordinance of Providence it happen'd even while this Parliament sat that by other means he was compell'd to take other Measures Which were not indeed so happy for Europe but nothing less glorious to this English Monarch IV. For King Bailiol being thus fully settled in his Kingdom of Scotland and no way fearing that his Enemies had any Ability left sufficient in the least to shake his Throne began first himself to open a way to his own Ruine by imprudently occasioning Discord among his most powerfull Friends Many of his Followers had been long disinherited of their Rights in Scotland and several interchangable Marriages happening the while among them it was utterly impossible to avoid but that some Controversies would happen in deciding matters now by adjusting all things equally And besides all this not a few who had no great Concerns in that Kingdom before could not yet but merit high Considerations from the Bailiol in regard of their late Services Among Others John Lord p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 81. Waren Earl of Surry was now by full consent of Scotch and English Nobles created Earl of Strathern instead of Malisius the late Earl who had forfeited that his Honour by Rebellion Thô afterwards q Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. at the sollicitation of Malisius his Friends great endeavours were used for Revocation of that Judgment and Forfeiture This was one difficult Point insomuch that King Edward of England whose clearer Judgment saw the ill Consequences of these matters had by his Letters to King Bailiol desired him that the Business might be publiquely discussed by his Nobles and Faithfull Peers of the Realm and not by such whose Fidelity might be called in question And he had also sent his Letters to Henry Lord Beaumont one of the chief of King Bailiols Council requiring him to use his utmost interest for preventing any sudden Determination in that business Considering of what ill Example it would be as also of peril to himself and others in the like case But there arose another Controversie higher than this by far For whereas the Lord Henry Beaumont had already received what he claimed in Right of his r Hector p. 316. 60. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Lady Alice one of the Cosens and Coheirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan as was shew'd before now it seems her Uncle Sr. Alexander Moubray a potent Man lately brought over to the Batliol claim'd a Purparty of her Lands from the said Lord Beaumont The Cause was debated in Parliament with great heat the Lord Richard Å¿ The One was Lord Beaumont's Wife 's Sister's Husband the other Sister's Sen. vid. l. 1. c. 6. §. 9. Talbot and David Strabolgi Earl of Athol taking part with the Lord Beaumont their Kinsman and Others as their Opinions Humour or Interest lead them with the Lord Moubray King Bailiol thinking himself sure of his Old Friends and hoping now for ever to bind fast unto him this late-reconciled Enemy too rashly adjudged the matter in behalf of Sr. Alexander Moubray As it was too soon done it was too late repented of for the other Party was immediately so exasperated that in the very Parliament House they could scarce forbear flying to extremities But the Parliament hereupon being presently adjourn'd the Quarrel seem'd to sleep for a while Yet however King Bailiol who by the greatness of the Smoak perceived what a dangerous Fire was kindled doubting the worst made towards Barwick in all hast for his better security with Sr. Alexander Moubray in his company The Lord t Hecter fol. 316 60. Buchan p. 290. Richard
as Ringleaders of the foresaid Dissentions had been by the French King adjudged to death for King Edwards sake were only now banished At this time also the Articles of the former League were restored and publique Instruments thereof made at Marmanda the October following and on the 20 of February in the beginning of the next Year were signed at Paris with the Kings Seal But this Peace was intricate and doubtfull because King Charles died before he had restored the Lands to his Nephew King Edward which had been taken away in Aquitain But hereupon Philip of Valois who had been present at the Ratification of the Peace being raised to the Throne neither would restore those Places won by his Father nor could by the Pope's perswasions be moved thereto and so dealing more hardly and too unkindly as well as unjustly with King Edward never remitted any thing of his Haughtiness till he had obliged the Young Prince to begin a War in the behalf of his Right which had almost brought the Kingdom of France to utter destruction But of this hereafter III. This mean while King Edward doubting what might happen resolv'd to be beforehand with his Enemies and as he question'd not but that a War would soon be open'd from France so he wisely design'd by a full Conquest to stop it the other way from Scotland Soon after Christmas therefore he went to Newcastle that he might bear an especial Eye to the Affairs of that Realm From whence b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. he made the Lord Hugh Courtney a valiant old Gentleman Earl of Devonshire upon this occasion This Hugh had for many years after the Death of Isabell de Fortibus Countess of Albemarl and Devonshire quietly possessed the Lands and Fees of the Earldom of Devonshire as being c Vid. quemedo Mill's Catal. Hener p. 465. sole Heir to the foresaid Countess thô he had neither the Title nor Investiture of an Earl But at length there arose great difference between him and the Kings Officers of the Exchequer concerning the payment of the third Penny which as they said he being no Earl ought not to receive and thereupon the Sheriffs of Devonshire declin'd to pay it him any longer Wherefore he wrote his letters Supplicatory to the King being then in Scotland who immediately directed his Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer requiring them to make search into the Records and Memorials remaining in their Hands and to certifie him thereof Which being done the King having well consider'd the Matter and the Merit of the Man return'd this Answer Rex Dilecto Fideli suo Hugoni de Courtney seniori Comiti Devon. Salutem c. d Claus 9. Ed. 3. m. 35. in derso Mill's Cat. Honor p. 465. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. Time's storehouse p. 524. The King to his Well-beloved and Trusty Hugh Courtney senior Earl of Devonshire greeting Whereas you as appeareth by your Petition exhibited to Us and our Council have for some time been sued for the Annual Payment of xviii l. vi s. viii d. of the yearly Fee of the Earldom of Devonshire which Isabell de Fortibus late Countess of Devonshire whose Heir you are and the Predecessors of her the said Countess and yours Earls of Devonshire yearly received at the hands of the Sheriffs of that County that were for the time being and which you likewise after the Death of the said Countess as her Heir received for some time And whereas the said Summ hath since been from you detained because you have not used the Name and Title of an Earl as by the Certificate of our Treasurer and of the Barons of our Exchequer by our Commandment made into our Chancery doth appear Forasmuch as the Inheritance of the foresaid Countess and of her Predecessors and yours Earls of Devonshire is unto you descended by Hereditary Right and that you at this present do hold the said Inheritance We therefore willing to provide as well for our own Dignity and the Equity of our Kingdom as for your Honour and Support Will and Command you in requesting you that by taking to you the Name and Honour of an Earl you cause your self henceforward to be called Earl of Devonshire being assured that we will cause the foresaid Fee to be yearly paid unto you as it hath been wont to be paid to the Earls of Devonshire your Predecessors Witness the King at Newcastle upon Tine the 22d of February and in the Ninth Year of our Reign Edward R. And to enforce this the more he sent his Precept to the then Sheriff of Devonshire the Writ beginning Rex Vicecomiti Devoniae Salutem c. Commanding him forthwith by publique Proclamation both in his County and all other places of his Bailywick to require all Persons thenceforth to esteem and call him Earl of Devonshire And likewise another Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer that they should cause the said Summ of xviii l. vi s. viii d. to be annually paid unto him nomine Comitis by the Title of an Earl as his Ancestors formerly had received it Now c Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 30. Holinshead 898. R. Southwell c. about the Feast of the Ascension the King held his Parliament at York concerning his Affairs then in hand relating to the Scotch War at which time were Enacted sundry Statutes very serviceable for the Peace and Weal of the Realm And here by the Intercession of King Philip who sent thither the Bishop of Auranches and others for that purpose he granted the Scots a Truce till the Feast of St. John Baptist then next ensuing IV. But about Midsummer the Truce being near expired he went in the Head of his Army to Newcastle again whither King Bailiol came unto him from Carlile And here it was finally agreed between them and their Council that King Edward of England should pass to Carlile and on the 12 of July enter Scotland that way in Hostile Manner with these Lords and Captains in his Company Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the Kings own Brother the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster the Kings Cosin Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex John Vere Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior the Lord Adam Wells Ralph Lord Bulmer the Lord Ebulo le Strange who dying this Year left his Wife and Title of Earl of Lincoln to Hugh de Frenes who was also in this Expedition together with John Lord Willoughby Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh Robert Lord Ferrers William Lord Montague the Lord Hugh Audley junior the Lord William Clinton the Lord John Norwich the Lord John Bardolph the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot and the Lord John Grey of Codnore with Sr. Mawrice Barkley Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley and many others of High Quality and Courage On the other Hand King Bailiol was appointed to go to Barwick
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
with the said Emperour the Year following V. Thus strongly did King Edward prepare before he would Commence a War against so Powerfull a Monarch all which thô it prov'd in a manner unprofitable and thô little or nothing of all his Glorious Actions was really performed but by his own Forces as we shall shew hereafter Yet his great Prudence appears sufficiently from these Instances of his Foresight and Conduct and that he was not Rash nor Presumptuous but Resolute with Deliberation Yet next to God he reposed his chief Confidence in the Valour of his own Subjects and now as well to Reward past Services as to give Encouragement to new Ones in a Parliament held at Westminster * Knighton p. 2568. n. 50. about the Feast * â— e 12 Martii of St. Gregory the Pope and Confessor he converted the Earldom of Cornwall void by the Death of the Lord John of Eltham his Brother into a Dukedom and confer'd it on his Eldest Son and Heir Prince Edward who was now but six Years of Age x Ashmole p. 671. investing him by the sword only together with the County Palatinate of Chester adding shortly after such Mannors and Priviledges to this Title y Dugd. Warw. p. 90. which were for the future to be inseperable and to descend perpetually to the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England his Successors but upon the Death or Non-existence of such Dukes to revert unto the Crown And z Ashmole ibid. this was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England The Charter of this Creation bears date the 17 of March but other particulars of this Matter I have already spoken of when I was about the Birth of this young Prince On the day preceding the King created the Lord Henry a Vid. Dugd. Bar. ad horum singulerum nâ—nana c. Knighton p. 2568 n. 60. Adam Muriâ—â—uth Will. Shâ—psteed Sr Tâ—â— de la Mâ—re Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Darby and the Lord William Montague at the same time he made Earl of Salisbury with a grant of the yearly Rent of 20 l. out of the Profits of that County also the Lord William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon with a grant of a 1000 Marks Land per annum for him and his Heirs-male for ever besides 20 l. Rent also issuing out of the Profits of that County for his better support in that Dignity At the same time the Lord Hugh Audley Cosin to the Lord James Audley was created Earl of Glocester the Lord Hugh Courtney an old tough Souldier of almost Fourscore was now created Earl of Devonshire thô he was made so by Writ two Years before as we have shewed Besides these the Lord Robert Hufford was made Earl of Suffolk and the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton to the Earl of Northampton shortly after the King gave a Grant of the Castle Mannor and Town of Stamford with the Lordship of Grantham in Lincolnshire which John Warren Earl of Surrey held for Life also of the Castle and Mannor of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire and of the Castle and Mannor of Okeham in Rutland with the Sheriffalty of the said County to hold to himself and the Heirs-Male of his Body under certain conditions in the said Grant expressed The extent whereof may be f Esc 14. Ed. 3. n. 67. Linc. seen in the Record To the Earl of Suffolk the King gave over and above an annuity of twenty pounds sub nomine honore Comitis pro tertio Denario Comitatûs illius which anciently belonged to all Earls the Honour g Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 528. of Eay in Suffolk and the Mannor of Base-Court in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate in London commonly called the Barbican * Stow's Survey of Lond. Hist p. 233. because of old it had been a Burgkenning or Watch-Tower for the City Many like Advantages together with their Honours the King at this time heap'd on the rest of these Noble and Valiant Earls at which time also the young Duke of Cornwall afterwards Prince of Wales made h 24. Adam Marim Stow p. 233. Holinsh p. 900. twenty new Knights to wit Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury and Simon i Godw. Catal. Dpps. p. 268. Montague Bishop of Ely Sr. Thomas Somerton Sr. John Lisle Son to Robert Lord Lisle Sr. Richard Darcy Sr. Damorie Sr. John Poultney Sr. Peter de la Mere Sr. Roger Banant Sr. Roger Hilary Sr. Bolingbroke Sr. Buterell Sr. Simon Swanland Sr. William k Weevers Fun. Monum p. 269. Scott Sr. William Basset Sr. Robert Sodington Sr. William de la Zouch Sr. Cogshall Sr. Roger Sangraville Sr. John Strachie and Sr. Thomas de la More who wrote in French the Life and Death of Edward the Second and also of our Edward the Third both which are Extant in Latine thô the latter is not yet published What we said of the Woollen Manufacture in the Fourth Paragraph of the preceding Chapter some will have to have been done in this Parliament the matter is all one let the time be now or then for by these l Vid. Statute Book An. xi Ed. 3. p. 77. Laws which gave so great Encouragement to Foreign Clothworkers to come hither and also prohibited that none should buy any Cloth made beyond Sea the occupation of Cloth-Weevers soon came in quest more than ever before in this Nation Sr. John Charleton m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 72. Senior Lord of Powys a Man highly Esteemed for his Fidelity Prudence and Valour was at this time constituted Justice of Ireland the Lord n Id. 1 Vol. p. 371 Darcy being then Steward of the Kings Houshold and otherwise employ'd in the Kings Affairs and accordingly in October following o Chron. Job Clinne i.e. 14 Octob. E Dom. Lit. on the Festival of St. Calixt the Pope and a Tuesday he arrived safely there with his Brother Thomas Bishop of Hereford Chancellor and Thomas Rice Treasurer of Ireland and two Hundred lusty Welchmen But whether for any just cause or no in the Year following the Bishop p Godw. Catal. Bpps. p. 458. Holinshead Ireland p. 71. his Brother complaining to the King by Letters of Sr. Johns Misgovernment was himself appointed in his Room and further made Guardian or Deputy of that Realm But the Affairs of Ireland I shall not prosecute because I haste to more Considerable and Weighty Matters referring the Reader to Holinshead and others who may satisfie them of those things And forasmuch as there were sundry q Ex Bundello Pricrat Alienigenarum Ano. 11. Ed. 3. fisco applicaterum Vid. Clem. Reyneri Apâ—stel Benedictinerum in Appen Par. 2. p. 71. Weever's Fun. Monum p. 328. Priories at that time in England belonging to Foreign Abbeys and thereupon called Aliens because they were Cells to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas the Number whereof
William of Strasburg Sr. Goswin de la Mulhausen Sr. Vauflart van Guistle and many others In all the Duke of Brabant had 12000 Men under 24 Banners and 80 Penons or Streamers The third and Greatest Battail of all was led by King Edward of England surrounded and attended by his English Captains the Chief whereof were these Henry Plantagenet Earl of Derby the Kings Cosin Henry Burwash the Noble and n Knighton p. 2577. n. 40. Warlike Bishop of Lincoln Richard Bury Bishop of Durham the Kings Tutor William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Bohun Earl of Northampton Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Robert of Artois who was called the Earl of Richmond at that time because the Duke of Bretagne for being on the French Kings part had lately forfeited that Title the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Percy the Lord William Roos the Lord John Moubray the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord John de la Ware the Lord Ralph Basset the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John Lisle the Lord Robert Benhale of Norfolk Sr. Otho Grandison Brother to the Lord Peter Grandison Sr. Lewis Beauchamp and Sr. John Beauchamp which latter was younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick and lastly Sr. John Chandos lately Knighted by the King of whom much Honour is to be spoken in this our History The King had with him in all besides his Royal Standard 28 Banners 80 Penons or Streamers 6000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 12000 Select Archers Besides he had set by another Choice Battail as on a Wing whereof the Earl of Warwick Thomas Beauchamp was Chief Leader and with him were Lawrence Hastings the young Earl of Pembroke the Lord Thomas Barkley the Lord John Multon of Egremont and others This Battail consisted of 5000 Men of Arms all on Horseback When thus every Lord stood under his Banner among his own Men as the Marshals had Commanded the King of England Mounted on a large White Palfrey and only attended with the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord Reginald Cobham and the Lord Walter Manny rode about before all his Battails and in the Head of each of them with a very cheerfull Countenance sweetly desired all the Lords and others that they would that day do their utmost to defend his Honour and their own and they all unanimously promised him so to do After this he returned to his own Battail and set every thing in good Order Commanding that none should presume to go before the Marshals Banners In the mean while the French o Frois c. 41. ad sin du Chesne l. 15. p. 648. Army was in like Manner disposed into Three Great Battails each whereof contained 15000 Men of Arms and 20000 on Foot in all 35000 Men the whole Three amounting to 105000 Warriers Among whom were Four Kings five Dukes Twenty six or as p Sala apud Du Chesne ibid. others say Thirty six Earls more than Four Thousand Lords and Knights and above 60000 of the Commons of France The Kings that were there were Philip himself King of France John of Luxemburg King of Bohemia Charles King of Navarre and David King of Scotland The Dukes were John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son John Dreux Duke of Bretagne Lewis the Great Duke of Bourbon Reginald Duke of Lorrain Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens The Earls Charles Earl of Alencon King Philips Brother Lewis of Cressy Earl of Flanders William Earl of Hainault Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix John Earl of Armagnac Amè Earl of Geneva Amè Earl of Savoy Lewis Earl of Blois the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Bar the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Longeville the Earl of Estampes the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of St. Pol the Earl of Guisnes the Earl of Boulogne the Earl of Roussy the Earl of Dampmartin the Earl of Valentinois the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Dreux the Earl of Gascoigne the Earl of Languedoc and many more Vicounts and others too tedious to enumerate It was a Glorious and Ravishing sight no doubt to behold these two Armies standing thus Regularly embattel'd in the Field their Banners and Standards waving in the Wind their proud Horses barbed and Kings Lords Knights and Esquires richly Armed and all shining in their Surcoats of Sattin and Embroidery IX And now it may be justly expected that a Bloody Battle should ensue upon these vast Preparations of these two Puissant Monarchs But we shall see all come to nothing upon these Reasons which now I shall more distinctly set down King Philip of Valois was no doubt a Man of singular Courage and as the Sequel shew'd rather too Rash than Timerous He had all along answer'd the English Ambassadors when they offer'd Peace upon easie Conditions q Knighton p. 2574. n. 50. 60. that the King their Master should never Rejoyce of two Foot of Ground in all the Realm of France And had often sworn by his Messengers that King Edward should not tarry one Day in his Realm without Battle let him come when ever he would The r Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. 40. Knighton p. 2574 n. 60. 2575. n. 1. ad n. 10. Constable of France also by Command of the King his Master had sent Letters to King Edward containing among other things that if he would choose out a Place not Fortified with Trees Ditches or Bogs the King of France without fail would afford him Battle Which same thing was also affirmed by the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lorrain in their several Letters under their Hands and Seals beside King Philips late Promise to Windsor Herald whereby he Obliged himself to come and give him Battle on this Day sufficiently shew'd his Resolution But Å¿ Frâ—â—is c. 42. all the Lords of his Council were not of the same Mind For thô some urged that it would be an indelible Stain of dishonour if now they should decline to come to the push seeing their Enemies were so near them in their own Country and had both demanded and been promised Battle Yet others of deeper Judgement replyed That it would be the most Unwarrantable Indiscretion in the World to Commit all to the Hazard of One Engagement For said they if Fortune prove adverse to Us Our King is in Jeopardy of loosing his Crown and thô he should Conquer his Enemies yet will he never be the nearer to gain the Crown of England or the Lands of any of King Edwards Allies Beside which gave the Greatest Suspicion to King Philip who knows said they whether all your Subjects are firm to You or no and that no Lords here present may Prefer King Edward or Revolt to him as the Lord of Artoic hath done already With these Debates time slipt away till Afternoon When of a
a Troop of Almains from the Castle of Mal-maison which stood two leagues from Cambray the Almains being Servants to the Bishop of the said City So that all joyning together they went to the Town of Haspre upon the Selle which was rich and large being much extended in the Suburbs without the Walls The Inhabitants were all secure as in the depth of Peace for they had seen no War of many Years and knew of none near them Wherefore the French enter'd without resistance and found Men and Women in their houses and at work whom they took or slew as many as they laid hands on and having robbed the Town at their pleasure they set it then on fire and burnt it to the very ground that nothing remain'd but the bare Walls Nor did they so much as spare the Great Priory of Black-Monks within the Walls of large Buildings beside the Church which being all within the Walls was a Cell to St. Waast or Vedast an Abby of Arras but this also being first robbed they burnt to the ground and so return'd laden with prey to their several Garrisons The News of this was brought to the young Earl of Hainault when he was a bed in his Palace at Valenciennes called la Salle du Comte Whereupon he arose suddenly buckled on his Armour and hastily call'd for all those Knights who were about his Court But their Lodgings were so scatter'd that they could not all be ready so soon as the Earl He for his part not tarrying for any Man rode into the Market-place and caused the Bells to ring an Alarm At the sound whereof all the Men of War then in pay in the City arose put on their Armour and follow'd the Earl their Lord who with a few was already ridden out of the Town in great haste towards Haspre He was scarce well out of Town when news came to him that the Frenchmen had atchieved their Enterprise and were gone home Then he rode in a great passion to the Abby of Fontaine where the Lady Joan de Valois his Mother was retir'd in Devotion p C. 10. §. 6. p. 114. as we shew'd before upon the death of her Husband the Earl. To her he related this Affront of her Brother King Philip with the most bitter Invectives imaginable she good Lady took much pains to appease his Anger and to excuse his Uncle of being concern'd in such an unnatural Cruelty to him But he said with an Oath that the Destruction of Haspre should be soundly revenged in France So after a short Visit he return'd to Valenciennes and presently sent out his Writs of Citation to the Prelates and Knights of his Country to come and give him their Counsel in this Affair When his Uncle the Lord John of Hainault heard this News he took horse and rode to the Earl his Nephew to Valenciennes whom as soon as the Earl saw he said Ah! Dear Uncle your Absence from us hath made the Frenchmen presumptuous Sir repli'd he that you have received any Trouble or Dammage I am very sorry I assure you and yet in a manner I cannot but gather thence some kind of satisfaction For now you are fitly rewarded for the love and service you shew'd to the French King when you left your Brother-in-Law the King of England to go and aid him at Viron-fosse Consider now whether you had best stay for a little more Provocation till you see all your Country overrun as some of my Lands have been already Ah Uncle said the Earl do you but advise into what Quarter we had best to March and I 'll see it shall be shortly done with a Witness Now the Day of the Parliament being come which the Earl had summon'd to Mons thither came all the Burgesses of Hainault Holland and Zealand among whom were divers Opinions The more Cauteous advis'd That certain Persons of Quality should be sent to the French King to know whether he consented to those Hostilities done in Hainault or no and if so upon what Pretence he made War in the Earls Land without Defiance Others more warm were of the mind that the Earl should immediately seek Revenge in the same manner as he had suffer'd the Injury to wit suddenly and without giving any Notice at all But at last a third Opinion prevail'd above these that indeed the Earl could do no less in Honour than make War in France but it was reckon'd more generous and agreeable to the Law q Vid. c. 11. §. 5. p. 125. made by King Edward at Arques in Brabant to defie the French King first and then to pass into his Realm with an Army Accordingly the Defiances being there written and sealed by the Earl and all his Nobles the Abbot Theobald of St. Crispin was presently dispatch'd away with them to Paris The Earl thanked all his Lords for their readiness to maintain his Honour and set himself with all his Power to prepare for the War. The Abbot of St. Crispin went and presented the Defiances to King Philip who upon perusal thereof notwithstanding his Quarrel with England haughty as he was made but sport of the matter saying His Nephew was but an Outragious Fool and that he was only taking the readiest course to ruine his own Country The Abbot return'd to the Earl and his Council to whom he shew'd how he had succeeded But the Answer enflam'd them all ten times more than before The mean while the Earl made great Levies from Brabant and Flanders as well as in his own Countries till he had gotten together a Formidable Army V. All things being ready he r Frois c. 45. began his March towards the Lands of Chimar for his intent was to go and destroy the Lord of Bresne's Lands and the Great Town of Aubenton in Tierasche The Inhabitants of Aubenton were in much doubt of these Preparations whereupon they sent for Succour to the Grand Baily of Vermandois who sent unto them the Vidame of Chalons the Lord of Bresne the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Loire and Others to the number of 300 Men of Arms. So they all fell to fortifie the Town where it most wanted determining to expect the Hainalders and to defend the Place which was very considerable in greatness and riches especially in Drapery The Hainalders came thither as was expected early on a Fryday and view'd well the Town to find in what part it was most assaultable That same Morning they resolv'd to give a general Assault and so approached in very good Order in Three Battalia's with their Crossbows before them and their Banners waving in the Wind. The Earl of Hainault himself led the first Battail having in his Retinue a great number of Choice Knights and Esquires of his own Subjects The Lord John his Uncle had the second Battail consisting of many choice Bands of Men of War English and Others the Third and last was brought up by the Lord of Valkenburgh which consisted for the most
