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
Lenox Menteith and Stratherne came laden with Spoil and Prey to St. Johnston where he found the King of England his Brother lately return'd thither from his victorious March beyond the Scottish Mountains This Town had been lately destroy'd by the Scots who despair'd to maintain it for their own behoof But now King Edward order'd it to be rebuilt fortifi'd and encompassed with a strong Wall Ditch and Rampire VI. The King of u Knighton p. 2567. France all this while did what he could by Policy to hinder King Edwards Proceedings and withdraw him home again before he might perfect any Conquest in Scotland To that end again he sends his Ambassadors to him and procures Others to be sent from the Pope x Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1335. §. 36 with Letters bearing date apud Pontemsorgiae Avenionensis Dioecesis 2 Kal. Aug. Anno Pontif. 1. to endeavour a Peace between King David and him and to request his Company once more in the Holy War But King Edward observing his pragmaticall Curiosity in Affairs no way relating to him and also his unsincere way of Address sent him short Word That he was able of himself blessed be God without any help from him to wage war with the Infidels when he should see fit unless He and his Adherents by their Malice and underhand Dealings should stand in his way And that he neither could nor would undertake any Foreign Expedition while his Enemies the Scots continued so rebellious against him who were also by him abetted and encouraged in their Rebellion Thô both as a Christian Prince and a Kinsman he ought rather to compose War and Strife among two Christian Nations and even to assist him with all his Might in his just Wars than to nourish up his Capital Enemies unjustly against him VII Thus King Edward put him off at that time and proceeded with such success in his Affairs in Scotland that about the Feast of the y Augusti 15. Assumption of our Lady most of the Scotch Nobility being wholly tired out and fearing yet much more z Walsingh hist p. 116. Adam Murimouth came in and submitted themselves to King Edward of England at St. Johnston where both the Kings then were among whom thô the Lord Strabolgi came not in person for fear of the Kings sudden Displeasure yet by his Advocates and Letters he so humbly sued for Peace and Pardon and so well acquitted himself of all Treason that he with the rest was accepted on these Conditions a Ces sont les Choses le Pointz accordez c. Murimouth c. Stow p. 232. Knighton p. 2566. n. 30. c. These are the Points and Articles agreed on betwixt the Council of the Kings of England and Scotland on the one Party and the Lord Alexander Moubray the Lord Geoffry Moubray the Lord Geoffry Roos Dr. William Bullock Clerk and the Lord Eustace de Lorrain having full power from David Strabolgi Earl of Athol and Robert Stuart of Scotland on the other Party to treat on accord and confirm all Points enterparled and to be enterparled betwixt the said Kings and the said Earl and Robert Stuart as appeareth by the Letters Patents of either Party 1. Imprimis it is accorded That the Earl of Athol and all the Great Men and Others of the Commonalty of Scotland which were willing to come in to the King of Englands Peace shall have Life and Limb Lands and Tenements Fees and Offices which they ought by right or by inheritance to have in Scotland those except which by common Assent should be excepted In such manner that all Offences and Misdemeanours which they had committed in the Realm of England from the beginning of the World to the Date of these Presents shall be pardon'd without Imprisonment or any other Molestation 2. Item That the Earl of Athol and the Lord Alexander Moubray shall still hold those Lands Tenements and Fees in England which they held at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England 3. Item That the Franchises of the Kirk of Scotland shall be maintained after the ancient Usage And that the Laws of Scotland in Burroughs Towns and Sheriff-wicks within the Lands of the King of Scotland be used after the Old Way as they were used in the time of King Alexander And that the Offices of Scotland be administred by Men of the same Nation yet so as that the King of Scotland of his Prerogative Royal may at any time according to his pleasure advance to places of Office Men of any Nation whatsoever 4. Item That all those who being in the same case with the Earl of Athol have Lands and Tenements within the Lands of the King of England shall still hold those Lands and Tenements Possessions Fees and Offices as they had them at their departure from Newcastle upon Tine when they paid Homage to the King of England those except who by common Assent shall be excepted and if they be impleaded for their Lands and Tenements aforesaid they may have their Defence and Recoveries in any Court according to Law. 5. Item As touching the Demand which the Earl of Athol claimeth that the King of England would release him his Lands in England which he hath in gage for 800 Marks the King neither ought nor will do that but as for his Mannor of b Stow Byphingdone quod corrigo autoritate Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. ubi legitor Bulinden in Com. Buck. Bulindon which the said Earl laid to pledge for c Stow 250 l. sed Knighten CC li. ubi li pro l. à Stow acceptim per errorem cum stat li. pro libris two hundred Pounds it is accorded That if the said Earl of Athol come within one Year and make true payment of the said Money that the King shall cause the said Mannor to be restored unto him 6. Item That as touching the Castle and Lands of Chilham the said Earl shall be in the same point that he was before at his departure from Newcastle upon Tine when he paid Homage to the King of England and shall have his Recovery by Law and the King promiseth in good Faith to take Order that he shall have the Law of his Kingdom without favour on either Party 7. Item That as touching the Lands which the said Earl claimeth in Norfolk whereof he hath Charters the King promiseth that having seen first his Charters by Advice of his Council he will do him reason And if in any case any man surmise Treason upon the said Earl he may defend himself with his Body according to the Laws and Usage of Scotland and upon the Marches And that all those in his case have the like Grant. 8. Item that as to the Pardon which William Ramsey Knight demandeth for the Trespass by him done to William Lord Montagu in beating down his Castle of Haghterdorne the same William shall be ready to make satisfaction in
Person till they themselves required a Peace in the most submissive manner yet his Lords perswaded him rather at this time to send unto them in order to Treat for a Truce between the two Realms for two or three Years For they said how it was great Wisdom in a Prince that hath War in several places at One time to make a Truce with One to pacifie the Other by mild Words and on the Third to employ his Power By these and the like Perswasions he was content to send d Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 143. a. Frois ibid. Richard Bury Lord Bishop of Durham Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby the Lord John Striveling and others to Treat about the Premises But King David either because He thought this Offer was extorted by some great Necessity or for that he was really so obliged to King Philip return'd answer that he neither could nor would strike up a Peace with England without the Consent of the King of France That this was one of the Articles in the last Truce and must be for ever that nothing of Agreement could be lasting between England and Scotland without the Allowance of the King of France King Edward was so nettled at so brisk a Reply from a Prince whom he had drove out of his Kingdom that in great Indignation he vow'd openly That now therefore he would for a while intend to no other business but the War with Scotland only till he had reduced that Kingdom to such Destruction as should be remembred while the World endur'd And immediately he gave out his Commands for all his Men of War to meet him at Barwick by Easter except such only who were appointed for the Wars in Bretagne II Nor did this Heroick Prince trust alone in the Arm of Flesh but truly considering that God Almighty was the sole Disposer of the Success of all Mans endeavours he now issues forth his pious Commands to all the Clergy of England that with one Voice they would incessantly storm Heaven and by their importunate Prayers extort a Blessing upon his Arms. Behold a Copy of his Letters EDWARD e e Walsingh hist p. 147. n. 10. Speed p. 574. §. 68. by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Reverend his Archbishops and Bishops c. Greeting in the Lord. The King of Heaven is Terrible in his Judgements and in Wisdom inscrutable Who justly correcteth the Sons whom He loveth and often shews unto his People that offend hard things by humbling Sinners for their Iniquities that so returning unto him they may seek his Holy Name with fear We therefore duly considering with what hazards of War and Adversities both We and the People under Us either for our sins or for theirs or rather both for ours and theirs have been of a long while and still are exceedingly molested and very much damnifi'd and exhausted thereby of our Treasure and further weighing the Dangerous inconveniences that still in all likelihood hang over the heads of Us and of our People unless Divine Providence shall more graciously respect Us from on High In the midst of such Difficulties and Troubles while We behold our own Weakness in all our Actions We have our recourse to the Divine Omnipotence trusting that the Just Judge the True God will kindly respect the Truth and Justice of our Cause and will humble our Adversary And so in confidence of his Heavenly Compassion attempting an Arduous Affair We have ordained our Passage towards the parts of France with a strong and well-armed Power and another Army We have order'd to be conducted toward the parts of Scotland that so by the Grace of God We may prevent the Dangers threatned unto Us and prepare unto our Liege Subjects after those Storms of Trouble they have suffer'd the Halcyon-days of Peace and Quiet Seeing therefore You are constituted of God on the behalf of Men to offer up Gifts and Sacrifices for sin attend We pray You to the foresaid Dangers not of Us only but of our People pouring forth to the most High Prayers for our happy Success supplying the place of Moses that by the lifting up of your Hands We and Our Armies may prevail against the Enemy And that by the Multitude of Intercessors an Augmentation of Grace may be afforded Us do You cause thrô all our Cities and Towns in your respective Dioceses Prayers and Processions to be made and other parts of Pious Attonement to be meekly performed that the God of Mercies would vouchsafe to extend the Hand of his Benediction over Us and our Armies and so direct our Actions according to his Good Pleasure that they may redound to his Praise to our own Comfort and to the Quiet and Advantage of Our Liege-Subjects Dated c. In the Year of Our Reign of England the f f Apud Walsingh dat Angl. 16. Fran 3. hoc est sub fine praecedentis anni 17 and of France the 4. III. And having thus begun with Heaven King Edward as he had appointed with his Men of War kept his g Frois c. 90. fol. 46. Easter at Barwick and for three Weeks held a great Court there for all the Chief Lords and Knights of the Land were then about him But the Divine Goodness was yet willing to defer the further punishment of Scotland For in the mean time there were found certain Pious Men who labour'd so earnestly on both sides that at last a Truce was agreed on to endure for two Years to which also the French King for the sake of the Common good of that harassed Kingdom consented Thus were these two Tempests of War for that time scattered without breaking upon one another saving that during the time of the Treaty some few skirmishes passed between the two Armies and we find h Dudg 1 Vol. p. 294. that in one of them which happen'd at Barwick the Lord Ralph Nevill of Raby was taken Prisoner and carried to Dunbar whence soon after he was redeemed Only we must not omit that before King Edwards Arrival at Barwick the Scots willing to be beforehand with him had laid Siege to the strong i Walsing hist p. 150. Castle of Loughmaban which King Edward had committed to the Custody of William Bohun Earl of Northampton but he upon his late going into Bretagne had left it to the Defence and Care of Sr. Walter Selby a Valiant Knight The King hearing of this Siege sent thither presently the Earl of Darby the Earls of k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. Gloucester and Northampton who both return'd out of Bretagne with the Countess and the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Robert Hufford Junior Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk with a considerable Body to relieve the Castle But the Valour of the aforesaid Sr. Walter Selby with the Assistance of John Kirkeby Bishop of Carlile and Thomas Son and Heir to the Lord Anthony Lucy had raised the Siege and beat away the
Pope and the Emperour And moreover they made a solemn Renuntiation to all Wars against each Other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renuntiation their Eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both Sides were sworn And then also a Proclamation issued forth from King Edward to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and to all other Captains of Towns Castles Forts c. held for the King in France for them to give Notice to all Places within their Command of this Peace and final Accord thus made between the two Kings After h Frois c. 213. all these Articles Letters and Commissions were made devised finished and deliver'd by the Advice and Consent of the Councils of England and France so that as to that Point both the Kings were well contented then they fell into a close Communication concerning the Lord Charles of Blois and the Lord John of Montford and their several Claims to the Dutchy of Bretagne for each pretended the whole and sole Right to that Heritage Some have been so bold in venting their Opinions as to say that King Edward and his Council were not over-warm in this Matter and surely in meer Policy he might well enough be supposed something cool For if now the Wars of Bretagne should be shut too there had been no Vent left for those many boistrous Troops which as yet lay in several Garrisons and upon their resigning those Fortresses must needs otherwise have filled England with Theeves and Robbers But certainly whoever impartially observes the honourable and sincere Practices of King Edward upon all Occasions and duly compares them with what relates to this Matter in the Articles and Letters foregoing will not so rashly attribute the ill Success of the Treaty of Bretagne to King Edwards Insincerity but rather to the Impracticableness of the Affair it self Since two such Valorous Young Princes had so fair a Pretence to so Noble a Dukedome that there could hardly remain any Prospect of deciding the Controversie without the Sword or the Death of one of the Parties But however it was when now upon Conference this New Treaty seem'd so hard to be brought to any good Issue Henry Duke of Lancaster who was a most valiant and expert Souldier but chiefly favour'd the Earl of Montford and wish'd his Advancement spake these words to the King of France in Presence of the King of England and the greater Part of both the Kings Councils Sir said he the Truce that was taken before Rennes between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Earl of Montford is not yet expired but is still to hold to the first Day of May next coming The King of England my Master here present by Advice of his Council and with Consent of my Lord the Prince his Son shall before that time send the Young Duke the Lord John of Montford with certain of his Council into France to your Majesty with full Power and Authority to confer and determine about the Right which the said Lord John ought to have as succeeding his Father in the Dutchy of Bretagne So then by You and your Council and by Ours together some agreeable Way may be taken between them for the better Security of which Affair I think it would be well to prolong the said Truce yet farther till the Feast of St. John Baptist next following According to this Device of the Dukes so it was done and concluded and the Truce relating to Bretagne prolonged to the Feast of St. John Baptist and then they fell to other Matters XX. And i Frois c. 213. f. 108. now that the Peace between England and France was fully confirmed King John was so elevated with the Assurance of Returning into his Country that he then first seem'd sincerely to rejoyce since his being taken Prisoner He shew'd unto King Edward such an hearty Good-Will that it appear'd plainly to have no mixture of Dissimulation and to his Nephew the Prince of Wales he declared all the endearing Signs of Royal Love and Affection that might be As also King Edward and his Son the Prince were exceeding Frank Generous and obligingly Open unto him These two Illustrious Monarchs who from this time till Death parted called themselves Brethren as a mutual remembrance of their Brotherly Amity gave now unto Four Knights of either Party such as chiefly in their stations had promoted this Peace 8000 Franks of Yearly Revenues for them and their Heirs for ever King John giving the said Summ to Four Knights of England and King Edward a like Revenue to Four Knights of France And at the same time because the Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantine in Normandy were the King of Englands Right by a Deed of Gift and Sale from the Lord Godfry Harcourt deceased which Lands were not comprised in the Ordinance of the Treaty of Peace so that whoever held those Lands must do Homage therefore to the French King King Edward k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. now in respect of the many Laudable and Heroick Services of that Valiant and Renowned Knight the Lord John Chandos gave unto him and his Heirs for ever a Grant of the Baronies of St. Saviour le Vicount aforesaid of Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and of all other the Lands and Possessions of the said Godfry of Harcourt Which Princely Gift King John at the Request of King Edward confirmed now unto the said Lord John Chandos he doing Homage therefore unto him bating that Allegiance which he owed unto his Master the King of England And now when all the foresaid Agreements were as well made and devised and as firmly established as Human Wit could contrive so that it seem'd by reason of the sundry strict and solemn Engagements Counter-bonds and mutual Obligations between the two Kings and their Sons that the Peace would prove everlasting and when the Hostages were all come to Calais and the 400000 Crowns of Gold were paid down to the King of England and the remaining 200000 secured which was the First Payment then King Edward made a most Royal and Magnificent Supper for the French King within the Castle of Calais at which the Black-Prince and his Three Brethren Lionel John and Edmund with the Greatest Lords and Barons of England served the two Kings bare-headed After Supper the two Kings bad each other Good Night in the most Obliging Manner imaginable King Edward remaining still in the Castle and King John going to his Lodgings in the Town which had been prepared for him upon his being set at Liberty The next Morning l Fabian p. 243. being the 25 of October and a Sunday King John and all those who were to go with him took his leave of Calais and rode forth of the Town in the Forenoon King Edward himself conveying him a Mile onward of his Way and then the two Kings took
he would have them order their Men. All the Carriages and Pages he sent into the Wood for their Security and so ranged his Troops into three Battalions all on Foot in most decent Order In the Front stood Sr. John Jones with his 300 Men of Arms and Archers of England and his Friend d Trâ—â— Use of Armory p. 120 Sr. James Planchine with 200 more both Archers and Men of Arms and these were all Chosen and Resolute Men. The Second Battail he led himself with 600 Fighting Men and with him was the Lord of Salses a lusty young Knight of Navarre the Lord William of Granville and the Lord Peter of Samville The Third he committed to the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon the Lord Bertram de la Franque and Sr. Bascels of Mareville and that Battail also consisted of 600 Men. Being thus order'd he took the Advantage of a little Hill hard by on the Right hand between the place where he order'd his Men and the Wood. And on the Brow of the Hill he stood in Battle Array directly before his Enemies with his Banner raised high on a Bush of Thorn about which stood sixty Chosen Men of Arms for its safeguard To the intent that if his Men should be scatter'd they might repair thither and rally again and so he determin'd not to descend from the Mountain for any Cause whatsoever but to let his Enemies come to him if they intended to fight him The Captals Banner war Or Five Escalopes Argent on a Cross Sable which Arms were richly depicted on his Shield and on the Crest of his Helmet was a dreadfull e True Use of Armory p. 110 p. 147. uâ—â— tamen maâ—â— legitur Midas Head Vid. Ashmoles Garter Plate 5. Medusa's Head Sable the Snakes Argent By this time were the Frenchmen also orderly ranged in three Battalia's besides a Rereguard or strong Body for a Reserve The f Frois c. 221. f. 117. First was lead by Sr. Bertram of Clequin and all his Bretons and he was design'd to oppose the Captal The Second was govern'd by the Earl of Auxerre with whom were the Vicount Beaumont and the Lord Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows and several other Knights of France Picardy and Normandy as Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and Others The Third was commanded by the Lord Arnold of Cervoles commonly called the Archpriest with whom were the Lord of Châlons the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord John de Vienne and Others and in the Rereward were all the other Gascogners as the Lord of Pamiers the Lord Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Perdiccas of Albret with the Lord of Albrets Troops but he himself was not there together with the Lord Petition of Courton and several Others These Gascogners observed particularly the Behaviour of the Captal and how his Standard was raised high on a Bush and the Guard that was set to defend it Whereupon they agreed that when the Armies were hotly joyn'd in Battle they should themselves endeavour to conquer the Captals Banner believing if they might gain that Point to be soon Masters of the Field And besides they had another Device which proved that Day very serviceable to the Lords of France For while in a Council of War they held a long Debate how to behave themselves so as morally to secure the Victory a certain Gascogner Lord let fall a Word which was very seasonable and well accepted Gentlemen says he We all know well that the Captal is as Worthy a Knight as can be found in any Land and that as long as he is able to endure he will be very terrible to Us both by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Conduct Let us therefore set apart Thirty Chosen Men of Arms on Horseback and let these Thirty mind nothing else this Day but to set upon the Captal at the same time that our Rereguard attempts to win his Standard and so by the strength of their Horses to break the stress till they can get to him to take him immediately upon which to bear him out of the Field For otherwise I cannot bode any good end of this Battle the Person of the Captal is that whereon all his Men do wholly depend If he is safe they win all if we win him the Victory comes to us of Course The Knights of France and Bretagne approved hugely of this Project and resolved to put it in Execution so they selected accordingly Thirty of the most Valiant Men of Arms and mounted them on Thirty of the best Horses in all the Company and drew them out on one side of the Field well informed before-hand what to do and all the rest of the Army remained on Foot in Battle Array as they had been ranged Now as yet there was no one that pretended to have the Chief Command over all in the French Army because there were several Persons of far higher Quality than Sr. Bertram of Clequin Wherefore in this Council of War they consulted what should be their Word that Day and to whose Banner they should all repair At last they all agreed to cry our Lady of Auxerre and to make the noble young Earl of Auxerre their Captain But he began with great Modesty to excuse himself saying Gentlemen I most heartily thank you all for the great Honour you are pleased to confer upon me but certainly as for my Part I shall by no means at this time accept thereof No I am too Young and Unexpert to sustain so great a Charge for this is the First Expedition that ever I was concern'd in Here are many good Captains as Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of Gervoles the Master of the Crossbows the Lord Lewis of Chalons the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Edward of Renty and the like These have all been in many great Hazards and also have held considerable Employs in the Wars and I am sure understand Military Conduct far better than as yet I do Wherefore Lords I desire your Pardon at this time Then the Lords and Captains began to look on one another and at last said O Noble Earl of Auxerre you are the most Eminent among us all and therefore it is all the Reason in the World You should now be our Head For Nobility reconciles Authority to a Captain Certainly Gentlemen replied the Earl You say after your Pleasure But this Day I am resolved to be but as one of your Companions and till I shall be able to rule will learn to obey Come Life come Death I promise to share with you in this Adventure but as to the Chief Rule You shall never perswade me to that Then again the Captains beheld each other and at last unanimously agreed that since Sr. Bertram of Clequin was the most practised in War among them all they would for that Day obey him and the Word should be our Lady of Clequin And thus the Tuesday was spent and both Armies prepared to fight
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
said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and one more Antient and Mystical asserted The time of this First Round Table with the manner of its Solemnity William Montagu Earl of Salisbury dies his Praise Pedigree Issue King Edwards Buildings at Windsor his Institution of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER The Names of the XXVI Founders A short View of the said most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof King Edward hears how King Philip had put to death sundry Lords of Bretagne his Friends King Philip's Cruelty to the Messenger of these News King Edward's Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. King Edward sends a Defiance to Philip But is alarm'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and the Frontiers of Scotland He makes his Remonstrance to the Pope who endeavours to pacifie him A Parliament at Westminster The Earl of Darby lands in Gascogne His Acts. His Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philip's Lieutenant before Auberoche Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter named Mary John Earl of Monford acquitted his Prison The Lord Oliver Ingham dies his Issue From p. 287. to p. 312. Chap. XXIII King Edward tells the Pope that unless King Philip gives him Satisfaction he will renounce the Truce The Earl of Northampton commissioned to defie the French King. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce His New Commission to the Earl of Darby An account of his Actions in Gascogne this Year The Lord Walter Manny finds his Fathers Bones in Reole The Castle of Reole yielded The Earl of Darby's Victorious Progress and Return to Bourdeaux From p. 312. to p. 320. Chap. XXIV Henry Earl of Lancaster dies The motives and manner of Jacob van Arteveld's Fall. The Flemings appease King Edward The young Earl of Hainalt slain The Lord John of Beaumont brought over to the French side The Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts to England John of Monford amidst his Victories in Bretagne dies The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois and routs his Army The Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce The Death of one Lord and two Bishops From p. 321. to p. 330. BOOK II. CHAP. I. KIng Philip sends the Duke of Normandy against the Earl of Darby aliàs the Earl of Lancaster Duke John sits down before Angoulesme the Earl of Lancaster new Garrisons Ville-Franche and reinforces Aiguillon The Seneschal of Beaucaire wins Ancenis Sr. John Norwich escapes the Duke of Normandy by a quaint device The Duke of Normandy comes before Aiguillon with the Particulars of that Siege The French King's Seneschal of Guienne beaten by the Earl of Lancaster which Earl holds the Duke of Normandy short From p. 331. to p. 337. Chap. II. King Edward resolves to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament settles the Realm sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy and Knights his Eldest Son Prince Edward c. King Philip strengthens Caën against him A Cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to France King Edward marches thrô Normandy King Philip prepares to encounter him King Edward takes St. Lo and Caën Rejects the Cardinals Endeavours for Peace stays at Poissy to repair the Bridge and sends a Defiance to King Philip who goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives and replies to an Answer of King Philips to his Challenge His Progress thrô France His Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Inhabitants of Poix being found treacherous are put to the Sword. King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme A French Prisoner shews him the Passage at Blanchetteaque which yet he finds guarded but goes over and discomfits Godmar du Fay who kept the Passage King Philip rests at Abbeville King Edward encamps in the Fields of Cressy and prepares to receive him From p. 338. to p. 353. Chap. III. The Number and Order of King Edward's Forces the Names of his Chief Captains He creates 50 Knights King Philip goes out of Abbeville against him The Order of the French. King Philip advances his Oriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon The Battle of CRESSY The Earl of Warwick sends to the King for Succour with the King's Answer The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward against their Main Force routs the Marquess of Moravia kills the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers King Philip flies and leaves the Victory to the English The Number of the slain on both sides An Enquiry into the Antiquity of Guns King Philip retires to Broye thence to Amiens and so to Paris The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Bodies of the French defeated The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and care for the burial of the Dead King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais From p. 354. to p. 365. Chap. IV. The Description of Calais The strength of King Edward's Navy He lays a formal Siege to the Place Plenty of Provision in his Camp. The Earl of Warwick takes Teroüenne The Flemings besiege St. Omers Seventeen Hundred poor People being thrust out of Calais are relieved by King Edward The Copies of two Letters containing the summe of this Expedition from the Winning of Caën to the Siege of Calais The Duke of Normandy makes another attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss King Philip commands his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and perswades the King of Scotland to invade England The Duke of Normandy leaves the Siege of Aiguillon the Lord Manny cuts him off at the Reer His Agreement with a Prisoner of Quality The Prisoner brings him a safe Conduct and is set free The Lord Manny riding towards Calais in Confidence of this Conduct is seised by King Philip's Order But the Duke of Normandy saves his Life The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and Conquers in Sainctogne Rochellois and Poictou An Instance of this Earls Liberality and Munificence He wins Poictiers leaves it Desolate and Returns to Bourdeaux An Army of Poictevins discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan From p. 365. to p. 375. Chap. V. King Philip by his Ambassadors perswades the King of Scots to break with England King David resolves on a War Raises an Army and begins to march His Cruelty to an English Knight in cold blood He encamps near Durham Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York and sends an Expostulation to King David The Order and Number of the Scotch Army Also of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders Queen Philippa encourages her Men. She beats Douglas and Graham before the Battle Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is obliged to Retreat King David is taken Prisoner by
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
Lords and Knights to meet him These found King Edward at Monstreul where they received him in their Kings Name with high Expressions of Respect For the French are a wonderfull free and civil People when they design to do honour to any Person Thus both Nations rode very friendly together towards Amiens enterchanging many courteous Speeches with great Familiarity King Edward upon his Arrival at Amiens was honourably welcom'd by King Philip the Kings of Bohemia Navarre and Majorica with many Dukes Earls and Barons and the Eleven Peers of France he himself being the Twelfth who were all there to do him Honour as was pretended but indeed to bear witness to his Homage There for Fifteen Days together he was entertain'd with great Royalty many things being canvas'd and discours'd of the mean while at intervals in order to the present Affair But on the Day appointed King Edward came into the Cathedral of Amiens in order to his Homage in a long Robe of Crimson Velvet pouder'd with Leopards of Gold his Crown on his Head his Sword by his Side and Spurs of Gold on his Heels King Philip of Valois sat ready to receive him on his Royal Throne in a Robe of Violet-colour'd Velvet pouder'd with Flowers de Luce's of Gold his Crown on his Head his Scepter in his Hand with other Ensigns of Majesty besides his Royal Attendants When e Frois c. 24 fol. 14. a. Martin p. 105. King Edward saw in what scornfull manner King Philip sat to receive him his High Courage instantly resolv'd upon a different Way from what he had before intended so that only bending his Body a little toward the Throne he said aloud with a truly Royal Boldness I Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain do hereby do Homage to thee Philip King of France to hold the Dutchy of Guien as Duke thereof and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul as Earl thereof and as Peer of France in like manner as my Predecessors did Homage for the said Dukedom and Earldom to thy Predecessors At this unexpected Gallantry of King Edward's thô Philip of Valois inwardly repin'd yet he seem'd to take little notice of it but only order'd his Chancellor to direct the King his Cozen That the manner of his Predecessors was by Putting off the Crown and Laying aside both Sword and Spurs to do it Kneeling with their Hands between the King of France's Knees or his great Chamberlain's hands and this they were always to do either in Person or by sufficient Proxy of some high Prince or Prelate then and there promising Faith and Homage to the King of France as to their Soveraign Lord of whom they held those Lands and Honours But this King Edward would by no means yeeld to alledging that they could shew no such Precedent For one Crowned Head so to humble himself to another and that he was not as yet satisfied of any such matter Hereupon they produced some Old Memorials which were read to him purporting that certain Kings his Ancestors had done in like manner to the Kings of France when summon'd on the same Occasion But these Records the King of England would not allow to be Authentick and therefore said he was determin'd as then to proceed no further till he had consulted his own Records wherein if he should find that any thing more had been done he would recognize the same by his Letters Patents to the French King. And whatever Monsieur du Serres alledges that the Vicount Melun Great Chamberlain of France having made him put off Crown Sword and Spurs joyned his Hands together and received his Homage yet that no more than a Verbal Homage was then done appears not only from the Acknowledgment of Monsieur f Mezeray p. 6. par 2. â—im 3. Mezeray an Author infinitely more diligent and wise than Du Serres but also by the King of England's own Letters afterwards which in order shall follow according to the Originall This was a mighty Disappointment to the King of France who had expected a more formal and full Homage in Presence of all these his Honourable Friends and Allies But no more could now be obtain'd and since no Evidence to the Contrary appear'd as yet Authentick enough at least to King Edward's satisfaction he was obliged in Honour to smother his Discontent before that Royal Assembly and so said openly Dear Cozen of England we will not here be thought desirous to impose any thing upon You against Right and Equity What you have already done sufficeth for the Present So that upon your Return when you have consulted your own Records and seen what your Predecessors have done on like Occasions you will send unto us under your Broad Seal an acknowledgement of the same Thus he spake and so the Assembly broke up as it should seem in friendly manner howbeit King Philip revolved deeply in his Mind of this affront put upon him where he had look'd for such High Honour and upon that account as well as because of those pretences which he knew King Edward might justly make to his Crown he secretly devised how when most separated from his people he might g Knighton p. 2555. n. 10. surprize and seise his Person till he should make his own Conditions with him But this Counsel was not so closely agitated but that Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln a Man of a great Reach who came over as the King 's Chief Counsellour and Governour had got some inkling or conjecture thereof at least and so privately informed the King his Master of the Danger he was in He for his part easily apprehending the matter left France suddenly with his whole Company e're any Man imagin'd how or why and so coming safely into England went directly for Windsor where his Queen Philippa lay who was extreamly satisfied with his safe Return and there had her Female Curiosity abundantly satisfied as to all her Enquiries after the State and Welfare of her Uncle King Philip and the rest of her kindred whom he had lately seen But King Edward brought home a sting along with him whereby he thought his Honour wounded and which never let him be at rest till he had prov'd himself Worthy of the Crown of France thô he never attain'd to the Possession of it From this time it run continually in his Head that France was too Noble a Kingdom to be despised for he had never before seen any thing so Pompous there or if he had his tender Age would not permit him to make any just estimate thereof But now whatever he had met with gave him the more concern because he look'd on it as of Right his own however injuriously taken from him The mean l Frois ibid. while as if all this was too little provocation King Philip not thus satisfied resolves to press the unwilling Prince to a more particular acknowledgement and therefore soon after pursues him
