is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
while to delay by reason of a War with the Flemmings which about this time he undertook on the behalf of the Earl of Flanders their Lord whom they had seditiously expell'd And indeed he found such c Frois c. 21. 22. Fabian p. 264 c. Success at Cassell that he slew 16000 of them and reduc'd all Flanders to his Obedience obliging them by Bond never to bear Arms against the King of France and so having restored the Earl to his former Authority being elevated with the conceit of this Success he began to look at Higher things But we are not yet called to Foreign Affairs Wherefore for a while we shall be content to speak of matters at home Inglorious truly for the most part and therefore Ungratefull but such as may bring Profit to the Observant Reader and are by no means to be omitted being necessary for the making out the Series of this Story and also very Usefull to inform Persons of High Condition how to bear themselves by the Example of others who went before them in the like Honours IV. Roger Lord Mortimer d Knighton p. 2553. now does all Influences all and Personates all He only places and displaces Great Officers and wholly Assumes the King's Authority and solely possesses his Ear. The e John Tinemouth Aur. hist ex Aed Lamb. p. 229. Earl of Lancaster himself cannot be permitted to approach his Lord and Master to inform or advise him nor any either Uncle or other Baron how Great soever unless of Mortimer's Opinion and even then whatever they said was watch'd by such as he had planted about the King for that purpose Among other instances of his Towring Spirit he presum'd to hold a f Knighton p. 2553. n. 50. Round Table at Bedford in imitation of King Arthur that Famous Breton Others confounding this Mortimer with a Former of the same Name place this Round Table at Kenelworth Castle in Warwickshire where they reckon up an hundred Knights and as many Fair Ladies besides other Guests and Spectators Many other Knights and Gentlemen repairing thither from Foreign parts for the Exercise of Arms by Tiltings and Martial Tournements While the Ladies sported themselves and delighted the Presence with the more feminine Diversion of Dancing being all richly clad in silken Mantles and other Ornaments agreeable to their Sex and Quality But here the Lord Mortimer appeared as the occasion so the Chief of all that were there both in the Ladies Eyes and the Opinion of the Knights themselves These Sports were begun on the Eve of St. Matthew the Apostle Mortimer perhaps out of a vain and cruel Pride insulting over the Ashes of the Dead King whom he had caused a year before to be murder'd on that Festival and so continued till the Morrow after St. Michael being the space of 11 days Let none conclude this last Reflection to be Malicious since not only the Day seems to warrant my Opinion but the place also of the Solemnity being that very Castle where that poor King first lost both his Crown and Liberty But in very deed this Round-Table at Kenelworth was g Monastic Ang. p. 223. a. another thing at another time and held by another Roger Lord Mortimer in the days of King Edward the First For thô a h Dugd. Warw. p. 164. b. Great Man calls that Roger Earl of March 't is done only by inadvertency for even this Roger was not yet Earl of March thô he was the * Catal. Hâ—nâ—r p. 574. First of that name ever so called But because the Round-Table is not only here mention'd but must hereafter be much more spoken of I shall here once for all observe i Cambden in Hamshire s 191 Dugd Warw. p. 154. that the Round-Table was devised to avoid Contention about Precedency and Athenaeus observes it to have been Customary among the Ancient Gauls to sit at their Round Tables their Esquires waiting behind with their Targets in their hands But to return to Mortimer this his High Carriage was so greatly stomacked by the King's Uncles and the Earl of Lancaster that they resolv'd to pull down the Pride of this Man or to die in the Undertaking But as yet there could none of them come to the private Speech of the Young King to lay before him the true State of Affairs they were so well watched by Mortimer On the Quindene k Dâ—gd 1 Vâ—l. p. 541. Catal. Hâ—â—â—â— â— p. 574. Thô the year there is said to bâ— 1327. by Mistake of St Michael a Parliament was called at Salisbury whither thô it had been Decreed that no Person whatsoever should presume to come Armed the Lord of Wigmore notwithstanding came with a great Rout of Armed Men at his Heels so that the Earl of Lancaster durst not come but for his own Defence put himself in Arms and then sent to the King his Reasons both of taking Arms and absenting from Parliament And it seems his Design was so apparently for the King's Honour that it was countenanced with the Presence of the King 's two Uncles Thomas Earl of Norfolk and Edmund Earl of Kent Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London and John Stratford Bishop of Winchester who was afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Wake Governour of Hertford Castle Henry Vicount Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. Hugh Audley and others several whereof were of the twelve appointed to be the King's Guardians and the rest all Persons of Worth and Nobility The first occasion of this breach besides the Insupportable Pride and Avarice of the Lord Mortimer was this The Lord l M. S Vet. Aug. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 218. Robert Holland who had in the days of King Edward the Second occasion'd the Death of Thomas Earl of Lancaster however he had thereby incurr'd the indignation of the people upon Queen Isabella's return into England was not only deliver'd from Prison but became very Gracious with the said Queen and was of her Council and of Mortimer's But for all that being about the Sessions of this Parliament taken m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 73. in a Wood near Henley-Park as he was riding to Queen Isabell then at London by Sr. Thomas Withers the said Sr. Thomas smote off his Head and sent it to his Master Henry Earl of Lancaster then at Waltham-Cross in Essex as an acceptable present This was not so well receiv'd by the said Earl of Lancaster whose Brother had been betray'd by Sr. Robert Holland as it was resented by the Queen Mother who had a great Favour for him and therefore she instantly urged the King her Son to take vengeance of his Murtherers especially of Sr. Thomas Withers But him the Earl of Lancaster had concealed till being therefore threatned by the Queen Mother and also stirr'd up by the Publick Clamours of the People who were extreamly opprest by her and Mortimer whereof the King bare all the blame thô he was but young and of tender
would there shortly return them such an Answer as should appear reasonable After this Answer having been first entertain'd with a Dinner in the Kings Chamber they departed from Windsor took up their lodging for that night at Colbrook and the next day went for London A few days after the King return'd to his Palace at Westminster and a certain Day was prefix'd to all his Council to attend him there The Council being sat the Embassadors of France were called in who again told the substance of their Message and withall deliver'd to the King their Masters Letters which he had refused to meddle with before They were thereupon order'd to withdraw while the Business was brought under Debate Some of the Lords alledged That in right of Queen Isabell his Mother the Crown of France belonged unto him and that therefore he ought not only not to acknowledge any Fealty at all but also openly to put forth his Claim to what was so evidently his Due But however pleasingly this struck upon the Spirit of King Edward yet the Major part of his Council were of the mind That it was too early for the King to embarque himself in so hazardous an Affair the Enemy being at that time so potent the Realm at home in a manner unsettled and the King himself under Age. However that hereby his Right and future Claim might not be prejudiced the King immediately b Ex Informatione per R. Edvardi nuntios Papae exhibita in Bened. Tom. 6. post Epist secr 302. in Bibl. Vatican apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1340. §. 9. vid. hujus Hist l. 1. c. 14. constituted one of his Council his Procurator in that Part by whom before all his Council he protested openly and expresly That for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by King Edward of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu he did not nor would intend to Renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the same Right to derogate even althô thereupon Letters should afterward be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Loosing the said Dukedom and Earldom and because he feared that unless he should do Homage unto the said Philip he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the confirmation of the Premises King Edward caused his said Procurator to take an Oath upon his Soul by laying hands on the Holy Gospell before all those of his Council present This Caution being made it was agreed That Doctor Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London a well-spoken Man should answer these Ambassadors for the King That He was ready in all Points to do as the Kings his Predecessors had done Then the Frenchmen being call'd in the Bishop spake in this manner Lords and Gentlemen Ambassadors from the Crown of France the Kings Majesty my Soveraign Lord hath heard your Message and read your Letters My Lords and Gentlemen our Master here present hath by Advice of his Council consented to go personally into France c Frois c. 24. to visit the King your Master his Dear Cozen who hath so kindly invited him And you are required to shew unto the King your Master that as to the Faith and Homage demanded he will do his Devoir in all that shall concern him And that he intends the first Opportunity to pass over into France to perform what shall appear equitable So having been well entertain'd and rewarded by the King with many gifts and Jewels of great value they left England returning with this Answer to their Lord at Paris King Philip was well pleas'd with the News not only because he saw so considerable a Monarch so ready to submit to him but because he had a great curiosity to see him whom he had heard to be a Prince of singular Majesty and Beauty That himself therefore might appear in more Pomp or to the intent to have more notable Witnesses of this Homage thus to be done to his own Person or to dazzle and awe the mind of the Young King with the number and greatness of his Friends and Allies He immediately directs his Letters to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia his Cozen and to the Kings of Navarre and Majorica certifying them of the time and place where and when the King of England was to do him Homage and desiring them by no means to fail of giving him the Honour of their company To which Letters they all severally agreed and came into France accordingly attended with an honourable Equipage Besides all the Peers Earls Barons and chief Lords of France as if to out-rival the English Nation resolv'd to be present at this Solemnity in the most gallant and splendid manner The place appointed for the performance of this Action was the great City of Amiens in Picardy wherein there was Extraordinary provision made for this August Appearance For the several Kings were made ready great Chambers Halls and Dining-Rooms The Inns and other of the best Lodgings were order'd to entertain the Dukes of Burgundy Burbon and Lorrain and the Lord Robert of Artois a mighty Favourite of King Philip's with the rest of the Peers of France and Princes of the Blood. There was also provision made for a thousand Horse-strangers besides six hundred Horse which they expected would come over with the King of England But He for his part exceeded herein their Expectation for He came attended with Dr. Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln all right politick Prelates There were also four Earls Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Lord Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the Kings Uncles Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Claus 3. Edw. 3. n. 35 not then of full Age and John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex with the Lord Henry Plantaginet afterwards Earl of Derby the Kings Cozen the Lord William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury Reginald Lord Cobham Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Piercy Ralph Lord Nevil the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord John Moubray beside more than fourty other Knights and a thousand Horse of War. And thus having appointed his Brother the Lord John sirnamed of Eltham and now Earl of Cornwall his Lieutenant and Custos of the Realm during his Absence He took the sea at Dover with all this Company but was two Days upon the Water before he landed at Whitsand near Calais whence he went to Boloigne where he tarried one day to refresh himself It was now about the middle of August when King Philip hearing of his Arrival immediately dispatch'd away the Constable of France with a good company of
with the said Emperour the Year following V. Thus strongly did King Edward prepare before he would Commence a War against so Powerfull a Monarch all which thô it prov'd in a manner unprofitable and thô little or nothing of all his Glorious Actions was really performed but by his own Forces as we shall shew hereafter Yet his great Prudence appears sufficiently from these Instances of his Foresight and Conduct and that he was not Rash nor Presumptuous but Resolute with Deliberation Yet next to God he reposed his chief Confidence in the Valour of his own Subjects and now as well to Reward past Services as to give Encouragement to new Ones in a Parliament held at Westminster * Knighton p. 2568. n. 50. about the Feast * â— e 12 Martii of St. Gregory the Pope and Confessor he converted the Earldom of Cornwall void by the Death of the Lord John of Eltham his Brother into a Dukedom and confer'd it on his Eldest Son and Heir Prince Edward who was now but six Years of Age x Ashmole p. 671. investing him by the sword only together with the County Palatinate of Chester adding shortly after such Mannors and Priviledges to this Title y Dugd. Warw. p. 90. which were for the future to be inseperable and to descend perpetually to the Eldest Sons of the Kings of England his Successors but upon the Death or Non-existence of such Dukes to revert unto the Crown And z Ashmole ibid. this was the first Precedent for the Creation of the Title of Duke with us in England The Charter of this Creation bears date the 17 of March but other particulars of this Matter I have already spoken of when I was about the Birth of this young Prince On the day preceding the King created the Lord Henry a Vid. Dugd. Bar. ad horum singulerum nâ—nana c. Knighton p. 2568 n. 60. Adam Muriâ—â—uth Will. Shâ—psteed Sr Tâ—â— de la Mâ—re Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster Earl of Darby and the Lord William Montague at the same time he made Earl of Salisbury with a grant of the yearly Rent of 20 l. out of the Profits of that County also the Lord William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon with a grant of a 1000 Marks Land per annum for him and his Heirs-male for ever besides 20 l. Rent also issuing out of the Profits of that County for his better support in that Dignity At the same time the Lord Hugh Audley Cosin to the Lord James Audley was created Earl of Glocester the Lord Hugh Courtney an old tough Souldier of almost Fourscore was now created Earl of Devonshire thô he was made so by Writ two Years before as we have shewed Besides these the Lord Robert Hufford was made Earl of Suffolk and the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton to the Earl of Northampton shortly after the King gave a Grant of the Castle Mannor and Town of Stamford with the Lordship of Grantham in Lincolnshire which John Warren Earl of Surrey held for Life also of the Castle and Mannor of Fotheringhay in Northamptonshire and of the Castle and Mannor of Okeham in Rutland with the Sheriffalty of the said County to hold to himself and the Heirs-Male of his Body under certain conditions in the said Grant expressed The extent whereof may be f Esc 14. Ed. 3. n. 67. Linc. seen in the Record To the Earl of Suffolk the King gave over and above an annuity of twenty pounds sub nomine honore Comitis pro tertio Denario Comitatûs illius which anciently belonged to all Earls the Honour g Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 528. of Eay in Suffolk and the Mannor of Base-Court in the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate in London commonly called the Barbican * Stow's Survey of Lond. Hist p. 233. because of old it had been a Burgkenning or Watch-Tower for the City Many like Advantages together with their Honours the King at this time heap'd on the rest of these Noble and Valiant Earls at which time also the young Duke of Cornwall afterwards Prince of Wales made h 24. Adam Marim Stow p. 233. Holinsh p. 900. twenty new Knights to wit Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury and Simon i Godw. Catal. Dpps. p. 268. Montague Bishop of Ely Sr. Thomas Somerton Sr. John Lisle Son to Robert Lord Lisle Sr. Richard Darcy Sr. Damorie Sr. John Poultney Sr. Peter de la Mere Sr. Roger Banant Sr. Roger Hilary Sr. Bolingbroke Sr. Buterell Sr. Simon Swanland Sr. William k Weevers Fun. Monum p. 269. Scott Sr. William Basset Sr. Robert Sodington Sr. William de la Zouch Sr. Cogshall Sr. Roger Sangraville Sr. John Strachie and Sr. Thomas de la More who wrote in French the Life and Death of Edward the Second and also of our Edward the Third both which are Extant in Latine thô the latter is not yet published What we said of the Woollen Manufacture in the Fourth Paragraph of the preceding Chapter some will have to have been done in this Parliament the matter is all one let the time be now or then for by these l Vid. Statute Book An. xi Ed. 3. p. 77. Laws which gave so great Encouragement to Foreign Clothworkers to come hither and also prohibited that none should buy any Cloth made beyond Sea the occupation of Cloth-Weevers soon came in quest more than ever before in this Nation Sr. John Charleton m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 72. Senior Lord of Powys a Man highly Esteemed for his Fidelity Prudence and Valour was at this time constituted Justice of Ireland the Lord n Id. 1 Vol. p. 371 Darcy being then Steward of the Kings Houshold and otherwise employ'd in the Kings Affairs and accordingly in October following o Chron. Job Clinne i.e. 14 Octob. E Dom. Lit. on the Festival of St. Calixt the Pope and a Tuesday he arrived safely there with his Brother Thomas Bishop of Hereford Chancellor and Thomas Rice Treasurer of Ireland and two Hundred lusty Welchmen But whether for any just cause or no in the Year following the Bishop p Godw. Catal. Bpps. p. 458. Holinshead Ireland p. 71. his Brother complaining to the King by Letters of Sr. Johns Misgovernment was himself appointed in his Room and further made Guardian or Deputy of that Realm But the Affairs of Ireland I shall not prosecute because I haste to more Considerable and Weighty Matters referring the Reader to Holinshead and others who may satisfie them of those things And forasmuch as there were sundry q Ex Bundello Pricrat Alienigenarum Ano. 11. Ed. 3. fisco applicaterum Vid. Clem. Reyneri Apâ—stel Benedictinerum in Appen Par. 2. p. 71. Weever's Fun. Monum p. 328. Priories at that time in England belonging to Foreign Abbeys and thereupon called Aliens because they were Cells to some Monastery or other beyond the Seas the Number whereof
