time to appear and all publique Affairs happily succeeded henceforward both to the King and his People Doctor Walter k Holinst Eng. Chron. p. 1002. Burleigh or Burley who had been bred up in Merton College in the famous University of Oxford was at this time of such Fame for learning and piety that he was taken into Queen Philippa's Service at her first coming into England and became her Almoner still encreasing in great Estimation at Court Insomuch that when this Young Prince Edward was able to learn his Book this Doctor was appointed to be his Tutor whereupon Simon Burley who was son to Sr. John Burley a near Kinsman of the Doctors was admitted among other young Gentlemen to be School-fellow with this Hopefull Prince By which occasion he wan so much upon the Princes Favour that afterwards by his means he was advanced to great Honour being in time made Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and also had the Government and Education of the Prince's Son Richard of Bourdeaux comitted to his Trust As for the Young Prince Edward the King his Father by l Ashmole p. 670. Sand-Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Cart. 7. Ed. 3. m. 4. ex Pat. 7. Ed. 3. p. 1. m 13. his Charters dated the Eighteenth of May in the Seventh Year of his Reign when he was but in the Third Year of his Age granted unto him by the Title of Edward his most Dear and Eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flint and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their Appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights-Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said County Castles Lands and Cantreds as well in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same Conditions as himself had received them before he was King from which time he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his Style But intending to enable him yet better to maintain this his Dignity the next day the King gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also all the Arms Victuals Cattle Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other Places to him before granted together with all Debts Arrearages of Accounts and other Services due to himself But in the m Cart. 11. Ed 3. n. 55. Eleventh Year of his Reign and the Seventh of this Princes Age upon the Death of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the King created him Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing Date the 17 of March the same Year investing him by the Sword only which was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England At the same time the King setled upon him divers Mannors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of his Ducal State and Honour all which thô some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patents dated the same day he granted unto him the Stanneries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tynn and all the Issues and Profits thence arising as also the Profits and Perquisits of the Courts of the Stanneries except only a 1000 Marks granted to William Montagu then Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly Value And afterwards granted that all the Castles Honours Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of Life or Years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the Eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom After this in the Parliament held in the Seventeenth of this King his Father he n 12 Maii Car. 17. Ed. 3. m. 24. n. 27. Created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod And the better to support his State as Prince of Wales he gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writt directed to William Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attourney He also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North-Wales and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses and other Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. After all which this Noble Prince was made Knight of the Garter at the First Institution of that Famous Order and lastly Prince of Aquitain in France and for his Courage and Conduct his Policy and Courtesie became in time the most Renowned Captain in the World being for his Dreadfull Deeds in War as most agree sirnamed by the French le Neoir or the Black-Prince VI. In these Days the Young King of England finding himself a Father began indeed to play the Man and thô he was then but 18 Years of Age takes a resolution to govern his Realm no more by Others but Himself in Person hearing and learning the Truth in weighty Affairs and distributing Justice and Mercy to such who should lay the best claim to either But while Mortimer held his present Station 't was not possible the King should be Master of his own Purposes Now therefore to him we hasten who seems already to have been too long free from that Vengeance which always pursues ambitious and bloody Traitors Of his Treachery and Cruelty we had no small Instances before But by a certain fatal Ordinance that wicked Men must of themselves advance and further their own Ruine his insupportable Arrogance and too opiniative Security thence proceeding was the chief Occasions of his suddain Downfall In the Quindenes of St. Michael the King holding a Parliament at Nottingham Mortimer appear'd in such splendour and so well attended that he became both the Envy and Terror of all the Kings Friends no man durst name him by any other Title than his new-acquired but much-envy'd one the Earl of March And his Interest and possessions bound those to him whom his Power could not move For in these days he bore such sway that he obtain'd whatever he had a mind to as appears by these following Grants from the Young King who by his o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. Cart. 4. Ed. 3. n. 64. Charter dated this Year besides all he had got before granted unto him the Castle and Mannor of Hanley with the Chaces of Malverne and Cors in the Counties of Worcester and Glocester also the Town of Wiche in Worcestershire with the Castle of Clifford and Mannor of Glasebury part of the Possessions of Hugh Spencer the younger not yet free from
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
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
King Robert lay now on his Death-bed and almost in his Grave and his Young Son David was but little more than out of the Cradle Their General the Lord Randulph began to be very sickly and the other famous Captain the Lord James Douglas had undertaken a journey to Palestine as soon as ever his Lord King Robert should depart this Life to present his Heart in the Holy Land to the Sepulchre of his Saviour as the King had adjur'd him on his Death-bed to do On all these Reasons and because they had already sounded those who sway'd most in the Government of England lest the Young King should this year revenge the Injuries of the last the Scots with much seeming humility came to the foresaid Parliament at Northampton desiring a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms which that they never meant in good earnest this is an undoubted Argument because their King Robert was ever of the mind and so declared on q Hector p. 309. lin 60. his Death-bed That no perpetual Peace ought ever to be made with England lest for want of use the Scots should forget their skill in Arms and that only sometimes to get an Advantage or to avoid an apparent Disadvantage they might strike up a Temporary Peace to endure but for two or three Years at the farthest But however that the Scots now required Peace in so humble a manner and by no less a Man than the Lord Douglas himself this was wonderfully pleasing to those who could not penetrate into the Design And there it was demanded by the English and with small adoe agreed unto by the Scots that they should pay unto the King of England thô it was meant to Mortimer for the Dammages done by them last year in the North r Knighton p. 2558. n. 10. in Artic. 20000 Marks thô Others say 30000 Marks and some as many Pounds Upon which pretended large Allowance the Scots cunningly proposed That for their better Security and to make the Amity more lasting their Young Prince of Scotland might have the King's Sister the Lady Joan of the Tower in Marriage Then with a pretended Zeal it was put home to the Scots that least new Quarrels should arise about Limits they would now renounce all claim to the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland or any other Place or Places which any of that Nation hath at any time held in England which was readily by the Scots granted as had before been privily agreed But then again it was humbly motion'd by them at the same time that all English Men should be prohibited from holding any Lands in Scotland unless only those who should there personally reside This was by the Contrivers acknowledged to be but just in equivalence to those Pretensions the Scots had so readily relinquished in England Only the Lord Å¿ Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. 273. Henry Piercy who was one of the Twelve appointed to advise and guide the young King was utterly against that Clause but he was born down by Mortimer's Party and so this also was granted Whereupon the Encroachment grew higher so that now his Majesty himself was humbly requested to lay down his claim to all Superiority over that Crown and Kingdom else how could they be secure his Subjects would lay by their Pretensions And also it must needs raise Heart-burnings between the two Realms so long as One could shew Evidences and Trophies of the Others slavery This without much consideration was look'd upon but as a consequence of the former and so many ancient Deeds and Evidences of the Scotch Dependance on England with all the Instruments of their former Homages and Fealties from the most Ancient Times till the Days of Edward the First this King's Grandfather to whom John t Harding fol. 232. c. 240. 241. Baliol resign'd his Right to that Kingdom as they are reckon'd up by u Walsing Hist p. 17. c. item p. 49. c. Walsingham x Grafton p. 172. c. item p. 186. c. Grafton and others are all now rendred back again to Scotland And besides this many ancient Jewels and Muniments among which the Sacred Black Cross of Scotland with the famous Evidence called the Ragman Roll containing all the Homages and Fealties of the King of Scotland and of all the Prelates Earls and Barons of that Realm with all their Seals y M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 217. appendant thereto and other Charters and Remembrances that King Edward the First had of his Right to the Realm of Scotland besides the Evidences of what his Barons held in that Kingdom All these were now deliver'd up again In consideration of all which Grants the King of Scotland agrees to pay to King Edward the foresaid summ of 30000 Marks of which be sure the Authors of this contrivance had their share And yet however either of the Kings reserved to himself liberty after a Truce of four Years to refuse the Peace if then he should not like the Conditions To which the Councils of both Nations were willing to agree for as much as the One expected the return of their great Commander James Douglas from the Holy Land by that time and the Other were cautious of confirming the Peace for a longer time than the King's Minority since they all perceived him very desirous already to get Honour on the Scottish Nation This is that Famous or rather Infamous Peace justly accounted so dishonourable to England that the Scots themselves afterward by way of Triumph Nick-named their Queen Joan Make-Peace as if the Realm of England had made that Match out of fear to rid their hands of the War However the Lady Joan of the Tower King Edward's Sister was accordingly on the z Joh. Tinemouth aur Hâ—st p. 229. ex aed. Lambeth Twelfth of July or as a Fabian p. 196. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cautabr c. 217. others on the 20 being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen taken in Marriage by David Bruce the Young King of Scotland his Father being dead but the Month before III. When these things were noised abroad King Edward began to appear Contemptible in the eyes of his Neighbours who did not at all consider what Arts were used to mislead his Youth by those who hop'd always to stand at the Helm The Scots made many insulting Rhymes in derision of our Nation one whereof is chiefly remembred viz. b Fabian p. 196. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. Long Beards Heartless Painted Hoods Witless Gay Coats Graceless Make England Thriftless Even Philip of Valois the French King who held that Crown but by Injustice from our King Edward is so far now from doubting to be called to any Account for it by him that he begins to meditate a Resolution of summoning him to come and render him Homage for his Lands in France held of that Crown But this matter he was forced for a
Lord Mauley Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Earl of Warren and Surrey the Lord Walter Manny Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby Henry Lord Percy John Lord Gray of Codonor the Lords Alexander Hilton Ralph Camois Thomas Furnival Gilbert Aton Adam Wells John Moels alias Mules beside the Lords John Willoughby and John Fauconberg both who fought Valiantly under the Banner of the Lord Ebulo le Strange There were also these Lords John Moubray Bartholomew Burwash senior Robert Lord Clifford William Lord Clinton Hugh Lord Audley junior afterwards Earl of Gloucester Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton Sr. John Roos and Thomas Brethren to William Lord Roos Sr. Hugh Courtney son and Heir apparent of the Lord Hugh Courtney the Elder and Sr. Robert Pierpoint g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 458. whose services that day were so Considerable that they obtain'd him an High Place in the Kings Favour And from him the present Thrice-Noble Earl of Kingston is Descended It is h Walsing hist p. 114. n. 40. Knighton p. 2559. n. 10 20. generally agreed that the Scotch Army did by far exceed the English in number and the Courage of that Nation was never justly called in question yet thus by their own want of Experience or disadvantage of Ground or Divine Judgment they were slain taken and routed by a far less number of English who yet in the whole Action lost but one Knight one Esquire and twelve or thirteen Footmen fifteen being the most that are said to fall on our side So great and signal a Victory could not but enforce the yielding up of the Town and Castle which were before so much distressed and could now expect no other timely Succour Accordingly i Id. ibid. n. 29. that very day or rather as k Walsingh p. 114. Fabian p. 199. Holinsh p. 896. M.S. ibid. c. some say the next both were deliver'd up to King Edward who gave the Townsmen l Knighton p. 2â—64 n. 60. a Truce for 40 days in which space of time they might sell or otherwise dispose of their Goods such as had a mind to depart but as for those who were willing to become his Liege Men he gave them free leave to remain in their dwellings still and enjoy their own they giving unto him their Oath of Fealty Of these were Earl Patrick of Dunbar late Captain of the Castle and Sr. Alexander m Hector l. 15. p. 316. l. 32. Bachan p. 289. Seton himself Captain of the Town who certainly would never have sworn Loyalty to him had he so cruelly executed his Sons as the same Scotch Writers too rashly report Sr. n Knighton p. 2564. Alexander Ramsey also and Sr. Robert Miners with Other the Chief of the Town to save their Houses and Lands there took the Oath of Allegiance King Edward entred into Barwick with great Solemnity where having tarried twelve days he appointed King o Frois c. 26. Grafton p. 228. Bailiol to rule all the rest of Scotland and left with him the Lord Richard Talbot and many other valiant Leaders with a sufficient Army to keep that Realm that is all beyond the Scottish Sea but he himself claim'd Barwick both by Inheritance from his Ancestors and his own Conquest And there therefore in his own Name he immediately places the Lord Henry Percy as Governor of his Castle of Barwick with his Lieutenant Sr. Thomas Grey and the Lord Patrick Earl of Dunbar was joyn'd in Commission with them as Wardens jointly of all on this side the Scotch Sea which he had received to his Peace Only Earl p Hector l. 15. fol. 316. lin 37. Patrick had this Penance imposed on him by King Edward That since upon the first Arrival of the English he had thrô despair to keep it caused his Castle of Dunbar to be dismantled and rased to the ground he should now at his own charge rebuild it and admit an English Garrison therein The Lord John q Thoroton Nottingh Antiq. p. 164. Darcy having obtain'd much honour in this War return'd now with all his Forces to his Province of Ireland where all along he exercis'd much wisdom and integrity in that his Government and upon his return presently deliver'd Walter Bermingham Primate of Armagh out of the Castle of Dublin of which matters to enlarge would be foreign to our purpose VIII But the Pious King Edward of England in r Ashmâ—le Garter p. 645. Memory of this great Victory which happen'd as we have shew'd on the Eve of St. Margaret the Virgin that Festival being in the Roman Calendar on the Å¿ Malè ergo Ashmole 13. ibid. 20 of July repaired the Church and Convent of the Nuns near the place where the Battle was sought it having upon that Occasion been burnt and destroy'd and caused an Altar to be therein erected and dedicated to that Virgin-Martyr He further granted to those Nuns and their Successors for ever 20 l. per annum out of the Issues of the Town and County of Barwick untill Lands to that value might be settled upon them to the end That annually on the Eve and Day of St. Margaret for ever they should commemorate the Goodness of God for his so prosperous Success in that Battle As for the Bailiol about the Feast of St. t Knighton p. 2565. n. 1. c. Laurence which is the tenth of August even before the King of England had left those parts he put himself in the Head of an Army of about 26000 men all English or such Scots as had yielded to serve him and to prosecute this Victory marched forth into the very Heart of Scotland taking Towns and Castles at his pleasure for none resisted him And there he took up his Winter Quarters all the Country being subjected unto him as we shall shew more fully anon About this time it was as the best Authors agree that King u Fabian p. 199. Frois 33. David Bruce being thus in a manner deprived of his Kingdom was both advised by his Friends and forced by Necessity to forsake his Native Country for a while and fly to the protection of his old Confederate of France All this was happily effected by the Loyal assistance of Malcome Flemein of Cumirnald the Captain of the impregnable Castle of Dunbriton under whose Conduct departing secretly with his Queen and a small Company he set sail for France and arrived safely at Bouloigne whence riding to Paris he was heartily welcom'd of King Philip who received him with extraordinary Courtesie offering him freely to command any of his Houses or Castles to reside in and to take up whatsoever he should want either for Use or Pleasure provided he would engage never to make any final Agreement with King Edward of England without his Consent first had and obtained thô at the same time the Lord x Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 34. Bartholomew Burwash the Elder and other Commissioners late sent from England were
