a Knight by the King of England with a Grant of 200 l. per annum so we shall find that he was again Knighted by the Prince of Wales his own Hands with an Allowance from him of an 100 Marks per annum more as will fully appear from an Instrument made unto him c Vid. ad An. Reg. 23. eight Years after this by the Prince himself and two Years after confirmed by the King Thô the second Knighthood was as I suppose that he was then made Banneret After this King Edward marched forward till he came to the Abby of St. Martin where he tarried two Days his People lying abroad in the Country where they made great Havock of all things and the Duke of Brabant was lodged in another Abby hard by The King of France being d Frois c. 39. still at Compeigne a City of Valois when he heard of King Edwards approach towards him enforced his Summons and presently dispatch'd away the Lord Ralph Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes his Constable to St. Quintin a chief City of Picardy to keep the Town and Frontiers there against his Enemies the Lord William de Coucy he sent to defend his own Lands and the Lord of Hesdin unto his besides many other Men of Arms which he sent to Guise and to Ribemont to Bethune and the Fortresses joyning to the Frontiers He for his part went for Perone intending there to make his general Rendezvous Now while King Edward lay at the Abby of Mount St. Martin his Men overran all the Country as far as Bapaume and almost to Perone it self and to St. Quintin They found the Country rich and plentifull for it had seen no War of many years It chanced among many other Adventures too long to be rehearsed that the young Sr. Henry of Flanders being desirous to behave himself worthy of the Knighthood he had lately received together with other Knights whose chief Leader was the Lord John of Hainalt and in his Company his Friend the Lord Faulquemont the Lord of Begues the Lord of Landrecy the Lord of Lens and divers Others the whole amounting to 500 Men of Arms these altogether took notice of a Town thereabouts call'd Hondecourt wherein many of the Country People were gather'd together in trust of the Strength of the Place and had thither convey'd all their best Moveables Sr. Arnold of Baquehen and Sr William of Dunnort with their Men had well view'd the Place before and had given it o're as not hoping to do any good there For the Captain of the Place was an Abbot of great Wisdom Strength and Valour and he had caused to be set overthwart the street without the Town strong Barriers of Timber in manner of a Grate every Bar being about half a foot thick and near a foot distant from each other Within which were great quantities of Stones Quick-lime and other Ammunition and sufficient numbers of good hardy Souldiers to defend the Place But when the foresaid Lords came thither they alighted from their Horses and came boldly on foot to the Barriers with their Swords in their Hands where they made a brave Assault and were as resolutely received by them that were within There stood the Abbot himself arm'd at all points who gave and took many a shrew'd Blow that day and they within cast out stones pieces of Timber Pots full of burning Lime Pitch and Tarr wherewith they hurt many of the Assailants But Sr. Henry of Flanders was still close at the Barriers foyning and striking lustily with his good Sword till the Abbot with his Gauntlets took hold of his sword in both his hands so forcibly that at last he laid hold on Sr. Henry's Arm and drew it to him thrô the Barriers up to the shoulder nor is it to be doubted but he had drawn Sr. Henry's Body thrô had the space been wide enough he was of so great strength Yet for all this Sr. Henry would not let go his Sword thô to save his Life which he valued not equally with his Honour But at the same time the other Knights and Esquires that were next him laid all at once at the Abbot so that by long contending at last they rescued Sr. Henry but the Sword was left behind Which Sword says Sr. John Froisard as I passed that way sometime after the Monks of the Abby shew'd me as a Rarity in memory of so valiant an Abbot This Assault endured thus till Night and many were slain and hurt on both sides especially a Knight of Holland belonging to the Lord John of Hainault whose name was Min Heer van Herment he among Others was slain and many were wounded grievously After all therefore when the Flemish Heinalders English and Almains saw the great Obstinacy and Resolution of those that were within and how they were like to get nothing there but what would cost them very dear they withdrew from the Assault toward night and returned to the Camp. Now on Monday the 4 of October C Dom. Lit. at the instant request of the Duke of Brabant to admit of a Treaty of Peace with France at Mount St. Martin e Ashmole p. 650. ex Pat. Concess hominib Angl. Vascon 13 Ed. 3. m. 12. the King grants unto the said Duke Power in his Name to give safe Conduct to such Persons as he should think fit to come on the French Kings Behalf and meet with his Commissioners at any Place within two or three Leagues from his Camp to treat of Peace the same Power to continue till the Friday following being the 8 of October and all that day but nothing to purpose being then effected I shall pass this matter by While King Edward lay here among Others whom he advanced to divers Honours as well Foreigners as English conceiving f Ex aptis Juventutis ejus auspiciis circumspectionis elegantiae praesagium concepimus Lit. Patent apud Selden Titles of Honor. p. 644. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 576. a great Hope from the forward Youth Strength Air and Beauty of Sr. Lawrence Hastings a noble Baron of this Realm at that time but just arrived to full Age he resolved to spurr on his promising Vertue by the incentives of Honour Wherefore considering that he was descended from the Lady Isabella Eldest Sister and at last Coheir with Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke he declared and by Charter constituted him Earl of Pembroke with the Prerogative and Honour of a Count-Palatine as appears by the Letters Patents bearing Date apud Montem Martini 13º Octob. Anno Regni 13. Anno Domini 1339. The * 14 Octob. next Morning King Edward went from Mount St. Martin commanding on pain of Death as well in piety towards God as in gratitude to the Monks his Hosts that no man should presume to do any harm or injury to the Abby Then they entred Vermandois and that day took up their Quarters betimes on the Mount of St. Quintin in good Order of
choice ones Another p Frois c. 6◠fol. 33. b. time the Earl of Hainalt went forth with a Detachment of 600 Men of Arms and having burnt many small Villages which now have no Name passed the River Scarpe hard by Haynon and went into France to a great and rich Abby and Town called Marchiennes which was defended by Sr. Emery of Vernaulx and certain Crossbows from Doway Here the Earl began a fierce Assault at the First Gate which the Captain had well fortified with large and deep Ditches and now with his Frenchmen and the Monks defended the Place nobly But as the Earl was fighting here another Party of English and Hainalders went in Boats and Barges to another Quarter where finding a more easie Entrance they got all into the Abby having only lost one German Knight named Sr. Bacho de la Ware of the Lord of Valkenbergs Retinue who was by ill fortune drowned The mean while the Earl his Uncle and the Seneschal of Hainault prevail'd also thô with more adoe at the great Gate so that the Captain and all his Men were either slain or taken the Monks for the most part being taken alive but the Abby and Town were plunder'd and burnt to the ground After which the Earl return'd again to Tournay Thus during the Siege the Englishmen and their Allies rode forth to seek Adventures insomuch that they destroy'd as some say q Walsingh hist p. 136 n 20. Hypod. p. 115. Fox p. 348. 300 Towns and Villages slew more than a 1000 Men of Arms and took many more Prisoners besides much Booty Thô some Reader may already be offended with this Prolixity yet I must not omit one more memorable Adventure which happen'd at the Bridge of Cressin both because the Lord Monmorency a most considerable Person on the French Part was there taken and also because the late Success of the Lord Robert Bailleul's at the same place was now well required by those of the English Party One day during this Siege before Tournay r Frois c. 61. there was an Adventure undertaken by the Lord of Ronderendence and Sr. John his Son Sr. Arnold Baquehen Sr. Reginald Descouvenort Sr. Rorant Dastô Sr. Baldwin van Basten and Candrelyer his Brother Sr. Stauren van Leurne and an hardy Esquire named John Randeberg with many other Lords Knights and Esquires of the Dutchy of Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers Besides these there were certain Knights Batchelors as Sr. Floren van Beaurien Sr. Latas de la Hay Marshal of this Detachment Sr. John of Hainalt the Bastard Sr. Oliver van Guistells Sr. Robert Cleves and divers others of Hainalt and the Neighbouring Countries to the Number of 340 Men of Arms All who rode forth one Morning early toward the Bridge of Cressin which they passed without any Encounter Being got over they consulted what course to take and it was resolv'd that the Frenchmens Quarters were to be beaten up So the Lord of Ronderendence Sr. Henry van Keukren Sr. Tilman Soussy Sr. Oliver van Guistells Sr. John the Bastard of Hainalt Sr. Robert Cleves and Jaquelet of Thyaulx with his Brother were appointed with 40 Spears only to go and perform that Exploit And the other Knights and Esquires to the Number of 300 Spears were to stay at the Bridge foot to make good their Retreat Those that were appointed to that purpose went forward accordingly and strack suddenly into the Skirts of the Host overthrowing Tents and Pavilions and killing and wounding the Frenchmen That Night two great Barons of France to wit the Lord of Monmorency and the Lord of Salieu had kept the Watch on that part of the Camp which lay nearest to the Bridge who hearing the noise came presently with their Banners before them to the Scuffle Upon sight of them the Lords of Almain wisely drew off and made back toward the Bridge But the French follow'd them so closely at the heels that the Lord Oliver van Guistells who being purblind could not keep his course right was taken Prisoner and with him the two Brethren Jaquelet and Mondrope of Thyaulx And yet those in the Reer of the Almains could plainly hear the Language of the Frenchmen calling after them and saying Gentlemen you must not think to escape thus Whereupon one said to the Lord Ronderendence Sir have a Care what you do for I fear the French will gain the Bridge before us Well said he thô they know one way I know another and therewithall he struck off on the Right hand and took a by way which brought him and his Company to the River But by the late descent of Waters the River was now so deep and environ'd with Marshes that it was too Hazardous to attempt to pass over that way Wherefore after a while they were fain to return toward the Bridge again This mean while the Frenchmen had rode a full Gallop toward the Bridge not caring to follow them in their by-way as knowing they could find no Passage but rather resolving to take the Bridge before their Return and so to intercept them But when now they came near and saw that great Company which were left to make good the others Retreat at the foot of the Bridge they were abashed and said to one another We here pursue others too indiscreetly since We thus may lose more than We can possibly Win. Upon which consideration divers of them return'd back again and particularly the Lord of Salieu with all his Men and his Banner before him But for all this the Lord Charles of Monmorency rode still with his Banner and Retinue forward saying he would by no means retire till he had tasted what kind of Men they were So there began a fierce Rencounter between the French and the Almains and many were overthrown on both sides But as the Skirmish grew warm and was yet doubtfull there came on at the Frenchmens backs the other Almains that had return'd from the River with the Lord Ronderendence when they saw they could not get over because of the Marishes So that now the Frenchmen were enclosed among their Enemies The Lord Reginald Descouvenort knew the Lord Monmorency by his Banner under which he beheld him fighting valiantly wherefore he came up suddenly on his Right side and with his Left hand catch'd fast hold of his Horses Bridle and so drew him after him out of the Preass Yet all the while the Lord Monmorency strack at him many Weighty blows some whereof he defended and some he was fain to receive being well Arm'd at all Points But at last he made shift to take him Prisoner with his own hands for the Lord Monmorency had his Horse no longer in his own Government Besides him the Almains took at this time no less than fourscore Knights and Esquires and after a full Victory return'd in safety to the Camp before Tournay VII Now during these two Sieges held by King Edward and his Forces at one time before