time to appear and all publique Affairs happily succeeded henceforward both to the King and his People Doctor Walter k Holinst Eng. Chron. p. 1002. Burleigh or Burley who had been bred up in Merton College in the famous University of Oxford was at this time of such Fame for learning and piety that he was taken into Queen Philippa's Service at her first coming into England and became her Almoner still encreasing in great Estimation at Court Insomuch that when this Young Prince Edward was able to learn his Book this Doctor was appointed to be his Tutor whereupon Simon Burley who was son to Sr. John Burley a near Kinsman of the Doctors was admitted among other young Gentlemen to be School-fellow with this Hopefull Prince By which occasion he wan so much upon the Princes Favour that afterwards by his means he was advanced to great Honour being in time made Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter and also had the Government and Education of the Prince's Son Richard of Bourdeaux comitted to his Trust As for the Young Prince Edward the King his Father by l Ashmole p. 670. Sand-Geneal Hist p. 181. ex Cart. 7. Ed. 3. m. 4. ex Pat. 7. Ed. 3. p. 1. m 13. his Charters dated the Eighteenth of May in the Seventh Year of his Reign when he was but in the Third Year of his Age granted unto him by the Title of Edward his most Dear and Eldest Son the County of Chester the Castles of Chester Beston Rothelan and Flint and all his Lands there as also the Cantred and Land of Englefield with their Appurtenances to him and his Heirs Kings of England together with all Knights-Fees Advowsons Liberties Royalties and all other things belonging to the said County Castles Lands and Cantreds as well in England as in Wales and the Marches thereof as fully and under the same Conditions as himself had received them before he was King from which time he had the Title of Earl of Chester added to his Style But intending to enable him yet better to maintain this his Dignity the next day the King gave him all the Corn as well in Granges as growing on the Ground as also all the Arms Victuals Cattle Goods and Chattels in all the said Castles Lands and other Places to him before granted together with all Debts Arrearages of Accounts and other Services due to himself But in the m Cart. 11. Ed 3. n. 55. Eleventh Year of his Reign and the Seventh of this Princes Age upon the Death of John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the King created him Duke of Cornwall as appears by his Charter of Creation bearing Date the 17 of March the same Year investing him by the Sword only which was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England At the same time the King setled upon him divers Mannors and Franchises expresly set down in the said Charter for the better support of his Ducal State and Honour all which thô some lay in other Counties were thereby made part of the Dutchy of Cornwall And further by Letters Patents dated the same day he granted unto him the Stanneries in Cornwall together with the Coinage of Tynn and all the Issues and Profits thence arising as also the Profits and Perquisits of the Courts of the Stanneries except only a 1000 Marks granted to William Montagu then Earl of Salisbury and his Heirs out of the Issues thereof till Lands were provided for the said Earl of that yearly Value And afterwards granted that all the Castles Honours Mannors Lands and Tenements belonging to the Dukedom or Earldom of Cornwall which were held in Dower or for term of Life or Years whose Reversions belonged to the King should remain to this Prince as Duke still as they fell and to the Eldest Sons of him and his Heirs as Dukes of the foresaid Dukedom After this in the Parliament held in the Seventeenth of this King his Father he n 12 Maii Car. 17. Ed. 3. m. 24. n. 27. Created him Prince of Wales and invested him with a Coronet a Gold Ring and a Silver Rod And the better to support his State as Prince of Wales he gave him several Lands which are all particularly enumerated in a Writt directed to William Emeldon to deliver them unto this Prince or his Attourney He also gave him all Debts and Arrears of Foreign Rents due to himself for what cause soever in North-Wales and South-Wales to the time of his being created Prince of Wales as also all Victuals Arms Horses and other Cattel Goods and Chattels in all the Castles and Lands which he held by the Kings Grant. After all which this Noble Prince was made Knight of the Garter at the First Institution of that Famous Order and lastly Prince of Aquitain in France and for his Courage and Conduct his Policy and Courtesie became in time the most Renowned Captain in the World being for his Dreadfull Deeds in War as most agree sirnamed by the French le Neoir or the Black-Prince VI. In these Days the Young King of England finding himself a Father began indeed to play the Man and thô he was then but 18 Years of Age takes a resolution to govern his Realm no more by Others but Himself in Person hearing and learning the Truth in weighty Affairs and distributing Justice and Mercy to such who should lay the best claim to either But while Mortimer held his present Station 't was not possible the King should be Master of his own Purposes Now therefore to him we hasten who seems already to have been too long free from that Vengeance which always pursues ambitious and bloody Traitors Of his Treachery and Cruelty we had no small Instances before But by a certain fatal Ordinance that wicked Men must of themselves advance and further their own Ruine his insupportable Arrogance and too opiniative Security thence proceeding was the chief Occasions of his suddain Downfall In the Quindenes of St. Michael the King holding a Parliament at Nottingham Mortimer appear'd in such splendour and so well attended that he became both the Envy and Terror of all the Kings Friends no man durst name him by any other Title than his new-acquired but much-envy'd one the Earl of March And his Interest and possessions bound those to him whom his Power could not move For in these days he bore such sway that he obtain'd whatever he had a mind to as appears by these following Grants from the Young King who by his o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. Cart. 4. Ed. 3. n. 64. Charter dated this Year besides all he had got before granted unto him the Castle and Mannor of Hanley with the Chaces of Malverne and Cors in the Counties of Worcester and Glocester also the Town of Wiche in Worcestershire with the Castle of Clifford and Mannor of Glasebury part of the Possessions of Hugh Spencer the younger not yet free from
was slain with 7000 Christians the Pagans obtaining but a bloody Victory with the loss of no less than 58000 Men This Battle was struck on the Feast of St. Catherine being the 25 of November The Other was between the Castilians of Spain and the Moors of Granada of which because it bears some reference to the succeeding Affairs I shall take leave to speak something more particularly It may be remembred that when I spake of the Dishonourable Peace made with Scotland at Northampton I took occasion to mention a Voyage which the Lord James Douglas the famous Warriour of Scotland had undertaken to the Holy Land there to offer up his dead Master King Robert's Heart at the Sepulchre of our Blessed Saviour Now as soon as he had well provided for so long and important a Journey he took the Noble Heart of his Lord King Robert g Hector Bâ—et l. 15. fol. 311. b. n. 70. embalmed and enshrin'd in a Golden Box and with a Gallant company of choice Knights and valiant Gentlemen of whom the Lord William Sinclare and Sr. Robert Logan were chief he set forth for the Holy Land. And here Hector according to his usual way makes no more adoe but boldly affirms that he came to Jerusalem offer'd up the Heart stay'd a while fought many Glorious Battels wan much Renown brought the Saracens to a Peace on conditions very advantageous to the Christians richly rewarded the Priests and Holy Men there and away came he again safe and sound as could be till he touch'd the Spanish Coast about Andaluzia or the Boetic Province where finally he lost his Life But Buchanan in this place more modest h Buchan l. 8. p. 279. acknowledges that his Death happen'd not in his Return but in his Passage to Jerusalem and therein agrees with i Frois c. 20. fol. 11. Froisard a most credible Historian in the main who thus reports the whole matter Earl Douglas being well purvey'd of all things sets sail immediately from a Port of Murray in Scotland directing his course for Sluce in Flanders where he design'd to enquire if there were any Knights or Noblemen who to advance the honour of Christ and purchase unto themselves true Renown would adventure to accompany him in this his Expedition to the Holy Land. Having therefore accordingly sent into the Country thereabout to publish his Intention he lay on Board before Sluce the space of twelve Days himself not once offering to touch the Land so firmly was he set on the performance of his Royal Master's Injunctions And all the while that he might the better allure Companions in Arms to partake with him in this hazardous Enterprise he kept a stately and magnificent Port making on Board triumphant Noises with Trumpets Clarions and other Instruments of War as if he had been King of Scotland himself He had with him in his own Ship two Knights Bannerets and six other Knights with 26 lusty Esquires and other young Gentlemen to attend his person and all the Vessels he was served in were of Gold or silver And whoever came on Board to visit him were nobly entertain'd with Banquets Wine and spices every one after his Quality While thus he lay to the great pleasure and satisfaction of the Country at the end of twelve days he had certain News that Alphonso the XI King of Castille and Leon held war with the Moors and Saracens of Granada Upon this report he thought it every whit as meritorious to fight against Infidels in Spain as in the Holy Land and that it could no way thwart with his dead Masters Command if he should endeavour to exalt the Cross of Christ against Mahometanisme to which cause himself had both living and dying devoted his own Royal Heart Desirous also to leave some Token of the Scottish Valour in the furthermost Parts of Spain and concluding after all to perform at his leisure the Voyage to Jerusalem he at last resolves to be a partaker in these honourable Wars Whereupon hoising sail directly for Spain he arrived happily at the Port of Valencia where he landed with all his Company but such as were appointed to look to the Fleet. Thus this Gallant Scot having well refreshed himself and his Troops rode bravely forward toward the King of Spain whom he found with his Army facing the Enemy on the Frontiers of his Kingdom toward the Realm of Granada To make short his service was well accepted and thereupon the King of Spain resolv'd to give his Enemies Battle The King of Granada seeing the Christians advance set forward also to meet them with innumerable Forces And now both Armies wanted but little of joyning when the Generous Earl Douglas fearing to come too late to so glorious a Banquet with all his Company strake spurs to his Horses sides and couching his Spear rushed fiercely among the thickest of his Enemies all the way crying out a Douglas a Douglas as he that nothing doubted but to be well back'd by King Alphonso The Enemy thô vastly Numerous was strangely amaz'd at this vigorous and resolute Onset and either out of Dismay or Policy open'd their Ranks to receive them giving also back a little to abate the Fury of the first shock Certainly had the Castillians immediately seconded this Noble Knight with but half that Bravery the Moors had either wholly been overthrown or at most gain'd but a Bloody Victory But whether 't was Fatal oversight or Discretion not to Engage with such vast Numbers in confidence of a few seeming-rash Strangers or whether 't was a certain stupor and excess of Admiration or a desire to stay a while beholding the Effects of such Gallantry or foolish Envy or base Cowardise or that they could not come up timely enough King Alphonso however Brave and Victorious at other times stood now still and joyned not the Battle Whereat the Moors encouraged immediately surrounded the Deserted Scots with their Numerous Forces and there the Gallantest Captain in the World being abandon'd to Infinite Multitudes of Barbarians was miserably at last hewen in pieces with all his Martial Company Thô they left such Marks of their exceeding Valour behind that the Infidels who felt and saw their Fury thought them Invincible till they beheld them slain before their Eyes Thus by occasion of a superstitious Vow of the Late King Robert was Scotland unfortunately depriv'd of a Noble Captain and many other Brave Souls at a time when most she needed their Assistance at Home This Lord Douglas bare for his Arms k Frois c. 17. fol. 8. Azure a Chevron Argent but his Posterity in Memory of this his Enterprise and Death do l Hâ—linshead hist Sâ—ctl p. 227. bear the Bloody Heart for their Arms to this day And indeed he was one of the first Builders of his Name and Family in Scotland being a great Champion to his Native Country and as great a Terror to all the English Borderers For m Knighton p. 2559. n. 50.
Grievance to the whole Kingdom Among other of their Licentious Practises the Lord Chief Justice e Knighton p. 2559. n. 60. Sr. Richard Willoughby going after Christmas towards Grantham was taken by one Richard Fulvile and by force carried into a Wood hard by where being siesed by certain of these Lawless Fellows he was compell'd to lay down immediately Ninety Marks as a Ransom for his Life and also to swear never to discover them Upon News of these and the like Insolencies the Young King resolving now to be Master of his Crown sends forth his Justices of Trailebaston two and two with Power to enquire after all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Escheators and others who had abused or neglected their Offices by Extortion Bribery Fear or Favour and after all such as had failed in the due Execution of the Laws whereby these Licentious People began first to take such Boldness upon them The form of the Writ thô of moment I forbear to transcribe because 't is already Extant in f Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 840. Holinsheads Chronicles and elsewhere But least the Law should fail of Power to maintain it self the Young King takes to him some choice Troops of Armed Men with many Light-Horsemen well mounted and marches forth in Person to discover these Enemies to Government Some Parties of these Audacious Villains were met with by him nor did they much decline the matter Success had made them so Impudent But Majesty and Vertue are more Valiant than Vice and Rebellion so that they are all soon Worsted by the Brave Young King and become an Example to others some of them being slain in Skirmish many Hang'd and Quarter'd a few Beheaded others imprison'd and put to great Fines and in short such Order taken with all that the whole Kingdom was kept in Peace and quiet at Home all his Reign after VI. On the Thirtieth g M.S. p. 14. Sr Rob. Cotton Statute Bock c. of September or the Morrow after St. Michael being a Monday the King held his High-court of Parliament at Westminster to consult about the Affairs of Guienne and other his Lands beyond the Seas as also concerning a Peace to be had with France and to conferr about the Matters of Ireland These were by John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellour of England offer'd as the reasons inducing the King to call that Parliament The Affairs of Guienne were not in so ill a posture the h Knighton p. 2563. Earl of Vlster being now there and Sr. John Darcy Justice of Ireland having been sent thither the Year foregoing i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. especially because of the late Composure between England and France the French being also at this time about a Treaty with England Yet because then a Peace is most likely to be made on good Conditions when he that treats is in a posture of Defence it was thought fit to provide something for the Defence of those Parts however And therefore Sr. John k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. a. St. Philibert a Baron of great prudence and valour was now by the King appointed to be Major of the City of Bourdeaux having an assignation of an 100 l. allow'd him for the Expences of his journey thither thô this Worthy Gentleman deceased about two Years after Sr. Oliver Ingham a mighty Baron and One of the Twelve appointed for a Guide and Counsellour to this King at his Coronation had now his l Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 104. Patent which had been granted him seven Years before for the Seneschalsie of Aquitain renewed and not long after he was sent over with pretty considerable Forces Of whose valourous Exploits this Book will not be silent At the same time the Lord m Dugd. 2 Vol. p 34. Ashmole p. 693. Bartholomew Burwash senior was constituted Seneschall of Ponthieu in Picardy which King Edward held in right of his Mother with whom that Earldom was given upon her Marriage with the King his Father As for Ireland it was resolved that the King in Person should go thither that to prepare his way a certain power of Armed Men should go before him under able Commanders and that those especially who held any Lands there should make speedy repair thither for Defence of that Kingdom as also that all learned Men in the Law who should be appointed as Justices or otherwise to serve in Ireland should by no means be excus'd on any pretence whatsoever And further 't was order'd that search should be made into his Majesties Records to see what Methods had been formerly taken for the civilizing and governing that Country As to the Affairs n M. S. p. 14. §. 3. Sr Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 9 §. 3. with France the King by his Chancellour demanded whether he had best treat with that Crown by way of Amity or Marriage The Commons humbly conceived that Marriage would be the best way whereupon certain were appointed to consult about this Treaty and a o Ashmole p. 675 Commission was given to Sr. John Darcy and Sr William Trussel to treat and agree with King Philip or his Deputies upon the Premises Now for the better understanding of this Matter it appears from the Records as we shall more fully shew hereafter that near this time King Philip being taken up with thoughts about the Holy War that he might be sure of King Edward of whose pretences to that Crown he was jealous had offer'd to enter into a strict Alliance with him by p Ashmole p. 675 Sandferd p. 184. a Marriage between a Daughter of his and the young Prince Edward of England And lest that might not suffice had importun'd him to be his Fellow in Arms and in Person to accompany him into Palestine or as q Odoric Rainald Add. tâ—ad Annal. Barerâ—i 1331. â— 29 c. Others say into Spain to fight against the Moors of Granada But because nothing was done in this Matter yet only it was refer'd to the foresaid Commissioners to advise about it we shall remitt the further prosecution hereof to the next Year to which it more properly belongs Yet this we must not pass over that now upon Occasion of the King 's being invited into France the former Resolution that he should personally go into Ireland took not effect this Year and as for the next other Business put it off and the Scotch Affairs the Year following wholly null'd it so that the King went not thither at all as it had been here resolved only an Armed Power was sent thither the Year after this In this Parliament St. Hugolin the Granchild of the Lord Hugh Spencer the Elder who with his Son Sr. Hugh had in the late Revolution been illegally executed by Queen Isabell having first by his great Valour r Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 880. in holding his Castle against the said Queen compounded for his life and since that Obtaining his Majesties Gracious Pardon was now
he would not as we shew'd before permit them to pass thrô his Land into that Realm he became so displeas'd at their presumption that by Advice of his Council he caused all the Castles Mannors and Lands belonging to the Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont the Chief of these Undertakers scituate and lying in the Counties of Warwick Leicester Nottingham and Derby to be seised into his Hands Thô soon after at the Parliament then sitting at Westminster upon further examination he had a full Restitution of all again Thus much can truly be said concerning this King's Reputation as to his Faith in this Matter Nor yet did he when the Term of the Truce was expired first seek an occasion against his Young Brother in Law. For we find that in his Parliament holden again at Westminster this Year on the Day h M.S. p. 18. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 12. §. 3. after the Nativity of our Lady being the Ninth of September and a Wednesday whereas the Parliament was only called as the Chancellor John Stratford Bishop of Winchester declared about the Irish Affairs and the King 's Personal Expedition thither for that was again resum'd and the French Voyage put off there was suddenly terrible News brought from the North of a Scotch Invasion which immediately turn'd all their Minds that way So that in a great Hurry the Parliament was Adjourn'd to York there to meet on the 25 of the said Month which was the Fryday before the Feast of St. Michael But before they brake up that Session the Prelates i M. S. p. 18. §. 3.4 Sr Rob. Cotton p. 13. § 3. by themselves the Lords by themselves and the Knights by themselves by their Petitions Advised his Majesty and Requested him not to depart the Land for any Affairs of Ireland only to send thither a new supply of Men and Money and himself to March with an Armed Power toward the North there to watch the Motions of Scotland Towards which Exploit they k M. S. ibid. Sr Rob. Cotton ibid. Walsing hypod p. 112. granted to the King one Fifteenth of the Temporality and a Tenth of all Cities and Burroughs so as the King would please to live of his own without grieving his Subjects by outragious Prises or such like Whereupon the King revoked the New Commissions for rearing of Tallages and promiseth from henceforth to * In Sr. R. Câ—â—ten 't is remise in M.S. raise remise the same according to the old Rate III. But that we may the better understand the Business in Hand it seems not unnecessary to give a short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Invasion of Edward Bailiol the Conquerour of which we have made some Relation already in the Year foregoing After those frequent and memorable Victories the said Edward Bailiol was Proclaimed King of Scotland and Crowned at Scone in Opposition to King David His English Assistants were the Chief that both encouraged and in a manner enforced him to take this Title upon him they alledging That they fought for his Right to the Crown of that Kingdom which if now after such fair Beginnings he had not the Courage to own he would not deserve to obtain it But that if he accepted the Title of King it would confirm the Hands of his Friends and weaken those of his Enemies Besides 't was not unlikely to bring over many great Ones to his Party On these and other the like Considerations he accepted the Crown as we shew'd before and accordingly most of the Scotch Nobility came in to him Thô some did but dissemble to secure their own Estates till a Fairer occasion might be offer'd to declare themselves with more Advantage Soon after his Coronation that he might secure the Crown unto himself which he had taken upon him l Walinâ—â— â—â—st p. 114 Buchan l. 13. p. 288. he marched with his gallant little Army from Scone and had another Victory over the Rebel Scots at Roxborough where he took the Lord Andrew Earl of Murray and sent him prisoner to Durham These thick and manifold Losses thô able to have broke the Spirits of any but the hardy Scots did only make them more cauteous and put them almost against their nature upon subtle Contrivances now they saw how unsuccessfull their Forceable Opposition proved Whereupon m Knighton p. 2562. Walsing ibid. Patrick Earl of Dunbar Archimbald Douglas and Sr. John Randulph son to the Lord Thomas Randulph late Protector of Scotland with certain other Lords that were still in their hearts firm to King David's Interest did with subtlety require of King Edward Bailiol a Truce till the n 2 Febr. Feast of the Purification following that then by peaceable Treaty in full Parliament a perfect Union and Agreement might be made among these different Parties of the Scottish Nation The unwary Prince willing by any means to stop the further Effusion of his Subjects blood presently swallows this Bait accepts with joy this deceitfull Overture and either to shew his Confidence in his People or to create in them a confidence of his peaceable Inclinations freely dismisses the greater part of his Forces The Parliament was pretended to be held at Anan the chief Town in Anandale about 15 miles from Caerlile o 〈…〉 i.e. 25 Deâ—â—emb Buchan p. 2 â—â— vid. M.S. Vet. Ang. in â—â—bl C.C.C. c. 223. whither the perfidious Scots on Christmas Day being ten days before the Parliament was to sit coming suddenly upon their new King made a lamentable slaughter of his Friends who were about him he himself hardly escaping away on an Horse without either Bridle or Saddle But there he lost his only Brother the Lord Henry Bailiol a Man of singular valour with the Lords Walter Cumin and Richard Kirkeby only Alexander p Buchâ—n l. 13. p. 286. Bruce Earl of Carrick and Galloway had his Life spared at the intercession of the Lord John Randulph who was his Kinsman as well upon the account of his relation to King David as because he was one of the latest that yielded to the Bailiol But surely the Lord John Moubray of England was not now slain as Hector falsly affirms for we find q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. a. b. by undoubted Records that he died not till 29 years after this time And here I must not omit to take further notice of the vanity of this Hector Boetius r Hector p. 314. who to advance his Nations Honour as he thinks sticks not to averr by a most notorious falshood that this Victory was obtain'd by a just Battle and after a long and doubtfull Fight Whereas not to mention that never any King went into battle deliberately with his Horse unbridled nor that it appears by Records that several of King Bailiols chief Abettors and Friends without whom he neither could nor would maintain a field particularly that the Lord Å¿ M.S. p. 17. §. 18. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 12. §. â— Henry Beaumont was then
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
Upon Request of the Commons that all Men might have their Writs out of the Chancery for Fees of the Seal only without any Fine according to that of Magna Charta Nulli vendemus Justitiam the King granted that Writs which were of Course should be so and that for such as were of Grace he would Command his Chancellour to be therein Gracious It is Enacted that Bigamy shall be Tryed only in Court Christian It is Enacted that Justices of Assise after their Assise taken shall not depart before they have made Delivery of their Goal on pain of loosing their Fees. It is Enacted If any Delivery be taken before any other Justices than such as are appointed thereto contrary to the Statutes at Northampton that the same may be void It is Enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King. The Commons Petition That Remedy may be had against Oppressions of the Clergy for Probates of Wills and Citations for Trifles The King will herein do his Best and chargeth the Bishops to do the Like That every Infant acknowledging any Statute or Recognisance may at his Full Age Averre his Nonage The King reply'd There was a better Law than by Averment That all Men may have Delivery of their Beasts which escape into any Hay or Forest without any Fine to the Forester who accounteth them Forfeits and that Coroners may Execute their Office there The Coroners shall Execute their Office there and Wardens of Forests shall be commanded to keep their Officers from Extorting That certain may be appointed to hear the Debates between the Town of Great Yarmouth and Little Yarmouth The Judgements therefore made between them shall stand That Remedy may be had for the true making of Woollen Cloaths according to the Assize The King will Provide for the Execution of the Statute That no money be Exported out of the Realm The King will Provide therefore That Pardons may be granted for the Debts due to King John and Henry the Third for which Process came daily out of the Exchequer The King will Provide an Answer the next Parliament That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs and their Officers for Gathering of Green Wax The Statute therefore made shall stand For e In Derso ejusd Ret that the Staple was ordain'd to endure at the Kings Pleasure It is now Enacted that the same Staple should be revoked and that all Merchants-Strangers may freely buy any Staple Wares paying the due Custom Sundry Justices in several Counties were appointed to enquire of the Felonies of Bennet of Normanton Lastly because Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice was to be employ'd in the Kings Weighty Affairs it was Enacted that the Kings Bench should be continued in Warwickshire after Easter next Sr. Richard Willoughby being appointed to supply his Place for the time with the Assistance of Sr. William Shareshull one of the Justices of the Bench. II. This is the Summ of what I find transacted in this Parliament which being adjourn'd the King who was desirous to keep a watchfull Eye over Scotland passed on and held his Whitsuntide f Whitsâ—nday fell on the 15 of May. at Newcastle upon Tine Whither soon after Edward Bailiol King of Scotland Sirnamed the Conquerour came to him well and Honourably attended with the Nobility of either Nation and there g Walsingh hist p. 115. Holinshead p. 896. Ashmole p. 645. on the Day of Gervasius and Prothasius which is the 19 of June in the Church of the Preaching Fryers render'd his Homage and swore Fealty unto him for his Kingdom of Scotland and the Isles thereto belonging with the Ceremony of Kneeling while the Words of the Homage were pronounced after which he h Vid. Selden's Tit. Hâ—nâ—r p. 52. kissed the King of Englands Cheek all being performed in the Presence of several Archbishops Bishops Earls and many other Barons of both Nations Here King Bailiol acknowledged the King of England as Superior Lord of Scotland swearing to hold his Realm of him his Heirs and Lawfull Successours for ever Then and there also he gave and Granted to King Edward in Requital of his Expences and Labour in the Wars on his Behalf Five whole Counties next adjoyning to the Borders of England as Barwick Roxborough Peblis and Dumfres with the Towns of Hadington and Gedeworth and the Castles and Fortresses of Selkirk Etherick and Gedeworth So that all and each of these should from thenceforth be wholly separated from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to the Crown of England for ever And all this was confirmed by Oath Scepter Writings and Authentick Subscription Moreover King Bailiol by the Advice and Consent of his Scotch Nobles in Requital of King Edward's Cost and Labour for his Sake and to Nourish a continual Sence of his Gratitude Granted for him and his Heirs Kings of Scotland to King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England for ever That i Fabian p. 202. whensoever he the said King of England or any of his Heirs should have War either at Home or Abroad the Scots at their own proper Costs and Charges should assist him or them with 300 Horse and a 1000 Foot well Furnished for the War which said 1300 Men the Scots were to pay for one whole Year But if the King of England should not within the said Space end his War then he the said King of England should take them into his Pay as he doth his own Souldiers But this Homage of the Bailiols was so highly stomached by the hardy and couragious Scots that thô for the present they were necessitated to smother their Resentments and indeed could never be able to drive him wholly from his Kingdom as upon the same account was done to his Father he being constantly sustained by the English Yet what with their restless strugglings for Liberty and their frequent and obstinate Rebellions they so tired him out at the long run that seeing himself also old and childless he at last was fain to resign the whole Kingdom with all his Right and Title thereto unto his Superior Lord King Edward of England as hereafter will be shewn at large Yet at the same time k Knighton p. 2566. n. 50. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol Sr. Alexander Moubray and other Scotch Lords that held Lands Tenements and Fees in England did their Homage to King Edward for the same When also the Lord John l Mill's Catal. Honâ—r p. 606. Dreux Duke of Bretagne in France and Vicount Limouvicen Son to Arthur once Duke of Bretagne and Nephew to John the brother of Arthur late Duke thereof who died without Issue the 8 of February this Year performed m Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 10 Adam Muâ—â—mouth his Homage to King Edward on the 24 of June at Newcastle for the Earldom of Richmond in England Which Earldom thô our common Historians say it was lately given to the Lord Robert of Artois as I have shewn before appears n Catal.