Talbot in deep Indignation that his Advise was so little reckon'd of hasted with some few of his Friends and Attendants for England but being surprised in the way by a strong Party of the Bruceans who knew well how to make their advantage of these private Dissentions after he had lost six men of Arms and many more Foot was himself taken Prisoner and so carried to the strong Castle of Dunbriton The Lord Beaumont in as great displeasure hies him to the Castle of Dundarg in Bucquhan u Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. of his Wifes Inheritance which having well victual'd and fortifi'd he not only by continual Excursions subjected to himself the Lands late in Controversie but all the Country round about him David Strabolgi goes to Athol with the same Discontent and there makes great Provision for his own Defence Hereupon King Bailiol too late seeing his Error and doubting not a little what all this might come to as also feating lest his only Protector the King of England might take these Proceedings in evil part by an action as weak as the other was rash revokes now his own former Sentence grants the Lord Beaumont the Lands in contest appeases the Earl of Athol with many and large Possessions belonging to the young Lord Robert Stuart who afterward was King and promised them both to ransom their Kinsman the Lord Talbot at any rate whatsoever Having thus with much adoe reconciled those great Personages to himself thô Sr. Alexander Moubray was again lost thereby he resolves if possible to be before hand with his Enemies whom he knew to make huge Preparations against him being the more animated by the late Accession of Sr. Alexander Moubray Suddenly therefore he comes before Reinfrew a City in the Province of Cunningham near the River Cluyd which he as suddenly reduces and having settled Matters there passes over into the Island of Bute where Sr. Alan Lile Sheriff of the Island presenting him with the Keys of Rothsay had the Castle and whole Isle committed to his Charge again After this he took the Castle of x Duchan l. 9. p. 291. Dunnow in Kyle whereby he terrified the greater part of his Enemies into a Compliance having seized on all the Lands belonging to the y Id. p. 292. Stuarts and lying in the Islands of Bute and Arran about Reinfrew Cunningham and Kyle besides what belonged to many others who like that Noble Family scorn'd to save their Lands by forfeiting their Loyalty Many of his own Friends he now rewards most liberally with Lands and Possessions taken from his Adversaries as well of his own Natural Bounty for he was a Prince of great Worth and Gallantry as with Design to bind them fast to his Interest At the same time he z Hector l. 19. fol. 317. c. made a narrow search after the young Lord Robert Stuart aforesaid that by his Death he might secure himself on that side as who was Nephew to the late King Robert Bruce being eldest Son to King David's eldest Sister and had even in the days of King Robert been sworn and own'd as the next Heir Apparent to his Son David For as for David who was then an Exile in France he thought himself pretty secure of him and now look'd upon this innocent young Lord who was so powerfull in Wealth and Allies and had the Right to the Crown of Scotland next after David as a most Dangerous Person But God had order'd it otherwise and the Hopefull Prince Robert being then scarce fifteen years of Age thrô the secret Goodness of Providence which destin'd mighty things for him and his Posterity with the great care and foresight of his Friends especially of Sr. William Heriot and Sr. John Gilbert was privatly by water conveyed to the impregnable Castle of Dunbritton and there earnestly recommended to the Care of that Loyal and valiant Lord Malcome Flemein who was still Governour of that Place In the mean time the Lord Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland for King David being lately redeem'd from England with a good round Summ of Money bestirs himself vigorously for his distressed Country and now at last having joyn'd Sr. Alexander Moubray who thrô displeasure had lately revolted from King Bailiol he strictly besieges the Lord Henry Beaumont in his strong Castle of Dundarg During this Siege 't is a Walsingh hypod p. 113. n. 24 said that King Edward of England himself upon news thereof with a great Power entred Scotland and relieved him The time indeed of this Siege may well enough agree with King Edwards Winter Expedition for thô upon good reason I have laid the foregoing Story together yet the whole Procedure took up more than the space of twelve Months but yet in this matter the Scotch Writers are more agreeable to Truth who say that he was forced to yield himself on certain Conditions Thô surely One was not as b Leland Câ—llect 1 Vol. p. 797. Leland says that he might have liberty to retire freely into England nor was he suffer'd as Hector says to depart upon parole only giving his Oath never to return into Scotland any more unless in King Davids Quarrel but he was fain to pay a good Ransom for his Liberty as it evidently appears from the c Pat. 9. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 22. Sr. Will. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Records which plainly shew that when about a Year after King Edward in requital of his Services acquitted him of all such Debts as were due from him to the Exchequer he especially forgave him among the rest four hundred Marks formerly lent unto him at York towards the Payment of his Ransom upon this his Imprisonment in Scotland V. The News of the foresaid Siege and of the taking of the Lord Richard Talbot was d Walsingh hist p. 116. Hypod p. 113. n. 14 brought to King Edward during the last Session of Parliament at Westminster which as we shew'd began about the 24 of September this Year Whereupon the late Resolution for the Holy Land was Suspended and his Majesty thought it necessary in Person to undertake one Expedition more into Scotland and not to desist till he had wholly subdu'd that untractable People and cut off from them all possibility of future Rebellion He was also extreamly exasperated e Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 22. at the News that David Strabolgi Earl of Athol had Revolted to the Bruceans the truth of which Business was That being as we shew'd before by large Gifts and Promises as well as by the Revocation of Judgement in the Lord Beaumont's behalf Reconciled again to King Bailiol he was f Vector fol. 318 n. 50. c. suddenly one time surprised by the Bruceans who then began to bestir themselves apace by whom thô for the present he escap'd them he was so closely Hunted and Pursued on all Hands that at last after he had with much Difficulty sustain'd himself with Roots and Water for a while he
us any agreeable Method of Peace to which the said Philip shall consent presently when we shall be once assured thereof we will take Deliberation thereupon and with all speed return such an Answer as ought to seem reasonable and acceptable to your Holiness and to All that have a solid right and ordinate Reason And if perchance in the foresaid Method of Treating the Consent of our Friends and Allies should seem requisite to be obtain'd We our selves will put too all possible Diligence insomuch that it shall appear not to be our Fault that a firm Peace doth not follow thereupon if the other Party will but condescend to Reason We therefore heartily beseech your Clemency that if it please you you would duly weigh our Justice and Intention founded upon Truth and incidently cherish Us who continue in all fulness of Devotion to You and the Holy Roman Church with the favour of solid Love and Charity esteeming of Us as of a most Devout Son. For God the Lord of Consciences is our Witness that We desire to augment the Honours and Liberties of the Church and if God shall grant us to prosper with devout and humble Affection we aspire to fight his Battles against the Enemies of his Faith. God preserve your Holiness c. Given c. XI Before this there were two Parliaments this Year held at Westminster One being called by the Duke of Cornwall who had Commission thereto from the King his Father The Other by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Others who in the Absence of the King and his Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall had the same Commission The First was held on the Quindene of St. Michael or the 13 of October * C. Lit. Dom. which then fell on a Wednesday At the Opening h M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 17. §. 1 2 3. c. whereof its Causes were declared to be Three First to take care for a strict Observation of the Kings Peace Secondly to provide for Defence of the Marches toward Scotland For that People being thereto instantly urged by their Kings Letters from France and the promised Assistance of the French King began to stir again notwithstanding the Truce And the Third and last Reason was for the better keeping the Sea To all which was added a Demand of a Supply for the King in his Wars After this the Archbishop of Canterbury who together with Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham and Sr. Michael de la Pole came from beyond the Seas as the Kings Messengers to the Parliament made a Narration of the Kings Exploits which he had atchieved in those Parts at that time and the present Hazards both He and his Men were exposed to without liberal and speedy Supplies out of England The King as then lay near St. Quintin accompanied with 15000 Men of Arms and of Archers and Others more than 30000 as appeared by his Letters to the Lord William Clinton Earl of Huntington who was then i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 531. Admiral of the River Thames and Warden of the Cinque-Ports and to the Merchants at Pearch besides what we have related before of this Expedition It was also further declared that the King and Others about him for the procuring of his Allies to assist him thus far and for his own necessary Expences in this War stood bound in Three hundred thousand Pounds which in Honour he could not but pay before he left those Parts Wherefore the Result was he wanted liberal Contributions Hereupon the Young Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Warden of England with the other Lords granted unto the King the Tenth Sheaf of all the Corn of their Demesnes except of their bound Tenants the Tenth Fleece of Wooll and the Tenth Lamb of their own Store to be paid for two Years Desiring withall that the Maletoste or Wrong set upon Wooll be revoaked and that this Grant turn not into a Custom All which was allow'd by the Prince in the Kings Name For he had full Commission by the Kings Letters Patents to grant what should appear reasonable to the Lords and Commons The Lords demand that the Keeping of the Kings Wards Lands may be committed to the next of Kin to the said Ward And that Remedy be provided against those who dying pass away their Lands to defraud the Lord of the Wardship or the King himself To this the Commons answered that as they knew well so they heartily tendred the Kings Estate and were ready according to their Duty to maintain the same But this being a new Point they durst not determin about it till they had further conferred with their Counties that sent them And so desiring Respite till another time they promise to travel and enquire throughout their several Counties To the Three Causes of their Assembling at this time the Commons answer'd thus First as to the Keeping of the King's Peace that would be kept sacred if good and couragious Justices were appointed in every County and such as were permitted to Main-prise do put in good Sureties as Esquires or Gentlemen and if no Pardon were granted but by Parliament These Matters once established they humbly conceive the Peace could not be violated Then as to the Defence of the Northern Marches they thought that would best be performed if all who had Lands in those Parts were obliged to live upon them As for the Keeping of the Seas they proposed that the Cinque-Ports or other Haven Towns which are discharged of all other Contributions should look to that especially and also that those who had Lands either there or elsewhere upon the Sea coasts should repair thereto and dwell upon them Then the Commons demanded a few things First that the King will pardon all Felonies Escapes Trespass for the Forests and otherwise all Aids to make the Kings Son a Knight or to Marry his Daughter That all Purveyors as well with Commission as without shall be arrested if they make not present Pay. That the King would pardon old Debts and Duties from any time to before his Coronation That all Customs of Wooll and Lead may be taken as they have been and not as lately enhanced with Common Assent and that if they be Resistance may be made And lastly that knowledge may be had how these things may be assured But their Art to provide against the Scarcity of Mony was this that every Merchant for every Sack of Wooll exported should be obliged to bring in at least 40 s. of Bullion to be coined within the Realm For the upholding the Kings Navy it was Enacted that the Navy of the whole Realm except what should be Actually in the Kings Service for the time being should remain in some certain place without any scattering by any private Men till further Order be taken 'T is agree'd that the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Nobles should by their Letters require the Archbishop of York and his Clergy largely to contribute for the
which he always had and hath to undertake this Holy Expedition offer'd to be ready to undertake the said Expedition with him and to grant a reasonable and final Truce to the Scots on that Condition that the said Lord Philip would faithfully promise him after their Return to do him full Justice as to the Dutchy But he despising and rejecting Conditions so reasonable nay more than reasonable answer'd That he would do nothing untill he had given unto all the Scots as well those that were Living as unto the Heirs of the Dead full Satisfaction for all Places which in his time he had by force taken in Scotland And when the Messengers of our said Lord the King answer'd that as to that Point they were not empower'd nor did they believe how their said Lord the King would do it the Lord Philip answered in these Words It will never be well untill there be one King of both the Realms of France and England This the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury declared publiquely before a great Number of Prelates Earls Barons and Others Our Lord the King hearing these things being then come to Years of Discretion caused a Parliament to be called wherein by the Advice and Consent of all the Prelates Earls Parons and other Nobles and of the Commons there present and especially of the said Lord of Canterbury particularly insisting thereupon it was Ordained that since by the way of Humility he could not obtain Peace and by the Sentence and Decision of the Doctors and Advocates as well of the Court of Rome as of the Students of Paris and Oxford and others and also of all the more Expert and Famous Prelates of England with whom he had caused his Right to be carefully discussed the said Kingdom of France by the Death of his Uncle the Lord Charles last King of France of Famous Memory was Lawfully by Right of Succession devolved unto him as the next Heir Male He should take Care effectually to prosecute even by a strong Hand his foresaid Right And that this he might do more securely and secretly there were sworn there to the Lords Canterbury Lincoln London Salisbury Litchfield and many other Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles Peers of the Realm upon the Cross of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury aforesaid Also among other things it was Ordained that the Alliances should be made in Almaine which are now made and that the Lord Bishop of Lincoln taking unto him certain Noblemen of England should be constituted Agent for the perfecting those Alliances aforesaid Who by Ordinance of the said Parliament and by the Command of our said Lord the King being so obliged accepted the same Office of Agent and brought it to effect Which done our said Lord the King in pursuance of the Counsel aforesaid passed the Sea and wasted certain Parts of the Realm of France with an Army of his own and of certain his Allies Afterwards the Winter Season approaching our said Lord the King being Returned into England heard that there was a great Fleet of Ships prepared on the Sea for a sudden Invasion of him and his Who by the Counsel of his Friends his then Assistants and principally of the foresaid Lord Canterbury speedily prepared himself to scour the Seas and expos'd himself to go over without Provision of Money or Horses chiefly upon Confidence of the said Lord Canterbury who had promised within certain and few days to send him Money enough And passing the Seas he found his Enemies upon the Sea near the Haven where he designed to Land and obtain'd that Victory which God gave him Who afterwards taking Land on Confidence of the foresaid promise with a Mighty Multitude of Armed Men Besieged the City of Tournay and there having sat a great while destitute of all Aid of Money althô at the Importunate Instance of many yet in very deed being forced by the only failure of Money he consented to take a Truce as being in the greatest Danger and utmost point of Necessity since as he said he had not all the time of the Siege received one Penny out of England and further unfolding his Opinion against the said Archbishop he said these Words I verily believe that the Archbishop would that for want of Money I had been ruin'd and slain And further he hath privately said to me such things of my Wife and on the other Hand hath said to my Wife such things of me for which if he had been credited he had provoked Us to such Mutual Discord that there would have been a perpetual Division between Us. Truly Holy Father our Lord the King hath often remembred all those things touching the Lord Archbishop to me William Norwich as well apart as before others of his Council and strictly enjoyn'd me upon Oath that I should fully and faithfully Report them to your Holiness Those things most Holy Father namely that our Lord the King consented to a Truce for want of Money and what Relates to the Lord Archbishop if it please You may be kept secret All the rest may be made Publick At the same time these Negotiators declared King Edward's Resolutions in these Words Most Holy Father and Lord that He may particularly and nakedly open his Mind to your Clemency he signifies unto your Holiness that he Challenges and intends to Challenge the whole Realm of France as Lawfully due and devolved unto him by Hereditary Right But for the Reverence of You and of the Apostolick See and to avoid the Perils which in all probability will happen by continuance of the Wars he is ready to Treat of Peace and to consent to a Good Peace but so as that in the Treaty of Peace to be made consideration be had as to the Right proportionable unto him in the said Kingdom and not only as to the Dutchy because with the whole Dutchy alone althô free from all Service and Subjection of any One he intends not to be contented And moreover because your Holiness being Highly sollicitous for the Reformation of Peace have offer'd your self by your Letters to Labour in your own Person at the Apostolick-Seat if the Deputies of the Parties be therefore sent to your Court or by others as it may be Honestly and Profitably done our Lord the King out of his great Confidence and Devout Reverence consents that this may be in your Holinesses choice These were King Edward's peremptory Demands so that there appear'd no way of a Final Agreement Nay it was to be expected that King Philip upon hearing thereof would be inflam'd the more Wherefore the Pope advis'd him to be more moderate in his Demands for the King of France was so far from granting thus much that in his k Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 38. Letters to the Pope he only gave him Liberty to declare a Restitution of those Lands of Aquitain which had been Won by his Father Charles of Valois in the time of Charles IV. When King