way or other He therefore would expect them all there again on the Third of August following at the farthest because the time of Action began to wear away To this Appointment having all agreed they took leave of the King who tarried still at Antwerp being lodged in the Abbey some of his Lords tarrying with him to bear him Company while others rode about the Country at great expence to negotiate the Kings Affairs and to gain the favour of the People as also to divert themselves and satisfie their Curiosity As for the Duke of Brabant he went to the City of Louvaine about seven Leagues East of Antwerp from whence he sent frequent Messages to the French King Requesting that he would not entertain any Suspicion of him nor give Credit to any idle Rumors For he assured him that he would by no means make any Alliance or Agreement to his Disadvantage Thô as he said the King of England being his Cosin-German he could not in Honour refuse him the Civility of his Country Thus the Duke of Brabant endeavouring to keep in with both Kings was really a Friend to neither but we shall see how he behaves himself now to King Edward The Third of August came and all the other Lords return'd to Antwerp except the Duke whereat the rest taking occasion said that as for their parts they and their Men were ready provided the Duke of Brabant would be as ready on his Part for he was nearer than they that being his Country That therefore when they should understand that he was fully provided they would not be one jot behind him With this tergiversation of theirs King Edward was inwardly very much displeased r Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. for he found no sincerity nor Honour in any one of them except the Earl of Gueldre and he privately told the Bishop of Lincoln and his Council that he had not been well advised hitherto However he immediately sent this their Answer to Louvain to the Duke of Brabant urging the Matter home to him and requiring him as his Friend Kinsman and Ally and as a Christian and a Man of Honour to deal sincerely and heartily with him for hitherto he said he very well perceived that he was but cold in the Matter and that he justly feared unless he grew more warm and shew'd more concern for the Cause he should loose the Assistance of all the other Lords of Almaine The Duke being thorougly awaken'd with this Alarm began to consider more seriously on the Matter that King Philip had been severe and cruel to him King Edward his Friend and able to be his Protector that he was ty'd to him not only on the account of Allyance but in Honour having passed his Word and contracted to be on his side only he fear'd that if the Rest of the German Lords should fall off he might be left a Prey to Philips anger Wherefore he at last declared to King Edward ſ Frois ibid. that now he was fully determin'd to be as ready as any One in his service only he desired once more to speak with the foresaid Lords altogether So that they were sent for again the time of their meeting fix'd about the middle of August the Place to be t Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 234. Halle a strong Town of Hainalt on the very Borders of Brabant distant from Brussels but four English Miles thrô which the River Senne sends a small current and this Place was judged the fittest because the young Earl of Hainalt and his Uncle Lord John of Beaumont might be there In short the Result of this Parliament at Halle was this the Lords having again consider'd on the Premises found themselves so bent on King Edward's Service that they thought they never should desert him unless compell'd by the Emperour to whom only they ow'd Allegiance Wherefore in the Name of himself and all the Rest the Duke of Brabant spake thus to King Edward Sir we of our selves cannot find any just Cause all things consider'd to defie the French King without the Consent of the Emperour our Soveraign Lord or that he would Command Us so to do in his Name For long since in a Covenant mutually Sworn and Sign'd between France and Germany there is an Article that no King of France should take or hold any thing belonging of Right to the Empire Notwithstanding which Obligation this King Philip hath taken the Castle of Creveceur in Cambresis and the Castle of Alves in Bailleul u Mezeray Palencour and also the City of Cambray it self So that the Emperour has good Reason on his side to break with the king of France And Sir if you can obtain his Consent it will be more for our Honour otherwise the World will say that without the Imperial Authority the Lords of Almaine Commenced an unjust War having no Provocation thereto III. This Request appear'd but reasonable to the King wherefore he appointed the Marquess of Juliers with certain English Knights and Men Learned in the Laws together with some of the Earl of Gueldre's Council to go to the Emperour about the Premises Only the Duke of Brabant would by no means send any body in his Name because he would not be known to stir in the business till things should be ripe He stood in such fear of the King of France ever since that Quarrel about the Lord Robert of Artois of which we spake in the 7th Year of King Edward But yet however he freely Resign'd his stately Castle of Louvain to the King of England to lie in and to use as his own during his Royal Pleasure The Marquess and his Company found the Emperour at Flourebeche where they did their Message to him so well that together with the Perswasions of the Lady Margaret the Empress who was Sister to Queen Philippa of England he was willing to grant King Edward's Request for which end he desired an Enterview with him and immediately created the Earl of Reginald Duke of Gueldre and the Marquess William Earl of Juliers thô x Speeds Chron. p. 564. §. 81. some say this was done afterward by King Edward their Kinsman when he was Vicar of the Sacred Empire King Edward the mean while kept his Court with great Splendor at Louvain being lodged himself in the Castle for his better security since the City was Commanded thereby From hence he sent a considerable Part of his Forces into England as having little occasion for them yet to defend the Frontiers against the Scots At the same time he kindly invited his Beloved Queen to come over to him if she so pleased for he sent her word he was determin'd not to leave those Parts for the space of a Year at least The Queen shortly after went over to the King her Husband being then Great with Child of which being a Male she was happily deliver'd at y Walsingh Hypod p. 114 Hist p. 132. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. Leland Coll.
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hâ—nor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdâ—rfii Annales de hâ—c anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâ—cum fuisse Confluentias alâ—i Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
Battle The Men of War and others in St. Quintins might easily discern their Banners but they had no great desire to disturb them They thought it sufficient if they might preserve themselves So that thô the Van-currours of the English Host came riding up to the Barriers to skirmish none yet came out against them The next day the Lords of the Kings Council debated which way they should proceed and by advice of the Duke of Brabant they resolv'd for la Tierasche because that way their Provision came in most plentifully And if King Philip followed them as they thought he would most certainly do then they were determin'd to expect him in the plain Fields and there to give him Battle Thus they marched forward in three Great Battalia's the English Marshals and the Germans made up the First the King of England led the Main and the Duke of Brabant brought up the Reer In this Order they rode forth burning and wasting the Country for three or four Leagues a day but always they took up their Lodgings betimes One Brigade of English and Germans passed the River of Somme by the Abby of Vermand and wasted and overran the Country all above Another under the Lord John of Hainault the Lord of Faulquemont and Sr. Arnold of Baquehen rode to Origny St Bennet a good Town and a rich but it was not greatly fortified so that it was presently taken by Assault and Plunder'd an Abby of Nuns being violated and the Town it self fired Then the Army proceeded toward Guise and Ribemont but the King lodged at Vehortes and staid there one day while his Men overran and destroy'd the Country all about The next Day the King took the way to la Flemenguere to go to Lesche in Tierasche and the Marshals and the Bishop of Lincoln with 500 Spears passed the River of Oyse and entred into Laonnois toward the Lands of the Lord William of Coucy where they destroy'd St. Gawen and the Town of Marle with Fire At night they lodged in the Valley beside Laon and the next Day they drew again to the main Host For they had found by examination of their Prisoners that the French King was come to St. Quintins with an Hundred Thousand Men and intended there to pass the Somme and follow King Edward to fight him But in the return to the Army they fired a great Town called Cressy sur Serre with many other Towns and Hamlets thereabout As for the Lord John of Hainault and his Company who were 500 Spears they went to Guise where they burnt the Town and beat down the Mills And thô Sr. John found within the Fortress his own Daughter the Lady Jane Wife to Lewis Earl of Blois who begg'd of him to spare the Inheritance of his Son-in-Law the Earl her Husband yet for all that he proceeded in what he had begun and utterly destroy'd all but the Fortress and then returned to the King whom he found at the Abby of Sarnaques and still his Men rode about to fetch in Prey for the Army and to spoil the Enemies Country Among others the Lord of Falquemont with an hundred Spears went to Plommion a considerable Town in Tierasche which he found empty for the Inhabitants were fled into a great Wood having carried all their Goods with them and had fortified themselves in the Wood by felling of Trees round about them The Almains having first set fire to the Town rode thither and beheld their manner of Defence but here they met with Sr. Arnold Baquehen and his Company who joyning together assayled them there in the Wood The Townsmen defended themselves to their power but these were Men of War and by removing the Timber on one hand and offering to set it on fire on the other presently drove them to flight having in the Medly slain and grievously wounded little more than 40 or 50 of them but all that ever they had was left behind a prey to the Conquerour Thus on all hands was the Country overran for they did what they pleased and as yet found no manner of impeachment g Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. thô they had burnt near a 1000 Towns and Villages When this Havock began to be made in France on h Knighton p. 2574. Stow p. 235. St. Matthew's Festival at night the Lord Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice of England led the Cardinal Bernard de Monte Faventio who had so boldly insulted to King Edward of the strength of France up into an high Tower shewing him the Frontiers of that Kingdom where for about 14 or 15 leagues together it seem'd as if all the Country was on a light fire Whereupon Sr. Geoffry said to the Cardinal My Lord what thinketh your Eminence now Doth not this Silken Line wherewith you say France is encompassed seem to you in great danger of being crack'd if not broken The Cardinal was so amaz'd that he answer'd nothing but fell down as Dead for sorrow and fear About this time there was i Odoric Rainal ad hunc an § 10 ex Tom. 5. Epist secr 417. brought to King Edward in his Camp a Letter from the Pope bearing Date from Avignon the iv of the Ides of Octob. Anno Pontificatus v to the Substance whereof was to let him know the great Propensity of the Roman See to his Person and Welfare the Edicts and Sentences set forth against Lewis of Bavaria and how assiduously he had sought to reduce him to the Bosom of the Church and advising him not any longer to cleave or adhere unto Him or his Interest till he should be reconciled to the Church because of those heavy Penalties which were denounced against Him and his Adherents into which himself was thereby plunged That Lewis was not really Emperour nor any of his Actions valid or done by Imperial Authority that he moved War unjustly against the Bishop and People of Cambray to which he then laid Siege that therefore he must not suffer these things in silence but unless he would reform himself and forbear those Courses he should be obliged thô unwilling to proceed against him according to the extent of his Apostolick Power By that time this Letter was received King Edward had as we shew'd rais'd his Siege from before Cambray and was now enter'd into the French Pale with Fire and Sword. VIII In this manner King Edward passed through France for about the space of 5 Weeks and he so scoured the Country with his Armies that in a manner all the Lands of k Stow ibid. Cambresis Vermandois Tierasche and Laonnois and other Parts of Picardy and Artois were wholly wasted except those Cities which were sworn to him with Churches and Monasteries which he spared for Devotion or Castles which were too strongly fortified The Inhabitants of the Country fled on all hands nor was there any that offer'd to resist him Thô the French King had gather'd several great Armies some being dispersed about in Walled Towns and
