manner of his coming to the Crown of England III. He is excus'd from being Guilty of his Fathers Deposition his peace is proclaim'd and a General Pardon IV. Twelve Guardians appointed him Mortimer's Greatness and the Queens excessive Dowry V. The Present State of Scotland the King whereof Robert Bruce sends a Defiance to King Edward VI. King Edward's Expedition against the Scots VII The Particulars of the Murder of King Edward the Second VIII King Edward the Third's Return to London the first Year of his Reign concludes with the Death of sundry great Personages Princes and Prelates I. KING Edward the Third of that Name from the Conquest AN. DOM. 1312. was the first Son of King Edward the Second of England sirnamed Caernarvon by his Queen Isabella the Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France a Frois c. 3. fol. 2. accounted in her time one of the most Beautifull Ladies in the world He was born at the Castle of Windsor whence he had his sirname after the manner of that Age on the b Sandford p. 158. thirteenth day of November at c Ashmole p. 644. fourty Minutes past Five in the Morning being the d Claus 6. Ed. 2. m. 22. Dorso Lit. Dom. B.A. Monday next after the Feast of St Martin the Bishop and the very day e H. Knighton p. 2533. n. 10. after the day of St Brice Bishop and Disciple of St Martin in the sixth year of his Fathers Reign and the year of our Lord God MCCCXII Prince f Walsingh hist p. 77. Lewis eldest Son to the King of France and Brother to the Queen of England being then with many of the French Nobility at the English Court labour'd earnestly that this Princely Infant might be named after King Philip but against this motion the English Nobility prevail'd and so on the Thursday after he was Baptised by the Name of Edward after his Father and Grandfather the Ceremony being performed by the hands of g Victorellus p. 839. ad hunc annum Arnold h Claus 6. Ed. 2. Priest-Cardinal titulo Sanctae Priscae in the old Chappel then of St Edward in the said Castle of Windsor his Godfathers being i Ibid. Ashmole p. 644. Richard Bishop of Poictiers John Bishop of Bath and Wells William Bishop of Worcester Lewis Earl of Eureux the Queens Brother John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond Emery of Valence Earl of Pembroke and Hugh le Despencer alias Spencer a Great Man in those Days The News of his Birth was k Walsingh ibid. an occasion of great Rejoycing over all England and the only thing l Speed p. 556. able to cheer up the mind of his Royal Father from that excessive sorrow which the late Death of his Favourite Piers Gaveston had flung upon it and from that Day the King forgot by Degrees his former loss rejoycing in his present Happiness For m Pat. 6. Ed 2. so pleasing to his Father was the Birth of this Hopefull Prince that on the Sixteenth of December following he gave to John Launge Valet to the Queen and to Isabel his Wife and to the longer liver of them for bringing to him so desireable News twenty four pounds per annum to be paid out of the Farm of London Within n Pat. ibid. Par. 2. m. 5. Ashmole ibid. few days after this Prince's Birth the King his Father granted him the County of Chester except the Mannors of Mecklesfield and Shotwike to hold to him and his Heirs Kings of England for ever And likewise the County of Flint and Rothelan to hold as before except the Mannor of Overton the Lands of Mailor Seysnoke and the Castle and Mannor of Holt after which he was thus stiled by the King Edvardus Comes Cestriae filius noster Charissimus But leaving his Infancy we will now proceed to his Youth and the occurrences that attended his Ripening years when we shall first have given some small taste of his Character the fulness thereof being purposely remitted till the end of his Life and this our Work because then it may better be consider'd from the whole tenour of his History From his Birth he was carefully bred up in all things that seem'd necessary or proper for Princes to excell in so that thrô the Vigour of his Parts being rendred very apt to imbibe the best Principles he made a speedy and extraordinary improvement in all Noble Qualities For he was of a very o Pitsaus de Illustr Angl. script p. 517. pierceing Judgment Sweet-nature and Good Discretion and considering the many weighty affairs that employ'd his whole Life not only kind to the Muses but much befriended by them as appears by those Learned Writings of which Pitsaeus says he was the Author When he was capable of receiving more ingenuous Education a Man of Great Reading Erudition and Honour was provided from Oxford to be his Tutor who thô commonly called p Godwin Catal. Bishops p. 661. Richard Bury from the place of his Birth was indeed Son to one St Richard Aungervile Knight but was afterwards by this his Royal Pupil made Privy-seal and q Philipot's Catal Chancellers and Treasurers p. 32. Treasurer of England then Dean of Wells and lastly Lord Chancellour of England and Bishop of Durham II. In a Parliament holden at York in the Sixteenth of the King his Father He was by him created r Speed p. 564. Holinshead p. 869. Catal. Honor p. 315. by Tho. Milles. Prince of Wales as some say thô he is no where found to have used that Title The occasion perhaps being because he was not long after invested with a Greater King Edward his Father ſ Ashmole p. 644. being often summon'd to the Court of France to do homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and still upon some account or other delaying till the French King had siezed thereon it was at length concluded that he should give unto this Prince his Son the said Dukedom for which he doing Homage should enjoy the Lands Whereupon preparation was made for his passing into France But before he went being then at Langedon Abbey near Dover the King his Father t Pat. 19. Ed. 2. p. 1. m. 25. Ashmole ibid. on the second of September in the nineteenth year of his Reign gave unto him his Heirs and Successours Kings of England jure haereditario in perpetuum the Counties of Ponthieu and Mutterel or Monstroile and on the tenth of the same Moneth he being then at Dover granted unto him the Dukedom of Aquitain and all the Lands he had or ought to have in the Kingdom of France Habendum as before Two u Claus 19. Ed. 2. m. 28. Dorse days after which our new Duke took shipping at Dover thence passed into France and performed his Homage to King Charles of France his Uncle In this his Journey it was thought fit that the Queen his Mother should bear him company in regard
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
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
he would sit and declare a Bastard preferable to the Brother of his own Lady and also to his own Lady who would have succeeded if her Brothers had died without Issue And then it is most evident that when John was thus Designed Heir the Queen Euphemia Ross was not dead as the Scotch Writers say and the King Married to his Mother For as there is extant a Grant given by the said King to Paul Metine confirming unto him a Charter Granted by the Earl of Ross Father to Euphemia wherein the said John is Witness by the Name of Eldest-Son and Heir so there is a Charter granted unto Her by the King upon the very same day of the Lands of Lochleaven both Grants bearing Date Junii 1 mo Ano. Regni Primo And it is against all sense and reason to think he could have been acknowledged Heir Apparent during her Life if he had not been Legitimate Nay further we find by our Records that x Rot. Scotiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. Vid. Hujus Hist l. 2. c. 11. §. 8. p. 445. 19 Years before this he is stiled John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart as also seven Years after he bears the same Title being ranked * Vid. Hujus Hist l. 3. c. 2. § 3. § §. 4. p. 529. First among the Hostages which lay for King David And further to put all out of Question there is extant in Fourdons History a Charter granted by King David wherein the Witnesses are Robert Stuart Earl of Strathern our Nephew John Stuart Earl of Carric his Eldest Son and Heir Thomas Earl of Mar George of Dumbar Earl of March and William Earl of Douglass So that here again Buchanan is found Tardy who says that John was created Earl of Carrick by the King his Father after the Death of Ephemia Ross when here we find him stiled Earl of Carrick by his Great Uncle King David who also attests that he was Eldest Son and Heir to his Nephew Robert and surely he could be no wayâ— byassed in the Affair But if any one shall say what need then had there been of this Act or Declaration if the Title of John had not been Doubtfull We answer that King Robert could not forget y Hector Buchan ibid. c. how William Earl of Douglas by pretending a Right from the Bailiols and the Cumins had like to have disturbed his own Coronation but that he was not allowed in his Design by his Friends And therefore to stop all Controversies for the future he thought good to fortifie his Right and the Right of his Children for ever by a National Declaration as well as by Statute And thus much for this Important Matter in this Place we now return to the Point from whence we digressed XVI This King Robert the Second of Scotland who had been well acquainted with the Power and Force of King Edward and knew what Havock of that Nation he had made in time past being now in the beginning of his Reign desirous to establish his Kingdom in Peace made a Motion for a Treaty with England which King Edward most readily embraced because of the great War that he expected from France So that at last a firm Truce and Peace was taken and settled between the two Realms to endure for the space z But for 3 years Mezeray for 14 Buchan and 9 Frois of Nine Years All which time it might be lawfull for the Scots to take Arms at their Pleasure and to serve for Wages either the King of England or of France without any Imputation of Breach of Peace So that Sr. Robert Knolles whom King Edward design'd to send into France with a Considerable Army had now with him no less than a Frois Gall. f. 231. Angl. c. 278. an Hundred Spears all Chosen Men of that Warlike Nation In relation to which Expedition b 6 Maii. Claus 44. Ed. 3. m. 15. Derse Proclamation was sent forth that all Souldiers design'd for Picardy and other Parts of France under Sr. Roberts Command he being c Rot. Franc. 