Generals we answer generally that according to the discretion given unto us by God being in your Offices we always faithfully served your Royal Majesty and in our Actions gave you in our judgment sound Counsel To prodigal Donations or unlawfull Alienations or excessive Largesses or Relaxations of great Sums of Money due unto You unless upon good Reasons by you done neither thrô Bribery Hate Love or Favour yielding fallaciously any Assent but to our Power conserving your Honour and Interest in the Premises and all other Matters And because sundry times we stiffly withstood several Donations and Relaxations we often went away with small Thanks from the Kings Servants and Others And if particularly any thing had been made out as to each of the Premises we should have given a particular Answer agreeable to God and the Truth For at present it doth not occurr to our Memory that your Royal Highness hath made any extraordinary Donations we being present and knowing those onely excepted which unto certain Earls lately by You first made by Consent of solemn Parliament then held in your Royal Palace at Westminster You of your Royal Bounty gave Which then we believed and yet do not to have been done to the Kings Prejudice but to make for your Interest and Honour For the Experience of things teaches what rank they held for You and your Realm and how much they have suffer'd and do suffer at present But as for any Excessive Largesses or Relaxations of the Kings Liberality made we remember not at present unless your Majesty would have us understand it of one Relaxation made to a Debtor even to all your People of England in your last Parliament You being present conven'd at Westminster Which Grace on that occasion was granted by the Assent of the King and of the whole Parliament on consideration of a greater Advantage thereby accruing to You viz. that the Community of the Land should grant You a Ninth aforesaid nor would the Community have otherwise assented to give the Subsidy of the said Ninth Which latter Instance where Reason sways ought not to be imputed unto us But when the said Generals are declared more particularly as the Law requires we will give in our Answer to what shall be so declared distinct enough And yet one thing we shall not here omit which we wonder that it should be objected against us namely that we have applied unto the use of us and of our Friends the Kings Rents and Revenues For the just Judge sitting in Heaven knows that hitherto we never appli'd any of the Kings Lands Rents or Profits to our selves or ours nor ever intended to apply them But in the Affairs of You and of your Father and Grandfather for whom we have crossed the Seas 30 times and have often gone to and fro for Scotland and in other your Employs we have spent so much of our own that of our Purses it may be said as above in your Letters it is repeated Here a little and there a little For from the beginning of the Wars to this present day we have received nothing at all from the Kings Exchequer except 300 l. And so the Evil design'd against us is remembred but our Labours Expences and Gratitude are utterly forgotten of all Men. u u Job c. 6. v. 2. Therefore I may say with Job Oh! that my sins were throughly weighed and my Calamity laid in the Balances together surely this would appear heavier than the sand of the Sea. As for Acceptors of Persons truly God is our Witness we never were but desirous always to prefer the Kings Will we placed and caused to be placed Worthy Persons in Publique Offices in whatsoever Lands or Places were subject to the Kings Government as far as Human Condition permitted us to know the Manners of Men according to the knowledge and power given us from above taking therefore Gifts or Rewards of no body And if any one will say or prove that we have taken any Gifts or Mony from any we shall be ready upon Occasion to answer all Plaintiffs or Impeachers whensoever it shall please the Kings Majesty according to the Law and Customs of the Realm the Honour of God our Estate and Order being in all things preserved Knowing most Serene Prince for certain that if we might with a safe Conscience reveal the secrets of your Council we could show openly to all the World to whom the Failing in all the Premises ought to be imputed in the just Judgment of God and all true Men. Thus much for the present may suffice as to the said infamous Libel and I wish that for your Majesties Honour it had never been written and published which althô at the first view it seems to bespatter and wound our Reputation yet things being seriously consider'd as they ought to be and the Writings therein contained weighed in a just Scrutiny those Men cannot avoid the blot of Treason to the King and Kingdom who dictated this Libel or thereto gave their Counsel and Consent or reported the Contents thereof to our Injury or published them to our Infamy Which may your Royal Majesty vouchsafe with an Upright Heart to consider whom may that King by whom x x Prov. c. 18. v. 15. Kings reign and Princes decree Justice vouchsafe to preserve in Health and in his own Love. Amen This notable and artificial Letter the Archbishop wrote in a strain agreeable to the Times sometimes standing stiffly upon his Pontifical Authority and the sacred Liberties of the Church sometimes humbly conceding the Regal Power always full of submissive Courage which was fomented by his Innocence or Dignity But all these Arts could neither frighten nor mollifie the Kings Exasperated Mind yet so that he presently followed it with this Reply which he sent as an Antidote against the Archbishops Insinuations to all the Bishops and Clergy of that Province X. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To the Bishops Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the Province of Canterbury Greeting The Wound of Hearts Pride which always soareth aloft doth often turn the Remedy to a Disease and the Physick to Poison And this is proved by the presumptuous Arrogance of John Archbishop of Canterbury who when lately he had publiquely Preached and commanded to be Published in several places of great Resort sundry sinister Matters concerning Us and Ours as more fully is contained in our Excusatory Letters to You and others thereupon directed now heaping up more heavy Injuries to his former endeavours to intimate to our Liege People that Our Excuses which We provided to heal the Wounds of Our Dignity and Royal Fame are not true and with Exquisite Engines to batter them and by New Letters lately sent to You and others with a slanderous Pen and lying Style more grievously and freely to defame them And thô it be the Custom of Popes Cardinals and Inferior Prelates to
do what became his Wisdom and Courage but he was something surpris'd to be taken at such a time when most of his best Friends were absent with the Earl of Salisbury who lay then before Rennes but knew nothing of this matter it had been carried on so privately When the Besiegers had made good their Approaches and rightly fitted themselves they immediately fell on the Assault which they maintain'd with incredible Fury and Resolution For they feared lest the Earl of Salisbury should be informed of this their undertaking before they had effected their Design The Lords Henryds Leon and Sr. Oliver Clisson gave the greatest Encouragement and set the best Example so that never any Attack was carried on with more Ardour nor obtain'd better Success For there were so many places to be Mann'd and so few hands to perform that at last they wan the Barriers not long after the Gates and so they entred the City by force the English being now in their turn put to the chace many hurt and taken and more slain The Lord Robert of Artois escaped very narrowly thrô a Postern thô grievously wounded and with him the Lord Stafford who both got to the Countess to Hennebond The Lord Hugh Spencer was taken by the Lord Henry du Leon but so grievously wounded as Froisard says that he died within three Days after Thô this is a mistake for this Baron Spencer died not till p Dâ—dg 1 Vol. p. 395. six Years after as appears from the Records only indeed a Brother of his Sr. Edward Spencer we find to have departed this Life about this time But neither will I affirm that he was the Man for his Death is set a little more forward VIII Thus q Frois c. 93. fol. 47. b. was the City of Vannes retaken and fortified and repaired with all Expedition imaginable for fear of a Relapse so that within a short space it was much better provided to endure a Siege than ever before The Lord Robert of Artois tarried a while at Hennebond to seek remedy for his Wounds but neither did the Air agree with him nor the Physick For he found but little good there So he was advis'd to return into England where he might get more skilfull Chirurgeons But in his voyage the Sea and the Weather us'd him so unkindly that his sores fester'd insomuch that being brought to London he there died soon after Surely thô his High Spirit not being able to brook an injury from one whom He had in a manner raised to a Crown had urged him to open Enmity with his own Country yet for his Valour Conduct and Loyalty to King Edward he ought not to be deprived of his due Commendations especially since his fault against his Country may seem to have been expiated by his violent Death but the Worth of the Man may appear to have been considerable since his fall was bemoan'd as a Publique Loss over all England and King Edward himself being present at his Funeral in St. Pauls Cathedral perform'd his Obsequies as solemnly as if he had been his own Cosin Henry Plantagenet the most Noble and Valiant Earl of Darby Nor that only but he made a vow that he would severely revenge his Death and to that purpose would go himself in Person into Bretagne and bring the Country into such heavy desolation that it should not be recover'd of fourty Years He that could resolve to do so much for his sake after Death cannot but be supposed to have had an high esteem for his Person when living Althô I do not find that he had any Monument raised for him over the place of his Burial Perhaps King Edward thought as the late Noble Montross wrote for his Martyr'd Prince that it was more fitting To sing his Obsequies with Trumpets Sounds And write his Epitaph in Blood and Wounds However the Kingdom of France did not gain much by his Fall for her evil Genius soon after rais'd up another Native of her own who prov'd as great a Firebrand of the War against Her. IX But we must not omit a Memorable Parliament which King Edward held this Year at his Palace of Westminster die Lunae post Quindenam Paschae that is on * E. Lit. Dom. Pascha 13. April the 28 Day of April during the Sessions whereof viz. on the 12 of May being a Monday King Edward created r Ashincle's Garter p. 671. Adam Marimouth M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 226. ad hunc an c. his Eldest Son Edward who was now in the Thirteenth Year of his Age Prince of Wales investing him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a silver Rod And that he might be enabled to maintain a Port according to his Style and Dignity besides his former Titles and Profits annexed thereto he added several other Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writ directed to William Emelden ordering him to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attorney together with this Dignity Further the King granted him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses Oxen Cows and other things in and upon all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. At the same time the King Knighted several young Noblemen particularly Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. John Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick to whom he then gave an allowance of twenty pounds per annum toward his better support in the Kings Service Now it was Enacted t M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 50. §. 23. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 38. §. 23. that the Statute made at Westminster 15 of Edward 3. which the King had soon after revoked as we have shewn should accordingly be utterly Repealed and lose the Name of a Statute as contrary to the Laws and the Kings Prerogative But forasmuch as the Articles there made were Reasonable it was Enacted that such Articles and others agreed on in this Parliament should be made into a Statute by Advice of the u i. e. of the Kings Bench and Common Pleas. Justices X. In this Parliament it is Recorded x 17. Ed. 3. n. 59 in Dorso Vid. M.S. Rot. Parl. p. 54. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 41. Fox Acts Mon. p. 388. c. That the Commons of England made great Complaint of the Provisions and Reservations coming from the Court of Rome Whereby the Pope took up beforehand the future vacancies of Ecclesiastical Dignities for Aliens and such as had nothing to do within this Realm They remonstrated to the King the Manifold Inconveniences ensuing thereby as the Decay of Hospitality the transporting of the Treasure of the Realm to the Maintenance of the Kings Mortal Enemies the Discovering of the Secrets of the Kingdom and the utter discouragement disabling and impoverishing of Scholars Natives of the Land.
Among other instances they also shewed how the Pope had secretly granted unto two New Cardinals sundry Livings within the Realm of England and particularly to the Cardinal of Perigort above ten Thousand Marks Yearly Collections Whereupon they humbly require the King and his Lords to find a Remedy for these Intolerable Encroachments for that they neither could nor would any longer bear those heavy Oppressions or else they desired that his Majesty and the Lords would help them forceably to expel the Papal Power out of this Realm The King in Consideration of the Premises willeth that the Lords and Commons among themselves consult of the most Decent and fitting way promising his consent to any reasonable Remedy Hereupon the King Lords and Commons presently sent for an Act made at Carlile in the y So in M.S. Rot. Parl. Sr Rob. Cotton But Fox says the 34. and yet pâ—ts it to the Year of our Lord 1307. which was the 35. and last of Ed. 1. I rather believe it should be 35. Ed. 1. 25 Year of Edward the First upon the like Complaint Which utterly forbad to bring or attempt to bring any thing into this Realm which should tend to the Diminution of the Kings Prerogative or the Prejudice of his Lords and Commons And so at this time the Famous Act of Provision was made prohibiting the bringing in of any Bull or the like Trinkets from the Court of Rome or the using allowing or enjoying of any such Bull Process or any other Instrument obtained from thence as there at large doth appear This Act however z Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. as One observes could not be agreed to by the Bishops and the rest of the Clergy but they rather seem'd resolv'd to protest against it till the King peremptorily commanded them to surcease such Presumption However the Lords Temporal only and the Commons by themselves wrote a Letter to his Holiness the Purport whereof followeth a Adam Murimouth Fox Acts Mon. p. 352. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. from the Original French. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman and Catholick Church the Chief Bishop his Humble and Devout Children the Princes Dukes Earls Barons Knights Citizens Burgesses and all the Commonalty of the Realm of England assembled in Parliament at Westminster on the 28 Day of April last past Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet MOST HOLY FATHER the Pious Discretion Prudence and Equity which seem and ought indeed to be in You who are so Holy and so High a Prelate Head of the Holy Church by whom the Catholick Church and People of God should as by the Sun-beams be enlightned do give us good Hope that the just Petitions hereunder by us declared to the honour of Jesus Christ of his Holy Church and of your Holiness also shall be of You gratiously consider'd and that all Errours and Injustice shall be quite removed instead whereof fruitfull Amendment and necessary Remedies thrô the Grace of the Holy Spirit which You in so eminent a Degree have received may be by You gratiously ordained and applied Wherefore most Holy Father after great Deliberation We all with one Assent come unto your Holiness shewing and declaring that the most Noble Kings of England Progenitors to his Majesty that now is as also our Ancestors and our Selves too according to the Grace of the Holy Ghost to them and to us given every one of his own Devotion have established founded and endowed within the Realm of England Cathedrals and other Churches Colleges Abbeys Priories and divers other Religious Houses And to the Prelates and Governours of the same have given and granted Lands Possessions Patrimonies Franchises Advowsons and Patronages of Dignities Revenues Offices Churches with many and divers other Advantages and Emoluments Whereby the Service of God and the Faith of Christ might be honoured and had in Reverence Hospitals and Alms-houses with all other Edifices Churches and Colleges might be honestly kept and maintain'd and Devout Prayers in the same Places made for the Souls of the Founders and the Poor also of the several Parishes conveniently aided and nourished Of all which such only were to have the Cure who were able to take Confessions and were otherwise meet in their own Mother Tongue of England effectually to teach and inform their Flock And forasmuch most Holy Father as You cannot well attain the knowledge of divers such Errours and Abuses as are crept in among us nor yet be able to understand the Conditions and Customes of Places being your self so far distant unless your Holiness be of others duly informed and instructed We therefore having full and perfect Notice and Intelligence of all the Errours and Abuses of the said Places within the said Realm have thought fit to signifie the same unto your Holiness namely That divers Reservations Provisions and Collations by your Apostolick Predecessors of the Church of Rome and by You also in Your time most Holy Father have been granted and now more largely than heretofore unto divers Persons as well Strangers and of other Nations as unto some who are our professed Enemies and who have little or no Vnderstanding at all of our Language and of the Conditions and Customs of those of whom they have the Government and Cure Whereby a great number of Souls are in peril many of the Parishioners in Danger the Service of God neglected the Alms and Devotion of all Men diminished the Hospitals brought to Decay the Churches with their Appurtenances ruin'd and dilapidated Charity waxeth cold the good and honest Natives of our own Country unadvanced the Charge and Cure of Souls unregarded the pious Zeal of the People restrained many Poor Scholars of our own unpreferred and the Treasure of the Realm exported against the Mind and Intention of the Founders All which Errours Abuses and Slanders most Holy Father We neither can not ought any longer to suffer or endure Wherefore we most humbly require Your Holiness that the Slanders Abuses and Errours which we have declared unto You may of your great Prudence be throughly consider'd and that it may please You that such Reservations Provisions and Collations may be utterly repealed that the same from henceforth be no more used among us and that such Order and Remedy be forthwith taken therein that the said Benefices Edifices Offices and Rights with their Appurtenances may by our Countrymen to the Honour of God be supplied occupied and governed And that it may further please Your Holiness by your Letters to signifie unto us without Delay or further protracting of Time what your Pleasure is touching this our lawfull Request and Demand that we may diligently do our Devoir herein for the Remedy Correction and Amendment of those Enormities above specified In witness whereof unto these Letters Patents We have set to our Hands and Seals Given in full Parliament at Westminster the 18 Day of May Anno Domini 1343.
