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.
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
c. 236. Caxton c. that not long before the King had sent the Ambassadors aforesaid to Avignon to require of Pope Gregory that as to the Reservation of Benefices of England made in his Court he would supersede Medling for the future that Clergymen might freely enjoy their Elections to Episcopal Dignities and that it might be sufficient for them to be confirmed by their Metropolitans as was the Antient Custom Upon these and the like Abuses they required Remedy of the Pope concerning all which Articles the said Ambassadors had certain Answers from his Holiness touching which the Pope enjoyned them upon their Return into England to certifie him by their Letters of the King's Will and of his Realm and also that they would press the King to let him first know what he and his Council design'd to do before they proceeded to determine any thing as to the Premises The Result whereof we shall refer to the next Year However in this Parliament it was Enacted That Cathedral Churches should enjoy their own Elections and that for the future the King should not write against the Persons so Elected but rather by his Letters endeavour their Confirmation if need were But this Statute availed not much afterward The o M.S. Ret. Par. ut ante Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Burgesses of Bristow in this Parliament require that the said Town with the Suburbs thereof may be a County of it self and that the Perambulation of the same with the Bounds thereof returned into the Chancery with all the Liberties and Charters thereto granted may be confirmed by Act of Parliament The King is content to grant that the Charters Liberties and Perambulation aforesaid may be confirmed under the Great Seal That no French Prior Alien be permitted to dwell within twenty Miles of the Sea-Coast for several Reasons there specified The King by his Council will provide therefore That Remedy may be had that Men be not called into the Exchequer upon Suggestion without Process contrary to the Statute made in the 42 Year of the King. Let any particular Man complain and he shall find Remedy After this the Lord Chancellor in the Kings Name gave great Thanks to the Lords and Commons and so this Session ended It is to be observed that the Printed Statute touching the Assize of Broad Cloath Cap. 1. agreeth with the Record As also that Cap. 2. touching Scottish Silver Coin. XVIII This Year it is reported p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 92. Odor Rainal ad an 1374. §. 13. ex Chron. Belg. Job Leyd c. that there happen'd in Italy France and England especially in the Lower Countries a certain Maniack Passion or Frenzy unknown to former Ages for those who were tormented therewith which for the most part were the Scum of the People stript themselves stark naked put Garlands of Flowers on their Heads and taking one another by the Hands went about in the streets and into the Churches dancing singing and turning round with such vehemence that they would fall down to the ground quite out of Breath This Agitation made them swell so prodigiously that within an Hours time they would burst unless some-body took care to bind their Bellies about with strong Swathing-bands Those who looked on them too earnestly were often tainted with the same Malady It was thought to have come by some Diabolical Operation and that Exorcisms did much prevail against it The Vulgar called it St. John's Dance XIX There died q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. b. about this time a valiant Baron of England named the Lord Miles Stapleton one * Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 7. p. 298. of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind Thomas his Son and Heir then of full Age who yet died also this same Year without Issue leaving his Sister Elizabeth his next Heir she being then married to Sr. Thomas Metham Which Sr. Thomas having at that time Issue by her and doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance There died r Walsing hist p. 183. Vid. Godwins Catal. Bish c. also this Year Dr. John Thoresby Archbishop of York and Dr. John Barnet Bishop of Ely besides the Bishop of Worcester of whose Death we spake at the beginning of the last Parliament Alexander Nevile succeeded in the See of York Thomas Fitz-Alan younger Son to the Earl of Arundel in that of Ely and Henry Wakefield in that of Worcester CHAPTER the ELEVENTH AN. DOM. 1374. An. Regni Angliae XLVIII Franciae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward inquires into the Livings then in the Hands of Aliens with his Letters to the Bishop of Winchester for that purpose II. He sends Commissioners to treat with the Popes Legates about the Premisses with the Copy of their Commission and the Effect of their Treaty III. The Duke of Anjou's Expedition into Gascogne IV. A Truce between the Dukes of Lancaster and Anjou V. The Lords of High Gascosgne yield to the Duke of Anjou who takes in all 40 Towns and Castles from the English VI. Becherel for want of succour yields VII Sr. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France is redeem'd with an Adventure between him and the Lord of Gomegines Captain of Ardres for King Edward VIII A Treaty at Bruges concerning a Peace between the two Crowns wherein Care is had of the Earl of Pembroke and others taken formerly by the Spaniards with the Death of the said Earl of Pembroke and some Observations thereon IX The Death of Francis Petrarch Laureat Poet of Italy and some other Considerable Persons of England X. An Account of Madam Alice Perrers who was falsly said to be King Edward's Concubine I. KING Edward being perpetually alarum'd as well in Parliament as otherwise by his Subjects who complain'd of the many great Abuses done unto Him and his Authority by the See of Rome as of their Reservations and other Arts whereby they entrenched upon his Prerogative Royal and the Liberties of the Church of England exhausting his Kingdom to enrich Strangers and such as were his Enemies the King I say being now throughly awaken'd at these Cries of his People among other notable Ways whereby he encountred these Usurpations began a Fox Acts Monum p. 560. at this time to require an exact Survey of all Benefices and Dignities Ecclesiastical throughout his Dominions which were then in the Hands of Italians Frenchmen or other Aliens with a true Valuation of the same and sent unto all his Bishops his Royal Commission to make such Enquiry the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Reverend Father in God William by the same Grace Bishop of Winchester Greeting Being willing for certain Reasons Us thereunto moving to be certified what and how many Benefices as well Archdeaconries and other Dignities as Vicarages Parsonages Prebends and Chapters within your Dioecese there be