part of Almains and Brabanders These 3 Battails assaulted the Town at one time in three several places with much Vigour and Gallantry the Archers all the while both from within and without letting fly their Arrows and Quarrels without sparing The Earl with his Battail came up near to the chief Gate which for a while was worthily defended by the Vidame of Chalons who there and then Knighted three of his Sons and obliged his Men by words and example to do gallantly But yet at last both he and they were by the Earl beaten back again into the Town in some Confusion The Earl carrying the Barriers by fine Force and keeping them The mean while his Uncle the Lord of Beaumont was fighting with like Valour and Success at the Gate toward Chimay where after a sharp Conflict which yet was well manag'd by the Lord de la Bonne and the Lord of Bresne he forced the Enemy to retire into the Town and thereby wan both the Barriers and the Bridge also Yet what they had as it was not cheaply won was not easily maintain'd For the Besieged being beaten into the Town came now to revenge that Affront upon the Walls whence they cast down barrs of Iron Stones Timber Darts and Pots of quick Lime which did a great deal of Mischief An Esquire of Hainault had such a stroke with a stone upon his Target that it was quite cloven in sunder with the blow and his Arm so shatter'd and broken that it was long before it could perfectly be healed The next morning being Saturday the Assault was again renew'd on all sides with far more fury than before so that althô they within did their utmost to defend themselves at last all their Barriers and Defences were beaten down and the Town was carried by Force Sr. John the Earls Uncle enter'd first with great noise of shouting and Trumpets his Men of Arms beating down all before them At this dreadfull sight the Vidame of Chalons like a Noble Knight withdrew himself into a fair spacious place before the Minster where he stood with his Men in a square Battail resolved as it should seem to sell his Life dearly But as for the Lord of Bresne when he saw all was lost knowing he had so much displeased Sr. John by his late Incursion into his Lands about Chimay that if he were taken no Ransom would be accepted for his Life he determin'd to save himself by flight and presently taking a good Horse fled away without any Order upon the spur Sr. John hearing that his Capital Enemy was escaped immediately with a good Brigade of Horse sped after him but the Lord of Bresne had got the start of him so much that finding the Gate of his Town ready open to receive him he made shift to enter and close the Gates again just as Sr. John came up to the very Walls thrô eager pursuit with his Sword drawn in his hand Wherefore seeing his Enemy had escap'd him he return'd back to Aubenton but in his passage thither meeting with many of the Lord of Bresne's Men following their Master he put them all to the Sword without mercy The mean while in the Town was the young Earl and his Men hard fighting with those who were drawn up before the Minster and there the Vidame of Chalons did Wonders in Arms and so did two of his Sons and all his Company plaid this their last Stake gallantly and with honour but the Hainalders were as cunning Gamesters besides that they were more animated with Success so that at last the Vidames Party being opprest by numbers of Men no less valiant and desperate than themselves were slain upon the spot every Man not one was taken to ransom and the Vidame indeed scorn'd to be taken and his Sons were of his Mind and so they all fell with their Swords in their hands And of the whole Town not one escaped but only those who fled away with the Lord Bresne so that there died about 2000 People of the Town besides the Souldiers After this bloody Execution the Town was rifled and plunder'd and all the Goods sent away to Chimay and the residue committed to the Flames From Aubenton these incensed Warriers went to Maubert Fontaine which they presently wan and spoiled the Town and then ras'd it to the ground after that they took and burnt the Town of Aubigny and Signy the Greater and the Less and all the Hamlets thereabout to the number of above 40. And then at last the Earl of Hainalt being as the manner of War is rather overrevenged of his wrongs return'd to Mons well pleased and having satisfied his Men with Thanks and Prey gave them leave to depart for a while because the season was not yet come to keep the Field But considering that these his Actions would shortly call a War upon him from France having constituted his Uncle Sr. John Deputy Governour of Hainault Holland and Zealand he immediately shipt himself for England with design to make an Alliance Offensive and Defensive with his Brother-in-Law King Edward that so he might be the better able to withstand the Power of France But the Lord John of Hainault staid at Mons where like a good Provident Captain he took care for all Parts and retain'd Souldiers and strengthen'd all his Nephews Castles and Fortresses with Men and Ammunition And first he sent to Valenciennes the Lord of Engien the Lord of Vergny the Lord of Gomegines and Sr. Henry of Hofalize To Landrecy he sent the High-Steward of Hainalt with an hundred Spears to Bouchan in Ostervandt three Captains Brethren Knights of Almain named Courrars instead of the two Mannys who were removed to the Castle of Thine as Å¿ Huâ—us cap. §. 3. p. 164. we shew'd before To Escandure he sent Sr. Gerard van Sanckins and the Lord of Valkenburg to the Town of Avesnes the like care he took of St. Amand and of every Fortress fronting on France VI. But when King t Frois c. 46. fol. 26. Philip heard how the Hainalders had wasted the Country of Tierasche and had slain and taken his Captains and destroy'd utterly his good Town of Aubenton he presently in a great fury commanded his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to make a notable Inroad into Hainalt and there to harrass and destroy all the Country that the Memory of his severe Revenge might remain for ever And him we shall leave about his vast Preparations to execute his Fathers Command His Father the mean while to provide against the Storm which he expected from England reinforced his Navy greatly at this time and commanded his Admirals to cruise about the Coasts of Flanders and by no means to suffer the King of England upon his return to set Footing there on pain of their Heads And because he now understood for certain that the Flemings had made homage and Fealty to the King of England his Adversary he sent unto them a notable Prelate who pretended
and French but the Country of Hainault was grievously wasted and afflicted with this War and still the Duke of Normandy lay on the Frontiers no man knowing whither he would turn his Fury next But the Greatest Concern of all was they could hear no tidings of the Earl of Hainault their Lord. He for his part as we shew'd before had taken a Voyage into England where he was well received by the King and his Barons and there was made between the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law a mutual Alliance Offensive and Defensive From England the Earl went into Germany to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria who had Married his Eldest Sister the Lady Margaret as King Edward had Married the Youngest and with him also he made an Alliance Offensive and Defensive And these were the Occasions that kept the Earl so long abroad Besides this the Lord John of Hainault his Uncle having as well as he could supply'd all Places of Strength and given necessary Orders since he had received peremptory Command absolutely to decline coming to Battle till the Earl's Return was also gone now into Brabant and other parts of Flanders where he shew'd to the Duke of Brabant and to Jacob van Arteveld the Desolation of his Country of Hainault desiring of them their Advice and Assistance They answer'd How They were sure that shortly the Earl himself would return Home and then they promised to be ready to go with him whither he would please to lead them X. Now i Froâ—s c. 19. while the Duke of Normandy remaind'd at Cambray the Bishop and the Burgesses of the City told him how the English and Hainalders had gotten by Surprise the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque desiring him for the Common good to endeavour its Recovery Because the Garrison that lay there was so prejudicial to all their Country Upon this the Duke began again his Musters out of Artois and Vermandois and having compleated a sufficient Army went forth of Cambray and came before Thine on the River k Mezeray p. 16. Sambre and sat down before it pitching his Tents in the fair plain Meadows toward Ostrevandt The Duke had brought with him from Cambray and Doway several great Engines but especially six of extraordinary size all which he reared up against the Fortress casting from them night and day mighty Stones wherewith he beat down the Roofs of their Chambers Halls Towers and Houses So that the Besieged were fain to lie in Vaults and Cellars for their better Security against these Engines the Captains of the Fortress at that time were Sr. Richard Limesi an English Man of honourable Extract and two valiant Esquires of Hainalt John and Thierry Brethren to the Lord Walter Manny and to the Earl of Namur These three Captains thô infinitely molested by these Engines would often say to hearten their Company Surely Fellow-Souldiers one of these Days the Earl of Hainalt will come against these Frenchmen and deliver us with Honour and fully acquit us of our present Danger Nor will he then fail to give us both great Rewards and Thanks for having so truly defended this Place so long But after that the Engines cast in upon them dead Horses and Dogs and other stinking Carcasses which annoyed them much more than any other thing for it being about the time of Midsummer thrô the heat of the Air the stink became so abominable that they saw at this rate they should never be able to hold out any longer So by good Advice they concluded to desire a Truce for 15 Days in which time to send and inform the Lord John of Hainalt who was Governour of the Country in the Earls absence of their State and Condition and if he should not afford them any Succour in that space then they would yield up the Fortress to the Duke This Treaty being agreed to by the Duke the Three Captains sent forth an Esquire of Hainalt named Estrelart de Sommain to John of Beaumont to whom the Esquire finding him at Mons related the whole Message not forgetting to aggravate the ill Condition of his Friends at Thyne Sr. John thereupon shew'd him the Letters he had newly received from his Nephew the Earl wherein he wrote That he was coming homeward into his own Country and that he had been with the Emperour and King of England and with several Lords of the Empire with all whom he had made a strict Alliance And says he go and tell our Friends at Thyne that they be of good Courage for the Earl will be here within a Day or two and without doubt they shall be relieved effectually upon his Return During this term of Truce the Earl returned home accordingly at which time the Lord of Beaumont his Uncle gave him an exact Account of all publique Transactions during his Absence how the Duke of Normandy had lain on the Frontiers and how he had burnt and wasted his Country The Earl answer'd that it should be dearly paid for adding how the Realm of France was rich and large enough to make ample Satisfaction for all their Trespasses done against him But for the present he resolv'd to address himself immediately to the Assistance of those who were besieged in Thyne since they had hitherto defended themselves in such Difficulties with so much Honour Whereupon he straight sends out his Summons to all his Friends and Allies in Germany Brabant and Flanders and thrô all his own Country himself went to Valenciennes where he made his General Rendezvous and presently he had a gallant Army This done he marched from Valenciennes in great Array with many Carriages Tents and Pavilions and other Necessaries following the Army and went and encamped by Sar on the Plain along by the River Sambre He had in his Company these Lords Hainalders John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle the Lord of Engien the Lord Verchin Seneschall of Hainalt the Lord Dantoing the Lord Barbancon the Lord of Lens the Lord William Bailleul the Lord Havereth the Chastelain of Mons the Lord Montecuculi the Lord Barbais Sr. Thierry of Walcourt Marshall of Hainalt the Lord Dalmed the Lord Gomeygnes the Lord Brisuell the Lord Roisin the Lord Trisagines the Lord Lalain the Lord Mastin the Lord Sars the Lord Vargny the Lord of Beaurien and many Others all ready with their Men to serve their Lord the Earl. Beside of his Allies there came thither to his Aid the Earl of Namur with 200 Spears after whom came the Duke of Brabant with 600 Spears and the Duke of Guerle with 400 William Marquess of Juliers was now in England with King Edward but there was the Earl of Mons the Lord of Valkenberg Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and divers other Lords and Captains of Almain Westphalia and Flanders All these with their several Troops were encamped along by the River Sambre over against the French Host and Plenty of Victuals and other Provision was daily brought to them out of Hainalt When the Duke of Normandy
Generals we answer generally that according to the discretion given unto us by God being in your Offices we always faithfully served your Royal Majesty and in our Actions gave you in our judgment sound Counsel To prodigal Donations or unlawfull Alienations or excessive Largesses or Relaxations of great Sums of Money due unto You unless upon good Reasons by you done neither thrô Bribery Hate Love or Favour yielding fallaciously any Assent but to our Power conserving your Honour and Interest in the Premises and all other Matters And because sundry times we stiffly withstood several Donations and Relaxations we often went away with small Thanks from the Kings Servants and Others And if particularly any thing had been made out as to each of the Premises we should have given a particular Answer agreeable to God and the Truth For at present it doth not occurr to our Memory that your Royal Highness hath made any extraordinary Donations we being present and knowing those onely excepted which unto certain Earls lately by You first made by Consent of solemn Parliament then held in your Royal Palace at Westminster You of your Royal Bounty gave Which then we believed and yet do not to have been done to the Kings Prejudice but to make for your Interest and Honour For the Experience of things teaches what rank they held for You and your Realm and how much they have suffer'd and do suffer at present But as for any Excessive Largesses or Relaxations of the Kings Liberality made we remember not at present unless your Majesty would have us understand it of one Relaxation made to a Debtor even to all your People of England in your last Parliament You being present conven'd at Westminster Which Grace on that occasion was granted by the Assent of the King and of the whole Parliament on consideration of a greater Advantage thereby accruing to You viz. that the Community of the Land should grant You a Ninth aforesaid nor would the Community have otherwise assented to give the Subsidy of the said Ninth Which latter Instance where Reason sways ought not to be imputed unto us But when the said Generals are declared more particularly as the Law requires we will give in our Answer to what shall be so declared distinct enough And yet one thing we shall not here omit which we wonder that it should be objected against us namely that we have applied unto the use of us and of our Friends the Kings Rents and Revenues For the just Judge sitting in Heaven knows that hitherto we never appli'd any of the Kings Lands Rents or Profits to our selves or ours nor ever intended to apply them But in the Affairs of You and of your Father and Grandfather for whom we have crossed the Seas 30 times and have often gone to and fro for Scotland and in other your Employs we have spent so much of our own that of our Purses it may be said as above in your Letters it is repeated Here a little and there a little For from the beginning of the Wars to this present day we have received nothing at all from the Kings Exchequer except 300 l. And so the Evil design'd against us is remembred but our Labours Expences and Gratitude are utterly forgotten of all Men. u u Job c. 6. v. 2. Therefore I may say with Job Oh! that my sins were throughly weighed and my Calamity laid in the Balances together surely this would appear heavier than the sand of the Sea. As for Acceptors of Persons truly God is our Witness we never were but desirous always to prefer the Kings Will we placed and caused to be placed Worthy Persons in Publique Offices in whatsoever Lands or Places were subject to the Kings Government as far as Human Condition permitted us to know the Manners of Men according to the knowledge and power given us from above taking therefore Gifts or Rewards of no body And if any one will say or prove that we have taken any Gifts or Mony from any we shall be ready upon Occasion to answer all Plaintiffs or Impeachers whensoever it shall please the Kings Majesty according to the Law and Customs of the Realm the Honour of God our Estate and Order being in all things preserved Knowing most Serene Prince for certain that if we might with a safe Conscience reveal the secrets of your Council we could show openly to all the World to whom the Failing in all the Premises ought to be imputed in the just Judgment of God and all true Men. Thus much for the present may suffice as to the said infamous Libel and I wish that for your Majesties Honour it had never been written and published which althô at the first view it seems to bespatter and wound our Reputation yet things being seriously consider'd as they ought to be and the Writings therein contained weighed in a just Scrutiny those Men cannot avoid the blot of Treason to the King and Kingdom who dictated this Libel or thereto gave their Counsel and Consent or reported the Contents thereof to our Injury or published them to our Infamy Which may your Royal Majesty vouchsafe with an Upright Heart to consider whom may that King by whom x x Prov. c. 18. v. 15. Kings reign and Princes decree Justice vouchsafe to preserve in Health and in his own Love. Amen This notable and artificial Letter the Archbishop wrote in a strain agreeable to the Times sometimes standing stiffly upon his Pontifical Authority and the sacred Liberties of the Church sometimes humbly conceding the Regal Power always full of submissive Courage which was fomented by his Innocence or Dignity But all these Arts could neither frighten nor mollifie the Kings Exasperated Mind yet so that he presently followed it with this Reply which he sent as an Antidote against the Archbishops Insinuations to all the Bishops and Clergy of that Province X. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To the Bishops Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the Province of Canterbury Greeting The Wound of Hearts Pride which always soareth aloft doth often turn the Remedy to a Disease and the Physick to Poison And this is proved by the presumptuous Arrogance of John Archbishop of Canterbury who when lately he had publiquely Preached and commanded to be Published in several places of great Resort sundry sinister Matters concerning Us and Ours as more fully is contained in our Excusatory Letters to You and others thereupon directed now heaping up more heavy Injuries to his former endeavours to intimate to our Liege People that Our Excuses which We provided to heal the Wounds of Our Dignity and Royal Fame are not true and with Exquisite Engines to batter them and by New Letters lately sent to You and others with a slanderous Pen and lying Style more grievously and freely to defame them And thô it be the Custom of Popes Cardinals and Inferior Prelates to
made shift to escape to the Camp where they related the whole Matter At this such as were most ready rose up to Rescue the Prey which they overtook near the Barriers of the Town And here began a fierce skirmish the Nantois being hard put to it by reason of the Numbers that flow'd in upon them from the Camp but however some of them took the Horses out of the Wagons upon the first approach of the Enemy and drove them in at the Gate that the Frenchmen might not easily drive back the Provision Hereupon Fresh Men came out of the City to relieve their Companions so the Fray multiplied and many were slain and hurt on both sides for Recruits continually came both from the Camp and City Wherefore the Lord Henry du Leon the Earl of Monford's Chief Captain perceiving that by continuing the Fight in this Manner he might by Degrees engage the whole City with the whole Army without any Advantage of his Walls and other Works thought best to sound a Retreat now before it grew worse But then the pursuit was so close upon their heels that more than 200 of the Burgesses were taken and slain Wherefore the Earl Monford when the business was over blamed Sr. Henry du Leon very severely for Retreating so soon At which unseasonable Reproof Sr. Henry who had hitherto been his Main Support was infinitely disgusted and for the future came not to any Council of War as his Manner was Which made many to wonder what his Design should be Soon * Frois c. 72. after this Mischance 't is said that some of the Chief Burgesses considering how their substance went daily to wreck both without and within the City and that already several of their Friends and Children were Prisoners if no worse and that themselves were in no less Danger privately agreed together to hold a Treaty with the Lords of France This Plot was carried on so closely by the connivance at least of Sr. Henry du Leon that it was concluded all the Prisoners should be deliver'd they in Lieu thereof engaging to set open their Gates that the French Lords might enter and take the Earl of Monford's Person in the Castle without doing any harm to the City the Inhabitants or their Goods Some lay all this Contrivance and the Menagement thereof to Sr. Henry du Leon's Charge who had been One of the Earls Privy-Counsellors his Friend and Chief Captain till that unhappy Accident whereby the Earl was provok'd to take him up so roundly However according to this Device so one Morning early it was effected The French Lords found easie entrance went straight to the Castle brake open the Gates and there took the Unhappy Earl Prisoner and led him clear out of the City into their Field without doing any further harm in the World This happen'd about the Feast of All-Saints in the Year of our Lord MCCCXLI After this the Lords of France and Sr. Charles of Blois enter'd the City again with great Triumph and there all the Burgesses and others did Fealty and Homage to the Lord Charles of Blois as to their Right Sovereign and True Duke of Bretagne For three Days they all continued here in great Jollity and Feasting because of this their unexpected Success After which the Lord Charles was advised to tarry thereabout till the next Summer and to set Captains in the places he had won But most of the other Lords return'd to Paris with the Earl of Monford their Prisoner XI Now Margaret the Countess of Monford who had the Courage of a man and the heart of a Lion was in the City of Rennes at what time her Lord was taken and althô she had a due sense of this great Misfortune yet she bore a good Countenance Recomforted her Friends and Souldiers and shewing them her little Son John said Gentlemen be not overmuch dismay'd at this mischance of my Lord the Earl whom We have unhappily lost He was but a Mortal Man and so all our hope ought not to rest on him But behold this my little Son who by the Grace of God shall be his Restorer and your Benefactor I have Riches enough so that you shall want for Nothing and I doubt not but to purchase such a Captain to be your Leader who shall be Wise Valiant and Noble When she had thus animated her Men in Rennes then she went about to all the Fortresses and good Towns that held of her side and still she carried along with her the little Lord John her Son and fortify'd all her Garrisons and spake to them as she had done to those at Rennes and paid largely and gave great Gifts where she thought it Convenient After all things were settled she went to the strong Town of Hennebond where she and her Son tarried all that Winter and frequently she sent to visit her Garrisons and paid all Men well and truly their Wages The mean while her Lord was a close Prisoner in the Louvre in Paris without hopes of Escape or Redemption Thô it will appear that about 3 years after upon certain Conditions which he kept not he got his Liberty but he died so soon after that it is hardly worth taking notice of and that I take to be the Reason why many Historians say nothing of it but rather think he died in Prison Thus much thô great part thereof seems a Digression was necessary to be said in order to clear what follows next Year of the Wars of Bretagne wherein England was concern'd I shall now take leave to speak something of the Scotch Affairs relating to the end of this and the beginning of the following Year Which after a small Digression we shall pursue more closely XII The last Year We show'd briefly how the Scots succeeded during King Edwards absence he lying at that time before Tournay So that having at last taken Edenburgh by Stratagem they had left nothing of Scotland in the English Hands but Striveling Barwick and Roxborough Now at King Edwards Return into England nothing was yet done against them because they were comprehended in the first Years Truce with France y Knighton p. 2580. But the King went about St. Andrews toward Scotland and kept his Christmas at Melros-Abbey Henry the Noble Earl of Darby keeping the same Festival at Roxborough hard by To Roxborough came the Lord William Douglas with Three Scotch Knights to Just with the Earl of Darby and his Knights which Martial Sport being honourably maintain'd on both sides the Scots departed for that time but shortly after the said Earl of Darby being then at Barwick twelve Knights of Scotland came thither also for the same purpose who were presently Match'd by as many English Of the Scotch Knights two by chance were slain and one Sr. John Twyford of the English Earls Retinue all the Rest came off with safety and Honour on each side King Edward presently after Christmas Return'd to Langley in Hertfordshire z Stow p. 238.