Invitation the young Earl accepted of and returned forthwith into Flanders where he was received in most splendid manner and presented with Gifts of great Value But as soon as King Edward heard of this Change of Affairs in those Parts he sent thither William Bohun Earl of Northampton Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and Reginald Lord Cobham who prevail'd so far with the Demagogues and Leading Men of Flanders that all the Country was quickly of the mind that their Lord should rather take to Wife a Daughter of England than the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant or of any other Prince whatsoever And so they effectuously desired their Lord and shew'd him what Reasons he had so to do nor durst those few Burgesses who were for a Match with Brabant speak the least syllable to oppose them But the young Earl boldly declared his Resolution saying That by the Grace of God never while he lived would he Marry her whose Father had slain his thô he should have half the Realm of England for her Dowry When the Flemings heard this peremptory Answer they as boldly but with little Care of their Duty told him that he was too much sway'd by French Counvels and sought the Interest of their Enemies more than it became him And that he must expect no good from them if he would not rather believe the Counsel which they should give him and which was for the common Advantage both of him and them But the Young Prince not being at all shaken with this they proceeded further and took and put him in the Prison of Courtray swearing That he should never come forth thence while he lived unless he would govern himself after their Advice and Counsel And they told him moreover that the Earl his Father believed and loved the French Nation in like Manner to his utter Ruine whereas had he follow'd their Advice and been a Friend to their Friends he might have been as Great a Lord as any in Christendom and have recover'd again Lille Douay and Bethune and still on this side Heaven Thus Matters rested for a while and the Earl was kept short nor without some inconvenience in no little fear being emprisoned by his own Subjects V. King Edward the mean while was still before Calais and had kept all that Winter especially during the Christmas Holy-days a most Magnificent Court in the Camp but as soon as the Spring began to open the Year for Action he set himself earnestly to establish his Affairs On the o Ashmele p. 704. ex Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. 2 April second of April therefore being Easter-Monday he sent the Lord James Audeley from the Siege before Calais into England with Command to raise what Forces he could and to bring them down to Sandwich by Ascension-day well-arm'd in Order to pass over to Calais in regard the French King was drawing together a Vast Army with a purpose to raise the Siege About a p Ashmele p. 681. 14 Maii. Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3 p. 1. m. 10. Month after hearing the French King intended to be at Calais about Whitsuntide he sent also into England to his Cousin Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby commanding him speedily to repair to his Assistance with the Forces he had raised In reference to whose Passage Command was given q 19 Maii Rot. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 6. five Days after to the Lord John Mongomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships in readiness at Sandwich and Dover with all speed for the transportation of those Forces Accordingly the Earl arrived at Calais before the end of May immediately upon whose coming thither King Edward among other Gracious Tokens of Favour wherewith he welcomed this High-born Subject taking into consideration his many great Services and Victorious Successes in Aquitain and elsewhere r 1 Junii Ret. fact apud Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 13. granted unto him and his Heirs-Male for ever by Charter the Castle Town and Place of Bergerac on the Dordonne in the Diocese of Perigort with the whole Chastellany and all Jurisdiction High and Low Royal Authority Absolute and Mixt as also the Coynage of Money there To which he afterwards added a Grant of the Examination of the Assay with both the Criminal and Civil Punishment of all Offendors for Coyning of Money And ſ 17 Jun. Ret. Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 16. because this Town and Castle stood upon the Frontiers of the Enemy the King granted that during the War there should remain in that Garrison an 100 Men of Arms and 200 Foot at the Kings pay subject nevertheless to the Command of the Kings Seneschal of Gascogne and to be by him drawn out upon occasion he leaving sufficient strength to Defend the same And further because this Noble Earl had taken divers Prisoners at the Town of St. Jean d' Angely when he reduced that Place as we have shewn the King therefore toward the latter end of this Year granted unto him all the Lands Tenements Vines and other Goods of those Prisoners till their Ransom was fully paid And a little after he granted unto him and his Heirs for ever the Houses Lands and other Goods and Possessions of Bernard Barrham Burgess of that Town to hold by the service of rendring to the King and his Heirs One Rose annually at Midsummer And besides all this he t Extract Donat 21. Ed. 3. m. 10. Novemb 10. granted unto him the Castle of Horeston in the County of Darby with the appurtenances and 40 pounds per annum out of the Farm of the Town of Darby to him and his Heirs-Male and for default of such the same to revert to the King and his Heirs All these Grants and more were made to him by that Munificent Monarch upon the Account of his many good and acceptable Services by him performed VI. While King u Frois c. 140. Edward was thus busied in reinforcing the Siege at Calais and King Philip was on the other hand preparing to rescue the Town Lewis the young Earl of Flanders whom We lately left confin'd at Courtray having by loss of Liberty and some hardship learn'd a little Experience resolved now to work his own Will but therein to use more caution and to procure his escape by Dissimulation Since he found it impossible to avoid ruine if he should still openly avow what he could not but harbour in his heart He often therefore said to those who were about him that he would for the future believe the Counsel of his good Subjects of Flanders for he knew well he said that he should live in more splendour there and in a Higher Condition than in any other Country For in France he was subject to the pleasure of other Men and could not do as he would These Words being noised abroad were greedily swallowed by the plain-dealing Flemings who could not penetrate into the forced Dissimulation of the Willfull young Lord.
and do give and grant to have and to hold to them and their Successors for free pure and perpetual Alms altogether free and quiet for ever from all secular exaction We have also granted unto them for Us and our Heirs and given leave that they the Warden and Canons may appropriate the said Churches and hold them so appropriated to their own uses to them and their Successors for ever notwithstanding the Statute set forth concerning Lands and Tenements not to be put to Mortmaine We will also that unto the said Warden Canons Knights and other Ministers of the said Chappel there to serve so much be paid every Year out of our Exchequer as together with the Profits arising from the said Churches shall seem sufficient and honest for their Diet and the support of the Burthens incumbent on them according to the Decency of their Condition the mean while until there shall be provided by Us in goods immoveable Lands Benefices or Rents to an agreeable sufficience and to our Honour to the Sum of a Thousand Pounds yearly All which We promise and undertake for Us and for our Heirs effectually to fulfill In witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patent Witness our self at Westminster the VI of August in the Year of our Reign of England XXII and of France IX From that Passage in these Letters And this We firmly decree inviolably ordain and by our Royal Authority as much as in us lies establish for ever it is to be observed that according to the Opinion of those times the Kingly Authority extended not to the instituting any where Men of Religion and other Officers to perform and attend the service of God For that lay in the Power and Disposition of the Pope And therefore King Edward setting forth what he had design'd in reference to the Endowment of this Chappel requested Pope Clement VI to grant unto the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Winchester full Authority and Power of ordaining and instituting the College and other things thereunto appertaining II. Hereupon the said Pope by his c Ashmole p. 152. Extat ibid. in Append. N. 11. exiâ—sâ— Aaâ—â—graphe c. Bull bearing date at Avignon Pridiè Calendas Decembris in the Ninth Year of his Pontificate which answers to the Thirtieth day of November Ano. Dom. d Nen 1351. ut Asmncle vid. Rainaid ad huncan Labbe in Chronel Techn 1350 commending the Pious intent of the King in this matter granted unto the Archbishop and Bishop aforesaid and to either of them full Power and Authority to ordain institute and appoint in this Chappel as should seem good to them a certain Number of Canons Priests Clerks Knights and Officers continually to attend upon the Service of God of which Canons and Priests one was to have the Title of Custos or Warden and preside over the Rest And in another Bull bearing date at Avignon II Idus Februarii the same Year he exempted the said College of Windsor from the Jurisdiction of Archbishops Bishops Archdeacons and the like as may be seen at large in the said e Eâ—tat Aâ—â—encle in Append. ce N. 111. Bull. III. And f Asâ—â—cle p. 128. 〈◊〉 Pat. de anno 23. Fd. 3. pars 1. m. 10. c. now at this time We find the King beginning seriously to apply himself to the compleating the College of the Chappel of St. George and to the enlarging and beautifying of the Castle And to this Work he appointed several eminent Surveyors among whom we find numbred John Peyntour Richard Rochell William Hurle William Ireland Robert Barnham John Brocas Oliver de Bourdeaux Thomas Foxley John Alkeshull Walter Palmer and William of Wickham who by this imployment became so acceptable to the King that in time after many other considerable Preferments he attained to the Dignity of Bishop of Winchester and was the second Prelate of the Garter All these during the whole time of this Magnificent Work were assign'd to press Hewers of Stone Carpenters and such other Artificers as were thought usefull and necessary to provide Stone Timber Lead Iron and other Materials and Carriages for them Three whereof to the end this great undertaking might be honestly and substantially performed were assigned joyntly and severally at least once a Moneth all together with all Care and Diligence to survey the Workmen and their Work and to encourage such as did their Duty competently well but to compell the Idle and Slothfull And after this manner the Building went on till the 43d Year of the said King at which time it was quite finished namely as much as this King undertook g Ashmole p. 129. that is to say the Chappel of St. George the Great-Hall of St. George the Kings Palace the Lodgings on the East and South-side of the Upper-Ward the Keep or Tower in the Middle-Ward the Houses for the Custos and Canons in the Lower-Ward together with the whole Circumference of the Walls and their several Towers and Gates as they stand to this day IV. But it was now that the most Noble Order of the Garter received its full Institution in such manner as We have h Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 6. p. 296. c. before related something largely in the 18 Year of this King Who on the 23 of April being a Thursday and the Festival of St. George i Registr M.S. Aâ—undel Archiv Câ—nt par 1. fâ—l 53. b. § 27. the Military Patron of England went himself with the 25 Knights Companions aforemention'd being all cloathed in Gowns of Russet and Mantles k Aâ—â—cle p. 209. 〈◊〉 Retul Compet Joh. Coke Cler. Magn. Garderch ab an 21. ed an 23. Ed. 3. n. 8. penes Reâ—â—â— Regis in Sâ—â—caric of Fine-Woollen Cloth of Blue-Colour pouder'd with Garters and each having a pair of long Cordans of Blue-silk fixed to his Collar together with the rest of the Habit of the Order in a Solemn Procession l Sr Th. de la Mare pud Stow p. 250. all bare-headed to the Chappel of St. George to hear Mass which was celebrated by William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Prelate of the Order This done they return'd in their former Ranks to a Magnificent Feast at which they sat in such Regular Manner as is continued to this day At this Solemnity m Stâ—n p. 246. b. Ashmole p. 165. vâ—d l. 2. c. 6. §. 22. p. 414. King Edward after his usual Manner exhibited those Martiâ—l Sports of Tilting and Tourneament whereat King David of Scotland thô a Prisoner was not only permitted to be present but also to ennoble himself by the use and exercise of Arms the Harness of his Horse being made of Blue Velvet at King Edwards Charge with a Pale of Red Velvet and beneath a White-Rose embroidered thereon The King of England also himself held a part in these Solemn Justs having for his Devise a White-Swan Gorged Or with this daring and inviting
Motto wrought upon his Surcoat and Shield Hay hay the White Swan By Gods Soul I am thy Man. The same Liberty which was granted to the n Stow ibid. King of Scots was also allowed to Ralph Earl of Eu and Guisnes and Constable of France with the Earl of Tancarville the Lord Charles of o Valois apud Stow male Blois and many other both French and Scotch Captives to whom the Courteous King not only permitted the use of Arms upon this and other the like occasions but impartially awarded them the Prizes they deserved Particularly the Earl of Eu bare himself at this time with so much Honour that King Edward adjudged unto him that days Prize and soon after gave him p Knighten p. 2606. n. 64. leave upon Paroll to return into France in order to gather up 20000 Scutes for his own Ransom and to negotiate about the Redemption of others his Country-men that were then also Prisoners here But this Favour of King Edwards thus graciously bestowed on this Worthy Personage proved accidentally an occasion of such a Mortal Jealousie to the French King that thereby he found or made a Pretence to bereave him of his Life as in the next Year we shall shew more plainly The mean while the Fame of these frequent and notable Tourneaments held by so Warlike a Prince invited hither many Gallant Knights from Foreign Parts but especially the Young Noblemen of Gascoign came hither as to the Chiefest School of War to practise themselves in Feats of Arms And during the Summer-season both these and others the Prisoners of both Nations were allow'd to q Stow p. 246. follow the Court and pass their time with the King and his Nobles in hunting in Claringdon-Park near Salisbury in Wiltshire and in several other the Kings Forests both in those parts and elsewhere V. On the r Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 112. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. b. ex Claus 23. Ed. 3. par 2. m. 5. ex Chart. 23. Ed. 3. n. 4. 20 of August King Edward being desirous to do further Honour to his Heroick Cousin Henry Plantagenet who already bore the Title of Earl of Lancaster Darby and Leicester and Steward of England added further the Title and Dignity of Earl of Lincoln granting him therewith the Annual Fee of 20 pounds to be paid by the Sheriff of that County in lieu of the Tertium denarium as Thomas his Uncle late Earl of Lincoln had before him And hereupon ſ Ret. Vasc 23. Ed. 3. m. 3. he was constituted the Kings Lieutenant and Captain General in the parts of Poictou with Power to Treat of Peace and Amity as also for a strict observation of the Truce already taken with the French And upon his journey thither he obtain'd t Pat. 