Edward II. refus'd to give him Homage from the withholding of which we have seen the first Causes of Dissention between the two Kings to have flow'd or of what had been forceably taken by King Philip himself in this last War. Thus were both the Kings disposed in their Minds So that little Good was to be expected from any Treaty And now came the time wherein by the Articles of the Truce the Parliament was appointed to be at Arras the Chief City of Artois lying upon the River of Scarpe When there came thither from the Pope l Gaguin p. 139. who in this Cause was not to be look'd on as a Judge but only as an indifferent Friend to the Common Peace the Cardinal of Naples and the Cardinal of Cleremont commonly so called thô they had only been Bishops of those Titles before they were made Cardinals These Legates going first to Paris where they confer'd with the King came now to Arras together with the French Commissioners who were Charles de Valois Earl of Alancon King Philips own Brother Peter Duke of Bourbon Lewis Earl of Flanders Guy Castilion Earl of Blois the Archbishop of Senes the Bishop of Beauvais and the Bishop of Auxerre They were met by seven of King Edward's Delegates who were Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Robert of Artois Earl of Richmond Sr. John of Hainault Lord of Beaumont and Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders All these held a Treaty together for 15 days but yet they perform'd but little as to a Final Composition for the English Demands were too High and the French Concessions too low they yielding to offer nothing but the m Frois c. 63. ibid. Earldom of Ponthieu which was his Mothers Dowry However they now made shift to prolong the Truce then in being for two Years more and farther than this the Cardinals could not perswade them Wherefore thus much being done and duly Ratified the Council brake up and the Cardinals at the Lord John of Hainalts desire passed homeward thrô that Country where by him and the Earl they were Feasted Nobly Now according to the Ninth Article of the foremention'd Truce the Earl of Salisbury and n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48 b. Waisâ—â— hist p. 135. n. 10. Robert Hufford le Fitz Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk were released from their Imprisonment a Ransome being appointed which they were to pay before the end of the said Truce or else render up their Bodies to Prison But here Authors make no small confusion some alledging that the Earl of Salisbury was deliver'd in Exchange for the Earl of Murray a Scot which could not be till the latter end of the next Year as we shall shew in due place Others confessing that he was now deliver'd do add that immediately thereupon he went with many other English Knights to the Siege of Algezira in Spain to help the Good King Alphonso against the Moors And this is the saying of o Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. Leland himself But surely this followed the Siege of Vannes in Bretagne and not of Tournay in Flanders For as yet Alphonso had not Won the great Battle of Tartessos of which by and by and yet this Battle preceded the Siege of Algezira However this is certain * Sr Roh Cottens M.S. p. 44. §. 43. Godwins Gatal Bps. p. 136. c. that the Earl of Salisbury was present at the next Parliament which sat in April following Thô many such Matters having been so confusedly related by Authors much Difficulty hath arose to Us in this Our Undertaking Upon which Account the Intelligent Reader will pardon these Digressions which seem necessary for the clearing of the Truth XIV Soon after the Prolongation of the Truce the Famous Dr. Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln p Godw. Catal. Bps. Linc. p. 304 Stow p. 238. Departed this Life about the Festival of Christmas at the City of Gaunt in Flanders in the Service of the King his Master to whom he was very Necessary Of him q Walsingh hist p. 150. Walsingham Reports a divertive Story which since r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. Sr. William Dugdale ventures to relate I shall not scruple neither He is said to have made a new Park at Tynghurst wherein he enclosed much ground that belong'd to divers of his poor Tenants who therefore pursued him with many a bitter Curse Now soon after his Death say they he appear'd unto a certain Person who had been one of his Esquires in the Habit of a Keeper with a Bowe a Quiver of Arrows his Hom by his side and his cloathing was all in Green to whom he said Thou know'st how I 've offended God and injur'd the Poor by enclosing this Park Wherefore I am enjoyned Penance to be the Keeper thereof till these enclosures be laid open again Go therefore to my Brethren the Canons of Lincoln and entreat them from me to make Restitution to the Poor of what I so unjustly took from them The Canons upon this Message sent one of their Company named William Batchelor to see the Dead Bishops Will performed Who accordingly caused the Banks and Pales to be thrown down and the Ditches fill'd up again and having so done return'd by St. Albans where he Related the whole Matter to Michael the Abbot of that Place I should not care to tell such idle Stories but that there may be Readers also of that Size who will take pleasure in such Entertainment But much less do I concern my self in seriously confuting them And yet I will not let this go thus because Walsingham who was a Monk and therefore thrô Prejudice or Ignorance might either deceive or be deceived has noted him for a Covetous worldly wretch For his Quality he was Younger Å¿ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Elder and t Godw. Catal. Bps. p. 303. Nephew to the Great Sr. Bartholomew Badlesmere Baron of Leeds For his Natural Abilities he was a Person of Good Learning but of exceeding Great Skill in Politicks as may be gather'd from his Prudent Menagement of Embassies and other Publique Affairs And as for his Charity which is a Vertue directly Opposite to Avarice We find u Godwin ibid. p. 304. that together with a Brother of his Sr. Robert Burwash he was a Founder of a Grammar School in Lincoln to which he left Maintenance for five poor Priests and as many poor Scholars for ever He had his Education at x Godw. p. 303. Oxford and had been y Philipot's Catal Châ—ncel c. twice Lord Treasurer of England and for a while Lord Chancellour till of his own Accord he Resign'd that Place because of his Publique Employments in which at last he Deceased at Gaunt but was brought over Sea and z Godw. p. 304. Buried in Lincoln
whether Florens were to be current with Sterling After which Declaration was made in the Kings Name that whoever of his Subjects should think themselves hardly used either by the King or his Officers upon Complaint and Proof made should have their Remedy The mean while the Archbishop in Order to be present at this Session of Parliament f Antiqu. Brit. p. 235. n. 56. came to London repaired secretly to the Bishops of London and Chichester by whom he is convey'd to the Kings Palace where the Parliament sat with a great Company of Clergymen and Souldiers Upon his Entrance into the House the Kings Steward and Chamberlain met him who in the Kings Name forbad him to enter the Parliament untill in the Kings Exchequer he had undergone a Tryal concerning Crimes laid to his Charge Canterbury lest he should move the King too much went into the Exchequer and there took a Copy of the Articles whereof his Accusation was framed to which he promised after a mature deliberation to return an Answer Then with the Kings leave he enter'd the Parliament and there before the Prelates and Lords of the Realm declared the causes of his coming to be for the Honour Rights and Liberties of the Church for the Profit and Commodity of the Realm and for the Interest and Honour of the King and lastly that he might clear himself in Parliament of several Crimes laid to his Charge and Published over all England That day there was nothing done but the Parliament being at the Kings command Adjourn'd every one went his way But from g M. S. ibid. §. 6. Sr. Rob. Cottons Exact Abridgement Thursday the 12 of April till Thursday the 19 the Parliament continued from day to day in debate upon this point that the Nobles of this Land should not be put to answer but before their Peers in open Parliament Whereupon are named Four Bishops Four Earls and Four Barons to draw up the Platform for the Kings View Their h Antiqu. Brit. p. 236. Godwins Cat Bps p. 136. Names were these the Prelates Ralph Stafford Bishop of London Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells John Grandeston Bishop of Exceter and Thomas Charleton Bishop of Hereford The Four Earls were Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon and Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk The Four Barons were Henry Lord Piercy Thomas Lord Wake Ralph Lord Basset and the Lord Ralph Nevill These being also to enquire concerning the Crimes laid against the Archbishop and to prepare them for the King among other things determin'd that the Lord Chancellor the Lord Treasurer and other High Officers of State should be included under the Names of Peers and set down a Request that all Conditions and Estates might enjoy their proper and peculiar Liberties By that time these things were thus forwarded the Archbishop came again to the Parliament but was forbid by the Captain of the Kings Guard i Antiqu. Brit. Godw. ut supra Sr. William Attewood to enter Whereupon he spake thus to the People that flocked about him My Friends the King by his Writ of Summons hath called me to this Parliament and I who am the Chief Peer of the Realm and who next the King have the First Voice in Parliament claim the Rights of my Church of Canterbury and therefore require entrance into Parliament But when for all this being kept out by the Guard he could not enter he took his Cross in his own Hands and solemnly protested that he would not stir from that place till the King gave him leave to come into Parliament or a sufficient Reason why he should not While he stood there in this manner some that were by began to revile him telling him that he was a Traytor and had deceived the King and betray'd the Realm To whom the Archbishop The Curse of Almighty God and of his Blessed Mother and of St. Thomas and Mine also be upon the Heads of them that inform the King so Amen Amen In this hurry certain Noblemen chancing to come out he besought them to Request the King in his behalf and for the Right of his Church of Canterbury this they kindly promise him to do The mean while certain Articles cunningly contriv'd and so as they might stir up the hate of the Common People against him are scatter'd about in all places The Authors of this trouble of the Archbishops were thought to be that subtle Engineer Adam Orleton Bishop of Winchester the Lord Darcy and Dr. William Killesby but Winchester cunningly dissembled the Matter and the other two were his open Enemies However at last by the Intercession and Favour of the Lords the King gave leave for his Admission into Parliament where he offer'd to purge himself Lawfully in Parliament of the Crimes objected unto him But he was referr'd to the Consideration of the Twelve Peers who had his Cause in Hand at that time On the 19 of April being a Thursday k M. S. Ret. Parl. p. 41. §. 8. Sr. R. Cotton p. 31. ibid. the King came into St. Edward's Chamber commonly called the Painted Chamber before whom in sight of all the Lords and Commons the Archbishop humbled himself and required his Gracious Pardon which upon the whole Parliaments General Suit and Entreaty his Majesty granted After which the Archbishop desired that whereas he was publiquely defamed thrô the Realm he might now be Arraigned in Open Parliament before his Peers But the King answer'd he would first attend to the Common Affairs and after that examine lighter Matters However a little after without any more Accusation or Answer the King of his own accord declared him Legally purged and excused and ever after held him more Dear than before Thus ended the Archbishops Troubles the Matter being no more resumed he either appearing Innocent which is most likely or however made so by the Kings Pardon Thô at that time all things touching his Arraignment were deliver'd l M.S. Id. p. 45. §. 48. Sr. Rob. Cotton to remain with Dr. William Killesby Keeper of the Privy Seal who as We observ'd before was thought no very Good Friend to the Archbishop But the Gracious King it seems had a Mind not to destroy so able a Minister but only to humble him and break his High Prelatical Obstinacy which for a while seem'd ready to Cope with his Regal Power But upon occasion of this Contrast the m M. S. Id. p. 42. c. Clergy of England in this Parliament made these Requests to the King That the Liberties of Holy Church may be kept and the Great Charter be newly proclaim'd and by Oath confirmed The King answer'd that it was his Desire that Magna Charta should be observed but that it seem'd to him sufficient for either that or other their Liberties to be exemplifi'd under the Great Seal and that more Oaths were not necessary especially since already too many
Person till they themselves required a Peace in the most submissive manner yet his Lords perswaded him rather at this time to send unto them in order to Treat for a Truce between the two Realms for two or three Years For they said how it was great Wisdom in a Prince that hath War in several places at One time to make a Truce with One to pacifie the Other by mild Words and on the Third to employ his Power By these and the like Perswasions he was content to send d Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 143. a. Frois ibid. Richard Bury Lord Bishop of Durham Ralph Lord Nevill of Raby the Lord John Striveling and others to Treat about the Premises But King David either because He thought this Offer was extorted by some great Necessity or for that he was really so obliged to King Philip return'd answer that he neither could nor would strike up a Peace with England without the Consent of the King of France That this was one of the Articles in the last Truce and must be for ever that nothing of Agreement could be lasting between England and Scotland without the Allowance of the King of France King Edward was so nettled at so brisk a Reply from a Prince whom he had drove out of his Kingdom that in great Indignation he vow'd openly That now therefore he would for a while intend to no other business but the War with Scotland only till he had reduced that Kingdom to such Destruction as should be remembred while the World endur'd And immediately he gave out his Commands for all his Men of War to meet him at Barwick by Easter except such only who were appointed for the Wars in Bretagne II Nor did this Heroick Prince trust alone in the Arm of Flesh but truly considering that God Almighty was the sole Disposer of the Success of all Mans endeavours he now issues forth his pious Commands to all the Clergy of England that with one Voice they would incessantly storm Heaven and by their importunate Prayers extort a Blessing upon his Arms. Behold a Copy of his Letters EDWARD e e Walsingh hist p. 147. n. 10. Speed p. 574. §. 68. by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Reverend his Archbishops and Bishops c. Greeting in the Lord. The King of Heaven is Terrible in his Judgements and in Wisdom inscrutable Who justly correcteth the Sons whom He loveth and often shews unto his People that offend hard things by humbling Sinners for their Iniquities that so returning unto him they may seek his Holy Name with fear We therefore duly considering with what hazards of War and Adversities both We and the People under Us either for our sins or for theirs or rather both for ours and theirs have been of a long while and still are exceedingly molested and very much damnifi'd and exhausted thereby of our Treasure and further weighing the Dangerous inconveniences that still in all likelihood hang over the heads of Us and of our People unless Divine Providence shall more graciously respect Us from on High In the midst of such Difficulties and Troubles while We behold our own Weakness in all our Actions We have our recourse to the Divine Omnipotence trusting that the Just Judge the True God will kindly respect the Truth and Justice of our Cause and will humble our Adversary And so in confidence of his Heavenly Compassion attempting an Arduous Affair We have ordained our Passage towards the parts of France with a strong and well-armed Power and another Army We have order'd to be conducted toward the parts of Scotland that so by the Grace of God We may prevent the Dangers threatned unto Us and prepare unto our Liege Subjects after those Storms of Trouble they have suffer'd the Halcyon-days of Peace and Quiet Seeing therefore You are constituted of God on the behalf of Men to offer up Gifts and Sacrifices for sin attend We pray You to the foresaid Dangers not of Us only but of our People pouring forth to the most High Prayers for our happy Success supplying the place of Moses that by the lifting up of your Hands We and Our Armies may prevail against the Enemy And that by the Multitude of Intercessors an Augmentation of Grace may be afforded Us do You cause thrô all our Cities and Towns in your respective Dioceses Prayers and Processions to be made and other parts of Pious Attonement to be meekly performed that the God of Mercies would vouchsafe to extend the Hand of his Benediction over Us and our Armies and so direct our Actions according to his Good Pleasure that they may redound to his Praise to our own Comfort and to the Quiet and Advantage of Our Liege-Subjects Dated c. In the Year of Our Reign of England the f f Apud Walsingh dat Angl. 16. Fran 3. hoc est sub fine praecedentis anni 17 and of France the 4. III. And having thus begun with Heaven King Edward as he had appointed with his Men of War kept his g Frois c. 90. fol. 46. Easter at Barwick and for three Weeks held a great Court there for all the Chief Lords and Knights of the Land were then about him But the Divine Goodness was yet willing to defer the further punishment of Scotland For in the mean time there were found certain Pious Men who labour'd so earnestly on both sides that at last a Truce was agreed on to endure for two Years to which also the French King for the sake of the Common good of that harassed Kingdom consented Thus were these two Tempests of War for that time scattered without breaking upon one another saving that during the time of the Treaty some few skirmishes passed between the two Armies and we find h Dudg 1 Vol. p. 294. that in one of them which happen'd at Barwick the Lord Ralph Nevill of Raby was taken Prisoner and carried to Dunbar whence soon after he was redeemed Only we must not omit that before King Edwards Arrival at Barwick the Scots willing to be beforehand with him had laid Siege to the strong i Walsing hist p. 150. Castle of Loughmaban which King Edward had committed to the Custody of William Bohun Earl of Northampton but he upon his late going into Bretagne had left it to the Defence and Care of Sr. Walter Selby a Valiant Knight The King hearing of this Siege sent thither presently the Earl of Darby the Earls of k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. Gloucester and Northampton who both return'd out of Bretagne with the Countess and the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Robert Hufford Junior Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk with a considerable Body to relieve the Castle But the Valour of the aforesaid Sr. Walter Selby with the Assistance of John Kirkeby Bishop of Carlile and Thomas Son and Heir to the Lord Anthony Lucy had raised the Siege and beat away the