44. Ed. 3. m. 14. constituted the Kings Lieutenant in those Parts should be at Southhampton by the Octaves of St. John Baptist following ready fitted to take Shipping there with him So that in the beginning of July Sr. Robert finding all things ready went on Board at Southhampton and arrived safely and landed with all his Men at Calais where he was highly welcom'd by Sr. Nicolas Stambourn Captain of the Town Here he tarried seven Days to refresh his Men and to consider what Course to take on the eighth Day early in the Morning he began to march out of Calais with an Army of d Mezeray ità sed 12000 Holinsh ego priâ—rem praefere quia dicitur Exercitus magnus M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Walsing hist p. 179. 30000 Men among whom were 1500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers on Horseback the Chief Captains whereof were Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Thomas Grandison Sr. Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Gilbert Gifford Sr. John Menstreworth Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Hugh Meinill Sr. Geoffry Vrswell and Others The first Day they reached Fiennes but Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France was then in the Place with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires all well provided and ready to receive their Enemies The next Morning the whole Army faced the Castle but when it plainly appear'd that much might be there lost and little or nothing won they passed by without attempting it and marching thrô the Earldom of Guisnes enter'd the Land of Fauquenberg burning all before them till they came to Teroüenne which yet they attempted not for seeing it well provided they thought 't would be but lost Labour Then they passed the River of Lys and began to enter Artois but they never went above four or five leagues a Day because of the Infantry and their Carriages still taking up their Lodgings early in the Afternoon and near some considerable Village or other At last they drew near to the City of Arras and took up their Lodgings in the Town of Mount St. Eloy near to the said City where they tarried two Days to refresh themselves all the while destroying and burning round about as far as the Marshals durst stretch Now the French King had already provided for all the Defensible Places in those Parts as well as elsewhere strictly enjoyning his Chief Officers not to be easily tempted out to a Battle but only to stand on the Defensive part Which Order was generally obey'd and prov'd more mischievous to the English than open Opposition could have done for by this means they could get very little Provision without Blows but could never come to a Battle as they desired and expected On the third Day they left St. Eloy and passed by Arras but Sr. Hugh Meinill and Sr. Geoffry Vrsewell who were the Marshals of the English Army resolved however to
Grievance to the whole Kingdom Among other of their Licentious Practises the Lord Chief Justice e Knighton p. 2559. n. 60. Sr. Richard Willoughby going after Christmas towards Grantham was taken by one Richard Fulvile and by force carried into a Wood hard by where being siesed by certain of these Lawless Fellows he was compell'd to lay down immediately Ninety Marks as a Ransom for his Life and also to swear never to discover them Upon News of these and the like Insolencies the Young King resolving now to be Master of his Crown sends forth his Justices of Trailebaston two and two with Power to enquire after all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Escheators and others who had abused or neglected their Offices by Extortion Bribery Fear or Favour and after all such as had failed in the due Execution of the Laws whereby these Licentious People began first to take such Boldness upon them The form of the Writ thô of moment I forbear to transcribe because 't is already Extant in f Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 840. Holinsheads Chronicles and elsewhere But least the Law should fail of Power to maintain it self the Young King takes to him some choice Troops of Armed Men with many Light-Horsemen well mounted and marches forth in Person to discover these Enemies to Government Some Parties of these Audacious Villains were met with by him nor did they much decline the matter Success had made them so Impudent But Majesty and Vertue are more Valiant than Vice and Rebellion so that they are all soon Worsted by the Brave Young King and become an Example to others some of them being slain in Skirmish many Hang'd and Quarter'd a few Beheaded others imprison'd and put to great Fines and in short such Order taken with all that the whole Kingdom was kept in Peace and quiet at Home all his Reign after VI. On the Thirtieth g M.S. p. 14. Sr Rob. Cotton Statute Bock c. of September or the Morrow after St. Michael being a Monday the King held his High-court of Parliament at Westminster to consult about the Affairs of Guienne and other his Lands beyond the Seas as also concerning a Peace to be had with France and to conferr about the Matters of Ireland These were by John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellour of England offer'd as the reasons inducing the King to call that Parliament The Affairs of Guienne were not in so ill a posture the h Knighton p. 2563. Earl of Vlster being now there and Sr. John Darcy Justice of Ireland having been sent thither the Year foregoing i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. especially because of the late Composure between England and France the French being also at this time about a Treaty with England Yet because then a Peace is most likely to be made on good Conditions when he that treats is in a posture of Defence it was thought fit to provide something for the Defence of those Parts however And therefore Sr. John k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. a. St. Philibert a Baron of great prudence and valour was now by the King appointed to be Major of the City of Bourdeaux having an assignation of an 100 l. allow'd him for the Expences of his journey thither thô this Worthy Gentleman deceased about two Years after Sr. Oliver Ingham a mighty Baron and One of the Twelve appointed for a Guide and Counsellour to this King at his Coronation had now his l Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 104. Patent which had been granted him seven Years before for the Seneschalsie of Aquitain renewed and not long after he was sent over with pretty considerable Forces Of whose valourous Exploits this Book will not be silent At the same time the Lord m Dugd. 2 Vol. p 34. Ashmole p. 693. Bartholomew Burwash senior was constituted Seneschall of Ponthieu in Picardy which King Edward held in right of his Mother with whom that Earldom was given upon her Marriage with the King his Father As for Ireland it was resolved that the King in Person should go thither that to prepare his way a certain power of Armed Men should go before him under able Commanders and that those especially who held any Lands there should make speedy repair thither for Defence of that Kingdom as also that all learned Men in the Law who should be appointed as Justices or otherwise to serve in Ireland should by no means be excus'd on any pretence whatsoever And further 't was order'd that search should be made into his Majesties Records to see what Methods had been formerly taken for the civilizing and governing that Country As to the Affairs n M. S. p. 14. §. 3. Sr Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 9 §. 3. with France the King by his Chancellour demanded whether he had best treat with that Crown by way of Amity or Marriage The Commons humbly conceived that Marriage would be the best way whereupon certain were appointed to consult about this Treaty and a o Ashmole p. 675 Commission was given to Sr. John Darcy and Sr William Trussel to treat and agree with King Philip or his Deputies upon the Premises Now for the better understanding of this Matter it appears from the Records as we shall more fully shew hereafter that near this time King Philip being taken up with thoughts about the Holy War that he might be sure of King Edward of whose pretences to that Crown he was jealous had offer'd to enter into a strict Alliance with him by p Ashmole p. 675 Sandferd p. 184. a Marriage between a Daughter of his and the young Prince Edward of England And lest that might not suffice had importun'd him to be his Fellow in Arms and in Person to accompany him into Palestine or as q Odoric Rainald Add. tâ—ad Annal. Barerâ—i 1331. â— 29 c. Others say into Spain to fight against the Moors of Granada But because nothing was done in this Matter yet only it was refer'd to the foresaid Commissioners to advise about it we shall remitt the further prosecution hereof to the next Year to which it more properly belongs Yet this we must not pass over that now upon Occasion of the King 's being invited into France the former Resolution that he should personally go into Ireland took not effect this Year and as for the next other Business put it off and the Scotch Affairs the Year following wholly null'd it so that the King went not thither at all as it had been here resolved only an Armed Power was sent thither the Year after this In this Parliament St. Hugolin the Granchild of the Lord Hugh Spencer the Elder who with his Son Sr. Hugh had in the late Revolution been illegally executed by Queen Isabell having first by his great Valour r Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 880. in holding his Castle against the said Queen compounded for his life and since that Obtaining his Majesties Gracious Pardon was now
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.