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
do what became his Wisdom and Courage but he was something surpris'd to be taken at such a time when most of his best Friends were absent with the Earl of Salisbury who lay then before Rennes but knew nothing of this matter it had been carried on so privately When the Besiegers had made good their Approaches and rightly fitted themselves they immediately fell on the Assault which they maintain'd with incredible Fury and Resolution For they feared lest the Earl of Salisbury should be informed of this their undertaking before they had effected their Design The Lords Henryds Leon and Sr. Oliver Clisson gave the greatest Encouragement and set the best Example so that never any Attack was carried on with more Ardour nor obtain'd better Success For there were so many places to be Mann'd and so few hands to perform that at last they wan the Barriers not long after the Gates and so they entred the City by force the English being now in their turn put to the chace many hurt and taken and more slain The Lord Robert of Artois escaped very narrowly thrô a Postern thô grievously wounded and with him the Lord Stafford who both got to the Countess to Hennebond The Lord Hugh Spencer was taken by the Lord Henry du Leon but so grievously wounded as Froisard says that he died within three Days after Thô this is a mistake for this Baron Spencer died not till p Dâ—dg 1 Vol. p. 395. six Years after as appears from the Records only indeed a Brother of his Sr. Edward Spencer we find to have departed this Life about this time But neither will I affirm that he was the Man for his Death is set a little more forward VIII Thus q Frois c. 93. fol. 47. b. was the City of Vannes retaken and fortified and repaired with all Expedition imaginable for fear of a Relapse so that within a short space it was much better provided to endure a Siege than ever before The Lord Robert of Artois tarried a while at Hennebond to seek remedy for his Wounds but neither did the Air agree with him nor the Physick For he found but little good there So he was advis'd to return into England where he might get more skilfull Chirurgeons But in his voyage the Sea and the Weather us'd him so unkindly that his sores fester'd insomuch that being brought to London he there died soon after Surely thô his High Spirit not being able to brook an injury from one whom He had in a manner raised to a Crown had urged him to open Enmity with his own Country yet for his Valour Conduct and Loyalty to King Edward he ought not to be deprived of his due Commendations especially since his fault against his Country may seem to have been expiated by his violent Death but the Worth of the Man may appear to have been considerable since his fall was bemoan'd as a Publique Loss over all England and King Edward himself being present at his Funeral in St. Pauls Cathedral perform'd his Obsequies as solemnly as if he had been his own Cosin Henry Plantagenet the most Noble and Valiant Earl of Darby Nor that only but he made a vow that he would severely revenge his Death and to that purpose would go himself in Person into Bretagne and bring the Country into such heavy desolation that it should not be recover'd of fourty Years He that could resolve to do so much for his sake after Death cannot but be supposed to have had an high esteem for his Person when living Althô I do not find that he had any Monument raised for him over the place of his Burial Perhaps King Edward thought as the late Noble Montross wrote for his Martyr'd Prince that it was more fitting To sing his Obsequies with Trumpets Sounds And write his Epitaph in Blood and Wounds However the Kingdom of France did not gain much by his Fall for her evil Genius soon after rais'd up another Native of her own who prov'd as great a Firebrand of the War against Her. IX But we must not omit a Memorable Parliament which King Edward held this Year at his Palace of Westminster die Lunae post Quindenam Paschae that is on * E. Lit. Dom. Pascha 13. April the 28 Day of April during the Sessions whereof viz. on the 12 of May being a Monday King Edward created r Ashincle's Garter p. 671. Adam Marimouth M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 226. ad hunc an c. his Eldest Son Edward who was now in the Thirteenth Year of his Age Prince of Wales investing him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a silver Rod And that he might be enabled to maintain a Port according to his Style and Dignity besides his former Titles and Profits annexed thereto he added several other Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William Emelden ordering him to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney together with this Dignity Further the King granted him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in and upon all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. At the same time the King Knighted several young Noblemen particularly Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. John Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick to whom he then gave an allowance of twenty pounds per annum toward his better support in the Kings Service Now it was Enacted t M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 50. §. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 38. §. 23. that the Statute made at Westminster 15 of Edward 3. which the King had soon after revoked as we have shewn should accordingly be utterly Repealed and lose the Name of a Statute as contrary to the Laws and the Kings Prerogative But forasmuch as the Articles there made were Reasonable it was Enacted that such Articles and others agreed on in this Parliament should be made into a Statute by Advice of the u i. e. of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. Justices X. In this Parliament it is Recorded x 17. Ed. 3. n. 59 in Dorso Vid. M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 54. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 41. Fox Acts Mon. p. 388. c. That the Commons of England made great Complaint of the Provisions and Reservations coming from the Court of Rome Whereby the Pope took up beforehand the future vacancies of Ecclesiastical Dignities for Aliens and such as had nothing to do within this Realm They remonstrated to the King the Manifold Inconveniences ensuing thereby as the Decay of Hospitality the transporting of the Treasure of the Realm to the Maintenance of the Kings Mortal Enemies the Discovering of the Secrets of the Kingdom and the utter discouragement disabling and impoverishing of Scholars Natives of the Land.