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
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
always Prelate of the Order and then he proceeded to give the same Habit to the other 25 Knights Companions as in Order they follow 2. His Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but in the 14 then in the 19 Year of his Age. 3. His Noble and Valiant Cousin Henry at that time Earl of Lancaster and afterwards Duke of the same Title 4. Thomas Beauchamp the thrice Noble and Valiant Earl of Warwick 5. John q Here Mr. Ashmole is stagger'd because 〈◊〉 he finds it on Record that John de Greilty Son. of Peter was Captal of Buch from the 5 to the 29 of King Edward the III as indeed he was from the 5 to the 50. Yet notwithstanding upon the Original Plate of his Name set up in the Chappel at Wâ—ndsor it is engraven Piers Capitow de la Bâ—uch as if his Name also was Peter When as it is evident that these Plates were not set up at the Foundation but many Years after perhaps after King Edward's Death as may be made manifest to any strict enquirer And his Fâ—ther being of the Name of Peter might cause a mistake at least in the Engraver From whence afterward Authority grew also even to other writings Nay I shall hereafter prove that as great a Mistake as this was engraven upon Queen Philippa's Tomb thô done in King Edwards Life de Greilly Captal of Buch which is a great Lordship in Aquitain the Governour whereof is stiled Captal and the Country it self is called le Captalat de Buch or Busch the chief Town whereof called la Teste de Buch is about seven Leagues Westward of Bourdeaux This Gentleman was a Mighty Man of Valour and most firm of all others to the English side so that after many Renowned Exploits whereof this History will not be silent being at last taken Prisoner by the French he chose rather to die in Prison than to swear never more to bear Arms for England 6. The next Knight in Order was Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford 7. William Montagu the hopefull young Earl of Salisbury 8. Roger Lord Mortimer Grandson to Roger Earl of March who five Years after obtain'd a Revocation of the Judgement against his Grandfather and thereupon was restored in Blood and to the Earldom of March and to all his said Grandfathers Lands Honours and Possessions Being for his Valour and Worth highly meriting to be inserted into this most Noble Order 9. After him was invested the Couragious Knight John Lord Lisle 10. Then Bartholomew Lord Burghersh alias Burwash Junior at that time but twenty Years old but every way Worthy of this Honour 11. John Lord Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick a Noble Martialist of that Age. 12. John Lord Mohun of Dunstor a Constant Attendant of the Black-Prince in all his Wars 13. Hugh Lord Courtney Son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire 14. Thomas Lord Holland of Holland in Lancashire who about the time of this his Creation or the 23d. of King Edward was Married to the Beauty of England Joan Sister to the Earl of Kent 15. John Lord Grey of Codonore in Derbyshire 16. Sr. Richard Fitz-Simon whose Services in War rais'd him to this Honourable Title 17. Sr. Miles Stapleton a Man of Great Nobility and Integrity and Expert in Martial Affairs 18. Sr. Thomas Wale a Knight of great Vertue and Worthiness but one who thô by his early Valour he merited so High a Rank yet by his too early Death which happen'd within three Years after the Institution left his Stall void the First of all these Founders 19. Sr. Hugh Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the County of Stafford Knight from whom in a direct Line is Sr. Walter Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the foresaid County Baronet now r Ashmole ità Ano. Domini 1672. living descended 20. Sr. Nele Loring a Knight of great Valour and Nobility and whom we have shewn to have been first Knighted for his signal Courage in the Naval Fight at Sluce 21. The Lord John Chandos a most Illustrious Hero of whose Generosity and Valour to write sufficiently would require a large Volume 22. The Lord James Audley a most Adventurous and Fortunate Commander and Cousin to Nicolas Audley Earl of Gloucester 23. Sr. Otho Holland Brother to the Lord Thomas Holland aforesaid 24. Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant commonly by Historians called Sr. Henry of Flanders a Valiant and Loyal Servant to King Edward 25. Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt a Valiant Knight of Heinalt now Naturaliz'd in England 26. Sr. Walter Pavely who was Famous for his Exploits in several Warlike Expeditions These were the Names and this the Order of the First Knights of the Garter whom the thrice Noble King Edward chose to be his Companions and Fellows in this Honourable Society All Men of most signal Valour and Conduct of High Birth and untainted Loyalty So Generous and Heroick that they might all seem Worthy to be Kings and their Perseverance in Vertue to the last as it partly declares the sharp Judgement the King used in their Election so it shews of what Power and Efficacy that Honourable Tye was and what Obligations to Vertuous Behaviour it laid upon them But methinks it may justly be Wonder'd how it came to pass that this Great Honour being confer'd on so few those other Worthy Barons who deserv'd it no less being laid aside should notwithstanding never shew the least disgust at the Matter For certainly the Noble and Heroick Lord Walter Manny the Valiant and Daring Lord Reginald Cobham Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Warlike Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Roger Delaware and many more for Birth Wisdom Loyalty Wealth Vertue or Valour were well Worthy of the Highest Honours But this Prudent Prince would not make his Institution cheap by communicating it to many nor have any of his Successors to this Day exceeded the Number of 26. The mean while 't is highly probable that the other Lords thought it more Noble to grow emulous who of them should be most Worthy to ascend the first vacant Place and we find by Degrees that most of them did as the Stalls fell void attain to that Dignity as the two Earls of Essex and Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Suffolk the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald Lord Cobham and others but the Rest either died or were decrepit and past Action almost before their turns came and so found no Room at all VII The Order being thus well-stockt at the beginning has since that obtain'd such an High Esteem thrô all the Christian World that divers Å¿ Ashmole p. 189. Emperours Kings and Sovereign Princes have reputed it among their greatest Honours to be chosen and admitted thereunto insomuch as some of them have with Impatience Courted the Honour of Election
in the conclusion vid. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 7. which We do unwillingly and for want of a Remedy We thought good to signifie to the said Lord the Pope and the foresaid Cardinals by whose Mediation We Consented to the said Truce to be by them as Persons indifferent to either Party insinuated to those who might have another Perswasion of our Actions And lest Nimble Fame by her hasty Relations should cause You to think amiss of Us that We may settle the Minds of our Friends We have thought fit to unfold the Naked Truth unto You recommending unto You all our Innocence and the Justice of our Cause Dat. at Westminster the 14 Day of June In the Year of our Reign of England the XIX and of our Reign of France VI. IV. After having thus Published his Intentions the King seriously h Ashmole p. 654. sets himself to provide for the War and to equip a Royal Army wherewith to enter France in Person the following Year But in the mean time he provided that what was on the last Year in Gascogne should now be well maintain'd and therefore i Ashmâ—le p. 680. before the Date of this Manifesto he renew'd his k Maii 10. ex Ret. Vasâ— 19. Ed. 3. Commission to the Valiant Lord Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby empowering him to Treat and Conclude with all Persons of whatsoever State or Condition Kingdom or Nation for settling firm Alliances and mutual Assistance between the King and them as also to retain Men for the Kings Service and to agree about their Fees Wages and other Rewards And in consideration of his late great Successes and his Extraordinary Abilities for the War within a few l 15 Maii Rot. Vasc 19. Ed. 3. m. 6. Rot. Franc. 19. Ed. 3. m. 6. Days after he constituted him his sole Lieutenant and Captain in the Dutchy of Aquitain and the Parts adjacent with Power to do and Execute all things belonging to that Character And he issued out his Royal Proclamation to all Archbishops and other Prelates Earls Barons Viscounts Governours of Fortresses and other Officers commanding them all to yield Obedience to him as unto the Kings Lieutenant V. On the m Claus 19. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 12. 11 of June the Earl having shipt most of his Horse at Southampton and being himself ready to depart Command was sent to the Sheriff of London to make Proclamation That all Men of Arms Archers and others who were to go with him should with all possible speed repair to Southampton Being on board he had a fair Wind and without any let or stay Landed at Bayonne in Gascogne whence he went to Bourdeaux and having for Encouragement sake made 50 New Knights immediately after his n These things being taken from the Records We must pardon Froisard who thought he winter'd at Bourdeaux and took the Field in May. Arrival he took the Field with a great Number of Men of Arms and Archers with a Resolution to lay Siege to la Reole upon the Garonne about 9 Leagues from Bourdeaux The first Day he rode from Bourdeaux to Bergerac where he met with the Earl of Pembroke who was ready to joyn him Having tarried there three Days they all began to March being in Number a 1000 Men of Arms and 2200 Archers on Horseback besides others Thus they rode forth till they came to o Frois c. 108. Du Chesne p. 662. Ashmâ—le p. 680. St. Basil a Castle of considerable strength which they laid Siege to But the Garrison considering that the greatest part of the Lords Knights and Captains of their side were either slain or in Prison and seeing no likelyhood of any timely Succour from any other Part concluded to deliver up the Place and so yielded themselves and swore Fealty to the King of England Matters being duly settled here the Earl Marched forward taking the way to the strong Castle of Aiguillon in Agennois But meeting in his march with a Fort called Rochemillone thô he knew it was furnished with Souldiers and Artillery yet he commanded it to be Assaulted Which was done with much Bravery But the Defendants cast forth huge Stones Barrs of Iron Pots of quick Lime and other offensive Matter whereby many of the most forward and venturous were grievously annoyed The Earl of Darby seeing this sounded a Retreat for that time and resolved to use another Method The next day he compelled the Bores of the Country to bring thither great quantities of Bushes Faggots Dung Straw and Earth with which a great part of the Ditch was so well filled that they might approach close to the Walls Then he caused 200 Men of the Country to go before having great Pick-Axes in their hands and strong Targets over their Heads lockt together in manner of a Penthouse like the old Roman Testudo These were followed by 300 choice Archers who while the other undermin'd the Wall shot so fiercely and so close together that hardly any Man could appear at his Defence but he was taken off Yet the French held out obstinately thô this manner of Attack was carried on thus most part of the Day till at last the Miners made so great a Breach thrô the Wall that ten Men might enter a breast This unexpected Misfortune quite brake the Courages of the Defendants so that immediately every Man began to look out for himself some flying into the Church and some few stealing away by a back Gate But that Passage being soon secur'd most of the Garrison was put to the Sword except those whom being fled to the Church the Earl of Darby pardon'd for that Respect and because they implor'd his Mercy Both the Town and Castle were immediately taken and plunder'd but nothing destroy'd for the Earl intended to Repair the breach and to leave a Garrison there which he did under the Command of Richard Mills and Robert Scott Esquires Thence he proceeded and laid Siege to the Town of Monsegur the Captain whereof was Sr. Hugh Bâtefoile a Man of great Courage Experience and Honour Who being summon'd rejected all Conditions of Peace and said he was ready either to maintain the place or to die in the Action Wherefore the Earl of Darby being resolv'd not to have his Successes scandal'd with a foile here sent for Engines of Battery to Bourdeaux and to Bergerac wherewith he cast Mighty Stones against the Town which brake down Walls Roofs of Chambers and Houses Now when the nimble Course of his Victories had received a Check here for 15 Days he resolv'd a General Assault but first after his usual Method sent again to the Inhabitants to warn them that if they were taken by force they must all expect nothing but Death but if they would own the King of England for their Lord he would then both Pardon and take them for his Friends The Townsmen would very gladly have accepted these Conditions But as yet they had no Power so to do wherefore they
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
Rions their Mayor and the greater part of the Aldermen sent to the Earl of Lancaster for a Safe-Conduct whereby six of them might have security to wait upon him and Treat with him that Night or early the next Morning This latter was granted and so next Day six Burgesses were brought to the Earls Tent where presently they concluded to become good Subjects of England as long as King Edward or some of his Captains would protect them and their Town against the French King. So the Earl tarried there three Days to refresh himself and to take the Homage of all the Inhabitants After which he proceeded to Lusignan where as some say he only burnt the Town but could not win the Castle Thô on better Authority h Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. it seems that both the Town and Castle of Lusignan were now taken and Garrison'd by the English as will further appear in the close of this Paragraph Thence the Earl rode to the strong Town of Niort whereof the Lord Guischard Dangle was Captain who maintain'd his Honour and the Place so well that after three Vigorous Attacks spent in vain the Earl was content to leave it and go on the Right Hand to Bourg St. Maixent where he found better Success and entring the Place by Storm put all to the Sword. The whole i Frois 136. c. Country was so terrify'd with his Name that every Man fled before him into strong Holds and Towns Defensible forsaking their own Houses and their Goods Nor was there the least Preparation made by any to stop his Career for all Knights Gentlemen and other Captains kept close in their Fortresses without making any show of presenting Battle to the English Then the Earl went forward to Monstrevill-Bonnin wherein he heard there were no less than 200 Coyners making Money for the French King. The Inhabitants were resolved by no means to yield but to Defend the Place to the extreamity Thô therein they shew'd much more Courage than Discretion if We ought not rather to call that Brutish Valour than Courage which is not guided by Discretion For the Earl with his Men of War gave them so fierce an Assault whereto he encouraged his Men by promising that every One should freely and entirely Possess what he could first light on in the City that all Opposition being soon surmounted the Place was enter'd by Storm and all within put to the Sword. And here I shall make bold to supply Froisard with a Story the truth whereof is notably attested by many thô by none yet refer'd to this Place as every Judicious Reader will easily grant it ought to be when he shall consider our Reasons XII The Relation is this that at the Assaulting of a certain Town in France the Earl of Lancaster to encourage his Men the better proposed to them as a Reward the Spoil of whatever House or Person every one should first have in his Power Now it chanced that the French Kings Mint being there one man among the rest who was but a Common Souldier and named Reth had the good hap to light upon that House wherein it was And finding there several Sacks of Coined Money besides Bullion he was almost carried beyond himself for joy and wonder But at last considering that such vast Riches were too disproportionable to his Condition and only proper for the Coffers of Kings he secur'd the entrance of the House and went and told the Earl of Lancaster desiring him to take Care and Possession thereof The Earl bad him keep what Fortune had put into his Hands for it was and should be his own But the honest Fellow finding upon a more particular search that the Immensity of the Treasure exceeded all imagination went again to the Earl protesting it was too much for any Private man to possess and that he neither would nor durst accept of it The Earl replied Fear nothing honest Archer but be content with what God hath given thee For the Treasure thou hast found cannot possibly be so much as to make me break my Word to my Souldiers Since a Prince ought not to do so for all the Treasures in the World. And hereupon some of his Captains dissallowing of that his too profuse Liberality and saying that he might without any imputation of Injustice have abundantly contented that poor Fellow with a good Part and reserved the greater Quantity for his own and his Country's Use he nobly answer'd in these k Câ—nbdâ—as â—emains in tâ—tulo Wise Speeches p. 239. Words It is not for my State to play Childrens Play to give a thing and take it back again Since he has my Word let him hold the Money if it were thrice as much This is the Substance of the Story which after so great a Man as Cambden I have not doubted to relate notwithstanding the Diversity of Authors as to the Place and Time when and where the Action was done For l Knighton p. 2585. thô Knighton says the Earl of Darby found a Pipe of Gold at Bergerac yet since we shewed before how that Place was not taken by Force but yielded upon Composition it certainly ought not to be given to the Plunder And m Frois c. 136. Froisard and n Du Câ—â—sne p. 665. Helmâ—â—cad p. 93â— Du Chesne say expresly that in Monstrevil Bonnin there were 200 Money-makers that coyned for the French King not to say that this Place being confessedly taken by Storm and the Inhabitants consequently put to the Sword all this Money must of necessity have been found Thô Froisard might not have heard of this heroick and magnificent Act of the Earl of Lancaster's thereupon XIII The Earl having repaired the Fortifications of the Castle and left a Ganison for its Defence went homeward now again but in his way presented himself before the City of Poictiers This Place was of so large Extent that his small Army was not sufficient to invest it round wherefore he laid his Siege to it but on one side and began to assault them fiercely But the Inhabitants being very numerous thô for the most part mean People and without any sufficient Number of expert Captains or choice Souldiers did yet defend themselves so well that they took but little Dammage at that time and so the English retired to their Lodgings Whereat as o Knighton p. 2592. one says the Townsmen were so puffed up with fond Conceit that the next morning they adventur'd to Sally forth with no less than a 1000 Men of Arms such as they were and a mighty number of Footmen Who scorning the small Forces of the English defied them to a Fattle But the Earl of Lancaster marched forth against them in good Order and came upon them with so much Fury beating down their Ranks with his Chosen men of Arms and terrifying them with his Archers that they presently turned their Backs with as much Dishonour as they had sallied out with
what should be the Meaning of this That always in my Passage for France the Winds and Seas befriend me but in my Return for England I meet with nothing but adverse Storms and destructive Tempests But however at last thô not without great difficulty and the loss of many Vessels Men and Horses he arrived safely at Land on the 14 of October and soon after went to London where he was received in Great Triumph of the Mayor and Citizens and by them honourably attended to his Palace at Westminster Among those Lords and Gentlemen that having served King Edward at the memorable Siege of Calais returned now home with him I must not forget the Noble Fitz-Thomas Earl of Kildare in Ireland who g Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 71 7â— being highly touched with a Sense of King Edwards Favours both to himself and to his Brother the Earl of Desmond went over the Sea in the Spring this Year gallantly attended with divers Lords Knights and Choice Horsemen and offer'd his Service to the King before Calais After the Winning whereof he now returned into his own Country in great Pomp and Honour XXII About the end of this Year the Lord Charles of Blois who called himself Duke of Bretagne was h Knighton p. 2596. n. 50. Frois c. 147. ad finem brought Prisoner to London by Sr. Thomas Dagworth his Conquerour and at King Edwards Command sent to the Tower where David King of Scotland was at the same time But shortly after at the Request of the Queen to whom the said Lord Charles was Cousin German he found so much favour as to be received upon his Word and Honour and had Leave to go any whither about London at his pleasure on Condition he should by no means so much as once lie out of London more than one Night at a time unless it should be where the King or Queen should then keep their Court. And sometime after he was set at Liberty i Frois pars ult c. 62. fol. 82. on Condition to pay unto the King of England 200000 Nobles for his Ransom For the true Payment whereof he left his Sons his Pledges There was also now Prisoner in London the Lord Ralph Earl of k Frois l. 1. c. 147. Eu and Guisnes Constable of France a most pleasant and noble Knight Whose Behaviour was so acceptable that he always brought his Welcom along with him wherever he went and was extreamly gracious with the King and Queen and all the Lords and Ladies of the Court of England In these l Knighton p. 2596. n. 60. Days the Nobles of the Land in all places were mightily addicted to Justs and Tourneaments and such was the Nobleness of King Edward that he permitted the French Prisoners at these Solemnities the Use and Exercise of Arms wherein they behaved themselves with much Honour But particularly the foresaid Earl of Eu and Guisnes gat great Commendation both from King Edward and his Son the Prince of Wales by whom he was held in high Respect for his Worth and Valour Nay we find that King David of Scotland thô he was confin'd as Prisoner in the Tower had such Favour from King Edward that he was also permitted at his Pleasure not only to behold but to exercise these Knightly Sports For m Ashâ—â—le p. 185. ex Rotul Liberat. Draper Offic. mâ—gn Garderch an 21. 22. Ed. 3. m. 11. penes Rememorar Regis against an Hastilude kept at Windsor he had an Harness for his Horse made of Blue Velvet at King Edwards Charge whereon was embroider'd a Pale of Red Velvet and beneath a White Rose after the Custom of that Age whereby one Knight was distinguished from another as well by the Harness of his Horse as by his own Shield and Surcoat About this time the Scotch Nobility sent to King Edward offering to Redeem their King from Captivity to whom he return'd Answer n Knighton p. 2597. n. 16. that forasmuch as they in Defiance of the Truce had made War upon him in his Absence unjustly he expected they should first give him satisfaction for all those Injuries and Damages they had done to him and his Realm in that War And this done they might proceed to the business of the Ransom Thô this Answer was but highly Reasonable it was so distastfull to the Scots that upon the Receit thereof they rose suddenly and in considerable Bodies enter'd the Marches of England where they ravaged the Country fired Villages slew poor People without Mercy and took many sleeping in their Beds whom they carried away Prisoners and set unreasonable Ransomes upon them Because of this the English Lords of the Marches Proclaim'd solemn Turneaments to be held at Barwick thereby to entice the Scots again within the English pale Who coming accordingly in their wonted Bravery were cut short in the way by a good Body of English Borderers who discomfited them and put many to the Sword. And presently after in Prosecution of this Revenge the Northern Lords went into Scotland and spoil'd and ravaged the whole Province of Carrick XXIII We have often made mention of the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria how he was Excommunicated by Pope John XXII and thô he made many Overtures in order to be reconcil'd we do not find that ever he was re-admitted into the Bosom of the Church But on the contrary it o Aâ—â—a Bâ—châ—lceti Isageg Chron. ad an 1346. c. appears that on Holy-Thursday the last Year Pope Clement Cursed him and pronounced him an Heretick and Schismatick and exhorted the Princes Electors to choose another Emperour Wherefore on the second of July Charles the Marquess of Moravia and Son to John King of Bohemia was elected at Rens in the Dioecese of Trier thô the Major part were not for him and all the Cities held for Lewis of Bavaria But now the said Lewis as he return'd p Abr. Buchelcerisageg Chron. ad hunc ann Iabbe Chron. Tech. â—d hunc an from hunting being taken with an Apoplexy fell off his Horse and soon after departed this Life on the 11 of October and was buried at Munchen a City of Bavaria By the irreconcileable Malice of his Enemies he had two Emperours Elected in Opposition to him Frederick of Austria in the beginning of his Reign and Charles Marquess of Moravia in the Latter end but for all this he Ruled the Empire in spight of the Pope's Curses and Combinations against him the space of 32 Years Upon his Death Pope Clement VI. in hate as some say to King Edward of England laboured q Knighton p. 2596. n. 30. all he could to have Charles King of Bohemia acknowledg'd Emperour hoping that thereby he would be enabled the better to Revenge the Death of his Father slain in the Battle of Cressy upon the English Nation Wherefore he sent Charles de la Cerda of Spain with his Papal Bull to the Archbishop of Colen with an Injunction to consecrate him Roman