English Esquire of honourable Parentage called John Chandos who afterwards became a great Lord and a Noble Captain of whose rare Valour and wise Conduct this our History will produce many famous Instances This valiant Esquire cast himself first of any between the Barriers and the Gate where he was presently taken up by an Esquire of Vermandois called John of St. Dizier and so between these two there were performed many notable Feats of Arms that it was a gallant sight to behold them till new-comers on both sides parted them For John Chandos was so well follow'd by others both English and Hainalders that the Barriers were clearly won by force the Earl himself being now entred with his Marshals Sr. Gerard of Verchin and Sr. Henry Dantoigne and others who adventur'd their Bodies couragiously to crown their Names with Immortality At another Gate called the Gate Robert the mean while fought Sr. John of Hainault the Earls Uncle with the Lord of Faulquemont the Lord of Engien and the Lord Walter Manny and their Companies who maintained a fierce and honourable Assault But Cambray was not to be won easily the French King had so well furnished the Place with valiant Knights and Esquires who delighted in Arms and defended themselves and the City so bravely that the Assailants got nothing that day but dry Blows and at last returned to their Lodgings weary and well beaten For the Duke of Normandy's Presence and the hopes of a speedy Relief from the King his Father was an invincible Bulwark to them against Despair and the Bishop of Cambray preached well to the Souldiers chiefly for his own Sake For he was the first Occasion of betraying the City to King Philip in hate to the Emperour who was excommunicate by the Pope To this Siege came John the young Earl of Namur at the Earl of Heinalts desire to serve the King of England But he at his first coming declared That he would use his Utmost endeavours in the King of Englands Service while he should continue within the bounds of the Empire but as soon as ever he should enter the Realm of France he said he must take his leave of him and go to the Service of the French King who had retained him before Of the same Resolution was the Earl of Hainalt for he had privately commanded his Captains on pain of Death that none of them should presume to act any thing of Hostility within the French Pale VII While thus the King of England held Siege before Cambray with 40000 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen and hardly pressed the Besieged with continual Assaults King Philip made his General Rendezvous at Perone in Vermandois a Tract of Picardy 5 leagues from Cambray and news came daily to the Camp of his great Preparations to raise the Siege King Edward hereupon consulted with the Lord Robert of Artois in whom he reposed an entire Confidence demanding of him whether it were better to March forward toward Perone and bravely meet his Adversary in his own Realm or still to lie before Cambray till he should win it by Force He as he was a Person of rare Wisdom concurred with the Lords of England in this Opinion That since the City was strong and well furnished with Warriers Victuals and Ammunition so that it would require much time to constrain it and that they were not sure to win it at last since especially the Winter season drew on apace and they as yet had done nothing worthy the Fame of so gallant an Army but lay in a manner idle at much Charge and Expence Upon these Reasons they judg'd it best for his Majesty to leave an uncertain and unprofitable Siege and to set forward into the Realm of France where they might find more Forage and plenty of all things and in all likelihood presently obtain a Battle This Advice prevailing the Army was order'd to rise from before Cambray and to follow the Marshals Banners Then their Tents and Pavilions and all manner of Harness being truss'd up they departed thence in good order toward Mount St. Martin on the Borders of France The Marshals of the English Army were William Bohun Earl of Northampton and Hugh Audely Earl of Glocester with Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord High-Constable was Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and thus they all passed the River of Skell on a Knighton p. 2574. St. Matthews day at their ease the whole Country of Cambresis being destroyed as they went along with Fire But when the Earl of Hainault had accompanied the King of England as far as the Empires Bounds reached that way and that he should pass the River and enter the Realm of France he then took leave of the King his Brother-in-Law saying He would ride no further with him at that time for King Philip his Uncle had sent for him and he would not incurr his Displeasure but intended now to serve him in France as he had done to King Edward in the Empire So he and the Earl of Namur with their Men rode back to Quesnoy in Hainalt at which place the Earl for the present dismist most of his Men commanding them to be ready when he should send for them for he said that shortly he design'd to go and help his Uncle King Philip But the Dukes of Brabant and Gueldre and the other German Lords with all their Troops went over the River with King Edward as did also the Lord John of Heinalt and his Brigade by the express Leave of the Earl his Nephew As soon as the Army was got over the great River of Skell into the Realm of France b Frois c. 39. among many others whom King Edward Knighted at that time one whereof was John Chandos aforesaid he called unto him a young lusty Esquire a Native of Brabant whose right Name was Henry Eam thô commonly called Henry of Flanders and there presently he Dubbed him Knight assigning him at the same time for his better maintenance 200 l. Sterling per annum to be raised of certain Lands in England This Gentleman was of great Nobility and Valour but above all of singular Loyalty to King Edward and of extraordinary strength of Body and of a promising Aspect whereby he purchased such esteem from this King who was a wonderfull Judge of mens Persons that he was afterwards by him chosen to be one of the First Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter But in this our History he shall go by the Name of Sr. Henry of Flanders that being his more usual Title in Froisard his Name of Eam or Esme seldom occurring Which gave occasion to the learned Esquire Ashmole to say that he could meet with little or nothing relating to him whereas we shall find frequent mention of his Honourable Actions under the foresaid Title but indeed nothing under his true Name of Eam Thô 't is worth our Observation that as here Froisard says truly how he was now first made
Peace and Concord would not only be rendred difficult but which God of his infinite Mercy avert impossible And moreover it doth not seem less worthy of consideration how mightily by occasion of the present Wars your Majesties Subjects are as it is said many ways exhausted of their Mony and other their Goods and are like upon continuance of such Burthens which God forbid to be further grieved And that the Event of War is doubtfull but especially upon the Divine Indignation to be feared Wherefore We more earnestly in the Lord require and exhort your Royal Magnificence nevertheless beseeching You by the Mercies of God that taking the Premises and what else may occurr to your Royal Wisdom into your Princely Consideration you may by taking Truce with the said King and renewing the Peace obviate the dangers both of your Self most Dear Son and of your People and so please God who loveth Peace and delighteth in Peace-makers rendring thereby your self more acceptable unto Him and confirming the strength of your whole Kingdom And that therefore you would incline to the wholsom Admonitions and Perswasions of ourdear Sons Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals of the Apostolick See our Nuntio's who are zealous of your Royal Honour and Success and whom we have lately by Advice of our Brethren sent to those Parts for that purpose Truly considering the Premises and that we might prevent the like dangers and innumerable more which are ready to follow from the said Wars and that between You our most Loving Son and the said King who is by the near Tye of Blood and Affinity joyned unto You the fulness of Peace and mutual Charity may flourish We wish with most ardent desires a Reformation of this Peace and if perhaps it cannot be obtained by the Instance of the said Cardinals yet if You O most Dear Son and the said King disposing your selves to mutual Concord acceptable to God amiable to Men profitable to Christendom and many ways the best for both of You will but consent that We also in our own Person should intend as Friendly Moderators to the Reformation of Peace taking a mutual Truce and granting a Cessation from Arms for a convenient time wherein the Treaty of Peace may be begun continued and if the Lord of Mercies grant brought to an happy End We thô we are continually occupied with weighty and importable Affairs even above our strength do notwithstanding thrô Desire of the said Peace hereby offer Our selves ready as far as conveniently and with honesty may be done effectually to interpose in the Reformation of this Peace to the Quiet Profit and Honour of each Party our share of Sollicitude as it shall be administred unto Us from above Concerning all which we request your Royal Majesty upon the most mature Deliberation to write unto Us your Pleasure Given c. at Avignon x Kalen. Jan. Anno Pontif iv To this Letter of the Popes the King of England wrote this Answer * * Walsingh hist p. 130. To the most Holy Father in God Benedict by Divine Providence Bishop of the Holy Roman Church Edward by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet We received with due Reverence and Devotion the Letters of your Holiness sent last unto Us wherein your Goodness persuades us to renew the Peace or take a Truce with the Lord Philip of Valois graciously adding that You in your own Person would intend to the Reformation thereof as a Friendly Moderator if We and the said Philip would consent thereto Surely We considering in the Lord your Holinesses Affection which is so sollicitous for the quiet of your Sons do humbly return You all possible Thanks for that your wholsom Persuasion and an Offer so condescending and so pious and in a firm love and confidence of your Integrity we desire to follow your Counsel and particularly to conform Our selves to your Holy Pleasure But it is now notoriously known how the said Philip contrary to Justice hath usurped unto himself the Kingdom of France lawfully devolved unto Us by the Death of the Lord Charles of Famous Memory the last King of France our Uncle And not content with this he hath seised into his hands our Lands in the Dutchy of Aquitain as many as he was able in Hostile manner invading our Islands in the Sea and also our Kingdom of England with that very Fleet which under colour of an Holy Expedition beyond Sea he pretended to rig forth having sworn for the Cause of Christ He hath also excited the Scots to rebell against us designing altogether to oppress us that so according to his unsatiable Desire of Sovereignty he may the more freely withhold from us our said Kingdom of France and other our Hereditary Lands To whom as we remember we have written before to your Holiness We have offer'd many desirable Methods of Peace willing even to purchase Quiet of him thô with no small Resignation of our own Rights But he long holding us in suspense by divers specious Treaties and exposing us to vast Expences that so he might drain our Exchequer and render us thereby unable to recover our Rights hath at last took no care to give us any Satisfaction but still his Persecution encreased and rag'd against Us Wherefore necessity so compelling We are now come to the Parts beyond Sea to take unto us the Assistance of our Friends to revenge the Injuries done and to repulse those that would have been done by him unto Us and to obtain our Hereditary Rights Which certainly we intend not to neglect but will pursue them when we cannot by any other agreeable way by Force of Arms God being our Help And althô in Presence of the Reverend Fathers Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals and Nuâ—tio's to your Holiness who have laudably and sollicitously labour'd in the Affair of Peace the said Realm of France which by all Right is known to belong to Us hath been demanded and We have under certain ways of Peace caused our said Will to be sincerely open'd to the foresaid Cardinals always offering Our selves ready to embrace any reasonable Method of Peace on condition the Adverse Party will agree thereto Yet neither by the said Cardinals nor by Others could we know to this Day that he the said Philip would do or offer any thing of Satisfaction unto Us. And truly if then he had made but never so small Offers to shun the hazards of Wars and the prosuseness of Expences we should have made a reasonable Answer thereupon but now we see not what we can do farther with our Honour in the way of Peace But for all that if it shall now please the foresaid Lord Philip to offer us any Reasonable Way or if your Prudent Consideration or the said Lords Cardinals shall open unto