before their coming having Intelligence of their Design upon her Castle had Requested King Edward's Aid which was one occasion more of this his Expedition But now the Fame of him did what was desired from his Sword for the Scots upon Report of his coming brake up their Siege and departed The mean while n Ashmele p. 646. Buchan p. 296. King Edward passed with his Army by Dunkelden thrô Athol and Murray as far as Elgin and Innernes where Scotland is bounded that way in pursuit of the Enemy if by any means he might come to a Battle But for all the Assistance from France they durst not at that time look him in the Face but o Adam Murimouth kept themselves in Forests and other Fastnesses only in the night times they would make false Alarms to terrifie the English but they knew them so well and kept such Watch that they easily prevented all their Attempts that way In the King 's Return on the left hand through Buquhan p Ashmole ibid. he took Aberdeen and burnt divers Towns and destroyed the Country but still the Scots kept aloof for they durst not hazard their only standing Forces against a Royal Army nor in common prudence could they Wherefore King Edward not relishing this dilatory Way and being perpetually both advised by his Friends and provoked by his Enemies to the French War leaving King Bailiol at S◠Johnston settled in the Goverment of that Kingdom with sufficient Forces to deal with the Scots returns himself for England resolved now either by fair Means or Force to keep the French quiet at home III. For besides q Knighton p. 2568 n. 30. p. 2569. n. 10. the Assistance King Philip had lately sent to the Bruceans in confidence of these Diversions in Scotland he began to take so much upon him that thinking those Forces sufficient to hold play with England he rashly and unjustly flies upon King Edward's Lands in France conquering surprizing and plundering Towns and Castles in Gascoigne and slaying his Subjects without any other reason but that he vow'd as he said to take revenge for his Friends the Scots Besides all these Provocations while King Edward was in Scotland he sent abroad no less than twenty six Gallies well mann'd with other Ships of War to cruise about the English Coasts for some Advantage or to make for Scotland to the Assistance of the Bruceans whereupon we find that the King who was not yet returned from St. Johnston sent forth his Commission to the Lord Geoffry Say then constituted his Admiral of the Southern and Western Sea and to the Lord John Norwich his Admiral of the Northern Sea a Copy whereof for that it proves the King of Englands Power over the English Seas I have thought fit to insert in this place translated from the r Vid. Selden's Mare Clausum l. 2. c. 23. p. 376 Ret. Secc 10 Ed. 3. Memb. 16. 27. Original The King to his Beloved and Trusty Geoffry de Say Admiral of his Fleet of Ships from the Mouth of the River Thames toward the Western Parts Greeting Whereas we have of late commanded you by our Letters that together with certain Ships out of the Cinque Ports which we have order'd to be furnished and made ready for War according to our Command you should set forth to Sea to oppose and resist certain Gallies provided and enforced with Men of War in divers Foreign Parts which as we are informed were set out toward the Parts of our Dominion to molest Us and our People or else to make toward the Coasts of Scotland for the succour and relief of our Enemies there and in regard that it hath been related by some that Gallies of that kind to the number of twenty six are newly come to the Coasts of Bretagne and Normandy and there still abide waiting as it is suppos'd to do what Mischief they can against Us and Ours or to succour our said Enemies as aforesaid We therefore calling to mind that our Progenitors the Kings of England have before these times been LORDS OF THE ENGLISH SEA on every side yea the Defenders thereof against the Encroachments of Enemies and seeing it would very much grieve us if in this kind of Defence our Royal Honour should which God forbid be lost or any way diminished in our time and desiring with the Help of God to prevent all Dangers of this Nature to provide for the Safeguard and Defence of our Realm and Subjects and to restrain the malice of our Enemies do strictly require and charge you by the Duty and Allegiance wherein you stand bound unto Us according to the special Trust reposed in you that immediately upon sight of these Presents and without any further Delay you set forth to Sea with the Ships of the Ports aforesaid and other Ships which are now ready and that in obedience to our Command you arrest those other Ships which we lately required you to arrest for our Service but so as they may be ready and provided to set forth according to our foresaid Command seeing we caused the Masters and Mariners of the said Ships to be prepared and gathered together whether they were within your Liberties or without and to cause them being well furnished with Soldiers and other Provisions to launch out to Sea with the aforesaid Ships and that with all diligence you make search after the foresaid Gallies and other Ships of War abroad against Us and stoutly and manfully set upon them if they shall presume to bend their Course for the end aforesaid either toward the Parts of our Dominion or the Coasts of Scotland And if they steal away from you so that you cannot meet with them then you are with the foresaid Ships of our Fleet without any delay to follow after the said Gallies and Ships of War set out against Us if they shall make toward our Kingdom or the Coasts of Scotland and them couragiously to destroy for the Conservation of our Royal Honour But yet we will not that you occasion any hurt or hindrance to Merchants or Others passing by Sea who have no intention either to offend Us and our Subjects or to succour our Enemies c. After all which there follows in the Commission a Power from the King to press Sea-men and some other matters of that kind the like Commission also was issued to the Lord John Norwich Admiral of the Northern Parts both bearing this Date Witness the King at the Town of St. Johnston the 16 day of August By the King himself IV. Presently after King Edward came ſ Knighton p. 2568. n. 40. Walsing hist p. 119. n. 10. back to Nottingham where he found his Parliament sitting as he had left them who had provided him towards the maintenance of his Wars in Scotland France and Gascoigne a Grant of one Twentieth or as others of one Fifteenth of their Temporalities of a Tenth or as some a Sixth of the
Rob. Cottoos Abridgment of the Records p. 143. Rex Charissimo Filio suo Richardo Principi Walliae c. But I believe this Place being thrô Age obscur'd and so left to Conjecture was for hast mistaken in that manner John Earl of Kent with any of the Blood Royal. 4. To make Restitution for any Dammage he tender'd to King Philip as much Mony as he should in reason demand 5. He also proffer'd to take a Voyage to the Holy Land with the King of France if he would restore his Lands unto him 6. To go the Voyage if he would restore but Half or Some of those Lands 7. To take the Voyage with him if he would but make Restitution after his Return Or 8. Lastly to take the Voyage singly by Himself so that at his Return he would restore him his Right These Overtures with many others which the King or his Council could think of were offer'd to the King of France in Order to a Peace with this General Proposal beside That if any one could think of any other way tending to an Accommodation He would be ready to accept thereof But all was in vain for King Philip on the contrary not only still held his Lands beyond Sea but excited and maintained the Scots against him and also by his Navy did much Mischief at Sea. I wholly here pass by the Matters of Scotland till a more convenient Opportunity for fear of interrupting the Thread of our History especially because all was done there by snatches and fits and intervalls King Bailiol with various Fortune contending to keep on his Head a Crown more full of Thorns than of Jewels X. Now the o Ashmole p. 649. Pope perceiving that the storm of War was ready to break forth to the great Hazard of the Interest of Christendom sent into England about the Feast of St. Martin p Victorelius Ciacon 1 Vol. p. 862. §. 24. p. 857. §. 4. Holinshead Engl. Chr. p. 901. c. Pedro Priest Cardinal of St. Praxeda and q Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 15. ubi Papalis Commissio his Cardinalibus facta Bertrand Deacon Cardinal of St. Mary in Aquiro to use their best Endeavours to compose the Differences now growing High between the two Kings For the more Honourable Reception of these Christian Peacemakers according to the Kings Order the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester Ely Chichester Coventry and Lichfield with the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London went forth and met them on Shooters Hill. The young Duke of Cornwall with the Earl of Surrey and many other of the Nobility received them a Mile without the City and the King himself met them at the lesser Hall-door of his Palace at Westminster and carried them into the Painted Chamber where they deliver'd their Message Hereupon the King caused a Parliament to be summon'd to meet him at Westminster on the Morrow after Candlemas day r Ashmole p. 649. till which time upon the Cardinals Mediation thô Peace could not be effected a Truce was agreed on Nor ſ Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 20. yet was Peace the only business about which these Cardinals came but the Priviledges and Immunities of the Church as appears by the Popes Letter to the King bearing Date IX Kal. Julii An o Pontificatûs III. However these Cardinals thô they came to make Peace were not yet rightly prepared for the Work For they made it evidently appear that they were more concern'd for the King of France and so not fit to be as indifferent Composers of Matters between the two Kings And this was notoriously demonstrated by t Walsing Hist p. 146. Edit Franc. n. 20. Bertrand the French Cardinal in a Sermon of his ad Clerum wherein he could not forbear putting a false Gloss upon King Edward's Actions and Adorning and Gilding King Philip's cause till the Archbishop of Canterbury not able to endure his Insolence rose up and confuted all his Arguments and Publiquely declared his Assertions to be vain false and frivolous And from that time it was the Common talk in England that the King of England had a Right to the Crown of France which he intended to claim and pursue This u Gesta PPae Benedicti XII apud Besqu M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Ben. XII Odoric Rainald ad hune An. §. 30. Year on the third of June there was a certain Fryer named Franciscus de Pistorio of the Order of the Minors deliver'd over to the Secular Power and burnt as an Heretick at Venice for persisting in this Assertion That Christ and his Disciples possessed nothing either in Proper or in Common the Contrary to which Pope John XXII had determin'd in the Constitution which begins Cum inter Nonnullos CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament the Cardinals return into France together with Commissioners from King Edward II. Whose Overtures being by the French rejected King Edward with a Fleet of 500 Ships sets sail for Flanders and arrives at Antwerp whither he Summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament which begets another at Halle III. King Edward sends from thence an Embassy to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and invites his Queen to come over from England to him she is soon after her coming deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son named Lionell Prince Thomas of Brotherton the Kings Vncle dies An English Lord's Son that was Born beyond Sea Naturalized IV. An Enterview between the Emperour and the King of England the latter being made Vicar-General of the Empire by the Former V. King Edward calls a Parliament of his Allies in Brabant with the effects thereof VI. A day appointed whereon all the Confederates are to come with their several Quota's to the King of England AN. DOM. 1338. An. Regni XII who keeps his Court the mean while at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant keeps fair with the French King. VII Prince Edward of England Duke of Cornwal holds two Parliaments in the King his Fathers Absence For whom he obtains a Mighty aid The English Navy reinforced with sixty Sail. I. ON the third of February or the Morrow after Candlemas-day the Parliament began where the Truce was Prorogued a Ashmole p. 649. to the First of March following b Holinshead p. 902. The Laity at the same time granted to the King the One half of their Woolls throughout the whole Realm for the next Summer which he received Graciously and also he Levied of the Clergy the whole causing them to pay nine Marks of every Sack of the best Wooll but after the Rate of the One half he took in whose hands soever it was found as well Merchants as others according to the foresaid Grant So that of the Abbey of Leicester only as c Knighton p. 2570. Knighton one of that House witnesses he had no less then 18 Sacks After d Holinshead ibid. this he
the chief Tower But here he found the Gate and the Wicket fast closed against him When the Watchman of the Tower heard the noise of Men of Arms he straight sounded a Trahee Trahee signifying Treason thereby At which the whole Castle took the Alarm and presently came to their Defence But the Lord Manny was not prepared with Engines sufficient for an Assault only he hoped to have broke down the Gate before the Alarm might be given which now failing of he Retreated and set fire however to the Street adjoyning to the Castle and so burning about 60 Houses put the whole Town in a fright but would not suffer his Men to scatter abroad for Murder Spoil or Plunder Because the Garrison was entire Thence therefore taking Horse again he rode back directly toward Conde where they passed the River of Haysne as he is falling into the f Scaldis Lat. Skell Thence he took the road to Valenciennes and coasting on the Right hand came to Avesnes whence by the Abbey he proceeded to Bouchain which stands on the Banks of the Skell between Cambray and Valenciennes Here he passed the River over the Bridge the Captain either not daring or caring to Impeach their passage After this he came before a strong Castle upon the Sambre called Thin l'Evesque because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray not standing above g Knighton p. 2573. n. 60. three Leagues from Cambresis This Place they took by surprise with the Captain and his Lady therein And here the Lord Walter Manny placed a good Garrison whereof he made his Brother Sr. Giles Manny the Captain who afterwards proved but an ill Neighbour to the City of Cambray This done Sr. Walter return'd into Brabant unto King Edward his Master whom he found still at Mechlin and there he shew'd what he had done for which the King gave him Thanks and approved of his Service At the same time the Earl of Salisbury made an Inroad into the Bishop of Liege his Country with a Thousand fighting Men h Knighton ibid. where having wasted all before him for several Miles together he return'd safe again laden with Spoil and Glory IV. l Frois c. 37. Nor was the King of France an idle Spectator of all these Preparations and Hostilities For he must needs be well aware aforehand of a Storm which he himself in a manner Raised and was sufficiently as to all humane Probability provided against it His Navies Magazines and Treasures were well furnished his Garrisons and good Towns well stock'd with Men of War and Provisions and his Allies stood all ready as in a Race to run the same Course together with him But as soon as ever he had received the Defiances from King Edward and his Confederates he immediately addresses himself to put Life and Vigour into all his former Preparations He straight began on all hands to retain Men of Arms and others in his Service and first he sent the Lord Galeas de la Bausine a Valiant Knight of Savoy to be Captain of the City of Cambray and with him two more Couragious Gentlemen the Lord of Roy and Sr. Theobald of Marnel with above two Hundred Spears both French and Savoyans At the same time he sent sufficient Forces to seise into his Hands the County of Ponthieu in Picardy which belonged to King Edward in k Sandford Geneal hist p. 130. l. 2. c. 1. Right of his Grandmother Eleanor sister to Alphonso King of Castille and Leon Daughter of Ferdinand III and only Child by his second Wife Joan Daughter and Heir of John Earl of Ponthieu and Provence He directed also his Letters to the young Earl of Hainault his Nephew to the Duke of Lorrain the Earl of Bar and the Bishops of Mentz and Liege desiring either their friendly Assistance in these his Wars or at least that they would remain Neuters and forbear all Hostility against him and his Realm The Earl of Hainalt wrote him a very courteous Answer That for his part He would be always ready to Assist his Uncle the King of France against any Person whatsoever But forasmuch as the King of England made his War as Vicar of the Sacred Roman Empire he said he could not in Reason Civility or Duty deny him entrance into his Country nor refuse to shew him Respect and gratifie him in his Lawfull Demands because he held part of his Lands of the Emperour Most of the other Lords answer'd to King Philip that they would never commit or undertake any thing which should be to his displeasure Besides l Da Chesne l. 15. p 646. he had John Earl of Luxemburgh and King of Bohemia whose Daughter the Lady Bona was Married to King Philip's Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy engag'd firmly on his side and by his means Henry Count Palatine of the Rhine undertook to serve him with 300 Men of Arms for 56000 Florins of Florence In like manner he engaged Albert Bishop of Metz then a Free City now under France Otho Duke of Austria Theodore Marquess of Monferrat Amè Earl of Geneva Geoffry Earl of Linanges Valeran Earl of Deux-Ponts Henry Earl of Vaudemont John Earl of Sarburg Prince Humbert Son and Heir to James Humbert the Old Dauphin of Vienna besides the Duke of Lorrain aforemention'd and many other Lords and Captains of Almain Spain la Franche Comtè Dauphinè Savoy and other Countries besides the Scots who were able to give Powerfull Diversions and besides the Towns of Fuenterabia or Fontarabie St. Sebastian St. Ander and Laredor in Biscay V. The mean m Frois c. 37. Knighton p. 2573. n. 20. c. while Sr. Hugh Quiriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Sr. Nicolas Barbenoire so called of his Black-Beard being joynt Admirals of King Philip's Navy and having full Commission to Intercept our Merchants and to burn kill and slay in England without Pity were scouring the Seas in several Squadrons as they saw occasion for Advantage Among other Particulars One Detachment from this great Fleet consisting n Fabian p. 206. Helmstead p. 904. of Thirteen Sail Great and Small met with 2 Great Ships of England full of Riches and Money received for Woolls in Flanders and well Mann'd also being accompanied with two lesser Barks and one Caravel only The two Ships were Named the Christopher and the Edward Now when each side knew their Opposites to be Enemies they both with equal Ardour addressed themselves to the Fight Neither side spared their shot from Engines from their long Bowes and Arbalists for Guns that are actuated with Sulphur and Fire were not as then known in Europe So there began a most Cruel Fight thô not on equal Terms the French almost thrice exceeding them in Number of Vessels but more than four times in Number of Hands they being all fitted up ready for War ours being but Merchants thô well Convoy'd Wherefore the three small English Vessels being unfit for Fight and Laden more with Merchandise
said Kingdom there are however to the Kings of France of Famous Memory who gradually Succeeded unto Philip King of France of Famous Memory Your Grandfather Daughters and their Children who as to the said Succession as is reported are nearer unto the Kings their Fathers than are You and our most Dear Daughter in Christ Isabella the Illustrious Queen of England Your Mother Daughter of the foresaid King Philip But the Custom aforesaid hath been of former time so inviolably observed and still is observed that it admits not a Succession to the said Kingdom by the Female Line But to think that by the way of force You may obtain the said Kingdom considering the Greatness and Power of the King and Kingdom of France Your Forces are by no means believed to suffice thereto And that holding and possessing nothing in the said Kingdom You make Your self to be called King of France and have assum'd the Arms thereof as is Premised it is certainly reckoned to proceed from Evil and Unrighteous Counsell But if those who perswaded You to such things endeavour to say for an Excuse that You are Lord in Flanders which is known to be in Fee of the King and Kingdom of France truly it is to be attended and considered and Your Royal Wisdom may diligently examin who and what Men and of what Condition they are who have brought You in there For in them hitherto hath the Vertue of Constancy and Loyalty never been Praise-worthy For they have often basely ejected out of Flanders it self Their Natural Lords to whom they were bound in the Debt of Loyalty violating the Covenant of Their Faith after the Pleasure of Their own Wills and if they have done this to them whom they were Naturally Obliged to Reverence what may be presumed of You ô Son and what kind of Title may thence be taken or formed We pray that Your Wisdom would discreetly consider Again consider even thô it did proceed of Good and Right Counsel that now You cause Your self to be named King of France during the Reign of Our most Dear Son in Christ Philip the Illustrious King of France who as King hath for many Years peaceably held and possessed the Kingdom of France and to whom as such for the Lands within the said Kingdom to You belonging by doing Fidelity and Liege Homage You have recognis'd him for King of France and Your Lord for the Lands aforesaid Those that hear asmuch are amaz'd d d Ascribentes in M.S. quod male legitur arbitrantes apud Oder Rainald ascribing it not to discretion but rather to Simplicity and Vanity Finally We judge it ought to be more strictly consider'd that such a Title wanting both Reality and Advantage which those are said to have perswaded You to who love you not but seek by Your Losses to make Their own Market believing to attain thereto more fully when they shall have procured You to be insnared and involved in more deep Intricacies and hazardous Necessities and Troubles is feared to be a Poysonous Root which will probably unless other Care be taken bring forth Fruits of Bitterness and Sorrow Moreover We account that You ought no less diligently to consider how many and how Great Kings Princes and Noblemen who have proceeded from the Stock of the House of France or have Affinity or Confederation therewith who opposed not themselves unto You about Your Affairs before by this Name and Title You would provoke against You and more directly incense if which God forbid You should insist thereon And the very Title might begin such a Matter which God avert whereby the Reformation of Peace between You and the said King of France might as to all humane judgement be render'd for ever impossible And also the Princes and other Subjects of the said Realm who as the vulgar report goes would expose themselves to the hazards of Death and the perpetual loss of Their Goods rather than endure the Premises would by the same Name and Title be render'd more prompt able Valiant and Couragious against You e e Ad desensâ—â—nâ—m M.S. recte Odoric aâ— defensionem â—â—lâ— for the Defence of the said King Philip and his Kingdom Nor ought You most Dear Son as We remember to have written unto You elsewhere to repose much Confidence in the Germans and Flemings for You shall find them Affable and Kind unto You as long as They can have leave to drain Your Substance but otherwise You may not confide in Their Assistance And if You peruse the Deeds of Your Progenitors how the same Germans and Flemings behaved themselves formerly towards them You will manifestly find how far You may trust unto Them. We therefore intreat Your Royal Highness and earnestly in the Lord exhort You that You would receive the Premises which We write of a Fatherly Good Will and Sincere Affection with a favourable Mind and taking them together with other Matters which as to this Point may occurr unto You into a just and considerate Discussion and Examination laying by the foresaid Title would incline Your Royal Mind to the way of Peace and Concord whereby You may be able both to attain and peaceably to keep those things which shall be Your Right a Mutual Agreement being made between You and the said King that as You are joyned with the Tye of Blood and Affinity so You may be allied in the perpetual Bond of Confederation and Love. Dated Aven III. Non. Martii Ano. Pontif. VI. Other Letters bearing the same Date were written to the King wherein the Pope chid him that being Admonished the last Year IV Id. Octob. under Penalty of Ecclesiastical Censures and other heavy Penalties to break with Lewis of Bavaria he had yet return'd no Answer to the Apostolick See and as it appears f Odâ—rit Râ—inald ad â—â—ndâ—â— A◠§. 8. â—â—â—em 6. Epist Secâ— 25â— those very Cardinals who were Nuntio's of the Apostolick See upon the Account of Peace wrote to the Pope that those Censures he had once threatned the King of England with might now be inflicted on him because he still kept the Lieutenantship of the Empire but Benedict wrote Back unto them to abstain from any such Proceedings against Edward till with the Cardinals he had more maturely weigh'd so important a business But before things went so far We shall find the Emperour himself to Repeal his former Commission given unto King Edward so that there was no further Occasion for that Papal Thunderbolt to strike England at that time CHAPTER the FIFTEENTH The CONTENTS I. The French King sends an Army into Gascoign which the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschal of Aquitain being too weak to match overthrows by a Stratagem II. King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to waste the Lord John of Hainalts Lands III. Sr. Giles Manny Brother to the Lord Walter Manny slain by the Cambresins IV. The French King gives leave to the Bordering Garrisons to make an Incursion into the Earl of
and his Banner before him to let the Enemy know who he was At last he perceived on the other side a Knight of Normandy whom he knew by his Arms and so called unto him naming him by his Name Sr. Maubousson I pray let me speak with you a little Then the Knight drew near to the Bank side and said Sir what is it you would have with me Sr. John repli'd Only that you will be so kind as to go to the French King and his Council and tell them how the Earl of Hainault has sent me hither to ask a Truce only while he may lay a Bridge over this River and that then he will go over and give you Battle without fail Of this if you will please to bring an Answer I 'll tarry here till your Return The Lord Maubousson having made signs of yielding to his Request immediately set spurs to his Horse and rode directly toward the Kings Tent with whom at that time were the Duke of Normandy and many other Lords and Peers of France Before all whom having declared his Message he received a short Answer being commanded to tell him that sent him thither That as the Duke of Normandy had held the Earl of Hainault all this while so he resolv'd to do untill it should please him to do otherwise And so to put him to Charges till he should be forced to sell all his Lands which yet should be either few or none and what should be left worth but little For he would make hot War upon him on all sides And says King Philip when We see Occasion we 'll come over the River and invade Hainault with an Army Royal till we have utterly consumed all his Country This Answer was brought by Sr. Maubousson to the Lord of Beaumont who thanking him for his pains return'd to the Earl whom he found playing at Chess with the Earl of Namur But when the Earl saw his Uncle he rose up hastily and went aside and heard distinctly what the King of France had answer'd him at which thô outwardly he took little notice he was extreamly displeased in his Mind saying only this Well well but I hope things will not fall out as he imagins While thus the Castle of Thine was batter'd on one side by the French and could not be effectually relieved by the Hainalders without a Battle which it seems the French declin'd as we have shewn the o Fabiâ—â— p. 269 Three Captains of the Castle by secâ—et advice from the Earl of Hainalt having provided a good Ship and other Barks into which they put all their Men and Provision first set the Castle all of a light fire and then immediatly departed to the Army of their Friends by whom they were received with much joy The French perceiving by the Fire how the matter went ran in all hast and climb'd the Court Walls to quench the Fire which at last with much labour they did but the Castle was much endammaged thereby But before these things happen'd King Edward had won a great Victory at Sea and was arrived at Gaunt in Flanders of all which we shall now take leave to discourse only first we think it requisit to shew what Preparations he had made in England all this while in order to those great Affairs which then he was about to undertake CHAPTER the SIXTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward holds a Parliament at Westminster with the Particulars thereof at large II. Being warned of the Strength of the French Navy he provides accordingly upon his Setting forth for Flanders III. He takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet before the Haven of Scluce with the particulars of his Victory IV. Nele Loring an English Esquire Knighted for his Valour King Edward goes to Gaunt from whence he sends to his Clergy with the Copy of his Letters V. The Manner how King Philip heard first of this Loss the Vse of Arrows prefer'd to our modern way of Guns VI. The two Armies of Hainalt and France break up from before Thine l'Evesque VII King Robert of Sicily procures the Pope to write to King Edward to move him to accept of Peace VIII A Copy of the Popes Credence IX A Copy of King Edwards Answer shewing how he had all along sought Peace to no purpose And yet on certain Conditions was ready to admit of a Treaty I. ON the a M.S. Râ—â— Parl. p. 29. c. Sr. R.b. Cotton p. 22. Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 907. Wednesday next after Midlent-Sunday King Edward of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster wherein he demanded of the Commons towards his Charges in order to the Recovery of his Right in France the b Knighton p. 2576. aâ— 30. ad n. 60. Ninth Part of all their Moveable Goods the Customs of Wooll for Two Years to be paid aforehand and the Ninth Sheaf of Corn with the Ninth of all other Grain the Ninth of Wooll and the Ninth Lamb to be levied in two Years which Grant was reduced into the Form of a Statute beginning b vid. Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 78 c. To the Honour of God c. Saving that those Articles thereof which were but Temporary were in a Schedule thereunto annexed exemplified under the Great Seal and began thus Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae c. c Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 82. c. 1. Know ye that whereas the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons of our Realm of England in our Present Parliament holden at Westminster the Wednesday next after the Sunday of Midlent the 14 Year of our Reign of England and the First of France have granted to Us of their good Gree and Good-will in aid of the speed of our great Business which We have to do as well on this side the Sea as beyond the Ninth Sheaf the Ninth Fleece and the Ninth Lamb to be taken by Two Years next coming after the making of the same and the Citizens and Burgesses of Burroughs the very Ninth part of all their Goods and the Foreign Merchants and Others which live not of gain nor of store of Sheep the Nineteenth of their Goods lawfully to their value We willing to provide to the Indemnity of the said Prelates Earls Barons and other of the Commonalty and also of the Citizens Burgesses and Merchants aforesaid do will and grant for Us and our Heirs to the same Prelates Earls Barons and Commons Citizens Burgesses and Merchants that the same Grant which is so chargeable shall not another time be brought for an Example nor turn to their Prejudice in time to come Nor that they be from thenceforth charged nor grieved to make any Aid or to sustain Charge if it be not by the Common Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men and Commons of our said Realm of England and that in the Parliament And that all the Profits rising of the said Aid and of Wards and Marriages Customs and Escheats
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