Bodies of English that were coming upon them besides this loss wanting both Victuals and Rest for their Bodies sled away having indeed purchas'd the Name of Truce-breakers but gain'd little Praise for their Valour One o Godw. Catal. Bâ—s p. 678. says that for want of Victuals they were compell'd to fight upon Disadvantage where the Bishop of Caerlile gave them a memorable Overthrow But I can find no such matter unless the loss under Sr. Alexander Straghan may be so accounted For what became of Sr. William Douglas Had he been entirely beaten he could never have escaped either being slain or taken and he was too eminent not to be taken Notice of both by Scotch and English Writers had either of those things happen'd unto him And we find him alive after this wherefore we rather chose to relate as we have done This loss however dispos'd King David of Scotland to admit of a Truce which p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. ex Rot. Scot. 19. Ed. 3. m. 4. c. presently ensued hereupon and the Lord Thomas Lucy with the Bishop aforesaid and others were by King Edward joyned in Commission to see the same duly observed The said Lord Lucy being likewise constituted Sheriff of Cumberland and Governour of the Castle at Caerlile XII And now we shall close this Year after our usual Method when we have remembred the Names of some Grandees that departed this Life about this time The first was the Lord q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 11. Adam Welles a Valiant and Noble Gentleman who dying at the Age of one and fourty left behind him John his Son and Heir then but Eleven Years of Age who afterwards behav'd himself with Great Honour in the French Wars On the r Godw. Catal. Bpâ—p 662. 24 of April there departed this Life at Aukland the Renowned Dr. Richard Aungervile commonly called of Bury Bishop of Durham of whose Wisdom and other Vertues we have more than once spoken in these Papers He died in the 58 Year of his Age and lies buried in the South angle of his own Church We have already seen how great part of this Mans Life was taken up in publique Employments for the Service of his Royal Pupil King Edward But this is memorable of him that what spare time he found from these Weighty Affairs he either spent in Å¿ â—odw Cattal Bps p. 661. Prayer or Conference with his Chaplains or else in study with which he was extreamly delighted He wrote many things whereof some yet remain and in one of them entitled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Conradus t Conr. Gesner in â—â—blieth Vnvers p. 582. Gesner commends highly he saith of himself * Fâ—tatico quedarn librer unâ—mâ—re potenter se abreptum vid. Godwin ibid. that he was powerfully hurried away with a certain Ravishing Love of Books And indeed his study was so well furnished that it was thought he had more Books than all the Bishops in England beside He was also wonderfully taken with the Conversation and Acquaintance of Learned Men and many Letters passed between him and Francis Petrarch and others Famous for Learning in that Age. He had still in his House many Chaplains all Notable Scholars the Chief whereof were Thomas Bradwardin King Edwards Confessor and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Fitz. Ralph afterwards Archbishop of Armagh Dr. Walter Burly Tutor to the Prince of Wales Dr. John Mauduit Dr. Robert Holcot Dr. Richard Killington Dr. Richard Wentworth who in time became Bishop of London and Dr. Walter Seagrave whom Bishop Godwin calls Bishop of Chichester thô himself neither in that Title nor in any other takes notice of any such Man. It was this Bishop of Durhams Custom in Dinner and Supper time to hear some one or two Paragraphs out of some Choice Book read to him the Matter whereof he would afterwards discourse with his Chaplains as leisure from other business would permit He was of a very Charitable and Bountifull Disposition u Godw. Catal. Bps p. 662. Stows Survey of London p. 75. giving a Weekly allowance of Eight Quarters of Wheat made up into Bread for the Relief of the Poor besides the Offals and Fragments from his Table He would constantly when he rode between Durham and Newcastle give away Eight Pounds Sterling in Almes in his riding from Durham to Stockton Five Pounds from Durham to Aukland Five Markes from Durham to Middleham Five Pounds and so proportionably in other journeys Many other Monuments of his Charity Wisdom Piety and Learning he left behind him which have endear'd his Name to all Posterity He was succeeded by Dr. Thomas Hatfield the King's Secretary of whose Election this x Walsing Hypod p. 118. Story is Reported That King Edward being by all means desirous to prefer him to the Bishoprick and perhaps doubting the Convent would not choose him was content rather then miss of his Purpose even against his own late Resolution to Request of the Pope that he would give it him thereby opening a new Passage for him to Reenter into Possession of his late Cancell'd Usurpation The Pope therefore glad of this Opportunity without any Regard had to the Merit of the Man immediately comply'd with the King's Desire And when some Cardinals made Exceptions saying that he was not only a meer Lay-man but one of Light Carriage and no way Worthy of that Sacred Dignity 'T is true said the Pope but if now the King of England had Requested me in behalf of an Ass he should have succeeded And yet y Godw. Catal. Bps p. 663. this Man built Durham College in Oxford and purchased certain Lands unto the same for the Maintenance of such Monks of Durham as should be sent thither to study Which College having many Years after received a new Foundation from Sr. Thomas Pope of Tyttenhanger in Hertfordshire Knight was by him called as it is to this Day Trinity-College This Thomas Hatfield built also Durham Palace in London for the Reception of himself and Successours at their Repair thither And was a Principal Benefactour if not the Founder of the Friery at Northallerton in Yorkshire and having sat in the See 36 Year died a Good Old Man in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXXVI In this Year on the Eighteenth of July died the Famous or rather infamous Adam Orleton of whom We have spoken where We Related the Trayterous and Horrid Murther committed upon the Sacred Person of King Edward the Second We there shew'd how far he was concerned in that Heinous Act but by his subtil Evasions he so well Handled the Matter that he not only escaped Temporal Punishment but within two Moneths after by Means of his Patroness the Queen Mother was Prefer'd to the Bishoprick of Worcester Six Years after thô now King Edward could not endure him at the z Godw. Catal. Bps p. 233. Request of the French King he was Translated by the Pope to Winchester Whereat King Edward was so
and the Flower of the Nobility of Scotland Thô Buchanan by I know not what Authority contradicts his Friend Hector here and gives the first Battail to the Earls of Murray and Douglas the Middle to the King and the last to Prince Robert Stuart and Dumbar In the same manner also the Scotch Historians divide the English Army contrary to what we shall manifest forthwith V. Now were the English come from York within about three Miles of Durham being in Number 1200 Men of Arms 3000 Archers and 7000 Footmen besides a Choice Band of Expert Souldiers newly come from before Calais the whole amounting to k Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 75. p. 887. 16000 compleat Then they were Order'd into Four Bodies Three to engage with the Enemy and the Fourth to stand behind as a Reserve on Horseback For since the Scots exceeded them in Number it seem'd best to the English thus to dispose their Men because if one of their Battails should be broken by this fresh Reserve it might be again Repaired And their Fronts being little less large than the Scots their Paucity was not so well observed nor were they unlikely to make good their Part with the Enemy because thô the Scots Numbers were greater while things should be doubtfull no more Hands among them could be employ'd than among the English who well-nigh equall'd them in Front and if the English should prevail their Enemies Numbers would rather encrease the Confusion than give them any Advantage Of these a great Part were Clergymen Priests Chaplains Fryers and the like but as my l Aiscue's hist Scotl. p. 179. Author says good tall Trenchermen such as were not afraid of a Crack'd Crown thô they had no hair to hide the Wound But m Knighton p. 2590. n. 10. Piety and a Love to their Country laid the Foundation of this Courage for seeing what havock King David had made of Holy Places and Persons they armed themselves with Faith in him who sets himself in Array against those who defie Religion and reared up the Banner of their Saviour as if now they fought against Infidels The First Brigade was govern'd by the Lord Henry Piercy who was General of all the Army thô not Earl of Northumberland as Hector foolishly calls him since it appears n Mili's Catal. Honor. p. 718. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 276. that his Grandson was the first Earl of that Title With him was Thomas Hatfield Lord Bishop of Durham Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos the Lord Thomas Musgrave and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham In the Second Battalia was William Zouch Archbishop of York and Lord Warden of the North and John Kirkeby Bishop of Carlile with whom were the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby and his Son Sr. John Nevil and o Monast Angl. Vol. 2. p. 918. a. n. 30. Ralph Lord Hastings and Others Althô I must not dissemble that p Joh. Tinemouth Aur. Hist M.S. in Bibl. Bodleâ—â— l. 21. c. 26. Tinemouth places the Lord Nevil in the Van. The Third Battail was lead by Thomas Beck Lord Bishop of Lincoln a Man of great Fame and Merit being assisted with the Lord John Moubray the Lord John Leyburn and Sr. Thomas Rokeby High-Sheriff of Yorkshire of whose first Advancement from an Esquire we have spoken in the first Year of this History The Fourth and Last Battalia was govern'd by Edward Bailiol David's Competitor for the Crown of Scotland with whom were John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury William Lord Ross of Hamlake and q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 545. Robert Lord Bertram High-Sheriff of Northumberland and Governour of Newcastle on the Tine Besides all which William Lord Deincourt and Robert Lord Ogle Sr. r Dugd. Warâ— p. 19. Nicolas Charnells and Sr. Henry Bellasis of Durham were appointed with a strong Guard to attend the Queens Person who by the best Authors is affirmed to have kept the Field all the time of the Battle Each of these Four Battalia's consisted of 4000 Choice Men among and besides whom were as we said many Clergymen who came thither now of their own Accord with wonderfull Zeal to fight against the Scots who had so profan'd and violated the Honour of God in his Members the Clergy that with great Devotion and Faith these Holy Men had already marked them forth for Ruine Some whereof refused not to fight against these Enemies of Religion and Others carried their Crosses as Banners before the Men of War singing at the joyning of the Battle Miserere to the great Encouragement of the Sword-men who thought themselves unconquerable since they fought now as well with the Sword of the Spirit as with an Arm of Flesh VI. When thus on both Sides the Armies were order'd the Amazon Queen Philippa t Frois c. 138. rode before the Battles on a white Courser being attended with her Guard and passing from Rank to Rank she sweetly desired them all to use their utmost endeavour to defend the Honour of her Dear Lord the King of England and wished them every Man in the Name of God to take Heart and be of good Courage graciously promising that to her Power she would remember and consider the Well-deserving no less than if her Lord the King was there personally to bear witness of all their Actions And so she recommended the whole Army and her Self to God and St. George This was done early in the Morning Now before the Armies began to move Earl Douglas by the Kings Command rode forth with a good Brigade of Horse to discover the Face of the Enemy and as Occasion was offer'd to skirmish with them But he coming suddenly e'r he was aware into their Danger was received so sharply and upon his flight pursued so warmly that having lost u Buchan l. 9. p. 302. Aiscue's Hist Scâ—tl p. 180. 500 of his best Men he very narrowly escaped himself to the Main Body Where as soon as he had recover'd himself the whole English Army appeared in Three Battalia's for the Fourth was not yet discover'd marching forward very couragiously Whereupon Sr. David Graham x Hector l. 15. fol. 324. n. 50. Aiscue's Hist Scotl. p. 180 c. a valiant Baron of Scotland with a Wing of 500 Horse well appointed gave a full Charge upon the left Flank of the English Archers hoping to disorder and overrun them But he was mistaken for they received him with such a Showre of Arrows that after two or three Attempts in vain having lost many of his Men he also was fain to fly back to the Main Battle upon the Spurr in great danger of being taken by his Pursuers VII These inauspicious Beginnings did nothing at all startle the Courage of the Scotch King Who was both Young and Valiant and because he had never yet in Person maintain'd a just Fight greedy of War hoping to be no less Victorious than his Father Robert Bruce had been before him Wherefore he presently commanded to sound a Charge
his Blood should yield to try a Combat before a King his Enemy was mortally displeased at him and thô he had gain'd such Honour both in the Holy Wars and in the late Duel absolutely deny'd to admit him into his Presence But after a few days having with much adoe and earnest Intercession obtain'd admittance the said Lord Thomas as one that was desirous to shew himself a true Subject and so to recover his Brothers favour besides his declaring the necessity which the Christian Lords had put upon him to go into England began among his excuses highly to extoll the Generosity of King Edward and to shew how justly his Fame was spread throughout the whole World Nor did he forget to commend his Equity which he had shewn in his cause not at all accepting the Person of the Cypriote althô it was well known what a Friend he was to the King of Cyprus himself but Prefer'd and Honoured and Rewarded me said he thô I am a Frenchman and Brother and Servant to you my Lord the King of France These Words the Noble Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes and Constable of France then Present not knowing how distastfull they were to King John confirmed by his own experience and rose up and shew'd among other instances n Knighton p. 2607. n. 1. c. how far that Noble King had banish'd all envy and hatred from his Bâ—east insomuch that lately in a solemn Tourneament at Windsor he had not only admitted him being a Prisoner to that Honourable Exercise but gave him an allowance of all necessary accoutrements and at last rewarded him with a Rich Pâ—ize and new had sent him home upon his Parole in trust of a small Ransom and other as Negotiator for the Redemption of others than a Prisoner himself whereby said he I am put in a Capacity to serve your Majesty as I served your Father or blessed Memory These true Praises of King Edwards Princely Disposition enflam'd the envious heart of lâ—ing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thâ—â— consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâ—ung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 namely on the 19 of November to be beheâ—ded by night in the Presence of the Duke of Bourbon and seven or eight other Lords of Note before whom the Earl of Ewe is said to have confessed certain points of Treason whereof he stood guilty But however all the Treason that Envy it self could lay to the Bastards Charge was only that as he was bound by Oath to 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes in the Holy War he had accordingly committed his cause to the Arbitration of the King of England And as for the Earl of â—â—we whatever at that time was devis'd to blacken him he was notoriously a Person of such Gallantry and had already so eminently signaliz'd his Loyalty that to this day it could never be believed that he could be really guilty of any manner of Treason tho some rather by way of conjecture than proof pretend to colour the Matter that his require passing too and fro between England and France which he did in order to hasten the Redemption of his Fellow-Prisoners was with Designs in favour of the 〈◊〉 Others say p Stâ—w p. 251. that he was suspected of being over Familiar with the French Queen and that therefore King John after the fall of these two Great but Unfortunate Gentlemen famished his Queen to Death thô she was Daughter to John of Luxemburgh that Noble King of Bohemia who lost his Life at the Battle of Creâ—â— in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâ—hus first Wife q L. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 427. who indeed was Daughter to the said King of Bohemia died as we shew'd two Years before And his second Wife his Queen at this time who was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne lived in his Favour and died not till many Years after However the Earl of Ewe's Lands and Honours r Frois c. 153. Mezeray ibid. Mâ—rtâ—â— p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâ—s his Office of Constable of France in January following was by the King confer'd on the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain whom already he had made Earl of Argulesme his Earldom of Eu he gave to the Lord John of Artois Eldest Son to Sr. Robert of Artois of whose Revolt from France and Friendship to King Edward we have spoken in the first part of this our History Only the Earldom of Guisnes he left with the Lady Jane sole Daughter of the Defunct Earl of Ewe who was then Married to Walter Duke of Athens and after his Decease to Lewis Earl of Estampes of the house of Eureux from whom are derived the present Earls of Eu Princes of the Blood. VIII About this time the Scots not yet agreeing to redeem their King David who was still a Prisoner here nor admitting of any just offers of Composition but rather provoking the King of England farther by their Insolencies Cruelties and Depredations He for his part considering that the Truce with France would either be soon ended by violation or of its own course sent his Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. p. 275 p. 294. Commissioners viz. Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill to treat with the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland and other Nobles of that Realm then met at York about a firm and final Peace between the two Nations And this Treaty was held on with good hopes of Success even till the end of the next Year for we find that it was at last between them agreed t Rot. Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. that upon the coming into England of the young Lord John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King he himself should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be deliver'd The Kings Letters of safe Conduct to the Hostages and of Power to certain Commissioners to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his Return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were all come bear date the 5 of September an 25. Ed. 3. to continue in force till the Quindena of the Purification next following and on the 3 of November after they were renewed with a further term even to the Feast of St. Philip and James ensuing According to this agreement the Hostages being come and disposed into the Castles of York and Nottingham King Edward sent his Command u Râ—s Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. bearing date the 5 of October to Sr. John Copland High-Sheriff of Northumberland the same who first took the King of Scotland