false Accusations against any Person but especially all those who should bring an Archbishop or any other Bishop of his Province into the Kings Hate or Anger and him or them of Treason or any other Notorious and Capital Crime falsly Accuse And having Published these Articles in his Church he commanded the Bishop of London and all the Suffragans of his Province to Publish the same in their Churches and Dioceses Presently hereupon the King that he might some way obviate these High Proceedings of the Archbishop wrote to the Bishop of London setting forth that at the perswasion of the Archbishop he had undertaken so doubtfull and Difficult a War to Recover his Right and Inheritance But that He who had been the Author of the War having now conspired with his Enemy the French King had at last perswaded him that after the profusion of such vast Expences to no purpose he would lay down the Claim of his Right and disband his Army That he had not as he promised purvey'd sufficiently for his Army nor satisfied his Foreign Creditors of whom upon his Security vast Summs of Money had been taken up for support of his Wars and who were continually importuning the King and his Lords That at last he had demanded of him an Account how he had Administred the Realm which he cunningly under Pretence of Excommunications and Censures hath eluded After this Ralph Lord Stafford was by the King sent unto the Archbishop who taking along with him John Burton Advocate and John Faringdon publique Notary warn'd him again in the Kings Name that without more delay he should Repair to the King there to Advise together with other Prelates and Lords about the War and Matters Relating to England and France the King o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 159. ex Walsingbam offering him a safe Conduct to that purpose to the end he might understand what Defence he could make for that his Neglect But him also the Wary Archbishop put off saying only that he would consider of it A little after there came out of Flanders to Canterbury Messengers from the Duke of Brabant who when the Archbishop would not be seen by them declared the Cause of their coming in Writing fix'd up at Noon-day upon the High Cross without the Gate of the Priory of Canterbury importing that John Archbishop of Canterbury was Cited and Warned into Court by the Duke of Brabant that so he might Lawfully answer in Flanders for the Debts of the King of England for which he stood Engaged there to remain according to Oath in that Part by him made till his Lords Debts were fully cleared In this hurry comes a Letter from the King to the Prior and Convent of Canterbury being the same with those Letters which he had wrote to the Bishop of London with a Command to read it out Publiquely before the People and Clergy of Canterbury The Prior and Convent having received it inform the Archbishop thereof and shew him the open Letter He on Ashwednesday following before all the People and Clergy gets up into the Pulpit in Canterbury Church and there in a Sermon spake Largely of his Loyalty and Integrity in Menaging the Kings Affairs Then he commanded the Kings Letters wherein the King had laid Heavy things to his Charge to be Read Openly Which done he dexterously takes off each Crime and Accusation in Order After which the Answer that now he gave by Word of Mouth being Digested into Writing he Published over all his Province of Canterbury All which Letters because of many Excellent Sayings therein and for that they make much for the Clearing the Story I have thought fit to set down at Large from Stephen Byrchinton or Brickington a Benedictin Monk of Canterbury who flourished in that Age and others of good Authority And first we shall produce the Archbishops Letter to his Majesty taken from the Original Latine for Mr. Fox is not Exact in his Translation III. MOST Dear Lord may it please Your Majesty to consider p p Walsingh hist p. 136 Fox Acts and Men. p. 350. that the most special thing which keepeth Kings and Princes in the most Flourishing Condition is Wise Counsel And therefore says the Wise Man Where there are many Counsellors that is Good Ones there is safety And it is written in the Book of Kings that Solomon the Wisest of Kings took unto him the most Ancient and Sagest Persons of his Realm by whose Advice temper'd with his own Judgement he continually preserved the Land of Israel in Peace and held all his Neighbour Kings round about him as his Tributaries and Vassals Now when he was gone the way of all Flesh his Son Rehoboam Reigned who despising the Counsel of the Elders who had stood before his Father adhered to the Young Men who were willing to please him whence he justly lost the whole Kingdom of Israel except a Twelfth Part reserved unto him of the Lord. In like manner many Kings as well of Israel as of other Countries being led by Evil Counsel have been reduced to great extremities And sir you well remember saving your Royal Pleasure that by the Sinister Advice taken by Our Late Lord the King Your Father whom God assoile against the Law of the Land and Magna Charta of the Peers of the Realm and others some he imprison'd some he put to Death siesed on their Goods and vexed others with Intolerable Fines And what happen'd thereby unto him Your Majesty well knows After his Days also by means of Evil Counsellors which were about Your Person Your Majesty had almost lost the Hearts of Your People but from them as it pleased him the Lord Jesus Christ hath delivered You. From that time by the Good Advice and Prudence of Your Prelates Peers and Counsellors of the Land Your Affairs are so well Menaged that You now entirely Possess the Affections of Your People and Your Subjects as well Spiritual as Temporal have given unto Your Majesty greater Aids than to any of Your Progenitors So that by the means of Good counsell the Votes of Your People and the special Grace of Almighty God You have obtain'd many Glorious Victories over Your Enemies of Scotland and France and are at this Day Reputed the most Noble Prince in Christendom But now Your Majesty by the Perverse Counsel of some Men who are rather known to Respect their own Profit and Advantage than either Your Majesties Honour or the Welfare of Your People have caused Clergymen and others of Your Subjects to be siezed and undue Processes to be made against the Laws of the Land which by Oath made at Your Coronation You are bound to observe and also against Magna Charta which whosoever shall presume to infringe are by the Prelates of England and the Popes Bull which we are known to have by Us to be Excommunicate All which things as they are to the great Peril and Danger of Your Soul so also alas are they to the great
Your Selves herein that We may have cause to commend Your Care and Diligence Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twelfth day of February in the Year of Our Reign over England the 15 and over France the 2d. In Answer to this the Archbishop return'd the same Defence he had made in the Pulpit at Canterbury only mutatis mutandis with this Preface directed to the King viz. IX b Antiqu. Brit. p. 227. c. To his Dread Lord EDWARD by the Grace of God of France and England the most Illustrious King John by Divine Permission his humble Minister of the Church of Canterbury once Temporally but now more in the Lord wisheth Health both of Soul and Body and evermore to persevere in Good and Manfully to Resist envious and wicked Suggestions which easily corrupt Good Manners There are two Things whereby the World is principally governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Power Of which the Burthen incumbent upon Priests is so much more weighty and sublime by how much at the Divine Scrutiny they are to give an Account even concerning Kings themselves And therefore your Majesty ought to know that You depend on their Judgment not that they can be directed by your Will. For who doubts but that the Priests of Christ ought to be accounted both Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the Faithfull Is it not look'd on as a sign of a deplorable Madness for a Son to endeavour to bring under his Father or a Scholar his Master And that many Prelates have Excommunicated some of them Kings others Emperours the Canonical Authority of the Scriptures testifies And if you enquire for any thing particular of the Persons of Princes the blessed c c Innocent l. Papa Rom. flâ—ruit circa An. Chr. 404. Innocent smote the Emperour Arcadius with the edge of Excommunication because he consented that St. John Chrysostom should be violently expelled from his Seat. And the Holy Ambrose Archbishop of Milain for a fault which to other Priests seem'd not so very enormous bound the Emperour Theodosius the Great in the Bond of Excommunication who afterward having first given convenient Satisfaction obtain'd Absolution And in more convenient time and place many more Examples of the like nature may be produced Whatsoever Priests therefore offend by Error meerly humane which doth no way trespass upon the Faith of Religion it seems that they neither can nor ought to be punished by the Secular Power For it is the part of a good and religious Prince to restore broken and bruised Churches to build new ones to honour and with all respect imaginable to defend the Priests of God like unto Constantine that pious Prince of most Happy Memory who when the Complaints of Clergymen were brought unto him said You can be judged of None that is none of the Secular Judges who are reserved to the judgment of God alone according to the Assertion of the Apostle saying d d 1 Cor. c. 2. v. 15. The spiritual Man is judged of no man. Let your Majesty therefore consider what and how great the Punishment of that Son ought to be who uncovers the nakedness of his Father and wickedly defames his innocent Parent to whom as is premised he ought to yield all reverence and honour For the Pagan Princes after their manner yielded and do yield no small Honour to the Prelates of their Temples and Idols whom they termed Flamins How much more ought Christian Princes Worshippers of the True God and of the Christian Faith to reverence the Ministers and Prelates of Christ But alas in a preposterous and unnatural way the Honour which on Occasion of the Dignity wherein we thô unworthy preside ought unto us as unto your Father to be yielded is turned into Reproach the Respect into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt While You sent your Royal Letters Patents sealed with your Royal Seal or rather notorious Libels spitefully dictated and written by our Enviers and Enemies containing various crimes and many enormous Matters and false-invented Reproaches against us to our infamy as plainly by the reading thereof may appear to all the Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall Persons to be published to the great Affront of us I hope and not of God himself That so the Devotion of our Flock toward us might wax cold and their Obedience be turned into Contempt From which unexpected not to say detestable Deed it evidently appears to all that behold it how the Royal Power which proceedeth from the Lord according to the saying of the wise King Solomon e e Wisd of Solomon c. 6. v. 1. 