it and to conclude this matter nothing as to a final Peace could be agreed but only the Triennial Truce to endure as before without violation II At this Treaty it is said that the Pope thinking to terrifie King Edward spake to some of his Agents to this purpose i Fox Acts and Mon. p. 502. ex Chron. Alban Walsing hist p. 154. That Lewis of Bavaria who had before Excommunicate having now entirely submitted himself unto the Arbitration of the Apostolick See had therefore merited at his Hands the Benefit of Absolution And that now he had justly and graciously restored unto him the Empire which before he had unjustly usurped Which when King Edward heard being as full of Courage as Indignation he said aloud If the Emperour also shall agree and combine with Philip of Valois I am ready to fight with them both in Defence of my Right That the Pope might say thus much in terrorem or as a piece of Bravery I will not deny and that Lewis of Bavaria made more then one Offer of Submitting himself to the Popes Discretion is k Vid. Odoric Rain ad an 1344. §. 10. c. ubi illius Literx ad Papam Card. most apparent But it is not so evident by what I can find in Rainaldus his Collections that he was ever wholly Restored and Absolved thô not a few Authors averr so much However at this time it appears that the Pope having received by the Hands of Dr. Andrew Hufford another Letter from King Edward concerning the matter of Provisions return'd him his Answer thereto l Odoric Rain ad bunc annum §. 55. usque ad 60. wherein among other things he shews That the Ordinance of Parliament which was made in Opposition to Reservations and the like was too rash and contrary to the Holy Constitutions and that the Dignity of the Primacy of the Roman Church was not to be question'd and that by endeavouring to respect and honour and advance it he would engage the Grace of God unto himself But that otherwise he for his part should find himself obliged no longer to dissemble those Affronts done to Holy Church but to apply a Remedy according to his Duty Dat. Avin v. Id. Jul. Anno Pontif. 3. And on the m Odoric Rain ibid. Kalends of October following he sent Nicholas Archbishop of Ravenna and Peter Bishop of Astorga his Nuntio's into England with Power to call a Synod of the English Prelates in order to remove all Innovations against the Apostolick See And by repeated Letters he exhorted King Edward to revoke what he had done against the Liberties of the Church He also excited the two Queens Isabella the Kings Mother and Philippa his Consort Henry Earl of Darby and the Chief Peers of the Realm to move the King to restore Matters to their Pristine State. John Archbishop of Canterbury was suspected by the Pope to have been the Occasion of all this Controversie who when he attempted to wash away this Opinion with many plausible Excuses was required by the Pope to clear himself by his Actions and to induce the King to rescind what had been done And William de la Zouch Archbishop of York Richard Bury Bishop of Durham and several other Prelates were urged to use their utmost endeavour in this Affair But whether upon this I cannot tell however the Pope from henceforward gat ground in what he aim'd at thô not without a Check now and then from the King. III. Althô I am sensible that this Great English Monarch did not institute the Famous Order of the Garter till Five years after this Time or the 23 Year of his Reign yet because now he began the Order of the Round Table at Windsor which gave occasion to that of the Garter I shall in this place once for all take leave to say something concerning so solemn and Royal a Subject The Castle of Windsor n Ashoncle p. 127. Scituate at the East point of the County of Berkshire being Anciently called Windleshore from the Windings of the shore thereabouts is by some o Frois l. 1. c. 100 reported to have been built by the Famous King Arthur of Britain thô surely the present Name is of p Wyndleshora Saxon Original It is q Ashâ—ale p. 127. Speed Maps Barkshire §. 8. certain that King William the Conquerour being greatly enamoured of the pleasant scituation of the Place which appeared exceeding Commodious because it lay so near the Thames the Wood so fit for Game and the Country yielding other Opportunities both proper and convenient for the Pleasure and Exercise of Kings and therefore a place very fit for his Reception made an Exchange with Edwin then Abbot of Westminster and his Monks for King r Mâ—nâ—st Angl. Tom. 1. p. 61. Edward the Confessor had made a Donation of Windleshore and all its appurtenances to the Monastery of St. Peters at Westminster of certain Lands in Essex and elsewhere in lieu thereof And so Windsor revolved to the Crown again where ever since it hath remained The Conquerour being thus Lawfully possest of Windsor forthwith built a Fair Castle upon the Hill containing half a Hide or Carucate of Land being parcell of the Mannor of Clure After him King Henry the First reedified the said Castle beautifying it with many goodly Buildings and as it were to experience the Pleasure thereof in the Å¿ Hen. Huntingd. l. 7. p. 379 n. 40. France f. 1601. Eight Year of his Reign having overcome his Enemies kept his Easter there with great Triumph and Glory as also two * Id. ibid. n. 50. Years after he summon'd thither all his Nobility where he held his Whitsuntide with Princely State and Magnificence This t Cambden in Atrelâ—â— Castle from an high Hill which riseth with an easie and gentle Assent yields a most delightfull prospect round about for from the Front it overlooks a fruitfull Vale which lying out far and wide is adorned with Corn-fields flourishes with delightfull Meadows is flanked on each side with pleasant Groves and water'd with the Calm and Wealthy Streams of the Royal River of Thames Which hasting with a nimble but smooth speed from Oxford runs along on the Edge of Barkshire as if resolving to visit this Capitol of our English Kings Behind the Castle several Hills shoot up which being neither too rough nor over high are so bedecked with frequent Woods as if Nature had even dedicated them to the game of Hunting Within this place was our King Edward born whence he was commonly called Edward of Windsor as his Father was of Caernarvon whereby the Affection he bore thereto became so great that he seem'd to prefer it by much to all his Royal Palaces and Mansions For this Year first he began to hold a Round-Table therein of which by and by and after that he Instituted the Honourable Order of the Garter here and even until the Fourty Eighth of his Reign
are to be seen in their Primitive Obscurity in the Learned Seldens Titles of Honour y Saxon M.S. apud Selden Titles of Honour p. 812. And St. George upon the Point of his Martyrdom in the Days of Dioclesian the Emperour prayed to the Lord and said Jesu Christ receive my Soul And I beseech thee that whosoever shall commemorate me on Earth all Fraud Peril Hunger and Sickness be far from his House and that whosoever shall in any danger ON THE SEA or elsewhere make use of my Name Thou wilt be mercifull unto him Then came a Voice from Heaven saying Come thou Blessed and whosoever shall in any Danger or Place call on my Name thrô Thee him will I hear The same Sense is thus expressed in the other z Apud Selden ibid. p. 813. MS. in Meeter His Hands he held up on High adown he set his knee Lord he said Jesu Christ this only thing might I see Grant me if it is thy Will that whoso in fair manere Holds well my Day in a April 23d St. George's Day Aperil for my Love on Earth here That there never fall in his House no Harm in all the Year Nor great Sickness nor Famine strong that thereof there be no fear And WHOSO IN PERIL OF SEA thrô me shall make his Boon Or in other Cases Perillous heal him thereof full soon Then heard he a Voice from Heaven that to him said I wis Come forth to me my Blessed Child thy Boon heared is Then his Head was off y-smitten c. Some small Account of this ancient Original I gave about ten or eleven Years since to that Learned Antiquary Esquire Ashmole in the Lodgings of my worthy Friend and Master Dr. Goad then at Merchant Taylors School in London who seem'd not a little pleas'd at the probable Authentick Occasion of this most Noble Order But I leave the Judgment of all to the Candid Reader being content with those Reasons that induced me to make these Conjectures as I readily allow others to follow what may seem more Rational to them V. And having thus at least endeavour'd to find out hidden Truth from among the gross Rubbish of Antiquity we shall now proceed When this Mighty Prince had formed in his Head this most Honourable Design and had begun to hold his Round Table at Windsor upon b Ashmole p. 186 b. c. New-years Day this Year 1344. He issued out his Royal Letters of Protection as we shew'd before for the safe Coming and Return of Foreign Knights their Servants and what belonged unto them who being desirous to try their Valour should come to those solemn Justs by him intended to be held at Windsor on the c Pat. 17. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 2. Monday next after the Feast of St. Hilary next ensuing which happen'd then to be on the * Dom. Lit. D.C. 19 Day of January And these Letters of safe Conduct continued in Force till the Octaves of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary being in the 18 Year of his Reign The Time appointed being come the King provided a Royal Supper to open the Solemnity and then first Ordained that this Festival should be annually held there at Whitsuntide The next Day and during all this splendid Convention from before Candlemas unto Lent the Lords of England and of other Lands exercised themselves in all kind of Knightly Feats of Arms as Justs and Tourneaments and Running at the Ring The Queen and her Ladies that they might with more Convenience behold this Spectacle were orderly seated upon a firm Balustrade or Scaffold with Rails before it running all round the Lists And certainly their extraordinary Beauties set so advantageously forth with excessive Finery and Riches of Apparel did prove a Sight as full of pleasant Encouragement to the Combatants as the fierce Bucklings of Men and Horses gallantly armed was a delightfull Terrour to the Feminine Beholders During these Martial sports William Montagu the Great Earl of Salisbury King of the Isle of Man and Marshal of England thrô his immoderate Courage and Labour for 3 or 4 Days together was at last so bruised and wearied with those boisterous Encounters that falling d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 924. into a Feavour thereby he died within 8 Days after in the e Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 640. ubi Anno 13. Ed. 2. aged 18. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. Ashmole 690. 43d. Year of his Age on the 30 of January being then a Fryday to the infinite regret of the King and all the Court as well Strangers as English and was afterwards Honourably buried in the White-Fryers at London This Mans Father named William Lord Montagu f Mills Catal. Honor. p. 1041. Son of Simon Lord Montagu and being descended of Drû or Drogo who was branched from the Lines of the Ancient Kings of Man did Marry Aufric Daughter of Fergus and Widow of Olaus King of Man or as others report she was g Dugd 1 Vol. p. 633. Sister of Orry King of Man who was descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark Which Lady discerning her Brother and all his Blood to be overcome and ruin'd by Alexander King of Scots fled into England with the Charter of that Isle and being there Honourably received of King Edward I was by him given in Marriage to William Lord Montagu aforesaid who in her Right by Aid of the said King Edward I recover'd the said Isle till at length he mortgag'd it for seven Years to Anthony Beck Bishop of Durham from whom it should seem to have been taken by the Scots Till this Earl William as we shew'd before reconquer'd it from the Scots and was by King Edward III made King of the said Isle as was also his Son after him till the 16 of Richard II when he sold the Crown thereof to William Lord Scroop as some say thô 't is certain that even h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. to his Death he retain'd the Title of Lord thereof as appears by his Will bearing Date at Christ-Church-Twynham 20 April Anno 1397 20 Richardi 2 where he calls himself Earl of Salisbury and Lord of the Isles of Man and Wight Within 6 Weeks after the Date whereof he departed this Life But now at the Death of his Father the first Earl he was found to be but 15 Years old and an half thô in time he became no less renowned than his Father and was One of those 25 whom King Edward chose together with himself Founders of the Order of the Garter But of his Heroick Father who died at this time i Hypod. p. 117. ad n. 1344. Walsingham takes his leave in these Words This Year says he departed this Life the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury King of Man and Marshal of England of whose Valorous Acts worthily to write would be a Work of great Commendation And thus died this Valiant Worthy in the strength of his
by a Commotion of War between Us and Him have offer'd to the said Philip divers Friendly Methods of Peace not without a great Diminution of our own Rights that so we might as we desire pursue the War of Christ in the Holy Expedition beyond Sea against the Blasphemers of the Christian Name which alass is too much neglected to the no small Ignominy of Christendom he by his Fox-craft driving us off with Incertainties would in effect yield nothing unto Us but still by feigned Treaties hath abundantly heaped Injuries upon Injuries Wherefore not willing to neglect the Gift of God who in the Devolution of the said Kingdom hath shewed unto Us his marvellous Kindness but desiring as it is fitting in hope of the Divine Assistance and a Confidence of our Righteous Cause to take pains about the Recovering and Maintaining of our Hereditary Rights since by peaceable Ways we could not prevail Necessity so requiring we descended with an Armed Power into Bretagne to reform the Injuries done and to prevent those that otherwise by him would be done unto Us and also to the Obtaining of our Hereditary Rights Being willing to set forth powerfully to the Succour of those that adhered unto Us rather than to expect at home the Dangers threatned unto Us. And while thus we were occupied in our Wars there repaired unto Us the Reverend Fathers Peter Bishop of Palestrina and Annibald Bishop of Tusculan Cardinals Nuntio's of the most Holy Father in Christ Pope Clement VI and of the Apostolick See desiring us in the Name of the said Lord the Pope to admit of a Truce with the foresaid Lord Philip for a time during which space there might be a Treaty held before the Lord the Chief Bishop concerning a final Peace and adding that the said Lord the Pope did believe to find out a way whereby a Peace might very well be reformed And in hope of an Agreeable Peace to be made by his Holy Mediation and especially for Reverence of the said Lord the Pope and the said See We consented to the said Truce And moreover We took care to send Commissioners endued with sufficient Power to his Holinesses Presence and accordingly there was a Truce taken between Us and the said Lord Philip so that a was to be observed every where within the Dominions of both Parties especially within the Dukedom of Aquitain between Us and the said Philip and our Acherents and his even thô they should pretend to have a Right in the said Dukedom of Aquitain and that all Coadjutors and Allies of the Parties should remain in such a Possession of Things and Goods as they had in the time of making the Truce and under other Forms and Conditions more fully expressed in the same And when thrô a smiling hope of Peace in Confidence of the said Truce returning into England having sent a few of our Servants into Bretagne for the Governance of those Parts and of our Coadjutors there we had designed to send our Commissioners to the Presence of the said Lord the Pope in order to a Treaty of Peace there came unto Us certain News not a little stinging our Mind namely of the Death of certain Noblemen our Adherents who were taken in Bretagne and by the special Command of the said Philip contrary to the Form of the said Truce shamefully and tyrannously put to Death at Paris And also of the great Slaughter and Devastation of our Liege People and Places in Bretagne Gascogne and elsewhere and of his subtle and secret Treaties held with our Allies and Subjects whom so he endeavoured to take off from Us and to Bind unto himself and of other his Injuries not easily to be numbred and of his Offences against the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip done and attempted both by Land and by Sea whereby the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip is notoriously known to be dissolved And althô the Truce being thrô Fault of the said Philip thus broken we might as even yet lawfully we may have justly resumed War against him forthwith Yet notwithstanding to avoid the ill Effects of War being desirous first to prove if by any Amicable way we might obtain a Reparation as to the Premises more than once we sent sundry our Ambassadors to the Presence of the Lord the Pope as well to treat of the Peace aforesaid as to require Reformation of the said Abuses attempted and done within the Limits appointed for the said Treaty for that Purpose also frequently prolonging the said Term reserving always unto our selves a Liberty of Resuming the War by Default of the said Philip sought out against Us. And truly the Terms appointed for the Treaty are now past and no Reasonable way of Peace hath yet been opened unto Us or our said Ambassadors Nor hath the said Philip in the least taken care to reform the said Abuses althô he hath been thereto required and admonished by the Letters of the said Lord the Pope as the said Lord the Pope by his Letters unto Us hath written but there are always multiplied against Us Tyrannies Conspiracies and Alliances to our Subversion by the said Philip who subtily practises against the Form of the said Truce Not to say any thing of the excessive Enormities of the Pope's Legate lately sent into Bretagne for the Conservation of the said Truce who more earnestly rais'd the contention which he ought to have allayed not approving himself a Conservator of the Truce but rather a Party against Us and Ours Concerning which the said Lord the Pope by his leave did apply no Remedy althô as was fitting he was thereto required Wherefore We ought to be excused before God and his Holiness if when We can receive no other Remedy We endeavour to repell the Violence and Injury done unto Us Especially since We have a most just Cause and which is most notorious to the world And therefore esteeming the foresaid Truce to be as indeed it is dissolved and broken from the Causes aforesaid which we know and in place and time will-prove to be True by the foresaid Philip and his Adherents especially those who in the said Dukedom of Bretagne pretend to have Right and that We are free and acquitted of the Observance thereof Him the said Philip as a Violator of the said Truce and our Enemy and Deadly Persecutor and an Unjust Usurper of our Kingdom of France and a Rash Invader of our other Rights justly Necessity so requiring We defie protesting that We will not attempt any thing to the Offence which God forbid of his Holiness or of the Apostolick See which by all means We desire to revere as we ought nor to the injury of any One but only with due Moderation to pursue our Rights and to defend Our Selves and our Rights For it is always our Intention amicably to admit of a Reasonable Peace when We may obtain it But these things g g The Letter to the Pope differs from this
own Castle called Castillon upon the Dordonne where he found the Frenchmen who had invested it the Day before and made a vigorous Assault or two but to little Purpose The English immediatly set spurs to their Horses and assailed the Frenchmen with such fury that after a sharp and hard Rencounter they totally routed them having slain and taken Prisoners no less than 2000 Foot and 400 Horse among whom the Seneschal himself and many other Persons of Quality were taken The Residue made their escape by reason of the Weariness of the English in obtaining this Victory Many such Successes the Earl of Lancaster had against several of the French Detachments which either Himself or some of his Captains Chanced to meet with So that the Duke of Normandy was in a manner besieged himself by him and his Garrisons for he durst never send out any Parties but in very considerable Numbers whereby he was not without his difficulties Neither was he able as oft as need required to get in sufficient Provision for the Army for fear of the Earl of Lancaster who thô he was not strong enough to raise the Siege yet so well watched his Advantages that the Besiegers were likely to be soon wearied out CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward resolved in Person to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament at Westminster and takes Order for the Government and Defence of the Realm during his Absence II. He sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy III. Vpon his Landing he Knights his Son Edward Prince of Wales and together with him certain young Noblemen IV. King Philip hearing of his Adversary's Landing sends some Troops to defend Caen against him V. A cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to the Crown of France VI. King Edward marches thrô Normandy in Hostile Manner VII King Philip prepares to oppose him VIII King Edward takes St. Lo and Caen. IX Two Cardinals sent to him from the Pope to exhort him to Peace but in vain While he tarries at Poissy to repair the Bridge in order to get over the Seyne he sends a Defiance to King Philip with different Remarks thereupon X. King Philip goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives an Answer of his Challenge from King Philip to which he replies His Progress thrô France XI King Edward's Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Men of Poix being found Treacherous are put to the Sword. XII King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme the French King following with a great Army The Opinion of some Authors as to his Flight examin'd XIII A French Prisoner offers to shew King Edward a Passage over the Somme Which yet King Philip for fear of the worst had guarded XIV King Edward passes the Somme at Blanche ttaque and discomfits those that kept the Passage XV. King Philip displeased hereat returns to Abbeville for that Night while King Edward prepares to receive him and encamps in the Fields of Cressy I. THE mean while King Edward had full Information from the very beginning of the Duke of Normandy's Descent into Guienne and had particular Notice from the Earl of Darby of all the Occurrences in those Parts from time to time Wherefore he resolved to go now in Person to save his Lands and succour his Loyal Friends and Subjects But first to settle Matters at home He held his High Court of Parliament a Holingshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. at Westminster about the Season of Lent where he took into his own Hands all the Profits Revenues and other Emoluments which the Cardinals and other Foreign Clergy held within the Land for he thought it not reason that those who favour'd the Pope who was b M.S. Author is Anâ—nymi ea Vaticano sign n. 3765. in Clem. Vl. Odoric Rain ad ann 1342. §. 6. a Frenchman born and the French King who was his Adversary should enjoy any such Promotion or Advantage in his Realm Here he Order'd that all his Justices throughout his Dominions should renounce and utterly forbear taking of Pensions Fees Bribes or any Sort of Gratuities which before they were found to receive both of Lords Temporal and Spiritual and Others that so their Hands being free from Bribery Justice might be by them more purely and uprightly administred For this Pious Prince then thought he might expect a Blessing upon the Justice of his Cause when he took Care that his Subjects might meet with Righteous Judgment Here therefore it was that a Form of Oath was drawn up for all Justices which thô in the Book of Statutes falsly placed in the 18 Year of this King as we observed before in the last Clause of Paragraph XIII doth properly belong to this Place and for its Rarity deserves also to be here repeated Ye shall swear c Statute Beck p. 88. that Well and Lawfully Ye shall serve our Sovereign Lord the King and his People in the Office of Justice and that Lawfully You shall Counsel the King in his Business and that Ye shall not Counsel nor assent to any thing which may turn him in Damage or Disherison by any Manner Way or Colour And that Ye shall not know the Damage or Disherison of him Whereof Ye shall not do him to be warned by your self or by other That Ye shall do even Law and Execution of Right to all his Subjects Rich and Poor without having Regard to any Person And that Ye take not by your self nor by other privily nor apertly Gift nor Rewards of Gold nor Silver nor of any other thing which may turn to your Profit unless it be Meat or Drink and that of small value of any Man that shall have any Plea or Process hanging before You as long as the same Process shall be so hanging nor after the same Cause And that Ye take no Fee as long as Ye shall be Justice nor Robes of any Great Man or small but of the King himself And that Ye give none Advice nor Counsel to no Man Great nor Small in case where the King is Party And in case that any of what Estate or Condition they be come before You in your Sessions with Force and Arms or otherwise against the Peace or against the Form of the Statute therefore made to disturb Execution of the Common Law or to meance the People that they may not pursue the Law that Ye shall do their Bodies to be arrested and put in Prison And in case they be such that Ye may not arrest them that Ye certifie the King of their Names and of their Misprision hastily so that he may thereof ordain a covenable Remedy And that Ye by your self nor by other privily nor apertly maintain any Plea or Quarrel hanging in the Kings Court or elsewhere in the Country and that Ye deny no Man Common Right d i.e. upon occasion by the Kings Letters nor none other
with the Emperour but the Lord Henry Eam of Brabant in Flanders was here and 7 or 8 Knights of Germany whose Names are so corruptly written that they are not to be recovered aright And lastly the Lord Godfry of Harcourt a Valiant Baron of Normandy was there at this time enflaming the Kings Mind against his Native Country upon all occasions Being thus therefore embarqued on the last of June King Edward sets Sail designing as was thought for Bayonne or Bourdeaux that so he might Raise the Siege from before Aiguillon but being pretty forward on his way toward Gascogne on the third Day there arose a Contrary Wind which without any further harm drove the whole Fleet back upon the Coasts of Cornwall There having layn at Anchor six Days waiting for Wind they made forward again but a like Wind in the very same manner drove them back again to the same place without any Damage as before Which Chance happening thus p Mezeray ad hunc an p. 25. twice together and the Wind still continuing against them the Lord Godfry of Harcourt being of the Kings Cabinet-Council began to take hold on that occasion to divert the King from Gascogne to Normandy and told him that it seem'd Heaven it self directed him to take another Course and therefore Advis'd him to take Land in his Country which was one of the most plentifull Provinces in the World and had not seen any War for two whole Ages Sir q Frois c. 121. said he if You will please to make thither on hazard of my Head You shall find no Impeachment in your Landing For besides that the Commons of Normandy are unexpert and wholly ignorant of War all the Lords Knights and Esquires of the Country are now with the Duke at the Siege before Aiguillon And here Sir You shall meet with great Towns without Walls or strong Fortifications so that your Men may gain such Wealth and Riches as to be the better for it for Twenty Years hence And thus You may do without any stop till You come to the Great City of Caon in lower Normandy I only beg Your Majesty would put some Confidence in me at this time for as I have been a Lord of that Country so I understand it as well as any other And being now unjustly cast out of it own her for my Enemy and England that receives me for my better Country The King who was then but in the Flour of his Manhood for he had not yet seen 34 Years and desired nothing more ardently then Deeds of Arms readily enclin'd to the Lord Harcourt's Advice whom he had look'd on as his Friend and called him Cousin and so he suddenly commanded his Pilots to direct their Course for Normandy Thereupon he took into his own Ship the Standard of the Chief Admiral who was then the Earl of Warwick saying that he himself would be Admiral in that Expedition and so set forward as chief Governour of the Fleet And now as if Heaven consented to all this had Wind at Will on the 11 day of July he happily arrived with all his Fleet at the Haven of la Hogue St. Vast in Coutantine a great Cape or Peninsula in Normandy within 9 French Leagues of St. Sauveur la Vicomte the right Hetitage of the Lord Godfry of Harcourt In this Haven the King found r Knighton p. 1585. n. 50. 30 great Ships and Gallies all which he took and then endeavouring first of all to take land he leap'd on the shore with such violence that by a suddain Antispasis or contrary Attraction the Blood gushed out of his Nose Whereat his ſ Frois c. 122. Du Chesne p. 663. Lords abominating such an ill-boding Token desired him to reenter his Ship and not to land that Day for that was no good Sign for them But the King briskly reply'd That it was only a sign the Land desired to have Him. One reports t Walsing hyp p. 118. that there being some Opposition at their Landing the Earl of Warwick with one Esquire and six Archers only Himself by reason of the great Haste not having a very good Horse lifted up his Hand couragiously against an Hundred Men striking every one he met to the ground and together with those his seven Assistants slew no less than 60 Normans whereby he made way for his Army to land But althô Sr. William u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Dugdale passes by this Story without the least Remark yet we who have a greater Obligation to examine the Truth and Probability of Reports must either not allow this Action at all or not in this Place but rather at Caen as we shall shew hereafter For by the Kings Landing in that Manner as we related it appears there was no Opposition made against him and 't is x Du Serres Speed p. 577. certain that no Soul in France knew of King Edwards Design against Normandy much less could they be ready to resist him at this time Nor can I understand the Connexion of the Matter that the Earl of Warwick fought against an Hundred For either there were more to oppose his Landing and then he might being but so thinly attended be said to list up his Hand against them all Or if but an Hundred there was no need of any Man of Honour to beat them away The Boys and Pages of the Navy might have done it A MS. by me with more probability reports this Action of the Earls to have been done afterwards in the Night against a Company of Rovers who thought to have made a Prize of him III. Upon that pleasant Diversion of the Omen which King Edward gave his Lords smil'd for the good Hopes they conceived and so landed all with much Ease and in good Order In which Action the residue of that day was spent The y 12 July M.S. Vet. Lat. in Biblicth C.C.C. cui Titulus Acta Edvardi Filti Edvardi Tertii approach of the next Morning brought an unwelcome notice of their Arrival to the Inhabitants of those Parts so that leaving their Goods behind them they fled to hide themselves in Woods and Caves before the face of the Enemy At * Id. M.S. vet Lat. ibid. la Hogue the Lord Godfrey of Harcourt paid his Homage unto King Edward professing to hold his Lands and Possessions in Normandy of him as Rightfull King of France That same Day about Noon the King removed and took an high Hill near the Shore from whence he made a Dreadfull Appearance over all the Country And here z M.S. id ibid. Oxon. in Biblioth Bodlei K. 84. fol. 116. a. Stow p. 241. he presently Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales then just 16 Years and 27 Days old and together with him several young Noblemen as William Montagu a Nat. annos 18. Earl of Salisbury Roger b Nat. annos 20. Lord Mortimer William Lord c Nat. annos 19. Ros Roger d
Lewis Earl of Eureux and so held in her Hands at that time the Counties of Artois Boulogne Auvergne and divers other Lands and after the Death of Eudo Duke of Burgundy which happen'd this Year that t Favine l. 4. c. 3. p. 6. Dutchy also during the Minority of her Son Philip who was Heir thereof And thus King Philip remained a Widower not quite a Month and his Son John scarce out Half a Year CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. Several Prodigies forerunners of an Vniversal Plague which happen'd in these Dars as a Notable Conjunction Eclipse c. II. Divers other Presages as Comets Fiery Pillars Strange Births Inundations Earthquakes c. III. The Original of this Plague with its horrid Effects and Symptoms IV. A Description thereof from John Cantacuzenus at that time Emperour of Greece V. The vast Numbers of those that died thereof in the Heathen and Christian World. VI. It comes into England with the great Havock it makes there The Foundation of the Charter-house in London and of East-Minster by the Tower occasion'd thereby VII The Pope takes hence obcasion of exhorting King Edward to a Peace with France which produces a Truce VIII The Pope's Charity to the Living and the Dead at this time IX The Names of those few of the English Nobility and Clergy that died of this Visitation X. The Inferiour Clergy mightily exhausted thereby XI It comes into Wales and Ireland and how the Scots brought it to their own Doors XII Divers Miseries succeeding it as Murrain of Cattle Dearth of Corn and Insolence of Workmen and poor People which latter Mischief King. Edward represses by wholsom Laws XIII The Jews being falsly suspected as Occasioners of the Plague by their exquisit Arts of Empoisoning are most cruelly persecuted by the Christians The Plague ceases in England I. HAving toward the latter end of the preceding Chapter made mention of the Death of Sr. John Mongomery Captain of the Town of Calats and a Baron of this Realm who together with his Lady died a little after King Edwards Exploit there of a Pestilence that then began now We following the Example of no a Thaeydides who elegantly describes the Plague of Athens Thucyd. l. 2. Lucret. l. 6. Virg. Georg. l. 3. mean Historian are inclin'd to think it not unworthy of our present Work to insert therein a more particular Account of that Plague Since for its strange and manifold Prognosticks universal Contagion wonderfull and fatal Events and long Continuance it was not only as memorable as the Plague of Athens but perhaps the Greatest that ever happen'd in the World. Now in the b De hâc famosá Pestilentià vid. Francisci Petrarch de Rebus Famil Epistol l. 8 ep 7. Johan Cantacâ—zen l. 4. c. 8. Odoric Rainald ad Annum 1348. §. 1. 30. ad §. 33. Giovanni Villani Matth. Villani M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 228. Knighton Walsingham Fabian Holinshead Stow Lanquet Speed Fox R. Avesbury Godwins Catal. Bishops Sandfords Geneal History Mezeray Cluverius Epit. Hist Polydor. Virgil. l. 19. p. 377. Bâ—cholcerus Isagog Chron. Lampad Pezel in Sleidan c. Year 1345 being three Years before this Fatality came into England on the c Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 40. p. 848. 28 of March a little before Nine of the Clock according to the Adequation of a great Mathematician and Astrologer called Doctor Paulo di ser Piero there was a Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter in 20 Degrees of Aquarius with those Aspects of the other Planets as we shall shew herereafter But According to the Almanack of d Profatius a learned Jewish Astrologer who wrote about an 100 Years before this time a Perpetual Almanack c. vid. Esq Sherburn's Catal. of Astronom at his Sphere of Manilius p. 33. Profazio a Jew and the Tables of Toledo that Conjunction should be fixt on the 20 of the said Month of March and the Planet of Mars was with them in the said Sign of Aquarius 27 Degrees And the Moon suffer'd a total Ecclipse on the 18 of the same Month in 7 Degrees of Libra And on the 11 of March when Sol enter'd Aries Saturn was in his Ascendant in 18 Degrees of Aquarius and Lord of the Year and Jupiter was in 16 Degrees of the said Sign of Aquarius and Mars in 22 Degrees of the same But if we follow the Equation of the said Dr. Paulo who was the most Eminent of the Moderns in those Days and says that by the Help of his Instruments he saw visibly the Conjunction on the 28 of March the said Conjunction being in an Angle of the East that the Sun was well-nigh in the Mid-Heaven a little declining to the Angle of 16 Degrees of Aries and in his Exaltation and Leo his House was in his Ascendant 13 Degrees and Mars was now already in 16 Degrees of Pisces Venus in 12 Degrees of Taurus her House and in the Mid-Heaven Mercury in the first Degree of Taurus and the Moon 4 Degrees in Aquarius But according to the Calculation of Mr. John Ashindon and Mr. William Read two English Astrologers of those Days of Merton College in Oxford which they made for the Latitude of Oxford e Vid. Antonii Weed Antiq. Oxon. Acad. l. 1. p. 172. on the said 18 Day of March the Moon was totally Eclipsed at fourty Scruples past Nine of the Clock the Sun being in 22d Degree of Aries and the Moon in the 22d of Libra But the Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter was most notable in the 19 Degree of Aquarius on the 20 Day of March in the Evening at Eight of the Clock and one Scruple From which Eclipse the said Ashindon and Read and another Oxford Man named Geoffry de Meldis undertook to foretell Wars Famine and Pestilence Particularly Ashindon predicted that the Influence of that Eclipse should continue for eight Years and five Months but that the Effects of the Conjunction should prevail for the space of three Years onely And indeed the foresaid Conjunction with its Aspects of the other Planets and Signs according to the best Astrologers did naturally f Giov. Villani ibid. vid. Sr. George Wharton's Works put forth by Mr. John Gadbury p. 133 c. signifie God permitting some Grand Event to the World as Battle and Slaughter and remarkable Mutations of Kingdoms and People and the Death of Kings and Translation of Dominions and Alterations in Religion and the Appearance of some Prophet and new Errours and Fallings from the Faith and the sudden Arrival of New Lords and Strange Nations and Dearth and Mortality near at hand in those Climates Kingdoms Countries and Cities to which the Influence of the said Signs and Planets belongs and sometimes is attended with some Comet in the Air or other Prodigies or Inundations and Floods and excessive Rains Because that Conjunction being of it self important is so much the more to be feared from the Propinquity of Mars and