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Licence to grant a 1000 l. per annum Lands and Rents unto certain Persons to dispose of according to his own direction for the term of 12 Years then to come VI. Now it is to be premised that the occasion of this Valiant Earls Expedition into Gascoign at this time was because by the Treachery of some wicked Men the Truce was highly violated there And u Stow p. 247. ◠John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son had made a great disturbance in that Dutchy challenging and taking of Places that belonged not unto him nor were King Edwards Captains there present able to impeach him And in Bretagne likewise about this time that Noble and Valiant Baron Sr. Thomas Dagworth who about 2 Years before had taken the Lord Charles of Blois before Roche D'Arien was basely and barbarously murder'd in time of Truce Froisard x Frois c. 153. says he was fairly fought withall by Sr. Ralph de Cahors who had sixscore Men of Arms in his Company before his Castle of Auray where together with him were slain an hundred Men of Arms English and Bretons Fabian y Fabian p. 228. says indeed the same French Knight slew him but that it was by chance-medley However the greater part of our z Knighton p. 2602. n. 42. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. Stow p. 246 ex Sr Tho. de la More c Historians agree 't was done by fraud and not plain Valour and one relates the Matter thus that the Sons of Sabater with a few others having first laid a strong Ambush in the Wood adjoyning passed openly that way as designing to forage thereabouts Of these Prollers Sr. Thomas Dagworth who was the King of Englands Lieutenant in those parts and at that time lay in the Castle of Auray having notice with only 16 Armed Men in his Company pursued these Robbers who fled purposely toward their Ambush and enter'd the Wood after them where being surpris'd by the Ambush thô he slew no less than 300 of them yet at last having received five Wounds upon his Face and Body and lost all his Men who died faithfully by his side he himself was finally thrust thrô the Body with a Spear and ended his Life as formerly he had maintain'd it Valiantly and with Honour Froisard and from him Du Chesne and from them as it happens many of our old Writers call him Dangorne and Dagorne but this proceeding from the obscurity of old M. SS or the variation of the name thrô foreign Languages must be corrected and read Dagworth as is well known besides other undeniable Authorities from the Records themselves Wherefore neither is it material to observe the difference among Authors concerning the time of his Death some fixing it a Year more forward others two Years backward Since the a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. ex Ret. Fra c. 23. Ed. 3. m. 5. Records are the surest Guide which in this place also I have followed However thus this Valiant Worthy fell thrô the Treason of the French and Bretons that held of their part for it was a notorious violation of the Truce leaving behind him by his Lady Eleanor Nicolas his Son and Heir then very young who in time came to be a notable Imitator of his Fathers Vertues and Revenger of his Death VII Such Provocations as these being given by the French both in Bretagne and in Gascogne King Edward easily provided for the former having already sufficient Captains in those Parts But as for the latter he constituted as we said before Henry Earl of Lancaster and Derby his Lieutenant and Captain General and b Stow p. 247. about the Feast of All-Saints sent him well provided into Gascogne Where presently he began to take the Field with an Army c Dugd. 1 Vol. 786. Hen. Knighton p. 2601. n. 60. p. 2602. of 30000 Men and marched forth to seek his Enemies for above ten Days in which time he took more than fourty Towns and Castles and with Fire and Sword made great Spoil for above 40 French Miles Southward At last he came to Tholouse a great and strong City on the
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
Statute therefore provided The King willeth that the Statutes be kept and all just Complainants heard That no Purveyance be made for Hay or Oates for Horses The Statute shall be observed That the Payment of Merchants for Wafting over their Goods may cease The King will be advised It seems that it appear'd highly reasonable to that Wise Prince by this his Answer to this last Petition that such Payment ought to be exacted It being but equitable that those Tradesmen or Merchants for whose benefit and security the King at his vast Expence doth more especially maintain the Dominion of the Seas should by a proportionable Custom on those Goods so exported contribute towards the better enabling him to defend and secure them in that their Traffick And this Payment was called Tonnage and Poundage Further the Commons petition That the Subsidy of Wooll viz. of every Sack may cease But because that Subsidy had been granted unto the King for a longer time that Petition fell Then to the request That Sheriffs Escheators and Coroners may have sufficient Allowance in their several Counties it was answer'd that the Statute made for that Purpose should be kept That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs for Paying the Kings Duties The Treasurer upon Complaint shall pay the same That every Judgment in the Common Pleas may pass under the Seal of the Chief Justice as in Cases of Oyer so that the Charges of the Great Seal may cease This Motion seems unreasonable That no Pardon be granted to any Murtherer or Felon but where the King may save his Oath This the King freely granteth That the Fines of Chancery Writs may be abated The King willeth that the Chancellour consider the Quality and Degree of every Person That no Purveyor of Timber do take away Trees about any Mans House and that henceforward Exception be made as to that Point in all their Commissions This the King granteth That no Writ de Excommunicato Capiendo come forth before a Scire Facias be directed to cause the Party to answer And that the Party may answer to the Cause after Letters of Excommunication To these two Petitions this one Answer was given that it could not be granted That the Merchants may be paid their Loans in every Sack of Wooll Walter de Chirton the Kings Farmer of his Customs hath not yet brought in his Accounts It is Enacted That the Statute of Westminster made against the Destruction of Salmons be observed and that all Mills set on Rivers be thrown down It is Enacted that the Justices of Oyer and Terminer shall seise and take the Fines of the Parties in their Presence and by their own Accord And that no Pardon shall be granted to such as bring in False Money That Remedy may be had against the Oppression of Ordinaries and their Officers The Laws of the Land and of the Church shall be observed It is complained That the Custom for every 300 of Wooll-Fells was 46 s. and 8 d. whereas of old it was but 3 s. and 4 d. for every 100 that is 10 s. for every 300. The present Custom being of long time received and established ought not to be withdrawn That a Standard of all Sorts of Measures may be in every County If there be not there shall be That no Statute be alter'd for any Private Cause Let this Petition be better explain'd against the next Parliament Now it is to be observed that the Printed Statutes touching those that are born beyond the Seas and that touching the Measure and Content of Woollen Cloths Chapter 1. As also that of Merchandises to be sold by Strangers Chap. 2. Together with that of Forestalling Chap. 3. And that for pulling down Mills set upon Rivers Chap. 4. agree all with the Record But only the Four latter in the Print are said to be made at the Vtas of St. Hilary an 25. Ed. 3. Whereas it should be the Vtas of the Purification as appears from the Record So also the Act of Provisions made against the Pope's unjust Encroachments agreeth with the Print Chap. 1. 2. As also that about Labourers Chap. 8. In dorso hujus Rotuli is contained a Proclamation against Wearing of Arms and against Players and Games in and about Westminster during the Sessions of Parliament and the Writ also of Proclamation for the True Making of Woollen Cloth is endorsed II. This t Mezeray ad 〈◊〉 mean while the Truce with France not being fully ended however each party took the Liberty as they saw Advantage to enterprize somewhat upon one another Sr. John Beauchamp Captain of Calais for King Edward understanding that the ways thereabout were much infested by the French even as if it had been in time of open War u Knight â— p. 26â—2 went forth of the Garrison with 300 Men of Arms and 200 Archers on Horseback and took up booty about in the Country for 10 Leagues together But in his Return he was encountred by the Lord of Beaulieu with a Brigade of 2000 which Lord notwithstanding he slew and had doubtless routed all his Company but that before he had compleated the Victory another strong party came upon him so that he himself and 20 more Knights of England were taken Prisoners almost all the rest of his Men being slain But Sr. John and his Fellow-Prisoners were soon redeemed and sent into England He was x Stow p. 251. succeeded by Sr. Robert y Vâ—d 〈◊〉 p. 683. 〈◊〉 Ret. Franc. 32 Fd. 3. p. 8. Herle who being recruited with a Choice Band lead by the Lord Walter Manny rode forth for all that into the French Pale and having done much damage about in the vicinage came off not only without loss but with a vast booty of Oxen Sheep and Swine so that a fat Ox at Calais would hardly yield sixteen pence Sterling there was at that time such exceeding plenty of Cattle But about Easter z Knighton p. 2602. n. 48. Sten p. 251. 〈◊〉 40. Pascha â—â—tigit 17 April hee anno Lit. Dom. B. King Edward sent over Henry then newly-created Duke of Lancaster who soon after marching forth of Calais went along by the Sea-Coasts of Artois and Picardy and burnt the suburbs of Boulogne to the very Walls He made an Assault also upon the Town it self but could not prevail because the Scaling Ladders which he brought with him were too short However he fired all the Vessels in the Haven and then proceeded along down to Estaples on the River Canche which having plunder'd he took a Compass to return backward on the Right Hand and did the like to Fauquenberge and after that to Terouënne only here many of his Men were hurt by the Townsmen who fled into the Church and thence made stout resistance till that also was taken and the Frenchmen for the most part put to the Sword. In the Havens of these Towns he sired above an Hundred Vessels of all sorts and then went on burning all about
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
they had such an Enemy in their very Bowels Why surely the Parliament being alarum'd with this Publick Danger began to be at Friends among themselves all the Lords and good Captains of France rose up vigorously in their Country's Defence and the Duke of Normandy with the Lords of his Council and other his Friends and Allies gather'd together a vast Number of Men of Arms to the Metropolis of that Kingdom and set sufficient Garrisons as we have partly intimated before in most of the other Cities and Fortresses where they suspected King Edward had an Eye But being warn'd by the late ill Success of his Father and the great Losses of his Grandfather the Duke resolved no more to give the King of England Battle but rather to hold him short by removing all manner of Provision into strong Places and in the mean while to stand only on the Defensive Part well knowing that Hunger and Delay would soon cool the Fury of the most Valiant Souldiers and that the mightiest Treasures of the Richest Kings would easily be exhausted by such a tedious War. The a Knighton p. 2622. n. 40. mean while as well to divert the War from his own Doors as to repay those Injuries he felt he had gather'd together into the Ports of Normandy a mighty Navy which had Orders to sail into England and exercise there all manner of Hostility Some of these Souldiers to the Number of 240 Lances were met about Honfleur by Sr. Thomas Fowkes an English Captain who with 27 Lances only and about an 100 Archers set upon them overthrew them and took of them Prisoners no less than 120 Men of Arms among whom were the Lord Lewis Harcourt Lieutenant of Normandy for the Regent the Lord John Bigott Marshal the Lord Baldwin de la Huse with two of his Brethren the Lord of Bracquemont and his Brother the Bailiff of le Caulx and another Baron his Kinsman But this was too small a Wound to be felt by the Navy of France who notwithstanding consisted of no less than b Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 83. p. 558. 120 Sail and c Knighton ib. 20000 Armed Men under the Conduct of the Earl of St. Paul who made for England and coasting about the d Fabian p. 234. Borders of Kent and Sussex landed at Rye and Hastings where they spoiled the Towns slew the People and did much harm to the poor Fishers But especially on St. Matthias his Day they suddenly took Land at Winchelsea e Walsing Hist p. 166. n. 30. Dom. Lit. E D. where they slew all they met with sparing neither Age Sex nor Order but only such Matrons or Virgins whose Youth and Beauty made them desirable were cruelly reserved for a Life far worse than Death Among many abominable and execrable Deeds done at this time by this Piratical Sort of Villains one most horrid and diabolically impious is related namely that upon their first Landing hearing that most of the Inhabitants were at Church it being time of Mass they ran immediately thither where without any Regard to the Place having committed many Murders and robbed the Altar and the Vestry at last they found there a very comely young Gentlewoman of exact Shape and Beauty who came thither with her Neighbours to hear Mass Her these unchristian Villains abused there in the very Church making use of her Body so long one after another till the unhappy Woman died under their hands An Abomination like f Judges c. 19. 20. c. that of the wicked Gibbeathites whose intemperate and barbarous Lust had well nigh occasion'd the total Extirpation of one of the Tribes of Israel But while these ungodly Wretches were thus busied in Spoiling Robbing Murdering and worse Matters the Townsmen who had fled had raised the Country g Knighton p. 2622. n. 60. in such Multitudes that the Frenchmen durst not stand them Yet before they could reach their Ships they fell so foul upon one another thrô the precipitant haste they made to the Water that what with those who were killed and those who were drownned they lost above 400 Men. Besides while the greater part of the Fleet was thus busied in the Plunder some of our Mariners came upon the rest and contended with them so well that they wan of them 13 Vessels laden with Wine and other Provision and carried them away Thô now at last the French also having set fire to the Town of Winchelsea which yet was presently quenched carried away great Spoils and many Prisoners among whom h Knighton p. 2623. n. 1. were Nine very Beautifull Women whom they so filthily abused that 't is shamefull to relate or think it II. All England i Knighton ib. n. 10. Walsin hist p. 166. was so alarum'd at this Action of the French especially because it was reported how they had a wonderfull strong Navy at Sea ready to do the like at other Places besides the perpetual infesting our Merchants that a Decree came forth from Prince Thomas of Woodstock King Edwards Son and Lieutenant in England by Advice of his Council that all Laymen whatsoever between the Age of sixteen and sixty should be arrayed for the Wars and of these the lustiest and the best Armed and the tall Archers should be sent to the Cinque Ports to the Kings Admirals for defence of the Kingdom The Archbishops also and Bishops thrô their respective Dioceses granted great Indulgences to all those who went to Sea against their Enemies particularly that every of them might choose his Confessor at his pleasure The Bishops also themselves the Abbots and Priors Rectors Vicars Chaplains and all Men of the Church were ready on the Land to defend the Country against the Common Enemy some as Men of Arms and others as Archers by injunction of the Church And all Persons Beneficed who could not serve in their own Persons were bound to maintain one in their stead able for the War all to be ready whenever the French should land and Necessity require them to march against the Enemy At which time the City k Walsing hist p. 167. n. 20. M. S. vet Angl. in Biblieth C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. of London rigged forth a Navy of 80 Sail consisting of 14000 Men of Arms and Archers to revenge upon the Coasts of France the Mischief done at Winchelsea Thô l Knighton p. 2623. n. 30. Others say how this Fleet was commanded by the Kings Admiral and consisted of an 160 Sail which passing from London up the Thames scoured the Sea to Boulogne and after that to Harfleur in Normandy where they made great Spoil even over all the Region called le Pais de Caulx which is a Part of Normandy lying between the Rivers Seyne and Bresle and terminated by the Brittish Ocean on the one side and by the Bishoprick of Rouën on the other III. Now had King Edward lain before Rheims above m Frois f. 103. c. 209. §. 3.