3. Hear ô ye Kings and understand Learn ô ye Judges of the ends of the Earth For Power is given unto you from the Lord and Soveraignty from the most High doth now presume to judge even the Lord God himself in the Persons of his Ministers and Priests not only to the violation of the Divine Law but against the Ordinance of God of humane Law and natural Reason and doth condemn its Spiritual Father and the chief Peer of the Land being not called not convicted and by your Record to use the vulgar word unheard to the hazard of your Soul to the exceeding prejudice of all us Peers and of all the People of the Land. Nor let any one maliciously accuse us that being conscious of our own Guilt we seek to hide our selves lest we should be obliged to bear the brunt of your Objections For the most High knoweth that we heartily desire to see you above all mortal Men that all Flattery remov'd we may intimate unto your Highness the dangers both of You and of your Kingdom and the Affection and loving Hearts of your Subjects and advise You that your Actions I wish they were all Praise-worthy might be as a Light to others according to that of the * * Claudian Regis ad exemplum tâ—tus componitur â—rbis Wise Man The World is by a King's Example sway'd And also that upon beholding our Face You might call to mind those Services which lately we have performed in your Employs carefully and Faithfully according to the Conscience of our Soul so God help us in the last Trial when all Men shall f f 2 Corin. c. 5. v. 10. stand before his Tribunal to receive the things done in their Bodies according to that they have done whether it be good or evil And especially that before You the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Realm we might set forth our Reputation which by your Letters and Libels aforesaid is basely torn and bespatter'd purged true and pure as I call God to Witness it is to Publique Knowledge But upon notice that certain of your principal Counsellors near your Person have given forth menaces of Death against us who are in this Land not as Joseph was in Egypt but like Tyrants now adays domineer in the Throne after
Messengers on your Behalf declared and as they pleased enjoyned us cannot be secret or hid as being publiquely told before Notaries and a multitude of Men. The first of whom viz. the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe bringing with him Royal Letters of Credence under the Privy Seal and delivering his Credence enjoyned and cited us that within eight Days then immediately following upon the account of certain of your Majesties Debts for which we stood bound we should forthwith cross the Seas into Brabant there constantly to tarry till the said Debts should be fully satisfied But the other Messenger namely the Lord Ralph Stafford as if he had come from a long journey and had brought no Letter at all with him said unto us only by word of Mouth I cite thee to appear before the King assuring us also by word of Mouth only that we ought not to fear the Traps of those that threatned us If therefore such Messages as these were consonant to certain Clauses in that part inserted in your Letters let a just Judge determin It must needs seem to any circumspect Person that to go presently into Brabant and yet to tarry still in England for the gaining of the foresaid Informations contains meer Repugnances And let your Majesty know that no vain Fear Pride Disobedience Contempt or Conscience of Guilt withheld us from the delectable Sight of your Royal Face but it was the most just reason above alledged duly considered And that we may speak with due and respectfull Reverence althô your Royal Letters of Conduct for Coming to your Council Staying and returning might at first view seem sufficient if indeed we had been called to your Council as we were not Yet that same Day whereon your Letters were brought to us there was a Royal Brief directed to the High-Sheriff of Kent that he should oblige us to come before You and your Council at London to answer about a certain Contempt in the said Brief contained But with what zeal to your Justice that matter was conceived God knows For thô the Royal Conduct it self gave us free Liberty of Returning yet the very Nature of the said Brief laid upon us a strict necessity of staying in the hands of our Enemies Which thing by no means did or may become the Majesty of a King. Yet we as we said before have always been and shall be ready in the presence of your Majesty the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Land to answer to whatever shall be objected against us and to stand to the judgment of our Peers in all things our State and Order always preserved But those who endeavour to hinder the Convocation of a Parliament pretending for an Occasion that there is no lawfull Cause endeavour to decline the Declaration of the Truth the Truth it self witnessing which says n n John c. 3. v. 20. For every one that doth evil hateth the light As to that which is inserted in the said Letters that We To the 4 Article being exalted by the Royal Bounty to great Honours upon whom as a most Dear Father your Soul reposed were now cruelly changed into an heavy and unnatural Step-father unto You forgetfull of Benefits received ungratefull and pursuing our Benefactor and that we have served You as a Mouse in a Bag a Serpent in the Lap and Fire in the Bosom with an ill Requital for your kindness The Truth being thus concealed and Falshood set forth in laying to our Charge this Ingratitude saving your Reverence not very truly rather from the Malice of him that dictated the Letters than of him that sent them we thus answer For it is said by the mouth of Truth o o Matth. c. 19. v. 29. Every one that hath forsaken Houses or Brethren or Sisters or Father or Mother or Wife or Children or Lands for my Names Sake shall receive an hundred fold and shall inherit Everlasting Life Now him that spake the Premises we call for our Witness that from that time wherein we labour'd in your Service spiritually according to the Knowledge granted unto us from the Most High we did so much apply our Mind with all Sincerity Loyalty Devotion and Diligence as we premised to the dispatch of your Affairs for your Honour and the Weal of your Kingdom that we not only left our Father and Mother our Wife that is our Church and our Spiritual Children the Care and Culture of our Houses and Lands and also of our Selves but being day and night sollicitous for You and your Affairs we often passed the night without Sleep and by no means spparing our Labours either beyond or on this side the Sea we have I pray God it be not to the peril of our Soul quite wasted our Body and by spending our temporal Goods are as it were made Beggars and by minding your Advantage and that of your Realm have lost the Love both of Clergy and People as the World knows And whether these be the Actions of a Step-father or of a Father let him judge who knows not how to lie the Almighty True God! For unto you we have ever been a kind Father but unto our Spiritual Children which with grief we declare for your sake an heavy Step-father We were not a Mouse in your Bag because in your service we did not feed on what was yours but on our own What we have of a Serpent we shew in exercising his Wisdom not in pouring forth the malice of his Poison in your Lap as also by earnest desires kindling Fire of Divine Love and Charity which doth not consume in your Bosom but according to the knowledge given unto us of the Lord enlighten For all which since there is no reward allow'd from Man let him reward us who is the Rewarder of all Good Men. Nor will that our Exaltation by Royal Benefits diminish our Reward from the Most High Which yet was charged unto us as we have evinced by the malice of the Dictator especially since it would not become the Royal Magnificence to repeat such Upbraidings For it is not thrô the Collation or Procurement of any Secular Prince whatsoever that we are any thing exalted by the Benefits and magnificent Honours which hitherto we have enjoy'd but thrô the gracious Munificence of God p p James c. 1. v. 5. who giveth liberally unto all and upbraids no man of the Good things he hath given But as to that which under a kind of covert is spitefully thrown against us To the 5 Article That we have defamed the Kings Innocence and the Fidelity and Diligence of his Counsellors and Officers who pursue Justice publiquely in our Letters declaring that in these latter times by the Royal Power contrary to Justice the Laity is oppressed the Clergy confounded and Holy Church burthen'd with divers Exactions Taxes and Talliages whether the Premises are grounded on Truth the Most High well knoweth For laying aside all Equivocation we have incessantly studied in Mind and Spirit to
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
up to King Edward of England after it had endured a Siege of Eleven Moneths within three days viz. from the b Knighten p. 2595. n. 2â— seventh of September 1346 to the 4 of August MCCCXLVII which was a Saturday and the Day that King Edward received the Keys Then the King spake to the Lord Walter Manny and the two Marshals of his Host the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Stafford afterwards Earl of Stafford saying Here Sirs take you the Keys of the Town and Castle and go and take Possession thereof in my Name and lay all the Knights and Esquires that be there in Prison but as for the Common Souldiers that came thither only for hire turn them all out of the Town as also after they are well refreshed all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children For I intend to Repeople the Town only with Englishmen So these three Lords with an 100 Men of Arms went and took Possession of Calais and secured in Prison the Bodies of Sr. John of Vienna the chief Captain Sr. John Surry Sr. Barton de Belborn and other Officers of the Garrison after which they commanded all the Souldiers to bring together their Harness into the Town-Hall where they laid it all together on an heap for they were not permitted to bear any Armour away Now the King of his wonted Goodness had already c Knighton p. 2595 〈◊〉 10. sent store of Victuals into the Town to refresh the poor Commons therewith But they were so hungry and afflicted and wasted with Famine that either thrô too much Greediness they surfeited or thrô too much Weakness were unable to digest so that by the next day at night there died of them more than 300 Persons As for the rest the King commanded them d Stow p. 244. ex Tho. de la Mere c. to be safely conveyed to the Castle of Guisnes within the French Pale when they had been refreshed with the Kings Alms and were grown strong enough to endure Travail But the most part of them thought themselves not secure e Frois c. 147. till they were got to St. Omers Thus all manner of People were turned out of the Town f Frois ibid. except one Priest and two other ancient Men who understood the Customs Laws and Ordinances of the Place and how to point out and assign the Lands that lay about the Town and the several Inheritances as they had been divided before And when all things were duely prepared for the Kings Reception he mounted his Great Horse and rode into Calais with a Triumphant noise of Trumpets Clarions and Tabours He took up his Lodgings in the Castle where he lay more than a Month all the while Fortifying and setling Affairs both there and in the Town untill g Frois ibid. his Queen was deliver'd of a Fair Daughter called Margaret of Calais who was afterwards married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was Son of Laurence Hastings now living but she died before the said John her Husband without Issue both he and she being at that time but very young Speeds h Speed p. 580. §. 