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
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
with an Ax and to give Three Stabs with a Dagger And each of these Knights bare himself with such Expert Valour that they performed the Challenge without receiving any harm and so Honourably quitted the Field with equal stakes to their great Commendation from both Parties This while the Lord Charles of Blois being in the Country was very sollicitous to raise the Siege and besides his own Musters daily importun'd the Regent of France for a strong reinforcement But the Regent had his own hands so full that he was not at leisure to do any thing Material in that Case So the Siege lasted on and the City began to be greatly oppressed Wherefore q Knighton p. 2615. n. 44. on the 19 of June being the Monday before the Feast of St. John Baptist there came in all haste a Cardinal to the King at London who said My Lord it was agreed between your Son the Prince of Wales and King John when they were at Bourdeaux that the Siege before Rennes should be raised and a serious Treaty of Peace be set forward between the two Realms Now therefore if Your Majesty doth really design a Treaty command the Siege to be removed Hereupon the King by his Letters commanded the Duke of Lancaster upon forfeiture of Life and Limb and whatever else he could forfeit to desist from the Siege and to come home as soon as might be the French King also at the same time sending to his Subjects to desist a while from all Hostilities whatsoever This Cardinal r Ashmole p. 658. was Bishop of St. Jean de Maurienne in Savoy whose Letters of safe Conduct for himself and a Train of 30 Horse bore Date at Westminster the 26th of May this Year In that very juncture came Å¿ Frois c. 173. Knighton p. 2615. Walsing Hist p. 164. Ashmole p. 658. hither from Pope Innocent VI. Talayrand Bishop of Alby Cardinal of Perigort and Nicolas Cardinal of St. Vitalis to assist at a Treaty of Peace to be held about Midsummer this Year the Kings t Ashmole p. 658. ex Pat. 31 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 25. Letters of safe Conduct for them and their Train consisting of 200 Horse bearing Date the Third of June These two Prelates together with the other Cardinal lately come from Bretagne as aforesaid addressed themselves to the King at Westminster and having u Knighton ibid. made their Salute in a kind of Adoration as he sat in great and terrible Majesty on his Throne One of them began to preach upon this Text x Psalm 99. v. 4. Honor Regis Judicium diligit i.e. The Kings Honour loveth Righteousness After which they discoursed about their Commission which contained thus much that King Edward should have all the Lands which his Predecessors held in France on Condition that Peace and Concord might be settled between the two Kings To which King Edward answer'd briefly That althô some of the Lands of his Predecessors had been lost for a time yet he doubted not of recovering them again when it should please God But that he would have nothing to do with them unless they came to the point in hand concerning the Crown of France which he claim'd They answer'd their Commission extended not so far wherefore the Matter rested till they might hear from the Pope again which they did not till the 29 of August or the Feast of the Decollation of St. John. But in all these Treaties the Pope was so notoriously partial in the French Kings Cause that by reason thereof and because of those many miraculous Victories which even in spite of his Holiness by an especial Providence of God the English obtained there were Rhymes scatter'd about the Pope's Court at Avignon and in other parts of France importing thus much in English y Or est le Pape devenu Fâ—anceis Et Jesu devenu Engleis Or serra veou qui fra plus Ou le Pape ou Jesus Knighton p. 2615. vid. The Pope is on the Frenchmens side With England Jesus doth abide 'T will soon be seen who 'll now prevail For Jesus or the Pope must fail And the truth of this sufficiently appear'd at the Return of the Pope's Answer at this time For thô outwardly the Cardinals were enjoyned only to look to the Negotiation of the Peace yet at the same time they had x Knighton p. 2617. n. 50. with them a Bull from his Holiness enjoyning every Bishop by Papal Authority to make a Visitation throughout their several Dioeceses and to pay their Procurations to the Cardinals and it was said how this Summ was by the Pope intended for the aid and sustaining of the French interest At the same time his Holiness was pleased to demand of the Realm of England the annuity of 1000 Marks granted by King John of England to the Court of Rome at the time when he resign'd his Crown to the Legate Pandulphus declaring upon his resuming thereof that for the future he would hold it of the Pope But since his days the said Summ of 1000 Marks remain'd unpaid even for the space of an 140 Years all which arrearages were now demanded in hopes that King Edward would so be terrified into an easie Complyance in behalf of the French King. But He who besides his own Couragious Heart had both a more Loving Clergy and Loyal Baronage then had that unfortunate King John answer'd wisely and roundly a Knighton p. 2617. n. 60. That he would never pay any tribute to any Mortal whatsoever because he held his Kingdom and would hold it freely and without subjection to any One but only to God Almighty And yet we shall find that in the 39th Year of this King this Pope's Successor made the same Demand and upon refusal threatned to cite him by Process to answer it at the Court of Rome but the King being strongly back'd by his Parliament neither did the one nor the other The Work of Peace-making was it seems so chargeable that b Knighton ibid. n. 46. at Michaelmas the Cardinals had of the Clergy of England 4 d. in the Mark as well of Spirituals as Temporals and yet no final Peace was made Only c Freis c. 173. at last with much adoe they procured a Truce between the two Kings and all their Allies except the Lord Philip of Navarre and his Allies and also the Countess of Monford and the Lord Charles of Blois to endure until the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24 of June which was to be in the Year MCCCLIX Upon this Truce the French King had leave to remove with all his Houshold to Windsor Castle where he and his Son Philip diverted themselves with Hunting and Hawking at their pleasure But the other Prisoners continued still at London where they had the Liberty to go to Court when they pleas'd only they were sworn to be true Prisoners and by no means to endeavour an Escape About this time King Edward
Treasures of You and your People but also a great loss of Time for if all things are duely consider'd You may chance to make War all the Days of your Life and yet never come to the end of your Design Sir in short since the Fortune of Battles is variable and You may perhaps lose more in one Day than You have won in twenty Years I would advise your Majesty to accept the Offers which are now made unto You in a time wherein You may leave the War both to your Honour and Advantage These reasonable and prudent Words thus utter'd with a Loyal Mind by the Duke of Lancaster for the Good of the King and his People being seconded by the immediate influence of Heaven fully wrought upon the enraged Prince and enclin'd him to Peace But surely the Occasion which wholly brought him over was very remarkable if not miraculous for presently upon these Words while yet the King was inexorable and refus'd to give the French Commissioners any agreeable Answer there g Frois c. 211. f. 105. Du Ches p. 684. Mezeray p. 59. Walsing hist p. 167. n. 30 Knighton p. 2624. n. 10. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Ashmole p. 660. Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13 p. 184. Odor Rainal omnes fell from Heaven such a wonderfull Storm and Tempest of Thunder Lightning Rain and Hail among the English Army that it seem'd as if the whole Fabrick of Nature was falling to pieces and withall it was so excessive Cold at the same time that it cannot be imagin'd so that together with all these Arrows of Gods Anger there perished no less than 6000 Horses and well-nigh a 1000 Men among whom were several Persons of Quality Particularly the Lord Robert Morley was slain outright and the Lord Guy Beauchamp Eldest Son to the Earl of Warwick being wounded to Death in this Storm died thereof on the 28 day of April at the City of Vendosme in Beauce h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 235. id Warwicksh p. 319. sed in anno obitûs LI malè scribitur utrchique pro LX quod not andum where also he was buried in a Chappel behind the High-Altar toward the East having a Fair Monument of Alabaster with his Pourtraicture thereon neatly carved and over his Harness a Surcoat of his Arms with this Inscription on the Verge of his Monument Icy Gist Monsiegneur Guy de Beauchamp Fitz de tresnoble puissant Homme Monsieur Thomas de Beauchamp Conte de Warwick Mareschal d' Angleterre qui trespassa le XXVIII jour d' Averil l'Ann MCCCLX The boldest Heart of all these Valiant Souldiers trembled at the apprehension of this Dreadfull Judgment But King Edward like a Good and Pious Prince look'd upon it as a loud Declaration of the Divine Pleasure Wherefore immediately alighting from his Horse he kneeled down on the ground and casting his Eyes toward the Church of our Lady of Chartres made a solemn Vow to Almighty God That he would now sincerely and absolutely incline his Mind to a final Peace with France if he might obtain good Conditions at which time also he made a Devout Confession of his sins and so took up his Lodging in a Village near Chartres called Bretigny where the French Commissioners being come the next day with more ample Instructions the King was content to accept of Peace The Treaty i Ashmole p. 660 was menaged between Edward Prince of Wales and Charles Regent of France their Proctors and Agents in the Name of both the Kings these two Princes and all the Subjects of either Realm Those who were deputed on the English Part were Sr. Reginald Cobham Sr. Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Frank van Hall Bannerets Sr. Miles Stapleton Sr. Richard la Vache Sr. Nele Loring Knights and others of the King of Englands Council Those other on the French side were the Elect of Beauvais Charles Lord Monmorency Monsieur John le Meingre Marshal of France Monsieur Ainart de la Tour Lord of Viviers Monsieur Ralph de Ravenal Monsieur Simon de Bucy Knights Monsieur Stephen de Paris and Peter de la Charite Counsellours with many Others deputed by the Dauphin At first namely on the Seventh of May a Truce was agreed on to continue till Michaelmas following and thence till Michaelmas ensuing which upon the Return of King Edward into England was by Writs bearing Date the 24 of the said Month commanded to be published throughout all the Sea-Ports in England and by a like Writ notice was given to the Duke of Lancaster to proclaim it thrô Gascoigne And the next Day viz. the 8 of May the Articles relating to a Final Peace were agreed to on Behalf of both the Kings This is that Famous Treaty made at Bretigny near Chartres so much spoken of by Writers to which the Eldest Sons of England and France were Principal Parties commonly called the Treaty of RENVNTIATION of both Kings in regard that the King of France Renounced the Soveraignty of several Territories to King Edward and he on the other side Renounced his Title to France and some other Places As will more particularly appear from the Copy of the Treaty it self as it was compared with the Original kept at Paris by one that was Master of the Rolls there k Extant Gallice apud Da Ches l. 15. p. 684. Dr. Stillingfl M.S. ad hunt titalum copia Tractatus magnae Facis in Latino inter Reges Anghae Francix factâ— apud Bretigny jurta Carnotum c. Eâ—tant câ—am Anglice in MS. Deticris Johan Spencer Coll. C.C. Cantab. Magistri Vid. Ret. de Tractatu Pacis Franciae ad an 34 Ed. 3. m. 10. X. EDWARD Eldest Son of the Noble King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester To all who shall see these present Letters Greeting WE give You to understand that of all the Debates and Discords whatsoever moved and commenced between our most Redoubted Lord and Father the King of England on the one Part and our Cousin the King and his Eldest Son Regent of the Realm of France on the other Part for the benefit of Peace it is ACCORDED on the Eight of May in the Year of of Grace One Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty at Bretigny near Chartres in Manner and Form following viz. 1. Imprimis That the King of England besides what he holdeth in Guienne and Gascoigne shall have for himself and his Heirs for ever all those things which follow to hold them in like Manner as the King of France or his Son or any of his Ancestors Kings of France did hold them that is to say what was held in Soveraignty to be held in Soveraignty and what in Demaine in Demain for the Times and in the Manner hereunder specified The City Castle and Earldom of Poictiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou likewise the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of
Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Sainctogne on this side and on that side the Charente l This Clause omitted in Du Chesne's Copy sed ea Johannis Regis Franciae Recapitulatione alâ—is addo res â—â—sa prebat la Rochelle Angis traditam with the Town and Castle of Rochelle and their Appurtenances The City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agenois The City and Castle and the whole Earldom of Perigeux and the Land and Country of Perigort The City and Castle of Limoges and the Land and Country of Limosin The City and Castle of Cahors and the Land and Country of m i.e. Quercy Cahorsin The City Castle and Country of Tarbe The Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre The Earldom Land and Country of Gaure The City and Castle of Angoulesme and the Earldom Land and Country of Angoulesmâ—is The City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rovergue And if there are any Lords as the Earl of Foix the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of L'Isle the n Hunc addo eâdem ratâ—one quâ clrâ—sulam super◠〈◊〉 Vicount of Carmaine the Earl of Perigort the Vicount of Limoges and Others who hold any Lands or Places within the Bounds of the said Places they shall make Homage to the King of England and all other Services and Duties due because of their Lands or Places in like manner as they have done in time passed 2. Item That the King of England shall have all that which the King of England or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Monstrevil on the Sea. 3. Item the King of England shall have the Earldom of Ponthieu all entirely saving and excepting that if any things of the said County and its Appurtenances have been alienated by the Kings of England which have been to other Persons than to the King of France then the King of France shall not be obliged to render them to the King of England And if the said Alienations have been made to the Kings of France which have been for the time without any o i.e. Middle Person Mean and the King of France holds them at present in his Hand he shall leave them to the King of England entirely excepting that if the Kings of France have had them in Exchange for other Lands the King of England shall deliver to the King of France that which he had by Exchange or quit those things so alienated But if the Kings of England which have been for the time have alienated or conveyed any things to other Persons than to the King of France he shall not be obliged to restore them Also if the things abovesaid owe Homages the King shall give them to another who shall do Homage to the King of England and if the things do not owe Homage the King of France shall put in a Tenant who shall do him Service within a Year following after he shall be gone from Calais 4. Item That the King of England shall have the Castle and Town of Calais The Castle Town and Lordship of Merk the Castles Towns and Lordships of Sangate Cologne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Lordships Advousons of Churches and all other Appurtenances and Places lying between the Limits and Bounds following That is to say to the Border of the River before Graveling and so by the same River round about Langle and by the River which runs beyond the Poil and by the same River which falls into the great Lake of Guisnes as far as Fretun and thence by the Vally about p i.e. Chalkhill Calculi Hill enclosing that Hill and so to the Sea with Sangate and all its Appurtenances 5. Item That the King of England shall have the Castle Town and the whole Earldom of Guisnes entirely with all the Lands Towns Castles Fortresses Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Forests and Rights thereof as entirely as the Earl of Guisnes last deceased had them in his Time and that the Churches and the good People being within the Limitations of the said Earldom of Guisnes of Calais and Merk and of other Places abovesaid shall obey the King of England in like manner as they obey'd the King of France or the Earl of Guisnes for the time being All which things of Merk and Calais being contained in this present Article and the Article next preceding the King of England shall hold in Demaine except the Heritage of the Churches which shall remain to the said Churches entirely wheresoever they be and so except the Heritages of other People of the Country of Merk and Calais seated without the said Town of Calais unto the value of an Hundred Pounds per annum of currant Money of that Country and under Which Inheritances shall remain to them even to the Value abovesaid and under But the Habitations and Inheritances being within the said Town of Calais with their Appurtenances shall remain to the King of England in Demain to order them after his Pleasure And also to the Inhabitants in the Countie Town and Land of Guisnes shall remain all their Demains entirely and fully and shall return to them again forthwith save what is said of the Frontiers Metes and Bounds in the last preceding Article 6. Item It is accorded that the said King of England and his Heirs shall have and hold all the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places above-named together with all other Islands which the King of England holdeth at this present 7. Item It is accorded that the said King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for all their Heirs and Successors as soon as may be and at the furthest by the Feast of St. Michael next coming in one Year without fraud or deceit shall render yield and deliver to the said King of England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Rights mere and mixt Empire and all manner of Jurisdictions High and Low Resorts Safeguards Advousons Patronages of Churches and all manner of Dominions and Superiorities and all the Right which they have or may have had which did appertain doth appertain or might appertain by any Cause Title or Colour of Right to them to the Kings and to the Crown of France by occasion of the Cities Counties Castles Towns Lands Countries Isles and Places before-named and of all their Appurtenances and Dependances wheresoever they shall be and of every of them without retaining or holding back any thing to them to their Heirs or Successors or to the Kings or to the Crown of France And also the said King and his Eldest Son shall command by their Letters Patents all Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of Holy Church and also all Earls Vicounts Barons Nobles Citizens and Others whatsoever of the Cities Counties Lands
Countries Isles and Places above-named that they obey the King of England and his Heirs at their certain Commandment in such sort as they have obeyed the Kings and the Crown of France q This Clause added out of King Johns Recapitulation of the Articles And by the same their Letters shall acquit and discharge them in the best manner that may be of all Homages Fealties Oaths Obligations Subjections and Promises in any sort by any of them made to the King and Crown of France 8. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countreys Isles and Places above-named with all their Appurtenances and Appendages wheresoever they shall be to hold to him and to his Heirs and Successors Hereditably and for ever in Demain that which the Kings of France have had there in Demain and also in Fiefs Services Soveraignties or Resorts that which the Kings of France have had there in such manner Saving notwithstanding what was said above in the Article of Calais and Merk And if of the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or any of the Soveraignties Rights Mere and Mixt Empire Jurisdictions and Profits whatsoever which any King of England did there hold or their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever any Alienations Donations Obligations or Charges have been made by any of the Kings of France which have been for the Time within Seventy Years past by whatsoever Form or Cause it be that all such Donations Obligations or Charges are now at this time and shall be henceforth made void repeal'd abolished and annihilated and all things so given alienated or charged shall really and de facto be restored and delivered to the said King of England or to his Special Deputies in the same entire Condition they were to the Kings of England before or since the said 70 Years without Fraud or Deceit so soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing within one Year To be held by the said King of England and all his Heirs and Successors for ever by Right of Inheritance in manner above-written Except what is said before in the Article of Ponthieu which shall remain in Force and saving and excepting all those things given and alienated to Churches which shall remain peaceably in all the Countries here above and under named Provided that the Rectors of the said Churches shall diligently pray for the said Kings as for their Founders wherewith their Consciences are charged 9. Item It is agreed that the King of England shall have and hold all the Cities Towns Castles and Countries above-named which anciently the Kings of England did not hold in the same state and manner as the King of France or his Children hold them at present 10. Item It is agreed that if within the Bounds of the said Countries which did anciently pertain to the Kings of England there shall be any Places which otherwise belonged not to the Kings of England but were possessed by the King of France at the day of the Battle of Poictiers which was the 19 Day of September in the Year One Thousand three Hundred Fifty and Six they shall be and remain to the King of England and his Heirs in manner as before 11. Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for themselves and for their Heirs and all the Kings of France and their Successors for ever shall without deceit as soon as may be and at the furthest by the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing in one Year render and deliver unto the King of England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognisances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions high and low Resorts Safeguards Dominions and Soveraignties which did pertain or do pertain or might any ways pertain to the Kings and Crown of France or to any other Person because of the King or Crown of France at any time in those Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places above-named or in any of them and in their Appurtenances and Appendages whatsoever or in any of the Persons Vassals or Subjects whatsoever whether Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church Barons Nobles and others whatsoever without retaining in them or reserving any thing to Themselves their Heirs or Successors to the Crown of France or to any other Person whatsoever Whereby they their Heirs or Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places above-named So as all the above-named Persons and their Heirs and Successors for ever shall be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall Have and Hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and Appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Soveraignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their Appurtenances and Appendages and other Places specified before with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without recognising any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort and Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognisance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them 12. Item it is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expressly the said Resorts and Sovereignties and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall renounce expresly all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd to or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Kingdom of France and the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dukedom of Normandy of the Dukedom of Tourain and of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dukedom of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or could make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this Present Treaty ought to remain or to be
one of his Daughters for a Wife to his Son John with the Earldom of Vertus for her Dowry And we find that his Third Daughter Isabella was shortly after married to the said John Galeas XIV However the greater Part of the First Payment being now at last ready and all those who ought to be Hostages for the Rest being rendred up at St. Omers King Edward presently embarqued for France and on the m Fabian p. 242 b. ED. Lit. Dom. 9 of October being a Fryday arrived safely at Calais Upon his Arrival he went straight to the Castle to visit King John who welcom'd him with a loving and cheerfull Countenance agreeable to that sincerity whereof he was a professed Master As King Edward was taking his leave to retire to his Lodgings prepared for him in the Town King John desired him to come the next Day with his Sons and take a Dinner with him The Invitation King Edward accepted but entreated that it might be deferred till the Monday following and so that Day being the 12 of October was fixed At Dinner-time King Edward had the First Seat and held State next to him sat the French King thirdly the Black-Prince and lastly the Duke of Lancaster No more sitting at Table While they were at Dinner the Earl of Flanders came to the Castle to pay a Visit to both the Kings but especially to congratulate the Return of King John who received him with all imaginable Kindness When this Royal Entertainment was over Two of the King of Englands younger Sons and two of the French Kings took leave of their Fathers and rode towards Boulogne where at that time the Dauphin was He met them half way and conducted them the other half to Boulogne where they all rested that night The next Morning the Dauphin having left the two English Princes there as it were Pledges for his Security rode himself forth to Calais first he waited on his Father and afterwards both his Father and he went to King Edwards Palace to Dinner where they were received with much Honour and entertain'd at a most Royal Feast On the Wednesday being the 14 of October the said Dauphin took his leave of King Edward and of the King his Father and rode back to Boulogne upon whose safe Return King Edwards two Sons rode back again to Calais On the Saturday Seven-night after which was the 24 of October the Peace was fully sworn to and established by the two Kings in this manner The Two Kings being seated in two distinct Traverses in the Church of St. Nicolas at Calais High Mass was sung before them by Androine Abbot of Cluigny to the Offering whereof neither of the Kings came But when the Pax came to be kissed by which Ceremony was signified that the Peace of Christ should ever remain between them They to love each other as Christian Princes after his Command and Example the French King to whom it was first carried refused it in Modesty after which King Edward not admitting it in Generosity King John rose first and went toward King Edward who being aware thereof rose up hastily and ran to meet him where both again refusing the Pax they kissed each other with hearty Demonstrations of a mutual Friendship At this Mass both the Kings were severally sworn in Solemn Manner to maintain truly and perpetually the Articles of the said Peace And for the further Security thereof many of the Chief Lords of both Realms were sworn to help to preserve the same to their Powers especially the n Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 3. two Eldest Sons of England and France and at the same time the Duke of Orleans in the Name of King John and Prince Philip of Navarre in the Name of the King his Brother sware to forget all Injuries on both Sides and to cultivate a mutual Friendship for the future These Oaths were thus taken both on the Evangelists and on the Eucharist and the two Kings received the Sacrament in both kinds thereupon And they were so well satisfied with the Conduct of the foresaid Abbot o Odor Rainal ibid. that they jointly requested of the Pope to bestow on him a Cardinals Cap for his diligent and effectual Service therein And thô we find the Pope in his Answer desires on certain Accounts to be excused for the present yet it is certain p Victorell ad an 1361. p. 917 that at the next Creation which happen'd the Year after he was made a Cardinal of the Title of St. Marcellus At the same time the Hostages who according to the 15 and 18 Articles were to be deliver'd as well for the Security of the Payment of the Kings Ransom as of the Restoration of those Places which as yet were not put into the English Hands were deliver'd unto King Edward and also there were then paid unto him q Ashmole p. 662. ex Rot. de Tract Pacis c. 400000 Scutes of Gold in Part of the First 600000 King Edward giving further time for the Payment of the remaining 200000 till Christmas and Lady-Day following Which done both the Kings gave forth interchangeably their Letters Patents concerning these things all bearing one Date and containing one Form only Mutatis Mutandis The Tenor of King Edwards wherein he lays by his Title of France being as followeth viz. XV. EDWARD * * Frois c. 212. fol. 105. by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all unto whom these Letters shall come Greeting We give you to understand that of all the Dissensions Debates and Discords moved or hereafter to be moved between Us and our Right Dear Brother the French King certain Commissioners and Deputies of ours and of our Dear Son the Prince of Wales having sufficient Power and Authority for Us and for Him and for our whole Realm on the one Party and certain other Commissioners and Deputies of our Dear Brother the French King and of our Dear Nephew Charles Duke of Normandy and Dauphin of Vienna Eldest Son to our said Brother of France having Power and Authority for his Father and for Himself on the other Party were assembled at Bretigny near to Chartres At which place it was agreed and accorded by the said Commissioners and Deputies of either Party upon all Dissentions Debates Wars and Discords whatsoever And the Deputies of Us and of our Son for Us and for Him and also the Deputies of our said Brother and of our said Nephew for them both did swear upon the Holy Evangelists to hold keep and accomplish this Treaty By the which Accord among other things our Brother of France and his said Son are bound and promise r r Article 1. to deliver and resign unto Us our Heirs and Successors for ever all the Counties Cities Towns Castles Forts Lands Isles Rents Revenues and other things as followeth besides that which already We have and hold in Guienne and in Gascogne to possess for ever