made shift to escape to the Camp where they related the whole Matter At this such as were most ready rose up to Rescue the Prey which they overtook near the Barriers of the Town And here began a fierce skirmish the Nantois being hard put to it by reason of the Numbers that flow'd in upon them from the Camp but however some of them took the Horses out of the Wagons upon the first approach of the Enemy and drove them in at the Gate that the Frenchmen might not easily drive back the Provision Hereupon Fresh Men came out of the City to relieve their Companions so the Fray multiplied and many were slain and hurt on both sides for Recruits continually came both from the Camp and City Wherefore the Lord Henry du Leon the Earl of Monford's Chief Captain perceiving that by continuing the Fight in this Manner he might by Degrees engage the whole City with the whole Army without any Advantage of his Walls and other Works thought best to sound a Retreat now before it grew worse But then the pursuit was so close upon their heels that more than 200 of the Burgesses were taken and slain Wherefore the Earl Monford when the business was over blamed Sr. Henry du Leon very severely for Retreating so soon At which unseasonable Reproof Sr. Henry who had hitherto been his Main Support was infinitely disgusted and for the future came not to any Council of War as his Manner was Which made many to wonder what his Design should be Soon * Frois c. 72. after this Mischance 't is said that some of the Chief Burgesses considering how their substance went daily to wreck both without and within the City and that already several of their Friends and Children were Prisoners if no worse and that themselves were in no less Danger privately agreed together to hold a Treaty with the Lords of France This Plot was carried on so closely by the connivance at least of Sr. Henry du Leon that it was concluded all the Prisoners should be deliver'd they in Lieu thereof engaging to set open their Gates that the French Lords might enter and take the Earl of Monford's Person in the Castle without doing any harm to the City the Inhabitants or their Goods Some lay all this Contrivance and the Menagement thereof to Sr. Henry du Leon's Charge who had been One of the Earls Privy-Counsellors his Friend and Chief Captain till that unhappy Accident whereby the Earl was provok'd to take him up so roundly However according to this Device so one Morning early it was effected The French Lords found easie entrance went straight to the Castle brake open the Gates and there took the Unhappy Earl Prisoner and led him clear out of the City into their Field without doing any further harm in the World This happen'd about the Feast of All-Saints in the Year of our Lord MCCCXLI After this the Lords of France and Sr. Charles of Blois enter'd the City again with great Triumph and there all the Burgesses and others did Fealty and Homage to the Lord Charles of Blois as to their Right Sovereign and True Duke of Bretagne For three Days they all continued here in great Jollity and Feasting because of this their unexpected Success After which the Lord Charles was advised to tarry thereabout till the next Summer and to set Captains in the places he had won But most of the other Lords return'd to Paris with the Earl of Monford their Prisoner XI Now Margaret the Countess of Monford who had the Courage of a man and the heart of a Lion was in the City of Rennes at what time her Lord was taken and althô she had a due sense of this great Misfortune yet she bore a good Countenance Recomforted her Friends and Souldiers and shewing them her little Son John said Gentlemen be not overmuch dismay'd at this mischance of my Lord the Earl whom We have unhappily lost He was but a Mortal Man and so all our hope ought not to rest on him But behold this my little Son who by the Grace of God shall be his Restorer and your Benefactor I have Riches enough so that you shall want for Nothing and I doubt not but to purchase such a Captain to be your Leader who shall be Wise Valiant and Noble When she had thus animated her Men in Rennes then she went about to all the Fortresses and good Towns that held of her side and still she carried along with her the little Lord John her Son and fortify'd all her Garrisons and spake to them as she had done to those at Rennes and paid largely and gave great Gifts where she thought it Convenient After all things were settled she went to the strong Town of Hennebond where she and her Son tarried all that Winter and frequently she sent to visit her Garrisons and paid all Men well and truly their Wages The mean while her Lord was a close Prisoner in the Louvre in Paris without hopes of Escape or Redemption Thô it will appear that about 3 years after upon certain Conditions which he kept not he got his Liberty but he died so soon after that it is hardly worth taking notice of and that I take to be the Reason why many Historians say nothing of it but rather think he died in Prison Thus much thô great part thereof seems a Digression was necessary to be said in order to clear what follows next Year of the Wars of Bretagne wherein England was concern'd I shall now take leave to speak something of the Scotch Affairs relating to the end of this and the beginning of the following Year Which after a small Digression we shall pursue more closely XII The last Year We show'd briefly how the Scots succeeded during King Edwards absence he lying at that time before Tournay So that having at last taken Edenburgh by Stratagem they had left nothing of Scotland in the English Hands but Striveling Barwick and Roxborough Now at King Edwards Return into England nothing was yet done against them because they were comprehended in the first Years Truce with France y Knighton p. 2580. But the King went about St. Andrews toward Scotland and kept his Christmas at melros-Melros-Abbey Henry the Noble Earl of Darby keeping the same Festival at Roxborough hard by To Roxborough came the Lord William Douglas with Three Scotch Knights to Just with the Earl of Darby and his Knights which Martial Sport being honourably maintain'd on both sides the Scots departed for that time but shortly after the said Earl of Darby being then at Barwick twelve Knights of Scotland came thither also for the same purpose who were presently Match'd by as many English Of the Scotch Knights two by chance were slain and one Sr. John Twyford of the English Earls Retinue all the Rest came off with safety and Honour on each side King Edward presently after Christmas Return'd to Langley in Hertfordshire z Stow p. 238.
and to the Realm and that the Main Profits may be employed upon the Defence of the Realm To all which Petitions Answer was made in form following It is agreed by the King Earls Barons Justices and other Wise Men of the Realm that the Petitions aforesâ—â—d be made in sufficient form of Law. According to the Petitions aforesaid certain Processes made against Sr. William de la Pole and Reginald at Conduit out of the Exchequer are revoked as Erroneous And that they shall be charged anew to accompt for Moneys received for the Kings Wooll notwithstanding any Letter of Acquittance to them made The which Accord was sent to the King to know his Pleasure therein The Petitions of the Clerks of the Chancery that whereas the Lord Chancellor or Lord Keeper for the time being ought to have the Cognisance of all Pleas of Trespasses done by the said Clerks or other Servants where the Chancery shall remain Yet notwithstanding the Sheriffs of London had attached one Gilbert de Chrishull a Clerk of the said Chancery in London at the Suit of one Killingbury a Draper upon a Bill of Trespass Which Gilbert brought a Supersedeas of Priviledge to the said Sheriffs which they would not allow but drew him to find sureties The Clerks pray Remedy therefore and maintenance of their Liberties The Parliament doth confirm their Liberties and reciting the Contempt for neglecting the Process conclude that Writs be sent to the Mayor of London to attach the Sheriffs and others who were Parties and Maintainers of the Quarrel by their Bodies to appear before the King in Chancery at a certain day to answer as well to the Contempt of the Process as to the Breach of the Liberty and Damage of the Party At the Petition of the Commons of Nottingham it is enacted that as well the Goal of Nottingham which the King hath granted to Sr. John Brocas during his Life as all other Goals in the like Case should be annexed to the Sheriffwick of every County according to an Act made Ano. 14. Ed. 3. That no man within Cities or Towns or elsewhere do carry Maces of silver but only the Kings Serjeants but that they carry Maces of Copper only and of no other Mettal It was answer'd the same should be so excepting that the Serjeants of the City of London may carry their Maces of silver within the Liberties of London before the Mayor in the presence of the King. It is to be observed that of the Oaths of Justices and of the Clerks of the Chancery expressed in the u A. â— 1â— Ed. 3 p. â—8 Printed Statutes there is no mention made in the Record And this is the Sum of this Sessions of Parliament the rest being to be had in the Statute Books of this Year XIV And now the x Frois c. 102. Earls of Darby and Arundel with the Earls of Pembroke and Oxford the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Walter Manny Sr. Frank van Hall an Almain Lord of great Valour and Fidelity to the English Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant St. Richard Fitz-Simon Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. Stephen Tombey Sr. Richard Haydon Sr. John Norwich Sr. Richard Radcliff Sr. Robert Oxenden and others to the Number of 500 Knights and Esquires and 2000 Archers were ready to pass the Seas The King upon taking leave of his Cousin the Earl of Darby said unto him Take with you Gold and Silver enough and bestow it freely among those that do well for in so doing You will win their hearts which is beyond all Worldly Treasure The Earl took shipping at Southampton and on the 6 of June Landed at Bayonne a good and strong City of Gascogne that held of King Edward There he tarried seven Days and on the Eighth marched to Bourdeaux having largely encreased his Forces At this City he was received with Solemn Procession and here also he tarried a while being lodged in the Stately Abbey of St. Andrew At this time there was a Valiant French Lord called Gaston Earl of Laille Deputy for the French King in Guienne who excepting the loss he suffer'd at Bourdeaux by the Lord Oliver Ingham of which we * C. 15. §. 