105. Mistake is here to be corrected who makes Queen Philippa to be big with Child of this Infant at the Battle of Durham and Walsingham i Walsing bist p. 15â— n. 3. also who fixes the time too forward by several Days making the Child to be born on the III of the Kalends of August when as the Town of Calais wherein she was born was not won till the iv of August Nor is Mr. k Sandford's Geneal Hâ—st c. p. 179. Sandford to be omitted who makes the Place of her Birth to be Windsor without any Authority but Conjecture While the King of England tarried thus at Calais he gave many fair Houses in that Town to the Lord Walter Manny to the Earl of Warwick to the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Bartholomew Burwash who l Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 35. also obtain'd of the King in consideration of his Services a Grant of the Marriage of one of the Sisters and Heirs of Edward St. John Son and Heir of Hugh St. John deceased and his Son Sr. Bartholomew the Younger among other things obtain'd in recompence of his Services in the Wars a Grant of the Lands of John Louvaine deceased till his Heir Nicolas Louvaine then the Kings Ward should be of full Age. And besides we find that the King gave to all his great Lords vast Allowances for their several Retinues during this Siege as particularly to the Earl of Warwick for three m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Bannerets 61 Knights 106 Esquires and 154 Archers on Horseback the Summ of 1366 l. 11 s. and 8 d. And yet Others had far greater Retinues as Henry Earl of Darby n Knighton p. 2596. n. 10. who had 30 Bannerets 800 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers and kept such Hospitality in the Camp that he expended dayly an 100 l. and 8 or 9 Marks So that after the Truce it appeared by Computation that he had spent above 17000 l. Sterling out of his own Purse beside the Wages allow'd him by the King. All which Services were graciously consider'd by the King his Master who bestowed now on him and other Lords a competent Portion of Houses they never built and of Lands they never purchased that so they might be obliged to People and defend the Town Besides all which he design'd upon his return into England to send out of London 36 Substantial Citizens with their Wives and Families to dwell in Calais as he afterwards did but the greater part of the Inhabitants came out of Kent And thus from that time Calais became a perfect Colony of Englishmen Now on the Day o 9 Aâ—gâ—lli before St. Laurence while Order was taking to preserve the Town of Calais in the English Hands there p Knighton p. 2595. n. 60. happened in the English Camp before the Town a sad and grievous Mischance of sudden Fire which devoured the Tents and Pavilions without Remedy they being for the most part made of strong Timber But this was remarkable that as the fire came near the Kings Tent as if not willing or not daring to do any harm there it flew over among other Tents consuming and destroying Victuals Wine Gold and Silver things of pleasure and necessity Bows and Arrows and other Warlike Ammunition So that the King was fain to send into England for a fresh Supply Besides there came thither about the same time an Army of q Knighton ibid. n. 10. c. 60000 Flemings to assist King Edward supposing that the King of France was still there and that a Battle would ensue between the two Kings He for his part tho now he had no need of them having already taken the Town yet by the great Gifts he bestow'd among the Captains and other Officers and the liberal Donations he gave to the Souldiers
London and of all his Ancestors And this c Stâ—w Survey 〈◊〉 p. 478 479 480 481 c. House of Carthusian Monks he the said Founder willed to be call'd the Salutation and that One of the Monks should be called Prior and he gave them the said place of 13 Acres and a Rod of Land with the Chappel and Houses there builded for their habitation He also gave them the three Acres of Land lying without the Walls on the North-part betwixt the Lands of the Abbot of Westminster and the Lands of the Prior of St. John Which three Acres being purchased enclosed and dedicated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London as aforesaid remain'd till our Fathers days by the Name of Pardon Church-yard and served for burying of such as desparately ended their own Lives or were executed for Felony But now it is an Hospital for poor Men and Children of the Foundation of the Worthy Thomas Sutton Esquire still called by Corruption the Charter-house and for its Revenues and decent Provision for young Scholars and others excepting that Royal Foundation of Christ-Church Hospital in London to which I owe my Education the most notable in all this Kingdom About the same time and upon the same occasion that this Work of Charity began in West-Smithfield One d Stow's Chron. p. 246. 277. and Survey of London p. 117. Mr. John Corey a Godly and Learned Divine purchased of Doctor Nicolas Prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate one Toft of ground near East-Smithfield by the Tower of London for the Burial of them that died with condition that it might be called the Church-yard of the Holy Trinity which ground by the aid of divers Devout Citizens he caused to be enclosed with a Wall of Stone In which place afterwards namely in the Year 1359 King Edward III in contemplation of a vow which in a Tempest at Sea he had made to build a Monastery to the Honour of God and our Lady of Grace if God would graciously bring him safe to Land did by the consent of the said Prior and his Convent build and found the Abbey of St. Mary of Grace causing it to be named East-Minster thô it was also called by the Name of New-Abbey placing therein an Abbot and Monks of the Cistertian Order VII The mean while in consideration of this grievous Mortality e Stow Chron. p. 246. all Suits and Pleadings in the Kings Bench and other places ceased and all * M. S. R. P. p. 71. §. 4. Sr. Rob. Cotten's Abridgement p. 73. §. 4. Ano. 25. Ed. 3. Sessions of Parliament for the Space of more than two Years were hindred Pope Clement for his part being alarum'd with these heavy and prodigious Judgements of Almighty God never ceased * Knighton p. 2598 Odâ—r Rainald id an 1349. §. 26. c. ex Tom. Epâ—st Secret. ep 72. 73. by his Letters to both the Kings of England and France to exhort them as he doth most earnestly to a final agreement that they might so avoid the severe stroke of Gods Vengeance Assuring them that all these things happen'd as a Punishment for the Sins of Mankind But especially he entreated King Edward to send his Orators to Avignon f Oder Rainald ibid. ex Tem. 7. Epist Secret. ep 102. having says he our confidence in him in whose hands are the Hearts of Kings We resolve by no means to desist from the prosecution of the Treaty already begun But intend by so much the more effectually and carefully to promote it by how much the more the miserable state of the World which the jealous God and the Lord of Vengeance being provoked with the multitude of Sins which Charity doth not cover but wrath encreases doth consume in sury by a general slaughter of an unheard-of Pestilence doth most especially require an agreement between you and the said King of France and is known to want it extreamly Lest which God forbid that small Flock which the Saviour of the World who woundeth and healeth hath like Seed-corn preserved from this Destruction should now be drown'd in the Waves of Commotions and swallow'd in the miserable Tempest of War c. Dat. Avin XV Cal. December Ano. Pontif. nostri VIII Upon this Pious Exhortation King Edward was so far prevail'd with as to g Stow p. 246. Holinsh p. 945. send his Commissioners who were William Bateman Bishop of Norwich the Earls of Lancaster Suffolk and Northampton the Lord Walter Manny the Lord h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. Robert Bourchier the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Richard Talbot These all arrived at Calais in order to Treat with the French Commissioners who were then come as far as St. Omers to meet them together with the Bishop of Lyons the Abbot of St. Dennis and the two Cardinals who came on the Pope's behalf to moderate Matters between the two parties Being all met in a Convenient place half-way between the Towns of Calais and St. Omers the Frenchmen still insisted on the restoring of Calais or rasing it down to the ground But neither of these would the English admit of However at last by the urgent Prayers and Intercession of the Cardinals it was at last agreed that certain Commissioners from both the Kings of England France should enter upon a Treaty of Peace to be held from the time that this Treaty ended unto the Month of September following By which if then a final Peace could not be had that the Crown of France should be brought by the Consent of both Partys to a certain convenient place within that Realm and there without any other Tryal or Appeal the Right thereof to be decided by a Pitch'd Battle This Truce and Agreement was thus made on the i Ashmole p. 657. Tenth of March * 13â—â— / â—â— 1349 / 50 but the Conditions came to no Effect the whole project being null'd on occasion of the Death of Philip of Valois who died a Month before the limited time to wit on the k Mezeray ad an 1350. 22d of August the Year following VIII During the rage of this horrid Pestilence the Pope l Matth. Villani l. 1 c. 3. Odor Rainald ad an 1348. §. 33. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 83. p. 893. to raise the Faithfull to a Christian-like Constancy by the hope of a Glorious Immortality gave Authority to all Priests of absolving the Penitent from all their sins and granting them the benefit of Indulgences And in his Diploma bearing date the XIV Kal. June the Year foregoing he proposes great Indulgences to those Priests who should administer the Sacrament or other Ghostly Comforts to the sick as also to all those who should perform any good or friendly Office to the Dying or to the Dead either in Physick Burial or the like And further because many were like to be deprived of the Benefit of Priests Conversation he now by his Bulls m Knighton p.
Harcourt his Lieutenant who kept at St. Saviour le Vicount his own Possession to hold frontier War in those parts And this he performed with such Zeal and Success that he alarum'd the Regent of France and obliged him to seek a Remedy as we shall see by and by XVI It is to be observed that the Three Sons of King John who fled from the Battle of Poictiers were all Green and unexpert in managing Publique Affairs especially in such a Confusion as must needs follow so Great and Publique a Loss and in the Kings absence too Charles the Dauphin thô the Eldest yet knew not how to steer his Course in so tempestuous and turbulent a Season However as Regent of the Realm o Fabian p. 282. Frois Mezeray Da Chesne p. 678. on the 29 of September which was but Ten days after the Battle he summon'd a Parliament of the Three Estates to meet him at Paris on the 15 of October then next ensuing At which time the said Duke sitting as Regent in the Parliament Chamber and the Three Estates being present Peter de la Forest Archbishop of Rouën and Chancellour of France declared openly the great Misfortune that had lately befallen the Realm by the taking of their King and Head at the Battle of Poictiers and exhorted them in a long and well-composed Oration to be aiding and assisting every Man to his Ability toward the Redemption of their Lord and Sovereign Whereupon Answer was returned by the Mouth of Dr. John Craon Archbishop of Rheims in the Name of the Clergy by the Mouth of Philip Duke of Orleans King John's Brother in the Name of the Nobility and by the Mouth of Stephen Marcell Burgess and Provost of Paris in the Name of the Commons of the Towns of France That all of them were ready to assist in that Affair to the utmost of their Power but they prayed that they might have a convenient time allowed them to consult together and to consider how to raise wherewithall to do it Which was granted So the Three Estates held their Consultation at the Fryers Minors or the Grey-Fryers in Paris for the space of 15 days In which time they appointed among them to the Number of 50 Persons to inspect and make an Enquiry after many Enormities and things as then out of Order in the Realm These Fifty superintendants chose from among themselves Six Representatives to go to the Duke of Normandy and to Request of him in their Name that he would promise