both Us and our Heirs and Successors all that is in Demain in Demain and all that is in Fee in Fee by the Times and in the Manner hereafter specified that is to say the City Castle and County of Poictiers and all the Land and County of Poictou with the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Saintogne on both sides the River Charente with the Town and Fortress of Rochelle and their Appurtenances The City and Castle of Agen and the Country of Agenois the City and Castle of Poictiers and all the Country thereto belonging the City and Castle of Limoges and the Lands and Country of Limosin the City and Castle of Cahors and the Land and Country of Quercy the City Castle and Country of Tarbe the Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre the County Land and Country of Guare the City and Castle of Angoulesme and the County Land and Country of Angoulesmois the City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rouvergue and if there be any Lords in the Dutchy of Guienne as the Earl of Foix the Earl of Armagnac the Earl of Lisle the Vicount of Carmaine the Earl of Perigort the Vicount of Limoges or Others holding any Lands within the foresaid Bounds they shall do Homage and all other Services and Duties due and accustomed for their Lands and Places unto Us in like manner and form as they have done in time passed as We or any other Kings of England anciently have had And also Å¿ Å¿ Article 2. in the Town of Monstrevil upon the Sea we are to have as either We or other Kings of England in time past have had and in the Lands of Monstrevil our Brother of France promiseth to make a Declaration thereof unto Us as speedily as he can after his coming into France And also the County t t Article 3. of Ponthieu entirely save and excepted if any thing be alienated away by any of the Kings of England in time past whereby the said County and Appurtenances have been holden by other Persons than the French Kings neither our said Brother nor his Successors shall be obliged to render them unto Us. But if the said Alienations have been done by the French Kings for the time being without any Mean and our said Brother now have them in his Possession he shall leave them entirely to Us except that the French Kings have had them in Exchange for other Lands But if the Kings of England for the time being have alienated or conveyed any thing to any other Person than to the French Kings and they peradventure are now devolved into the hands of our said Brother then he shall not be obliged to restore them unto Us. He is also to render unto Us all such things as ought to pay any Homage to Us and to our Successors and if they owed not Homage unto Us and to our Successors then he shall put in a Tenant who shall do Us Service within a Year after he shall be departed from Calais Also u u Article 4. the Castle and Town of Calais the Castle Town and Lordship of Merks the Towns Castles and Lordships of Sangate Coulogne Ham Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Revenues Lordships Advousons of Churches and all other Appurtenances and Places lying within the Bounds and Limits following that is to say from Calais to the River before Graveling and also from the River that falleth into the great Lake of Guisnes as far as Fretun and thence along the Valley about Calculi-Hill enclosing that Hill and so to the Sea with Sangate and all its Appurtenances Also the x x Article 5. Castle Town and whole Earldom of Guisnes with all the Towns. Castles Forts Lands Places Homages Men Seignories Woods Forests and all Rights to them belonging as entirely as the Town of Calais of Merks and other Places before-named as well to obey Us as they have obeyed our said Brother or the Earl of Guisnes for the time being And that the Churches of the good People being within the Limitations of the said Earldom of Guisnes of Calais and Merk and of other Places abovesaid shall obey the King of England in like manner as they have obey'd either the King of France or the Earl of Guisnes All which things of Merk and Calais being contained in this present Article and the Article next preceding We to hold in Demain except the Heritage of the Churches which shall still remain entirely to the said Churches wheresoever they be and also except the Heritage of other People of Merk and Calais under the value of an 100 l. Land per annum of Money currant in that Country which Inheritances shall remain to them even to the Value abovesaid and under But the Habitations and Inheritances within the Town of Calais with their Appurtenances shall abide still to the Inhabitants And also in the Lands Towns and Earldom of Guisnes all their Demains shall still remain unto them except what hath been said before of the foresaid Limits and Bounds in the Article of Calais Also y y Article 6. all the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places before-named with all other Isles the which we held at the time of the said Treaty And it is agreed z z Article 7. that our said Brother and his Eldest Son should renounce all manner of Soveraignty Resort and Rights that he or either of them should have and that We shall hold them as his Neighbour without any Resort or Soveraignty to our said Brother or to the Realm of France and all the Right that our said Brother hath in the foresaid Things he yieldeth and conveyeth unto Us for ever And also it is agreed that We likewise and our said Son do expresly renounce all things that ought not to be granted unto Us by this Treaty and especially the Name Right and Title to the Crown of France and to the Realm and to the Homage and Soveraignty thereof as also to the Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy of the County of Touraine of the Counties of Anjou and of Maine and of the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne except the Right of the Earl of Montford which he ought to have or might have in the Dutchy and Country of Bretagne the which we reserve and by express Words put clean out of this Treaty Saving that We and our said Brother when we come to Calais shall order that Matter by Advice of our Councils there as we hope so as to settle Peâ—ce and Concord between the said Earl of Montford and our Cousin the Lord Charles of Blois who challengeth and demandeth the Right to the Heritage of Bretagne And We renounce all other Demands that we do or may make whatsoever they be except such things aforesaid as ought to remain unto Us and to be deliver'd unto Us by Vertue
Damsels and Virgins Dehonestation of Married Women and Widows Burning of Towns Abbeys Mannors and Edifices Robberies and Oppressions a Disuse of the Roads and Ways Justice faileth the Christian Faith is waxen cold and Merchandise decayeth and so many other Mischiefs and horrible Deeds have ensued thereupon that the Numbers thereof cannot be said nor written Whereby those of our Realm and of other Realms in Christendom have sustained many Afflictions and Irreparable Losses Wherefore We considering and revolving the Evils aforesaid and how it is probable that Worser may follow in time to come and having great Pity and Compassion of our Good and Loyal People who so firmly and Loyally have bore themselves for so long a time in true Constancy and Obedience towards Vs by exposing their Bodies and their Goods to all Dangers without declining expences or charges whereof We ought to keep a perpetual Remembrance We have therefore several times yielded to a Treaty of Peace chiefly by means of the Honourable Fathers in God several Cardinals and Messengers of our Holy Father the Pope our Beloved and Faithfull the Abbot of Cluigny Father Simon de Langres Professor in Divinity Master of the Order of Fryars-Preachers and Hugh de Geneve Lord of Autun who were then with the said King of England in his Host and went and came so often between Charles our most Dear Eldest Son and between the said King of England our Brother and in sundry places held Treaties on the one Part and on the Other to Confer and Treat of a Peace between Vs who were then in England and the said King of England and the Realms of the One and of the Other And at last they assembled the Treaters and Procurators on the part of Vs and of our said Son for the Matters above written and the special Deputies Procurators and Treaters of our Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King of England our Brother having Power and Authority from his said Father in that part at Bretigny near Chartres At which place it was conferred treated and accorded by the Treaters and Procurators of the One Part and of the Other concerning all the Discords Dissentions and Wars which We and the said King of England our Brother have had One against the Other The Which Treaty and Peace the Procurators of our Son for Vs and for Him and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales Eldest Son of the said King our Brother for his Father and himself sware on the Holy Gospels to hold and maintain And after that our said Son sware solemnly for Vs and for Himself and our said Nephew the Prince of Wales having Power thereto sware for his said Father our Brother and for Himself and We after these things thus done and unto Vs reported and declared considering that the said King of England our Brother had agreed and consented to the said Treaty and would hold keep and accomplish that and the Peace on his part the same Treaty and Peace being undertaken by advice and consent of sundry of our Blood and Lineage Prelates of Holy Church Dukes Earls as well Peers of France as others Clergy and Men of the Church Barons Knights and other Nobles Burgesses and other Wise Men of our Realm to appease the Wars and the Evils and Griefs aforesaid wherewith the People had been so hardly used rather than for our Deliverance to the Honour and Glory of the King of Kings and for Reverence of Holy Church of our Holy Father the Pope and of his said Messengers have consented and do consent unto and ratifie admit and approve thereof And whereas by the said Treaty and Peace We ought to deliver and resign and do give deliver and resign as is contained in our other Letters made therefore more fully unto our said Brother the King of England for ever for Him and his Heirs and Successors to hold perpetually and for ever all those things which follow in like manner as We and our said Son or any of our Ancestors Kings of France have held them in time past That is to say what is in Sovereignty to hold in Sovereignty and what in Demaine to hold in Demaine namely the City Castle and Earldom of Poctiers and all the Land and Country of Poictou also the Fief of Thoüars and the Land of Belleville the City and Castle of Sainctes and all the Land and Country of Sainctogne on this and on that side the Charente the Town and Castle of Rochelle and their appurtenances the City and Castle of Agen and the Land and Country of Agennois the City Castle and Earldom of Perigeux and the Land and Country of Perigort the City and Castle of Limoges and the Land and Country of Limosin the City and Castle of Cahors and all the Land and Country of Quercy the City Castle and Country of Tarbe the Land Country and Earldom of Bigorre the Earldom Land and Country of Gaure the City and Castle of Angoulesme and the Earldom Land and Country of Angoulesmois the City and Castle of Rodes and the Land and Country of Rouvergue and moreover that which the King of England or any of the Kings of England anciently held in the Town of Montrevil upon the Sea and its appurtenances Item the County of Ponthieu all entirely save and except according to the Tenor of the Article contained in the said Treaty which makes mention of the said County Item the Town and Castle of Calais the Town and Lordship of Merk the Towns Castles and Lordships of Sangate Coulogne Hames Wale and Oye with the Lands Woods Marishes Rivers Rents Lordships and other things contained in the said Article Item the Castle Town and Earldom of Guisnes all entirely with all the Lands Towns Castles Forts Places Men Homages Lordships Woods Fees and Rights according to the Tenour of the Article making mention thereof more fully in the said Treaty and the Isles adjacent to the Lands Countries and Places aforenamed together with all other Islands which the said King of England holdeth at present or held at the time of the said Treaty And whereas by the Form and Tenor of the said Treaty and Peace We and our said Brother the King of England owe and have promised by Faith and by Oath One to the Other and are bound We and our said Brother and our Eldest Sons aforesaid by obligation and promises by Faith and by Oath made on the One Part and on the Other certain Renunciations the One to the Other according to the Form and Tenor of two Articles contained among others in the said Treaty and Peace the Form whereof is this Item it is accorded that the King of France and his Eldest Son the Regent for them and for their Heirs and for all the Kings of France and their Successors as soon as may be and at the farthest by the Feast of St. Michael next coming in one Year without fraud or deceit shall render yield and deliver to the said King of
England and to all his Heirs and Successors and shall convey unto them all the Men Honours Regalities Obediences Homages Allegiances Vassalages Fiefs Services Recognizances Oaths Rights Mere and Mixt Empire all manner of Jurisdictions High and Low Resorts Safeguards and Lordships and Superiorities which appertain'd or may in any wife appertain to the Kings of France and to the Crown or to any other Person because of the King and Crown of France at any time in Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles and Places aforenamed or in any of them and their appurtenances and appendages whatsoever or in the Persons thereof Vassals or Subjects whatsoever be they Princes Dukes Earls Vicounts Archbishops Bishops and other Prelates of the Church without retaining or reserving any thing therein to themselves their Heirs and Successors or any of the Kings of France or any other whatsoever because of the King and Crown of France whereby they their Heirs and Successors or any King of France may challenge or demand any thing in time to come of the King of England his Heirs and Successors or of any of the Vassals and Subjects aforesaid in regard of the Countries and Places abovenamed so as all the above-named Persons their Heirs and Successors shall for ever be Liege-men and Subjects to the King of England and to his Heirs and Successors and that the King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold all the Persons Cities Counties Lands Countries Isles Castles and Places above-named and all their Appurtenances and appendages And the Premises shall remain unto them fully freely and for ever in their Dominion Sovereignty Obeisance Allegiance and Subjection as the Kings of France at any time ever had or held them And that the said King of England his Heirs and Successors shall have and hold for ever all the Countries above-named with their appurtenances and appendages and other things aforesaid with all Franchise and perpetual Liberty as Sovereign and Liege-Lords and as Neighbours to the King and Realm of France without Recognizing any Sovereign or doing any Obedience Homage Resort or Subjection and without doing in any time to come any Service or Recognizance to the Kings or to the Crown of France for the Cities Counties Castles Lands Countries Isles Places and Persons above-named or for any of them Item It is agreed that the King of France and his Eldest Son shall Renounce expresly the said Resorts and Sovereignty and all the Right which they have and may have in all those things which by this present Treaty ought to belong to the King of England And likewise the King of England and his Eldest Son shall expresly Renounce all those things which by this present Treaty ought not to be deliver'd unto or abide with the King of England and especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demaine of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Earldoms of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Country and Earldom of Flanders and all other Demands which the King of England hath made or may make against the King of France for whatsoever cause it may be saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and be rendred to the King of England and his Heirs And the two Kings shall convey resign and quit the One to the Other for ever all the Right that each of them hath or may have to those things which by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to each of them as for the time and place when and where the said Renunciations shall be made the two Kings shall confer and agree together at Calais Now We to uphold and accomplish the Articles Peace and Accord aforesaid do Renounce expresly all Resorts and Sovereignties and all Right which we have and may have in all the things aforesaid which We have rendred and deliver'd and resign'd to the said King of England our Brother and which from this time forth ought to remain and appertain unto him by the said Treaty and Peace In respect that He and the said Prince his Eldest Son have Renounced expresly all those things which by the said Treaty ought not to be rendred unto nor to remain with the said King of England our Brother for him and for his Heirs and all Demands which he maketh or may make against Vs And especially the Name and Right of the Crown and Realm of France the Homage Sovereignty and Demain of the Dutchy of Normandy of the Dutchy of Touraine of the Counties of Anjou and Maine the Sovereignty and Homage of the Dutchy of Bretagne the Sovereignty and Homage of the Earldom and Country of Flanders and all other Demands which the said King of England maketh or may make of Vs for any cause whatsoever saving and excepting what by this present Treaty ought to remain and to be rendred to the said King of England and his Heirs And unto him We convey yield and resign and He unto Vs and each to Other to the best of our Power all the Right which either of Vs might or may have in all those things which by the said Treaty and Peace ought to remain and be deliver'd to either of Vs Saving still and reserving to the Churches and to Men of the Church that which to them appertaineth and all that which hath been usurped and detained from their Hands by occasion of the Wars that this be rendred and delivered unto them And that the Towns and Forts and all the Inhabitants thereof shall be and remain in such Liberties and Franchises as they were before they came into our Hands and Dominion and that to be confirmed unto them by the said King of England if he shall be thereto required and that We do not the contrary in any of the Matters aforesaid And as to this point We submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Coërcion of the Church of Rome and We Will and consent that our Holy Father the Pope shall confirm all these things in giving Monition and General Commands for the accomplishment thereof against Vs our Heirs and Successors and against all our Subjects be they Commons Colleges Vniversities or single Persons whatsoever and in giving General Sentences of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to be incurred by Vs and by them who shall do the contrary And that the said Sentences may fall upon Vs or them as soon as We or They act or endeavour by seising any Town Castle City Fort or any thing doing ratifying or consenting in giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aâ—d privily or openly against the said Peace Of which Sentences they shall not be absolved till they shall have made full satisfaction to all those who by that Act have sustained or suffer'd Damages And moreover to the Intent that this said Peace be more firmly kept and holden for
they saw themselves so considerable they began to ordain among them Captains and Leaders whom they promised to obey in all things For even wicked Societies cannot hold together without Order And the Chief of their Captains were these Sr. Seguin de Batefoil a Knight of Gascogne who had no less than 2000 Fighting Men Taillebert of Talleboton Guyot du Pyn the little Mechin Battailler the Wicked Hanekin Francois the Burgrave de Lesparre Nandon de Bergerac the Burgrave de Boure the Burgrave of Bretuel Nucharg Aberdenny a Scot Bourdonnel a German Bernard de la Salle an Hainalder Lortingo de la Salle his Kinsman Robert Briquet Edmund of Ortigo Sr. Garses du Chastel Gironet de la Baulx Carnelle and Others Who being thus gather'd together about Midlent resolved to go to Avignon to give the Pope and Cardinals a Visit more for the love of Prey than Devotion for whatever Treasure the Church might then have in Heaven they laid up some Treasures also on Earth as well as Men of the World. Wherefore these Late-Comers went thitherward thrô the Land of Masconnois intending for the Earldom of Foretz or Forestes that plentifull Country and towards Lyon on the River Rhosne VI. When King John heard of all this and how these Robbers daily encreased and ravaged his Realm he was infinitely displeased for his Council told him that without a speedy remedy these Evil Companions might encrease so strangely as to be able to do more Mischief than ever was done by the Englishmen themselves in time of War Wherefore they advised him to send against them a well form'd Army without any more delay Then the King wrote his Special Letters to his Cousin the Lord James of Bourbon k Mezeray Earl of la Marche who was at that time in the Town of Mompellier in Languedoc having newly put the Lord John Chandos in Possession of divers Lands Cities Towns Castles Forts and other Places thereabout belonging to the King of England by Vertue of the Peace as we said before The King in his Letters desired his Cousin of Bourbon to be his Chief General to muster Souldiers to a sufficient Number till he should find himself able to keep the Field and then go forth and fight against these Companions and root them out The Lord of Bourbon immediately on receipt of these Letters went Post to the City of Agen in Agennois whence he issued out his Letters and sent Messengers into all Parts desiring and commanding in the Kings Name all Knights and Esquires to come to him ready appointed for the War which was done accordingly For this Lord James of Bourbon was generally beloved over all France so that every one obey'd him readily and drew to the Place of General Rendezvous towards Lyon on the River Rhosne from Auvergne and Limosin from Provence and Savoy and from the Dauphiné de Vienne and moreover many Valiant Knights and Esquires were sent from Burgundy by the Young Duke who was not yet dead With all these Forces the Lord James of Bourbon marched forth from Lyon and the Parts of Masconnois and Beaujolois and entred the Earldom of Forestes where his Sister was Lady in Right of her Children for the Earl of Forestes her Husband was then newly dead Wherefore she govern'd the Country by the Hands of Sr. Reginald of Forestes her Husbands Brother who received the Lord James of Bourbon and his Company with great joy and feasted him to his Power as did also his two Nephews who presented their Service to their Uncle the Earl of la Marche to ride with him in Defence of their Country against the Companions who were by this time about Charolle and Tornus drawing thitherward For when they understood how the Frenchmen were gathering together to suppress them their Captains presently went to Council to advise how to maintain themselves At this time they found their Number to be no less than 16000 Fighting Men wherefore they said among themselves Let us then go boldly against these Frenchmen who are so desirous to find us out and let us fight them at some Advantage if we can or else without for we are enough If Fortune favour us at this time we shall be rich for ever as well by the Prisoners we shall take as by the Booty of the Field and also we shall gain such Reputation to our Arms that none hereafter will dare to withstand us and if we lose we have no more to care for Being thus agreed they dislodged and went up the Mountains designing to pass into the Land of Forestes and to come to the River of Loire but in their way they found a Good Town called Charlieu in the Bailywick of Mascon where they made a fierce Assault which lasted an whole Day yet the Place was so well desended by the Gentlemen of the Country that they could win nothing there Then they marched forward sending abroad several Detachments to scour the Country of Beaujolois where having done considerable Dammage they entred the Bishoprick of Lyon. In their March they would be sure to take some small Hold or other every Day where they lodged usually for the Night following making sad Havock of all things whereever they came One day particularly they took a Castle called Brignais about three Leagues from Lyon with the Lord thereof and his Lady in the Place and there they lodged and refreshed themselves and here they were certainly informed how the Lords of France were drawn into the Fields and stood ready to receive them The Lord James l Frois c. 215. fol. 110. of Bourbon was now again return'd to Lyon when he understood that the Companions drew near him apace having won the Castle of Brignais and many other Holds and brought the Country into great Desolation At this News he was extreamly displeased because he was Guardian to his Nephews the Earl of Forestes Sons and had the Care of their Lands Wherefore he drew into the Field and muster'd his Men and found them to be an Army sufficient to cope with the Enemy but first he sent out his Currours to view the Face of the Enemy and to consider well their Number and their Order and where he should surely find them In the mean time these subtle Companions had taken a Mountain at Brignais near Lyon where they so order'd themselves that they could not be perfectly view'd and so the best Armed Troops were conceal'd behind and the Residue who were worse armed and a far smaller Number stood ready ranged along in Order of Battle on the Hill side These Men only were seen by the Lord of Bourbons Currours whom they permitted leisurely to view them thereby to feed them with an Errour that might prove their Bane Being come back to the Earl of la Marche these Men told him what they had discover'd saying to him and the Lords about him Sirs we have seen yonder Company your Enemies and have viewed them well to our Power and all things
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
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
Inhumane and Unprincely Actions was Sirnamed The Cruel He had indeed b Rederic Sant Par. iv c. xiv §. 40 c. Vid. Marian. de Reb. Hispand 17. c. 7. many notable good Qualities and Perfections both of Body and Mind for he was Tall of Stature and of a strong and well-compacted Body of a Gracefull and Majestick Countenance and of a sharp and sound Wit He was Sweet and Persuasive of Language Affable and Judicious Able and Expert in Arms a severe Enemy to the Proud and Obstinate and especially to Thieves and Robbers on the High-way In short he had such Courage and other Endowments of Mind as set forth and adorn the Owner but cannot make him Happy without the Addition of Vertue For as to his Religion He either had none or seem'd to take no no ice of it but lived in continued Adulteries and rejected all Admonitions of his Clergy and united himself as was reported to the Moors and the Kings of Belmarine Tremisen and Granada He was always an inveterate Enemy to Pedro King of Aragon and had lately taken from him a part of his Kingdom intending at last to deprive him of the whole as indeed he had a desire to oppress all his Christian Neighbours Nay when c Oder Râ—inal ad an 1362. § 18. Ruffus Maurus King of Granada came to him under safe Conduct for Protection to his City of Sevil partly to obtain his Treasures which were reported to amount to 800000 pieces of Gold and also to gratifie his natural thirst of Blood he caused him to be carried into the Field on an Ass together with One and Fourty Moors his Servants and there he transfixed him thrô the Body with his own Lance and caused the rest of the Moors to be trod to Death by his Horsemen Moreover he had divorced and as some say caused to be dispatched his own Queen the Lady Blanche Daughter to d Philippus dicitur apud Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 16. Peter Duke of Bourbon and German Sister to the French Queen and to the Countess of Savoy whose Death was much bewailed by all that knew her especially those of her Family which was then one of the most Illustrious in the World. The occasion why he was so Cruel to a Lady of her Worth Youth and Beauty for she was but e Maria. de Reb. Hispan l. 17. c. 4 five and twenty when she died and once He himself lov'd her entirely is f Id. l. 16. c. 18. Innocent PP VI. Vitae Auther apud Bosq Vid. Oder Rainâ—l ad an 1353. § 16. attributed to the Enchantments of a certain Jew who at the Instigation of Don Pedro's Concubine Maria de Padilla by Magick so charmed a Rich embroidered Girdle which his Queen Blanche had given him that when he had it on it appeared both to himself and all others nothing else but a great and terrible Serpent From that time He could never endure his Queen who soon after either died for grief or as it is said was poisoned by him And thus being again at his own Dispose he took the said Maria de Padilla to Wife and made her his Queen Now this Don Pedro King of Castille and Leon had Three Bastard Brethren whom his Father Alphonso had gotten on the body of the Lady Leonora Gusman called the Ricco Drue the Eldest was named Henry Earl of Trastamare a Man who supply'd the Defect of his Birth by Vertue and an Honourable Inclination the Second was Tellius alià s Don Tello afterwards Earl of Sancelloni and the Third Sancho When these Three Brethren saw the many Murthers of the Prime Nobility perpetrated by the King their Brother and that he daily grew worse and how he had put to Death Three or Four of their Brethren gotten by King Alphonso on another Lady they began to doubt their own Lives and resolving to get out of his Reach fled for Protection to Pedro King of Aragon whom our Don Pedro so pursued with Bloody Wars that finding no further security there they were e'n fain to fly to the French King. Hereupon Don Pedro confiscated all their Estates and proscribed them as Traytors which prov'd an Occasion of his Ruine For now that all hope of Pardon was taken away they began to consider how by depriving him of his Life they might secure their own To which Resolution they were the more enflam'd because they heard he had lately put to Death the Lady Leonora Gusman their Mother having first caused to be burnt in her Presence a Jacobin of the Order of St. Domingo della Calcade g Favine le Parisien Theatre l'Henneur l. 6. c. 9 c. who had foretold that he himself should be slain by the hands of Henry of Castille Conde of Trastamare his Bastard Brother in Revenge of his other Brethren whom he had murdered About this time also the Prelates of Castille sent grievous Complaints to Avignon to the Pope importing that their King intended to overthrow Holy Church and had already taken away many Church Lands and Revenues and held several of the Clergy in Prison and oppressed the whole Land by Tyranny against all which they beg'd of his Holiness some Remedy And moreover having lately violated the Truce taken between him and the King of Aragon he refus'd to hearken to the Admonitions of the Pope who by his Letter bearing h Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 30 c. Dat. Aven Non. Februar Ano. Pontif IV. and sent unto him by William de Lynne alià s Lulimere Bishop of Chichester exhorted him earnestly to be at peace with the said King. Upon all these accounts Pope Urban being netled to the quick sent Messengers forthwith into Spain to the King citing him to appear by his Proxies in his Court there to answer what should be alledged against him and to excuse and purge himself of those horrible Matters laid to his Charge But Don Pedro in stead of bending a little for a while being full of Pride and Security not only flatly refus'd to obey this citation but also abus'd the Popes Messengers whereby he greatly incurred the Indignation of the Church and especially of the Chief Bishop thereof the Pope And in this manner he persever'd till at last i Frois c. 229. fol. 126. in the open Consistory at Avignon in the Chamber of Excommunication he was solemnly ejected from the Bosom of the Church and pronounced to be but as an Infidel And then after these Censures it was advised that he should be deposed by the Arms of the Companions who were at that time in France Hereupon the King of Aragon who was an Apparent Enemy to Don Pedro and Henry the Bastard who had little cause to be his Friend were sent for to come and confer with the Pope at Avignon Now this Henry the Bastard was a most Valiant and Couragious young Gentleman and had been many Years in France pursuing the Wars on the French Kings part with