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
2599. granted throughout all Christendom a full Remission of Sins to any One that being in peril of Death should but once receive Absolution and that every One might take whom he pleas'd or whom he could for his Confessor which Grant to endure till the Easter then next ensuing A Grant to be question'd as to its validity For who can forgive sins but God alone yet no doubt proceeding from a good purpose and for that respect at least commendable Upon the same account also here in England Thomas Beck Bishop of Lincoln sent throughout all his Dioecese empowring all Priests both Regular and Secular to hear Confessions and to absolve any Person with full and Episcopal Authority of all Sins except only for Debt In which case if the Party was able he should make full Satisfaction in his own Person while he lived or carefully provide that others should perform the same after his Death And in all Christian Countries Cities and Towns there were Publique and Solemn Processions made for n Giov. Villani l. 12. p. 893. several days together that God would be pleased to sheath his angry Sword and preserve the Residue from this devouring Pestilence IX Of which thô innumerable Numbers of the Common sort of People died chiefly old Men Women and Children yet which is Wonderfull not o Cortusiorum Histerla l. 9. c. 14. one King or Prince of a Nation is said to have died thrô all the World And even of Nobles but a very few were taken away at this time especially of the English Nation Whether by chance or that it pleased God to spare these either for the Well-governing the Remainder or for their further Punishment for in those days the Wars were mostly carried on and Menag'd by the Interest Valour and Conduct of the Nobility in all Nations Among the Nobles of England that died of this Plague we find besides the Lord John Mongomery Captain of Calais and his Lady that the Princess Joan second Daughter and third Child of King Edward the Third was the Chief who tasted this bitter Cup. About four Years since she had been requested by Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon as a Match for his Eldest Son Don Pedro Infant of Spain in order to which Marriage King Edward then p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 144. sent over Sr. William Trussel and the Prior of Rochester to confer with the said Alphonso Accordingly the last Year being thirteen Years of Age she was q Ashmole p. 669. Speeds Chron. p. 590. b in Ed. 3. ad finem espoused by Proxy to Don Pedro entitled Infanta of Spain and then Honourably convey'd into that Country where she presently deceased of this Plague then reigning in those Parts So that the Prince who came to meet her to solemnize the Espousals was fain to accompany her Body to Church to her Funeral which happen'd in the Year aforesaid Of the same Plague also there died this Year r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 541. Tho. Mâ—ds Cital Hâ—nâ—r p. 764. on the 31 of May without Issue the Lord Thomas Wake of Lidel leaving behind him the Lady Margaret Countess of Kent Dowager of Edmund of Woodstock late Earl of Kent his Sister and Heir Fourty Years of Age Who thereupon performing her Fealty had Livery of all his Lands shortly after There Å¿ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. died also about this time Sr. John Fauconberg a Valiant and Hardy Baron of this Realm being aged 57 Years He was a Person highly Eminent for his Military Services both in France and Scotland and had been successively in his time High-Sheriff of Yorkshire and Governour of the Castle of York and afterwards of Barwick upon Tweed He was succeeded by Walter his Son and Heir then of full Age who performing his Homage had Livery of his Fathers Lands and became a good Knight in his days And lastly there died the Lord Robert Bourchier t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. leaving John his Son and Heir twenty Years of Age and was buried at Haulsted in Essex I know of no more of the Nobility that fell at this time nor did any of the Episcopal Order suffer Deeper but only the Chair of Canterbury which lost no less than three Archbishops all in one Year And those were first Dr. John Stratford a Man of great Learning Loyalty and Charity with whom that Famous Contention passed whereof we spake so largely after he had sat in that see about 15 Years The Second was his Successor Dr. John Hufford Son as u Godw. Catal. bâ—â—â— p. 136. 137. some say to Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Thô I find it not x Mâ—ll's Catal. of Hâ—n p. 529. Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 48. b. in that Earls Pedigree and besides the Age shews some discrepance the Earl surviving him full 20 Years He is not by some reckon'd among the Archbishops because having expected his Pall and Consecration full six Months he died now at last without either in the y Philpots Catal. Chancell p. 40. Month of May or as one z Godw. Catal. Bishp p. 137. says on the Seventh of June this Year having been in his time successively both Dean of Lincoln and Lord Chancellour of England The last but not the least Worthy was his Successor Thomas a Knighton p. 2600. n. 10. Bradwardin called for his deep Knowledge in Divinity Doctor de Profundis Who died of the Plague within two days after he came to London and within five Weeks and four Days after his Consecration at Avignon so that he also was never Enthronised at all But we shall not soon part with him here because Men of Merit are the best and most profitable Subjects of History and for whose sakes a fruitfull Digression may well obtain a Pardon Of his extraordinary Piety and Learning and deep skill both in the Mathematicks and Theology as well his own excellent Works as our Historians are concurrent and ample Testimonies But one thing for Example sake I shall not omit to remember in this Place That b Godw. Catal. Bish p. 138. being King Edwards Confessor he behav'd himself in that Office with singular Moderation Integrity and Discretion and whatever he saw amiss he would in secret freely reprehend in the King before his Face which Boldness of his the King always took in good part not only because he thereby saw the Zeal and discreet Piety of the Man but also knew his sincerity and love to his Person In the French Wars while he lived he was always present never enduring to absent himself from his Royal Charge but still admonish'd him secretly and his whole Army openly in his learned and eloquent Sermons and other Exhortations To take carefull heed of waxing proud and insolent after those many great Victories which God had sent them But rather to improve them to their greater Advantage by using them with Thankfulness and Moderation Some there are who have not doubted to ascribe
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