Motto wrought upon his Surcoat and Shield Hay hay the White Swan By Gods Soul I am thy Man. The same Liberty which was granted to the n Stow ibid. King of Scots was also allowed to Ralph Earl of Eu and Guisnes and Constable of France with the Earl of Tancarville the Lord Charles of o Valois apud Stow male Blois and many other both French and Scotch Captives to whom the Courteous King not only permitted the use of Arms upon this and other the like occasions but impartially awarded them the Prizes they deserved Particularly the Earl of Eu bare himself at this time with so much Honour that King Edward adjudged unto him that days Prize and soon after gave him p Knighten p. 2606. n. 64. leave upon Paroll to return into France in order to gather up 20000 Scutes for his own Ransom and to negotiate about the Redemption of others his Country-men that were then also Prisoners here But this Favour of King Edwards thus graciously bestowed on this Worthy Personage proved accidentally an occasion of such a Mortal Jealousie to the French King that thereby he found or made a Pretence to bereave him of his Life as in the next Year we shall shew more plainly The mean while the Fame of these frequent and notable Tourneaments held by so Warlike a Prince invited hither many Gallant Knights from Foreign Parts but especially the Young Noblemen of Gascoign came hither as to the Chiefest School of War to practise themselves in Feats of Arms And during the Summer-season both these and others the Prisoners of both Nations were allow'd to q Stow p. 246. follow the Court and pass their time with the King and his Nobles in hunting in Claringdon-Park near Salisbury in Wiltshire and in several other the Kings Forests both in those parts and elsewhere V. On the r Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 112. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. b. ex Claus 23. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 5. ex Chart. 23. Ed. 3. n. 4. 20 of August King Edward being desirous to do further Honour to his Heroick Cousin Henry Plantagenet who already bore the Title of Earl of Lancaster Darby and Leicester and Steward of England added further the Title and Dignity of Earl of Lincoln granting him therewith the Annual Fee of 20 pounds to be paid by the Sheriff of that County in lieu of the Tertium denarium as Thomas his Uncle late Earl of Lincoln had before him And hereupon ſ Ret. Vasc 23. Ed. 3. m. 3. he was constituted the Kings Lieutenant and Captain General in the parts of Poictou with Power to Treat of Peace and Amity as also for a strict observation of the Truce already taken with the French And upon his journey thither he obtain'd t Pat. 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Licence to grant a 1000 l. per annum Lands and Rents unto certain Persons to dispose of according to his own direction for the term of 12 Years then to come VI. Now it is to be premised that the occasion of this Valiant Earls Expedition into Gascoign at this time was because by the Treachery of some wicked Men the Truce was highly violated there And u Stow p. 247. ◠John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son had made a great disturbance in that Dutchy challenging and taking of Places that belonged not unto him nor were King Edwards Captains there present able to impeach him And in Bretagne likewise about this time that Noble and Valiant Baron Sr. Thomas Dagworth who about 2 Years before had taken the Lord Charles of Blois before Roche D'Arien was basely and barbarously murder'd in time of Truce Froisard x Frois c. 153. says he was fairly fought withall by Sr. Ralph de Cahors who had sixscore Men of Arms in his Company before his Castle of Auray where together with him were slain an hundred Men of Arms English and Bretons Fabian y Fabian p. 228. says indeed the same French Knight slew him but that it was by chance-medley However the greater part of our z Knighton p. 2602. n. 42. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. Stow p. 246 ex Sr Tho. de la More c Historians agree 't was done by fraud and not plain Valour and one relates the Matter thus that the Sons of Sabater with a few others having first laid a strong Ambush in the Wood adjoyning passed openly that way as designing to forage thereabouts Of these Prollers Sr. Thomas Dagworth who was the King of Englands Lieutenant in those parts and at that time lay in the Castle of Auray having notice with only 16 Armed Men in his Company pursued these Robbers who fled purposely toward their Ambush and enter'd the Wood after them where being surpris'd by the Ambush thô he slew no less than 300 of them yet at last having received five Wounds upon his Face and Body and lost all his Men who died faithfully by his side he himself was finally thrust thrô the Body with a Spear and ended his Life as formerly he had maintain'd it Valiantly and with Honour Froisard and from him Du Chesne and from them as it happens many of our old Writers call him Dangorne and Dagorne but this proceeding from the obscurity of old M. SS or the variation of the name thrô foreign Languages must be corrected and read Dagworth as is well known besides other undeniable Authorities from the Records themselves Wherefore neither is it material to observe the difference among Authors concerning the time of his Death some fixing it a Year more forward others two Years backward Since the a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. ex Ret. Fra c. 23. Ed. 3. m. 5. Records are the surest Guide which in this place also I have followed However thus this Valiant Worthy fell thrô the Treason of the French and Bretons that held of their part for it was a notorious violation of the Truce leaving behind him by his Lady Eleanor Nicolas his Son and Heir then very young who in time came to be a notable Imitator of his Fathers Vertues and Revenger of his Death VII Such Provocations as these being given by the French both in Bretagne and in Gascogne King Edward easily provided for the former having already sufficient Captains in those Parts But as for the latter he constituted as we said before Henry Earl of Lancaster and Derby his Lieutenant and Captain General and b Stow p. 247. about the Feast of All-Saints sent him well provided into Gascogne Where presently he began to take the Field with an Army c Dugd. 1 Vol. 786. Hen. Knighton p. 2601. n. 60. p. 2602. of 30000 Men and marched forth to seek his Enemies for above ten Days in which time he took more than fourty Towns and Castles and with Fire and Sword made great Spoil for above 40 French Miles Southward At last he came to Tholouse a great and strong City on the
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
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
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
who kept them before Thus at last the whole Castle was reduced into their power those in the Town knowing nothing of what had happen'd all this while In the Morning the English commanded the Workmen who came to work without the Castle to leave off their Work who thereupon perceiving the Castle to be won fled away carrying the News with them wherever they went. These new Lords however were so Civil as immediately to give the Ladies within the Castle leave to depart whither they pleased on Horseback together with their Apparel Writings and Muniments where they ought to hold their Fees. That same Day there came from Calais to their Assistance as many as they sent for by whose Aid they were now able to keep the Castle against Competent Forces About Three of the Clock the same Day there came thither two Knights from the Lord Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens and in Right q L. 2. c. 10. §. 7. p. 454. of his Wife Jane Daughter to Ralph late Earl of Eu and Guisnes Earl of Guisnes who demanding a Truce desired to know of those within the Castle who they were to whom they belonged and by whose Authority they kept the Castle so taken in the time of Truce To these Demands they within answer'd That being thus intruded they would not declare to any Man their Design till they had tried a longer Possession The Earl of Guisnes being thus sham'd off sent on St. Maurice's Day being the 22d of September Messengers into England complaining how in prejudice of the Truce the said Castle was unjustly taken and therefore by right of mutual Faith and Honour ought to be restored unto the true Owner King Edward answer'd That what was done was neither with his Knowledge nor Consent Wherefore he would send his Command that none of his Subjects presume any longer to detain the Castle of Guisnes but immediately on sight of his Letters to restore it entirely to the Lord thereof The Messengers being return'd with this Answer to the Earl of Guisnes he presently went to the Castle demanding of those within as at other times in whose Name and by whose Authority they held that Place They still affirming that they held it in the Name and Behalf of John Lancaster the Earl required to know if the said John were the King of Englands Liegeman and would obey him or no. Then John answer'd himself That as for his part he knew not what Messengers had been in England nor what Mischief might be brew'd for him wherefore while he was secure he resolved to keep himself so maugre all their subtle Devices At that the Earl offer'd unto the said John Lancaster 40000 Crowns or other Possessions in Exchange and an Indemnity from the King of France for ever To which he received this Answer That before the Taking of that Castle they were all good Subjects of England but now by this their Offence against the Truce and other their Demerits no better than banished Men and excluded from the Peace of their Lord King Edward Wherefore the Place which now they held they would willingly sell or exchange but to none sooner than to their Natural Lord the King of England to whom they would rather sell that Castle thereby to obtain a Pardon But if he should refuse to buy it then they would sell it to the French King or to Him that would offer most for it The Earl being thus mocked went away and the King of England soon after bought it indeed giving unto John Lancaster and his Fellow-Adventurers a Competent Summ which they demanded and also their Pardon for Refusing to obey his Letters so wisely to his Advantage For it was a place always much desired by King Edward as the best Neighbour to Calais if in his hands and the worst if not VII Hereupon King John charging him with Breaking the Truce he replied as we intimated before That there was no one Article in the Truce which prohibiteth Trafficking together or the Entercourse of Buying and Selling. These are the two Accounts of the Taking of this strong Fortress either of which the Reader may prefer at his Discretion thô indeed the French Writers do mostly agree that it was sold by a Frenchman the Captain thereof who afterwards received the Reward of his Treason However when King John and his Council saw r Stow p. 253. that by no means they could prevail to have it restored they advised to build another like unto it for a Bridle to that and a Defence of the Country thereabouts and accordingly they sent the Lord Geoffry Charny somewhile since redeemed out of England with Authority to build and fortifie as presently we shall declare Now as you travel from Guisnes to Calais there was then to be seen on your Left hand almost within Shot of the Town of Guisnes a Monastery called la Bastie of good strong Building but decayed with Age wherein was a Church certain Nuns residing there at that time upon which Account the English had hitherto spared it in Devotion This place might easily be made Defensible for it had very high Walls like a Castle and a large and strong Steeple for a Tower and lying in a Marish Ground might with small Labour be environ'd with a Ditch of great Depth and Breadth Wherefore about ſ Penteco to hec anno 27 Maii contigit Pascha 8 April Lit. Dom. AG. Whitsuntide Sr. Geoffry Charny aforesaid came with 20000 Men and began to lay Siege to Guisnes at the same time turning the Nuns away and making a Castle of the Church and fencing the Walls with a Ditch and Rampire For at that time of the Year the Waters being very low his Men were at liberty to work more freely in the Marish Now the English in Guisnes being thus besieged were not able to go abroad but in their Boats because the Ditches were full of Water and the Marish unpassable and all the usual Avenues stopt up by the French Neither were the Calisians as yet able to Victual them for the same Reasons and especially because of the Siege and the strong Army at la Bastie Yet often the Besieged would appear before the Town with their Arrows and Warlike Engines playing upon the Besiegers but they did no great Execution the Aim being uncertain at that distance and the Reach for the most part too short However one Day by secret Appointment the Calisians being joyn'd with those of Oye Marque and Hames on the one hand and those of the Garrison of Guisnes on the other set all together at one time upon their Enemies unawares with much Bravery and took some slew many and chased more so that the Siege being wholly raised they all together set upon la Bastie burnt it up dismantled it of its Walls and levell'd all to the Ground And thus was Guisnes secured to the English thô the French made huge Clamours thereupon how the Truce was first broken by the English VIII This same
ensuing in order to hold a serious Treaty for a firm and final Peace On King i Knighton p. 2607 n. 50. c. Stow p. 254. b. Frois c. 154. fol. 76. Walsing hist p. 161. n. 33 Edwards Behalf there went Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel the Lord Guy Brian and other Nobles who coming with an Equipage of 200 Horse whereof 32 were cover'd with Harness toward Avignon were met on Christmas-Eve by the Archbishop of Roüen the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Armagnac the Lord Geoffry Charny and Others who were sent Ambassadors from the French King all who being thus joyned were received with great Honour by several Cardinals Bishops Nobles Citizens and Others to the number of 2000 Horse who met them within two Miles of Avignon and brought them into the New-town called Villeneufe to the Pope's Palace but the Pomp of the Cavalcade was so great that from three of the Clock till Night they had scarce time to pass the Bridge The Noble Duke of Lancaster at his Entrance saluted all the People and rode forth to the Pope's Palace Where alighting from his horse without the Gate he made his Approach to his Holiness with all due Reverence which he was perfectly instructed how to perform by his Court-like and Princely Demeanour After some brief Discourse as the Time would permit he went thence for that time and took along with him his Holinesses Blessing to his Lodgings which had been prepared for him beforehand All the time of his Residence there which was more than six Weeks he kept such Hospitality that he was admired by the whole Court having laid in an Hundred Tuns of the best Bourdeaux Wine before his Coming and behaving himself during his Stay so obligingly to all Persons especially to the Pope and his Cardinals that they said of him how he had not his Fellow in the World. But as to the Business about which all these Great Personages came thither that being openly declared in the Consistory before the Pope and his Cardinals the English Ambassadors requested to have those Covenants now confirmed which had before been concluded upon between them at Calais To whom the Duke of Bourbon and the Earl of Armagnac retracting what they had themselves agreed to and sealed and confirmed with their Oaths in the Presence of Guy Cardinal of Bologna replied now That gladly they would have Peace if they might but as to the Disposal of Aquitain and the forefaid Counties neither said they can the French King himself nor any other whatsoever by any means alienate them from the Crown of France Nor yet could they or any of them give their consent that they should be dismembred from the entire Body of that Kingdom since both the King himself and they also had been sworn to maintain them with all their Power But yet if the King of England would cease to bear the Arms of France they were content that the Dominion and Profits of the said Dutchy and Counties should remain with King Edward in like manner as his Ancestors had held Aquitain that is to say provided always the Regality of the Crown of France should be reserved in Witness whereof Homage should be made as of old to the Kings of France for those Places To these new and unexpected Demands the Duke of Lancaster replied That as for the Oath wherewith they pretended to be so strictly bound never to alienate those Places from the Crown of France they might soon for the sake of Peace be by his Holiness absolved therefrom For having so fair a Pretence to the whole the King of England was resolved to have at least these Parts absolutely to himself to be restored unto him without any Limitation otherwise that those Arms of France which by the Advice and Consent of his Liegemen of Flanders he had undertaken to bear he would never relinquish for the fear or pleasure of any Man living And that the King of England would never do Homage to a Person over whom by Hereditary Right from his Mother he claimed Superiority But yet if they could conceive of any more equal and rational way of Agreement and resolve to be more consistent with themselves and more observant of their own Concessions than now they seemed to be King Edward as a Lover of Peace will be ready to embrace what was reasonable At this the Lords of France in a Huff replied That if so they were both ready and able to defend their Country against the English for ever And so they offer'd to rise up but thrô the urgent Importunities of the Pope and his Cardinals this bitterness was soon corrected and at last they agreed so far k Frois ibid. as that another short Truce was taken to endure till the Feast of St. John Baptist following the Pope in the mean time to endeavour what in him lay to promote the Peace and for that end by his Messengers to both the Kings to require them again to send their Ambassadors to conclude on some other Conditions that might be more acceptable to either Party And so they brake up for that time on both sides and the Duke of Lancaster having with l Knighton p. 2608. n. 30. much adoe escaped the snares laid by the French to entrap him returned with safety and Honour into England together with the Rest of his Company except only Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who m Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. died at Avignon on Twelfth-Day and was there Honourably buried And that the perfecting of a Peace at this time was hindred by the French is witnessed by an n M.S. in Bibl. Vatican sign n. 2040. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 15. vid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229 c. Ancient Anonymous M. S. in the Vatican-Library at Rome which accuses the French King of all saying In this Popes Innocent's time the Lord Guy Cardinal of Bologna by the Consent of the Pope and of his own Proper Motion went into France at his own expences to Treat of a Peace with the said King of France and Edward King of England For which Treaty the Duke of Bourbon with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of France and the Duke of Lancaster with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of England came to Avignon in the time of Innocent VI in the first Year of his Coronation to finish and compleat those things which had been ordained by the said Lord Cardinal concerning the said Peace between the said Kings to be had But finally they could not agree and the said Dukes with their Ambassadors went away in discord from the Court to their several Countries And this was done thrô default of the King of France as was commonly said He then denying those things which had been Treated Engrossed and Sealed by them and sworn to in the Hands and Presence of the said Lord
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
the other Marshal the Lord John Clermont thinking to enter at the Hedge-Gap and so to come at the back of our Van made haste thither but the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk who led the English Reer and beheld his Motion and guess'd his Design posted to that Gap which they fenced with an Hedge of steel and so the Reer came to sustain the first main stress of the Battle Here began a terrible Medley the Englishmen of Arms laying on most Couragiously with Sword Spear and Battle-Ax and the Archers at the same time notably bestirring themselves and starting up from the safe Trenches in which they lay powr'd forth their deadly shot over the Hedge upon the Enemy insomuch that they did more Execution with their Arrows than the Men of Arms themselves Here the Lord Clermont fought a while Valiantly under his own Banner even as long as he could subsist but at last he was beaten down and could not be relieved nor would the English take him to Ransom but there he was slain without Mercy which happen'd to him as some say upon the Lord Chandos his account because of the High Words he had given the day before In this Battail of the Marshals there was William Earl of Douglas who led y Hâ—linshead Hist Scotl. p. 243. three Thousand Scots who for the most part z Favine le Parisâ—on's Theater of Honour l. 5. c. 34.80 were slain at this time together with these Captains of Name Sr. Andrew Stuart Sr. Robert Gourdon Sr. Andrew Haliburton and Sr. Andrew Vaux Earl Douglas being wounded with an Arrow in the Groine fled out of the Field for he feared to be taken by the English but the Lord Archimbald Douglas Son to the Lord James Douglas who died in Spain was taken Prisoner Thô he that took him let him go afterwards for a small Ransom because Sr. William Ramsey of Colluthie who was taken with him bore it as if the said Archimbald had been some poor and inconsiderable Fellow causing him to pull off his Boots and to do other such mean and servile Offices as no way suited to a Person of any Rank or Quality so that it might not be known who he was But this by the by With this terrible slaughter the Marshals Battails were wholly discomfited for they fell foul on one another whereby those who were behind not being able to Advance forward were obliged to recoil back in great Confusion to the Second Battail under the Duke of Normandy at which time while the English prest on them before there was a new Terrour added to them from behind For now the Captal of Busche came down a little Mountain on their backs with his 300 Archers and as many Men of Arms whereat the English who saw the Banner of St. George and the Captal's Ensign also which a Ashmole's Garter Plate 5. True use of Armory in Vitâ Captal de Buz. p. 110. were Or a Cross Sable charged with five Escallops Argent were so mightily encouraged and the French so strangely confounded that immediately the strength of that Battail also began to be shaken Which Success is chiefly attributed to the wonderfull Courage and Force of the English Archers who shot so thick together on Front Flank and Reer that the French knew not on which side to take heed and so by little and little the English wan ground upon them At which time when the Lord John Chandos saw that the First Battail was wholly discomfited and the Second began to be disorder'd and broken he said to the Prince Now my Lord take your Horse and Ride forth upon the French the Day is Yours God is now in Your Hand let us march directly to the French Kings Battail for there lies all the stress of the Matter I verily believe his High Courage will not suffer him to flinch So that I doubt not but by the Grace of God and St. George We shall win him provided he be well fought with And Sir I heard you say that this Day We should see You play the part of a good Knight With that the Prince mounted his Horse commanding all his Men to do the like and said aloud Let Us go forth You shall not see me this Day to turn my Back Advance Banner in the Name of God and St. George His Standard-Bearer Sr. Walter Woodland did as he was commanded and then while the Trumpets sounded a dreadfull Charge the Men of Arms of England mounted on their Horses which they had all ready by them and uniting close together cried out triumphantly St. George Guienne And at that time all the Field over the Battle waxed hotter than ever and many a Frenchman was overthrown and whoever was once down could not be relieved again without extraordinary Assistance As the Prince of Wales rode forth thus in terrible Array and was entring in among his Enemies he saw on his right hand under a little Bush the Lord Robert Duras lying dead with his Banner by him and ten or twelve of his Men about him whereupon the Prince spake to two of his Esquires and to three Archers Here Sirs take up the Body of this Knight upon a Target and present it from me to the Cardinal of Perigort and tell him I salute him by that token This was done as the Prince commanded for the Prince had been informed as now he found that the Cardinals Men were in the Field against him which was not consonant to the Decency of Religion For Men of the Church who are permitted to go too and fro about Treaties of Peace ought not in Reason to bear Arms or to fight for either of the Parties but rather to be Indifferent both themselves and their servants And because these Men had not been so the Prince was thus displeased with the Cardinal and therefore sent unto him the Body of his Nephew the Lord Robert Duras Presently after the Chastelain of Amposta himself was taken alive who was the Chief Captain of all the Cardinals Men and therefore the Prince gave Command that his Head should be presently stricken off But then the Lord Chandos said Sir Be patient for a while and let Us intend now to a greater Matter for perhaps the Cardinal will so excuse this Affair as to give You satisfaction With that the Prince came up to the Duke of Athens Constable of France where he found the English and French already engaged warmly these fighting in Companies and crying Monjoy St. Dennis and the English who were in a small close Body returning St. George Guienne Upon the Princes Arrival the Duke of Athens was presently slain and all his Men discomfited and then the Prince met with the Battail of Germans under the Conduct of the Earls of Saltzburgh Nassau and Neydo but these were immediately shatter'd and broken the Archers shooting so wholly together that none durst abide them There was the Earl of Nassau taken Prisoner but the two other Earls were slain with many