deliberation he might declare whether they were to be accepted or rejected The third day after the King accepted the Universities Resignation and pardon'd them of all that the Scholars had done either in the said tumult or before as his Letters bearing z Pat. 29. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 26. date 20 of May and still remaining among the Archives of that University under the Kings Seal bear witness As to the Townsmen who were now also involved in the Censures of the Church upon the Intercession of several Nobles and the Heads of the University it self this Order was at last taken with them On * D. Lit. Dom. ad an 1355. St. Kenelmes day being a Friday and the 17 day of July a Ex Record Turr. Antiqu. Oxon. p. 176. Claus 29. Ed. 3. m. 23 Holiâ—sh p. 950. Antiqu Oxon. l. 1. p. 180. in the following Year Master Humphry Charleton Professor of Divinity and John Charleton the younger Dr. of the Laws and Thomas Neville Master of Arts on the behalf of the University of Oxford and John of St. Frideswide Mayor John Bedford and John Norton Bailifts of the said Town of Oxford on behalf of the Commonalty of the same Town came before the Kings Council into the Council-Chamber near the Exchequer where the Allegations on both sides being heard upon request made that it would please his Majesties Council according to the Submissions by both Parties made unto the King and to his Council to take order in the Matter in Controversie betwixt them concerning the late tumult and business which had chanced in the said Town by the disorder of the Commonalty of the same in breaking down and burning of Houses in taking and bearing away the Books and other Goods of the said Masters and Scholars and in committing other Transgressions The Council having consideration of the Premises to avoid the Decay that might ensue to the said Town made this end betwixt the Parties That the Commonalty of the said Town John Bereford being in the Kings Prison and Robert Lardiner only excepted should be bound to pay unto the said Masters and Scholars damnified in the said Tumult and Business for amends and reformation of Injuries and Losses sustained Death and Maim excepted two hundred and fifty pounds beside the Goods taken and born away to be restored again and this Money to be paid to the said Chancellour Masters and Scholars by the Feast of St. James or else sufficient sureties put in for the payment thereof at certain terms as the Parties should agree upon And in respect thereof John Bereford and John Norton shall be released out of Prison at the Bail of the said Mayor of Robert Minks and John Dimock till the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery on Condition that the said Sums of Money be paid or surety put in for the payment thereof as before is said or else the Bodies of the said John Bedford and John Norton shall be returned to the said Prison within three days after the Feast of St. Peter ad Vincula there to remain in manner as before they did It was also ordain'd by the Kings Council with the Assent of the said Humphry Lewis and John Charleton that all and every manner of Persons of the said Town of Oxford and the suburbs of the same indited and arraigned of the Felonies and transgressions aformention'd that should yield themselves to the Kings Prison to be tried by Law and also all others that were at that time present in Prison which the said Humphry and John Charleton should name John de Bereford and Robert Lardiner excepted may be let to Bail upon sufficient Sureties who should undertake for them body for body to appear at the next Sessions of Goal-Delivery there to be tried according to order of Law. And further it was order'd that all such Goods and Chattels as were taken and carried away from the said Masters and Scholars in the said tumult and business by the Men of the said Town and Suburbs in whose hands and in what places soever within the said Town and Suburbs by Inquisition Information or other means they should or might be found should be deliver'd unto the Chancellour and Proctors of the said University to be by them restored unto those Persons to whom they belonged This was the effect of the final Order taken at the day and place aforesaid before the Reverend Fathers John Archbishop of York Primate and Chancellour of England William Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer Thomas Brembre Lord Keeper of the Privy-Seal and David Wollere Master of the Rolls Henry Inglesby Clerk of the Council and other of the Kings Council there present XI This Year b Odor Rainal Continuat ad Baren ad hunc annum §. 31. M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Innocent VI. Gesta Innoc. VI. apud Boâ—qu Walsingh hist p. 161. n. 47. about Whitsuntide two Fryers Minors named John of Castillon and Francis at Arquata being accounted guilty of Heresie were seised by Order of the Pope and brought from Carcassone to Avignon where they were both burnt alive Of whom thus Henry Rebdorf in his Annals Being brought to Avignon and by the Popes Command examin'd they read their Confession in a certain long Paper containing many Articles about the Premises Nay they publiquely affirmed that Pope John the XXII and all his Successors and even Pope Innocent himself who affirmed the contrary to their Assertion were and had been Hereticks and Reprobates and had no Title to any Dignity or Benefice Ecclesiastical For which the said Minors being degraded of their Priesthood were in presence of the Pope deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt within the Octaves of Pentecost And as they went to the Stake they cried out with a loud voice Glory be to God on high And it was publiquely said that many of the said Order had been deliver'd over to the secular Power and burnt in Gascogne and in Italy for the foresaid Articles whom the two Friers aforesaid affirmed to be true Martyrs And it was moreover said how there were very many Learned Persons of the said Order who defended the Question about Property and the Poverty of Christ and his Apostles Which also these two had done But it is also to be remembred for the Honour of the University of Paris which we find upon undoubted Authority c Bishop Vshers Answ to a Jesuits Challenge p. 428. eâ— Gâ—id Revâ—cat Errer fact Parisus Ano. 1354. Tom. 14. Bibl. Patrum Edit Colon. p. 347. that this Year a certain Augustin Frier named Guido for defending the Condignity of Mans Merit with God which is a Matter now generally owned in the Church of Rome was by Order of the Chancellour and the Theological Faculty at Paris to make his publique Recantation in this Form I said against a Batchelour of the Order of the Friers-Preachers in conference with him that a Man doth merit Everlasting Life of Condignity that is to say that
d Asomole's Gartor p. 697. ex Rot. 31 Ed. 3 m. 5. Dat. 18. Novemb. granted unto the Lord Thomas Holland Earl of Kent the Custody of the Fort and place of Cruyck in Normandy part of the Kings late Conquests with all the Revenues thereunto belonging to hold durante Bene placito And a Command was given to Sr. Donald Heselrige Sr. Lewis Clifford and Sr. Walter Mewes to deliver them up to him or his Lieutenant accordingly III. We have declared largely enough how King David of Scotland was taken Prisoner also at the Battle of Durham and ever since that he wanted his Liberty being e Knighton p. 2616. n. 13. at this time in the Tower of London But now upon the Conclusion of the foresaid Truce between England and France the Cardinals together with the f Non enim ad Archiep. erecta est haec sedes ante Sixtum IV. P P. qui id fecit Ano. 1471 Bishop of St. Andrews in Scotland began to enter into a serious Treaty with King Edward about the Delivery of King David from his Long Imprisonment Which Treaty was not a little further'd by the Prayers of Queen Joan of Scotland King Edwards Sister So that at last on the g Rot. Sect. 31. Ed. 3. m 2. Dâ—rso Vid. Ashmole's Garter p. 658. 3d of October there met at Barwick Commissioners on both sides namely John Thoresby Archbishop of York Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham Gilbert Welton Bishop of Caerlile the Lords Henry Piercy Ralph Nevill Henry Scroop and Thomas Musgrave on King Edwards part and William Bishop of St. Andrews Thomas Bishop of Cathnes Patrick Bishop of Brechin Chancellour of Scotland Patrick Earl of March Robert de Irskin and William Levington Knights Deputies of Robert Stuart Guardian of Scotland on the other Part Between whom these Articles were agreed on viz. Imprimis h Knighton p. 2617. n. 40. Du Chesne p. 680. That King David should never after bear Arms against the King of England within this Realm nor either Counsel or Abett any of his Subjects so to do 2. Item That King David upon his Return into Scotland should use his utmost Endeavour to persuade his Lords and Others to agree that the Crown of Scotland might be held in Fee and by Homage of the King of England But that if the Scots could not be brought to yield to that yet however King David should swear solemnly to observe the Peace with the King of England punctually and duly 3. Item That King David should oblige and bind himself and his Heirs and the whole Realm of Scotland to pay unto the King of England and his Heirs within i Thô we find 24000 Marks of the said Summ upon Arrears 27 Years after Vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 277. ex Rot. Sect. 7. Pic. 2. m. 8. ten Years after the Sum of one hundred thousand Marks Sterling 4. Item That King David in the mean time deliver unto King Edward Twenty good and sufficient Pledges and Hostages for the Performance of these Covenants as namely the Lord John Eldest Son and Heir to the Lord Robert Stuart and Nephew to King David and together with him the Earls of Southerland Douglas Murray and Mar and Fife the Baron of Vescy Sr. William Cathanes and Twelve others All who were to abide in England as Prisoners and Hostages for the King their Lord till the said Summ be fully paid and acquitted 5. Item That a Decennial Truce in England Scotland and the Isle of Man be inviolably kept between the two Realms on pain of Forfeiture of Body and of Chattels and that after ten Years the Scots might be free to choose Peace or War as they should like best Of these Articles there were made Indentures and Publick Instruments sealed with the Seals of both the Kings and so King David after almost 11 Years Imprisonment had his Liberty and rode homeward with his Queen Joan Sister to King Edward who attended him like a loving Wife all the time of his Confinement and came to Barwick on the Feast of St. Michael where they were met by several of the Scotch Nobility who brought along with them one Moiety of the Summ agreed on for their Kings Ransom and the Hostages who were to remain in England till the Remainder should be paid And then according to the Fifth Article above-written the Decennial Truce between the Scots and English was solemnly Proclaimed For all along till now whatever Truce was taken between the two Nations there was none entirely observed but either by the Robberies of the Borderers on Land or the Piracies of private Men by Sea was continually interrupted by the Scots Thô King Edward many times was content in a private manner to correct these Disorders without infringing the Publick Peace Particularly this very Year even while the two Kings were labouring what in them lay for an Everlasting Concord k Knighton p. 2617. n. 30. three Scotch Pirates with no less than 300 chosen Men of Arms went cruising about the Coasts of England to trepan Merchants and such as they could get they slew and rifled doing that way much Mischief But about Michaelmas there arose an high and strong Wind which drove them and many English Vessels also as well of War as others all together into Yarmouth Haven where it pleased God the Scots were taken every Man and brought to a just account for all their Piracies 'T is said of this King David l Speeds Maâ—s Nottinghamshire c. 34. §. 6. fol. 65. that during his Captivity here in England being much part of the Time confined in Nottingham Castle he left behind him in a Vault under the Castle curiously engraven with his own Hands on the Walls which were of Rock the whole Story of the Passion of our Saviour For which one says that Castle became as famous as formerly it had been for Mortimers Hole But He being now acquitted of his Imprisonment like a just Prince sets himself seriously to perform the Articles of Agreement between him and his Brother-in-Law of England and first according to a private Promise made unto King Edward he rased and demolished the Castles of Dalswinton Dumfres Mortoun and Durisdere Then m Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. he called a Parliament where he enacted sundry Laws for the Punishment and Disgrace of those who had fled from the Battle of Durham as in a Parliament n Holinshead ibid. p. 240. preceding that Battle he had very liberally rewarded all such as had either been Notable for their Actions or Sufferings in his Service among whom says Hector Boethius his Ancestor Hugh Boece in Consideration of his Fathers Death on his Account in the Action at Duplin was made Inheritor of the Barony of Balbrid the King giving unto him in Marriage the Heiress of the said Barony But now on the Contrary he was as Severe in punishing the Cowardise or Disloyalty as he thought it of those who had deserted him in the
also all the time of his Imprisonment here in England which was for the space of Eleven Years more She died at Hartford the Court being there at that time and was buried in the Gray-Fryers Church in London hard by the Body of Queen Isabell her Mother And lastly the Great Orchanes Son of Ottoman the Second Emperour of the Turks died g 〈◊〉 Chron. 〈…〉 ad ann 1359. either in the end of this Year or in the beginning of the next in the 760th Year of the Hegira Current after he had reigned to the great Dammage of Christendom 32 Years His Son Morat or Amurath the first of that Name sirnamed also Gazes succeeded him in the Empire of whose Death we shall not speak in this History because he outlived our King Edward reigning just the same Number of Years as his Father had done before him And thus as the Death of King Edward II was attended with the Funerals of a King of Scotland a King of France and a Turkish Emperour So his Dowager Queen Isabell was immediately followed by Joan Queen of Scots and Orcanes Emperour of Turky not to mention that Politick Death of King John of France whose Majesty lay now buried in Imprisonment XV. About this h Knighton p. 262. â—r 1. â— Walsingâ— hist p. 165. Godw. Cal. l. 〈◊〉 p. 269. Aâ—â— p. 〈…〉 p. 146. c. time there happen'd a great Quarrel between Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely and the Lady Blanch Plantagenet Sister to Henry Duke of Lancaster 〈◊〉 Relict of Thomas late Lord Wake of Lydel The Occasion was this the Bishops Men had burnt a Mannor of the said Lady Wakes and slain one of her Men whereupon she made her Complaint to the King of this Grievance The King sent his Justices viz. Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Shareshull and Others to make Inquisition in the Case And the Bishop being cited before them it appeared that he was altogether culpable because he had knowingly harboured the Murderer quod cum post perpetratam Felomam receptâ—sset scienter Whereupon Judgment being pronounced against him his Temporalities were seised into the Kings Hands and he obliged to give Sureties for his forth Coming He soon after made shift to get over the Sea to Avignon where he complain'd to the Pope how the King had seised his Temporalities against the Rights of the Church His Holiness hereupon by his Bull cited to appear at his Court the Kings Justices and their Adherents as Sr. Henry Green Sr. William Shareshull William Norton William Thorpe and Sr. Simon Drayton whom for refusing to appear he Excommunicated This Bull was sent to John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln to publish to the People with an Injunction that if any of the Excommunicate were dead he should cause them to be dug out of their Graves and cast them out of the Churchyard He did so to Sr. Simon Drayton who was then dead and buried and took him out of his Grave and drew his Body forth at a hole which he had dug in the Church-wall and cast it forth out of the Churchyard And hearing that the Lord John Engain who had been concerned in the said Affair was also l Dâ—â—d 1 Vol. p. 467. then newly dead he sent to the Abbot of Bury to do the same unto his Body but the Lord Thomas Engain his Son hindred the execution by Force When the King heard of these things he was very much moved and sent word to the Pope that nothing had been done but according to the Laws and Customs of his Realm and so at last thô not without some difficulty he obtain'd Absolution for them What some k Antiq 〈◊〉 C. du 〈…〉 l. Bish ibid. observe that the Original of this matter proceeded from the Bishop of Ely's boldness in Reprehending the King for setting up an unworthy Person to be Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield is to be look'd on as an Errour for that See was not void till almost two Years after this whereas the l Godwin ibid. Knighton ibid. Walsing ibid. Odor Rainal ad hunc an §. 4. end of this Action is truly referred unto this Year However because some of the Persons Excommunicate had been of the Kings Privy Council Proclamation was presently made throughout the Realm that hereafter no Man should presume on pain of Death to bring into the Realm or to procure or publish any Papal Letters Citations Excommunications or Censures And some of the Bishop of Ely's Servants were clapt up in the Tower and others in Newgate where they died for presuming contrary to this Prohibition to deliver Letters to John Stepney Bishop of Rochester then Lord Treasurer of England But as for those threatning Letters which the Pope is said to have written to King Edward hereupon I believe nothing of them because Odoricus Rainaldus is altogether silent as to any such thing Now was m 〈…〉 ad hunc annum §. Walsingh hist â— 165. â—esâ—◠〈◊〉 Vl. 〈…〉 181. 〈…〉 Bil. V. 〈…〉 n. 376â— â— M.S. 〈…〉 Bo V. Speed p. 5â—3 also moved the famous Controversie between the Universities and the 4 Orders of Preaching Fryers which was on the behalf of Oxford managed at this time by that Learned Prelate Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate oâ— Ireland and Chancellour of the said University the said Richard arguing against the said Fryers before the Pope for that they were a Nuisance both to the Clergy and the two Universities and trusting to their Privileges by which they were admitted to receive the Confessions of dying Men they used to entice away young Men as well out of Publick Schools as from their Parents Houses whom having once brought into their Sâ—â—eties they would never after permit them to return to their Friends Whereby Men withdrew or kept back their Sons from the Universities lest these Fryers should thus steal them away So that says he n 〈◊〉 Acts Mâ—n p. 53â— whereas in my own Time there were 〈◊〉 Oxford 30000 Students within a while after there were but 6000. And indeed how excessively these Fryerly Swarms encreased in all Nations may appear from one Instance o Sâ—â—â—il Enne ad l. 6. where the General of the Franciscans Order promised to the Pope then about an Expedition against the Turk to bring him into the Field 30000 expert Warriers out of the Number of St. Francis his Order and yet that enough should remain at home to perform the requisite Devotions But at this time the Pope made such use of those Fryers that Armachanus prevailed not against them thô he maintained his Cause 〈◊〉 Nine Learned Propositions boldly and manifestly p Walsing Hist p. 16â— n. 20. Speed p. 5â—3 because the English Clergy stuck not to him as they had promised and the Fryers had great store of Mony whereby they were so far from losing Ground that they procured at this time a new Confirmation of their Privileges But those that desire more Particulars as
graciously of the Prince just upon their taking leave they declared also unto him their great necessity to which their long stay in those parts had reduced them Desiring that his Highness would please to consider their Condition And he promised to do them what kindness he could Whereupon they all rode on to Calais-ward and the Prince marched after his Father Within two days the King sent three Knights to the Strangers then at Calais with this Message That he had not brought with him Treasure enough to fulfill their Desires and to answer his own Designs too But if they would bear him Company and partake with him in what should happen at a venture then if good Fortune should fall they should have their proportion on condition they demanded no Wages nor Reparation for any loss or damage For said the Messengers you know your selves that more than Three Parts in Four of you came hither of your own heads only and the King our Master hath brought with him enough of his own Subjects to serve for this Expedition This answer was not over-pleasing to the Strangers who had taken much pains and spent their Money and some had engag'd to leave their Horse and Arms for satisfaction in their Quarters But more than this they could not now obtain of the King except that he sent them indeed as much Money as might suffice to carry them home into their own Countries Yet for all this some of those Lords went again to the King to serve him on his Conditions for they thought it dishonourable to turn home again after such Preparations without doing any thing III. Thus King Edward marched forward with this great Army consisting of above an 120000 Men in all his Constable Roger Lord Mortimer Earl of March the second of that Name riding on before him with 500 Men of Arms and 2000 tall Archers Then followed the King with 3000 Men of Arms and 5000 Archers on Horseback besides Welchmen and others on Foot after him were 500 lusty Pioneers with Mattocks and Pick-axes to level the ways and make them fit for the Carriages Then came all the Carriages consisting of n Frois c. 2â—â— Holâ—â—h p. 965. 