whether the Tenants of such as hold by Barony and are summoned to Parliament shall contribute to the payment of Knights Fees coming to the Parliament As heretofore so the same shall be That present Pay be made of all Purveyances being under twenty Shillings and of greater within one Quarter of a Year and that Purveyance be made without Malice It is good to make Payment accordingly to the first Point and to redress the second That all Sheriffs be charged to make present Payment for all Purveyances for Calais The Demand is reasonable That any one attainted upon a Writ of Oyer and Terminer may bring his Attaint a Ita M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton â—n petiùs haâ—ing hanging his Suit against the other The Lords will not alter the Order of the Law. That the Lords Marchers of Wales do suffer no Distresses to be made on any English Man coming into Wales for any other Mans Debts if he be no Debter Trespasser or Surety As heretofore so the Law shall be That no Inquest upon Conspiracy Confederacy Maintenance or such like be returned but by the Sheriff of the most lawfull Men and nighest in that part of the Country where such Acts are laid that all Evidences therein be given openly at the Bar and that no Man speak with the Jury after they depart therefrom This last Petition was Enacted That the King b Now for the better Understanding of this Petition it is to be noted that about four Years before this c Hâ—lâ—â—â—head Engl. Chron. p. 948. vid. Gedwins Catal. Bish p. 234. William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England had caused Groats and Half-Groats to be Coined to the People's great Disadvantage for they wanted something of the just Sterling Weight Which occasion'd the Price of all things to be very much enhanced whereupon at the Commons Complaint now in Parliament the King promised to redress the Grievance the first Opportunity Yet however many times after those Days the like Practice hath been used insomuch that now 5 s. scarcely contain so much silver as 5 Groats had 300 or 400 Years ago So that 't is no wonder if things be sold at treble the Price which they held at that time For hereby also it comes to pass that the Prince and Nobility cannot possibly maintain their Estates with their Ancient Rents and Revenues because thô they bring them in the old Tale and Number yet they fall far short in the due Weight and Quantity of Metal will appoint a Time when the Coin shall be made Finer With Opportunity the King meaneth the same That the King have the Forfeitures of his Widows Dowagers but not of such as hold joyntly with their Husbands The old Law shall stand That the Writ of Appeal brought d Ita Sr. Rob. Cotton having in M.S. hanging another may abate the other The Common Law therein used shall continue That Weights and Measures may henceforth be made in the Town of London so as all Counties do conform themselves according thereto There is a STANDARD in the Treasury where every Man readily may have the same That the Writs of the Chancery may be at reasonable Prices and that the Clerks of the Crown and others for Commission and such like do content themselves with the Kings Allowance As heretofore the same shall be That Fines for Writs may be reasonably made in every of the Kings Courts The Chancellour shall do as heretofore The Commons beyond the Trent require that the Justices of the one Bench or of the other may yearly come twice amongst them for taking Cognisance of Fines and Letters of Attourney of the Unable The King will be advised That Labourers may take Corn for their Wages The Statute made shall be observed That the Staple may always continue in England The same shall so continue till the next Parliament and not be alter'd without the Assent of the Parliament The Merchants Strangers require that the Ordinances of the Staple may be executed speedily The King willeth the same It is Enacted that that Statute made that all Merchants coming into this Realm with their Merchandises might sell the same to any Person whatsoever and of the same to make Exchange or to buy Wares paying the Customs therefore is confirmed to continue That the Customers do dispatch all such Merchants coming in with their Wares and that those Merchants for the Prices of their Wares may be credited upon their Letters and Oaths It is Enacted that some One of the Kings Council may be appointed to be Governour to such Merchants Strangers The Chancellor or Treasurer shall supply the same when he may attend if not some Learned Justices shall be appointed therefore The Printed Statutes of this Year e Statute-Bâ—ck p. 108. ad an 28. Ed. 3. concerning shewing of Woolls Ch. XIV And concerning that none be Outlawed or put to Death without due Process of Law Ch. III. And that touching Errours and Misprisions in the City of London Ch. X. And that touching the Confirmation of all Statutes not repealed Ch. I. And that how the Escheators shall answer the Profits of the Lands of the Kings Tenants Ch. IV. And that which prohibits Exporting of Iron Ch. V. And that for the Election of Coroners Ch. VI. And that which concerns the Continuance of Sheriffs C. VII And that touching Attaint given without respect to quantity of Dammages Ch. VIII And that which contains sundry Ordinances of the Staple Ch. XIII And that concerning the Bounds of the Staple Ch. XV. And that touching Sheriffs who use to take Inquests for the inditing of any Ch. IX All f M.S. Rot. Par. an 28. Ed. 3 n. 20 22 26 28 31 32 39 41 43 46 47 c. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 86 87 88. these Printed Statutes agree exactly with the Record After all these things the Lord Bartholomew Burwash senior being then Lord Chamberlain and g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. a. one of those who had been at the Treaty of Calais the last Year declared to the whole House that there was a Treaty of Peace between the King and the French and a good hope of a final Accord whereto in the Kings Name he demanded of the Commons whether they would agree To which Demand they answer'd how therein they wholly submitted themselves to the Order of the King and his Nobles Whereupon Dr. Michael Northborough Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal and about h Godw. Catal. Bish p. 197. ubi Northbrook male pro North-burgh ut Pat. 29 Ed. 3. this time Elect Bishop of London commanded Dr. John Swinley the Notary to prepare a Publique Instrument thereof VIII And having thus dispatch'd the Transactions of this Parliament it is high time to see what was effected as to the Treaty then in hand between the two Crowns of England and France According to an Article of the last Years Truce Ambassadors were to appear from both the Kings at Avignon in January then next
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
or other Instruments whereby Men may know the Encrease or Decrease of the Sea. In time of War the same may be to less harm and after taken away That the Acquittance of the Co-Executors refusing Administration may be void The Law shall be used as heretofore It is agreed that no Man be punished contrary to the Statute Such Commissions as were to enquire of Scotch Labourers within the Realm were repealed The Print touching the Pardon of Forest Matters Chap. 4. agreeth with the Record The Print touching the Staple to be removed from Calais because of the Wars and to be held in England Chap. 1. differs much in Form from the Record quod nota The next Day being the Twelfth of June the King gave his Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their great Pains and for the Aid they had given him And in some sort of Recompence promised to all such as should pass over Sea with him against the French that they should enjoy and possess all such Towns Castles Possessions Persons Names Arms and Honours as they should obtain win conquer or take of the French to them and their Heirs in Fee saving unto the King all Regalities and the Lands of the Church and that every Person should have Charters of his own Prowess and Conquest And further the King commanded that all the Bishops should not only muster their own Servants and Tenants but also all Parsons Vicars and other Religious Persons of the Clergy all who were to be in a readiness upon Occasion to resist the Common Enemy And then the Parliament brake up XI One thing here We must not omit namely a Matter concerning the Bounty of the Generous Black-Prince extended to the truly Loyal and Valiant Gentleman the Lord John Greilly that Famous Captal of Busche To whom he granted about this time the whole County of Bigorre in tail reserving yearly at Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercel Gentle to be paid at his Castle of Bourdeaux besides the known Services due out of that County whereof he gave him his Charter h Extant Gallico idiemate apud Selden's Titles of Honour Part. 2. c. 3. §. 