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
ready to sustain his Quarrel With these Words he left the King his Brother in an Huff and with four Persons only in his Company rode Post to St. Saviour le Vicount which was as we have shew'd an English Garrison under the Command of the Lord Thomas Holland a great Baron of England and n Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 7◠〈…〉 afterwards in Right of his Wite Earl of Kent and Lord Wake who received him very gladly and said how he had acquitted himself with commendable Loyalty and Honour towards the King of England However o Frois c. 198. by this Treaty of Peace the King of Navarre had the quiet Possession of certain Towns and Castles in Normandy and on the Borders thereof besiâ—es Mante and Meulan And now a Reconciliation was made between the Duke of Normandy and the young Earl of Harcourt chiefly at the Intercession of the Lord Lenis of Harcourt who was of the Duke's Council and of his Houshold So that the Duke gave in Marriage unto the said Earl the Daughter of the Duke of Bourbon who was Sister to his own Dutchess Upon this Peace the Siege before Melun brake up the Place becoming thereupon of the French Interest Thô the Realm of France gain'd little ease or respite by all this for the Truce between England and France being soon after expired those who before in the King of Navarre's Title had made War in Normandy Beauvais Picaray Champaigne or Brie now began to make War as hotly in the said Places in the Title of King Edward of England VI. Now the young Knight Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt had been for more than a Year signally Notorious for the Injuries he did to France in these times of Comâ—â—sion for p Frois c. 198. in Champaigne he had no less than 700 Fighting Men under him by whose Aâ—d he wan great Riches as in Plunder Ransoming and safe Conducts So that at last no fewer than Twelve good Fortresses were at his Command and as then he was in the Flower of his Age a lusty young amorous Batchelour And the Year q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 94 95. after this he Married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Jultere but now Countess Dowager of Kent in England altho upon the Death of John Pormagâ—â—s late Earl of Kent she had vow'd Chastity and was solemnly Veiled a Nun by Wâ—â—liam Edingdon Bishop of Winchester at Waverley in that Dioecese For this Noble young Nun upon report of Sr. Eustace's great Renown in Arms began withou thving seen him to set her Love about this time upon him and often sent him châ—â—e Geldings and Horses of Service with Love-Letters and other Favours wherewith Sr. Eustace was so elevated in his Courage that every day he grew more Notable So that all his Men thought themselves happy they gain'd such Riches under his Conduct But the Duke of Normandy who had heard of all his outragious Viclenâ—es upon the breaking up of the Siege of Melun desired the Lord Broquant of Fâ—â—â—strages a Lorraâ—ner who had 500 Companions at his Command to go into Gâ—ampaigne and help to expell this Sr. Eustace and his Englishmen that made War in those Parts on which account he undertook to pay him for himself and his Troops such a certain Sum of Florens Upon this Sr. Broquart having encreased his Forces with the Assistance of the Bishop of Troye the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Joâ—â—ville the Lord John of Chalons and others from Champaigne Lorraine and Burgunay to the Number of 3500 Men in all they began to set forward against the Enemy First they came to the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne which had been held by English Navarreis a Year and an half but now it was taken at the Third Assault and fourscore Englishmen slain even every Man in the Castle there was none had any Mercy shewn him After this hot Service the Frenchmen went to Troye to refresh themselves and within two or three days they sent out a strong Detachment of 1200 Spears and 900 others under the Lord Brequart of Fenestrages who took the way directly toward Nogent on the River Seyne Early that Morning Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt having heard of the Frenchmens being about in the Country chose out of his Garrisons 400 Spears and 200 Archers and with those Troops marched forth of the Castle of Pongny to sind his Enemies He rode on a stately Gelding Armed at all Points except his Head-piece which an Esquire carried after him his War-Horse being led by his side He had hardly passed the Seyne at Mery when he heard tidings of the French as they also by this had heard of him But surely had he known the Number of those who came against him he would have desired the Assistance of his Neighbour Sr. Peter Audley and the Lord de la Bret who could well have spared him 400 Fighting Men if they had not come to his Aid in Person Upon the First certain knowledge oâ— his Enemies and of the way they took he gather'd his Men together without the Town of Nogent sur Seyne and took the height of a little Hill among the Vines and set his Archers ready before him When the French Men of Arms came up in sight of him they ranged themselves in Three Battails The first was led by the Bishop of Troye and the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages the Second by the Lord John of Châlons and another good Captain the Third by the Earl of Vaudemont and the Lord Joinville besides a Fourth Battail of 900 Foot which was not yet come up The mean while Sr. Eustace spake aloud to his Men Gentlemen let us Fight with a good Courage for if this day be ours we shall be Lords of all Champaigne which was once an Earldom And I hope this day by your Valiant Assistance to do such a piece of Service for the King of England whom I account the Rightâ—ull King of France that he will bestow this Earldom upon Me And you shall all be the better for my Advancement Then he called unto him certain Young Gentlemen as the Couragious Manny who being his Cousin and Nephew to the Lord Walter Manny was constantly Honoured with the Epithet Couragious John de Paris and Martin of Spain with some others whom then and there he Knighted And all his Men being placed on Foot in a strong Battail his Archers a little forward on the left hand he himself stood in the Front of his Men of Arms his Standard waving before him which was Ermin three Hameds Gules When r Frois c. 199. c. Sr. Broquart of Fenestrages who was both very expert and couragious saw that Sr. Eustace designed not to come down to him and that he had wisely placed his Archers to gall them on the right side where they had not their Shields he said aloud Let us first of all fall on whatever happens changing our Shields to the Spear Hand till we have past the Archers
and all other Potentates of Christendom to stir them up singly at least to a Contribution in Men or Money toward so pious and general an Undertaking And the Pope gave him many Absolutions and Pardons and full Authority to publish them the better to encline all Devout persons to joyn with him in so Holy and Meritorious a Cause as it was in those Days accounted And surely the King of Cyprus wherever he went easily engaged the Love of all Men for besides the Reputation which he had got in Arms and that himself had long been a Souldier in the same Quarrel he gave such good Reasons and spake so elegantly and perswaded so pathetically that all Men of War had far rather hear him than a Sermon of the Pope's to that purpose And so on this point they rested Having therefore thus forwarded his Business here he took his leave saying how he would go and visit the Emperour and the Lords of the Empire and promised to return thither again by Brabant Flanders and Hainalt and so he was dismist by the Pope and the French King who both acquitted themselves towards him very honourably the latter presenting him with many rich Gifts and Jewels and the former with Pardons Absolutions and Indulgences for Him and all his Men which as the Superstition of the Times went were no less Valuable After the King of Cyprus his Departure whom the King of Denmark accompanied King John also took his leave of the Pope and went to Mompellier to visit Languedoc for he had not been in those Parts of many Years before III. The mean while the King of Cyprus rode so long by his Journeys till he came to Prague the chief City of Bohemia where the Emperour then was of whom he was graciously received as also of all the Lords of the Empire there present It is said q Panâ—taleâ—n de Ord. Johannitarum Rebus Geslis l. 4. p. 102. that the Emperour told the King of Cyprus That he applauded his Words and approved of the Popes pious Endeavours as also of the French Kings Resolution and of the King of Denmarks and that for his own part he neither wanted Wealth nor Will to set about the Holy War if he thought it would really be so much for the Benefit of Christendom to shed the Blood of many good Men for the Affairs of Syria that it was impossible to recover those Countries without much Destruction of Christian People of which Slaughter to make no account was the part rather of an Hangman than of a Prince That moreover a Country so surrounded with Enemies if it should be won could not by any be long retain'd in Obedience wherefore to him it seem'd not the part of a Christian to seek the purchase of so little false Glory with the hazard of so many Lives But however lest any should imagin that he declin'd these Matters upon the account of Frugality he offer'd the King of Cyprus as much Money as might probably suffice for that War which he presently caused to be paid unto him The Emperours Liberality was imitated by the Dukes of Bavaria Austria and Saxony his Brethren the Marquess of Moravia and the Duke of Luxemburgh and others of all whom he received considerable Sums of Gold Three Weeks he tarried at Prague labouring all the while to bring over Proselytes to his intended Expedition against the Infidels and wherever he went while he was within the Bounds of the Empire his Charges were born by the Emperour After this he rode into the Dukedom of Juliers and thence into Brabant where he was received with much Honour by the Duke and Dutchess and highly entertain'd in their chief City of Brussels with Feastings Justs Tourneaments and other Princely Diversions and at his Departure he was largely presented with Jewels and other rich Gifts and after all he went into the Earldom of Flanders to visit Earl Lewis who treated him with great Magnificence at Bruges and in all things gave him full Satisfaction Here he staid therefore the remaining part of the Summer still minding the main Business for which he had left his own Country and earnestly exhorting the Earl and other Lords and Gentlemen to embarque in the same Bottom with him where Christ and his Holy Vicar were sure to be the Pilots and Earthly Honour and Immortal Glory lay ready for them at the end of their Voyage And all the Lords that heard him approved of his Words and declared themselves willing to follow him IV. The mean while King Edward had dealt very Graciously with all the French Hostages but especially r Frois c. 218. unto Four of the Chief of them he shew'd Great Favour namely unto the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Anjou the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon For he permitted these Four Princes to reside at Calais for such a time and during their stay there each of them to have four days liberty to ride abroad into the French Pale on the Marches of Calais provided that at the end of four days they return'd to Calais by Sun-setting And this Grace the King allow'd with a Good Design that so having some opportunity to be near their Friends they might the sooner gather up the Money still remaining due for King John's Ransom and thereby release themselves and their fellow Hostages These Four Lords being thus at Calais sent frequent Messengers to the French King and to the Duke of Normandy desiring them to make quick dispatch in working their Delivery as they had promised and sworn unto them when they went Hostages into England For if they were neglected any longer they were resolved to look to look to themselves because as they said they were not properly Prisoners but only sureties for another And that if the Principal would not concern himself to perform the Covenants for which they were Pledges it would be high time to shift as well as they could for themselves Thus eager were the Young Princes to be at liberty but King John and the Duke of Normandy and their Council were so deeply taken up in Matters of a more pressing Nature what in preparing for the Croisade and what for other Wars which the Inconstant King of Navarre began again to renew in France having already sent into Lombardy for certain Troops of the Companions to come to his Assistance that they had no leisure as then to take the Remonstrance of these Dukes into consideration or to send them any satisfactory Answer Whereupon the Duke of Anjou being young and angry and neither well considering his Fathers Honour nor his own took the opportunity one of the Four Days allow'd him to ride clear off whereat King John was infinitely displeased V. By this time the King of Cyprus having dispatch'd his Affairs with the Earl of Flanders came at last to Calais where he found the remaining three French Dukes of Orleans Berry and Bourbon the Duke of Anjou being as we shew'd newly escaped away These
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
not Wherefore now the King sent the Duke of Burgundy with a 1000 Spears more to reinforce the Siege so that now they made up in all 3000 Men of Arms besides Others These held frequent Skirmishes with the Besieged wherein both Parties suffer'd considerably but especially those of the Garrison who were not in all a Thousand Men. And the Duke of Burgundy to encourage his Men the more at one Sally of the Navarrois made many Knights Bannerets who at that time raised their Banners as Robert of Alenson Son to Charles Earl of Alenson who being King Philips Brother was slain at the Battle of Cressy about 18 Years before the same Honour had Sr. Lewis of Auxerre Son to the Earl of Auxerre who died at the same time and younger Brother to the present Earl. Thus the Siege continued to the great Terror of that Garrison who were so mightily streightned therewith that they would willingly have yielded up the Fortress upon Composition but that the Duke refused them so much Grace I 'll have them yield up absolutely to my Pleasure says he I have already taken away from them the use of the River so that they must expect no more Provision that way Let them stand out longer at their utmost peril XIX Now Prince Lewis of Navarre knew of all these Difficulties his Friends were in and having ravaged a while at his Pleasure in the Marches of Auvergne he ardently desired to raise the Siege before la Charité He had already 2000 Fighting Men but not thinking them sufficient to cope with the Duke he sent into Bretagne to Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and other Valiant Knights and Esquires of England then in those Parts to come and serve him in this Action These Knights would all very willingly have come to his Aid but they were already engaged in the Siege before Auray a Town of Lesser Bretagne about 3 Leagues from Vannes Westward towards Blavet For now the two Pretenders to the Dutchy of Bretagne having rejected all terms and Methods of Reconciliation flew out into open Hostility the Lord Charles of Blois making his Musters at Nantes and the Lord John of Monford laying Siege at the same time to Auray So that when the Lord Lewis of Navarre saw that he could not obtain the Service of those English Knights who now assisted the Earl of Monford in the said Siege he returned by Command of the King his Brother to Cherburgh leaving la Charité to her Fortune But however this Garrison had the good Luck to escape by the same Occasion which had hindred their Relief For immediately after Prince Lewis was retired into Normandy because Sr. Charles of Blois might be more powerfully aided the King of France sent to the Duke of Burgundy commanding him to receive the Garrison of la Charité their Lives saved on condition they would swear not to bear Arms on the King of Navarre's Behalf for three Years to come Thus the Garrison had their Lives saved but were fain to leave all their Goods behind and so being secur'd by the Dukes Safe Conduct went away on foot thrô the Realm of France And then the old Inhabitants whom they had before frighted away to the City of Nivers came back again to their former Habitations and the Duke returned with Honour to Paris CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King assists Charles of Blois and King Edward at the same time sends Help to John of Monford both who prepare to decide their Right to the Dukedom of Bretagne by Battail II. Charles of Blois marches forth of Nantes against John of Monford III. Who prepares to receive him IV. The Frenchmen order their Men. V. And the Lord John Chandos orders his English giving a Reserve to be menaged by Sr. Hugh Calverley VI. The Lord of Beaumanoire obtains a Truce between the Parties for one Day in order to bring them to some Agreement VII The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty and both Sides prepare for Fight VIII The famous Battle of Auray fought between Charles of Blois and John of Monford wherein the latter wins the Day and the Dukedom by the Death of the former IX The Number of the slain and Prisoners on both Sides X. Earl Monford weeps over the Body of Charles of Blois with the Character and Praise of the said Charles XI Earl Monford gives Truce to the Country to come in and bury their Dead he returns to the Siege before Auray the Kings of France and of England diversly affected with the News XII A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis Earl of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge King Edwards Fifth Son being pretty forward is suddainly dash'd by the French Kings subtlety XIII The Christians obtain a Cadmean Victory against the Turks and Infidels I. KING a Frois c. 224. f. 120. b. c. Charles of France at the Request of his Cousin the Lord Charles of Blois had yielded to lend him towards the Conquest of his Inheritance a Thousand Spears and besides that he wrote to Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was then in Normandy enjoyning him by all means on sight of his Letters to go as strong as he could into Bretagne to the Aid of his Cousin Charles of Blois against his Antagonist Sr. John of Monford Sr. Bertram having received the Letters was glad at his heart to be thus commanded to what he so earnestly desired himself for he always took the Lord Charles to be his only Lawfull Lord and true Duke of Bretagne Wherefore as speedily as he could he went out of Normandy into Bretagne with his own Retinue only and such Troops as he could raise of himself the Marshal Bouciquault prosecuting the War in Normandy in his stead He found the Lord Charles of Blois and his good Lady at the City of Nantes in Bretagne to whom he was extream Welcome for this his seasonable and eminent Succour Then they held a Council of War what Course they had best take for there was the greater part of all the Lords and Knights of Bretagne come thither to the Lord Charles his Assistance whom they all reputed and held for the True Duke of Bretagne And they were all of Opinion that 't was best to go and raise the Siege of Auray and fight Earl Monford if he would abide it Thither also were come many Great Barons of France as the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Joigny the Lord of Franville the Lord of Prye the Beague of Villers and many other Lords Knights and Esquires But of these Preparations there were brought Tidings to the Earl of Monford who together with the Lord b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. Walsing hâ—st p. 174. William Latimer of England lay now at the Siege before Auray and how the Lord Charles had purchased many Powerfull Assistants out of the Realm of France besides the great Forces he had gather'd up in Bretagne Wherefore immediately