6000 Chariots Carts and Waggons every Cart having to it at least Four good Horses brought out of England to carry Provision for the Army and many other usefull things some such as had been seldom seen before in any Camp such as Hand-mills to grind their Corn Moveable Ovens and Forges the one to bake their Victuals and the other to make shoes for Horses and the like After all the Carriages came the Prince of Wales with his Three Brethren and their several Retinues of whom were 2000 Spears and 4000 Archers on Horseback besides the Infantry Bill-men and Bow-men all ready ranged for Fight But they marched not above Four Leagues a day because of their Footmen and Carriages In this manner it was that they were met by the Duke of Lancaster and the Lords Strangers in a fair Plain between Calais and the Abbey of Liques and immediately as I said joyn'd by the Duke and those Germans and other Strangers whom the King of England had retain'd And here I shall take leave to present unto the Reader the Names of the most eminent Leaders in this Army than which a Fairer never passed the Sea out of England either before or since that time as well such as came over with the King as those who went with the Duke of Lancaster before him First the most Magnificent and Invincible Monarch EDWARD the Third King of England and France and Lord of Ireland Then his Four Sons Edward of Woodstock Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Sirnamed the BLACK-PRINCE Lionel of Antwerp Earl of Vlster and afterwards Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley afterwards Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York these were the Kings Four Sons the Fifth being a Child was left in England There was also Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster the Kings Cousin-German Roger Lord Morttmer Earl of March Constable of England Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Marshals of the Host Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and King of Man Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and William Bohun his Brother Earl of Northampton and John Vere Earl of Oxford o Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 193. vid. â—and ad 〈…〉 fro Barenrgio who indeed went not over with the King by reason he had not made his Will but that being done he followed him soon after Besides these Princes Dukes and Earls there were these Lords that follow Dr. John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln and Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Henry Piercy and his Eldest Son Sr. Henry who was afterwards the first Earl of Northumberland of that Name the Lord Ralph Nevill of Raby the Lord Edward Spencer Nephew to the late Lord Hugh le Despencer the Grandchild a most Noble and Warlike young Gentleman the Lord John Chandos the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord John Grey of Codonore the Lord John Moubray the Lord Roger de la Ware the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord John Willoughby the Lord James Audley the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord John Charleton the Kings Chamberlain the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord John Fitz-Walter the Lord Edmund Pierpoint the Lord John Botetourt St. Richard Pemburge Sr. Nele Loring Sr. Stephen Cossington Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. William p Dugd. Warw. p. 538. Trussel and many others too Long to Name besides the Lords and Gentlemen Strangers among whom were Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders with 200 Spears in his Retinue Sr. Frank van Hall with as many more Sr. Reginald Boulant with 60 Spears besides 500 Germans under the Marquess of Nuys and others whose Names I had rather omit than set them down as I find them unorthographically The Army rode thrô Artois passing by the City of Arras and took the same way which the Duke of Lancaster had gone before But they found nothing to live on in the plain Country for what had been left undestroy'd was gather'd into strong Towns. Tho besides the Continual Depredations made about in the Country by the Men of War the Earth had lain in a manner untill'd for three Years together So that if Oats and Wheat had not been brought out of Hainalt and Cambresis to supply those parts the People of Artois Vermandois Laonnois and Rhemois had died for Hunger Nor was King Edward ignorant of all this before he came out of England wherefore he made such wonderfull Provision of all things necessary except only of Oats Hay and Straw for which he made as good shift as he could But that which made the want of Litter more grievous was that soon after his coming the Weather was very Rainy and the Ways began to be deep which prov'd a great trouble both
the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin or as some say z Dugd. Warw. p. 165. ex Esc 35. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 122. on the Tuesday after the said Feast which that Year fell on the 30th of March. England had less wanted him now that the War was ended if he had not been as Eminent for Counsel in Peace as he was remarkable for Military performances He was only Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was younger Brother and next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who was Eldest Son to Edmund Sirnamed Crouchback Second Son to King Henry III of England and Brother to King Edward the First Grandfather to King Edward the Third This Illustrious Person in his life time did nothing degenerate from the Blood Royal of England of which he so largely partook as may be seen in those many foregoing Passages of this History which speak of his Warlike Actions His many Heroick Vertues obtain'd him the Glorious Sirname of Good he being generally called the Good Duke of Lancaster Wherefore his Death was universally Lamented especially by the Poor by the Clergy and by Scholars to whom he was a Constant Friend and Patron Nor was King Edward a Frois c. 216. less concerned for the loss of so Renowned a Kinsman and Captain as were also all the Barons of England Lords Knights and Esquires For he was in his Days an Ornament to the Nobility a Patron to the Church a Prop to Learning a Glory to the Souldiery and a shield unto his Prince He was b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. buried on the South-side of the High-Altar in the Collegiate Church of Leicester which c Knighton p. 2625. Speed's Maps in Leicester himself had founded and set over it one Dean Twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and others all sufficiently provided with Revenues Besides he consummated the Hospital there which his Father had begun wherein were maintain'd an 100 Infirm and Poor people d Stow p. 265. 50 Men and 50 Women together with 10 lusty and able Women to serve the said Infirm Ones with Meat and Drink and other bodily Necessaries day and night Both which Hospital and College of Canons he sufficiently endowed for ever and indeed they were the Greatest Ornament of that City until the heavy Hand of King Henry VIII among other the like Foundations laid their Ruines at his own Feet At which time the College Lands d Stow p. 265. were valued at 595 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence per annum He left behind him two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Mathilda the Eldest then 22 Years of Age at that time Married to William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the Emperour and Duke of Zealand Holland Hainalt and Friseland the other Daughter named Blanch then 19 Years of Age and the Wife of John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond but upon the Death of her Eldest Sister which happen'd shortly after without Issue in her Right Duke of Lancaster Earl of Darby Lincoln and Leicester Steward of England and also Lord of Brigerac Beaufort and Nogent Who had by her Henry Sirnamed of Bolingbroke who afterwards traiterously deposing King Richard the Second became King of England by the Name of Henry IV. Soon after his Death the Lady f Knighton p. 2625. Mathilda his Eldest Daughter came into England to claim her Purparty of the Inheritance where she died presently being g Id. p. 2626. n. 31. as was thought poison'd that the Inheritance might not be divided among Foreigners but go entirely as thereupon it did to her Younger Sister who was Married in England Besides this Great Prince there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. died this Year of the same Plague the Lord John Moubray a most Valiant and Noble Knight of England who was styled Lord of the Isle of Haxiholme and of the Honours of Gower and Brembre He died at York on the 4th of October leaving behind him John his Son and Heir a Valiant Young Gentleman then of full Age whom he had by his Wife the Lady Joan of Lancaster Sister to the Duke of Lancaster aforesaid But this Young Lord John Moubray brought more i Dudg ibid. p. 128. Honour and Possessions to his House and Name by taking unto him for Wife the Lady Elisabeth Daughter and Heir to John Lord Seagrave by Margaret his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Thomas of Brotherton k Fifth Son but Second surviving Second Son to King Edward the First Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England From which Marriage l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110. are Descended all the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Nottingham of the Sirname of Moubray and Howard the Earls of Suffolk and Barkshire and particularly the Thrice Noble Henry Lord Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 279. p. 312. Son of John Earl of Peterborough by his Lady Elisabeth sole Daughter and Heir of William Howard Lord Effingham Eldest Son to Charles Earl of Nottingham Nor ought We to forget the Death of the Valiant Lord n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Mills Catal. Honer p. 531. Edward Montague Brother to William the first Earl of Salisbury of that Name which happen'd in this Year he leaving behind him only one Daughter at that time XII Years of Age then Wife to the Lord William Hufford Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk Besides this o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 68. there died the Lord Reginald Cobham a Baron of great Renown in those days leaving behind him a Son of his own Name and Character Also William p Id. 1 Vol. p. 447. Lord Fitz-Warine of the House of the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine and Sr. Nicolas q Id. 2 Vol. p. 89. St. Maure alià s Seymor a considerable Baron of the Realm Besides whom there were now taken away six Bishops r Walsing hist p. 171. Gedw Catal. Bps Stow p. 265. as Michael Northborough alià s Northbrook Bishop of London who was succeeded by Simon Sudbury Reginald Brian Bishop of Worcester whose Chair was supply'd by John Barnet Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely a good Benefactor to Peter-House College in Cambridge whose loss was repaired by the Succession of Simon Langham also Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester into whose place came William Lenne alià s Lenlimere and John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln whose Successor was John Buckingham Lord Privy Seal but these two latter died in the beginning of the next Year There died also at this time that Famous Scholar Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland and Chancellour of the University of Oxford of whom we Å¿ Huius hist l. 3. c. 3. §. 15. p. 552. have spoken more largely elsewhere Only it is here to be added that this Archbishop t Vid. Odâ—r Rainal ad ann 1358. § 6. Wad in Annal. Minor. Tem. 4. ad cund ann had such a Reputation for Holiness and Integrity of Life that he is said to
there was no English Army in those Parts able to fight Sr. Bertram or to raise the Siege they called a Council of War and concluded to treat with the Constable which they did so discreetly that they were permitted to go away with all their Goods and what they pleased to carry and were also conveyed safely into Limosin where they incurred no Blame of their Friends for what they had done Thus Sr. Bertram prosper'd in this Expedition and wan many Towns and Castles from the English before he return'd into France VIII But now 't is time to look at home and see how King Edward behaves himself in this juncture He for his part m M. S. Rot. Parl. p. 107. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 111. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. in the first Week of Lent being the Beginning of March held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster at the opening whereof William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted-Chamber before the King Lords and Commons how since the last Sessions his Majesty had defrayed a Mighty Mass of Money and had sent over considerable Armies for the Conquest and Recovery of his Own And that he had lately received perfect information of the Great Power which the French King had prepared therewith to drive him from his Inheritance beyond the Seas as also of his Vast Navy whereby he meant to Subject unto him the whole Realm of England of all which the King demanded their Counsel and Advice Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland Guienne and other foreign Places and Isles and Tryers also for the said Petitions At this time * Stow p. 268. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. the Clergy granted unto the King an Aid towards his Wars in France of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be paid that Year towards which Sum Chantry Priests were taxed according to their Annual Receits and also small Benefices which had not been taxed before And the Laity also Lords and Commons granted unto the King for the Use aforesaid the like Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds to be levied of every Parish within the Realm at the rate of 22 s. 4d. the greater Parishes helping out the less supposing according to the Common Opinion that there had been as many Parishes in England as would have sufficed to answer the said Sum. Wherefore Writs were directed into all the Shires in England that the King might be certified of all the Churches in every Shire and of their Number Upon which it was found that the said Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds might not be raised in that Manner as had been proposed The mean while among other things because all the High Offices of the Realm had been engrossed in a manner by Men of the Church n M.S. Rot. Par. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm ibid. M.S. vet Angl. in Bâ—bi C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. to the Disherison of the Crown the Lords and Commons petition'd that for the future Secular Men only might be Principal Officers of the King's Court and Houshold the Chief of which Places were there named particularly as that of the Chancellor Treasurer Privy Seal and the like and none of the Clergy they being enough taken up by their Spiritual Affairs if they minded them according to their Duty Saving unto the King his Prerogative freely to choose or remove Officers provided they may be of the Laity only To which Petition althô the King's Answer was then That he would do by Advice of his Council yet we find that in this very o Philipots Catal Chancellorâ— p. 43. Month of March William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England did deliver up the Great Seal unto the King at Westminster who immediately deliver'd it to Sr. Robert Thorpe One of the Justices of the Law. At the same time p Philipâ—ts Catal Treasurers p. 39. Godwin Catal. Bish 40â— Thomas Brentingham alias Brantington Bishop of Excester was also removed from being Lord Treasurer in whose Place Sr Richard Scroop of Boulton a Baron of the Realm succeeded on the 27 of March. And then it passed into a Law that for the future the Chancellor Treasurer and Clerk of the Privy Seal should not be Spiritual Men but that Secular Persons only should have those Employments After which thô sometimes indeed the Clergy did attain the said Dignities yet it was much more seldom and in process of time very rare or never This done q M.S. Rot. Par. p. 107. §. 8. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 111. Sr. Robert Thorpe the New-Lord Chancellor declared that for as much as Easter drew near all the Petitions of the Commons could not be answer'd at that time But that after the said Feast the King would take Care to answer them And so the King thanked the Lords and Commons for their Travel and Aid and gave them leave to depart The next Sessions was held at r Ita M.S. Râ—t Parl. rectè sed Winchest apud Sr. Rob. Cotton Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity then next after at which time the Lord Chancellor declared unto the Lords and Commons there assembled how their late Grant of 22 s. and 4d out of every Parish would not amount to 50000 l. because by the Return into the Chancery it appear'd that there were not so many Parishes in the Realm Whereupon the Lords and Commons for the perfecting the foresaid Sum granted unto the King of every Parish-Church assessed within the Realm Five Pounds Å¿ Ita M.S. rectè ut videtur sed Sr. Rob. Cotton legit 10â— Sixteen Shillings comprising therein the foresaid Sum of Twenty Two Shillings and Four Pence except the County of Chester and all such Lands of the Church as had been amortized before the Twentieth of King Edward the First The Form of the Commission for this Subsidy was read before the King and the Collectors and Commissioners were appointed by the Knights of the several Counties and there were set down the t Vid. Stow p. 268. c. ubi tamâ—n errer in numer is nâ—n facile emend â—nduâ— Names of every Shire with the Number of the Parish-Churches therein and the Sum to which the Gross of the Payment of all the Parishes amounted Which was in all 50181 l. 8 s. Whereof the Odd 181 l. 8 s. was deducted because thrô great Poverty the Parishes in Suffolk paid but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Seven Pence apiece and those in Devonshire but Five Pounds Twelve Shillings and Ten Pence Farthing And so the King was answer'd his full Summ of 50000 l. But Cheshire a County Palatinate I know not for what Reason came not to this Parliament and so was not reckon'd among the other Counties nor in the Tax Thô in the City of Chester there were Ten Parish Churches and in the Shire Eighty Seven more besides Chappels In this
37 of Ed. 3. tit 18. shall be executed And for exacting Money of them at the Bridges aforesaid or elsewhere against their Franchises they shall make their Suit in the Chancery and have their Writs grounded on their Liberties to stay such takings The Commons of the County of Kent complain against the Officers of the Castle of Dover for arresting them by their Catchpoles to answer before them whereunto they are g M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton hâ—c vocula not intercidit not bound The Officers shall have no Jurisdiction out of the Fee of the Honour and Castle of Dover nor shall make any Process by Capias out of the Liberties of the Cinque-Ports Certain of the Sea-Coasts complain to the King that whereas they by the King 's Appointment with their Ships transported Sr. Thomas Felton Steward of Gascogne and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne unto Bourdeaux and from thence went to the Baye where certain Spanish Gallies notwithstanding the Truce taken between the King the Spaniards and Frenchmen boarded and took them viz. on the tenth of August last past before herein therefore they pray Remedy The King hath done and will do his best for Redress and Restitution The Inhabitants of the Town of Southhampton pray the King to take the Town into his own Hands for that they are not able to pay the Fee-Farm by reason of the great Charge about the Fortification of the same and that he would send thither Men of War for the Defence of the same The King will be advised The Mayor and Commonalty of Winchester pray the King to confirm and grant to them their Liberties in such wise as was last granted to London and that towards the Murage of the same he would give them some Aid of Custom or otherwise The Answer to this is not to be read The Commons of divers Cities and Towns require the payment of certain Moneys lent the King in the time of Thomas Brantingham Bishop of Excester and Treasurer of England They shall be paid as soon as may be The Lords of the Realm and their Tenants pray the King of Remedy against the Riots of divers Cities and Towns for that they enter upon their several Grounds therein claiming Common considering the Wasts thereunto adjoyning may suffice therefore and namely that such of the Townsmen as have not Lands lying with any of the said Lords may have no Common in any of their Lands This Matter is before the Council The Inhabitants of Bath complain that whereas they had a Fair there at the Feast of St. Calixtus the Town of Bristow being but ten Miles from them have raised a Fair at Bristow the same Day and forbidden all their Townsmen of Bristow upon certain Penalties to bring any Wares to the said Fair of Bath for this they pray Remedy It is before the Great Council The Commons of Essex and Suffolk pray that certain Clothes there or elsewhere called Cogware and Kersies made in the said Counties be not within the compass of the Statute of Clothes made in the 47 Ed. 3. h In M.S. c. 41. sed eâ— Statutis câ—rrâ—ge c. 1. The King willeth that they have such Words that the Straight-Ware called Cogware and Kersies made in the said Counties shall not be intended to be comprised in the said Statute nor under the penalty therein The Mayor Aldermen and