13. p. 518. EDWARD Eldest Son of the King of England Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Ordiales to all who shall see or hear these Letters We give to know That for the good and agreeable Services which our Right Dear and Loyal Cousin John de Greilly Captal of Busche hath rendred unto Us heretofore and which He and his may render unto Us and Ours in time to come We have given and granted and by these Presents do give and grant to Him and his Heirs Male Lawfully begotten the County of Bigorre with the Cities Towns Castles Lands Seignories Homages Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Meer and Mixt Empire Rights Cens and Rents Revenues and other Profits Emoluments and Appurtenances of the said County He rendring unto Us and our Heirs every Year for ever at our Castle of Bourdeaux at the Feast of Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercellet Gentle and doing unto Us and our Heirs Liege Homage and Oath of Fealty Resorts and other Duties which ought to be done to Us for the said County In Witness of which We have caused to be put to these our Letters Patents our Great Seal Given at our City of Angoulesme the 27 day of June in the Year of Grace MCCCLXIX This Grant of the Prince's to that Noble Lord was in i Rot. Vasc 44. Ed. 3. m. 8. n. 4. April following confirmed by the King his Father under the Great Seal of England only reserving to the King and his Heirs Kings of England the Liege Homage of the said John and of his Heirs for the said County and also the Sovereignty and Resort of the said Earldom and all other Duties to Him as Superior Lord due therefrom And so Command was sent from the King to all States and Officers in that County to be obedient and answerable to the said John Greilly as to the Earl of the said Earldom of Bigorre in all things pertaining to the said Earldom CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry begin to War upon the Principality several English and French Captains alter their Copies II. The Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke are sent over by King Edward to the Prince's Assistance and Sr. Hugh Calverley returns out of Spain with 6000 Companions The Latter is sent by the Prince to make War upon the Discontented Gascogners and the two Former against the Lands of the Earl of Perigort where they lay Siege to Bourdeilles III. Sr. Simon Burley taken Prisoner by the French and his Men all routed slain or taken IV. The Lord John Chandos takes the strong Town of Terrieres Realville besieged by the French. V. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry make use of the Clergy to debauch the hearts of the English Subjects in France from their Duty King Charles makes solemn Processions and is very devout in order to raise up the Courages of his People The Bishop of London sets forth King Edward's Right to the People from his Pulpit Both the Kings seek foreign Alliances VI. The Two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes to the World with certain Copies of both their Cases as they were then menaged by the best Lawyers of Italy France and England VII The Reasons whereby the French pretend to cut off from King Edward and his Posterity not only all Right to the Crown of France but also from his Right to Aquitaine which yet had belonged to England in Right of the Lady Eleanor Daughter and Heiress to William last Duke of Aquitaine and Wife to King Henry the Second of England VIII The Pedigree of the Kings of France from King Philip Son of St. Lewis to King Charles the Fair Brother of Queen Isabell Mother of King Edward the Third IX Reasons alledged by the King of England for his Right and Title to the Crown of France I. THE mean while a Frois c. 248. 249. as soon as ever the Dukes of Anjou and Berry knew for certain that the Defiance was made and the War between the two Crowns open they thought not to sleep any longer but made their Special Summons the One in Auvergne and the other about Tholouse with design to raise Forces and go and make War upon the Principality The Duke of Berry for his part had ready at his Command all the Barons of Auvergne of the Bishopricks of Lyon and of Mascon together with the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Villiers the Lord of Tournon Sr. Godfrey of Boulogne Sr. John of Armagnac Sr. John de Villemur the Lord of Montagu the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin the Lord of Rochefort and divers others with all whom he drew toward Berry and the Marches of Touraine where being mightily reinforced he began to make terrible War upon
having also brought into the Realm the shamefull Sin which is not to be named and moreover are spies may be taken Care of As to Broakers Aliens that is partly answer'd in the Bill of London On Declaration of the many Inconveniences which arise for that in every Town Strangers not being Free of the same are yet suffer'd to buy and sell there it is therefore required that Cities and Towns may have their Liberties renewed and confirmed for reasonable Fines and that they may enjoy them so as no stranger of any Town being not Free may occupy there Such as have good Charters or Liberties may shew them in the Chancery where they shall have Right That the Protections Cum clausâ Volumus whereby many Men are undone and namely one made to Giacomo a Lombard may be repealed and no such hereafter granted After Examination had by the Council they shall be Repealed if need be That Ribalds and sturdy Beggars may be banished out of every Town Touching Ribalds the Statute of Winchester and the Declaration of the same with other Statutes of Roberdsmen shall be executed And for such as make themselves Gentlemen and Men of Arms or Archers if they cannot so prove themselves let them be driven to their Occupation or Service or to the Place from whence they came The Counties of Lincoln Leicester Nottingham and Darby pray that the Staple may be held at Lincoln as it was at the first Ordinance and not at St Botolphs It shall continue at St. Botolphs at the King's Pleasure For that divers Men do live incontinently for saving their Clergy it is requisite that any Man may have his Clergy albeit he Marry two Wives or a Widdow The King will be advised That such Bayliffs in Fee being indicted before the Justices of the Forest for Vert or Venison and thereupon have their Offices seised and forfeited to the King being not called to answer may have a Writ out of the Chancery upon the Statute to be let to Mainprise until the Eire and to be restored to their Offices according as it hath been used Who is specially grieved may declare the same and shall find Remedy That all such Officers and others of the Kings Council who are convicted of Deceit and displaced be never restored again and that so much be Enacted If the Defaults declared to the King and Council deserve such Punishment Otherwise the King will do as to him shall seem best That Remedy may be had against such Aliens Religious as sue to the Court of Rome for their Pensions and Livings Who is especially grieved upon Declaration of the same to the Council shall have Remedy That all Justices of the Peace may be named by the Lords and Knights of every Shire in Parliament where they may be sworn and none to be renewed out of Parliament and that they may be allowed reasonable Fees. They shall be nominated by the King and his continual Council and as for the Fees the King will be advised They require that for Lands sold by any Religious Person or other Person of the Church the Statute of Westminster the Second may be kept and that Judgement Executory may be had against the Tenant of the Lands The King would have the Statute to be kept and touching Alienations made before this Parliament Writs shall be granted against the Tenants of the Land and for such Alienations to be made the King will be advised That Hundreds be not