1. p. 163. spake had hitherto kept footing in that Country very well having taken divers Towns and Castles from the English He was endued with Absolute Power as the Kings Lieutenant that he might be render'd more able to reduce and defend those parts Wherefore understanding now of the Earl of Darby's arrival at Bourdeaux he sent for the Earls of Cominges and of Perigord the Vicount of Carmain the Earl of Valentinois the Lord of Mirande and the Lord of Duras for the Viscount of Villemur for the Lord De la Bard the Lord of Picornet the Viscount of Chastillon the Lord of y Ita Du Chesne Chasteauneufe the Lord of Lescun the Abbot of St. Salvin and all other Lords thereabout that held for France of whom the Earl of Laille demanded what they thought as to the coming of the Earl of Darby They answer'd how they thought themselves strong enough to defend the Passage at Bergerac This answer satisfied the Earl and thereupon he sent for Men from all Parts to reinforce his Troops and so went and kept the suburbs of Bergerac which were strong and of large extent and enclosed with the River of Dordogne The z Frois c. 103. fol. 50. b. Earl of Darby had been now at Bourdeaux about 15 Days when hearing what Provision was made to resist him at Bergerac he resolved first of all to march thitherward The Marshals of the Host were Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Frank van Hall who rode the first Morning three Leagues to a Castle of their own called Monlieu where they tarried the Remainder of that Day and all that night The next Morning early the Marshals Forerunners rode up to the very Barriers of Bergerac and having there well view'd the Demeanor of the French return'd and told the Lord Manny that they found nothing formidable in what they had seen That Morning the English dined betimes because they design'd the residue of the Day for Action and as they sat at dinner Sr. Walter Manny applying himself to the Earl of Darby said mertily My Lord if We were good Men of Arms We should drink this evening with the French Lords in the Suburbs or City of Bergerac The Earl reply'd it shall not be my fault if we fail I 'll assure you When the Captains heard that they said to one another Let us haste to Arms for we are now for Bergerac and accordingly every Man was Armed and on Horseback and the Captains ranged them in Order of Battle without any other command given When the Earl of Darby saw the great Ardour and Alacrity of his Souldiers he took great Pleasure thereat and said aloud Let us then ride on to our Enemies in the Name of God and St. George Thus they rode forth with their Banners displayed in the heat
Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him but however the King of England and his Marshals sent out u Id. Mezeray c. 500 Spears and 2000 Archers on Horseback to scour the Fields and to see whether any Frenchmen were again gather'd together Now many Inhabitants of Abbeville and St. Requier in Ponthieu with the Commons of Rouën and Beauvais had early that Morning being the Day before joyned together come into the Field not knowing of the late Discomfiture Some say that the English had reared French Colours which they had taken in the Fight whereby those Frenchmen being deceived came up to joyn them as if they had been their Friends The English immediately made them know their Errour and set upon them so lustily that within a little while they put them to Flight and chased them and slew in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes more than 7000 Men nor had one of them escaped if the Day had been clear They had scarce wip'd their Swords and recover'd their Order when they had an other Occasion to bestir themselves For now they met with a more formidable Number of their Enemies who were conducted by two Noble Leaders the Archbishop of Rouën and the Grand Prior of France they also being ignorant of the Overthrow given to their Friends the Day before For they had heard how King Philip intended not to fight till the Sunday and therefore came thither now to his Assistance Upon these the Day beginning now to clear the Englishmen under the Leading of the Earls of Arundel x Vid. Michael Northburgh's Letter l. 2. c. 4. §. 5. Northampton and Suffolk set with a Courage which their last acquired Victory had doubled and fought so obstinately that after a Stout Resistance they gain'd a Compleat Conquest having slain the two Leaders with 2000 of their best Men upon the Spot and pursuing the Chace for 3 Leagues together Beside these two Successes they met with several Frenchmen who had strayed in the Dark night and not knowing where the King or any of his Captains were had lain about in the Fields But their Respit was not long for now they were all put to the Sword as many as were found and sent to bear them Company who were slain the Day before Whereby it was thought that of the Commons and Footmen of the Cities and Good Towns of France there fell now four times as many as were slain on the Saturday in the great Battle XIV That same y Frois c. 132. Sunday about Noon as the King came from Hearing Divine Service the Captains of this Brigade return'd and shew'd the King what they had seen and done and how they had succeeded and assured him that there was no more Appearance of any Enemy in the Field Then the King order'd the Lord Reginald Cobham and Sr. Richard Stafford Brother to the Lord Ralph Stafford with three Heralds in their Company to go and search the Field and view the Number and Quality of the Slain For in those Days every Great Man wore a Surcoat of his Arms over his Armour to distinguish him according to his Quality These visited in Order the Bodies of all them that were slain and when they had taken a full and exact Account of every Parcel certain Men who were thereto appointed of the King spoil'd their Bodies taking their Money and Rings and what else was most valuable but with so much Decency that they left their Apparel on to cover their Nakedness All which Booty the King caused to be distributed among his Souldiers by equal Portions These Lords with the Heralds returned from visiting the Dead and brought along with them all the Spoil of the Field just as the King was going to Supper and after Supper they reported to the King a just Account of what they had found namely that there lay Dead in the Field 11 Great Princes 80 Bannerets 1200 Knights and more than 30000 of the Common Souldiers The Contemplation of this Success made a z Giov. Villani p. 879. pious Historian of those Days break out after this manner O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hosts how great is thy Power in Heaven and Earth and especially in Battles Since sometimes nay very often he brings to pass that a small People and Power doth vanquish Mighty Armies thereby to set forth his own Power and to pull down the Proud and Arrogant and to punish the Sins of Kings Lords and People And particularly in this Discomfiture he shew'd his Power evidently for there were Thrice as many Frenchmen as English But yet this was not says he without just Cause that such Mischief should happen to the King of France Since among his other Offences that we may not instance in the Wrong done to the King of England and other his Lords in Usurping their Inheritance and Lordships but Ten years before being sworn to Pope John to undertake the Croisade and promising within two Years to go beyond the Seas and to regain the Holy Land he took the Tenths and Subsidies of all his Realm and yet made War against Christian Princes unjustly On occasion whereof there died and were taken Prisoners by the Saracens beyond the Seas of Armenians and other Christians above an 100000 who in Confidence of his Assistance had begun the War against the Saracens in Syria Thus far Giovanni Villani XV. The King of England kept the Field all Sunday-Night also and on the Mâ—nday Morning he prepared to March thence but a Frois c. 132. first by Proclamation granted a Truce to all the Towns thereabouts for Three Days that so the Country People might be encouraged to come forth and search the Fields of Cressy and to bury their Dead But as for the Bodies of the Kings and Great Princes he caused them to be taken up decently and conveyed along with him in solemn Pomp to Monstrevil were they were all deposited in Holy Ground in the Great Abby The King b Giov. Vill m. l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. Himself and his Chief Lords wearing Blacks at their Funerals especially for the Sake of John the Famous Old King of Bohemia whose Death he took heavily and prosecuted with Lamentations After which he sent his Body with much Honour to the Marquess his Son then at the Abby of Riscampo whence afterwards it was honourably conveyed to Luxemburgh by his Son aforesaid While the King lay thus at Monstrevil his Marshals made an Excursion towards Hesdin and burnt Campagne and Beauraine but they let the Castle alone because it required some time to win it and that Night they lodged by the River of Canche near Hesdin towards Blangy The next Day the whole Army began to March forward c Frois Knighten p. 2588. Da Chesne p. 665. towards Boulogne and by the way took St. Josse the Town of Estaples Neufchastel St. Estienne and burnt and wasted all the Country for about 8
Chron. ad an 1348. 14000 and so proceeded to Paris where as if it had been yet fasting it made a more Plentifull Banquet of no less than 50000. At Lubeck a City of Germany in one Year it swept away no less than l Cluverii Epit. Hist p. 573. Lampad Pezelan Sleidan par 3. p. 365. 90000 whereof 1500 are reported to have died within the space of Four Hours And thrô all Germany there are reckoned 1244434 to have died of the Plague only It would be both incredible to hear and almost impossible to declare the Wonderfull havock it made in other Foreign Parts even as we have said throughout the whole world Insomuch m Giov. Villani l. 12. c 83. p. 893 that many Towns and Cities nay whole Provinces were in a manner left desolate of Inhabitants Wherefore we shall have done with this Tragical Truth when we have shewn how our own Country fared thereby For at last this fiery scourge of God came over the Seas to afflict our World also VI. About the n Fox Acts Mon. Stow p. 245. c. First of August 1348 it began in the Sea-port Towns on the Coasts of Dorsetshire Devonshire and Somersetshire whence it ran up to Bristow So that the Glocestershire-men forbad all entercourse with the Bristolians But this Familiar Fury wanted no Medium to introduce it For as the Scripture says of the Pestilence that it walketh in Darkness or invisibly its Progress not being to be found out so unexpectedly and contrary to humane Precaution this Plague also walked or rather flew among the Glocestershire men whence it went o Anton-Wood Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 171. 172. â—ox Acts Men. ibid. Stow p. 246. to Oxford and about the First of November it reached London and finally spread it self all over England scattering every where such Ruine and Desolation that of all sorts hardly the Tenth Person was left alive In the p Annal. Ecclesiae Prior. Yarmouth apud Stow ibid. Church and Church-yard of Yarmouth were buried in one Year no less than 7052 Persons all of the Plague So that the Parsonage which before was worth 700 Marks per annum was hardly afterwards worth 40 pounds as it was certified to King Henry VII in the 22 Year of his Reign and was written upon the Gates of the Church of that Town In the City q Stow ibid. ex Registro Nâ—rvicensi Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 166. sed male ibi London pro Norwich Daniel's Hist p. 241. Godwin's Catal. Bps p. 427. Blome's Britan. p. 169. of Norwich from the First of January to the First of July which is but half a Years Space there died no less than 57104 or as others have it 57374. In the City r Knighton p. 2599. of Leicester out of the small Parish of St. Leonard there fell no less than 380 In the Parish of Holy-Rood 400 more then in St. Margarets 700 and so proportionably in other Parishes In the City Å¿ Tho. Stubbs apud Decem Angl. Hist Scriptores p. 1732. of York it raged most furiously from about the Ascension to the Feast of St. James the Apostle But in the Famous City of London Death was so outragiously Cruel that every day at least 20 sometimes 40 sometimes 60 or more dead Corpses were flung together into one Pit and yet the Church-yards not sufficing for the Dead they were fain to set apart certain Fields for additional places of Burial And yet even so those Offices were not performed with any usual Decency or Honesty for the Numbers of the Dead being so great they were fain to t M. S.Vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 228. make deep Ditches and Pits very broad wherein they lay'd a range of Carcasses and a range of Earth upon them and then another range of Dead Bodies which were all together cover'd and after this manner were all People buried at that time except those of the better sort Among those who charitably took care of the Dead in this manner we find u Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London p. 477. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bps p. 198. Monast Angl. Vol. 1. p. 961. that the Noble and Valiant Lord Walter Manny so often mention'd in this our History having a Pious Regard to Gods Judgements and the common Frailty of Humane Nature purchas'd a piece of ground adjoyning to a place called No Mans Land and lying in a place called Spittle-Croft because it belonged to St. Bartholomews Spittle or Hospital in Smithfield since that called the New-Church x Haw apud Veteres Yard sonat Haw containing 13 Acres of Land and a Rod and caused the same to be inclosed and consecrated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London In which one place besides those buried in other Church-yards Churches and Monasteries in and about London there were buried within one Year more than y Fabâ—an p. 227. Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London 478. 50000 Persons as I have read says Mr. Stow in the Charters of Edward III. The same Author affirms also that he had seen and read an Inscription fixed on a Stone-Cross sometime standing in the same Church-yard in these Words ANNO DOMINI MCCCXLIX REGNANTE MAGNA PESTILENTIA CONSECRATUM FUIT HOC COEMITERIUM IN QUO ET INFRA SEPTA PRAESENTIS MONASTERII SEPULTA FUERUNT MORTUORUM CORPORA PLUS QUAM LM PRAETER ALIA MULTA ABHINC US QUE AD PRAESENS QUORUM ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS AMEN But especially between Candlemas and Easter this Year there were buried in the place aforesaid about z Fâ—x Acts Mâ—n p. 507. Holinsh p. 945. ex Reb. Avesbury 200 Corpses per diem every day Wherefore the said Noble Lord Walter Manny in memory of the vast Numbers of Christian People there buried and in Pious Charity as he thought to their Souls caused afterwards on the same ground a Chappel to be builded of rare Workmanship with Design to make it Collegiate for 12 Priests and a Provost and to endow it amply a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. eâ— Mcnasi Ang. 1 Vol. p 961. And there for about twenty two Years Offerings were made in which time it is to be noted that above an 100000 Bodies of Christian People had been buried in that Church-yard For the said Sr. Walter Manny had purchased the Place for the Burial of Poor People Travailers and others to remain for ever and order was taken to avoid contention thereupon between That House and Parsons of Churches But in the Year 1371 the said Lord Manny changing his Mind in stead thereof obtained b Dugd. ibid. ex Monast Ang. ibid. a Licence to found a Monastery of Carthusian Monks to pray for the good Estate of himself and of Margaret his Wife during their Lives in this World and afterwards for their Souls As also for the Souls of Alice of Hainalt Michael Northburgh sometime Bishop of
the Land of Picardy along by the River Soame In Mauconsel were 300 Men of Arms under these Captains Rabigois of Derry an Irishman Franklin and Hawkins two Esquires of England Sr. Robert Knolles his Companions And these were Masters of the Country round about them And all the Great Towns of those Parts that were not fortified were fain to pay certain Sums of Florens weekly by way of Contribution-money for their Redemption as also the Abbeys and other Religious Houses were fain to do or else they had been utterly destroyed In Saint Valery also there was a strong Garrison of five hundred Navarrois under Sr. William de Bonmare and Sr. John Segar an Englishman and these were Lords of all the Country as about Abbeville the Ports of Crotoy of Rue and Montrevil even unto Dieppe in Normandy When the Duke of i Frois c. 189. Normandy who was then at Paris understood how these Garrisons ravaged about and wasted the Country in the Name of the King of Navarre and that their Strength and Numbers encreased dayly being himself unable to raise any considerable Forces for want of Mony he sent to all the Good Towns in Picardy and Verniandois desiring That like good Loyal Frenchmen they would make a Purse among themselves and send as many Souldiers as they could bear into the Field against the Common Enemy The Cities and Good Towns very readily agreed to so just a Request and set an Assessment among themselves according to every Mans Ability to settle a Fund sufficient for so many Men of Arms Footmen and Crossbows The Bishop of Noyon was the chief Leader of these Forces being assisted with the Lord Ralph de Coucy the Lord Ralph de Rayneval the Lord of Chauny the Lord of Roye and Sr. Matthew de Roye his Brother the Lord of Coudun with many other Knights and Esquires of Picardy and Vermandois Being all rendezvous'd near Noyon they strait went and lay before Mauconsel for they took that to be the weakest Garrison of all that belonged to the Navarrois and yet it had been a great Nuisance to the Inhabitants of Noyon and Vermandois Having invested the Place they made several Assaults and gave the Besieged their Hands full Wherefore the three Captains within sent by night a Messenger to the Lord John of Picquigny who held Garrison at le Herelle all the other Navarrois Garrisons in those Parts being subjected unto him When he heard of their Condition he took care to expedite their Succours and besides a Detachment from his own Garrison which he resolved to lead thither in Person he sent very privately to the Lord Fondregas Captain of Creil to send such a Quota of Men to joyn him in such a Place at such a time without fail Which was done accordingly Being all met they made a 1000 Spears and upwards and so rode silently together in the Night by Direction of a good Guide and early the next Morning they came before Mauconsel That Morning there was such a Fog or Mist that a Man could hardly see the breadth of an Acre from him under favour whereof they came upon the Besiegers unseen for they were nothing aware of them but most of them asleep and the Watch but thinly set for they suspected nothing on that side The Navarrois strack suddenly into the Host and fell on with a Shout slaying of Men and beating down Tents and Pavilions at a prodigious Rate The Frenchmen were so surprised they had no time to Arm wherefore in Despair they fled directly toward Noyon which was next at hand and the Navarrois after them in the Chace Between Noyon and Orcan Abby and between Noyon and Pont l'Evesque was made a dismal slaughter of the French their Dead lay on the ground by Heaps in the Ways and among the Hedges and Bushes For the Pursuit was made to the very Gates of Noyon The City it self was in great danger of being lost For it was said by several that were present on both sides that if the Navarrois could have but dream'd of any such thing they might have entred the Town without the least Opposition for those within were so terrified that they forgot to shut the Gate toward Compeigne The Bishop of Noyon himself was taken at the Barriers and sware himself Prisoner or else he had been slain outright With him were taken the Lord Ralph of Coucy the Lord of Rayneval the Lord of Chauny and his two Sons the Captain of Rouvray the Lord of Coudun and two other Lords besides an 100 Knights and Esquires But there were slain above 1500 the greatest part of which Loss fell to the share of those of Tournay for 't is said that of 700 who came from that City scarce so many Dozen returned home the rest being all either slain or taken For those who had been besieged in Mauconsel sallied out to second these their Deliverers Lit. Dom. G. which made the Victory more entire This Discomfiture happen'd on the k Frois c. 189. fol. 102. 22d of August being the Wednesday next after the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Anno Domini MCCCLVIII The Navarrois led the most part of their Prisoners to Creil on the Oyse for the more Security because that was looked upon as one of the strongest Places This their Victory over the French did greatly enrich them as well upon the account of the Armour and Provisions they wan as of the Ransoms of their Prisoners As for the Burgesses of Tournay and other Towns they remitted them all home some for Money and others for such things as they wanted most as Spear-Heads Axes Swords Coats Doublets Horses and the like The Knights and Esquires were ransom'd for Gold and Silver or good Horses for the Saddle but of poor Gentlemen who had nothing to pay instead of a Ransom they accepted of their Service for one two or three Quarters of a Year as they could best agree For as for Wines and other Provision they had Plenty enough the Country afforded them sufficient And nothing could be brought to the good Towns but by stealth without a safe Conduct from some one of these Garrisons which was sold dearly But they always excepted in their safe Conduct three things Good Hats Estridge Feathers and Spear-Heads For these things they chiefly desired themselves The Abby of Orcan was almost quite ruin'd thô against the will of Sr. Rabigois by the Men of Mauconsel who also with the help of one Robert Scot took the good Town of Beaulieu by Scalado which they fortified and made a Garrison leaving 400 Souldiers there whom they paid by the Month. This and the other Garrisons of the Navarrois and Englishmen so bridled the whole Country that they e'n did what they pleased sometimes riding about in Armour and sometimes going from Fortress to Fortress unarmed For there was none to resist them the Knights thereabouts having enough to do in Defending what they had left The young Lord Ingleram
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
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
behind him but the Eldest was of his own Name and the Heir as well of his Vertues as Titles XXXI When now the Duke of Lancaster had been a few Days at Calais he gave leave to Sr. Robert of Namur Sr. Henry of Flanders Sr. Valeran van Bormio and all the Germans and other Strangers to go home having first promised them by the Grace of God to return the next Year more strong than he was as then and by them desiring the Duke of Gueldre and the Duke of Juliers to joyn him also at that time and to March with him into France And soon after he himself return'd for England thinking it unseasonable to attempt any thing more till next Summer G. Lit. Dom. For it was now the 19 of November and a Monday when he went on Board for England and thus ended this Expedition and all Warlike Attempts for this Year The Duke of Lancaster upon his Return into England found himself a Widdower for the Lady a Vid. Sandsord p. 244. c. Catal. Hen. p. 327 Walsing Hypod p. 131. Blanch his Wife was newly Deceased having left behind her One Son Henry sirnamed of Bolingbroke afterwards King of England by the Name of Henry IV and two Daughters Philippa and Elisabeth The said Lady Blanch was buried in the Famous Cathedral of St. Paul's Church in London There died also this Year b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48. on the 4 of November being the Sunday after All-Saints the Good Old Warrier Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk leaving behind him William his Second Son and Heir for Robert le Fitz his Eldest was Dead at that time 30 Years of Age. Dr. John Grandesson Bishop of Excester Departed this Life on the 15 of July after he had held that Seat almost 42 Years and was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Brentingham of both whom the Curious Reader may inform himself by Bishop Godwin's Catalogue XXXII King Charles of France c Mezeray ad hunc ann on the 7 of December held an Assembly of the Estates where there was granted unto the King an Imposition of one Sol per Liver upon Salt of Four Livers upon every Chimney in the City and of 30 Sols in the Country As likewise upon the Sale of Wine in the Country the 13th in Gross and the 14th upon Retail and upon entry at Paris 15 Sols for every Pipe of French Wine and 24 per Pipe for Burgundy Wine To which the Cities joyfully consented as knowing these Levies would be well menaged and cease again with the War. CHAPTER the SEVENTH AN. DOM. 1370. An. Regni Angliae XLIV Franciae XXXI The CONTENTS I. The unfortunate Death of the Lord John Chandos II. His Legacy to the Prince of Wales the Lord Thomas Percy succeeds him The Frenchmen taken at Lussac redeem'd Some French Lords stand Neuters some firm to England and some