Commons of the City of London pray that they may enjoy all their Liberties and that no Stranger do keep House or be a Broker or sell Merchandise by Retail The King hath granted thereto conditionally that the same City be well governed saving to the Merchants of the Hans their Liberties The Citizens and Burgesses of divers places there mention'd complain for and in the Name of their respective Cities and Towns that divers of the King's Tenants having i Vide de hâc vece Cowell Spelman Skinner c. Burgage within them do suffer them to fall to decay whereby they are the less able to pay their Fee-farms for which they pray Remedy The Citizens of * M.S. Chester Chichester pray Remedy for that they are impleaded out of the same City for their Freeholds and for that they are driven to appear at Assizes and Sessions contrary to the general Words of their Liberties Let them shew their Charters in the Chancery and they shall have Right They require also Confirmation of their Charters according to that purport Let them also shew their Charters and they shall have Right The Commonalty of Surrey and Sussex pray Remedy that whereas the King out of his Fee-farms paid for the said Counties hath granted to Richard Earl of Arundel the two k M.S. Towns c. in Sr. Rob. Cotton Turns of Sheriffs in the Rapes of Chichester and Arundel worth by the Year 30 l. and certain Rent called Sheringdeld to the Yearly value of 14 l. 19 s. 1 d. yielding therefore yearly 3 l. 6 s. 8 d. The Sheriff may upon his Accompt be discharged thereof Let it be shewed to the King and if it please him that the Earl enjoy the same the Sheriff shall be discharged according to the Quantity if not the Sheriff shall be at his Answer The Burgesses of Southwark pray a Confirmation of their Charter lately burn'd by Casualty Let them make their pursuit in the Chancery and they shall have Right The Mayor and Commons of New-Castle upon Tine complain that whereas the Prior of Tinemouth Parcel of St. John of Jerusalem in England by cautelous and suborned means brought his Writ of Freehold in Fernham and put in View and Plaint the greater Parcel in Value of the same Town holden in Farm of the Crown time out of Mind and recovered Whereupon Order was taken that the same Justice of Assize should not in that Assize have a procedendo but that the Chancellor should grant a Commission for the Examining of the Truth untill which time the Matter should stay they therefore require that the Assize be no further proceeded in untill the Commission return Remedy is provided in this Parliament as appeareth by another Bill thereunto indorsed The Commons of the Marches m an Estriveling of Estritheng require that Commission may be made to the Lord Percy the Prior of Bridlington Sr. Robert Boynton Sr. Robert Constable Sr. John Snaresby and John Almaric that they may appoint able Persons for the Defence of the same and namely an Arrival between a Place called Earl-Dikes and the Town of Whitby It pleaseth the King. The Commons of the Counties of Essex and Hertford pray that the Sheriff upon his Account be allowed an 100 l. yearly of that which he cannot receive Let them search the Exchequer or Treasury or elsewhere for the Causes of the Distress of those Farms for two years now ensuing and in the mean time the Sheriff shall have pardon of an Hundred Marks The Commons of the City of Rochester pray that the n Ità Sr. Rob. Cotton sed in
Lancaster founds an Hospital at Leicester The Pope's Opinion about the Souls of the Departed The Lord Douglas dies in Spain Edward Bailiol claims the Crown of Scotland Hector and Buchanan found tardy King Edward represses certain Outlaws A Parliament The Earl of Oxford dies John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia conquers in Italy From p. 55. to p. 65. Chap. V. A Parliament The true Grounds of the Scotch War. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs The Scots Preparations against the War from England King Edward's preparations against Scotland A Parliament at York The Earl of Gueldre marries King Edward's Sister Edmund the young Earl of Kent dies Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 65. to p. 70. Chap. VI. The Lord Robert of Artois flies into England King Edward summons the Scotch King to his Homage and on his refusal defies him and lays siege to Barwick The Ancestry of James Cecil the present Earl of Salisbury A Combat The Battle of HALIDOUN where King Edward obtains a mighty Victory King Bailiol prosecutes the War in Scotland King David flies into France King Bailiol plays the King in his Absence The Death of an Archbishop a Bishop and a Lord. From p. 70. to p. 83. Chap. VII A Parliament at York King Bailiol does Homage to King Edward as likewise the Duke of Bretagne A Council at Nottingham A Parliament at Westminster King Edward designing for the Holy Land sends Ambassadors to the French King. King Bailiol displeases his Friends and growing weak thereupon reconciles them and recovers King Edward goes towards Scotland The Lord Edward Bohun drown'd From p. 83. to p. 88. Chap. VIII King Philip of Valois undertakes the Croisade but doubting King Edward sifts Him first He rejects K. Edward's Conditions The first Seeds of the French War. Hugh Courtney made Earl of Devonshire A Parliament at York King Edward's Scotch Expedition The Earl of Namur taken by the Scots and the Earl of Murray by the English John Earl of Cornwall's Success in Scotland King Philip of Valois tryes King Edward again The Scotch Nobles submit to King Edward King Philip makes frustrate their Agreement David Earl of Athol slain Two Prodigies with the Death of two great Barons From p. 89. to p. 101. Chap. IX Certain English Lords besiege Dunbar but in vain King Edward orders King Bailiol to take the Field and soon after joyns him King Philip sends a Fleet against England King Edward commissions his Admirals to defend the English Seas He heaps up Money for the War but makes fair Overtures for Peace His Considerations on the French War and the Opinion of his Council thereon His Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt The two Kings put themselves in a Posture John Earl of Cornwall dies A Scotch Tale of his death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen of England deliver'd of her Second Son William of Hatfield A Comet with other Prodigies From p. 101. to p. 108. Chap. X. King Edward's second Embassy to the Earl of Hainalt Five hundred English Voluntiers under a Vow King Edward's Methods to reduce the Flemings The Rise and Power of Jacob van Arteveld King Edward makes his Son the Black-Prince Duke of Cornwall and creates seven Earls A Parliament Affairs of Ireland All Aliens Lands seised into the Kings Hands and let to Farm. The Earl of Hainalt dies King Edward challenges the Crown of France and makes Friends in the Empire King Philip attempts the Flemings in vain He sets a Garrison in Cadsant which King Edward beats out King Edward treats with King Philip but finding no good there treats with his Allies The Pope interceeds From p. 108. to p. 120. Chap. XI A Parliament The Cardinals with King Edward's Commissioners return into France Their Overtures rejected King Edward at Antwerp summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament and another at Halle He sends to the Emperour and invites his Queen over She is deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son Prince Lionel Thomas of Brotherton the King's Vncle dies Naturalization An Enterview between the Emperour and King Edward who is made Lieutenant of the Empire King Edward holds a Parliament in Brabant A Day limited for the Confederate Lords to joyn King Edward who keeps his Court at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant makes fair with the French King. The Black-Prince holds two Parliaments in his Father's Name and obtains a mighty Aid for him The English Navy reinforced From p. 120. to p. 125. Chap. XII King Edward prepares to open the Campaign His Letters to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France The Pope's Answer thereto From p. 126. to p. 133. Chap. XIII King Edward summons the German Lords to meet at Mechlin They altogether send their Defiances to King Philip. The Lord Walter Manny begins the War. The Earl of Salisbury makes an Incursion into the Bishoprick of Liege The French King's Preparations The French burn Southampton K. Edward lays siege to Cambray And on King Philip's approach rises to meet him The two Kings face one another at Vironfoss A Day appointed for a Decisive Battle King Philip steals away King Edward returns to Antwerp sends for his Eldest Son and keeps Christmass there The Pope's Letters to King Edward The King's Answer Two Parliaments at Westminster From p. 134. to p. 153. Chap. XIV King Edward holds a Parliament at Brussels where he assumes the Arms and Style of France The Reasons why he did so The Queen of England deliver'd of her Fourth Son at Gaunt King James the Second his Pedigree from him by the Mothers Side A Copy of King Edward's Letters Monitory to his French Subjects He returns into England informs the Pope of his Reasons for using the Style and Arms of France The Pope's Answer From p. 154. to p. 162. Chap. XV. The Lord Oliver Ingham routs a French Army King Philip reinforces his Navy and sends to wast the Lord John of Hainalt's Lands The Lord Walter Manny's Brother slain The French King orders an Invasion upon the Lands of the Earl of Hainalt who therefore sends him a Defiance and having revenged himself on the French makes an Allyance with King Edward John Duke of Normandy invades Hainalt King Philip procures the Pope to interdict Flanders Jacob van Arteveld invites the Earl of Salisbury to joyn him before Tournay the said Earl and the Earl of Suffolk's Eldest Son taken Prisoners sent to the French King their Lives saved by the Old King of Bohemia The Duke of Normandy's Success in Hainalt he returns to Cambray Mutual Inreads into France and Hainalt The Duke lays siege to the Castle of Thine l'Evesque The Earl of Hainalt goes to raise the Siege From p. 162. to p. 177. Chap. XVI A Parliament King Edward being inform'd of the strength of the French Navy makes himself strong takes the Sea and engages the French Fleet. His Victory at SCLUCE Neale Loring Knighted for his Valour King Edward's Letters to his Clergy How King
Philip heard first of this Loss Arrows prefer'd to Guns The Armies of France and Hainalt break up from before Thine l'Evesque King Robert of Sicily procures the Pope to write to King Edward to move him to Peace From p. 177. to p. 186. Chap. XVII King Edward in a Council of his Foreign Allies resolves to besiege Tournay and St. Omers He sends a Challenge to King Philip with Philip's Answer He sits down before Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies The Earl of Hainalt's Exploits and an Assault of the Flemings upon Tournay King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps near the Town The various Rencounters during the Siege A Parliament at Westminster Scotland recovers Breath The English Allies before St. Omers possest with a Panick Fear The Difficulties of both the Kings The Pope and the Lady Jane de Valois procure a Treaty and that a Truce Both Armies break up The Truce prolonged for 2 Years The Death of sundry Great Personages The King of Spain's Victory over the Moors Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 187. to p. 211. Chap. XVIII King Edward comes over in great displeasure into England where he displaces and imprisons several of his Chief Ministers of State. The state of his Quarrel with the Archbishop The Archbishops Letters to the King and to the Lord Chancellor His Remonstrance to the King and Council His Letter to the Bishop of London His Articles of Excommunication The King justifies his Proceedings in a Letter to the Bishop of London The Archbishop makes his Defence to the King. The King's Reply to the Archbishop's Defence A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop pardon'd The Revocation of a Statute From p. 212. to p. 235. Chap. XIX King Philip brings over the Emperour to his side The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward His Answer The Duke of Bretagne dying without Issue John of Monford and Charles of Blois lay claim to the Dutchy Earl Monford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a Parliament and takes in many places He goes into England and makes Homage to King Edward thereby to gain his Protection Being summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France he comes to Paris but steals away again The Dukedom adjudged to Charles of Blois King Philip confiscates the Earldom of Monford which King Edward requites with the Earldom of Richmond Charles of Blois takes his Rival and sends him to Paris The Countess of Monford renews the War. Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son Edmund of Langley Francis Petrarch crown'd Laureat Poet. The Lord Douglas takes Striveling King Edward marches into Scotland brings the Scots to Conditions King David of Scotland returns home invades England lays siege to Newcastle but rises King Edward prepares to oppose him Durham destroy'd King David lies before the Castle of Werk The Story of King Edward's Love with the Countess of Salisbury exploded The Captain of the Castle passes by night thrô the Scotch Host to acquaint King Edward with the matter On knowledge whereof the Scots retire King Edward comes before Werk and follow the Scots A Truce between the two Kings The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted From p. 236. to p. 255. Chap. XX. Charles of Blois lays siege to Rennes The Countess of Monford sends to King Edward for Succour Charles takes Rennes and besieges the Countess in Hennebond A famous Exploit done by the Countess Charles leaves half his Army with Don Lewis before Hennebond and goes with the other half to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against those of Rosternan Just as Hennebond is upon the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives with the English Succours The Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess The Lord Manny breaks the Enemies biggest Engine and beats up their Quarters Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois who sends him to Dinant He takes Comper in his way The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who takes and sacks Guerande Auray taken by Charles of Blois He takes Vannes and besieges Karhais The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis He attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny follows but cannot recover He takes Gony en la Forest and returns to Hennebond The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who renews his siege before Hennebond Don Lewis vows to cut off the Heads of the two English Knights who were taken by the Captain of Favoet But the Lord Manny rescues them Charles leaves the Siege in despair but takes Jugon A Truce being taken between Charles and the Countess the latter comes with her Son into England The Earl of Salisbury is made King of Man by King Edward Pope Benedict XII dies Clement VI. succeeds From p. 256. to p. 267. Chap. XXI King Edward provides for the Campaign Sends the Lord Robert of Artois along with the Countess of Monford And resolves himself to pull down the Scots He enjoyns his Clergy to pray for the Success of his Arms. A Biennial Truce between England and Scotland The Lord Robert of Artois engages with Don Lewis of Spain but a storm parts them The Lord Robert of Artois lands in Bretagne and takes Vannes by stratagem The English lay Siege to Rennes The Bloisian Lords retake Vannes by storm The Lord Robert of Artois dies of his Wounds King Edward vows to revenge his Death A Parliament King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Wales The Commons in Parliament complain of the Pope's Reservations The two Houses Address to the Pope The Pope writes to the King and his Council The King 's Notable Answer King Edward goes into Bretagne lays siege to Vannes Charles of Blois prepares to oppose him The King besieges him in Nantes and takes in divers Towns. The Lords of Clisson and Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis distresses King Edward's Navy John Duke of Normandy comes with an Army against King Edward The two Armies confront A Truce taken King Edward returns into England The Treaty fully ratified The Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Caius College in Cambridge From p. 267. to p. 287. Chap. XXII The Agents of France and England meet at Avignon Some Heads of the two Kings several Pleas which yet are more fully handled in the Fourth Book the fifth Chapter Paragraphs the VI VII VIII IX à p. 747. ad p. 758. but nothing done The Pope gains ground in the matter of Provisions King Edward begins his Round Table at Windsor With the Description Antiquity and gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip sets up another Round Table at Paris But King Edward's Round Table being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was instituted Anno 23. Ed. 3. The
whom he is Godfather From p. 662. to p. 669. Chap. XIII A Parliament at Westminster wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Demand of the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid The Quarrel between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities taken up by the King. The Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford A Treaty of Marriage between Prince Lionel and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Duke of Milain Archbishop Islip dies his Foundation of Canterbury College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury On the French King's Complaint of the Companions King Edward prepares an Army against them But on the French King's being jealous desists The French King and the Pope endeavour to draw off the Companions into Hungary but it will not do From p. 669. to p. 672. BOOK IV. CHAP. I. DON Pedro's Character The Pope excommunicates him and legitimates his Bastard Brother The Companions joyn Sr. Bertram of Clequin and march against Don Pedro who being forsaken of all flies from place to place and absconds in Galizia Don Henry the Bastard is made King of Spain Don Pedro implores the Protection of the Black-Prince and arrives at Bayonne Prince Edward receives him with much Humanity The Reasons Pro and Con why the Prince should or should not assist him The Prince has his Fathers leave to undertake his Quarrel The King of Navarre is won The Copy of a Famous Grant of Don Pedro to King Edward and to the Prince and the Kings of England and their Eldest Sons for Ever Prince Edward sends for his Captains who were then in the Bastards Service The Bastard's surprise at the News of the Prince's Design Sr. Bertram goes back into France to raise Friends Divers Opinions touching this undertaking of the Prince's The Bastard renews his Alliance with the King of Aragon c. The Prince's Zeal for this War. The Lord of Albret engages to bring a 1000 Spears The Companions being besieged in Montabuan beat the French. James King of Majorica comes to Bourdeaux to implore the Prince's Aid against the King of Aragon The Prince by Advice of his Council countermands 800 of the Lord Albret's 1000 Spears From p. 674. to p. 694. Chap. II. A second Son Born to the Black-Prince named Richard. The Prince begins his March is joyn'd by the Duke of Lancaster He passes the Pirenaean Mountains the Order of his Army the Names of his Chief Captains Don Henry sends his Expostulation and Defiance to him The Lord Thomas Felton takes Navaret Salvatierra yields to the Prince The Lord Thomas Felton beats up the Bastard's Quarters and sends Intelligence to the Prince Don Henry goes forward but halts at St. Miguel The Prince expects him at Victoria The Earl of Sancelloni beats up the Prince's Quarters and takes the Lord Thomas Felton and all his Company The Discourse thereupon had in the Spanish Camp. The Prince passes the Ebro and answers Don Henry's Letters Don Henry's Resolution The two Armies move forward The Order and Number of the Spaniards The Lord Chandos made a Banneret The Prince's Prayer before the Fight The Famous Battle of NAJARA in Spain where the Bastard receives a Mighty overthrow The City of Najara taken The time and place of the Battle The Number of the slain on both sides The Prince obliges Don Pedro to grant a General Pardon All Spain comes in and submits to Don Pedro and the Prince The Prince demands his Souldiers pay of the King who goes to Seville but sends none The Great Renown of the Black-Prince after this Victory The Black-Prince returns home without his Money The first Change of King Edward's Fortune The Danish Fleet beaten by the