let to Farm or other Farm letten but kept in the Lords Hands The Statutes therefore provided shall stand That such as are indicted before the Coroner for Murder and flee upon the same by sinister means to them made should forfeit their Goods and that the same be enquired of only before the Justice of the Goal Delivery whether they so fled or withdrew themselves Who will especially Complain shall find Favour That Stanks Stakes and other annoyances made about Havens be removed and thrown down The Statute therefore made shall be kept That the Accompts as well for Sums of Money for u De hoc verbo vid. Cowell Skinner in Etymol Assarts or otherwise in the Exchequor may be discharged on the Averment that there are no means to levy the same The Grieved upon Declaration of their Grievance shall have Right That such Lords and others who have Lands upon the Sea-Coasts for the Defence of the same may be bound to dwell upon the same The King by Advice will appoint Order therein That no Sheriffs be made but from Year to Year and that such and their Deputies as have been otherwise may be in the same Case The Statutes therefore appointed shall be observed That none be appointed to be a Justice of Assize in his own Country unless some Foreign Justice be associate with him Who will complain shall have Right That the Charter made to the Men of Yarmouth that none should within the time of their Fishing buy any Herring within seven Miles of the same Town may be Repealed so as Men may openly buy and sell The King granteth thereto in respect of a new Grant above mention'd saving to the Town all other their Liberties with this Clause Licet That no Man be barred by any Warranty collateral but for so much of Lands as Descending unto him by such Auncestry The King will be advised until the next Parliament That the Justices of Assise shall keep their Sessions in Towns where Goals be and make their Deliverances before their Departure at least once by the Year And that to the same Justices may be made in One a Patent as well to take the Assise as to Deliver the Goal The Justices of Assise shall have their Patent in such Wise as hath been and shall as well take the Assise as make Delivery That all Sheriffs may be Yearly chosen on the Feast of St. Michael and so as their Gifts and Dinners to the Officers of the Exchequor may be done That the Justices deliver into the same Court their Extracts at the Octaves of St. Michael and that they be deliver'd to the Sheriff at the Quindenes of St. Martin or the Day after Hilary at th' utmost That Sheriffs and Escheators may be annually removed Sheriffs and Escheators shall be Yearly chosen at Michaelmas and have out their Commissions the Day after All-Souls That no Dinners or Gifts be given them in Receipt or Exchequor on such and such Penalties That Writs be sent into all the Counties of England to publish the Perambulations of the Forest heretofore made and to make Perambulations and to establish the Continuance of the same so as every Officer upon the Breach thereof do forfeit his Office and render double Damages to the Party grieved The King meaneth to make new Perambulations thrô England and willeth that the Charter of the Forest be observed That Remedy may be had against certain Lombards who have coloured certain Ships fraughted and wrecked Goods of the Kings Enemies and pursued by
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâ—is c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. â—d 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Râ—â— Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
Staple in the Statute-Book because it agreeth exactly with the Record containing 28 Chapters The Seventh day of October Sr. Bartholomew Burwash the Kings Chamberlain in the Presence of the King Lords and Commons sheweth how the King had attempted and pursued War against the French without Charging of the Commons And to end the same he had made great means to the Pope but that since he could not obtain any good end of the War he now required the Commons to grant him the Subsidy of Wooll who thereupon by whole assent granted him the same for Three Years The Print against Provisors that sue to the Court of Rome c. 1. agreeth with the Record the Print that all Suggestions shall be put into Pardons c. 2. agreeth with the Record The Print that Justices of the Peace should look after Victuallers c. 3. agreeth with the Record But the Statute of Wines in the Print c. 5 6 7 and 8. is not in the Roll nor in the Printed Calendar of Parliaments The Commons Petitions are as followeth viz. That the King would revoke the Office of Alnage and take three pence of every Cloth. Let the Commons talk with the Chancellour and Treasurer to the end good Recompence be made for the said Alnage That the Subsidies and other Aids granted may be employed only in the Wars It pleaseth the King. That the Coin may be reduced into old Sterling It was answer'd the last Parliament That the Staple may be appointed at Worcester Nottingham Hull St. Botolphs Stamford Lyn Ipswich and Canterbury One shall be at Canterbury and that only in Honour of St. Thomas That the Lords and Commons may by Easter following appoint out three Sorts of Wolls which shall then Commence The King will be advised That the outragious Fines taken by Sr. John Molins and such other Commissioners may be remedied Vpon Complaint Redress shall be had It is Enacted that all the Articles of the Staple shall be proclaimed throughout the Realm and confirmed at the next Parliament VII Thus this Year ended and on the 15 of March following King Edward sent forth his Writs of Summons to his Barons to meet him in Parliament on the Monday after St. Mark the Evangelist or the 28 of April On the q M.S. Rot. Par. 28 Ed. 3. m. 1. p. 579. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 85. Monday aforesaid the Lord Chief Justice Sr. William Shareshull in the Painted Chamber made open Proclamation before the King Lords and Commons that the Parliament was called for three Causes First For the Establishing the Staple within the Realm and for Confirmation of the Ordinances made at the last Great Council Secondly How they might treat of a Peace with France for that by War the King saw his Subjects greatly wasted and Thirdly For Receiving of Petitions and redress of Enormities all which without a Parliament could not be effectually ended Here Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore being Grandchild to the old Roger Mortimer Earl of March who had been executed for Treason r Vid. l. 1. c. 3 §. 6. p. 46. ad p. 54. An. 4. Ed. 3. twenty three Years before had such favour as Å¿ M. S. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Ashmole p. 692. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. upon his Petition to obtain a Reversal of the Judgment given against his Grandfather aforesaid as erroneous and utterly void for that he that said Earl was put to Death against Law having never been called to open Answer before his Peers Whereupon this said Roger from thence forward bare the Title of Earl of March and had again Restitution of the Castles and Lordships of Blenleveny and Bulkedinas whereof his Grandfather died seised as also all his other Lands which upon that Forfeiture coming to the Crown had been bestowed on William Lord Montagu and Others But the Charter of his Restitution t Tho. Mills Catal Hen. p. 576. bears a later Date viz. on the 19 of Novemb Anno Regni 29. 1355. In u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 317. M.S. Ret. Par. p. 80. §. 13. c. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 86 c. like manner Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel upon his humble Petition wherein he remonstrated that Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father had been unjustly put to Death was thereupon as Heir unto him fully restored And because the Death of his Father had been occasion'd by the means of Roger Mortimer Grandfather to the foresaid Roger Earl of March to prevent all further Heart-burnings between the two Families it was now x Dagd 1 Vol. p. 317. 