Pedro's Cruelty returned him Letters with full assurance that thô he should lose half his Realm therefore he would make no Agreement with the Prince which should be to his Prejudice but that he would never come to any manner of accord with Don Pedro And further he promised to keep his Country open for all Men of War that would come to his Assistance but to close all the Passages against those who came to trouble or molest him All which promises he kept very punctually For when he knew that Don Pedro was abetted by the Prince and that the Companions were marching toward Bourdeaux to joyn them he presently stopped all the Passages of his Kingdom and kept them strictly and set Men of War on the Mountains to defend the Passages and Streights of Catalunna so that none could pass without exposing themselves to imminent Danger But for all this the Companions found another way thô they suffer'd many Hazards and Difficulties before they could get rid of those traps set for them in Aragon Yet at last they came to the Marches of the Earldom of Foix where they found that Countrey also closed against them For the Earl would not by any means permit such a sort of Pillagers to pass thrô his Land. XV. The mean while Prince Edward employ'd all his thoughts Night and Day how he might to his Honour perform this Expedition and now he was concerned how these Companions who had already proffer'd him their Service might be safely brought into Aquitaine for he heard how the Passages of Aragon were closed up and that now they were upon the Marches of the Earldom of Foix in much trouble and more danger Wherefore he began to doubt lest the Bastard Henry and the King of Aragon together should by thus streightly dealing with these Companions who were in all to the Number of 12000 Men prevail so as either thrô fear of Danger or Hope of advantage to oblige them to act on the other side which he resolv'd if possible to prevent because they were all Expert and Valiant Men. Then he determin'd to send the Lord John Chandos to retain them for his Service and also to treat with the Earl of Foix desiring him in the Prince's Name to do no harm to them on which account he promis'd him that whatever Damage they should do in his Country he would make him double Amends therefore This Business Sr. John Chandos undertook to do for his Lord and so he first rode to the City of Dax in Gascogne whence he continued his journeys till he came to Foix and here he so well menaged the Earl that he consented to all that he requested of him Then the Lord Chandos rode onward till he came to Belcayne where he found the Companions and fully agreed with their Captains and retain'd them to serve the Prince in his Spanish Expedition for such and such Considerations which the Lord Chandos engaged by Oath should be performed This done he return'd to the Earl of Foix again and desired him that these People being now retained in the Prince's Service might find no lett or hindrance from him but that he would freely permit them to pass by one of the sides of his Country The Earl of Foix who had a great Respect for the Prince besides that he held his Lands of him to do him a pleasure consented on condition they should do no harm by Spoil or otherwise to him his Lands or People Sr. John engaged they should forbear all Violence and Rapine and then he sent an Esquire and an Herald to the Companions with the Articles of the Treaty made by him on their behalf with the Earl of Foix after which he return'd to the Prince and gave him an account of his Success wherewith the Prince was well satisfied For he was very earnestly bent on this Expedition XVI The Black-Prince was now in the Flower of lusty Manhood being in the Thirty sixth Year of his Age of full Strength of Body and in perfect Health of undaunted Courage and Resolution all well temper'd with Experience and Discretion and he was never weary nor cloy'd with War from the first time he bore Arms but was always greedy of hazardous Enterprises and honourable Dangers But to say the Truth as for this Expedition into Spain wherein he intended to advance and resettle King Pedro in his Throne from which he had been deposed by Violence he was moved thereto from Principles of Honour and Equity and out of a compassionate Regard to Don Pedro's miserable Change of Fortune For however he might perhaps seem to deserve as bad or worse measure yet he rightly concluded that no Subjects much less a Bastard-Brother had either Law or Reason to call their Sovereign Lord to an account much less to punish him in such a manner He often spake to his Lords and Knights especially to the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton concerning this his intended Journey and particularly once he demanded of them what they thought of the matter And those two Lords answer'd him how indeed they thought nothing but well for the Cause was just and his Counsels proportionable to the end but they continued Sir without doubt this is a greater Enterprise beyond Compare than it was to thrust King Pedro out of his Kingdom For he was generally hated and when he thought to have made his Part good all Men forsook him But now at this present the Bastard King is actually possest of all that Realm and is confirmed the more strongly in the said Possession by being Master of the Hearts and Affections of all the Nobles Prelates and the whole Body of the Kingdom For they have unanimously received him for their King and his Children after him having for ever excluded Don Pedro and his Heirs and they have promised to uphold him in that Estate to the utmost extent of their Lives and Fortunes Wherefore Sir it concerns You to take along with you a Royal Army for besides the Alliances which the Bastard hath made or may make You shall find the whole Power of Spain and Aragon against you These things said the Prince we have fully consider'd but what think you as to the Nerves of this War which ought not to be the last Consideration Sir replied the Lord Chandos I would advise your Royal Highness to break the best part of your Plate and Treasure of which you have great Abundance and convert it all to Money to bestow largely among the Companions and other your Souldiers because 't is only for your Sake that they are willing to go but as for Don Pedro they would not stirr a foot either for the Love they bear to his Person or the Faith they have in his Promises Besides all which You would do well Sir to send into England to the King your Father desiring him to furnish you towards this expensive Enterprise with an 100000 Franks which Summ the French King is obliged shortly to pay to
found his Adversary of France wanted no Cunning nor Industry whereby to oppose him And he heard particularly how the Scots also had engaged against him in a new Alliance with the French King and design'd to give him a Diversion at the Back-door Whereat he was grievously displeased for he doubted the Scots more than the Frenchmen not only because they were a more implacable and obstinate People and kept their former Losses in mind but also because they were his near Neighbours and could do him an Injury more easily and escape Revenge more securely Wherefore first he sent a considerable Number of Men of Arms Archers and Others to the Frontiers of Scotland as to Newcastle to Caerlile to Barwick to Roxborough and other Places Besides which he rigged forth a good Fleet which was to ply about Southhampton Jernsey and the Isle of Wight For he heard how the French King was setting forth a great Navy to Sea which was to come and invade England or as others said Ireland wherefore thither also he was obliged to send no small Reinforcement under the Command of the Lord William Windsor d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 509. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 27. who being at the same time constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had in consideration thereof for his better Support in the Kings Service a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Kings Exchequer untill such a time as the King should settle upon him Lands and Rents of that Value for Him and his Heirs for ever and immediatly thereupon he had a Grant of the Mannor and Castle of Dungarvan as also the Castle called the Black-Castle to Him and the Heirs of his Body With him went in this Irish Expedition e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 32 the Lord Thomas Fauconberg and other Persons of Rank and Conduct for King Edward not knowing on which side the storm would fall was obliged to take Care on all Sides Though indeed he himself was not without some anxious Thoughts by reason of the unexpectedness of this Alarum But having thus for the present provided for all as well as he could he calls together his High Court of Parliament f M.S. Rot. Par. p. 103. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridg. p. 108. which according to the Summons met at Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity At which time William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in Presence of the King Lords and Commons the Reasons of their present Assembly saying How the King had always in his greatest Affairs used their Advice and Counsel and especially in making the last Peace with the French which was yet made on Condition that by such a Day the French King should surrender up unto him certain Countries beyond the Seas that within such a time he should pay unto the King certain Sums of Money and that he should never pretend for the future to any Jurisdiction or Soveraignty over Gascogne or the Parts thereabouts in Consideration whereof the King of England should from thenceforth lay by the Stile of France which he had accordingly done That whereas he for his Part had not slacked his Duty the French King had done the quite Contrary for neither had he made a full and due Payment of the said Monies and also he had summon'd the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and Others who were of the Kings Allegiance to answer to certain Appeals at Paris nay further he had summon'd the Prince of Aquitain himself who was also of the Kings Allegiance to appear among the Rest Besides all which he had sent certain Troops into Ponthieu where he had surprised several of the Kings Garrisons and Forts Whereupon the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain by Advice of his Council had sent to the King his Father wishing him to Resume the Title and Stile of France And therefore the Chancellor desired the Lords and Commons to take Counsel in the Matter and to advise the King to the best of their Power about the Premises Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland and also for Gascogne and other Foreign Places and Isles and after that Triers of the said Petitions for all the said Places On the Wednesday after the Bishops Lords and Commons answered the King with one Consent That considering the Premises He might with a Good Conscience take up again the Stile and Name of King of France and use his Arms as before Accordingly the King at that instant took upon him the Name Stile and Dignity of France and on the Eleventh Day of June being a Monday and St. Barnabas Day his Seal of England being safely laid up another Seal engraven with the Stile and Arms of France was taken and used and several Patents Charters and Writs therewith sealed and the same Day all the Kings other Seals were Changed one g Ashmole p. 665. being circumscribed with the Word Franciae in the first Place and the other with Angliae as at the Beginning From which Time even to this Day the Kings of England his Successors continue their Arms Quarter'd with France in token of that Right to which King Edward so justly now renew'd his Claim After this upon a full Account given of the Kings great Necessities the Lords and Commons granted unto him for Three Years following of Denizens for every Sack of Wooll Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twenty Dozen of Fells Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence and of every Last of Skins Four Pounds But of Aliens for every Sack of Wooll Fifty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twelvescore Fells as much and of every Last of Skins Five Pounds Six Shillings Eight Pence over and above the Old Customs Then it was Enacted That all the Kings Forts and Fortresses should be surveyed repaired and edified And it was caution'd by another Statute that no Religious Aliens should be left in a Capacity to discover the Secrets of the Realm and now again were all the Lands of Religious Aliens seized into the Kings Hands and lett to Farm to the Sovereigns of the same That Remedy may be had against the excessive Selling of Armour and the unreasonable Demands of Horse-Coursers The King will appoint the Officers of every Town to provide therefore That the Time of Prescription may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First The Old Law shall stand That Sylva Caedua may especially be declared The Statute shall be observed That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Indicted upon any Trespass or Felony may upon Issue joyned have a Nisi Prius against the King. So the same concerneth Treason the Chancellor or Keeper of the Privy Seal shall therein do Right That such as dwell upon the Sea-Coasts may set up Poles
they are not yet it seemeth that King Edward is to be preferred For Right of Inheritance in proper Nature is principally due unto Descendants whereupon the Law z L. Nam eâ—si parentibus ff de inoff testam saith that in Succession to those who die intestate the First Place is given to Children because they are a Inst de Her. qui ab intest in princip Descendants But it is certain that in respect of King Charles of whose Succession we now do treat King Edward is in the Third Degree of the Collateral descending Line But Philip is in the Fourth Degree in the equal Collateral Line Therefore seeing that King Edward not only hath Prerogative of Degree but also is favoured by reason of Descent it followeth that He is to be preferred before Philip c. Nonnulla desiderantur VII The Reasons which the French alledge for excluding Edward the Third King of England and his Posterity both from the Kingdom and the rest of his Inheritance in France for Brevity sake I shall reduce to these few Heads That either a Woman had Right to succeed or not if a Woman had then the Three Daughters of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair should have had the Right before the Mother of King Edward who was but Sister to those three Brethren Kings because the Daughters ought to be preferred before the Sister in the Succession of their Fathers as every Man doth know But here lies the Fallacy that whereas 't is acknowledged on King Edward's Part that the Daughters Persons are excluded and the Sisters also but not their Male Issue those Daughters at the time of the Vacancy of the Kingdom by the Death of King Charles the Fair had neither of them any Issue Male but King Edward the Son of the Sister was then a Male and actually King of England Then is urged the Force of the Salique Law which is said to have been approved and confirmed by Charles the Great by which means say they King Edward could not be admitted to the Crown of France since he could lay no Claim but by his Mother who could not give that to Him which she her Self never had nor in Right could or ought to have And to this purpose or effect the Use and Custom hath been at all times notoriously observed within the Realm of France that when a Woman is expelled from any Succession or from Succeeding in a Fee the Sons which are descended of her are always precluded and excluded from the same Neither shall it ever be found that a Woman hath succeeded to the Crown of France or b The Falsity of this appears l. 1. c. 22. §. 1. p. 289. given Right of Succession to a Man or to a Woman And so it appeareth evidently that the Law whereby a Woman is utterly debarred from the Succession to the Realm of France was not made in the Time of King Edward nor of his Mother nor in Prejudice of them For in Case a Woman might or should succeed to the Crown of France that Law should have been prejudicial to the Daughters of the Three Brothers Kings who Reigned successively in France and not to the mother of Edward who was but Sister of the said Three Brothers Then it is urged that King Edward before he began the War had done Liege Homage unto King Philip de Valois and it could not stand that King Edward should be Supream Lord and also Vassal of one and the same Thing And that this Liege Homage remain'd in the Treasury of the Kings Charters at Paris in the Letters Patents of King Edward with a silk Label and green Wax the Transcript whereof is extant c Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 1. p. 37. in the former Part of our History That yet notwithstanding King Edward unjustly and without good Tittle made mortal War by notorious Attempts upon the King of France his Leige Lord he laid Hand also upon the Person of his said Lord incurring the Crime of Felony and Treason wherein the said King Edward grievously offended and so lost by way of Confiscation all that which he had within this Realm whether in Aquitain or any other Place Insomuch as yet further neither he nor his Successors were afterwards capable or ought in Terms of Justice to have the same Lands and Dominions So much is the Crime of Treason by all Laws by all Rights by all Men of just Judgment disallowed and condemned That afterwards King John being taken Prisoner by Misadventure of War a certain Treaty was made at Calais in the Year 1360 whereby the English had the Dutchy of Aquitain and the County of Ponthieu and Monstreul and should have had also a certain Summ of Money whereof they received Fourteen Thousand Pieces of Gold which was no otherwise consented unto but that they should avoid all the Villages and Fortresses which their Followers or other Adherents then held in the Realm of France And further King Edward should have sent his Messengers or Procurators unto Bruges within a Year after that Treaty to accomplish certain Matters which both He and his Sons and other Great Lords of England had taken Oath upon the Holy Evangelists and upon the Holy Sacrament to perform And yet they neither came nor sent to the said place of Bruges And so the Messengers of the King of France expected them a long time for performance and accomplishment of that which had been agreed and promised on his Part. And as for the Avoidance out of the said Towns and Castles many Knights and Esquires and Others yet alive do know and can testifie as they who oftentimes armed themselves and travelled for Recovery of them by Sieges Assaults and other Means to the great Charge of the King of France Whereupon it followeth that the English are bound to the Restitution of all that which was deliver'd unto them by the said Treaty of Calais upon Condition and Limitation before expressed together with the Charges and the Interest since that time and the same Treaty is to be held void in Law. Then 't is declared how King Philip who was Earl of Valois succeeded to the Crown of France as next Heir Male of the said Crown drawing his Descent from Male to Male by the Right Line of Holy King Lewis Whereas it is but 214 Years or thereabouts since the English had first any thing in Aquitain It is further alledged how the English by acting many Outrages and Mischiefs disabled themselves from holding the Dutchy of Aquitain and the County of Ponthieu and Monstreul unless they would acknowledge the King of France for their Sovereign Lord. And therefore that the said King of France hath resolved by strong Hand and by way of Affecting the Execution of Justice to cause the said Lands and Dominions to be reduced into his own Possession and to be annexed to the Right of the Crown of France For that a Soveraign Lord hath no clearer Means of Purchase
6000 Franks for such Provision and Goods as were left in the Castle So Sr. John Blondeau marched away with his Men to Angiers where as soon as he came thither he was arrested by the Governor of the City and clapt up close Prisoner in the Castle And 't is said that soon after he was one Night sow'd up in a Sack and flung into the River by the strict Command of the Duke of Anjou because he took Gold and Silver for his Castle which said he was able of it self to have held out an whole Year if need had been XVI However when the English Lords had thus received the strong Castle of Roche sur Yon toward the Limits of Anjou they set there a good Garrison and repaired what was out of Order and then went back to Angoulesme to the Prince and some took their leave of him for a while and retired to their own Houses Among others 't is said r Frois c. 260. c. that the most Valiant Lord James Audley Seneschal of Poictou going into fresh Quarters at Fontenay le Comte fell there sick and shortly after died to the great Regret of the Prince and Princess and all the Loyal Barons of Poictou And that his Obsequies were performed in the City of Poictiers the Prince Himself being present But this was a Mistake of Froisard's which yet he might easily fall into because indeed his Son Sr. ſ Ashmole p. 706. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 750. ex Lab in Offic. Principal Cantuar vecat Countney f. 121. b. James Audley died in Gascogne at this time upon which the Lord James Audley the Father with the Prince's leave retired into England where he lived many Years after and departed this Life not till the 73 Year of his Age namely on the first Day of April Anno Dom. 1386. which was the Ninth of Richard the Second having a little before made his Will at Heligh Castle wherein he appointed his Body to buried in the Choir of his Abbey at Hilton before the High Altar in case he should die in the Marches but if in Devonshire o◠Somersetshire then in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Excester before the High Altar However Poictou being thus by his Absence thô not by his Death deprived of her Grand Seneschal at the Request of all the Barons and Knights of that Country the no less Valiant Lord John Chandos at that time Constable of Aquitaine t Frois c. 262. f. 169. b. was now by the Black-Prince made Seneschal of Poictou and so he went forthwith and resided in the City of Poictiers and made many journeys against the Frenchmen and held them so short that they durst not ride near those parts but in great Bodies together XVII About this time the Vicount of Rochechoüart whom the Prince had for some Weeks held in Prison at the Request of his Friends in Poictou and others of the Prince's Council was set at liberty again and restored to all his Lands But whether he was all along false at bottom or whether the Prince's suspecting of him had exasperated him to that which else he had not thought on so it was that immediately upon his Delivery he went secretly to Paris to the French King and became his Liegeman and so returned into his own Country without the least notice taken that he had been at Paris But now having set all things in Order and placed Sr. Tibald du Pont a Valiant Breton in his Fortress he presently sent and defy'd the Prince of Wales and began to make War upon him XVIII This while John Duke of Lancaster the Prince's Brother having u Frois c. 263 c. well refreshed himself and his Men at Calais thought not to lie idle there any longer but rather to ride abroad and seek for some adventures in France So one day he left Calais with 300 Spears and as many Archers in his Company and passed by the Castle of Guisnes and rode beyond Ardres till he came to the Abbey of Liques where he found much prey and brought it away to Calais Another day he took the way towards Boulogne and destroy'd all the Plain Country thô at the same time Guy Earl of St. Paul and his Son the Lord Valeran lay within 8 Leagues of Boulogne in the City of Terouenne with a competent Number of Men of War But he stirred not althô he heard the English were abroad for he thought himself unable to deal with them at that time The News soon flew to the French King who was then at Rouën taking Care of the Armada which he was in all haste fitting forth to send against England as We said before how the Duke of Lancaster was come to Calais with a Mighty Power and how he made incursions daily into the French Pale At this sudden Alarum all his former Measures were broken and thô it had been Decreed by him and his Council that the Duke of Burgundy should as that very Week set sail for England now after some debate upon the Matter it was concluded how that Expedition should be laid aside for the Present and all the Men of War design'd for the Fleet should be led by the Duke of Burgundy toward Calais to resist the Duke of Lancaster who was then on that side the Sea. Wherefore soon after the Duke of Burgundy marched thence with all his Army taking his way toward the River Somme which he passed at Abbeville and so by several journeys he went to Montrevil and there and about Hesdin and St. Paul he staid for those that were behind XIX The Duke of Lancaster when he heard how the Duke of Burgundy was coming towards him was exceeding glad and began to march out of Calais with all his own Forces with design to meet him and encamped on the Mountain of Tournehan between Ardres and St. Omers Where he had been not passing a day but thither came x Frois ibid. to him the Noble and Valiant Knight Sr. Robert of Namur to joyn him with 300 Spears The Duke of Lancaster was very glad to see him and said unto him among other things My Dear Uncle You are heartily Welcome and Sir rejoyce with us for I hear for certain that the Duke of Burgundy comes on apace to fight us so that We shall not miss of Deeds of Arms. Sr. Robert reply'd Be it so Sir in the Name of God We would gladly look him in the Face Thus the English Army lay encamped on the Mountain and about the Vale of Tournehan having entrenched themselves strongly and fortify'd their Camp with Hedges and Ditches so that their Post was very advantageous and their Currours overran the County of Guisnes and the Sovereignty of Ardres for forage and what else they could get but they found little for all the plain Country had been destroy'd before and all things profitable convey'd into Places of strength Wherefore daily there came unto them Victuals and other Provision from Calais Soon after the
and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
Paris to the Vicount of Rochechouart the Lord of Maleval the Lord of Marvejols and Others such as had revolted to the French. But for all that neither do we hear of any that they reduced to their Duty again nor that they hindred others from falling off dayly which they did now as much as ever when they saw a fair opportunity of doing it safely Especially when they heard ſ Du Chesne p. 705. Mezeray c. that King Charles had in the Chamber of Peers confiscated the whole Principality and whatever else either the Prince or King Edward held beyond Sea summoning in all the Vassals to come and render unto him their Fealty and Homage So that many Towns Fortresses Lands and Countries as well in Guienne as in Picardy return'd to the Obedience of the French King as will appear hereafter IV. We speake before how the English suffer'd Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton and Sr. William of Bourde to go free again when by the help of the French King they had paid their Ransoms Which Usage by the bie thô it savour'd much of a generous Confidence and of a Freedom from Malice yet can it not escape without a mark of Imprudence at least For those who had been once taken would be sure to endeavour to revenge the Affront and also to pay themselves double the cost of their Ransom as Sr. Nicholas Lovaine did to Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Nor was there any likelihood of ending the War while these Grand Boutefeus of Mars were perpetually let loose again to set the World on fire Sr. Bertram of Clequin alone shall stand an Instance of the Truth of what I say for he being more than once a Prisoner to the English and by them as often acquitted for Ransom became not only a means to destroy their Friend and Confederate Don Pedro as we have seen but also at last in a manner turn'd all the English out of France so that he was stiled the Restorer of that Realm However this was the Custom of those Days among the English French and Scots courteously to put their Prisoners of War to Ransom whereas the Spaniard and German used to bind them in Chains and handle them roughly in Prison thereby to extort the greater Summ of Money from them Which thô not so Generous was perhaps more safe in one respect But to return whence we have made this Digression Sr. Lewis of St. Julian being thus upon Ransom got home again to his Garrison of la Roche de Pozay Sr. William Bourde into that of la Haye en Touraine and Carlonet the Breton into St. Salvin which had lost us the Lord Chandos these Three made privately an Assembly of Men of War all hardy Companions and well armed with whom one Morning early they went to Chastellerault and scaled the Town and had like to have taken the Lord Lewis of Harcourt in his Bed. For at the winning of the Place he was asleep in his Quarters in the Town till being awaked he was fain to fly in his Shirt bare-footed and bare-legg'd from House to House and from Garden to Garden in great fear of the French who had enter'd the Town by Scalado and by that time had won the Fortress However at last with much ado he made shift to put himself under the Bridge of Chastellerault on the River of Vienne where his Men had made a good Fortress and here he was safe and held himself so for a good while But thus the Frenchmen were Masters of the Town where they made a strong Garrison and left Carlonet the Breton Captain of the Place and every Day almost the Frenchmen went to the Bridge and skirmished with Sr. Lewis of Harcourt and his Men that kept it V. The mean while t Frois c. 272. Lewis Duke of Bourbon was informed how the English Companions were in his Country of Bourbonnois and that Ortingo Bernard de Wisk and Bernard de la Salle had taken his Castle of Bellepeche and therein the good Lady his Mother whereat he was horribly incensed and resolved to go and lay siege unto Bellepeche and not to stir thence till he should have won the Place Upon his request the French King gave him leave to undertake the Enterprise promising also not to be wanting in his Assistance towards the Work. So the Duke of Boubon left Paris in the beginning of the Year and made his Rendezvous at Moulins on the River Allier in Bourbonnois and at St. Poursain on the Marches of Auvergne in which places he raised a great number of Valiant Men. There was the Lord of Beaujeu with 300 Spears the Lord of Villers and the Lord of Roussillon with an 100 Spears apiece and several other Lords and Knights of Auvergne and Forestes whereof he was Lord in Right of his Lady who was Daughter to the Noble Lord Beroald late Earl Dauphin Being thus enforced the Duke of Bourbon went to Bellepeche before which he built a great Bastion encompassed with a Ditch and defended with Towers both for the ease of his Men it being now but February and for their safety in case of a Counter-siege or sudden Appearance of an Enemy And so every Day he skirmished with the Companions and at Night retired with the best part of his Troops into this Bastion Besides this the Duke had with him four Terrible Great Engines which cast huge massie Stones and Timber against the Castle insomuch that the Tops of their Towers and Houses were beaten down and a considerable part of their Turrets overthrown Whereat the Duke's Mother who was Prisoner there being extreamly affrighted sent forth Messengers to the Duke her Son desiring him to forbear using those fearfull Engines which did so terrifie her and her Women that they knew not what to do But the Duke of Bourbon who knew that she was put upon this by his and her Enemies or however that to obey her at this time was more for the Advantage of the English than of Her return'd answer that he was resolved by no means to forbear whatever came of it and so continued playing with his Engines When therefore these Companions saw how they were streightned and that the Frenchmens Forces encreased for the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France was newly come thither with a great Power then they resolved to acquaint Sr. John Devereux Seneschal of Limosin who lay then at la Sousterraine two little days-Journey from them of this their Desperate Condition and how the Lords of Poictou and Gascogne when they left them in the Expedition of Quercy had promised them on their Faiths how that if they should take any Fortress in France and be besieged thereupon they should have Relief upon Demand Having wrote Letters to this Effect they sent them away one night secretly by a Valet who undertook to carry them and got safe to la Sousterraine When the Lord John Devereux had read the Letters he remembred very well how the
see the English once begin to decline a little they would presently put themselves into his Hands Wherefore he forthwith determin'd to send his Constable into Poictou to the Parts of Sainctogne and Rochellois especially there to make hot War both by Land and by Sea for he said the English had never a Considerable Captain in those Countries And that he might be well furnished with a Navy he sent his Letters to Owen of Wales who lay at that time before Cornet-Castle in the Isle of Garnsey of all which the King was informed and how in all likelihood the Fortress was impregnable commanding him on sight of his Letters to break up his Siege and leave Garnsey and forthwith to go on Board a swift Sailer which the King had sent him for the same purpose and to make for Spain and in his Name to require of King Henry his Confederate that he would lend him once more his Admiral and Men of War with a Fleet of Barks and Gallies to go and block up Rochell by Sea while others held Siege thereto by Land. This Command of the French King's Owen resolved forthwith to obey and so having sent his Men away by Sea to Harfleur himself went on board that good Ship which the King had sent him and set Sail for Spain Whereby the Isle of Garnsey and Cornet-Castle were preserved VIII King Edward was extreamly d Frois c. 301. c. displeased when he heard how the Fleet which he had sent into Poictou with the Earl of Pembroke was overthrown in a Sea-fight by the Spaniards and so many Brave Men and all his Money lost So that all those Parts were left in a manner defenceless And indeed both the King and his Council and all the Wise Men of the Realm concluded that now all Poicto◠and Saintogne were in great likelihood to be lost by reason of that Mischance Wherefore about this weighty Affair much Consultation was held and for the present the King order'd the Earl of Salisbury to go into those Parts with 500 Men of Arms besides Archers But whatever was now determin'd there was no such Matter done For the Affairs of Bretagne coming on presently after put this Business by which thing King Edward repented when it was too late IX The mean while the Spaniards who had taken the Earl of Pembroke were detain'd on the Sea several Days by contrary Winds but however at last they arrived without much loss at the Port of St. Andero in Biscay Where they landed and entred the Town about Noon bringing all their Prisoners into the Castle bound with Chains after the Spanish manner of Treating their Captives Which was far from that Courteous and more Human way of Entercourse held between the French English and Scots of those Days That same Day in the Afternoon arrived in the same Port Owen of Wales who came as we shew'd from the French King to request a Naval Assistance from King Henry of Spain Being landed he went to the Castle where Don Hernando du Leon and Don Cabesso di Vaccadent had placed the Earl of Pembroke and the other Prisoners So that as soon as he was conducted into his Chamber he was informed that in the same House there were several English Captives Owen had a great mind to see these Men and to know who they were and so immediatly went forth into the Hall and as he was going thither encountred the Earl of Pembroke whom he knew very well althô he had seen him but once in his Life before Then he said to him by way of Taunt O Sir Earl of Pembroke are you then at last come into this Country to do Homage unto me for such Lands as you hold in the Principality of Wales whereof I am the True Heir Althô your King hath taken it from me by bad Counsel and rash Advice The Earl of Pembroke was asham'd to see himself a Prisoner and thus affronted in a strange Land by a Man of whom he had no knowledge thô he spake to him in his own Language So he only asked him briefly Pray Sir who are you that give me these Words Why Sir said he I am Owen Son to Edmund Prince of Wales whom your King of England put to Death wrongfully and without title of Reason and hath disinherited me his Son and Heir But I hope shortly to find a Remedy for these Evils by help of my Gracious Lord the King of France And I give you now to understand that if ever I may find you in any place convenient to fight you I shall not fail to do it But then and there I will prove upon your body the Wrong you have done unto me As also I shall prove upon the bodies of the Earl of e He now lately deceased But this Owen might not know Hereford and the Lord Edward Spencer if I may but once light on them For by reason of your Fathers and other bad Counsellors my Lord my Father was betray'd whereat I ought to be displeased and seek amends as soon as I can At this there stept forth a Knight of the Earl of Pembroke's named Sr. Thomas of St. Albans and making haste to speak said Sir Owen if you will say and maintain that my Lord the Earl of Pembroke hath ever done any thing false or unknightly or that he oweth or should owe any Homage to you or to any of your Ancestors cast down your Gage in that Quarrel and you shall soon find him that will take it up To this Owen reply'd scornfully Sir you are a Prisoner I can have no Honour in Challenging you For you are not at your own Dispose but at the Command of those who have taken you However when you shall be at Liberty we shall talk further about this Matter For the Quarrel shall not end thus At which words certain Knights of Spain came between and so parted them asunder Soon after the Spanish Admirals led forth their English Prisoners toward the City of Burgos to present them unto King Henry who then held his Court there He for his part hearing of their Coming sent forth his Eldest Son Prince John who was then stiled the Infant of Castille with an honourable Retinue of Knights and Gentlemen to meet the Englishmen and to do them Honour For this King knew very well what belong'd to Generosity and therefore he himself when they were brought before him shew'd them much Respect and Honour both in Word and Deed as unto Men of High Birth and Merit Thô however within a while after he sent them into several parts of his Realm to be put in safe Custody as having been his Enemies X. Now let us see what became of the Business of Poictou after this loss of the Earl of Pembroke and those who came with him for the Defence of those Parts It may be remembred how that presently after the Spanish Fleet was gone from before Rochell there came thither the Captal of Busche with six hundred