he sent word thereof into the Principality of Aquitain to the English Knights and Esquires of the Princes Court but especially to the Noble Lord John Chandos desiring him and them heartily now at this great and last Pinch to send him a Competent Assistance not doubting but that in Bretagne they should find many a fair and honourable Adventure for which all men of Honour ought especially to seek toward the Advancement of their Names When the Lord John Chandos who greatly desired the Prosperity of this Noble Earl saw how earnestly he wrote unto him he went immediately and asked leave of the Black-Prince his Lord and Master who told him He was well content that he should go to the Assistance of his Dear Brother-in-Law because said he this is no Breach of the Peace between England and France For the Frenchmen in like manner take Part with Sr. Charles of Bloic against the Earl of Monford and have a Licence so to do from the French King himself And thus much was expresly agreed on in the c Vid. l. 3. c. 6. §. 10. Art. 22. p. 588. XXII Article of the Peace of Bretigny that if the two Parties cannot be reconciled the Friends of either of them shall aid either Party as they please without any impeachment from the said two Kings or without incurring or bearing any dammage blame or reproach for the cause aforesaid With this answer Sr. John Chandos was extreamly satisfied and provided accordingly desiring several Knights and Esquires both of England and Aquitain to bear him Company in this his Attempt Thô but a few Gascogners I know not upon what Grounds for 't is evident they lov'd him well went with him but several English Knights that were there except such whom the Prince's Service detain'd embraced the Invitation heartily So having collected 200 Spears and as many Archers Voluntiers for the Prince would not appear in the Matter he lead them thrô Sainctogne and Poictou till passing the Loire he entred into Bretagne and came safely to the Siege before Auray Here he found the young Earl of Monford who received him with great joy as who divin'd himself a Victory from his Coming and so did Sr. Oliver Clisson Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and others both English and Bretons who all generally concluded there could no ill Success fall unto them now that they had the Lord Chandos in their Company Upon the account of whose Reputation in Arms sundry Knights and Esquires of England passed the Sea being desirous to advance their Honour in Fighting against the Frenchmen all who came in good time before Auray where they were heartily welcome to the Earl of Monford and some of them brought d True Use of Armory in Bib. Cotton Lord Chandâ—s his Liâ—e p. 62. Letters from the King of England directed to the Lord Chandos wherein he was required to take particular care of his most Dear Son Monford and in time of Battle constantly to attend his Person And now the whole Number of English and Bretons amounted to about 2000 Men of Arms and about 900 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen II. All this while Sr. Charles of Blois was in the City of Nantes where he made his Musters and gather'd together Men of War from all Parts where he could procure them for Love or Money For he had perfect Intelligence of all the Earl of Monfords Preparations But especially he required all those Lords Knights and Esquires of Bretagne who had already own'd his Cause and Title and rendred Homage unto him as to their Lord to come now and help him to defend his Inheritance against his Enemies Upon these Summons there came unto him the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Leon the Lord of Raix and the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit the Lord of Quintin the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Lodeac the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Lomine the Lord of Ponto and Sr. Charles of Dinant with divers others whose Names we cannot at such a Distance recover All these together with their several Retinues were quarter'd in the City of Nantes and in the Villages thereabout and together with the Aid from France consisted of 4500 Men of Arms besides Crossbows and Footmen These Lords in a Council of War advised the Lord Charles now that he was so strong not to waste any more time there but presently to march forth against his Enemy and give him Battle This Counsel the Lord Charles resolved to pursue and being now ready to march the sprightly and Masculine Lady his Wife the Lady Jane Daughter of Guy Earl of Pentebria who was Elder Brother to John of Monford stept forth and said these Words unto him in presence of Sr. Bertram of Clequin and many other Lords and Knights of France and Bretagne Sir You are now going to fight for mine Inheritance and your own for what is mine is yours also which the Earl of Monford claims wrongfully and without cause God Almighty knows And all the Lords of Bretagne here present know very well that I am indubitate Heiress thereto Therefore my Dear Lord and Husband I heartily require of You not to make or accept any Composition Agreement or Treaty of Peace with Earl Monford unless the whole Body of the Dutchy shall be yielded to remain entire with Us and our Heirs for ever This her Husband promised to do and then saluted and took leave of his Dutchess as they call'd her and so directed his march toward Vannes At which place he made an Halt as well to refresh his Army as to inform himself of his Enemies behaviour and to advise how to get some advantage in ordering his Men. Here there was much altercation and debate among his Council for certain of the graver sort who were wholly sway'd by Christian Principles of Charity made such friendly Overtures that the Lord Charles of Blois who was of a sweet and Candid Disposition had perhaps been perswaded to accept of a Peace and to Divide the Dukedom had he not been so adjured by the last Words of his Lady and also now set on by the encouragement of the Hotter sort of his Captains that he absolutely declared he neither could nor would propose or admit of any such kind of Treaty III. Now between Vannes and Auray where the Earl of Monford held Siege it was about the space of Three Leagues so that News was presently brought to the Earl that the Lord Charles of Blois was coming with the goodliest Company of Men armed at all Points that ever was seen in France At these tidings the Englishmen rejoyced greatly the better sort for the opportunity of gaining Honour and the Companions for the occasion of reaping benefit For being almost bankrupt with the long Peace they desired nothing more than War in hopes of Spoil and Riches Then they all made ready their Harness with great exactness new furbished their Spears
Standard of the Lord John Chandos who at the same time took a Great Lord of Bretagne Prisoner with his own hands called the Lord of Raix a Knight of approved Valour And by that time this Battail was thus open'd all the rest were quite discomfited and lost their Array and every Man began to flee away as fast as he might to save himself Except certain Valiant and Loyal Gentlemen Knights and Esquires of Bretagne who would not by any means forsake the Lord Charles of Blois but chose rather to die with him than to leave the Field with Dishonour Wherefore they all drew together about him in a Ring and disputed the Point to the last Man. Thus the Lord Charles accompanied with these Gallant Souls play'd his last Stake as bravely as was possible but 't was not likely those few should hold out against an Army newly flush'd with Victory especially since the rest of the Field being cleared the greaer Part of the English came thither against them So that at last they also were by fine Force broken discomfited and slain There the Banner of the Lord Charles was beaten down to the ground and he that bare it was slain and with him fell the Lord Charles of Blois himself with his Face towards his Enemies and by his side was slain a valiant Bastard Son of his called Sr. John of Blois and many other Knights and Esquires of Bretagne It is said that the Captains of England had agreed beforehand that if they had the better in Fight and Sr. Charles of Blois were found upon the Place he should not be taken to Ransom by any Man but slain outright And the same Design had the Frenchmen and Bretons upon the Earl of Monford if they should obtain the Victory For both Sides were resolved how that Day should make an end of the Controversie So when it came to the Rout there was a great Slaughter and many a Good Knight slain or taken which was the lot of the very Flower of all that Side but a few Men of Honour that escaped especially of the Bannerets of Bretagne There was slain first of all the Noble and Valiant Lord Charles of Blois who called himself Duke of Bretagne and his Son Sr. John the Bastard Sr. Charles of Dinant the Lord of Leon the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Lodeac the Lord of Malestroit the Lord of Ponto the Lord of Gargol and many others whose Names cannot be recovered r Walsingh hist p. 128. to the number of about a Thousand Besides whom there were taken Prisoners the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny Sr. Bertram of Clequin the Vicount of Rohan Sr. Guy du Leon the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Raix the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Lomine the Lord of Quintin the Lord of Franville the Lord of Ravenal the Lord de la Fevilleé Sr. Henry of Malestroit Sr. Oliver Manny and divers Others Lords Knights and Esquires of Bretagne France and Normandy in all one Vicount ſ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. Walsin hist p. 128. Ashmole p. 703. two Earls Twenty seven Lords and fifteen Hundred Knights and Esquires On the English Part I can find but one Man of Honour that fell this Day t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 9. namely the Lord John de Nereford and the highest Account that appears any where is u Knighton p. 2628. n. 30. that there fell one Knight and five Esquires at the most there died but x Walsing ibid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Seven in all But many were grievously wounded To conclude this Discomfiture was great and wonderfull and many Gallant Men were put to the Sword as well in the Field as in the Chace which lasted eight long Leagues even to the Gates of Rennes There happen'd many notable Adventures as well during the Fight as the pursuit which cannot all be recounted and then Gentlemen were either taken alive or slain outright as they fell in the hands of those that were Courteous or Cruel This Battle was thus fought on the y Mezeray p. 71 Lit. Dom. G F. Twenty ninth of September being a Sunday and St. Michaels Day near to Auray in Bretagne in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV X. After the Discomfiture the Lords and Knights of England and Bretagne having sent out certain Troops to make good the Chace returned themselves and came to the Earl of Monford who had a rich Tent with the Arms of Bretagne thereon pitch'd up for him in the Field Thither came to him to his Tent Door the Lord John Chandos the Lord John Bourchier the Lord William Latimer Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton and Others who first had retired to the side of an Hedge and unarmed themselves when they saw the Day was unquestionably their own and the Chief of them set up their Banners and Standards on the Hedge and the Banner of Bretagne aloft on a Bush to direct their Men thither Then the Lord Chandos being attended with the other Knights aforesaid went to the Earl of Monford and with a Smile said unto him Sir Praise God and be merry for this Day you have conquer'd your Inheritance of Bretagne Then the Earl enclined his Body very respectfully and said aloud Oh! Sr. John Chandos this Prosperous Adventure that hath now befallen me was brought about thrô your great Conduct and Prowess as I know very well and so do all that hear me at this time Sir I pray drink with me And with that he reach'd him a Flagon of Wine of which himself had drank just before and when Sr. John had drank and deliver'd the Drink to another the Earl added Sr. John next to God Almighty and his Grace I ought to be most thankfull to you and do hereby own my self obliged to you above any other Mortal Man. And at that instant came up to them the Lord Oliver Clisson very much chafed and enflamed with his continual Action in the Fight and the long pursuit of his Enemies so that he had much ado to return again with his Men in any time he was so extream weary but he brought back with him many rich Prisoners And now he alighted and came to the Earl of Monford and refreshed himself and began to unarm and had a Chirurgeon called to dress his Eye when there came up to the Earl two Knights and two Heralds who had been to view the Field and to search among the Dead Bodies if so they might find the Body of Sr. Charles of Blois whether he was Dead or no. These Heralds spake aloud to the Duke Sir God give you Joy of your Dukedom of Bretagne for we have seen your Adversary Sr. Charles of Blois lying dead upon the Earth At that the Earl of Monford rose up from his Chair and said he would go and view him for he had
Pedro's Cruelty returned him Letters with full assurance that thô he should lose half his Realm therefore he would make no Agreement with the Prince which should be to his Prejudice but that he would never come to any manner of accord with Don Pedro And further he promised to keep his Country open for all Men of War that would come to his Assistance but to close all the Passages against those who came to trouble or molest him All which promises he kept very punctually For when he knew that Don Pedro was abetted by the Prince and that the Companions were marching toward Bourdeaux to joyn them he presently stopped all the Passages of his Kingdom and kept them strictly and set Men of War on the Mountains to defend the Passages and Streights of Catalunna so that none could pass without exposing themselves to imminent Danger But for all this the Companions found another way thô they suffer'd many Hazards and Difficulties before they could get rid of those traps set for them in Aragon Yet at last they came to the Marches of the Earldom of Foix where they found that Countrey also closed against them For the Earl would not by any means permit such a sort of Pillagers to pass thrô his Land. XV. The mean while Prince Edward employ'd all his thoughts Night and Day how he might to his Honour perform this Expedition and now he was concerned how these Companions who had already proffer'd him their Service might be safely brought into Aquitaine for he heard how the Passages of Aragon were closed up and that now they were upon the Marches of the Earldom of Foix in much trouble and more danger Wherefore he began to doubt lest the Bastard Henry and the King of Aragon together should by thus streightly dealing with these Companions who were in all to the Number of 12000 Men prevail so as either thrô fear of Danger or Hope of advantage to oblige them to act on the other side which he resolv'd if possible to prevent because they were all Expert and Valiant Men. Then he determin'd to send the Lord John Chandos to retain them for his Service and also to treat with the Earl of Foix desiring him in the Prince's Name to do no harm to them on which account he promis'd him that whatever Damage they should do in his Country he would make him double Amends therefore This Business Sr. John Chandos undertook to do for his Lord and so he first rode to the City of Dax in Gascogne whence he continued his journeys till he came to Foix and here he so well menaged the Earl that he consented to all that he requested of him Then the Lord Chandos rode onward till he came to Belcayne where he found the Companions and fully agreed with their Captains and retain'd them to serve the Prince in his Spanish Expedition for such and such Considerations which the Lord Chandos engaged by Oath should be performed This done he return'd to the Earl of Foix again and desired him that these People being now retained in the Prince's Service might find no lett or hindrance from him but that he would freely permit them to pass by one of the sides of his Country The Earl of Foix who had a great Respect for the Prince besides that he held his Lands of him to do him a pleasure consented on condition they should do no harm by Spoil or otherwise to him his Lands or People Sr. John engaged they should forbear all Violence and Rapine and then he sent an Esquire and an Herald to the Companions with the Articles of the Treaty made by him on their behalf with the Earl of Foix after which he return'd to the Prince and gave him an account of his Success wherewith the Prince was well satisfied For he was very earnestly bent on this Expedition XVI The Black-Prince was now in the Flower of lusty Manhood being in the Thirty sixth Year of his Age of full Strength of Body and in perfect Health of undaunted Courage and Resolution all well temper'd with Experience and Discretion and he was never weary nor cloy'd with War from the first time he bore Arms but was always greedy of hazardous Enterprises and honourable Dangers But to say the Truth as for this Expedition into Spain wherein he intended to advance and resettle King Pedro in his Throne from which he had been deposed by Violence he was moved thereto from Principles of Honour and Equity and out of a compassionate Regard to Don Pedro's miserable Change of Fortune For however he might perhaps seem to deserve as bad or worse measure yet he rightly concluded that no Subjects much less a Bastard-Brother had either Law or Reason to call their Sovereign Lord to an account much less to punish him in such a manner He often spake to his Lords and Knights especially to the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton concerning this his intended Journey and particularly once he demanded of them what they thought of the matter And those two Lords answer'd him how indeed they thought nothing but well for the Cause was just and his Counsels proportionable to the end but they continued Sir without doubt this is a greater Enterprise beyond Compare than it was to thrust King Pedro out of his Kingdom For he was generally hated and when he thought to have made his Part good all Men forsook him But now at this present the Bastard King is actually possest of all that Realm and is confirmed the more strongly in the said Possession by being Master of the Hearts and Affections of all the Nobles Prelates and the whole Body of the Kingdom For they have unanimously received him for their King and his Children after him having for ever excluded Don Pedro and his Heirs and they have promised to uphold him in that Estate to the utmost extent of their Lives and Fortunes Wherefore Sir it concerns You to take along with you a Royal Army for besides the Alliances which the Bastard hath made or may make You shall find the whole Power of Spain and Aragon against you These things said the Prince we have fully consider'd but what think you as to the Nerves of this War which ought not to be the last Consideration Sir replied the Lord Chandos I would advise your Royal Highness to break the best part of your Plate and Treasure of which you have great Abundance and convert it all to Money to bestow largely among the Companions and other your Souldiers because 't is only for your Sake that they are willing to go but as for Don Pedro they would not stirr a foot either for the Love they bear to his Person or the Faith they have in his Promises Besides all which You would do well Sir to send into England to the King your Father desiring him to furnish you towards this expensive Enterprise with an 100000 Franks which Summ the French King is obliged shortly to pay to
outright and others being sore hurt were fain to withdraw out of the Town Then the Companions who were so lately in danger of losing all took fresh Courage and made up briskly against their Pursuers at which time there were so many notable Feats of Arms done so many Prisoners taken and retaken that the like was seldome seen The Companions indeed were but a few in respect of the Frenchmen but by this Assistance they so redoubled their Courage that by pure Force of Arms they drove their Enemies back again out of the Town and followed out after them amain thô they had no more Succour for Sr. John would not lend them a Man of his beyond the Barriers for fear of occasioning a Breach of the Peace However it happen'd well for these Companions for at that Instant while the French were thus quitting the Place in no little Confusion and those who lately fled before them were now vigorously pressing upon them There enter'd into Montauban on the other side an other Brigade of the Companions to the number of 400 fresh Horse being lead by the Bourg of Bartuel and Nandon of Bergerac who hearing that their Friends were besieged by the Frenchmen in Montauban had rode all night in great hast to come to their Aid At their first coming they set their wearied Horses aside and rushed into the Battle with all the fury imaginable so that now the Frenchmen were wholly discomfited with this fresh and sudden Impression The Battle held in all from about Nine in the Morning till One in the Afternoon at which time the Frenchmen were utterly routed and broken and happy was he among them that could get a Horse first There was taken the Earl of Narbonne himself and with him Sr. Guy of Dazay the Earl of Buzet the Lord of Montlimar the Seneschal of Carcassone the Seneschal of Beaucaire the Seneschal of Provens and of the Marches thereabout and more than an hundred Knights of France besides many an Esquire and Substantial Citizen Inhabitant of Tholouse and Mompellier And surely many more had been taken and slain if they had been hotly pursued But the Companions who were but few and very weary and not well horsed neither thought not good to go too far from the Field but were satisfied with what they had already done This Battle was thus fought at Montauban on the Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin being the 14 of August Anno Dom. MCCCLXVI XVIII After this Discomfiture Sr. Perdiccas of Albret Sr. Robert Cheney the Bourg of Bartuel and Nandon of Bergerac took all the spoil and booty of the field and divided it proportionably among their Men their Dividends being considerable at this time And they would needs force the Captain of the Town Sr. John Combes to take an equal share with them Four because he was so faithfull to their Interest and so very serviceable for thô he would not strike a stroak nor go forth with them into the Field yet when the Frenchmen would come into his Town against his Will he caused them to be treated so hotly that they were glad to leave it soon All who had Prisoners had liberty to keep them or to acquit them as they thought best and indeed they put their Prisoners to courteous and reasonable Ransom enough each Man according to his Degree and the rather because this Adventure happen'd so successfully unto them beyond all Expectation and those who were set free on their Faith and Promise had a day limited whereon they were to bring or send their Ransoms to Bourdeaux or to some other place agreed on And so the Companions came at last all in safety to the Prince of Wales who appointed them Quarters and gave their Officers a Charge not to be grievous to his People The mean while the French Prisoners returned home into their several Countries as the Earl of Narbonne the Seneschal of Tholouse and others who had all promised on their Faiths and on their Honour to pay their appointed Ransoms in time and place limited But Pope Vrban V who hated these sort of Companions from his soul and had cursed them more than once because of their Villanous deeds when he heard of this their Victory wherein the Earl of Narbonne and others were overthrown was exceedingly disturbed and vexed in his Mind However he held his tongue till he saw the Prisoners deliver'd upon their Parole and safe out of their hands and then he sent his Inhibition to the Earl and every of them expresly forbidding them in any wise to pay their Ransom or to keep Faith with such Miscreants and by his Power Apostolical he released them of their Oath and Promise Thus were these Lords and Knights saved the Charges of their Ransom for they durst not break the Pope's Command and perhaps they had small inclination so to do when it was for their Interest However the Companions expected their Money therewith to apparel and furnish themselves like Men which many of them had already done in hopes of quitting their Cost by these Sums which yet they never saw Wherefore when the time was lapsed they complain'd to the Lord John Chandos who was High Constable of Aquitaine and was to look to such Matters especially as belonged to Arms but he dissembled the Matter and put them off as well as he might For he knew well they were accursed of the Pope and that indeed they had done many bloody villanous and unlawfull Deeds XIX However now the Prince of Wales had gotten all the Companions of his side who were to the Number of 12000 Fighting Men all whom to his great Charge he kept and maintain'd till with him they left the Principality which was from about the Middle of August to the Middle of February and besides these at first he entertain'd and received into pay all Choice and Valiant Men from whatsoever Parts they came And King Henry the Bastard also did the like taking into his service and enrolling all Frenchmen Aragonians and others that came to his aid upon the account of his Friends in France or otherwise besides those Companions Bretons who tarried with him for Sr. Bertram of Clequin's sake the Captains whereof were Sr. Bertram Budes Sr. Alan of St. Pol du Leon Sr. William de Dreux and Sr. Alan of Carnon Nor might the Prince have been less furnished with strangers of all Countries if he had so pleased For there came to him many Flemings Almaines and Brabanders but he sent most of them home again for he had rather have of his Subjects of the Principality or at least out of England than Strangers whose Courages he knew not And besides several hundreds of English Voluntiers who came and offer'd him their service he had another considerable Assistance from England for when the King his Father knew that this Expedition was so forward then he gave leave to his Son John Duke of Lancaster to go to his Brother the Prince of Wales with 400