English The Death of Don Pedro King of Portugal sirnamed the Justiceer From p. 695. to p. 718. Chap. III. Prince Lionel is Married to the Lady Violantis He falls sick and dies A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal A Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyder-zea Sr. Bertram by a Fineness obtains to be ransom'd The Companions wanting their Pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they go away and do much Mischief in France The Prince taxes his Subjects which occasions a Revolt From p. 718. to p. 725. Chap. IV. Don Henry the Bastard finding the Prince of Wales embroyl'd returns into Spain surprises the King Don Pedro beats him takes him and kills him with his own Hands The King of France being urged by the Discontented Gascogne Lords Summons the Prince of Wales to appear before him William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester c. The Prince of Wales falls sick of an incurable Disease He sends the Lord Chandos against the Gascogne Lords The French King surprises Ponthieu and defies King Edward Who in Parliament resumes his Title to France and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars The Black-Prince makes the Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is confirm'd by the King his Father From p. 725. to p. 742. Chap. V. The War begins in the Principality Mutual Losses and Gains The two Kings set forth an Account of their several Causes their Rights argued The Pedigree of the Kings of France King Edward's Reasons for his Right and Title to France From p. 743. to p. 758. Chap. VI. The Duke of Burgundy Marries the Earl of Flanders his Daughter Mutual Losses and Gains The Earl of Pembroke's Danger The Death of Queen Philippa The Duke of Lancasters Expedition The Earl of Warwick dies The Duke of Lancaster a Widower The Death of the Earl of Suffolk and of the Bishop of Excester The French King raises a Tax From p. 759. to p. 782. Chap. VII The Death of the Lord John Chandos The War hot in Gascogne The Death of David Bruce King of Scotland The Genealogy of his Successor Robert STUART An Old Error concerning King Robert's Children confuted Sr. Robert Knolles his Expedition into France The Black-Prince sacks Limoges and Sr. Bertram of Clequin made Constable of France Pope Urban dies Maximus Planudes flourishes From p. 783. to p. 812. Chap. VIII The Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols The Black-Prince his Eldest Son dies He returns into England sick The War in Gascogne A Parliament at Westminster King Edward beats the Flemings at Sea. James King of Majorica dies The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge Marry the Two Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Spain The Pope's endeavours for Peace The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl his Brother return with their Ladies into England From p. 812. to p. 826. Chap. IX The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny The War hot in Gascogne The Earl of Pembroke taken by the Spaniards Poictiers and Rochelle yielded to the French. Thoüars besieged King Edward sets sail to raise the Siege but the Wind will not serve so Thoüars is lost The Duke of Bretagne made
Earl of Richmond The Black-Prince growing worse and worse resigns Aquitaine to his father The Death of the Earl of Stafford Sr. William Molineux and Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller From p. 827. to p. 848. Chap. X. The Constable of France beats the English before Sivray and Conquers about in Poictou The War hot in Bretagne The Duke of Lancaster's Expedition and March thrô France A Treaty at Bruges A Parliament at Westminster A Prodigious Malady The Death of several Great Men. From p. 849. to p. 864. Chap. XI King Edward enquires into the Livings then in the hands of Aliens A Treaty at Bruges The Earl of Pembroke is redeem'd and dies The Death of Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet and others An account of Madam Alice Perrers said to have been King Edward's Concubine From p. 865. to p. 873. Chap. XII St. Saviour le Vicount yields to the French by Composition Edmund Earl of Cambridge and the Duke of Bretagne Conquer about in that Dukedom But are hindred by an unseasonable Truce from prosecuting their Advantage The Lord Edward Spencer dies A Treaty between King Edward and the King of Scotland Esquire Katrington being challenged of Treason for yielding St. Saviour le Vicount loses the day Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards The Death of two Earls Two Acts of Charity From p. 873. to p. 877. Chap. XIII The Lord of Coucy's Expedition into Austria A Treaty at Bruges which begets a Truce and that another King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it The JUBILEE of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster The Black-Prince dies His Will Character Burial and Epitaph The Captal of Busche takes it to heart and dies The Black-Prince's Praise and Children The said Parliament continued A Censure thereof Who the First Speaker of the House of Commons The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome From p. 878. to p. 895. Chap. XIV King Edward Creates his Grandson Richard of Bourdeaux Prince of Wales The Londoners entertain the Young Prince John of Gaunt associated to the King in the Government A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ An exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine The Duke of Lancaster for his sake falls out with the Bishop of London The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke The Bishop hardly restrains the People The Princess-Mother of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their excuse to the King. They and the Duke reconciled Sr. John Menstreworth executed for Treason The Lord of Coucy falls off to the French. King Edward Creates Prince Richard Knight of the GARTER The War open Sr. Hugh Calverley Captain of Calais Outwick batter'd with Cannon yields to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley's Acts. The English Commissioners returning for England find the King on his Death-Bed He dies A Story of the Manner of his Death refuted The French King commends him His Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character From p. 895. to the End. Errata sunt sic Emendanda PAG. 22. lin 5. read fast-asleep p. 54. l. 44. r. Nobles p. 58. l. 2. r. Turne-tabard p. 76. l. 2. r. tell for call p. 89. for Innocent r. John. p. 177. dele Parag. VIII IX in the Centents p. 270. l. 17. r. neck'd p. 276. l. 35. r. Chancellor of the Church of York p. 286. l. 37. r. strange p. 295. l. penult r. Father was named p. 302. l. 2. dele and. p. 303. l. 32. dele and. p. 354. l. 31. r. 16 years c. p. 356. l. 27. r. 20 in depth c. p. 373. l. 22. for Paragraph r. Chapter p. 402. l. 22. r. Vicount of Rohan sic semper p. 439. l. 46. r. Simon de Burchester p. 466. l. 14. r. no Charms about them took horse and so began c. p. 470. l. 13. r. Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth p. 484. l. 49. r. On the second of November being All-Souls day the King began c. p. 485. l. 12. r. for he could not have been c. ibid. l. 34. r. after his setting forth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls day p. 502. l. 34. r. Blew-Silk p. 531. l. 22. r. July p. 707. l. 18. r. keep it p. 721. l. 21. r. William p. 748. l. ult r. and bearing p. 750. l. 45. r. Inno. p. 751. l. penult be accounted the Off-spring p. 761. l. 45. r. having done a pious c. p. 806. l. 49. r. best word c. p. 814. l. 57. r. the Prince and Princess c. SAPIENTIA FORTUNAM EDWARDVS III DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIAE ET FRANCIAE ET DOMINUS HIBERNIA HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE EDWARD III. King of England France and Lord of Ireland He slew Two Kings in One Day routed a Third had Two Kings his Prisoners at one time Upon the Death of Lewâ— of Baitaria He had the offer of the Empire thó he declin'd it He took Calais from the French Instituted the Famous Order of the GARTER haveing Reigned in great Glory for space of 50 Yeares 4. Moneths 28. Dayes He Dyed at his Mannor of Shene in Surrey in LXV year of his 〈◊〉o. Dui MCCCLXXVII lyes Buried at Westminster ICH DIEN QUI SANâ—â—â—â—â— NOBIS HANC PATRIAM PEPERERE SUO POTENTISSIMUS EDWARDUS PRINCEPS WALLAE ET AQUI TANIAE DUX CORNUBIAE COMES CESTRIAE ET CANTIL Honoratiss Viro 〈◊〉 RICHARDO CHANDLER Armig. nuper de Cell Emanuel Aâ—M Amico plurimum Colendo Hanc Invic â—iss Hervis EDWARDI Principis Walliae cogno mento Nigro Imagine Observantiae â—â—mti Iudinis ergo D.D.D. Josua Barnes HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE HOUMONT The most Renowned Prince EDWARD sirnamed the Black-Prince Eldest Son to King EDWARD the Third Prince of WALES of AQVITAIN Duke of CORNWALL Earle of CHESTER of KENT He was in his life time the Flower of the Chivalry of the whole World. He wan the Battle of CRESSY wherein he overthrew King Philip of Valor slew the King of Bohemia also the Famous Batlle of POICTIERS wherein w th an Army of 8000. Men He overthrew the whole Power of FRANCE takeing the King IOHN de Valois Prisoner who was 4 years after Ransom'd at 3 Millions of Crowns of Gold Lastly he triumph'd in the Glorious Battle of NAJARA in Spaine where he overthrew the Bastard Henry Setled Don Pedro in his Throne He died in the 46 yeare of his Age An o Dom MCCCLXXVI lyes Buried at Canterbuâ—â— THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FIRST CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Circumstances of the Birth of King Edward the Third with his Education and Character II. He is made Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain beside the Titles of Earl of Chester Ponthieu and Monstroile He goes into France with the
manner of his coming to the Crown of England III. He is excus'd from being Guilty of his Fathers Deposition his peace is proclaim'd and a General Pardon IV. Twelve Guardians appointed him Mortimer's Greatness and the Queens excessive Dowry V. The Present State of Scotland the King whereof Robert Bruce sends a Defiance to King Edward VI. King Edward's Expedition against the Scots VII The Particulars of the Murder of King Edward the Second VIII King Edward the Third's Return to London the first Year of his Reign concludes with the Death of sundry great Personages Princes and Prelates I. KING Edward the Third of that Name from the Conquest AN. DOM. 1312. was the first Son of King Edward the Second of England sirnamed Caernarvon by his Queen Isabella the Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France a Frois c. 3. fol. 2. accounted in her time one of the most Beautifull Ladies in the world He was born at the Castle of Windsor whence he had his sirname after the manner of that Age on the b Sandford p. 158. thirteenth day of November at c Ashmole p. 644. fourty Minutes past Five in the Morning being the d Claus 6. Ed. 2. m. 22. Dorso Lit. Dom. B.A. Monday next after the Feast of St Martin the Bishop and the very day e H. Knighton p. 2533. n. 10. after the day of St Brice Bishop and Disciple of St Martin in the sixth year of his Fathers Reign and the year of our Lord God MCCCXII Prince f Walsingh hist p. 77. Lewis eldest Son to the King of France and Brother to the Queen of England being then with many of the French Nobility at the English Court labour'd earnestly that this Princely Infant might be named after King Philip but against this motion the English Nobility prevail'd and so on the Thursday after he was Baptised by the Name of Edward after his Father and Grandfather the Ceremony being performed by the hands of g Victorellus p. 839. ad hunc annum Arnold h Claus 6. Ed. 2. Priest-Cardinal titulo Sanctae Priscae in the old Chappel then of St Edward in the said Castle of Windsor his Godfathers being i Ibid. Ashmole p. 644. Richard Bishop of Poictiers John Bishop of Bath and Wells William Bishop of Worcester Lewis Earl of Eureux the Queens Brother John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond Emery of Valence Earl of Pembroke and Hugh le Despencer alias Spencer a Great Man in those Days The News of his Birth was k Walsingh ibid. an occasion of great Rejoycing over all England and the only thing l Speed p. 556. able to cheer up the mind of his Royal Father from that excessive sorrow which the late Death of his Favourite Piers Gaveston had flung upon it and from that Day the King forgot by Degrees his former loss rejoycing in his present Happiness For m Pat. 6. Ed 2. so pleasing to his Father was the Birth of this Hopefull Prince that on the Sixteenth of December following he gave to John Launge Valet to the Queen and to Isabel his Wife and to the longer liver of them for bringing to him so desireable News twenty four pounds per annum to be paid out of the Farm of London Within n Pat. ibid. Par. 2. m. 5. Ashmole ibid. few days after this Prince's Birth the King his Father granted him the County of Chester except the Mannors of Mecklesfield and Shotwike to hold to him and his Heirs Kings of England for ever And likewise the County of Flint and Rothelan to hold as before except the Mannor of Overton the Lands of Mailor Seysnoke and the Castle and Mannor of Holt after which he was thus stiled by the King Edvardus Comes Cestriae filius noster Charissimus But leaving his Infancy we will now proceed to his Youth and the occurrences that attended his Ripening years when we shall first have given some small taste of his Character the fulness thereof being purposely remitted till the end of his Life and this our Work because then it may better be consider'd from the whole tenour of his History From his Birth he was carefully bred up in all things that seem'd necessary or proper for Princes to excell in so that thrô the Vigour of his Parts being rendred very apt to imbibe the best Principles he made a speedy and extraordinary improvement in all Noble Qualities For he was of a very o Pitsaus de Illustr Angl. script p. 517. pierceing Judgment Sweet-nature and Good Discretion and considering the many weighty affairs that employ'd his whole Life not only kind to the Muses but much befriended by them as appears by those Learned Writings of which Pitsaeus says he was the Author When he was capable of receiving more ingenuous Education a Man of Great Reading Erudition and Honour was provided from Oxford to be his Tutor who thô commonly called p Godwin Catal. Bishops p. 661. Richard Bury from the place of his Birth was indeed Son to one St Richard Aungervile Knight but was afterwards by this his Royal Pupil made Privy-seal and q Philipot's Catal Chancellers and Treasurers p. 32. Treasurer of England then Dean of Wells and lastly Lord Chancellour of England and Bishop of Durham II. In a Parliament holden at York in the Sixteenth of the King his Father He was by him created r Speed p. 564. Holinshead p. 869. Catal. Honor p. 315. by Tho. Milles. Prince of Wales as some say thô he is no where found to have used that Title The occasion perhaps being because he was not long after invested with a Greater King Edward his Father ſ Ashmole p. 644. being often summon'd to the Court of France to do homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and still upon some account or other delaying till the French King had siezed thereon it was at length concluded that he should give unto this Prince his Son the said Dukedom for which he doing Homage should enjoy the Lands Whereupon preparation was made for his passing into France But before he went being then at Langedon Abbey near Dover the King his Father t Pat. 19. Ed. 2. p. 1. m. 25. Ashmole ibid. on the second of September in the nineteenth year of his Reign gave unto him his Heirs and Successours Kings of England jure haereditario in perpetuum the Counties of Ponthieu and Mutterel or Monstroile and on the tenth of the same Moneth he being then at Dover granted unto him the Dukedom of Aquitain and all the Lands he had or ought to have in the Kingdom of France Habendum as before Two u Claus 19. Ed. 2. m. 28. Dorse days after which our new Duke took shipping at Dover thence passed into France and performed his Homage to King Charles of France his Uncle In this his Journey it was thought fit that the Queen his Mother should bear him company in regard
said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
into England by these his Ambassadors the two Bishops of Chartres and of Beauvois the Lord Lewis of Cleremont the Duke of Burbon the Earl of Harecourt and the Earl of Tancarville and divers other Knights and Learned Men whom he sent into England to demand a further performance and satisfaction in the Premises By this time the King of England and his Council who were then at Westminster had well consider'd the Usage of former Kings of England when they did Homage in like Case for the Dukedom of Aquitain And they saw that things had indeed been of old so performed as they now were demanded to be done And thô many in the Realm were Highly offended at these doings of the French King and stuck not openly to declare that the King of England their Lord was Truer Heir to the Crown of France by Right of Succession than was Philip of Valois himself yet the King and his Council at this time prudently forbore to take notice hereof till he had better weigh'd his own strength and sounded his Friends and Allies So that now not one Word was mention'd concerning King Edward's Pretences thô much time was spent in searching and arguing whereby the Ambassadors were fain to tarry in England all that Winter till the May following before which they could not obtain any positive Answer But then at last the King being prevail'd on by his Council wrote these his Letters Patents Seal'd with his Broad Seal wherein he acknowledges that he ought to have done Homage to the King of France for his Countries and Seigniories held in France the Tenour of which Letters followeth k Frois c. 24. fâ—l 14. b. Da Chesne l. 14. p. 638. Edward by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain to all who shall see or hear these Presents Greeting Be it known that whereas we made Homage at Amiens to the most Excellent Prince our Dearest Lord and Cozen Philip King of France and then it was of him required that we should acknowledge the said Homage to be l Homage Liege is done by the Vassal ung â—t bare-headed with joyned Hands laid on the Evangelists and a Kiss received in the taking of his Oath c. Vid. Cetgrace in hoc Titulo Liege and that we in doing the said Homage should promise expresly to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Which thing We did not as then because We were not fully informed but only made unto the said King of France our Homage in general Terms Saying that we enter'd his Homage as our Predecessors Dukes of Guienne in time past had enter'd the Homage of the Kings of France for the time being But being since that time well informed of the truth we do by these presents acknowledge that the said Homage which we made in the City of Amiens to the King of France as it was in general Terms is and ought to be intended Liege and that we ought to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty as Duke of Aquitain and Peer of France and Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul And We promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty And to the intent that hereafter should arise no difference for this cause We promise for Us and our Successors Dukes of Aquitain that this Homage shall be made in this Manner The King of England Duke of Aquitain shall hold his Hands between the Hands of the King of France and he that is to speak for the King of France shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King here present as Duke of Guienne and Peer of France and you promise to bear to him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King of England Duke of Aquitain and his Successors shall say Yes And then the King of France shall receive the said King of England and Duke of Guienne to the said Homage Liege with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other Furthermore when the said King and Duke shall enter the Homage of the King of France for the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul he shall put his Hands between the Hands of the King of France for the said Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstreul and he that shall speak for the King of France shall address his Speech to the said King and Duke and shall say thus You become Liegeman to our Lord the King of France here present as Earl of Ponthieu and Monstreul and you promise to bear unto him Faith and Loyalty Say Yes And the King Earl of Ponthieu shall say Yes And then the said King of France shall receive the said King and Earl to the said Homage with Faith and Troth by word of Mouth saving his own Right and all other And thus it shall be done and Renewed as often as Homage shall be done Of which We and Our Successors Dukes of Guienne shall after the said Homage done deliver Our Letters Patents Sealed with Our Great Seal if the King of France shall so require And moreover We promise in good Faith to hold and keep entirely the Peace and Accord made between the Kings of France and the said Kings of England Dukes of Guienne c. These Letters the French Ambassadors deliver'd to the King their Master who caused them to be kept in his Chancery II. But before this while the Ambassadors were at London being then but just come thither the King intending to let the French-men see what kind of men he Ruled over and what he might do if too far provoked privately order'd that certain choice Knights should make a Challenge as of their own Heads Who gladly taking this occasion published throughout the City with Sound of Trumpet that on the m Joh. Tinemâ—uth fol. 229. Walsingh hist p. 112. 25 of September being the Munday after that Thursday which was St. Matthew's day there were Thirteen Knights in London that would be ready for three days together to perform Feats of Arms against all Comers whatsoever The Place appointed for the Solemnity was Cheapside between the Cross and Soperlane where the Stony Street n Stow's Survey of London p. 280. was well cover'd with Sand that the Horses might not slide when they ran their Courses And there was a Spacious Wooden Scaffold like a Tower Erected cross the Street whereon Queen Philippa and many of the Greatest and Fairest Ladies Assembled from all parts of the Realm did stand richly attired to behold the Solemnity The Lord Maurice second Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley was of such Renown for Martial Atchievements at this time that among other Accoutrements prepared for this Turneament o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 356. divers Surcoats were used depicted with his Arms and Cognizance That any of the French undertook with these Challengers I do not find thô 't is highly probable that being Persons of Title and Honour they would by no means omit such an opportunity of signalizing themselves since it could not but reflect