〈◊〉 Claus 28 Ed. 3. in dâ—rse m. 10. by Indenture made betwixt this Earl Richard and the said Earl Roger agreed that Edmund Son and Heir to the said Richard should take to Wise Alice the Daughter of the said Roger and that she should have Three Thousand Marks for her Portion viz. one Thousand at the Sealing of that Agreement upon their Marriage at her Seventh Year of Age one Thousand more and at her accomplishing the Age of Thirteen the remaining Thousand Now before this as we have already observed the King in Council resolved to withdraw the Mart or Staple of Woolls from the Towns of Flanders because that People thô they received much Advantage thereby had not kept true Touch with him and accordingly he commanded the same to be kept at y Holinsh Engl. Chren p. 948. Statute-Beek p. 102. Westminster Chichester Lincoln Bristow Canterbury Hull and other Places In pursuance of which wholsom Device it was z M.S. Rot. Par. p. 80. n. 16. Sr. Rob-Cotton p. 86. ibid. c. now Enacted that all the Ordinances made in the last Great Council assembled at Westminster touching the Staple be confirmed to continue for ever It is Enacted that the Justices of the Peace shall be of the Best in every County that upon the Displacing of any of them others be placed at the Nomination of the Knights of the same County that they sit four times at least every Year That none be displaced without the Kings Special Commandment or Testimony of their Fellows It is Enacted that no Purveyor being arrested for any Misdemeanour shall have any Privy-Seal to cause such as arrested him to come before the Council to answer the King but have his Remedy at the Common Law. The Commons Petitions with the Kings Answers thereto were these That the Surplusage of the Fines of the Statute of Labourers may be entirely distributed among the Poor of the whole County and not to poor Towns only It shall be parted among the poor Towns only That the Writ of Estreat may lie in every Action where the Party shall recover Dammages of Estreats after the Writ purchased The old Law shall be continued That Remedy may be had in such Cases where the King receiveth the Profits of the Wards Lands as well of Soccage as otherwise where no part of the same is holden of him The Law heretofore used shall continue That it may be order'd
Parliament it was u M.S. Rot. Par. 45. Ed. 3. n. 7 11 13. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 111 c. agreed that a Staple should be held at Melcomb Regis in Dorsetshire after which the Petitions of the Commons not before answered were now read and answer'd before the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons which done the King licensed the Estates to depart and the Parliament ended Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That Magna Charta and the Charter of the Forest may be observed in all Points and also that every Petition now exhibited may be by some of the Lords considered It pleaseth the King. For that the Realm hath been of long time governed by Men of the Church to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons required that Lay-men only may be Principal Officers of the Kings Courts and Houshold and that none of the Clergy be saving as before unto the King his Free Election c. The King will therein do by Advice of his Council That all Lands holden of the King in Chief may be let for Life without Licence The King will do his Pleasure That there be no Fines for any Writs of Chancery The Chancellor shall consider the state of the Person That no Purveyance be made for the King but for ready Money and that the King be served by common Measure The Statute made shall be observed That no Eyre or Trailcbaston be used during the Wars It pleaseth the King. That in the Extracts of Green Wax mention may be made at whose Suits such Amerciaments were lost in what Term in what Plea and between what Parties Let the same be provided at the next Parliament That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Birth of any Man may be try'd as well of the Country where the Birth is alledged as where the Writ is brought The Law used herein shall stand That no Mayor Bailiff or any Sergeants be Victualler x i.e. Hosteller Diverserii Deminus Hostler or Taverner during their Offices on pain of 20 l. There is in this Case a certain Law. That the Easterlings may give Security to treat the English Merchants in their Country in such manner as they are here The same hath and shall be done as need shall require That all Merchants may pass over Wooll freely The King will be advised That such Statutes as restrain English Merchants from fetching Wines at Gascogne may be utterly repealed The Statutes heretofore made shall stand That all Corporations may enjoy their Liberties any Statute to the contrary notwithstanding Such as be grieved upon Complaint shall be answer'd The Commons affirm the Decay of the Navy to arise from three Causes First because several Mens Ships are stay'd for the King long before they serve whereby the Owners are compelled at their own Charges to find their Mariners to their undoing Secondly because Merchants the Nourishers of the Navy are often restrained their Shipping that Mariners are forced to seek out for other Trades to get a Livelihood Thirdly because Masters of the Kings Ships do take up Masters of other Ships as good as themselves so that most of these Ships lie still and the Mariners are enforced to seek out for a new Livelihood For all which they pray that Remedy may be had The King will provide a Remedy That all such Merchants as plead the Kings Pardon for Goods not Customed may have the same allowed The Grieved upon Complaint shall be heard That every Man may freely make Fortresses Towns and Walls y Vid. Skinner in vice Kernells à Cornelle c. Karnelled and Embattled The King will be advised That such as sue forth Assises be not obliged to pay for the Justices Patent The same shall be as formerly That the Commissioners for the Kings Affairs may be allow'd their Charges of the Profit of their Sessions The King will provide therefore That in Villengage alledged in the Plaintiff as regarding a Mannor the Issue may be where the Mannor is laid The King will be advised That no Man be put from his Possession by an Inquest of Office before the Escheator or other Justice by Commission untill the Right be try'd by Scire Facias The Statute made heretofore shall stand That no Sheriff or Escheator do remain above one Year The Statute made shall be kept That the Boys or Valets of France being here shall be used as Servants or Bondmen Let them stay till the next Parliament That the Statutes whereby Justices are not to defer doing Justice for the Great or Privy Seal or other Commandment and that no Man be put to answer but by due Order of Law may be kept Such as are grieved shall be heard That none of the House of Commons be appointed for Collecting the Subsidy The King will be advised That such as remain on the Sea-Coasts by the Kings Command may have Protections with the Clause Volumus c. The same is to the apparent Loss of the Commons That such as counterfeit any Mans Seal to any Deed may remain in perpetual Prison The Statute made therefore shall stand That all Scotch Money may be brought into the Kings Exchequer by a Day And that the Statutes of the Priests by Assent of the Clergy may be observed The Answer to both these Petitions cannot now be read from the Records IX During this z M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 23 p. Walsingh hâ—st c. Od. Rainal ad hunc an §. 