Navarre and James King of Majorica and that they gave Rich Gifts unto the Babe But this is only a far-fetch'd Allusion to the History commemorated by the Day and so I shall leave it However the Name of Richard was given to the Princely Infant and He was called after the manner of that Age Richard of Bourdeaux his Sirname being taken from the Place of his Birth and after the Death of his Father and Grandfather he became King of England the Second of that Name On the very Day of this Princes Birth as Froisard the Historian sat at Dinner in Bourdeaux g Frois l. ult c. ult f. 391. he says how Sr. Richard Pontchardon a Valiant Knight of England and one who was very well skill'd in Astrological Science came to him within two Hours after the Child was born and said Froisard write down and put in Memory that this Morning my Lady the Princess is brought to Bed of a Fair Son this Twelfth-Day which is the Dâ—â— of the Three Kings and thô he is but Second Son to a Kings Son yet he shall be King. Which Saying of his fell out exactly for the Lord Edward his Elder Brother dying at the Age of Seven Years and his Father the Black-Prince following before the King his Father this Richard succeeded his Grandfather King Edward to the Crown and wore it about two and twenty Years II. On the Sunday h Froisâ—c 233. fol. 133. Vid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. 233. c. following being the Tenth of January after the Hour of Prime Prince Edward left the City of Bourdeaux with a Royal Equipage thô the greater part of his Army was passed onward before and lay about the City of Dax in Gascogne to which place the Prince also came in the close of that Sunday Here he tarried three days because he had sure Intelligence how his Brother the Duke of Lancaster was hasting after him having passed the Sea five days before The said Duke took land with all his Troops at a Port in Bretagne from whence he rode to Nantes where his Brother-in-law the Duke of Bretagne received him with great demonstrations of Joy Love and Respect as also did his Sister the Dutchess From Nantes having passed the Loire he marched thrô Poictou and Sainctogne till he came to Blaye where he also passed the Garonne and so went to Bourdeaux He gave order for his Men to march forward after his Brother the Prince but he himself rode straight to the Abby of St. Andrew where the Princess at that time lay in and having given her a short and kind Visit he took leave of his Sister the Princess and so rode on with his Servants and presently overtook his Men and rode along with them till he came to Dax where he found the Prince his Brother The two Royal Brethren were extreamly satisfied at this their happy Meeting for they loved together entirely and then the Meeting of Friends is most agreeable when they are both ready to partake of Honourable Dangers in like manner their Captains and Officers caressed and made much of one another as also their Men as many as could meet together Soon after the Duke of Lancaster's Coming there came also Gaston Phaebus the Earl of Foix to pay his Respects and to offer his Service to the Prince his Lord and to his Brother the Duke and the Prince who was no Novice in returning Salutations shew'd him much Honour and gave him many Thanks for his Readiness to serve him However because of his known Valour and Conduct as also because he was generally belov'd over all the Country the Prince gave him in charge to stay at Home and upon occasion help to defend the Land in his Absence desiring him to reside in Aquitain till his Return together with his High Seneschal the Lord James Audley This Charge the Earl very readily undertook and so after Thanks for the honour of that Trust took his Leave and rode to Bourdeaux where the Princess and the Lord Audley were But the Prince and the Duke of Lancaster his Brother tarried still in the City of Dax diverting themselves a while and all their Men spread abroad in the Country about the Entry of the Passages that lead into Navarre for as yet it was not known whether they could be permitted to pass that way or no Althô the King of Navarre had solemnly engaged to have the Avenues ready open for them For there ran a Report thrô the Army how since that he was reconciled to the Bastard Henry whereat the Prince and his Council wondred greatly and King Don Pedro was extreamly displeased And thô there was no such Matter yet this Rumor gain'd so much Credit that Sr. Hugh Calverley with his Troops went up to the Marches of Navarre and took the Town of la Puente de Reyna or Queens-Bridge and the City of Miranda in that Kings Dominions which terrified all the Country and the News thereof flew presently to the King of Navarre When he perceived hereby that the Companions would enter his Land by Force he was infinitely displeased and complain'd thereof by his Letters to the Prince but the Prince seem'd to take no notice of the Matter because as he thought the King of Navarre kept not punctually the Promise made to Him and King Don Pedro. Whereupon instead of answering to his Complaints he wrote to him that he must first clear himself of what was laid to his Charge for it was generally discoursed that he had revolted to King Henry and it but too plainly appear'd that he had not left his Country open as he had promised At this Charge of Treason the King of Navarre was more vexed than before whereupon he sent a Lord named Sr. Martin Carre unto the Prince who being come to Dax behaved himself so discreetly in excusing the King his Master that the Prince forgat all his Displeasure on Condition that he the said Knight should return to the King of Navarre and oblige him to come to St. Jean Piè de Port whither the Prince should send some of his Council to confer with Him or else to send Messengers with sufficient Powers to the Prince at Dax So Sr. Martin Carre took leave of the Prince and returned to the King of Navarre to whom he recounted all that had passed between the Prince and him and so perswaded him for the further Vindication of Himself to go to St. Jean Piè de Port which having brought to pass he himself rode forward to Dax to inform the Prince thereof When the Prince knew that the King of Navarre was at St. Jean Piè de Port he sent his Brother the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord John Chandos with a small Company of Knights who all rode together with Sr. Martin Carre to discourse the King at the said Town The King of Navarre made them very welcome and there after some Consultation it was agreed that he should
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 good Country of Poictou but he found it so well furnished with Men of War both Knights and Esquires that no considerable Advantage was likely to be gained here Yet besides all this Power of the Duke of Berry's there were at the same time in the Marches of Touraine Three considerable Captains of the Companions who held Garrison there for France as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton and Sr. William de Bourde who all made War upon the English There was also at that time an English Esquire named Percival Damorie whom the Duke of Lancaster had left Captain in a Castle of his called Beaufort between Troyes and Châlons This Man seeing the War now open renounced his Allegiance to his Natural Lord the King of England and turn'd to the French side and sware Allegiance to King Charles who received him gladly Rewarded him well and left him still Captain of the said Castle adding unto him another Esquire of Champaigne named Owen so these two did much mischief to the English thereabouts being Persons of great Valour and Experience in the Wars But to recompence the Loss of this English Esquire the Noble Lord Canon of Robsart who had hitherto been all along on the French part came over voluntarily to the King of England and sware unto him Faith and Obedience for ever against all Men living Whereat King Edward was well pleased not only upon the account of the Man's Valour and Nobility but also of his known Judgement and Integrity which were sufficient to add Reputation to a Cause he was pleased to own The Duke of Anjou wan over to his side certain Gascogners Captains of the Companions as Sr. Perdiccas of Albret the Little Mechlin the Bourg of Bartuel Edmund Ortingo Perot of Savoy Ralph Braye and Nandon of Pons who all with their Troops turn'd to the French to the great Displeasure of the English on the other part who were much weakned thereby But Nandon of Bergerac the Bourg de l'Esparre Sr Robert Briquet Sr. Robert Thinne Sr. John Freville Sr. Galiard du la Motte and Emery of Rochechoüart remain'd still for the English Interest Thus Knights and Esquires chang'd their Copies on both sides as Hope or Affection perswaded them especially the Captains of the Companions for they all took part either with the English or the French none of them remain'd Neuters The Companions of the English side lay for the most part about the Bishoprick of Mans and also in base Normandy where they had taken the City of Vire and destroy'd all the Country about II. But these Forces were too small to uphold the English Interest on that side the Sea wherefore King Edward sent his Son Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge and his Son-in-Law John Hastings Earl of Pembroke to go into the Dutchy of Aquitaine to the Prince his Son and there joyn him with a certain Number of Men of War the Chief Captains whereof were the Lord Guy Brian the Lord Miles Stapleton Sr. John Trivet Sr. Thomas Banister and divers others beside the two Princes The Lord Guy b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. Brian was Admiral of the Fleet toward the setting forth whereof King Edward had commanded his Son the Prince of Wales to impreset all such Ships as were in the Port of Kaermerdin of one hundred Tunns and upwards and to send them well-mann'd and victuall'd to Portsmouth by such a time to be employ'd by the said Sr. Guy in the Kings Service All things being ready they took the Sea as early as they might being in all c Mezeray p. 81. 500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers who sailing toward Bretagne had Wind at Will and arrived safely at the Port of St. Malo in the Isle When John of Monford Duke of Bretagne heard of the Arrival of his Brethren of Cambridge and of Pembroke he was very well pleased and immediately sent certain of his Knights to bid them Welcome the Chief whereof were Sr. John de Lantriguer and Sr. John St. Augustin This Kindness of the Duke 's highly satisfied the two Earls for till then they were not assured that the Lords Knights and Good Towns of Bretagne would give them leave to pass thrô their Country But now they boldly desired that Favour of the Duke who whatever new obligations he had to France could not in Honour deny this Request to those by whose Aid he had obtain'd his Dukedom wherefore he gave them leave only conjuring them to pay civilly for what they should take Then the two Earls sent for all those English Companions who now lay part in the Fortress called Chasteau Gontier in Anjou and part in the City of Vire in low Normandy all whom they took along with them and so passed by the River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes without doing any harm to the Country Now from the time that Prince Edward had finish'd his Spanish Expedition Sr. Hugh Calverley was order'd to lie about the Marches of Aragon with 6000 able Men of War of the Companions in his Company in order to receive the Moneys for which Don Pedro stood engag'd unto the Prince Thô all that expectation proved fruitless by reason of the Death of the said King who was slain as we have shew'd by his Bastard Brother When this Sr. Hugh Calverley heard how the French King made War upon the Prince his Lord he marched hastily thrô Aragon and Foix and came into Bigorre and soon after went and presented his Service to the Prince at Angoulesme who received him joyfully and kept him still with him till his Brother the Earl of Cambridge should come to him with the rest of the Companions out of Normandy and Anjou they having already sold their Fortresses with Design to come to his Service And when the Earl was come he made Sr. Hugh Calverley Chief Leader of all the Troops of Companions and sent him into the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord of Albret there to make War and burn waste and pillage the Country Now it is to be remembred that the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke tarried still at St. Malo till all their Company had passed the Loire as the Duke of Bretagne had agreed and when they had tarried there to refresh themselves Four Days they went after their Men to the City of Nantes where the Duke received them with great Demonstrations of Kindness and entertain'd them and their Servants Three days On the Fourth they took their leave of the Duke and passed over the great River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes and so began to enter into Poictou continuing their journey till they came to Angoulesme where they found the Prince and Princess Prince Edward was extream glad to see his Brother and Brother-in-Law and enquired of them how the King his Father and the Queen his Mother did and having enjoy'd them for Three Days he then sent them upon an Expedition into the Earldom of Perigort So they took
first very loth to part with him but Sr. Eustace shew'd him so many Reasons that he was forced to give him his leave So Sr. Eustace went on Board with all his own Troops and arrived safely at St. Malo whence he rode to Nantes there to pass the River of Loire all which was done not without the Consent of the Duke of Bretagne who yet otherwise stood neuter in the Case Thence he rode into Poictou and thence to Angoulesme to the Prince who received him gladly for he was one of the Best Captains of the Age. He had not been long there but the Prince sent him away to reinforce the Lord Chandos and the Captal of Busche who lay then at Montauban keeping the Frontiers against the French And to them Sr. Eustace was heartily welcome IV. The mean while the Knights of Picardy held their Rendezvous with design to go and assault the strong Town of Ardres which was about three French leagues from Calais about five from Graveling and from St. Omers four leagues Northward The Captains of these Forces by the French Kings Command was the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and Sr. John Werchin Constable of Hainalt who made up no less than a 1000 Spears all Knights and Esquires besides Common Souldiers Being thus strong they went and lay down before the Fortress of Ardres which at that time was sufficiently provided with Englishmen and all things necessary wherefore the Garrison valued not the Siege a straw but were ready at their Defences as Occasion required and were at all Points well assured althô the Frenchmen had promised not to leave them till they should be Masters of the Place After two or three Days the Frenchmen Picards and Hainalders drew out into the Field ready armed for the Assault in fresh and terrible Array and so they set upon the Town in several places together with great Fury but nothing at all to their Advantage For many of them were slain and more wounded but no Man could tell of any Winnings they either then had or were like to have Wherefore on the fifth Day after their first coming thither they left Ardres little weaker in its Garrison but much stronger in the Resolution which the Enemies Despair of Prevailing had left behind And so that Expedition fell to nothing for all the Souldiers had leave to depart for that time to their several Homes V. A fairer Success crown'd the Arms of those Frenchmen who lay before Realville in Quercy for together with the Companions of their side they amounted to no less than 12000 Fighting Men besides 3000 of the Duke of Berry's Men lead by Sr. John of Armagnac Sr. John de Villemur the Lord of Beaujeu and other Knights of Auvergne and Burgundy who lay at least within two Days journey of them being ready to reinforce the Siege if need should be Now the Lord John Chandos and the Captal of Busche Sr Guischard Dangle Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt and other English Captains that kept the Frontiers at Montauban were well informed of all the Particulars of this Siege of Realville and of the great Number of Enemies with whom of themselves they were no ways able to cope and at the same time not hazard the loss of their own Garrison And yet they could not by any means perswade the two young Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke to break up for the present their fruitless Siege which they held still before Bourdeilles and to come and joyn them to save their Friends Which certainly had been more for their Honour and Advantage too for then having a pious and an honourable Work they might have returned to the Siege laden with Glory and a Civic as well as Triumphal Crown So the Frenchmen before Realville not only cast with their Engines night and day but set their Pioneers at work also who at last causing an huge Pane of the Wall to fall down the Town was enter'd and all the English within put to the Sword which was a great Pitty for among them were many Valiant Esquires But as for the Townsmen who were French-born they were taken to Mercy on Condition to be thenceforth True and Faithfull Subjects to the Crown of France And so the French Lords and Captains having set there New Officers with a good Garrison to defend the Place went away and took up their Quarters about in the Country of Quercy and Rouvergue to refresh themselves more at ease But the Companions of that part went to Cahors and thereabouts from whence they overran and infested all the Country as much as own'd the English the Names of their Captains were Edmund of Ortingo Perot of Savoy Ralph Braye the little Mechlin Arnold of Pons and others aforemention'd But the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Lisle the Vicount of Carmain the Earl of Cominges and other Gascogne Lords were fain to return into their several Countries For in Perigort lay the two Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke and on the other side Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. John Freville Nandon of Bergerac Sr. Ralph Camois the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg de l'Esparre and all the Companions on the English side made sharp War and ravaged with Fire and Sword in and about the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and of the Lord of Albret VI. All this while Sr. Thomas Wake that Valiant Seneschal of Rouvergue gallantly maintain'd for his Master the Black-Prince the City and Castle of Millaud which is about a Days journey from Mompellier and thô all the Country about him was soon after turn'd French yet still he held the Place maugre all his Enemies for about a Year and an Half afterward besides another good Fortress hard by In all which time he made many Excursions upon his Enemies to his Honour till Sr. Bertram of Clequin put him out of all as we shall see hereafter Because by reason of the Prince's sickness and the several small Armies of the Enemy the War was thus carried on by Parcels in many Places at once we hope the Judicious will pardon us for thus handling Matters as indeed they were acted by Piece-meal which yet we shall endeavour to do as exactly as the Nature of the thing will allow While the e Frois c. 255. f. 154. Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke lay thus before Bourdeilles there were in the Marches of Poictou Sr. John Bull Sr. William Bourde Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton with more than 1200 Fighting Men who imagin'd and studied day and night how to get Towns and Fortresses in Poictou by Surprise Assault or Scalado One time above others they gat by surprise and Scalado the Castle and Fortress of la Roche de Pozay on the River of Creuse at the Entrance of Poictou about 2 leagues from la Haye en Touraine and near Chastelleraut on the Vienne At this loss all the Country of Poictou was in a Consternation for here the Frenchmen put a good Garrison having
Duke of Burgundy came thither with his great Army and sat down over against the English between St. Omers and Tournehan in very good Order But he took up a large extent of ground for it was said how he had in his Army more than y Frois ibid. 4000 Knights whereby the Number of the rest may be conjectur'd And in this manner the two Armies lay facing each other without any offer to come to a decisive Battle For thô the Duke of Burgundy did so far outnumber the English that he was z Frois ibid. fol. 169. Seven to their One yet he durst not come to a pitch'd Battle because the King his Brother had commanded expresly to the contrary And no doubt that Circumspect Prince considering that in spite of such disadvantages the English had oftentimes conquer'd in the Days of his Predecessors particularly when they took his Father Prisoner in the Battle of Poictiers thought it best now like Fabius the Cunctator to oppose delay to their Fury which indeed as Matters then went prov'd the best Council As for the English thô being so inferior in Number they thought not good to attaque the Enemy in his Trenches a Fro. s ibid. yet they would not have refus'd him had he come forward for every day they ranged themselves in good Order of Battle to receive him all Men being appointed what to do in their several Offices and Stations However most of the time was entertain'd with Skirmishes between the two Armies now this fide gaining the better and now that as the chance of War is And Lewis Earl of Flanders who very much studied the Welfare of his Son-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy and now lay at a fair Palace of his which he had newly built near Gaunt hearing an account of the State of both Armies by Messengers going too and fro between the Duke and Him would always advise him by his Letters that he should not by any means break the Command of his Brother the French King to present the English with Battle XX. While b Frois c. 264. fol. 169. these two Armies of France and England lay thus idly confronting one another there fell many memorable adventures in Poictou of which we shall now say somewhat For it is not agreeable that any of the Exploits of that Gallant Hero Sr. John Chandos should be forgotten We remembred before how upon the Lord James Audley's not Death but only Retirement into England he was by the Prince of Wales made Grand Seneschal of Poictou and as he yielded in Conduct or Courage to no man living so now especially he desired to adorn his Province and to do some memorable Act upon the Frenchmen Wherefore he soon assembled a considerable Body of Men of Arms in the City of Poictiers saying he design'd to make an Inroad into Anjou and to come back again by Touraine and look upon the Frenchmen in the Marches and Frontiers there Notice of this his Design he sent forthwith to the Earl of Pembroke who lay then in Garrison at Mortagne a Fortress of Poictou lying on the River la Sevre and confining on the Borders of Anjou and had at least two Hundred Spears in his Company The Young Earl was huge glad of this News and very much desired to go along with the Lord Chandos but some Green Heads among his Followers diverted him by saying Sir You are but as yet in the Flower of your Youth Your Honour is yet to come whereof from those early Seeds of Vertue within You We may expect a plentifull harvest But if You put your self in Company of the Lord Chandos his Ripe and High-grown Reputation will choak yours in its very growth So that whatsoever Noble Exploit You shall now perform the Glory thereof will be only his because He is the Sovereign and most noted Captain in these parts Wherefore since You are so great a Lord and nothing Inferior to him either in Birth Alliance or Courage 't is fitter that what You do You build on your own Foundation And e'en let the Lord Chandos do what he pleases upon his own account c Frois ibid. since in comparison to You he is but a Knight Batchelour A Lecture of Ambition is easily received by most Men but especially by Young Persons who apparently hazard their Lives for Honour So that the Earls Eagerness to accompany the Lord Chandos was upon this occasion very much abated whereupon he made his Excuse for that time and declin'd to joyn Issue in the Enterprise Envy is surely the Stepmother of all Brave Undertakings and the Laudable Course of Vertue is never stopt but by the Rubs she flings in her way However the Just God has made her a Plague to her self and in the End all the Mischief she design'd falls redoubled upon her own Head. The Earl of Pembroke will find a time to repent this folly of his and we shall shortly see him to owe his Life to the Assistance of this General under whom He now despis'd to learn the Rudiments of War. Notwithstanding the Lord Chandos would not break his Purpose but made his Rendezvous at Poictiers and then began his March with 300 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 1100 Archers in his Company The Chief Noblemen and Captains under him were the Lord Thomas Piercy the Lord Thomas Spencer Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Dangouses Sr. Thomas Banister Sr. John Trivet Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. William Montendre Sr. Moubron Linieres Sr. Richard Taunton and many more all who rode forth with their several Retinues and the Archers in good Array and passed thô Poictou into the parts of Anjou their Van-Currours who rode before them ravaging all the Country as they went. At this rate they proceeded and did what they pleas'd in the fruitfull Land of Anjou none offering to oppose them thô they tarried in those parts for 15 days especially in Loudunois After which they return'd again with much Booty taking the way between Anjou and Touraine along by the River Creuse whence they descended into the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and put all to fire and sword leaving nothing untouch'd except perhaps what was secur'd in strong Fortresses So at last they passed the Vienne at St. Junien and shew'd themselves before the strong Town of Rochechoüart which they attempted but in vain For the Vicount had beforehand well fortify'd the Place and set therein two good Captains Sr. Tibault du Pont and Sr. Helion de Talay whereupon the Lord Chandos would spend no more time there Just then he had notice how the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France was at la Haye en Touraine with a considerable Body of Men wherefore being desirous to go thither and yet thinking himself not strong enough he sent once more to the Earl of Pembroke kindly entreating him now that an Advantage was offer'd against the Enemy to come and joyn him with all his Power at Chastelleraut in order to march