come and yet heard no News of the King. However to acquit themselves to their Power they sent to the Barons of Poictou that were in Thoüars this Message by certain Knights Right Dear Sirs we are sent hither unto you from the Loyal Lords of Gascogne and of England who remain under the Obedience of the King of England to let you know that there are come from Niort above twice twelve hundred Men of Arms ready prepar'd to aid and assist you in all manner of respect Only Sir they desire to know from you whether in the Absence of the King of England and of his Children you will accept of their Assistance or no. As for them they are ready if so it please you to adventure their Lives and Fortunes together with you The Barons of Poicton heartily thanked the Lords of England and of Gascogne who had made them so kind a Proffer but they desired time to consider what in that Case was to be done At first they could not agree for the Lord of Partenay who was a Principal Member among them would have them accept of the Assistance of these Lords who as he said represented the King of England But most of the other Lords were of a contrary Opinion saying How they had sealed and sworn to this Agreement that if by such a Day the King of England or one of his Sons did not appear there Personally in the Field then they should submit themselves to the Obedience of the French King. Upon this Resolution the Lord of Partenay went away to his Lodgings in deep Displeasure but the next Day he was so wheedled by those of the adverse Party that he also became of their Mind And so with one Consent they returned this Answer That they thanked them heartily for their Good-will Notwithstanding the King of England or one of his Sons must needs be there in Person according to the Treaty whereto they had sworn and sealed This Answer was no way pleasing to the English and Gascogners about Niort but they could no ways hope to save them who were thus disposed not to be saved by them XXIII On the Eve of St. Michael there came from Poictiers to hold their appointment before Thoüars the Constable of France the Dukes of Berry Burgunay and Bourbon the Lord Oliver Clisson the Vicount of Rohan the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord Lewis of Sancerre the Lord of Sully and other Great Lords of France to the Number of 10000 Men of Arms besides others This vast Army stood ready ranged in Battle Array in the Field before Thoüars on the Eve and all the day long on the Feast of St. Michael and against Night they withdrew to their Tents But on the Morrow in the Morning the Constable and the Dukes sent to the Knights of Poictou within Thoüars demanding of them to deliver up the City according to their Promise and Oaths in that behalf made To these Summons 't was answer'd how they would shortly come to Poictiers and there submit themselves and all their Lands to the Protection of the French King. This Answer seeming sufficient to the Lords of France they brake up from before Thoüars and the Dukes dismist the greater part of their Army only retaining such competent Forces as they had before they expected King Edward's Arrival Among others the Lord Clisson was appointed by the Constable to go with 200 Spears and attempt Mortaigne on the Severe Nantoise which as then held for England having within sixty Men of Arms for its Defence under the Command of an English Esquire named James Clare The Lord Clisson being come before the Place began a fierce Assault whereat he himself was present but for all that he wan little or no Advantage but at Night was fain to retire to his Camp. The Captain within seeing himself thus put to it sent out secretly to the Lords of England and Gascogne then at Niort telling them that if they would send any Troops thither before Morning he would receive them into his Fortress whereby they might easily pass thrô the Castle into the Lord Clisson's Camp who had with him but 200 Men of Arms. Upon this Notice certain Lords went that Night from Niort with 500 Men of Arms in their Company and so rode on toward Mortaigne being very desirous to entrap the Lord Clisson if they could But there was a spy who knew all their purpose for he came out of Niort with them that Evening and so rode on upon the spur before and came to the Lord Clisson whom he found at Supper and said to him Sir Your Enemies to the Number of 500 Men of Arms have left Niort and are coming upon you apace With that the Lord Clisson thrust away the Table from him and arm'd himself with all speed and mounted his Horse and rode away hastily with all his Company leaving the greater part of the Carriages behind and never stopt till he came to Poictiers And the English having thus failed of their design return'd to Niort in great displeasure Soon after which having left Sr. Dangouses and Sr. John Creswell in garrison there the other great Lords and Captains brake up their assembly at Niort Sr. Walter Hewet with some few more returning into England and all the rest to Bourdeaux But as they went they burnt and ravaged in the Lands of the Lord of Partenay who was lately turn'd French at Thoüars Thus all the Country of Poictou was reduced under the French except a few Fortresses as Niort Les Esars Mortimer Mortaigne Lusignan La Motte Achart La Roche Sur Yonne Gauzar La Tour Landry Mexis and some others which made divers Excursions and Inroads among their Neighbours sometimes chacing and sometimes being chaced themselves XXIV Now the a Frois c. 306. f. 186. sed Gallice f. 254. Lord John of Monford Sirnamed the Valiant who had hitherto full and quiet Possession of the Dukedom of Bretagne his Competitor Charles of Blois being slain as We have shewn was infinitely displeased at these Losses of his Old Friends the English Both Gratitude and Honour made him rather love their Interest since it was truly said that the King of England had advanced him to what he was and that he had had nothing had it not been for Him who all along had made Powerfull War in his behalf and had lent him vast Sums of Silver and Gold and given him his Daughter also in Marriage Wherefore the Duke himself would rather have held his Lands of King Edward than of the French King But the Major part of the Lords Knights and Esquires of that Country were for France in their hearts especially the Lord Clisson the Lord de la Val and the Vicount of Rohan who were the Chief Lords of all that Country and these doubted not to assure the Duke to his Face that he must expect no service of them unless he continued true to France Sir said they as soon as We shall once perceive that You resolve
beyond his usual Custom for the space of five or six Years at which time there fell a new Occasion of Dissention and so the War began again as violently as ever But nothing of this will fall within the Compass of our History which is to end with the Life of King Edward IV. Now while the two Sieges were held by the Frenchmen before Becherel and St. Saviour le Vicount there being a strong Report how Owen of Wales was coming by Sea with 6000 Men of Arms designing to take Land in England and to burn and destroy about in the Country King Edward g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. appointed the Noble Earl of Salisbury William Montagu to guard the English Seas he himself being at that time h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 648. retain'd by Indenture to serve the King with no less than 300 Men of Arms whereof 20 besides himself were Knights and 279 Esquires and 300 Archers Not to mention the several Retinues of the other Lords and Captains with him as Sr. John Montacute Brother to the Earl of Salisbury i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 649. Sr. William Nevil Sr. Philip Courtney Sr. William Lucy Sr. Brian Stapleton and others This Fleet k Dugd. ibid. p. 647. Frois ut ante consisting of Fourty Great Ships besides Barges and of 3000 Men of Arms besides Archers set forth from the Coasts of Cornwall and made directly for the Port of St. Malo in Bretagne Being arrived and finding in the Haven seven huge Spanish Carracks they burnt them all whereat all the whole Country was surprised verily believing that the English had had their Intelligence and Direction from the Duke himself Hereupon in all Towns Castles and Fortresses the Bretons held their Duke in great suspicion and had a stricter Eye to their own Defence than formerly V. Now the Duke's most secret Intentions had before this been fully discover'd to the French King by certain of his own Knights to whom he had let fall some Words in Favour of the King of England and his Title Whereupon he commanded his Constable to undertake an Expedition into Bretagne enjoyning and empowering him to take into his Hands all Towns Cities and Fortresses and to siese on the Bodies and Goods of all that should resist For the l Frois ibid. f. 188. k. sed Gallice f. 257. c. King and his Council had already agreed that the Duke had now forfeited all his Lands as having received his Enemies the English into his Towns and Castles and he also himself took Part with the King of England and had entred an Alliance with Him against the Crown of France of which he held his Dutchy of Bretagne by Faith and Homage So the Constable went from Paris to Angiers where he made his Rendezvous and there came to him thither the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Earl of Perche the Earl of Porcien the Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicounts of Meaux and of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy Sr. Robert de St. Pol Sr. Ralph de Ravenal Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France and at great Number of the Barons and Knights of Vermandois Picardy and Artois besides those that came thither from the Marches of Anjou Poictou and Touraine On the other side the Earl of Salisbury who lay with his Fleet in the Port of St. Malo was well enformed of these mighty Preparations of the Constables and how in a manner all the Dutchy of Bretagne was ready to revolt from the Duke Whereupon he sailed thence till he came to Brest which was one of the strongest Places in the World but threatned as he heard to be besieged by the French Wherefore he reinforced the Place with Men and Victuals VI. A little before this the Duke of Bretagne was gone for England For when he heard how the Constable was coming with such a Power against him He durst not repose any Confidence in the strength of Vannes or of Dinant nor indeed in the strongest Fortress of Bretagne lest the Inhabitants should deliver him up to the French as they had done to his Father before him Wherefore he resolved for England as well to avoid the impending storm as to hasten Succours but first having constituted Sr. Robert Knolles his Deputy Governour of all Bretagne during his Absence he went to visit his Castle of Auray between Vannes and Hennebond which held firm to him still An English Knight named Sr. John Austen being Captain thereof under Him. With this Knight he left the Lady his Wife desiring Him to keep her well which he promised to do against all the World to his Power From Auray the Duke rode to Sr. Matthew du Fine-poterne which undutifully closed her Gates against him wherefore he passed on to le Conquet and there took shipping for England VII The mean while the Constable was come into Bretagne with a great Army to whose Banners there resorted all those Lords and Knights of Bretagne who had been at the Siege before Becherel leaving that affair to be carried on by the Lords of Normandy When the Constable was thus reinforced he went first to Rennes the Inhabitants whereof knowing how their Lord was adjudged by the Peers of France to have forfeited all his Lands and that these Forces were accordingly sent to take them in resolved by no means to stand out against the Constable but without any further Scruple received him peaceably acknowledging him for their Sovereign Lord in the Name of the French King whose Person he now represented Having thus taken Possession of Rennes He presently rode before Dinant which also submitted in like manner so did afterward the Great City of Vannes But Luzemont after a bold Resistance being taken by Force all within were put to the Sword. Thence the Constable went to Jugon which yielded unto him so did Gony en la Forest so did la Roche D'Arien and the Town of Guingand St. Matthew du Fine-Poterne and St. Malo in the Isle After this he took in Quimpercorentin alias Cornovaille then Quimperlay and other Fortresses thereabout all which yielded without a stroke except Quimperlay whereof John Rous an English Esquire was Captain who when the Town was taken was slain by the hands of Sr. Oliver Clisson who for all the Benefits he had formerly received from England did now so hate all Englishmen that he hardly took any to Mercy that once fell into his Hands It was the Constables Resolution first to reduce Bretagne Britonant because that part was always more inclinable to Duke John's Interest than Bretagne Gallicant and therefore he chiefly bestirr'd himself in these parts But now 't is time to see what became of Sr. Robert Knolles who had been made the Duke's Lieutenant of all that Country His Courage was so notable and his Conduct so good that there is no doubt to be made but he would have given the Constable Battle before this had he but had the Hearts of the People But alas His
Noble Company of Men of Arms Bow-men and others And lastly the Third Battail was lead by the Constable the Lord Edward Spencer all Three marching forward in good Order ready arm'd and accoutred at all points as if they expected every Moment to give or receive an Onset And none were permitted to go before the Marshals battail without special Licence it being their Use not to march above three or four Leagues a Day and at Night to lie all together in one Field keeping good Watch like expert Men of War. In this manner they passed by Montrevil whereof the Lord of Hambour was Captain but they gave no Assault there as neither had they done to St. Omers nor Terroüenne But their Van-Currours burnt and ravaged in the Earl of St. Paul's Lands and so came near to Arras the two Dukes being lodged in the Abbey of Mount St. Eloy where they tarried two Days Passing thence they coasted Arras but attempted it not for they thought it would be but lost Labour so to do Thence they went to Bray on the Somme and there the two Marshals made a fierce Assault before the Gates Among others that behav'd themselves notably at that time the Canon Robsart fell'd three Valiant Men to the Earth with his good Sword for the Skirmish was exceeding hot But the Frenchmen behav'd themselves manfully and lost little or nothing there being in the Town many chosen Knights and Esquires of Picardy whose Chief Captains were the Vicount of Meaulx and Sr. Ralph de Menac Wherefore the English Army passed on still coasting the River of Somme with Design to get over at Ham in Vermandois and at St. Quintins four leagues off While thus the Duke of Lancaster who was King Edward's Lieutenant marched along with his Army the Lord of Bossut in Heinalt being come into France chanced to pass by the Bridge of Ham where he was earnestly requested by the Inhabitants to accept of Wages from them and to stay and help to defend them from the English He condescended to their request and tarried there two Days till the Duke of Lancaster's whole Army was gone by for they took their way higher to enter into Vermandois and to get over the River at a straighter Passage But when the Lord of Bossut saw and knew that the Englishmen were all gone by and that they drew toward St. Quintins and Ribemont where his Father-in-Law the Lord of Chinon was at that time the said Lord and himself also in Right of his Wife holding fair Lands and Inheritance thereabout upon these Accounts and because he knew Ribemont was but indifferently provided of Men of War he now took his leave of the Inhabitants of Ham from whom he received many tokens of their Thanks and rode thitherward with that small Company which he had He was certainly in no small Danger all the way for the Land was full of Englishmen so that he was but hardly got into St. Quintins when the English Currours were at the Gates after him There the Lord of Bossut found Sr. William of Bourdes who made him very welcome and desired him to stay there with him but the other shewed such good Reasons that he obtain'd not only free leave to pass on to Ribemont which he said was destitute of a Captain but also twelve Crossbows out of St. Quintins besides those few with him He had rode but little way in the head of this Company when he espied afar off a great Body of English whom nevertheless he easily avoided by taking a lower way on the one side of them for he was well acquainted with the Country As he rode thus in danger enough towards Ribemont he luckily encountred with a Knight of Burgundy called Sr. John Bull who was riding toward St. Quintins but being perswaded by the Lord of Bossut he resolved to go along with him for Ribemont when both together they made up about fourty Men of Arms and twenty Crossbows As thus these two Captains rode toward Ribemont and had sent one before them to give warning to the Townsmen of their coming they saw another Troop of English consisting of about fourscore Men but they all out of Order and straggling as Men that had been scatter'd abroad to find Forage then the Frenchmen cry'd to one another See yonder are our Enemies laden with Plunder let us make hast and partake with them And with that they clapt Spurs to their Horses and set forward a good Gallop crying out Our Lady of Ribemont to the Rescue and so strack in suddenly among the English whom they easily discomfited and slew the most part happy was he that could get away Having given this Overthrow to the English they presently came to Ribemont where they found the Lord of Chinon who was newly come thither with fourty Spears and twenty Crossbows too As these three Captains stood Complementing before the Castle their Men being retired to their Lodgings to unarm they suddenly heard the Watchman crying out To Arms to Arms the Enemy is coming At this they drew their Men together again and demanded of the Watchmen what Number he thought they might be He answer'd that according to his judgment they were about Fourscore Men of Arms. Then said the Lord of Bossut Gentlemen 't is fit we go forth and fight them for 't would reflect upon us to permit them to come so near to our Fortress without calling them in Question Well said my Fair Son quoth the Lord of Chinon cause our Horses to be brought forth there and display abroad my Banner My Lords said Sr. John Bull you shall not go without me But however my Advice is that we be not too rash For perhaps these are but Forerunners of the English Marshals or the Constable's Battail to entice us from our Hold and if so our Sallying forth may turn to our Disadvantage Said the Lord Bossut if You 'll follow my Counsel we will go forth and fight that briefly Fall out what will I am resolved to meet them With that they all Three clapt on their Helmets mounted their Horses and sallied forth with ſ Frois c. 310. fol. 191. Sixscore Men in their Company the English being about ſ Frois c. 310. fol. 191. Fourscore all of Sr. Hugh Calverley's Troops but Sr. Hugh himself was not there he rode with the Duke of Lancaster however there were about six Knights and many Esquires among them all who came thither to revenge their Fellows that had been overthrown a little before by the Lord of Bossut and Sr. John Bull. As soon as e'r the Frenchmen were out of the Gate they met with the English who couching their Spears ran in among them but the Fronch readily open'd to the Right and Left and so gave them free Passage Whereupon with the quick Motion of their Horses feet there arose such a Dust that for the present they could hardly see or know one another The mean while the Frenchmen wisely closed themselves together and crying
was marching Wherefore he desir'd that for the present he might be let alone on Condition that neither He nor His should make any War unless some Violence was offer'd on the French part But that if the Heritors and Lords of Gascogne should be reduced by him then he also would yield up unto him and in all things do as they should do To this the Duke agreed receiving of the Abbot Hostages for his true performance which Pledges he sent to Perigueux and so drew toward the Town of Lourde in Bigorre to which he laid his Siege and then summon'd the Garrison to yield The Townsmen would willingly have agreed to the motion but the Knight that govern'd the Place said stoutly That since the Earl of Foix had deliver'd it to his Care he was resolv'd by no means to resign it up into the hands of any other Person living With which answer the Constable and the Duke of Anjou were so nettled that they commanded a general Assault to be made So that at last the Place was carried by force and the Captain and most of his Men slain with all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children and the Town rased and given up to the Plunder Nevertheless they left a Garrison in the Castle at their Departure Thence they Marched into the Lands belonging to Chastel Bon ravaging all about as far as Chastelneuf which they took and thence Marching toward Bearn they enter'd the Land of the Lord of Lescar whence they rode till they came before a good strong Town and Castle named Sailles which held of the County of Foix thô all the Lands and Arrierefiefs lay in Gascogne The Black-Prince before his Expedition into Spain had intended to call the Earl of Foix to an Account because he paid not his Duties unto him for this Place And now also the Duke of Anjou who had by this time reduced in a manner all Aquitain and look'd upon himself as Master thereof resolv'd by any means to have this Place also So he laid his Siege unto Sailles which was not at all easie to be won and beside there was within a Valiant and Expert Captain named Sr. William de Pons When the Earl of Foix heard how the Frenchmen conquer'd in his Lands and Arrierefiess which in reason he ought to hold either of the French King or of the King of England he sent for the Vicount of Chastel Bon for the Lords of Mont Marsan of Chastelneuve and Lescar with the Abbot of St. Sever who being all come to him he purchas'd a safe-Conduct and so went before Sailles to the Duke of Anjou with the foresaid Lords in his Company There at last he agreed with the Duke That both He and they with all their Lands should remain in perfect Peace till the midst of August or the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary At which time there should appear before the Town of Moissac on the Tarne in the Province of Quercy an Army of the French Kings or of the King of England's part And if the English Army could keep the Field then they would hold their Lands of the King of England and if the French Army could keep the Field that day either by Battle or Non-appearance of the Enemy then they would hold their Lands of the King of France for ever Which Covenant faithfully to perform both the Earl of Foix and the other Lords gave sufficient security and so the Duke of Anjou brake up his Siege and went back to Perigueux with his whole Army For he would not let a Man be disbanded IV. But however Pope Gregory XI did now so double his Diligence in plying the Christian Work of Peacemaking by his Legates that at last a Treaty began between the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Anjou assurances being given to the latter at Perigueux for the Former held himself as Chief being Regent as he said for the King of England his Father So at last a firm Truce was agreed on to be held faithfully and without Fraud between Them and all their Friends Vassals and Assistants untill the last day of August the Two Dukes engaging to be present in the Marches of Picardy about the beginning of September in Order to prolong the said Truce the Duke of Lancaster at Calais and the Duke of Anjou at St. Omers Which Truce being thus taken the said Duke of Lancaster with the Duke of Bretagne the Earls of Warwick Suffolk and Stafford the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Chanon Robsart the Lord Willoughby and other Lords and Knights both of England and Gascogne went on board at Bourdeaux on the Eighth of July and set sail for England Upon f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 115. Walsing hist p. 183. n. 40. which Return of the Duke of Lancaster the People of those Parts almost totally revolted nothing being left in Aquitaine but Bourdeaux and Bayonne In Bretagne also the Captains of Becherel as Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who had now kept that Fortress a full Year against the French that besieged them when they heard how the Duke of Bretagne was gone back into England and that now they had no hopes of any timely Succour especially since their Victuals was almost spent upon Mature Advice resolved to treat with their Enemies and to come to some agreeable Composition The Lords of Bretagne and Normandy that lay there at Siege as the Lord of Hambie Stoneville Blanville and Granville were by this time very weary and would willingly enter into any kind of Treaty but they thought best to know the French Kings Mind first and when they found that he agreed to allow their Treaty they determin'd the Matter thus That if the Duke of Bretagne or some other from the King of England did not come personally between that time and the Feast of All-Saints then next coming strong enough to raise the Siege then they within were to yield up the Place their Lives and Goods saved Which was done accordingly None appearing at the time appointed in their behalf and Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard with their Men and Goods took the Sea and return'd for England V. When g Frois c. 312. the Middle of August drew near which was the time limited for the Decision of High Gascogne to be made before Moissac the Duke of Anjou drew thitherward with an huge Army and kept the Field before the Place six days together All which time no body appeared for King Edward For the English all thought that because of the Truce lately taken between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster which was to hold to the last of August the Design about Moissac was to be given over But the Duke of Anjou and his Council were it seems of another Mind and resolved to take all Advantages they could without troubling their Heads with unprofitable Scruples of Honour Faith and Justice So when the Duke of Anjou saw once the Feast
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâ—gree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâ—imus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
moi na si Veritie non Et st ore me veissez Ie me quide pas qe vous deissez Ne je eusse onques home este Si su je ore de tant changee Pour Dieu priez au Celestien Roy Ne Mercie ait de l'alme de Moy Touz ceulx qe pur Moy prietont Du a Ditu m' accorderont Dieu les mette en son Paradis Du nul ne poet estre chetiss Thou who silent passest by Where this Corse interr'd doth lie Hear what to thee I now shall show Words that from Experience flow As thou art once the World saw Me As I am so thou once shalt be I little could my Death divine When Life's bright Lamp did sweetly shine Vast Wealth did o'r my Coffers flow Which I as freely did bestow Great store of Mansions I did hold Land Wardrobes Horses Silver Gold. But now I am of all bereft And deep in Ground alone am left My once admired Beauty 's gone My Flesh is wasted to the Bone. A Narrow House doth me contain All that I speak is True and Plain And if you should behold Me here You ' ld hardly think I justly fear That e'r the World to me did bow I am so chang'd and alter'd now For God's sake pray to Heaven's High King To shade my Soul with Mercy 's Wing All those that try on bended Knee To reconcile my God and Me God place them in his Paradise Where neither Death can be nor Vice. The Judicious Reader will attribute the Weakness of these Lines to the Age wherein they were made but surely this Hero's Victories at CRESSEY POICTIERS and NAJARA in Spain shall prove both a more Elegant Epitaph and a more Durable Monument to his Name V. When his Dear Friend the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who was still a Prisoner at Paris heard of his Death he began to neglect himself and at last abandon'd all Care of the World or hopes of Life or Liberty insomuch that it is said he abstain'd from Sustenance and gradually pin'd away thrô Excess of Grief for the loss of so Brave a Commander VI. Thus his Friends both at home and abroad took the Death of this Gallant Worthy for indeed he was of so Obliging a Character that he won the Hearts of all Mankind especially of those who delighted in Martial Performances and in General He was a Prince of such Excellent Demeanour r Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 315. so Valiant Wise and Politick in his Doings that the very perfect Image of Knighthood appear'd most lively in his Person And such was his Towardliness or rather Perfection in Princely Government that every Man judg'd if he had lived to attain the Crown he would surely have exceeded the Glorious Renown of all his Ancestors He left behind him one onely Son Richard sirnamed of Bourdeaux then in the Tenth Year of his Age and after the Death of his Grandfather King of England by the Name of Richard the Second But in all Probability he had left a more Numerous Issue but for the Spanish Expedition for from that time that he left Spain where first he was infected with that fatal Malady he never had any more Children thô before that he had two Sons within the Compass of two Years But it is reported that he had also Å¿ Sr. Rich. Baker's Chron. p. 143. Mr. Ashmole p. 676. Sandford's Gen. Hist p. 189. ex l. 10. s 39. lib. in Collegio Armâ—rum two Natural Sons Sr. John Sounder of whom we read nothing and Sr. Roger Clarendon to the latter whereof he gave by his Will a Silk Bed with all the Furniture thereunto belonging He became afterwards one of the Knights of the Chamber to his Half-Brother King Richard the Second and bare for his Arms Or on a Bend Sable Three Ostrich Feathers Argent the Quills transfixed thrô as many Scroles of the first being as is thought Ancestor to the Family of the Smiths in Essex VII On Wednesday t M.S. Râ—t Par. p. 120. § 40. St. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 123. n. 41. §. 42. which was the Day after St. John Baptist or the 25 of June at the earnest request of the Commons there came into open Parliament before the Lords the Young Lord Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir of Edward late Prince of Wales and so consequently Heir Apparent of the Realm of whom after the Archbishop of Canterbury had spoken Words of Commendation the Commons with one Voice prayed that the Lords would make him Prince of Wales as his Father was But the Lords with more Discretion answer'd that it lay not in them but in the King only so to do to whom however they promised to be Mediators for that purpose But because the King was sick at Eltham the Lords and Commons went thither about the Premises and to have a Confirmation and Answer to these Petitions which follow Petitions of the Commons with the King's Answer That the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest may be kept in all points The King granteth thereto That the Sheriffs in all their Returns of any Inquest do return the most Honest and Nighest Neighbours and that in every weighty Cause the Sheriff be sworn to view the Panel before he return the same The Statute therefore made shall be executed and withall adjoyned to the Oath of every Vnder-Sheriff that He in his own Person shall survey the Panel before he return the same A Motion was made that all Liberties granted to any Mystery or Occupation in any City or Town be revoked and no more granted so as the Mayor and Bayliffs of every City and Town may see things amended But this was quash'd before it came to the King. That divers Commissions for Extortions or such like granted heretofore to sundry Persons of Evil Name may be Repealed and no such granted hereafter but to Lords and others of best Reputation in their Countries The King granteth thereunto and that no such Commissions be hereafter made but to the Justices Serjeants and others Learned in the Law. For the saving of Salmons and other Fry of Fish in the Thames almost destroy'd by certain Engines as the King himself hath often found that therefore all Trunks between London and the Sea may be overthrown and that no Salmon be taken between Gravesend and Henley upon Thames in the u i.e. Spawning time à Belgico Kippen pullos edere ova ezcladere Kipper-time viz. between the x Inventio Crucis 3 Maii Epiphania 6 Januarii Invention of the Cross and the Epiphany and that no Nets be laid in the Thames unless the same be of large Mash of Assize The Statutes therefore made shall be kept and Commission given out for enquiring after the same That the Wears upon the River Brent in the County of Middlesex a parcel of the Thames be taken away The Statutes therefore made shall be executed That all those Lombards called Broakers who only maintain Usury
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