at Westminster the Sixth of February in the Thirty Fifth Year of our Reign The like Letters of Restitution were granted to all the rest of the Houses of Aliens thrô England All which Priories Aliens were many Years after g Weevers Fun. Monum p. 339. utterly suppressed and dissolved by another Martial King Henry the Fifth and their Lands given by him and his Son Henry VI to Colleges of Learned Men in Cambridge and Oxford and to other Monasteries CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. An Embassy from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus whom King Edward entertains with Justs and Tourneaments II. King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Aquitain with the Copy of his Charter III. The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophecy concerning the next Successor to the Crown after King Edward The Prince's Reception in Aquitain he creates Officers and settles his Court at Bourdeaux IV. A Parliament at Westminster the Jubilee of King Edwards Age He creates his Sons Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge and bestows many large Favours upon his People V. The King holds a solemn Hunting with great Royalty The Lord Faulconberg dies Sr. John Copland murthered I. AN. DOM. 1362. An. Regni Angliae XXXVI IN the beginning of this Year there came into England an Honourable Embassie of Gallant Knights of Armenia and of Cyprus sent from the two Kings of those Countries who were now engaged hotly in a War with the Saracens to request the King of England for his Aid either in Men or Money or in both towards the carrying on of those Holy Wars or at least-wise to prepare the Kings Mind against the time that the King of Cyprus should come hither for that purpose which he did not long after The King received them graciously and they were in a fair way to succeed with him according to their desire and he for his Part as well to entertain these Gentlemen Strangers as to divert the Princes and Lords of France now in Hostage with him began a Walsing Hist p. 172. Stews Survey of London p. 421. on the First of May to solemnize a Royal Justs and Tourneament in Smithfield which was held with great Honour for Five Days together the King himself the Queen and their Children being present with the most Part of the Nobility of England and those Noble Guests of France Spain Cyprus and Armenia II. A while after King Edward advised with his Council about the better Establishing of his Affairs and it was resolved b Frois c. 216. that since the Prince of Wales was now upward of Thirty and a Married Man the King his Father should give unto him the whole Dutchy of Aquitain to hold by Homage of the Crown of England Especially because the Lords and Knights of those Parts althó the Lord Chandos was not only blameless but dear among them did perpetually importune the King to send his Son the Prince unto them It is easily remembred that in the late Treaty of Peace among other things it was agreed and sworn to both by the French King and his Eldest Son afterwards called Charles V that all the Dutchy of Aquitain should from that time forward for ever remain to King Edward of England and his Heirs and Successors in such manner as that they should not owe or pay any Homage or Resort unto the King or Crown of France therefore but to be held by Them with all Freedom and Liberty perpetual as Sovereign Lords Allies and Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without acknowledging any kind of Superiority or making any Obedience Homage or Subjection and without yielding in time to come any Service or Recognisance to the King or Crown of France for either the Whole or any Part of those Lands whether Cities Earldoms Castles Countries Lands Isles Places or Persons named in the Articles of the said Treaty Now therefore King Edward having a full and peaceable Possession of the said Dutchy of Aquitaine according to the Tenor of the said Agreement c M. S. â—et Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. Historici omnes resigns and gives unto his Son the Black-Prince by his Royal Charter all the Land of Guienne and Gascogne by the Name of a Principality for his Life in which Charter he created him Prince of Aquitain and Gascogne and also granted unto him those other Castles Towns and Counties of Poictou Saintogne Angoulesmois Agenois Limosin Quercy Rovergue and all other Places on the Borders of Gascogne which by Vertue of the Peace were to fall to King Edward reserving to himself Power of Erecting Guienne into a Kingdom and retaining also to himself the Resort and Sovereignty both over the Principality and the Rest that went with it And this Charter was Dated the 19 of July 1362 being the 36 of Edward the Third But besides this Charter of Donation and Creation there was another bearing Date the same Day of Explanation whereby the King more particularly declared the Sense of his Reservation of the Resort and Sovereignty and besides of an Ounce of Gold Yearly payable unto him by the Prince at his Palace of Westminster on Easter-Day The Charter of Creation is incorporated in that of Explanation the Margin of the d Ret. Vascen 36 Ed. 3. m. 18. n. 17. Roll being Pro Edvardo Principe Aquitaniae Walliae i. e. For Edward Prince of Aquitain and of Wales The Charter of Explanation is French and that of Creation Latine in the Originals which the Reader may find in e Seldens Titl Honor. Part. 2. ch 3. p. 487. c. Mr. Selden I shall here take leave to render the whole in English The King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas this present Day We have given to our Right Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales the Name Renown and Title of the Principality of Aquitain transferring unto his Person for his Life only all the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Towns Forts Isles Provinces and Places which We have and ought to have by Vertue of the Peace last made between Vs and our Right Dear Brother the King of France in the Country of Aquitain and also those which We have and hold or ought to have and hold in all Gascogne together with the Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patrenages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral Abbies Priories Monasteries Hospitals both Secular and Regular and of other Benifices of the Church appertaining unto Vs by Cause or on Occasion of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all manner of Rights and all other Appurtenances and Appendages as entirely and perfectly as We hold them or as any of our Progenitors have held them in any time past to hold under Vs
and our Dominion of Aquitain by Liege Homage as these and other things are more largely comprised in our other Letters made to this Purpose the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales Greeting All temporal Dignities as Rays breaking from the Sun do proceed from the Throne Royal So that from hence the Perfection of their first Original may not feel the Detriment of Contempt but rather being exalted above Care and Anxiety may so much the more persist securely and be govern'd and continually protected in Prosperity by how much in Adversity it was sustained by more and more excellent Defences The Kingly Throne stands firm when it is environ'd with the Power of many Princes and the Subjects rejoyce more frequently to behold the Person of their Principal Lord in the lively Pictures of their Blood and Lineage and count it their Happiness that since their Principal Lord cannot be Personally present in all Provinces of his Dominions yet they may behold Him who if Nature keeps her right Course is to be his Heir continually standing by them From whence the insolence of Transgressors by the Honour and Power of the Right committed unto him may for the safeguard of the Loyal be more frequently punished and the laudable and fruitfull Performances of others may be recompenced with the return of a worthy Retribution We therefore being moved on this Consideration O our most Dear Son and for many other Reasonable Causes intending by a liberal Recompence to do Honour unto You who lately in the Parts of Aquitain and Gascogne while there the frequent Storms of War raged for our Sakes did not refuse the Summer Dust and the Labour of War but under the Name and Title of our Lieutenant have supported the Burthen of our Cares and with your Presence supplied our Absence out of our Princely Prerogative do convey and grant unto You by these Presents the Principality of the under-written Lands and Provinces of all Aquitain and Gascogne Willing and Granting that of all and singular the said Places Lands and Provinces in our Name next and immediate under our Throne and Government You from henceforth be the true Prince and freely during your Natural Life enjoy the Honour Title Appellation and Name of Prince of Aquitain even althô hereafter these Provinces should be erected unto the Title and Dignity of a Kingdom and from this time We do especially reserve unto our Selves a Power of Erecting them into a Kingdom And that the Honour of this Name thus granted may prove hereafter God willing more advantageous unto You of our meer Bounty and certain Knowledge We give and grant unto You and to your single Person only convey in the best Right and manner that We can the Cities Castles Towns Lands Places and Provinces under-written and whatsoever Right of Possession and Propriety We have or any way have had or that any of our Progenitors hath any way had heretofore to them or in them the direct Lordship or Superiority thereof being always especially to Us reserved to wit the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Poictou together with the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of Belleville the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Saintogne on this side and on that side the Charente the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Agennois the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Perigort the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Limosin the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Quercy the City and Castle and all the Land and Country of Tarbe the Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre the Earldom Land and Country of Gaure the City Castle Land and Country of Angoulesmois the City Castle Land and Country of Rouvergue the City and Castle of Dax and the Town and Castle of St. Sever f f These enclosed words were at first omitted in this Charter but afterwards inserted in this Place the Charter being renewed with the same Date and the addition only of those words Seldens Titl of Honour Par. 2. ch 3. p. 492. and also the City and Castle of Bourdeaux and the City and Castle of Baionne and all the Cities and Castles Towns Places Lands and the whole Country as well of Guienne as of Gascogne To HAVE and to HOLD from Us under Liege Homage the said Direct Lordship and Soveraignty to Us as aforesaid reserved unto your Self as long as you Live all and singular the Cities Castles Towns Places Lands Counties and Provinces aforesaid together with all the Isles thereto belonging Homages Allegiances Honours Obeisances Vassalages Fees Arreer-Fees Services Recognisances Rights Meer and Mixt Empire and with Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Safeguards Advousons and Patronages of Churches Metropolitan and Cathedral both Secular and Regular and of other Ecclesiastical Benefices whatsoever to Us appertaining by Occasion or Cause of the Premises the Duties Cens Rents Confiscations Emoluments Profits Reversions and all their Rights and Purtenances as entirely and perfectly as we hold or have held them or as any of our Progenitors had or held them in time past And for the stronger Support and Confirmation of your Name and Honour We grant unto You especial Authority and Power in the Lands Places and Rights aforesaid to give and grant unto Persons deserving either in Fee or Demain for ever or for a time those Lands or Places which of old did not belong to our Demain as it shall please You and seem best Also to make Coin and stâ—mp Monies of Gold and Silver or any other and to grant unto the Masters and Workmen of the Mint Indulgences and Privileges usually to such given and also to Amortize Lands Places and Rents freely or under Finance which are given at present to Mortmaine or shall be given or left hereafter Also to Enoble Persons Ignoble and Seneschals Judges Captains g g In most Cities of Aquitain the chief Governors are stiled Consuls Cotgrave's French Diction in vece Censul Consuls Secretaries Publick Solicitors Receivers and any other Officers to create ordain and set in every Place of the said Provinces and the said Officers so placed and ordained when and as often as need should be to remove and to set others in the place of them so removed Banished Persons and Criminals whatsoever belonging to the said Provinces present past and to come to their Condition Good-name and Country together with their Goods moveable and immoveable to restore and call back and unto them full Pardon and Remission of their Offences done and to be done in the foresaid Provinces althô therefore they have been condemned to Death or shall be condemned and have been of other Provinces to give grant and confirm To any Cities Castles and Places Churches and Persons of the Church Monasteries Colleges Universities and single Persons of
or other Instruments whereby Men may know the Encrease or Decrease of the Sea. In time of War the same may be to less harm and after taken away That the Acquittance of the Co-Executors refusing Administration may be void The Law shall be used as heretofore It is agreed that no Man be punished contrary to the Statute Such Commissions as were to enquire of Scotch Labourers within the Realm were repealed The Print touching the Pardon of Forest Matters Chap. 4. agreeth with the Record The Print touching the Staple to be removed from Calais because of the Wars and to be held in England Chap. 1. differs much in Form from the Record quod nota The next Day being the Twelfth of June the King gave his Thanks to the Lords and Commons for their great Pains and for the Aid they had given him And in some sort of Recompence promised to all such as should pass over Sea with him against the French that they should enjoy and possess all such Towns Castles Possessions Persons Names Arms and Honours as they should obtain win conquer or take of the French to them and their Heirs in Fee saving unto the King all Regalities and the Lands of the Church and that every Person should have Charters of his own Prowess and Conquest And further the King commanded that all the Bishops should not only muster their own Servants and Tenants but also all Parsons Vicars and other Religious Persons of the Clergy all who were to be in a readiness upon Occasion to resist the Common Enemy And then the Parliament brake up XI One thing here We must not omit namely a Matter concerning the Bounty of the Generous Black-Prince extended to the truly Loyal and Valiant Gentleman the Lord John Greilly that Famous Captal of Busche To whom he granted about this time the whole County of Bigorre in tail reserving yearly at Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercel Gentle to be paid at his Castle of Bourdeaux besides the known Services due out of that County whereof he gave him his Charter h Extant Gallico idiemate apud Selden's Titles of Honour Part. 2. c. 3. §. 13. p. 518. EDWARD Eldest Son of the King of England Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Lord of Biscay and of the Castle of Ordiales to all who shall see or hear these Letters We give to know That for the good and agreeable Services which our Right Dear and Loyal Cousin John de Greilly Captal of Busche hath rendred unto Us heretofore and which He and his may render unto Us and Ours in time to come We have given and granted and by these Presents do give and grant to Him and his Heirs Male Lawfully begotten the County of Bigorre with the Cities Towns Castles Lands Seignories Homages Jurisdictions High Mean and Low Meer and Mixt Empire Rights Cens and Rents Revenues and other Profits Emoluments and Appurtenances of the said County He rendring unto Us and our Heirs every Year for ever at our Castle of Bourdeaux at the Feast of Christmas a Faulcon and a Tercellet Gentle and doing unto Us and our Heirs Liege Homage and Oath of Fealty Resorts and other Duties which ought to be done to Us for the said County In Witness of which We have caused to be put to these our Letters Patents our Great Seal Given at our City of Angoulesme the 27 day of June in the Year of Grace MCCCLXIX This Grant of the Prince's to that Noble Lord was in i Rot. Vasc 44. Ed. 3. m. 8. n. 4. April following confirmed by the King his Father under the Great Seal of England only reserving to the King and his Heirs Kings of England the Liege Homage of the said John and of his Heirs for the said County and also the Sovereignty and Resort of the said Earldom and all other Duties to Him as Superior Lord due therefrom And so Command was sent from the King to all States and Officers in that County to be obedient and answerable to the said John Greilly as to the Earl of the said Earldom of Bigorre in all things pertaining to the said Earldom CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry begin to War upon the Principality several English and French Captains alter their Copies II. The Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke are sent over by King Edward to the Prince's Assistance and Sr. Hugh Calverley returns out of Spain with 6000 Companions The Latter is sent by the Prince to make War upon the Discontented Gascogners and the two Former against the Lands of the Earl of Perigort where they lay Siege to Bourdeilles III. Sr. Simon Burley taken Prisoner by the French and his Men all routed slain or taken IV. The Lord John Chandos takes the strong Town of Terrieres Realville besieged by the French. V. The Dukes of Anjou and Berry make use of the Clergy to debauch the hearts of the English Subjects in France from their Duty King Charles makes solemn Processions and is very devout in order to raise up the Courages of his People The Bishop of London sets forth King Edward's Right to the People from his Pulpit Both the Kings seek foreign Alliances VI. The Two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes to the World with certain Copies of both their Cases as they were then menaged by the best Lawyers of Italy France and England VII The Reasons whereby the French pretend to cut off from King Edward and his Posterity not only all Right to the Crown of France but also from his Right to Aquitaine which yet had belonged to England in Right of the Lady Eleanor Daughter and Heiress to William last Duke of Aquitaine and Wife to King Henry the Second of England VIII The Pedigree of the Kings of France from King Philip Son of St. Lewis to King Charles the Fair Brother of Queen Isabell Mother of King Edward the Third IX Reasons alledged by the King of England for his Right and Title to the Crown of France I. THE mean while a Frois c. 248. 249. as soon as ever the Dukes of Anjou and Berry knew for certain that the Defiance was made and the War between the two Crowns open they thought not to sleep any longer but made their Special Summons the One in Auvergne and the other about Tholouse with design to raise Forces and go and make War upon the Principality The Duke of Berry for his part had ready at his Command all the Barons of Auvergne of the Bishopricks of Lyon and of Mascon together with the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Villiers the Lord of Tournon Sr. Godfrey of Boulogne Sr. John of Armagnac Sr. John de Villemur the Lord of Montagu the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin the Lord of Rochefort and divers others with all whom he drew toward Berry and the Marches of Touraine where being mightily reinforced he began to make terrible War upon
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
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