1. Session there came from Pope Gregory two Legates the One having been Chancellor to the King of England and the Other to the King of France namely Simon Langham titulo S ti Sixti and John titulo Sanctorum Quatuor Coronatorum Priests Cardinals of the Apostolick See who were sent from his Holiness with Letters bearing Date VII Idûs Martii Anno Pontific I. to treat effectually with King Edward about the settling of Peace between the two Crowns of France and England But althô in this case the Pope shew'd how willing he was to follow the pious Footsteps of his Predecessor yet he also found no better effect than the other had And so the Breach continued as wide as before X. This Year King Edward a Frois c. 292. f. 177. Walsing hist p. 181. Ashmole p. 666. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 235. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr ad hunc ann l. 13. p. 190. sent the Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton to treat and confer with John Duke of Bretagne his Son in Law about some important Matters But because the War was open and the Seas infested with the Fleets of France and Spain there went in this Voyage many Noble and Valiant Knights of the Kings Houshold The Chief of these was Prince Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Youngest Son then about sixteen Years of Age who shortly
after married the Lady Eleanora Daughter to the said Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton and in time became Constable of England Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester The Admiral of the Fleet was the Lord Guy Brian a most expert Commander both by Sea and Land and one of the Honourable Order of the Garter With him was joyned Sr. Richard Sturry and many other Valiant Captains with a choice Number of Archers for their Defence upon Occasion Nor was all this Precaution needless thô they were neither encountred by the Fleet of France nor of Spain for since the Heiress of Flanders had been given away to Philip of Burgundy there was no good Correspondence between England and Flanders The Flemish Fleet had been at Rochell where they were laden with Wine and now in their Return homewards they called at la Baye in Bretagne where they took in vast Quantities of the best Salt the Heer van John Peterson being their Admiral The English making up to the same Port knew not at first who they were but when they saw them prepare to entertain them as Enemies they made hast to receive them couragiously So there began a fierce and terrible Medley which lasted long For b Frois ibid the Flemings were more in Number and better provided for a Battle as those who waited for such a Business thô they found here but an indifferent Mercat neither This Naval Fight endured for three Hours together in which time many Gallant Actions were performed by the valiant Men on both sides and many wounded hurt or slain For they were fastned to one another with Grâ—pling-Irons so that there was no other way but to conquer or die At last the Victory fell to the English the Heer van John Peterson the Flemish Admiral being taken Prisoner together with all that were left alive the rest being either drown'd or slain not c Jacob. Meyer ibid. a Man of them escaped one of these three Evils For the English were more than usually severe when they had the full Mastery because they had been so bold as d Walsing hist p. 182. to begin the Assault After the Fight the Earl of Hereford advised Sr. Guy Brian the Admiral to make for England as then and not expect his Return till he had reinforced the Fleet So he took land with the rest of the Commissioners at la Baye and went straight to Brest where he found the Duke of Bretagne But the Lord Guy Brian set sail for England returning with his Conquest and Prisoners above 4000 of the Enemy being slain and as many taken with 25 Ships laden with Salt and all the Wine they had taken in at Rochell XI The King of England was wonderfully pleased as this unexpected Success of his Fleet and so much the more when he heard how the Flemings had been the Aggressors and gave the first Occasion and yet were so entirely defeated The Heer van John Peterson their Admiral was sent to the Tower of London and the other Flemings bestow'd about in other places And because the King resolved by any means to pull down the Pride of those People who had thus presumed to begin a War against him e Frois Jac. Meyer ibid. he forthwith sent out a Royal Fleet against the Flemings giving strict Command to his Admiral and Viceadmiral to make sharp War upon all the Merchants of Flanders and to block up their Ports and constantly ply about the Sea called la Manche or Pas de Calais between Dover and Calais so to intercept all their Commerce with France When this was known to the Men of Gaunt Bruges and Ipres they had a Council together wherein all things consider'd they concluded it most for their Interest to remain at Peace with England and not any longer to have the Displeasure of King Edward for the sake of their Lord the Earl of Flanders who was now again wholly for the French. Wherefore all the Good Towns of Flanders having agreed in this Resolution sent Deputies sufficiently instructed into England to treat for a Peace with the King and his Council And these Deputies had such Success that they return'd with a Consummation of Peace with Flanders on certain Conditions sealed and agreed to on both Parts Thus lightly can Vulgar Minds be moved to begin a War and when they are beaten as readily sue for Peace XII It may be remembred that upon the Black-Prince's Return out of Spain we observ'd how James the Young King of Majorica by reason of sickness was forced to tarry behind and how shortly after he was taken Prisoner in his Chamber by the Bastard Henry upon his return to make new War against King Don Pedro. Now I suppose it will not be amiss to inform the Curious Reader what further became of this Unfortunate Prince And first Pope Vrban being moved with his Calamity f Dat. vâ— Kal. Januar. Ann. 6. Vid. Tom. 6. Fp. Secr. p. 32. Odor Rainald ad an 1367. §. 18. wrote in his Behalf to Don Henry that he would restore to liberty the unhappy young King who had so long languished in the King of Aragon's Prison before And the Queen of Naples his Lady and the Marchioness his Sister when they were informed of his Mischance took it very heavily and within a while g Frois c. 294. Gallicè fol. 242 sent certain discreet and sage Gentlemen to treat with Don Henry who was then King of Spain about his Ransom So at last he was deliver'd for the Summ of an 100000 Franks which the Ladies paid very punctually to King Henry's satisfaction When the King of Majorica had thus got his Liberty he returned into Naples where yet he lay not long idle but having amassed together considerable Sums of Money and gather'd many Valiant Captains and hired Souldiers about him he began his March towards Navarre with design to make War upon the King of Aragon his Adversaâ—y to whom he could by no means be reconciled for he had Murther'd the King his Father and had long kept him himself in Prison and unjustly and violently withheld from him his Crown and Heritage Upon which account he had furnish'd himself with Men of War from all Parts as English Gascogners Italians Almaines Bretons and some Troops of the Companions Who in all amounted to 1200 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen The Captains of the Companions were Sr. Gracian du Chastel Sr. John de Malestroit Silvester Budes and James Braye besides sundry Lords and Gentlemen of Divers Countries to all whom he gave great Wages and promised to satisfie them in each point King James order'd his Affairs so well that he had leave to bring this Army into the Realm of Navarre and also to tarry there some few days to refresh himself From thence he entred into Aragon and began to make heavy War against Don Pedro King of that Realm and ravaged the Country and took little Fortresses and Ransom'd and slew Men