Change. III. King Edwards Letters of Indemnity to the Gascogne Lords IV. Chastelleraut taken by the French V. The Duke of Bourbon besieges the Companions in Bellepeche the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke go to their Succour VI. The English Earls desire to have Battle of the Duke of Bourbon who refusing the Companions leave the Castle and carry away the Dukes Mother Prisoner before his Face VII King Edward sends for Sr. Robert Knolles and makes him his General and strengthens Himself by Allies VIII The French King prepares for the next Campaine and invites Sr. Bertram of Clequin to his Service The Dukes of Anjou and Berry resolve to invade the Principality IX King Edwards Preparations against France The Lady Isabella of Valois deliver'd out of Prison X. A League between France and Navarre XI The Duke of Anjou invades the Principality on one side and the Duke of Berry on the other XII The Prince prepares to oppose them XIII La Linde being on the point of being betray'd to the French is suddenly rescued by the English XIV The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland He is succeeded by his Nephew Robert Stuart the Genealogy of that Glorious Family and an old Error of the Scotch Historians concerning King Roberts Children exploded XV. The Copy of an Authentick Scotch Record with other strong Arguments for that purpose XVI King Robert enters a Truce with England Sr. Robert Knolles sent over with an Army to Calais with his Exploits He dares the French King before the Walls of Paris The Dukes of Anjou and Berry not daring to meet the Black-Prince break up their Armies Limoges betray'd to the Duke of Berry XVIII The Black-Prince goes and lays Siege to Limoges XIX Sr. Robert Knolles rises from before Paris XX. Limoges taken and sack'd by the Black-Prince XXI A Grant of the Prince's to his Brother the Duke of Lancaster with his Stile and Seal described XXII Vpon the Vacancy of the Constableship of France King Charles creates Sr. Bertram of Clequin his Constable XXIII Sr. Bertram goes against Sr. Robert Knolles and cuts off a Party of his Army XXIV Sr. Robert Knolles clears his Innocence and Sr. John Menstreworth proclaim'd Traytor XXV Pope Urban X dying is succeeded by Gregory XI Maximus Planudes the Collector of the Greek Epigrams called Anthologia flourishes I. TOward the Declining of the last Year there was given an Occasion of a very unhappy Accident which befell England this Year whereof thô unwilling We shall now discourse The Town a Frois c. 268. 270. D◠Chesne p. 704. of St. Salvin on the River Gartempe in Poicton about seven leagues from the City of Poictiers was before this an English Garrison and all the Inhabitants and the Monks belonging to the Abbey there had sworn Allegiance to the King of England But there was in this Abby a certain Monk who so extreamly hated his Superior the Abbot that thrô very Rancour of heart and out of pure spight to him he at last found an opportunity to betray the Abbot and all his Covent and Abbey and Town also into the Hands of Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton who took Possession of the Place in the French King's Name and repaired and fortified it and put a good Garrison therein Of this loss of St. Salvin when the Lord John Chandos heard he was vext beyond measure because he was Seneschal of Poictou and that Place among others pertained to his Province And he thought with himself that if he liv'd a little longer he would endeavour to recover it at any Rate and make those pay dearly for their Boldness who had presum'd to take it without his leave He thought b Frois c. 27◠c. on nothing in the World but how to recover this Place either by Force or Surprise he cared not much whether but to have it he was resolv'd or to lose Himself in the Attempt For this purpose he laid several Nights here an Ambush and there an Ambush and now one Stratagem was devised and then another but all his Care and Policy
at this present in the Hands of Italians and other Strangers what they be and of what Value and how every of the said Benefices are named and how much every of them is worth by the Year not as by way of Tax or Extent but according to the true and full Value of the same As also to know the Names of all and singular such Strangers as are now Incumbents or occupy the same and of every of them Likewise the Names of all those whether English or Strangers of what State or Condition soever they be who have the Occupation or Disposal of any such Benefices with the Fruits and Profits of the same on the Behalf or by Authority of any of the foresaid Strangers by way of Farm Title or Procuration or by any other way or means whatsoever and how long they have occupied or disposed of the same and withall if any of the said Strangers be now resident upon any of the said Benefices We command you as heretofore We have done to send Us a true Certificate of all and singular the Premises into our High Court of Chancery under your Seal distinctly and openly before the b b Whitsunday fell this Year on the 21 of May. Lit. Dom. A. Pascha 2 April Feast of the Ascension of our Lord next coming without further delay returning also this our Writ at the same time Witness our Self at Westminster the 16 Day of April in the 48 Year of our Reign of England and of France 35. By Vertue of this Writ Certificate was accordingly sent up to the King into his Chancery out of every Dioecese in England of all such Spiritual Livings as were then in the Occupation either of Priors Aliens or of other Strangers whereof the Number is said to have been so great that it would take up several sheets of Paper to set them all down Wherefore it seem'd high time for the King to seek a Remedy in that Case either by Treaty with the Pope or otherwise considering what a vast proportion of the Revenues of his Realm was by this means convey'd away being either employ'd to the Relief of his Enemies or however of such who were neither his Subjects nor Friends An Instance whereof may be seen in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments at the last Year of the Reign of King Edward III. II. Shortly after the Return of the said Certificates the King sent Mr. John Wickliffe who was afterwards an Eminent Reformer in England and at that time Divinity Professor in the Famous University of Oxford together with certain others his Ambassadors beyond the Seas with full Commission to treat with the Pope's Legates concerning the foresaid Matters and other Affairs then depending between his Holiness and the King. The Tenor of their Commission runs thus viz. Rex * Fox Acts Men. p. 554. al. Edit p. 390. Vniversis ad quorum notitiam praesentes literae pervenerint c. The King unto All to whose knowledge these Present Letters shall come Greeting Know Ye that We reposing assured Confidence in the Integrity and Abilities of the Reverend Father John Bishop of Bangor and other our loving and Loyal Subjects as Master John Wickliffe Reader of the Divinity Lecture Master John Guttern Dean of Segovia and Master Simon Multon Dr. of the Law Sr. William Burton Knight Master John Belknap and Master John Honington have directed them as our Ambassadors and special Commissioners to the Parts beyond the Seas giving unto our said Ambassadors and Commissioners or to any Six or Five of them among whom I will that the said Bishop shall be One full Power and Authority with special Command to treat and consult mildly and charitably with the Legates and Ambassadors of our Lord the Pope touching certain Affairs about which We before have sent the said Bishop William Vghtred Monk of Durham and Master John Shepey to the Apostolick See and to make full Relation of all things done and transacted in the said Assembly That all those things which may tend to the Honour of Holy Church and the Advancement of our Crown and this our Realm may by the Assistance of God and the Wisdom of the Apostolick See be brought to good effect and accomplished Witness our self at London the 26 day of July in the 48 Year of our Reign These Commissioners were met at Bruges about the beginning of August by the Pope's Nuntio's Bernard aliàs Benedict Bishop of Pampelone and Ladulph or Rodulph Bishop of Senigaglia and Giles Sancho Provost of the Church of Valenza Who were likewise commission'd from the Pope to treat c Odor Rainald ad hunc annum §. 21. quem vide sis Concerning the Liberties of the Church of England and of the Prelates and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the said Realm of England But this Treaty held off and on for about two Years after when at last it was concluded d Walsingh hist p. 184. n. 10. Churchill's Divi Britannici p. 36. that for the future the Pope should desist from making use of Reservations of Benefices and that the King should no more confer Benefices by his Writ Quare Impedit But as to the Elections aforesaid concerning which Ambassadors had been sent to the Court of Rome the Year before there was nothing mention'd in this Treaty The Reason whereof was ascribed to the Politick Dealing of some who knew they could more easily attain to the Episcopal Dignities which they aim'd at by the Court of Rome then by due and regular Elections that is rather by Money Favour and Interest than by any true Worth or Merit of their own III. But now 't is time to see what Deeds of War were performed this Year or rather what Advantage France gain'd and what Losses England suffer'd for things were grown to that pass at this time Soon e Frois c. 311. fol. 192. after Easter the Duke of Anjou being at Perigueux raised a great Army consisting of 15000 Footmen besides a considerable Number of Genoüese and Crossbows and the most part of all the Barons and Knights of Bretagne Poictou Anjou and Touraine with whom also the Constable of France was joyned and several Lords of Gascogne as the Lord John of Armagnac the Lords of Albret and of Perigort the Earls of Cominges and of Narbonne the Vicounts of Carmaine and of Villemur and of Talart the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Vicount of Mende the Lord de la Barde Sr Robert of Charde and the greater part of the Lords of Auvergne and Limosin With this Great Army the Duke of Anjou marched towards High Gascogne and came before Mont de Marsan which having took he proceeded to St. Sever whereof an Abbot was Lord who thô the Town was strong yet doubting to lose it by force fell to treat with the Duke of Anjou telling him that his Town and Fortress was but a small Matter in respect of other Towns and Castles in High Gascogne whither he suppos'd his Highness
of the Assumption past over without the appearance of any One in the King of England's behalf he sent word to the Earl of Foix the Vicount of Chastel-Bon to the Lords of Mont de Marsan of Chastelneuve and of Lescar and to the Abbot of St. Sever letting them know that if they did not now stand to their Bargain he would forthwith put all their Hostages to Death and after that enter their Lands with such a Power as to oblige them all to cry Mercy Hereupon they all freely submitted themselves and their Lands to the Obedience of the French King and the Inhabitants also of Moissac which was a Fair Garrison open'd their Gates and their Chief Burgesses went out with the Keys to the Duke of Anjou rendring their Fealty and Homage unto him as unto the French Kings Lieutenant Then the Duke and all the Lords with him enter'd the Town and tarried there 18 days during which time they had Counsel which way to draw next for the Month of August was past at which time the Truce was ended and as yet there was no News of the Duke of Lancaster's being at Calais to renew the Truce wherefore now again the War was open So after this Success the Duke went with his Army before la Reole which he besieged three days and on the Fourth was received into the Town the Inhabitants returning to the Obedience of the French King. After that the Duke took in Langon St. Macari Condom St. Bazeille or Basil la Tour de la Prudence Mauleon la Tour de Drû and other Towns and Castles to the Number of Fourty in all the last being the strong Town of Auberoche in Perigort in all which he set good Garrisons VI. When things were thus happily settled and in a manner all Gascogne and Guienne except Baionne and Bourdeaux were thus either conquer'd or revolted from the English the Duke of Anjou and the Constable being sent for by the French King gave leave to their Men to go whither they would and they themselves return'd into France But the Lords of Clisson of Beaumanoir of Roye of Riom and of Anaugeur with the Vicount of Rohan and of Lavalle and many more went to the Siege of Becherel which was not yet yielded up nor was to yield till the Feast of All-Saints by which time it had been covenanted that if it was not rescued it should be yielded And now these Lords went thither because they heard that the Duke of Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles and the Lord Edward Spencer would be there in Person to raise the Siege Thô in the end this Rumor prov'd false and no Succour coming Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard yielded up the Place and return'd into England as We said before VII It may be remembred that we h Vid. L. 4. c. 6. §. 