to keep secret what they were about to declare unto him which he granted And then they humbly besought him to discharge all such as they should name unto him and to seise their Goods as forfeited to the Kings use And first they named Peter de la Forest Archbishop of Rouën and Chancellour of France then Sr. Simon Bucy Chief President and Counsellour to the King Sr. Robert de Lorize the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Nicolas Braque Master of the Kings Palace Ingelram de Celer Under-Treasurer of France John Brill de Berry Sovereign Master of the Moneys and Chief of the Accompts to the King and John Channeau de Chartres Treasurer of the Kings Wars All these Officers the said Persons Delegates from the Fifty would have to be discharged of their Offices for ever and moreover they demanded of the Dauphin that the King of Navarre might be deliver'd from his Imprisonment and that He himself would please to be advised and counselled by such as they should assign unto him p Frâ—is c. 170. That is to say Twelve Prelates Twelve Knights and Twelve Burgesses which Thirty six were accordingly forthwith chosen for that purpose But among them were many of whom neither the Duke of Normandy nor his Council had any good opinion And yet these Thirty six were not only to be as so many Tutors to the Duke but as so many Tribunes the whole Power of the Three Estates of Parliament being in a manner Epitomized in them When the foremention'd Officers of State heard what Arbitrary Judges were like to sit upon them they thought it their best way to fly from the impending Storm and take refuge in foreign parts till they might hear better News The Duke of Normandy upon the first proposal of these Requests and others as little agreeable q Fabian ibid. gave this reply that he would know the opinion of his Council and accordingly return them some suitable answer But first he desired to hear what aid the Three Estates would give him toward the Redemption of the King his Father Whereunto they answer'd That the Clergy had granted one Desme and an half to be paid within a Year provided they might obtain the Pope's leave and that the Lords had granted as much to be levied on their Lands and that the Commons had granted the Tenth peny of all their Moveables On the Morrow following the Duke assembled his Council in the Palace of the Louvre and there shew'd them the High Demands of the Three Estates whereupon many scruples were raised and many Messages sent too and fro between the Duke and them But the Estates return'd this final answer That except he would reform all the foresaid Miscarriages and conform himself to their Minds for the Publique Good they would not give him any Aid with their Goods as they had promised him Wherefore the Duke being in a mighty plunge sent secretly to his Father then a Prisoner at Bourdeaux to inform him of all the Premises and the King wrote back to him again That he should not by any means agree to their Insolent Demands for He had rather continue still a Prisoner to an Honourable Enemy than return home to become a slave to his own Subjects The Duke upon receit of these Letters because he would not have such Matters to be scann'd in open Parliament sent for the most Eminent of all the Three Estates to come to him to the Louvre and accordingly there came the two Archbishops of Rheims and of Lyon and the Bishop of Laon for the Clergy Sr. Waren de Luxemburgh Sr. John de Conflent Marshal of Champagne and Sr. John de Picquigny Governour of Artois for the Lords and for the Commons and Burgesses of Paris and other Towns Stephen Marcel Provost of the Merchants and Charles Cusac Unto these the Duke communicated the News he had lately received from the King his Father requiring their Advice whether it were best that day to acquaint the whole Parliament therewith or to defer it till they might be more calm and in a better humour In the end it was agreed that he should defer it till the fourth Day after all which time he waited to see if they would grow more Dutifull and more Modest in their Demands But all was in vain they still ran as High as ever and especially in the matter of Changing the Officers and of delivering the King of Navarre from the Castle of Creveceur in Cambresis where he
Battle of Durham among whom the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland was especially numbred Thô both before that and since he had given sufficient Testimonies of his Courage and Conduct and had also by his Government during his Masters Imprisonment and his Care and at last Success in working his Delivery as plainly demonstrated his Loyalty But however King David rather than acknowledge his own Rashness in occasioning that Overthrow laid it so vehemently upon his Nephew Roberts Leaving the Field o Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. Hector l. 15. that now at last that Act whereby the Crown of Scotland for want of Lawfull Issue begotten of Davids Body was for ever entailed on the said Prince Robert and his Heirs was by his Procurement repealed disanulled and wholly made void and his other Nephew the young Lord p Odor Rainal vecat Alexand. alii Johann sed Rainaldi fides prastantior Alexander Son and Heir to the Earl of Southerland by his youngest Sister Jane was declared Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in the Room of Prince Robert who was Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret King David's Eldest Sister Which Act all the Lords of Scotland were sworn to observe and maintain Whereupon the old Earl of Southerland Father to this Prince Alexander verily believing that his said Son could not now miss of the Crown of Scotland gave away the most part of his Lands dividing them among his Friends and Relations especially to the Noble Families of the Hayes the Sinclares the Ogilbies and the Gourdons thereby to bind them the faster unto his Sons Interest But all this Precaution fail'd for shortly after the Lord Alexander his Son being one of the Pledges then remaining in England for the Security of King David's Ransom together with most of the other Hostages died of the Plague which then again raged in this Kingdom as we shall see shortly Whereupon Prince Robert Stuart being then again easily reconciled to the King was once more acknowledged and by Act of Parliament established Rightfully the Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in as full manner as he had been before The mean while especially at the Instance of the Pope the Clergy of Scotland agreed to contribute the Tenth Penny of all their Fruits and Revenues towards the payment of their Kings Ransom And at the same time the said King nothing unmindfull of his Promise made to King Edward before his Deliverance moved his Lords and Barons in a Matter which yet himself was not willing to succeed in thô being bound by Oath so to do he urged it notwithstanding with all the Application he could Namely q Odor Rainal ad ann 1358. §. 4. Scotici Scriptures Holinsh c. That provided he himself should decease without Issue they would agree that the Crown of Scotland and all the Rights thereof should be entirely transferred to the King of England's Eldest Son and to his Lawfull Heirs for ever But to this unexpected Proposal the Lords answer'd all with one Voice That as long as any of them were able to hold a Sword in their Hands they would never yield to be subject to England King David was well pleased with this their Resolution and look'd upon himself now as discharged from attempting any thing further that way Because he had only engaged to King Edward That if the Scotch Nobility would consent he would Entail the Crown upon his Eldest Son. IV. But we have too long left the Duke of Lancaster at the Siege of Rennes in Bretagne from whence as we shew'd r Vid. Lib. 3. c. 2. §. 2. p. 527. before King Edward at the Cardinals Remonstrance had sent him a peremptory Command to rise forthwith upon sight of his Letters Now the mean while the Duke by a strict and long Siege for it began on the 3d of December in the Year foregoing and ended not till the latter end of July in this Year had mightily straitned the Place having moreover ravaged and eaten up the Country all about to supply his Army but I dare not say with Å¿ Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 824. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788. Leland that by a Detachment sent from the Siege he wan Autry and Semay lying on the River Aysne on the Marches of Lorraine for to any one that considers the Distance of those Parts from Bretagne it will seem ridiculous to imagin it I had rather in that Place read Vitray on the Vilaine on which River the City of Rennes also stands However t Knighton p. 2616. once Charles of Blois came thither with 10000 Men to raise the Siege but when he saw the English Duke ready to receive him in the Field and yet at the same time to make good the Siege with another Part of his Army holding it not likely to succeed as then he retired Whereupon the Besieged beginning to doubt of their Affairs sought for an occasion to parly with the Duke but they design'd to do it as it were by Chance that so they might obtain the better Conditions First therefore they request a safe Conduct for a Bishop and six Knights whom they sent to re-consecrate a Church without the Walls which being polluted by a Murther committed therein had been shut up for some time These seven having obtained a safe Conduct and the Work for which they went being done upon their return thrô the Camp were invited by the Duke to Dine with him and there at Table in Discourse it was question'd what might be the Meaning that the Defendants delay'd to yield up the Town since there was no Body able to succour them or to raise the Siege The Bishop having received Instructions before-hand said they should not refuse to yield upon good Conditions the Duke said they could not expect any better Conditions as things were now than to submit Themselves and Goods to his Clemency However after much Altercation Matters were brought at last to this Issue That the Inhabitants should give to the Duke an u Fab. say but 60000. a Scute 6 s. 8 d. i. e. a Noble English hundred thousand Scutes of Gold toward the Charges he had been at so that they should be otherwise free both in their Body and Goods and further that they should give Security that upon the Duke's Demanding the Town for the Use and Behoof of the King of England they would deliver it unto him to set what Captain he should please over them These things were established and agreed to on both sides and thereupon the Duke named them a Captain but because he would not expose the City to Plunder he appointed only certain Troops to go and take Possession of it in his Name he himself tarrying without the Town with the Gross of his Army One x Meâ—eray ad hunc annum says how he had sworn not to rise from before Rennes untill he had entred in Person and should see his Banners planted upon the Rampiers