Garrison among them But now that the Flower of the English Forces was lost before Sivray when the Inhabitants heard that the Constable himself was coming against them they went out to meet him with the Keys of the Town in their Hand and so conducted him into the Walls with great joy Having tarried here four Days to refresh his Army he went thence in great Array his Forces consisting of 1400 Spears besides others and presented himself before the Castle of Lusignan which yielded unto him upon Composition those of the Garrison being permitted to go off with their Lives saved and of their Goods as much as they could carry on their Horses before them and so to be safely conducted to Bourdeaux And thus was this strong Place also reduced to the French King's Devotion From hence the Constable rode to Chastellacher and summon'd the Lady thereof which was Madam d Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 918. Constance Wife to Sr. Guischard of Angoulesme to yield up the Castle unto him But she only desired of the Constable his safe Conduct that she might go to Poictiers to speak with the Duke of Berry which request Sr. Bertram granted and caused her to be attended thither with one of his own Knights Being come before the Duke she kneeled down but the Duke presently took her up demanding what her Pleasure was Sir said the Lady I am strictly summon'd by the Constable of France to submit my self my Lands and Castle to the Obedience of the French King. And Sir your Royal Highness knows very well how my Lord and Husband lieth as yet a Prisoner in Spain his Lands being left to the Government of me a weak helpless Woman Sir I may not dispose of mine Husbands Inheritance after my Pleasure for if I should do any thing of such high Moment without his Knowledge he would surely give me no Thanks therefore and so I might incurr blame which God forbid I should ever justly deserve from my Lord and Husband But Sir to satisfie Your Highness and to preserve my Lands in Peace I shall compound with You for my self and all mine that You shall make no War upon Vs nor We upon You till my Husband be released out of Prison At which time I believe he will make for England And then I 'll send him word of this our Composition and he will most surely let me hear whether he will agree thereto or no And so your Highness shall have a final Answer To this the Duke reply'd Fair Madam I am well content to grant your Desire on this Condition that neither You nor any Captains of your Fortresses make any greater Provision of Men Victuals or Artillery during this Cessation than you have at this present time And this also being agreed to by the Lady she return'd to her Castle where she caused the Siege to be raised by shewing unto the Constable the Duke of Berry's Letters to that Effect From thence the Constable went before Mortimer the Lady whereof submitted her self and her Lands to the Obedience of the French King and she also deliver'd up the Castle of Didonne which belonged to her Thus was all Poictou Sainctogne and Rochellois quite rid of the Englishmen Whereupon the Constable having set good Garrisons in all Places when he saw no sign of Resistance in those Marches even as far as the River Garonne returned homeward into France as also did the Dukes of Berry Bourbon and Burgundy and most of the French Barons who had been concern'd in those Parts All these were highly feasted and entertain'd by the King at Paris but none so much as Sr. Bertram of Clequin the rest were no more than Shadows to him his Glory eclipsed them all and when he came to Paris the King thought he could not honour and caress him sufficiently III. Now e Frois c. 307. f. 187. b. sed Gallicè s 256. b. while the Constable remain'd with the King at Paris in much Honour the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord de la Val the Lord of Vangoure the Lord of Tournemine the Lord of Rieux and the Lord of Rochefort with the Vicount of Rohan Sr. Charles of Diguier Banneret of Bretagne the Marshal of Blaroville the Lords of Hambie of Ruille of Fonteville of Granville of Farnville of Dennevalle and Des Cleres Bannerets of Normandy went with a great Army of Bretons and Normans and laid siege to the strong Castle of Becherel in Bretagne which they very much streightned by their continual Assaults But there were two Valiant English Captains within namely Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who with certain Choice Troops defended the Place couragiously and made many Sallies and Skirmishes and endured many warm Attacks to their Honour In Normandy the Frenchmen maintain'd at the same time another Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount wherein were Captains Sr. Thomas Tribles Sr. John de Burgo Sr. Philip Picard and the Three Mauliverers Brethren And it is to be noted that these two Garrisons before they were now besieged had overran all the Country of Base Normandy so that nothing could be secure from them but what was in strong Fortresses Besides which they ransom'd and took Prisoners as well in the Bishoprick of Bayeux as in Eureux the King of Navarre himself conniving thereat nay and sometimes assisting them with Victuals and Men such as he had disposed about in Garrisons in the Country of Eureux For as then he was not agreed with the French King So that the Garrisons of Cherbourg of Conches of Bretevil of Eureux of Cocherel and others under the Obeisance of the King of Navarre had made great Havock in Normandy as well as the English themselves But as f Vid. hujus Hist Lib. 4. c. 7. §. 10. p. 795. we shew'd before there had lately such Means been made between the two Kings of France and Navarre especially by the diligent Promotion of the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Eureux that they came to an Accord and so met together in Friendly manner at the Castle of Rohan on the River of Seyne And there besides the two Kings many Great Lords on both Parts were solemnly sworn to cultivate a mutual Peace Friendship and Unity for ever After which Assurance thus given and taken on both Sides the King of Navarre went along with the French King as we shew'd to Paris where He and all His were received with much Honour and Royal Magnificence And then and there the King of Navarre put all his Lands which he held in Normandy into the Hands and Disposal of the French King he undertaking their Protection and that the Propriety should remain entire to the King of Navarre but the Use of them to the French King during the Wars with England This done the King of Navarre left his two Sons Charles and Peter with their Uncle the French King and so took his leave of Paris and returned into Navarre And this Peace indeed he kept and upheld
having also brought into the Realm the shamefull Sin which is not to be named and moreover are spies may be taken Care of As to Broakers Aliens that is partly answer'd in the Bill of London On Declaration of the many Inconveniences which arise for that in every Town Strangers not being Free of the same are yet suffer'd to buy and sell there it is therefore required that Cities and Towns may have their Liberties renewed and confirmed for reasonable Fines and that they may enjoy them so as no stranger of any Town being not Free may occupy there Such as have good Charters or Liberties may shew them in the Chancery where they shall have Right That the Protections Cum clausâ Volumus whereby many Men are undone and namely one made to Giacomo a Lombard may be repealed and no such hereafter granted After Examination had by the Council they shall be Repealed if need be That Ribalds and sturdy Beggars may be banished out of every Town Touching Ribalds the Statute of Winchester and the Declaration of the same with other Statutes of Roberdsmen shall be executed And for such as make themselves Gentlemen and Men of Arms or Archers if they cannot so prove themselves let them be driven to their Occupation or Service or to the Place from whence they came The Counties of Lincoln Leicester Nottingham and Darby pray that the Staple may be held at Lincoln as it was at the first Ordinance and not at St Botolphs It shall continue at St. Botolphs at the King's Pleasure For that divers Men do live incontinently for saving their Clergy it is requisite that any Man may have his Clergy albeit he Marry two Wives or a Widdow The King will be advised That such Bayliffs in Fee being indicted before the Justices of the Forest for Vert or Venison and thereupon have their Offices seised and forfeited to the King being not called to answer may have a Writ out of the Chancery upon the Statute to be let to Mainprise until the Eire and to be restored to their Offices according as it hath been used Who is specially grieved may declare the same and shall find Remedy That all such Officers and others of the Kings Council who are convicted of Deceit and displaced be never restored again and that so much be Enacted If the Defaults declared to the King and Council deserve such Punishment Otherwise the King will do as to him shall seem best That Remedy may be had against such Aliens Religious as sue to the Court of Rome for their Pensions and Livings Who is especially grieved upon Declaration of the same to the Council shall have Remedy That all Justices of the Peace may be named by the Lords and Knights of every Shire in Parliament where they may be sworn and none to be renewed out of Parliament and that they may be allowed reasonable Fees. They shall be nominated by the King and his continual Council and as for the Fees the King will be advised They require that for Lands sold by any Religious Person or other Person of the Church the Statute of Westminster the Second may be kept and that Judgement Executory may be had against the Tenant of the Lands The King would have the Statute to be kept and touching Alienations made before this Parliament Writs shall be granted against the Tenants of the Land and for such Alienations to be made the King will be advised That Hundreds be not let to Farm or other Farm letten but kept in the Lords Hands The Statutes therefore provided shall stand That such as are indicted before the Coroner for Murder and flee upon the same by sinister means to them made should forfeit their Goods and that the same be enquired of only before the Justice of the Goal Delivery whether they so fled or withdrew themselves Who will especially Complain shall find Favour That Stanks Stakes and other annoyances made about Havens be removed and thrown down The Statute therefore made shall be kept That the Accompts as well for Sums of Money for u De hoc verbo vid. Cowell Skinner in Etymol Assarts or otherwise in the Exchequor may be discharged on the Averment that there are no means to levy the same The Grieved upon Declaration of their Grievance shall have Right That such Lords and others who have Lands upon the Sea-Coasts for the Defence of the same may be bound to dwell upon the same The King by Advice will appoint Order therein That no Sheriffs be made but from Year to Year and that such and their Deputies as have been otherwise may be in the same Case The Statutes therefore appointed shall be observed That none be appointed to be a Justice of Assize in his own Country unless some Foreign Justice be associate with him Who will complain shall have Right That the Charter made to the Men of Yarmouth that none should within the time of their Fishing buy any Herring within seven Miles of the same Town may be Repealed so as Men may openly buy and sell The King granteth thereto in respect of a new Grant above mention'd saving to the Town all other their Liberties with this Clause Licet That no Man be barred by any Warranty collateral but for so much of Lands as Descending unto him by such Auncestry The King will be advised until the next Parliament That the Justices of Assise shall keep their Sessions in Towns where Goals be and make their Deliverances before their Departure at least once by the Year And that to the same Justices may be made in One a Patent as well to take the Assise as to Deliver the Goal The Justices of Assise shall have their Patent in such Wise as hath been and shall as well take the Assise as make Delivery That all Sheriffs may be Yearly chosen on the Feast of St. Michael and so as their Gifts and Dinners to the Officers of the Exchequor may be done That the Justices deliver into the same Court their Extracts at the Octaves of St. Michael and that they be deliver'd to the Sheriff at the Quindenes of St. Martin or the Day after Hilary at th' utmost That Sheriffs and Escheators may be annually removed Sheriffs and Escheators shall be Yearly chosen at Michaelmas and have out their Commissions the Day after All-Souls That no Dinners or Gifts be given them in Receipt or Exchequor on such and such Penalties That Writs be sent into all the Counties of England to publish the Perambulations of the Forest heretofore made and to make Perambulations and to establish the Continuance of the same so as every Officer upon the Breach thereof do forfeit his Office and render double Damages to the Party grieved The King meaneth to make new Perambulations thrô England and willeth that the Charter of the Forest be observed That Remedy may be had against certain Lombards who have coloured certain Ships fraughted and wrecked Goods of the Kings Enemies and pursued by
Durham another of Suffolk and another Archdeacon of York another Prebendary of Thame and Nassington another Prebendary of Yorkes in the Dioecese of York have divers other the best Dignities in England and have sent over Yearly unto them 20000 Marks over and above that which English Brokers lying here have That the Pope to ransom Frenchmen the King's Enemies who defend Lombardy for him doth always at his Pleasure levy a Subsidy of the b In M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton legitur Holy. Whole Clergy of England That the Pope for more Gain maketh sundry Translations of all the Bishopricks and other Dignities within the Realm That the Pope's Collector hath this Year taken to his Use the First-Fruits of all Benefices That therefore it would be good to renew all the Statutes against Provisions from Rome since the Pope reserveth all the Benefices of the World for his own proper Gift and hath within this Year created Twelve new Cardinals so that now there are Thirty whereas there were wont to be but Twelve in all and all the said Thirty Cardinals except Two or Three are the King's Enemies That the Pope in time will give the Temporal Mannors of Dignities to the King's Enemies since he dayly usurpeth upon the Realm and the King's Regality That all Houses and Corporations of Religion which from the King ought to have free Elections of their Heads the Pope hath now c Vid. Skinner's Etymolog accroached the same unto himself That in all Legations from the Pope whatsoever the English Clergy beareth the Charge of the Legates and all for the Goodness of our Money It also appeareth that if the Money of the Realm were as plentifull as ever the Collector aforesaid with the Cardinals Proctors would soon convey away the same For Remedy whereof it may be provided that no such Collector or Proctor do remain in England upon pain of Life and Limb and that on the like Pain no Englishman become any such Collector or Proctor or remain at the Court of Rome For better Information hereof and namely touching the Pope's Collector for that the Whole Clergy being Obedient to him dare not displease him it were good that Dr. John Strensall Parson of St. Botolphs in Holborn may be sent for to come before the Lords and Commons of this Parliament who being straightly charged can declare much more for that he served the same Collector in House five Years The Commons require that the Statute made in 14 Ed. 3. that the King's Ward should be committed to the next Heir of the Ward to whom the Lands cannot descend he yielding therefore as much as another would might be confirmed The King granteth thereto saving his Regality That time of Prescription in Writ of Right may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First and in Writs of Mort D'Auncester nuper Obiit d In hec lâ—co jus Cognationis significat Cosenage c Vid. Cowell in hac vece Ayel and such other Writs may be from the Coronation of the King now being The King will be advis'd for Changing the Law heretofore used That no Alien do enjoy any Living that hath Cure or requireth Residence This Bill is answer'd before in the two long Bills of Rome For that Errors had before Justices of Assise are Revocable before the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas they require that the Chief Justice there be appointed no Justice of Assise The King granteth when the Number may spare him That a General Pardon may be of all Misprisions and Intrusions made into any Lands holden of the King in Chief The King will shew Favour where him liketh That they may have an Action of Account against the Executors of the Guardian in Soccage The King will be advised untill next Parliament That Restitution may be made to Englishmen Farmers of any Religious Aliens House Touching Farmers abovesaid the King granteth so it concern Priors Churches Conventual Collegiate and Parochial but for English Governours the King will be advised That no Special Grant be made to any Man for singular Profit which may redound to the Disadvantage of the King or Realm Let them declare themselves more particularly That the Statute made for Buyers in f Inter Statuta Gallica M.S. Câ—ll Eman. ipud Cantabr ut Statata Anglica impressa nil tale occurrâ—â— sed potrus reseruntur ad An. 27. Ed. 3. c. 10. 36 Ed. 3. tit 10. c. may be kept and that Justices of the Peace may enquire of the same The Statutes therefore made shall stand and the Justices of the Peace shall determine the same That an Infant within Age levying a Fine may have Respit two or three Years after his full Age to reverse the same The King will be advised That no Alien be made Head of any Religious House belonging to Aliens and that during the Wars all French Religious Persons may be banished the Realm To this nothing was done Certain being taken Prisoners and unable to ransom themselves viz. Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Gregory Say Sr. Geoffry Werkesley Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. John Bourchier and divers other Good Knights and Esquires pray the King to ransom them The King is willing to do for their Comfort as far as Reason would The Commons of the County of Devon for divers Oppressions done by the Officers of the Stanneries there under Colour of their Liberties require the King by Parliament to explain his Grant to them made which being divided into particular Branches is done but too long to be here abridged The like Bill did the Commons of Cornwall exhibit for the Liberties of their Stanneries the Grant and Answer agreeing with the preceding but that also is too long for this Place The Commons of the County of Cumberland require Aid of the King for the Repairing the City of Carlile being in a manner spoiled and fallen down for that the Townsmen are not able to do the same and also for the Appointing of one to be Warden of the Marches there The Bishops and Lords together with the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Guy Bryan shall assemble and appoint reasonable Order therein The Inhabitants of the Port Towns in England pray that whereas it often happens that a Man or a Boy being in one of their Ships or other Vessels and by misadventure falling therefrom is drowned their Ship or Vessel is thereupon seised as a Deodand and that therein Remedy may be had If the Vessel be upon the Sea it shall be adjudged no Deodand if upon the Fresh-Water let the Owner complain to the King who will extend Favour The Watermen of London complain of leaving of Locks Stanks and Weares upon the River of Thames and namely of a Lock called Hamelden-Lock and for that there is Custom demanded of them passing the Bridges of Stains Windsor and Maiden-head and other Locks against their Franchises As for the Locks and Kidels the Statute made in the