29. p. 781. shew'd how Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France was taken near Abbeville by Sr. Nicolas Lovaine and carried Prisoner into England Ever since that even for the space of near five Years he continued in that Condition and could not be redeem'd because they asked so great a Ransom for him Thô now by the Assistance of a certain Merchant of Flanders he paid down 20000 Franks being but the Moiety of what he was to pay but when this Merchant by paying that Summ had got him out of England he escap'd all further Obligation by a subtle Device too long to be remembred here and perhaps the Recital would rather instruct Knaves than pleasure Honest Men. However when thus Sr. Hugh de Chastillon was return'd into France King Charles restor'd unto him his Office of Master of the Crossbows and sent him to Abbeville his old Province there to keep the Frontiers with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and he was obey'd as Chief by all the Captains of the Neighbour-Garrisons as Sr. John of Bournonville Captain of Boulogne and Sr. John Lisle Captain of Dieppe and the Captains of Teronenne St. Omers of Liques Fiennes and Montrevil Now it happen'd one Morning that the Lord of Gomegines who was still Loyal to King Edward being an Hainalder by Birth and by him made Captain of Ardres a Town of Picardy about three leagues from Calais prepared early one Morning to ride abroad so together with the Lord John of Vbrues he left his Garrison with about 800 Men of Arms collected from several Places with a Design to ride towards Boulogne to seek for some Adventure That same Morning it chanced that Sr. John Bournonville Captain of Boulogne had left his Garrison with 60 Spears and rode towards Calais with a like Design But when he had met with nothing of that kind as he was returning not well pleased that he had succeeded no better he met with this Lord of Gomegines who had been riding towards Boulogne with his Men. The Captain of Boulogne at sight of this great Power drove down another way which he knew as fast as ever his Horse could carry him but he was so closely pursued that he lost 14 of his Men of Arms and very narrowly escaped himself with the rest After which Chace the Lord of Gomegines was returning homeward not thinking to meet with any more Adventures But it happen'd otherwise For that same Morning St. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows had left his Garrison also with 300 Spears of Artois Vermandois and other Countries whom he had collected from the Neighbour-Fortresses for that Purpose At which very time the young Earl of St. Pol being newly come into Picardy from his Lands in Lorraine was riding on a Pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne But hearing by the way that the Master of the Crossbows was riding thitherward also he went and joyned him and rode with him first before Ardres where they tarried a while in the Field altogether to shew themselves to the Garrison not knowing any thing that the English were abroad at that time no more than the English knew where they were When the Frenchmen had been a while before Ardres and saw none would offer to come out against them they rode back as far as the Abbey of Liques But upon their departure there presently rode forth out of Ardres an Englishman who taking several By-ways as one that well knew the Country met at last with the Lord of Gomegines as he was returning toward Ardres to whom he told how the Frenchmen had been just before to view his Garrison with about 400 Spears but that now they were gone off When the Frenchmen were got a little beyond Tournehan toward the Abby of Liques they also were informed how the English were abroad with the Captain of Ardres but their Number was not known However upon the Information they agreed to meet them and so turning coasted on one side and laid an Ambush of 300 Spears whereof Sr. Hugh Chastillon was Captain in a little Wood hard by the Abbey of Liques The Earl of St. Pol being appointed
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
Mortimer Earl of March the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Kent the Lord Edward Spencer and the other English Captains returned also for England But the Lord Spencer presently upon his return fell grievously Ill wherefore he began to dispose himself for another World and among other things i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. ex libro Sudbury dicto fol. 89. made his Testament which bears Date at Lanblethian a Castle of his in the Marches of Wales upon the Sixth of November Anno 1375. Wherein he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abbey of Tewksbury in Glocestershire near his Ancestors on the South part and gave to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash his Great Bed of Camaka-Blew with Griffons as also another Bed of Camaka striped with White and Black and all the Furniture belonging thereto Moreover to the Abbot and Covent of that House of Tewksbury he gave an whole Suit of his best Vestments as also two Gilt Chalices and an Hanap or Bason Gilt likewise an Ewer wherein to put the Body of Christ on Corpus Christi Day which Ewer was given him by the King of France I shall mention no more Particulars but that he died shortly after viz. on Martinmass-Day in the same Month at his Castle at Kaerdiff leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then but Two years of Age and four Daughters Cecily who died young Elizabeth first married to Sr. John Arundel and afterwards to the Lord de la Zouch Anne who became Wife to Sr. Hugh Hastings and after his Death to the Lord Morley and Margaret the Wife of Sr. Robert Ferrers This Lord Edward Speucer was a Mighty Baron of the Realm and so Valiant that his Death was look'd on as a National Loss and a great Empairment of the Strength of England He died too soon being but in the 39 Year of his Age and was descended from those Delespencers Earls of Glocester who were such Favourites to King Edward the Second the Greatness of whose Condition may be estimated from this Inventory which was found to have belonged to Hugh Delespenser the Younger k Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. 2. n. 58. vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 372. Sr. W. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 396. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton his térve corrigendus ex Dug as Ten Good Castles in Wales and Twenty Three Mannors besides the Countries of Lantrissan Glamorgan and Wenceland with the County of Galesy and it appear'd that Hugh the Elder had at the time of his Fall no less than Fifty Nine Lordships in sundry Counties Twenty Eight Thousand Sheep One Thousand Oxen and Steers One Thousand two Hundred Kine with their Calves and Fourty Mares with their Colts of two Years one Hundred and Sixty Draught Horses two Thousand Hogs three Thousand Bullocks Fourty Tuns of Wine six Hundred Bacons Fourscore Carcasses of Martinmas Beef six Hundred Muttons in his Larder Ten Tuns of Cider Armour Plate Jewels and ready Money better than ten Thousand Pounds Thirty six Sacks of Wooll and a Library of Books VI. About this time there were sent into Scotland by Commission from King Edward the Lord l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 236. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Guy de Brian and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham to treat with William Earl of Douglas and Others appointed by Robert Stuart King of Scotland touching the Restitution of those Lands which by Vertue of the Truce formerly made did belong to England and m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. for Settling all things amiss which had fell out contrary to the Truce and Agreement made between the Kings of England and Scotland VII Now when the Truce of which we spake was thus made at Bruges being to continue for one whole Year unto the First of April 1376. between the Kings of England and France and their Allies the Duke of Lancaster on the one Part and the Duke of Burgundy on the other sware to uphold the same and that at the Feast of All-Saints next coming they would return again to Bruges in order to treat further about Prolonging the Truce or Compleating a Peace Each Party being permitted to hold and enjoy every thing which at that time they had in Possession untill the said First of April From this latter Clause the English concluded that St. Saviour le Vicount would be secure but the Frenchmen who always got the Advantage of them by Treaties resolved that the First Covenant should take place of the Latter At Whitsuntide therefore which was the Time appointed that the Garrison of St. Saviour was to yield unless rescued by their Friends the French King sent thither no less than 6000 Spears Knights and Esquires besides Others but none appear'd on the Behalf of the Garrison either to raise the Siege or hold the Field against them When therefore the appointed time was come and expired the English much against their Wills yielded up to the French the Captain Thomas Katrington Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs with the Three Brethren Mauliverers and the rest of the Garrison being convey'd to Carentan whence they all took shipping for England VIII And thô during King Edward's Reign this Esquire Katrington was never question'd in the least for this Matter yet a few Years after in the Days of King Richard the Second a Noble Knight named Sr. John Annesley n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. who had married the late Lord John Chandos his Niece o Sr. Rich. Baker p. 150. ad ann 1381. accused him of flat Treason in thus Delivering up that Fortress and thereupon challenged him to a Combat which the Esquire accepted and the King granted resolving to be himself a Spectator as He was with all the Court the Lists being made in the Palace Yard of Westminster This Esquire Katrington was a mighty Man of Valour of a large stature and far overtop'd the Knight being also of greater Expectation in such Matters But however whether Justice or Chance or Valour only decided the Business the Knight prevail'd and Katrington the day after the Combat died of his Wounds as some say thô considering the Laws attending the Duello in such Cases I rather here encline p Fabian p. 324. to Fabian who affirms that he was drawn to Tiburn and there hanged for the Treason whereof by being vanquished he was proved Guilty IX But to return besides this Encroachment on the Truce made by the French in taking St. Saviour le Vicount after that Manner q Rot. Par. 50 Ed. 3. n. 127. certain Ships of England which had lately carried over into Aquitain the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne whom they had landed at Bourdeaux being now return'd thence to le Baye in Bretagne were Boarded by certain Spanish Gallies and taken on the Tenth of August thô the late Truce extended unto the Spaniards also as being Allies of France Of which we