Licence From whence he obtain'd Obedience from the Souldiery Good-will from the Country People and Love from his Prince by whom he was Honour'd with the Seneschalsy of Poictou While he bare that Office the Commons were not opprest with unjust exactions nor vexed with the Rapines or frequent Incursions of the Enemy to all which they were abundantly exposed after his Death In the Battles of Since of Cressy of Poictiers of Auray of Najara and others he gain'd much Renown as will appear by several Passages of this History however at last by Mischance he received his Fatal Wound at Lussac He was Honourably interred in the Fortress of Mortimer where he died leaving no Issue of his Body behind him for he was never Married Whereupon i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503 ex Rot. Fin. 50. Ed. 3. m. 21. Ashmole p. 704. ex Commun Term. Mich. an 3. H. 5. Elizabeth and Eleanor two of his Sisters the Latter being then the Wife of Sr. Roger Collings and Isabell Daughter to Margaret the Third Sister at that time Married to Sr. John Annesley were found to be his next Heirs Thus Rest Immortal Heroe for thy Name Shall last till Heaven and Earth's devour'd by Flame And thô Base Envy at these Works repine Yet even they shall if Mortals can Divine Live for the Great Black-Prince's Sake and Thine II. Upon the Death k Frois c. 271. fol. 166. of the Renowned Lord John Chandos who left his Dear Lord the Prince of Wales Heir to all that he had in Normandy which amounted to the Yearly Revenue of 40000 Franks or 4000 l. Sterling the Lands of St. Saviour the Vicount fell into the King of England's Hands to bestow as he should think fit Wherefore he gave the Charge and Government thereof to a Knight of his House a Valiant and Expert Leader called Sr. Alan Boxhull who l True Use of Armory in the Life of the Lord Chandos p. 108. Ashmole Plate 52. bare for his Arms in a Shield Or a Lion Rampant Azure cover'd with a Fret Argent he to defend the Place and to menage the Revenues thereof for the Profit of the King and of the Prince To him shortly after succeeded William Lord Latimer who bare * Ashmole Plate 42. Gules a Cross Pateé Or and being Steward of the King's Houshold was before the end of this Year m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. made Lieutenant Captain and Governour of the Castle Town and Vicountie of St. Saviour And the Office of High Seneschal of Poictou being void also by the Death of the Lord Chandos the Prince of Wales gave it to Sr. Thomas Piercy a Gentleman of Great Valour and Experience n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 285. who was Younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy and afterwards was created Earl of Worcester Soon after the Frenchmen who were taken Prisoners at the Bridge of Lussac having by the Assistance of the French King in whose Service they were taken paid the several Ransoms which were set upon them returned all back again to their several Garrisons as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton Sr. William Bourde and others of whom we shall say more anon At this same time there were several Barons and good Knights of France who became very much concerned when they saw the War of the two Crowns grow hotter and hotter every day especially the Lord Ingelram Coucy whom it affected deeply for he had a Fair Inheritance in England as well upon his own account for his Fathers had been Barons of that Realm ever since the days of King John of England as by the Lady Isabell his Wife who was Daughter to King Edward Which Lands he must not only Renounce but prove ungratefull to his Friend and Father-in-Law if he should serve the King of France and yet on the other hand he would seem no better than unnatural and a Traytor if he should bear Arms for England against the King of France to whom he was both an Ally and Subject And yet he thought to stand Neuter would be to befriend neither but rather to disoblige both Wherefore he took a Fourth Course resolving for a time to bid Farewell to France and to go and Travel abroad to inform his mind and to seek Adventures So having discreetly taken his leave of the French King he set forth with a small Retinue and went into Savoy where he was Honourably received by the Earl and by the Barons and Knights of his Court. Having spent some time there he rode forward into Lombardy and went to the Lords of Milain Galeas and Bernabo to whom he was welcome In the same Manner thô upon another occasion the Lord Edmund of Pamiers one of the most Loyal Knights in the World went away from the Prince's Service the reason was this In those days when there were so many Lords of Gascogne and others who daily revolted from the Prince to the French King's side it could be no otherwise but that the Prince and his Officers should be very jealous of the Faith of those who gave but the least umbrage of Discontent But however it was in this case whether only Suspicion or something more solid the Lord Thomas Felton o Frois Vol. 2. c. 1. Gallice c. 318. fol. 199. B. Angl. who was Seneschal of Bourdeaux for the Prince of Wales and so consequently Lieutenant for the King of England caused the Lord William of Pamiers and a Lawyer his Secretary and one of his Council named John Coulon a Native of Bourdeaux to be apprehended and flung into Prison Being brought to their Tryal it was proved home upon them as was then affirmed that the said Lord of Pamiers had covenanted to yield himself and all his Castles to the Protection of the French King and had actually deliver'd his Castle of Fronsac into the French Hands of all which the said Lawyer and Counsellour were conscious and accessary thereto wherefore neither the Lord of Pamiers nor his Clerk nor the other having any thing to say why sentence of Death should not proceed against them they were all three condemned by the Judgement of the Lord of L'Esparre and other Loyal Gascogners and openly beheaded in the City of Bourdeaux before an infinite concourse of People to the astonishment of many But especially those of the Lord of Pamiers his Kindred took this Execution hainously and upon this occasion it was that the most Gallant and Noble Knight in the World Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Uncle to the foresaid Lord William of Pamiers left Bourdeaux and Bourdelois resolving however in his Mind neither for that nor any other Provocation on Earth to turn Traytor to his Lord the Prince of Aquitaine but with all he took the Death of his Nephew so ill that he sware never from that time to bear Arms for the King of England or his Son the Prince while he lived And so he went on divers Pilgrimages to Cyprus to the Holy sepulchre
to take part with the King of England against our Sovereign Lord the French King We will all forsake your service and take our leave of Bretagne But for all this Declaration of theirs the Generous Prince could not conceal the Courage of his heart but told them plainly they did wrong both to him and to the King of England and that if they should continue to forget their Country and Him he hoped to bring it again to their Remembrance and other high Words he spake unto them which they resolved to take no notice of till they should find him acting against France And the French King who by his Arts had debauched the Faith of all the Lords of Bretagne and other the Duke's Friends except that of Sr. Robert Knolles who continued firm and unshaken had instructed them that as soon as ever they should see the Duke begin to take Arms they would send him word thereof and he would provide a Remedy But the Duke who saw by these Words of his Lords and other evident Circumstances how they suspected him and had a constant Eye upon all his Actions began to doubt lest some of them should proceed to seise upon his Person and so send him to be a Prisoner at Paris as his Father had been before Wherefore he sent secretly to King Edward representing the Danger he was in from his own Subjects and desiring him that he would send him some Troops for his Defence upon occasion The King who always lov'd him entirely sent him 400 Men of Arms and as many Archers under the Command of the Lord John Nevil who arrived at St. Mahè de Fine poterne and lodged there in the Town without doing any Injury or Violence for they all lived regularly and paid justly for what they had And the Duke never offer'd to put them into any Fortress but let them Quarter there all that Winter The Lords of Bretagne however took great Indignation at this Action of their Lord's that in spite of them he had brought Englishmen into their Country wherefore they fortify'd their Castles and began to stand upon their Guard breathing nothing but War and Defiance against the Duke and his Adherents and in this ticklish Posture stood the Affairs of Bretagne all this Winter Before this b Sâ—ndfâ—rd's Geâ—â—â— Hist p. 243. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 11â— e. c Pâ— 46. Ed. 3. n. 35. namely on the 25 of June John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and King of Castille and Leon had resign'd into the Hands of the King his Father his Earldom of Richmond with all the Castles Mannors Lands and other Perquisites thereto belonging In lieu whereof he had a Grant in general tail bearing Date the same Day of the Castle Mannor and Honour of Cykehill and several other Castles Mannors Advousons Free-chases Bayliwicks and Privileges mention'd in the Patent besides the yearly Farm of 200 Marks which the Abbot and Covent of St. Maries at York ought to pay for the Mannor of Whitgift And this Exchange and Resignation was made for the sake of the Duke of Bretagne whose e Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 46. Câ—tâ—l Hâ—n p. 58â— Ancestors had been Earls of Richmond from the time of William the Conquerour and Alan Fergaunt Earl of Bretagne For as it appears that the Year d Rot. Franc. 45. Ed. 3. m. 7. foregoing upon a certain Agreement then made between King Edward and John Duke of Bretagne the King had granted unto the said John in general tail divers Lands and Castles in Aquitain to be held of the Prince of Aquitain by Homage as also the whole Dukedom of Bretagne to be held of the King himself as King of France by Homage he rendring unto the King divers Lands and Castles So now upon a e Pat. 16. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 33. Vid. Sr. Will. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 52. further Agreement betwixt the King and Him for the special Affection which the King bore unto him as the Words of the Patent do import and to the end that He and the Heirs of his Body should keep those Covenants which were then newly made betwixt them the King gave unto him and to his Lady and their Heirs lawfully begotten the Castle Town and Honour of Richmond in Yorkshire with all the Castles Mannors and Lands thereto belonging as also the Earldom of Richmond which John of Gaunt had now resign'd XXV But the most Heroick Prince of Wales thô not yet brought to extremity perceiving by this time that it was hardly possible for him to recover any tolerable Degree of Health again f Selden's â—â—tl Hon. p. 493. ex Rot. Vaye surrendred up into his Fathers Hands his Principality of Aquitain with all his Right and Title thereto the Surrender bearing Date V Octobris in the Fourty sixth Year of the King his Fathers Reign and the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXII From which time the King govern'd those Countries again by Lieutenants as he had before he gave it to his Son the Prince This Year there deceased Three Famous English Gentlemen the One was the good Old Warrier Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford and Baron of Tunbridge who died on the last of August having arrived to the Age of Threescore and Ten For he was g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 159. a. found to be one and twenty in the Seventeenth Year of King Edward the Second or the Year of our Lord 1323. He was an Eminent Commander of approved Valour and Conduct and now dropt into the Grave full of Age and Glory being Honourably interred in the Priory of Tunbridge in Kent He left behind him Hugh Lord Stafford his Son and Heir who being h Dugd ibid. p. 161. at that time 28 Years of Age but long before in Action followed the steps of his Noble Father in his Valiant Exploits against the Enemies of his King and Country The other was i Weever's Fun. Mon. p. 234 Stow p. 269. Sr. William Molineux who had done Valiantly in France and elsewhere and was made Knight Banneret by the Black-Prince at the Battle of Najara in Spain He died this Year at Canterbury being then newly come out of France about the Feast of St. John Baptist The last was Sr. John de Magnavillâ commonly called Sr. John Mandevil Knight and Doctor of Physick a Man Worthy of Immortal Memory He was k Sr. Richard Baler Pitzaus p. 511. of an Ancient and Honourable Family born at St. Albans but from his tender Years did so addict himself to Study that he seem'd to have no taste for any thing but Learning and Experimental Knowledge as well Divine as Humane He set not any Value upon his High-Birth or Alliance for l Wâ—rner's Albiâ—ns England p. 267. some say He married a Cousin of King Edward's but resolved to Cultivate his Mind and to ennoble his more precious Part with Wisdom Having therefore as the best Preparative furnish'd himself with a Competent Knowledge in the Scripture he directed