together toward la Haye en Touraine Chandos the Herald went on this Message and found the Young Earl at Mortaigne who had indeed already made his Musters but with intent to undertake as he was before advised an Expedition by himself so to win the more Honour Wherefore again he excus'd himself to the Herald saying how as then he could not by any means wait upon the Lord Chandos because he had engag'd himself another way The Herald return'd with this Answer to Chastelleraut where he found his Lord Sr. John Chandos and related to him the Earls excuse from point to point Sr. John was exceedingly displeased in his Mind when he heard what News his Herald had brought him For he concluded that it was an effect of ill Consequence to the Affairs of the Prince his Master and that it proceeded from Envy or Presumption both which are Enemies to the Publique Good in Matters relating to the Concern of a Common-Weal So he only said Well then in Gods Name be it so If a Man of Honour can be byass'd from his Countries Good by private Designs And therewithall he dismist the Greater part of his Troops and went with the rest to the City of Poictiers The Effects of this trespass upon Discipline We shall see immediately XXI Now d Frois c. 265. fol. 159. when the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke heard how the Lord Chandos had discharged the Major part of his Forces and was returned to the City of Poictiers then he thought it high time for him to go abroad in quest of Honour and so he marched forth of Mortagne with 300 Spears English and Poictevins and some other Knights of England Poictou and Sainctogne who had lately been with the Lord Chandos With these Troops he passed thrô Poictou taking the same way which the Lord Chandos had done before and burnt and ravaged about in the Country of Anjou taking for Prize all that was left and so he also tarried a while in the Land of Loudunois and from thence he went into the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart where he did many severe Acts of Hostility Now the French Captains who lay in Garrison on the Marches of Touraine Anjou and Poictou were well informed both of the Lord Chandos his Expedition and also of this of the Earl of Pembroke and moreover they understood how the Earl who was but a very Young Man not exceeding one and twenty Years of Age had thrô meer Presumption and Folly disdain'd to go forth in the Company of the Lord John Chandos Wherefore they endeavour'd to snap him if they might and determin'd whatever should happen to encounter with him for at best they reckon'd him much more easie to deal with than the Lord Chandos Accordingly having privately made their Musters consisting of a certain Quota from every Garrison they went secretly one Night from La Roche Pozay in Touraine just on the limits of Poictou under the Command of Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France with whom were Sr. Robert of Sancerre his Brother Sr. John de Vienne Sr. John Bull Sr. William Bourde Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton to the Number of 700 Fighting Men. The Earl of Pembroke had by this time ended his Expedition and was returning home again having already entred Poictou after he had ravaged without Controll in the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart He had in his Company the Lord Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Sainctogne Sr. Neale Loring Sr. Thomas Spencer Sr. Thomas Piercy Sr. Dangouses Sr. John Harpedon Sr. James of Surgieres Sr. John Cousins Sr. Thomas of St. Alban Sr. Robert Twiford Sr. John Montagu Sr. Simon Ausagne Sr. John Touchet and many more Gentlemen of England and Poictou The Earl and his Men rode homeward without any suspicion having not had the least Intelligence of any Men of War stirring abroad at that time and in this Security with great Prey and Booty they enter'd the Bounds of Poictou On a e Frois c. 265. Du Chesne p. 702. day the Earl and his Men rode into a certain Village called Puirenon about High-Noon where they intended to Dine and began to mark out their Quarters and their Valets set up their Horses and others were busie in providing their Dinner when suddenly the Frenchmen who knew well enough what to do came galloping into the Town with their Spears in their Rests and crying out Our Lady of Sancerre for the Marshal of France And therewith they beat down the Englishmen on all hands in the streets and in the Houses wherefore there arose a great noise whereat the Earl of Pembroke and his Men were all amazed for they were suddenly taken When the Earl Sr. Baldwin Frevile and Sr. Thomas Piercy with the other Knights heard how the French were come and assailed their Men they drew forth of their Lodgings blew their Trumpets and unfolded their Banners hoping to bring their Troops together into Order But it was too late the French had intercepted many and slain more and disturbed all the rest so that at the first brunt there were taken and slain more than sixscore Wherefore the Earl's last shift was to withdraw as soon as he might with those Men he had left which were not above 200 beside all the Chief Officers into a place belonging to the Temple enclosed with High Stone Walls Hither they convey'd themselves and their Horses as many as they could recover and immediately prepared to defend the place with all their Power and barr'd up the Gates and gather'd together huge Stones and so set themselves in the best posture they might devise The mean while all those who were found in the Town were either taken or slain and most part of their Horses and Armour and all the Earl of Pembroke's Jewels Riches and Baggage were won Word was brought to the Frenchmen that the Earl himself and the residue of his Men were got together in a kind of a Church-yard at which News they were well pleas'd for they knew the place was not impregnable Some of them said in jest Let Us give them a little time to choose out their own Graves and after Dinner we 'll come and see how they fit them But the Chief Captains said Let Us go to 'um presently they are all our own they can no ways escape our Hands Now they shall pay dearly for all the Damages they have done Us in Touraine and Anjou And so they came in good Array to the Place and began to Assault it with great Vigour every where round about being all Men that wanted neither Skill nor Courage The Earl of Pembroke and his Men did their utmost to defend themselves so that no Men living could do better The Frenchmen had certain scaling Ladders by Chance with them upon which some of them adventur'd to mount the Wall with their Shields over their Heads for fear of shot and casting of stones But when they were up they were so hotly received
Peace was now done we shall proceed orderly to the War. All this Winter l Frois c. 296. c. Gallicè f. 244. there were held in England by the King many Consultations how to carry on the War the Summer following for he design'd to send two Powerfull Armies the One to act about the Parts of Aquitaine and the other from Calais to March thrô Picardy into France And all the while he neglected not to Establish himself with Friends on every side as well in Almaine as the Marches of the Empire where he purchas'd many good Knights and Esquires to his Service And befides all this in England he made such Wonderfull Preparations that the like had hardly been seen before But it seems that God Almighty was willing to prepare this Glorious Monarch by some sensible Affliction for his final Dissolution and that He might by observing his own Weakness fall to a due Consideration of Gods Power and learn to despise the salse Grandeur and Painted Glories of the World he was pleased from this time to blast both his maturest Counsels and his strongest Preparations whereby as a Father doth his Child he weaned him from the Delights and Allurements of this Life and directed him to seek after a better For to say the Truth We cannot till this time Date the Full Birth of King Edward's Misfortunes But from henceforward We shall see his Great Web of Victories continually to unravel and the strong spring of his Success to run backwards with much more speed than ever it was wound up King Charles m Frois ibid. of France was perfectly informed of all King Edward's most secret Resolutions whereupon he provided in all Places accordingly And first he mightily fortified all his Towns Cities and Castles in Picardy and the Marches towards Flanders supplying all his Garrisons with good Captains and Souldiers and other necessaries Nor did he forget his Concerns in Guienne but besides the Armies on that side in Garrison which were able to resist any Encounter after his usual way of Artifice he tamper'd secretly with the Chief Burgesses of Rochelle and other Places and sent also to his New Confederate the King of Spain desiring him effectually to assist him with a strong Fleet the next Summer III. On the other hand King Edward when the Spring was enter'd and he had magnificently solemnised the Feast of St. George as was his constant Custom at Windsor having created Sr. Guischard Dangle Knight of the Garter in the Room of Sr. Walter Manny deceased return'd to London and at his Royal Palace at Westminster held a Great Council about the Affairs of his Realm Here he ordain'd the Duke of Lancaster as his Lieutenant to invade France with a great Army by the Plains of Picardy the Earl of Cambridge being to attend him Then at the instant request of the Lord Guischard Dangle and all the Poictevin Lords whom he and his fellows represented he order'd the Earl of Pembroke n Rot. Vasc 46. Ed. 3. m. 4. as his Lieutenant in Aquitaine to go into Poictou to preserve that Country and to make Powerfull War against the French on that side For the Gascogners and Poictevins had earnestly requested of the King both by their Letters and the Mouth of Sr. Guischard Dangle that if he could not spare some One of the Princes his Sons yet at least he would send the Earl of Pembroke unto them whom next to those they lov'd and honour'd most as having had good Experience of his Extraordinary Courage and Conduct Hereupon King Edward before all his Barons and Knights then assembled in Council said unto the Earl of Pembroke who thô now Husband to the Lord Manny's Daughter had for his first Wise a Daughter of the Kings My Fair Son John I here appoint You as my Lieutenant and Commander in Chief over all Aquitaine to go into Poictou along with my Lord Guischard of Angoulesme and there to be Captain of all my Forces as well of those whom I shall send with You as of such whom You shall find there ready to joyn You who are no small Number as I am credibly informed The young Earl kneeling down said Sir I heartily thank your Majesty for the great Honour You are pleased to confer upon me thô I should be glad to be employ'd in your Majesties Service either there or elsewhere as One of the meanest Officers of your Army IV. These Orders being thus settled and due Care taken for all things to be ready against the time appointed the Council brake up and the King return'd to his Beloved Seat of Windsor He took along with him among others the Noble Poictevin Lord Sr. Guischard Dangle with whom he frequently spake of the Affairs of Poictou and Guienne Sr. Guischard advis'd the King by no means to doubt the Loyalty of his Good Subjects there For Sir said he as soon as my Lord of Pembroke shall but once appear he shall find a Considerable Army in the Field to joyn him For We shall make up to the Number of Four or Five Hundred Spears at least with their several Retinues all at Your Majesties Service to live and die for You so they may have their Wages duly paid them Sr. Guischard Sr. Guischard reply'd the King take You no Care for Gold and Silver to maintain the War when You are once come thither For I thank God I have enough and I am well content to bestow it on such a Commodity as the Glory and Advantage of Me and my Kingdom In such o Frois c. 297. sed Gallicè fol. 244. b. Discourse the King past the time with Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he entirely respected and credited no less as indeed he deserved till the Fleet was ready and the Earl of Pembroke came thither to take his leave of the King in order to his going on Board The Captains that accompanied him were the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Thomas of St. Albans Sr. John Lawton Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John Curson Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Grimston all Knights of England besides the Poictovins as the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinan the Lord John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and others but they had no great Company with them because Sr. Guischard Dangle had advis'd the King not to exhaust England of her Best Men at that time when there were enough ready to fight for him in Poictou provided he sent over sufficient for their Wages All the Captains and their Men were order'd to repair to Southampton where they were fain to tarry no less than fifteen days in expectance of a Wind and then they went on Board with a good merry Gale and set sail for Poictou as they said in the Name of God and St. George but most certainly in an unlucky Hour For King Charles of France being either inform'd of all this or thrô his great Insight into Matters guessing how things would fall or thrô doubt
was called the RESTORER OF FRANCE unless perhaps he had Command from the King so to do which is not unlikely However the Earl of Salisbury having taken a convenient Plat of Ground before Brest when he saw that the French and Bretons moved not forward sent an Herald to the Constable who being brought before him said Sir my Lord the Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England send you Word by me who am an Herald of Arms how they understand that some while since you laid siege to the Castle of Brest and how certain Treaties and Compositions were made between you and those of the Garrison importing that if they were not relieved by such a Day which is now at hand then they should deliver up the Town and Castle into your Hands Wherefore Sir may it please you to know that they are now come before Brest to keep their Day and to defend the Place And for your part they expect you should repair to meet them which if you shall do they promise you Battle without fail But if you refuse thus much then they require you to send them again such Hostages as you have upon this Account The Constable answer'd subtlely Herald whereas you tell us how the English are come to give us Battle you bring us good News and are therefore Welcome You shall tell your Masters also that we are more desirous to fight with them than they can be with us but yet they are not in that Place where the Treaty was confirmed and authorised Therefore let them know that if they will come hither without fail we will present them with Battle This the Politick Constable spake because he knew it impossible for them to go as far as Nantes where the Treaty was made on Foot since it was more than 40 leagues off from Brest With this Answer the Herald return'd to the Earl of Salisbury who thereupon sent him back again with another Message which he thus deliver'd Sir I am come again to you from my Lords and Masters to whom I have related your first Answer from Point to Point But Sir they say how they are Men of the Sea and being lately come thence have no Horses with them and that they are not accustomed to travel far on Foot. But this they say that if you will send them your Horses they will come to what Place you will appoint and give Battle to keep touch with you No more haste than good Speed reply'd the Constable we are not in the humour to do our Enemies such a Kindness as to send them our Horses it would surely be a small piece of Wisdom so to do And yet if we had such a Purpose we should demand good and sufficient Hostages which should be responsible for our Horses again Sir said the Herald I have no Orders to say any thing as to that Matter But this Sir they commanded me to tell you that if you will not yield thus much you cannot lawfully detain the Hostages which are in your Hands Wherefore Sir in sending them back you will do honourably as you ought to do The Constable said he was not advis'd to do any such thing and so the Herald return'd to the Earl of Salisbury before Brest When he heard that the French would neither give him Battle nor restore the Hostages he was extreamly displeased but however there he tarried till the Day was expired and he found that the Constable did but dodge with him The next Day following the limited time he entred Brest and revictuall'd the Town and reinforced the Garison greatly after which he return'd to his Ships to keep the Marches and Frontiers on the Sea-coasts as he had been commanded by King Edward to do On the other side when the Constable saw that the English came not forward to fight him which indeed he never thought they could do he said the Hostages were all his Prisoners because the Appointment was not truly kept for the Earl of Salisbury had newly reinforced and victuall'd the Garrison and so he sent the Hostages to Prison Which Procedure of the Constable's was certainly more full of French Fineness than of any True Honour or Heroick Courage When the Earl of Salisbury was gone and Brest fully secured Sr. Robert Knolles rode away from Brest with certain Good Men of Arms and went straight to his own Fortress of Derual News thereof came presently to the Constable and the Duke of Anjou who were then at Nantes whereupon they supposed as indeed it happen'd For soon after Sr. Robert sent them word that he would keep no such Agreement as his Men had made in his Absence without his Leave seeing they had no sufficient Authority so to do When the Duke of Anjou heard this he resolved to go Personally and besiege Derual but the Prosecution of this we shall refer to another more proper Place and speak now of the Duke of Lancaster XIII This Valiant Prince r Frois c. 310. f. 190. with the Duke of Bretagne in his Company and an Army of above 30000 Men whereof there were 3000 Men of Arms and 10000 Archers landed safely at Calais about the beginning of July the same Expedition being design'd the Year before but that it was put off for that time by reason of the Business of Thoüars In this Army besides the two Dukes of Lancaster and Bretagne there were the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Suffolk the Lord Edward Spencer one of the Greatest Barons of the Realm at that time Constable of all the Host the Lord Robert Willoughby the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Thomas Holland the Canon Robsart the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Lewis Clifford the Lord William Beauchamp the Lord John Falvesle the Lord John Burwash the Lord John Mohun Sr. Richard Ponchardon Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Stephen Cossington Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Geoffry Say Sr. Thomas Spencer Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. Hugh Brudnel Sr. Nicolas Gascogne Sr. Geoffry Werkesly Sr. Thomas Emerton Sr. John Chandler Sr. Philip Cambray Sr. Lionel Dautrey and many Others whose Names at this Distance are not easily recoverable The French King who knew beforehand of all this mighty Preparation against him had provided sufficiently for the Defence of his Cities Towns Castles and Fortresses in Artois Picardy and Vermandois having well stock'd them with Souldiers as Frenchmen Bretons Burgundians Picards Normans and divers that belonged to the Empire The Duke of Lancaster having staid a while at Calais to refresh his Men and to fit the Carriages whereof there was in Abundance began on the 20 of July to march from Calais in three Great Bodies as well order'd as possibly could be devised First went the Battails of the Marshals who were the Earls of Warwick and Suffolk Then came the two Dukes of Lancaster and Bretagne and with them a
Duke of Anjou tarried still at St. Omers From King Edward there came John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster John Dreux commonly called Monford Duke of Bretagne William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and William Courtney Bishop of London Sr. Robert of Namur was also with the Duke of Lancaster and waited on him to do him Honour while he staid in Flanders and the two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras went between the two Parties and took much Pains shewing many weighty Reasons to induce both Sides to Moderation but all to no purpose the Lords were so far asunder in their Resolutions For the French King demanded back again 1400000 Franks which had been paid for the Redemption of King John and also to have Calais rased and beaten down to the Ground To neither of which would the King of England by any means consent Then the f Fabian p. 258. c. French Deputies required Licence of the Legates that they might ride to Paris to declare more particularly unto the King the Offers made on the English Part after which they promised to return with an Account of his Pleasure as to the Premises Upon this Demand it was at last resolved that certain sufficient Persons for that purpose appointed should go and shew unto King Charles How the English Negotiators besides that they absolutely refused to refund the Money or to rase Calais as aforesaid stood stifly for the Absolute Sovereignty which they said belonged to the King their Master and that the King of England and his Heirs Kings of England should for ever enjoy all the Lands comprised in the former Peace made between Him and King John without any Homage or Resort or any other Duty paying or owing therefore Upon this King Charles summon'd his Peers and Nobles about him and there came many Lawyers and Doctors of Divinity unto him to Paris to hold a Debate and Argument on this Matter And here at last it was peremptorily determin'd that the King might not part with his Right of Sovereignty without great Peril of his Soul because he was so manifoldly engaged to maintain the Rights of his Kingdom This Report being brought to Bruges the Treaty immediately fell to pieces without any further Effect but only that by the earnest Intercession of the Legates the Truce however was prolonged to the g Rot. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. m. 16 21. Last of June then next ensuing and afterwards was lengthen'd out farther to the First of April of the Year MCCCLXXVII to give notice whereof to the English Subjects h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. a Proclamation was set forth So these Lords on both sides tarried at Bruges the Remainder of the foregoing h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. Winter and most part of the Lent following keeping great State especially the Dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy But in the Spring they all return'd to their several Countries except the Duke of Bretagne who tarried still in Flanders with the Earl Lewis his Cosen k Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. who made him extream welcome for the space of a Year i Fabian p. 258. But we must not forget to make mention of the great Good-will which King Edward and his Children still manifested to the Person of the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who being taken as we have related before Soubise was all this while kept a Prisoner in the Tower of the Temple at Paris Him they l Frois c. 315. earnestly labour'd to get at Liberty and made frequent Overtures to that purpose but especially now by their Ambassadors and Negotiators at Bruges they offer'd in Exchange for him Valeran the young Earl of St. Pol and Three or Four other Knights besides m Frois c. 332. fol. 210. b. Gold and Silver in Abundance But the French King and his Council would by no means consent to deliver him n Frois c. 315. fol. 196. b. Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 194. unless he would swear Never more to bear Arms against the Crown of France To which Proposal the Loyal Gascogner stoutly reply'd That thô he was sure otherwise to die in Prison yet he would never make any such Oath But of this Valiant Prince's Death we shall speak hereafter III. This Year being the Fiftieth of King Edward's Reign over England he kept o Daniel's History p. 256. a Second Jubilee in consideration thereof and gave Pardons Immunities and Graces and shew'd many Notable Acts of Bounty and Goodness to his People as in the First Jubilee which was the Fiftieth Year of his Age. A singular Blessing which very few Monarchs have ever arrived to either before or since that time Soon after viz. on the 28 of April p M.S. Ret. Par. 50. Ed. 3. p. 116. n. 1 c. Item Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 120. c. being the Monday after the Feast of St. George FE Lit. Dom. the King of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster On which Day there was a considerable Appearance both of Lords and Commons before the King in his own Chamber Royal. But because divers of the Lords and some few of the Commons were not come Proclamation was made in the Great Hall at Westminster that all such who had received Summons to Parliament should be there the next Morning by Eight of the Clock At which Day Sr. John Knevet Knight Lord Chancellour of England §. 2. declared before the King Lords and Commons the Causes of the present Parliament to be Three viz. To enquire how the King should best provide for the Government of the Realm Secondly for the Defence of the same as well beyond the Seas as on this side both by Sea and by Land and lastly how he might prosecute his Quarrel against his Enemies and make good the same the Chancellour adding That as the King had always in all his Attempts follow'd their Good Counsel so now he meant to do no less Wherefore in the King's Name he wish'd them to go together the Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves and speedily to consult and return an Answer So when there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places and Isles beyond the Seas Tryers of the said Petitions after the Custom being subjoyned §. 3 4 5 6 7. the * §. 8. Commons were willed to depart to their accustomed Place being the Chapter-House of the Abbot of Westminster whither they went accordingly And then certain of the Lords and Nobles who are particularly named in the Records were order'd for the quicker Dispatch of Affairs to go and consult with the Commons In consideration of the necessary