Tivedale as well Religious as secular pray to be restored to their Possessions given from them to their Enemies Let the Lords Marchers there named treat thereof and report to the Lords in Parliament their Opinion concerning a Remedy The Citizens of York desire that whereas the Lord of Ard and Cockham in Holland hath stayed six and Thirty Surples of their Woolls to the Value of 1900 l. supposing that the King oweth him Money for his Service in France and will neither for the Kings Letters nor other means deliver their Woolls that therefore they may have Licence to stay the Ships of the same Lord at Calais or in England till they be paid and answer'd to the Value Let it be declared to the Grand Council and they shall have Remedy according to Reason John de q Ità M.S. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton Britshorne Bretshorne maketh his Title to the Mannor of Grinsteed in the County of Wilts and to the Advouson of the said Mannor and to the Moiety of the Mannor of Exbury in the County of Southampton and prayeth to be restored to the Possession of the same from Robert de Beverley the Premises being confessedly held of the King in Chief It is before the Great Council The Commons of Devonshire pray that they may be paid for Victuals taken of them by the Duke of Bretagne while he lay there a long time for passage and that from henceforth no Protection be granted to any Passenger over to take any Victuals otherwise than for present pay Let the Offenders for the time past answer and for the time to come the King will provide That Remedy may be had touching the Dishonest Returns of Bayliffs of Nihil habent against them for their bribing Fees and other Corruptions It is before the Grand Council Where Men for safeguard and fear of their Lives do fly to Church-yards and after depart therefrom the Steward of the Kings Houshold forthwith enquireth how they escaped out of the Church-yard and upon the Matter found awardeth an Escape against the Town or Parish wherein they pray Remedy The King will be advised herein That if the Party Plaintiff or Defendant upon his Habeas Corpus returned do not sue out his Nisi prius then the whole Process may be discontinued and that in all and every of the Kings Courts and that every Man may have the Nisi prius granted as well against the King as others without suing to the Privy Seal Let the Law used run That such as have or shall sue Livery upon an Inquest of Office by Escheators where those Lands indeed are not holden of the King may be received to aver of whom or by what Service the same Lands are holden If any Mans Inheritance be charged by any such Inquest he who will complain shall be received to traverse the Inquest before his Homage done That any Man having the Privy Seal for the Payment of Debts due by the King unto him shall not be stayed from the Payment thereof by any private Letter of the Treasurer The King granteth thereunto That a Parliament may be holden every Year the Knights of the Parliament may be chosen of the whole Counties and that the Sheriff may likewise be without Broakage in Court. As to the Parliament there are Statutes already made For the Sheriffs Answer hath been given and as for the Knights it is agreed that they shall be chosen by Common Consent of every County That such as by sinister means procure Extents against the King at One Value where it is thrice or however far better may be punished The King will make Enquiry thereof as himself pleaseth That no Pardon be granted to any Impeached in this Parliament being the Kings Counsellors or sworn to him but that such be thenceforth removed and never restored and an Act thereof to be made The King will do therein as shall please him That all the Articles of Wrongs declared in this Parliament against any Person may be duly determin'd by Commissions by the Kings Justices and other Lords and that the Judgement given in this Parliament be not Repealed by Reason of Broakers about the King. The King will do by Advice of his Council what shall seem best saving to every One his Liberties They require the King to have good Regard to the Government of the Realm that all Profits of the Crown may be employ'd to the Kings Honour The King as next above will do for his own Honour the Good Government Profit and Ease of the People That such as shall of their own Authority lay new Impositions without Assent of Parliament may lose Life Member and other Forfeitures Let the Common Law heretofore used run Then there follows a long Bill against the Broakages and corrupt Recovery of Religious Persons by the taking of Sheriffs that any notwithstanding such Recoveries might have Tryal and upon the Matter found those Religious Persons to be punished therefore as therein is contained with many other Matters relating to the same The Law therein heretofore used shall be kept That all Wapentakes and Hundreds let to Farm may be Repealed and none hereafter granted and that all Bayliffs may be sufficient and able The Statutes made therefore shall be kept That Remedy may be had so as there may be Reasonable warning given for the holding of Wapentakes and Hundreds The Statutes therefore made shall be kept That Presentments may be made but twice in the Year in Leets or great Wapentakes There be Statutes therefore That none but such as be r i.e. Resident Resiant do come to any Wapentake or Hundred There are Statutes provided therefore Complaint made against Bayliffs of Markets and Fairs who attach Men out of their Jurisdictions There are Statutes made therefore Against Bayliffs being Farmers of Wapentakes or Hundreds who thereby procure Plaints in other Mens Names and sue great Sums by dividing the same into less Sums Let them hold to the Statutes ¶ Petitions exhibited by the Clergy and their Answers That all Consultations may readily be granted in the Suit for Tythes of Sylva Caedua and that no Attachment do Ensue the same A Consultation granted doth suffice and if need be there may be a special Clause for Prohibitions Granted or to be Granted That the Ordinary may according to the Ecclesiastical Laws punish such as do fraudulently procure Consultations That in Matters touching the punishing of the Soul the Kings Prohibition may cease or a Consultation be granted That in Demands of Pensions by One Church from another no Prohibition be granted The Justices shall meet in the presence of certain Bishops who shall take Order therein to content In a Case of Tythes upon objection that the Tythes exceed a Fourth part of the Value of the Church a Prohibition is granted against the Canonical Sanction That the Kings Purveyors take up of the Clergy and cause them also to make Carriage for the King against their Traditions and Statutes therefore made That if the
being in a manner necessitated to break it when King Edward of England like a sudden Inundation rushing upon him drove all his High Designs and Vast Preparations another way I will not here dissemble that this first Mention of the Croisade and what else I have now related is nor without good Reason and Authority placed more forward by n Victorell p. 865. ibid. four Years But be sure the great Heat of all was about this time and I could not find a more proper place to mention the whole in than this upon several accounts wherefore also I believe Froissard chose to fix it hereabouts naming the Pope who sat then Benedict who notwithstanding entred not his Papacy till this Year King Philip who was look'd upon as the Chief General of this War and was so o Knighton p. 2567. Victorell 1 Vol. p. 865. stiled by the Pope made the greatest Preparation together with his Friends and Allies that ever yet had been seen either in the Days of Godfrey of Bouloigne or any other time before or after For in the Havens of Marseilles of Aquae Mortuae of Narbon and Mompellier were provided as many Vessels Ships Carricks and Gallies as would suffice for 60000 fighting Men with all their Horse Arms and other Warlike Furniture and Provision for 3 Years And besides p Pantaleon's Hist Rer. Gest Johannitarum Rhodier c. l. 4. p. 100. Odoric Raynald ad Baron Ano. 1333. §. 11. being assisted with the Popes Legats he had so wrought with Senior Philippo Belegno Blasio Zeno and Marino Morisini the Venetian Ambassadors that this Agreement was made the Pope and the French King setting out 20000 Horse and 50000 Foot to the War that the Venetians should furnish them with a Fleet of an hundred Sail whereof there should be Gallies man'd with 4000 Souldiers the Ships of burthen being fraught with Provision Engines and other things necessary for War as Bisquet Wine Fresh-water Powder'd Flesh Salt-Fish and the like Moreover King Philip sent his Ambassadors to Charles King of Hungary requesting him to open the Passages of his Country for these Holy Pilgrims who receiving the News gladly sent word of his Readiness to comply in all things with his Pleasure He sent also to Hugo the noble and valiant King of Cyprus to his constant Friend Robert King of Sicily and to the Genoans also to joyn the Venetians at Sea all who assured him they would gladly concurr with so great a Prince in so good an Enterprise The Grand Prior of France also was sent to the Isle of Rhodes to agree with the Knights of St. John to prepare things necessary in those Quarters The Rhodians lightly consented on certain Conditions to supply the Army from the fruitfull Isle of Candy anciently called Crete and at that time under the Dominion of the Venetians who had agreed with them of Rhodes to that purpose Thus in q Frois ibid. a manner all Christendom with one consent embrac'd this Holy War so that more than 300000 Men were ready to take the Cross upon them in this famous Expedition The Venetians had r Pantaleon l. 4. p. 100. already sent forth their Admiral Peter Zeno who being joyn'd with the Fleet of Rhodes by a wonderfull course of Victory chasing and destroying the Barbarians far and near secur'd all the Sea-coast which respects Syria about the Isles of Rhodes and Cyprus from the injuries of the Saracens and Tartars King Philips Navy also was ready in Provence and he had view'd it and made his Son John then about fourteen Years of Age his Lieutenant or Regent during his absence having commanded all his Lords to swear Obedience to him Nor content with all these vast Preparations he sent to our English Edward desiring also his Company in this his most Christian Undertaking but he being otherwise busied about his Wars in Scotland and not a little displeased that King Philip had interested himself in that his Quarrel made as then no direct Answer to his Embassy so that Philip perceiving he was not well satisfied in his mind and doubting to leave so Powerfull a Prince behind him in Discontent thought fit before he set forward to search his Mind more narrowly and thereupon by the Lord ſ Gaguin p. 133. Fabian p. 199 Ralph Earl of Ewe and High Constable of France he repeated his Embassy unto him These Ambassadors with some difficulty obtain'd an Audience thô little more was concluded on with them than that King Edward promised very speedily to send his Ambassadors over into France to confer about certain Points then in difference between the two Kings For said t Pantaleon l. 4. p. 100. Gaguin l. 8. p. 133. he The seat of this Holy War is not so far off as King Philip pretends it lies not in Palestine I am well assured but in Aquitain which evidently appears by his Offers that way already That as yet he said he could not consent to agree with him who had not agreed with his own self but had forgot if not broken the Promise made at Amiens about the Restoring of what he had seized on in Gascoigne That when once these Matters should be fully adjusted he would be rather more ready to undertake that Expedition than their Master With this short Answer he dismissed them promising to follow them with his Ambassadors II. Accordingly soon after there were u Gaguin ibid. Pantaleon ibid. Holinshead p. 897. Stow p. 232. Odoric Raynald An o Bened. XII 3. §. 42. sent Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham William Lord Montagu and the Lord Geoffry Scroop of Masham who being come to Paris could not be admitted to King Philips Presence in requital as it should seem of King Edward's Reservedness lately shewn to his Ambassadors or perhaps to make them surmise that he feared not War much who was so little carefull of making Peace But when the English Lords had roundly told the Earl x Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. of Ewe the Marshall of Troyes and Peter Roger Archbishop of Roüen how highly they resented this coldness of the King 's and withall intimated how reasonable their Masters Requests would be they were forthwith order'd to be brought before him well received and graciously heard So that immediately the Matter about which they came was propounded to be taken in hand and throughly discussed King Edward's Demands from the Crown of France were only these 1. That perfect Peace and Amity between the two Kings should be inviolably maintained to both their Powers 2. That all Towns and Castles heretofore taken from the English in Gascoigne by the Lord Charles of Valois Father to King Philip should be entirely restored to the King of England 3. That the said King Philip should swear never to give any Aid or Succour to the Scots against the King of England All which being fully Ratified and Granted King Edward would be
ready to accompany the French King to the Holy Land in order to fight against the Common Enemies of Christendom In the discussing and debating of these Articles the King of France was so zealously bent on the Holy War and such diligence was used by his Council not one at that time daring on the suddain to contradict that in the end a full Conclusion of the Peace on the Terms proposed was agreed on and Matters proceeded so far that Proclamation was order'd to be made thereof the next day in Paris and the Towns thereabouts But whether by the Fickleness and Inconstancy of King Philip or the Advice of some Scotch Pensioner in his Council or a sense of Generosity and a Commiseration of King David's exil'd Condition or by some secret Impulse of Heaven for the sins of Christendom and the punishment of France scarce were the English Ambassadors return'd to their Lodgings but they were remanded back again to Court where presently new Scruples were started which chiefly concern'd the third Article For thô as to the second Demand King Philip stood stifly against it at first unless all the Charges his Father Charles had been at in those Gascoigne Wars were repaid him by the King of England yet that when 't was made appear that the War it self was unjust he easily remitted But now as to the third Article King Philip answer'd peremptorily That he could not either in Honour or Equity desert his Friends the Scots in this their Oppression they being his Confederates and just Men Nor ought he to esteem King Edward worthy of his Friendship while he continued War against them That himself was as all Kings ought to be a Friend to Justice from which he should never swerve either for Affinity or Advantage or any other Consideration whatsoever but that he would to his Power vex and molest all the Disturbers of the Peace of Scotland For said he there will never be perfect Peace and Quietness in Christendom till the King of France shall stand as Umpire between the Realms of Scotland and England And therefore he briefly told the Ambassadors that having better consider'd of it he was resolv'd to conclude nothing as to Peace with England unless King David also might be comprehended in the same League so as that he might be restored to his Kingdom and the Bailiol wholly excluded Surely how gallant soever this Speech might seem 't was neither modest enough prudent nor seasonable For had he temporised so far as thereby to have obtain'd King Edward's Company in this Holy War the Bailiol might easily have been ruin'd by King David's Interest alone And it was more likely that then by fair means modest Reasonings King Edward might have been wrought upon by a personal Conference than by this rash and imperious way of Prescribing For from these peremptory Words the Breach became so wide that without bloody Wars Peace was not likely to be obtained Not to say that if King Philip did really intend this Holy Expedition he was not very wise to talk so high in such a juncture and if he did not intend it he was scarce sincere enough in his pious Resolutions However the English Ambassadors replied their Commission extended not so far as to reach to King David or to make any Concession to his Advantage so the whole matter was broke off and the Breach made wider than before Now the most exact Account of the first Original of these Unkindnesses between the two Kings of England and France which is by no Historian over exactly handled is to be found only in the publique Records of the Peace ten years before this made between King Edwards Father and Charles the Fair of France a Copy whereof was then sent to Pope John XXII and afterwards from the Library of Avignon brought into the Vatican and being seen and diligently weighed by my y Odoricus Raynaldus Continuat ad Baremum tom xv Ad an Christi 1327. §. 44. Author because from the Breach thereof the Wars which exercis'd England and France for so many Ages seem'd to take their first Occasion yield us these Observations In the Year 1325. which was the 19 of King Edward the II. of England by the diligence of Qu. Isabella with her Brother K. Charles of France together with the assistance of William Archbishop of Vienna and Hugh Bishop of Orange Nuntio's from the Apostolick Seat a Peace was made between the two Realms on this Condition z L. 9. c. 314. says Villani that what had been won by Charles of Valois in Aquitain should remain wholly to the French but in the publique a Extant in Arch. Vatican ex Avenion delat sign n. 10. in Chart. Pergam Records signed with the Seal of the King of France that Condition is not expressed but very cunningly cover'd with obscure and deceitfull Circumlocutions which when the Inventers of these politick Fetches contrived then they scattered the Seeds of a most inveterate Enmity between the two Realms to the infinite Dammage of France When the French wrested the Articles to their own purpose and the English exclaim'd that they were falsly and treacherously deceived for it was added that as to those Lands the French King should determin according to Law the King of England demanding his Right And so the Quarrel was not ended But now this Condition in that Treaty is evident that the French King should set over Aquitaine to administer justice a Person of integrity and one not suspected by the King of England and so the Armies on both sides should be disbanded and the King of England on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin should meet the French King at Beauvais and do Homage to the Crown of France for Aquitain which was then to be restored entirely unto him the foresaid Lieutenant being called back And this Agreement at the instance of Queen Isabell and the Pope was by consent of the Ambassadors of both Parties unanimously established in the Year aforesaid as appears by the Letters of both the Kings But now when afterwards King Edward II had conferr'd on his Son the Dukedom of Aquitain and a while after by Civil Tumults miscarried and Edward the III succeeded in the Throne the former Wars began to bleed fresh again our Young Edward being obliged to seek that Right by Arms which by Law he could not obtain but lest the Laws of Nature and the Peace of Christendom should be violated these Discords at the instance of the Pope who sent William Archbishop of Vienna and John Grandesson Bishop of Exceter for that purpose were composed on this Condition That as soon as might be what had been taken by the English in Aquitain contrary to the Form of the foresaid Agreement should be restored and on the other side that what had been taken by the French should be rendred to King Edward the said King Edward being to pay 50000 l. Sterling towards the reparation of Dammages and those Gascoigners who