the Prince sitting in the Kings own Place in absence of the King who was still but weak the King sent thither his Letters-Patents being a Commission to the said Prince to begin the Parliament Which Letters being openly read Dr. h Philipot's Catal Chancel p. 44. Godw. Catal Bps p. 512. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and then Chancellour of England at Command of the said Prince then and there President adjourn'd the Parliament till the next day at Nine of the Clock in the Morning because divers of the Lords and Commons were not yet come The next day the Prince Bishops Lords and Commons met all in the Place aforesaid where the said Lord Chancellour began his Oration with that of St. i 2 Cor. c. 11. v. 19. Paul Libenter suffertis Insipientes c. Ye suffer Fools gladly seeing that Ye your selves are Wise Which he apply'd That they being Wise desired to hear Him who was the Contrary He proceeded with Scripture and said That as a Messenger who bringeth joyfull News is Welcome so he ought to be now since he brought them joyfull News of the Kings Happy Recovery from a Dangerous Sickness Whence he took occasion to argue that God loved the King and the Realm the King because k Hebr. c. 12. v. 6. Quos diligit castigat whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and further from that of the Psalmist k Hebr. c. 12. v. 6. Vxor tua sicut Vitis abundans in Lateribus c. Thy Wife shall be as a Fruitfull Vine by the Walls of thine House thy Children like Olive Plants round about thy Table and thereupon he shew'd that for Children no Christian Prince living was so happy which happiness he aggravated from the Words following Vt videas silios filiorum Thou shalt see thy Childrens Children which the King now saw And that God loved the Realm he proved from the Recovery of so Renowned a Prince the said Recovery happening in the Fiftieth Year of his Reign the Year of Jubilee the Year of Joy for his said Recovery Of Joy because he would thereby impart unto his Subjects Blessings as well Spiritual as Temporal all Bodily Comforts Then from a similitude that althô the Head be sound if some particular Member of the Body be diseased the same infected Part can receive no Vertue Benefit or Salve from the Head He inferreth that the King being the sound Head and willing to shew Grace and Favour to his Subjects they ought to qualifie themselves aright by approving their Loyalty sound and uncorrupted And therefore he perswadeth such as would be partakers thereof to conform themselves thereafter by having Love and Charity without which he proveth by St. Paul that nothing doth avail Thereupon he converts his Discourse to the Lords amplifying the Matter and shewing what reason they had to think the King loved them Dearly since among many other Gracious tokens of his Good will he had upon their Requests since the last Parliament advanced the Lord Richard there present to be Prince of Wales Then he shew'd what cause they had to embrace the said Prince by Offering unto him as the l M.S. Princes of Cullen c. Wise Men did to Christ all Honour by presenting Gold in token of Riches and Renown and Myrrhe in token of his Honourable Scepter Since even the Pagans were used to throw abroad Money at the approach of their Princes He insisted that the said Prince should without all Rancour be embraced in their Hands and Hearts even as Simeon embraced Christ because their Eyes had now seen that which their Hearts had much longed for and likewise he shew'd how they ought to obey him as the Vicar and Legate of God that they might see the true Peace of Israel viz. here in England the m Vox Angeli ad Mâ—nachum Regni statum deplorantem ob extinctâ—m Regiam Presapiam Regnum Anglorum est Regnum Dei Deus providebit pro suo Regno Inheritance of God Whereof after many Victories there is no small hope After which he shew'd the cause of this present Parliament to be For that the French King under Colour of the Truce granted by the King at the Mediation of the Pope yet enduring had allied himself to the Spaniards and Scots the Kings Enemies and had prepared great Quantity of Arms and Puissant Armies thereby conspiring to blot out the English Tongue and Name from under Heaven In which case the King was willing to have their Faithfull Counsel wherefore the Chancellour willed them to go together and to give a speedy Answer This grave Harangue was seconded by Sr. Robert Ashton Knight n Philipet's Catal Treas p. 40. Constable of Dover-Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports being at this time the Kings Chamberlain and Lord High-Treasurer of England He continued how He had a particular Charge to move them from the King for the Profit of the Realm which Words says o M.S. Rot. Par. p. 145. n. 13. my Transcriber lay not perchance in the Bishops Mouth because they touched the Pope Yet at the same time he protested that the King was ready to do all that ought to be done for his Holiness But because divers Usurpations were by him made upon the King his Crown and Realm as by particular Bill in this Parliament should be declared the King requireth them to seek redress Then were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places beyond the Seas and for the Isles and after that Tryers for those several Petitions This done the Commons were willed to repair to the Chapter-House of the Abbey of Westminster to treat of these Matters and how Money might best be levied for the Kings Service and certain Lords there named were appointed from time to time to confer with the Commons for their better Direction and Information The Lords and Commons grant to the King towards his charges Four pence of every Poll Man or Woman passing the Age of p Ità Sr. Rob. Câ—tten Fabian Daniel's hist Vnde M.S. hic corrigend ubi One and Twenty 14 Years only Beggers excepted And besides this the q Daniel's hist p. 260. Fabian p. 261. Clergy grant unto the King toward the Aid of his Wars 12 d. of every Parson Beneficed and of all other Religious Persons 4 d. by the Poll the Four Orders of Fryars Mendicants only excepted But here it is to be remembred that the King because of his pressing occasions not being able to stay till the foresaid Taxes were levied borrow'd in sundry Places several Sums of Money particularly he sent to the City of London for 4000 l. which r Fabian ibid. Loane because the Mayor Adam Staple was backward in raising he was on the 22d of March discharged his Office by the Kings special Command and Sr. Richard Whittington Mercer of whose Rise by means of his Cat there are such pleasant Stories placed in
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
with his Hundred Knights and Esquires to ride abroad so to entice the Enemy into their Ambush Not far thence along by a great Hedge were the Lord of Gomegines and his Men who stood there on Foot all in good Order only Sr. John Harleston i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 154. Captain of Guisnes was sent forth with 20 Spears to see if he could find the French his Orders being on sight of them to fly and suffer the Enemy to pursue him towards this Hedge where his Friends stood ready for them As Sr. John was riding forth in the Fields with this Design the young Earl of St. Pol espi'd him and said aloud to his Men Sirs now let us advance forth Yonder are our Enemies and so clapping Spurs to their Horses they set forward full Speed Sr. John Harleston flying as fast before them till he came to the Hedge where his Friends stood ready ranged with the Archers in their Front. As soon as the Frenchmen came in their reach the Archers received them warmly shooting and overthrowing to the ground Men and Horses and immediatly the Men of Arms came up with them having remounted their Horses with Spears and Axes in their Hands while Sr. John Harleston with his twenty Spears fetching a Compass about came behind and fell in upon their Backs with great fury Many gallant Deeds were done by the Young Earl of St. Pol and the Frenchmen but being thus surrounded and overpower'd with Number they were all slain or taken to a Man. The Earl of St. Pol was taken alive by the hands of an Esquire of the Dutchy of Gueldre and together with him by other Hands the Lord of Pons the Lord of Clery the Lord William of Nesle Sr. Charles of Chastillon Sr. Lionel D'Araines Sr. Gawen de Vesley Sr. Henry de Lisle and Sr. John his Brother the Chastellain of Beauvais and many more Knights and Esquires Immediately after which Discomfiture the Lord Hugh de Chastillon came thither with his three hundred Spears and his Banner before him he rode up almost to the Hedge end but understanding then how his Friends Business was already done and that the English so far outnumbred him he drew his Men together and wheel'd off without giving a stroke for he doubted more to encrease the Loss than to repair it Upon this good Success the English return'd to Ardres with their Prisoners and that very Night the Lord of Gomegines bought the Young Lord Valeran Earl of St. Pol of the Esquire that took him and soon after carried him into England and presented him to the King who thanked him very much and rewarded him more for that acceptable Piece of Service But this young Earl found such Gracious Dealing from King Edward that he became ever after as great a Friend as his Father had been an Enemy to the English Nation * Mili's Catal. Hen. p. 765. being Married to the Half-sister of King Richard the Second VIII About that time the Duke of Anjou and the Constable return'd as we observ'd before into France where they found the Archbishop of Roüen and the Bishop of Carpentras who had been long with the King at Paris making instant and continual Application unto him in the Pope's Behalf as other Legats at the same time dealt with King Edward for the same Purpose Wherefore according to a former Agreement between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster both the Kings were now again obliged to enter a Negotiation thereby if possible to accommodate their Differences The Place appointed for the Assembly was Bruges in Flanders but first the Duke of Anjou according to his Obligation went to St. Omers in great Array having sent for his Cousin Guy of Blois to come thither to him out of Hainal◠about which time the Duke of Lancaster arrived at Calais soon after which both the Dukes with their several Retinues went to Bruges And all the while there lay on the Marches between France and Flanders towards Aire and about Belle or Baillieul and Cassell in Flanders and near those Parts the Constable of France the Lords of Clisson and la Vall and Sr. Oliver Manny with above 600 Men of Arms to keep the Country least any thing should be innovated by the Earl of Flanders For these Lords being all Bretons could not repose any Trust in that Earl because he was so firm a Friend to John of Monford Duke of Bretagne against whom they fought Wherefore neither would they ever come to Bruges whatever the Commissioners on both sides could say or do There were present at this Treaty on the French Kings Part Lewis Duke of Anjou and Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruce the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop Elect of Bayeux and others And for the King of England there was John Duke of Lancaster William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Simon Sudbury Bishop of London Sr. John Cobham of Kent Sr. Frank van Hall Sr. Arnold Savage Mr. John Shephey and Mr. Simon Multon This Treaty was carried on by Snatches for k Mezeray two full Years with incredible Expences the Frenchmen all the while preparing at Home l Walsingh Hyp. p. 133. n. 40. for War fitting and making of Arms of all sorts and providing all manner of Warlike Habiliments And thus even in those Days were the French always too hard at Council for the English However for the present m Frois c. 312. fol. 194. Angl. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. that no Harm or Molestation should come to any of the Lords of either Party or to any of their Men by subtlety or other means since there were Hundreds that rode in and out daily of both Sides thô they could not settle a Firm and General Truce because of the Duke of Bretagne's Concerns and other Matters which render'd the thing impracticable yet first of all they settled this Point by agreeing on a Partial Truce to endure till the First of May in the Year following in all the Marches of Calais as far as the River of Somme all other Lands being left in their former state of Hostility Whereupon the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord de la Val hasted with their Troops into Bretagne because the Truce extended not to that Dukedom About this n Frois c. 311. time also there was a Treaty set on Foot concerning the Delivery of the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners out of Spain especially because the Earl of Pembroke o Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 10. not enduring the hard Usage of the Spaniards sent to Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France whom he knew to have great Interest with the King of Spain entreating him to use his power to deliver him out of that inhumane Thraldom Whereupon Sr. Bertram upon delivering back his Lands belonging to Soria Castle and acquitting certain Sums of Money due unto him from the King of Spain his Nephew Sr. Oliver