their Eldest Brother the Constable himself could not be there by reason of an Infirmity of Body there was also Sr. b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 145. vid. Ieland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 686. John Lord Molins Robert Lord Hufford Ralph Lord Stafford William Lord Clinton and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby Now while these men were devising how to Seise on Mortimer c M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 222. the same Mortimer in Order to their Destruction held a close Council in the Castle of Nottingham with the Queen-Mother the Bishop of Lincoln Sr. Simon Bereford Sr. Hugh Turplington and Sr. John Monmouth and other his Creatures how to bring to utter Ruine all those that had accused him of Treason and Felony But this close Carriage of Mortimer's was smoak'd by the Lord Montague and those of the Council concern'd with him especially because none of them were permitted to take up their Lodgings in the Castle wherefore they knew that Mortimer and his Complices were brewing mischief for them Then Sr. William Montague went and told the King that since neither he nor any of his Partakers were admitted to Lodge in the Castle they should never be able to Seise Mortimer without the Consent and Assistance of the Constable Sr. William Eland Now surely said the King I love you well and therefore advise you to go to the Constable in my Name and command him to be Aiding and Assistant to you in taking the Mortimer all other things lay'd aside on peril of Life and Limb. St said Montague then God grant Success And thereupon he went and found the said Constable to whom he told the King's will before the rest of his Partakers but only yet in general Terms that it was the King's Pleasure he should be assistant to them in a certain matter relating to the King's Honour and Safety And the Constable answer'd that the King's Will should be obey'd in what he could and that he would not stand out for fear of Death it self and then he swore to be constant and secret and made his Oath to the Lord Montagu and Montagu to him in the hearing of all the Assistants Now surely Dear Friend said the Lord Montagu to the Constable it behoved us to gain your acquaintance in order to seise on Mortimer since you are Keeper of the Castle and have the Keys at your dispose Sirs reply'd the Constable if it be so you shall understand that the Gates of the Castle are locked with the Locks that Queen Isabell sent hither and at Night she hath all the Keys thereof and layeth them under the Pillow of her Bed until the Morning And so I may not help you into the Castle at the gates by any means But I know an Hole that stretcheth out of the Ward under Earth into the Castle beginning on the West-side which Hole neither Isabell the Queen nor none of her Retinue nor Mortimer himself nor none of his Company know any thing of and through this Passage I shall lead you till you come into the Castle without the Espial of any that are your Enemies That same Night Sr. William Montagu and all the Lords his Partakers and the Constable also took Horse pretending to go out of Town which when Mortimer heard of he thought they were fled away for fear of him and devised further how to entrap them But about Midnight being * Lit. Dom. G. a Fryday and the day after the Feast of St. Luke or the 19 of October returning back again they all came to the Passage aforesaid and there following the direction of Sr. William Eland enter a certain dismal Cave not of a long while taken Notice of which opening its Mouth without went all under the Castle dug unequally thrô Stony and other sort of Ground till it came to the Rock on which the Castle stood thrô which it also passed with Stairs till it open'd it self above within the Keep or Chief Tower. This wonderfull d Drayton's Barons Wars l. 6. Stanz 46. Passage had been after this manner hewed and dug forth during the Danish Invasions by some of the Saxon Kings for their better Security in case of a siege But since the Action of this Night it hath purchas'd the e Speed Map. Nettingh §. 6. Name of Mortimer's Hole Whom without any great Noise and with little Resistance they at last took not in the Queen Mothers Chamber as many too ignorantly or too maliciously suppose but in another not indeed far from it in the Company of f H. Knighton p. 2556. Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln Before he could be seised the Lord Montagu finding some Resistance from his Attendants slew Sr. Hugh g Knighton ibid. Adam Marimâ—uth M.S. ibid. c. Turplington Steward of the King's Houshold and Sr. John Monmouth and at last Chiefly by the great Valour of Sr. William Eland took the Lord Mortimer's Person to be reserved to some more Publique Fortune On the King's Party Sr. John Nevil of Horneby was wounded but not as some say slain as will appear hereafter where we shall speak of the Reward the King allotted him for this piece of Service and also in the 15th Year of this King we shall find him Governour of Newcastle upon Tine Thô by others Sr. Hugh Turplington is made one of the King's Party and again both he and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby are by h Drayton's Bar. Wars l. 6. Stanz 63. Mr. Drayton mistaken for Mortimer's Friends and both said then and there to be slain But this I mention not as a Fault in so Great a Man since Poets are not obliged to be so Exact for Truth as Historians are The Queen Mother being then in Bed heard the Noise of this Rencountre and supposing what the matter really was and that the King himself must needs be there she called out to him in these Words i Stow p. 229 c. Bel Fitz Bel Fitz ayes Pitie du Gentil Mortimer Dear Son have pity on the Gallant Mortimer Or as the foresaid k M. S. ibid. c. 222. M. S. which takes no notice of the King 's being there reports her words more probably Now fair Sirs I pray you that you do no harm unto his Body for he is a Worthy Knight Our well-beloved Friend and Our dear Cozen. But for all this the Earl of March was hurryed away thence and brought before the King where he stood and presented unto him who strait commanded him to be put into safe Custody in the Castle whereof all the Keys are forthwith seised into the King's Hands that none might issue out to discover what had been done till the rest of Mortimer's Abettors were secured also So the next Morning by the King 's special Command l Knighton p. 2556. two of his Sons were seised in the Town Sr. Edmund and Sr. Geoffry together with Sr. Oliver Byngham and Sr. Simon Bedford or Bereford and Sr. John
Vol. p. 192. b. Others say to Robert Lord Vere Earl of Oxford thô the Truth is that Earl being her first Husband and dying the next Year she was afterwards taken in Marriage by the foresaid Lord Berkley Maud the Fifth Daughter of this Mortimer was married to John Son and Heir of Sr. John Charleton Lord of Powis the Sixth Daughter Blanch to Peter Lord Grandesson and lastly the Lady Beatrix was first wife to Edward Son and Heir of Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and the Kings Uncle after whose immature Decease she was married to Sr. Thomas Lord Braose But all these Possessions and Strength of Allyance were too weak to secure him from the Wrath of an Injur'd King and the Vengeance that his Immoderate Ambition drew upon him After this Sentence thus pronounced on Mortimer the Earls and Barons with one Voice declared in Parliament that Sr. Simon Bereford e M.S. R.P. p. 10. §. 2. S. Rob. Cotton p. 6. c. Stow p. 230. Knighton p. 2558. §. 50. Brother to Justice Bereford whom others by mistake call Bedford was ever consulting assenting and assisting to the said Roger in all his Seditions Treasons Felonies and Misdemeanours and was equally with him guilty of the Murther of the late King and his principal Abettor in all other Wickedness Wherefore the like Judgment being pronounced on him the Lord Marshall in like manner saw him Executed on the Monday next after St. Thomas the Apostle being the f M.S. R.P. ib. 24 of December and Christmass Eve thô the 16 day of January is set down in g Knighton ib. Knighton whose Works swarm with such Mistakes of Names and Times and Numbers by reason of the old and imperfect Copies whence the Edition was made The same Judgment was given against Sr. John Maltravers senior Sr. Thomas h M.S. R.P. ib. §. 5. Sr. Râ—b Cotton c. Gournay and Sr. William Ogle who were all fled for Murdering the late King and large Promises were made to those should apprehend them but as for Sr. John Maltravers it was proclaim'd that whoever brought him in alive should have a thousand Marks or for bringing his Head five hundred The like Judgment passed upon i M.S. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm ibid. Sr. John Daverill Captain of Corfe Castle who had been instrumental in contriving the Death of the King's Uncle late Earl of Kent and accordingly he was k Speed p. 568. b executed as he well deserved 'T is said l Stâ—w p. 230. this Sr. John Daverill was desirous to make open Confession of the manner of the late Kings Death but by the cunning of some who feared to be touched therein he was not permitted Besides all these one Sr. m M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Bogo of Bayonne mention'd in the preceding Confession of Edmund late Earl of Kent and so by all likelihood concerned in the Plot against the said Earls Life was by Proclamation required to be apprehended and a considerable Reward set for him that should bring him in alive or dead But that ever he was taken I do not find thô Sr. Thomas Gournay was this very Year taken at Marseilles in France and as they were bringing him over for England was by secret Order from some at Court who feared to be touched in his Confession beheaded on the Sea. In this Parliament it was n M. S. ibid. § 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Enacted That thô the Lords and Peers of the Realm had for this time in the Kings Presence proceeded as Judges to give Judgment upon those that were no Peers yet hereafter this should be no Precedent to draw them to give Judgment on any Other but their Peers in case of Treason or Felony It was o §. 7. also Enacted That William Merton Archbishop of York Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London William Abbot of Longdon William Lord Zouch of Mortimer and many Others who had been agreed with Edmund late Earl of Kent to work the Delivery of King Edward the Second and had been thereof impeached should now be wholly Acquitted and fully Restored to all their Goods and Possessions Also p §. 8. That whosoever had took Arms with Henry Earl of Lancaster at Bedford or had been concerned in the Matter of Edmund late Earl of Kent should be released of all Fines for that reason laid upon them and that their Lands which were therefore seized into the Kings Hands should be restored with the main Profits saving that if they have any Lands of the Kings Gift the same be of the like Condition as Others who have Lands of his Gift And therefore the King pardoneth Henry q §. 9. Earl of Lancaster and all those who took part with him all Fines and Ransoms whatsoever Accordingly we find that soon r Knighton p. 2558. n. 60. after upon the fame of Mortimers Fall and the knowledge of this Pardon Sr. Thomas Lord Wake Hugh Lord Audely Henry Lord Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. William Trussel Sr. Thomas Withers and the Rest whom Mortimers power had forced beyond the Seas returned from France to London where they were received as became their Loyalty being by the King freely restored to all their Lands Honours and Possessions The Å¿ M.S. p. 11. §. 10. Sr. Rob. Cotton c. Mayor of London complaining that some of the said Earl of Lancaster's Company being now pardon'd did threaten such of the Citizens as had before resisted them the King thereupon commandeth that neither Party should presume to seek any Revenge on pain of Imprisonment Edmund the t §. 11. Parl. Anno 4. Ed. 3. p. 1. M. S. ibid. §. 12. Paten 5. Ed. 3. Eldest Son of Edmund late Earl of Kent and Margaret his Mother Countess of Kent by their several Petitions require that the Record made against the said Earl of Kent may be for the Errors therein wholly Reversed Whereupon the King restores the said Edmund the Son to the Blood and Lands of the said Earl his Father whereof he died seised in Fee with Dower to the Countess saving to the King the Keeping and Wardship of the same during the Nonage of the said Edmund the Son. And to put u §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton a stop to all malicious and perjur'd Informers as well as to give a publique Security to Men's Minds it was now Enacted that no Peer of the Land nor other Person who had any way assisted in procuring the Death of the said Edmund late Earl of Kent should hereafter be Impeached thereof excepting only the foresaid Earl of March Sr. Simon Bereford Sr. John Maltravers senior Sr. Bogo of Bayonne and Sr. John x In M.S. Bervervil per incatiam Amanuensis apud Sr. Rob. Cotton Berveroile c. Daverill Here y M.S. p. 12. §. 14. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 7. Richard Fitz-Alan Eldest Son of Edmund late Earl of Arundel who by the Queen Mother had been beheaded
Grievance to the whole Kingdom Among other of their Licentious Practises the Lord Chief Justice e Knighton p. 2559. n. 60. Sr. Richard Willoughby going after Christmas towards Grantham was taken by one Richard Fulvile and by force carried into a Wood hard by where being siesed by certain of these Lawless Fellows he was compell'd to lay down immediately Ninety Marks as a Ransom for his Life and also to swear never to discover them Upon News of these and the like Insolencies the Young King resolving now to be Master of his Crown sends forth his Justices of Trailebaston two and two with Power to enquire after all Mayors Sheriffs Bayliffs Escheators and others who had abused or neglected their Offices by Extortion Bribery Fear or Favour and after all such as had failed in the due Execution of the Laws whereby these Licentious People began first to take such Boldness upon them The form of the Writ thô of moment I forbear to transcribe because 't is already Extant in f Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 840. Holinsheads Chronicles and elsewhere But least the Law should fail of Power to maintain it self the Young King takes to him some choice Troops of Armed Men with many Light-Horsemen well mounted and marches forth in Person to discover these Enemies to Government Some Parties of these Audacious Villains were met with by him nor did they much decline the matter Success had made them so Impudent But Majesty and Vertue are more Valiant than Vice and Rebellion so that they are all soon Worsted by the Brave Young King and become an Example to others some of them being slain in Skirmish many Hang'd and Quarter'd a few Beheaded others imprison'd and put to great Fines and in short such Order taken with all that the whole Kingdom was kept in Peace and quiet at Home all his Reign after VI. On the Thirtieth g M.S. p. 14. Sr Rob. Cotton Statute Bock c. of September or the Morrow after St. Michael being a Monday the King held his High-court of Parliament at Westminster to consult about the Affairs of Guienne and other his Lands beyond the Seas as also concerning a Peace to be had with France and to conferr about the Matters of Ireland These were by John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and then Lord Chancellour of England offer'd as the reasons inducing the King to call that Parliament The Affairs of Guienne were not in so ill a posture the h Knighton p. 2563. Earl of Vlster being now there and Sr. John Darcy Justice of Ireland having been sent thither the Year foregoing i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. especially because of the late Composure between England and France the French being also at this time about a Treaty with England Yet because then a Peace is most likely to be made on good Conditions when he that treats is in a posture of Defence it was thought fit to provide something for the Defence of those Parts however And therefore Sr. John k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. a. St. Philibert a Baron of great prudence and valour was now by the King appointed to be Major of the City of Bourdeaux having an assignation of an 100 l. allow'd him for the Expences of his journey thither thô this Worthy Gentleman deceased about two Years after Sr. Oliver Ingham a mighty Baron and One of the Twelve appointed for a Guide and Counsellour to this King at his Coronation had now his l Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 104. Patent which had been granted him seven Years before for the Seneschalsie of Aquitain renewed and not long after he was sent over with pretty considerable Forces Of whose valourous Exploits this Book will not be silent At the same time the Lord m Dugd. 2 Vol. p 34. Ashmole p. 693. Bartholomew Burwash senior was constituted Seneschall of Ponthieu in Picardy which King Edward held in right of his Mother with whom that Earldom was given upon her Marriage with the King his Father As for Ireland it was resolved that the King in Person should go thither that to prepare his way a certain power of Armed Men should go before him under able Commanders and that those especially who held any Lands there should make speedy repair thither for Defence of that Kingdom as also that all learned Men in the Law who should be appointed as Justices or otherwise to serve in Ireland should by no means be excus'd on any pretence whatsoever And further 't was order'd that search should be made into his Majesties Records to see what Methods had been formerly taken for the civilizing and governing that Country As to the Affairs n M. S. p. 14. §. 3. Sr Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 9 §. 3. with France the King by his Chancellour demanded whether he had best treat with that Crown by way of Amity or Marriage The Commons humbly conceived that Marriage would be the best way whereupon certain were appointed to consult about this Treaty and a o Ashmole p. 675 Commission was given to Sr. John Darcy and Sr William Trussel to treat and agree with King Philip or his Deputies upon the Premises Now for the better understanding of this Matter it appears from the Records as we shall more fully shew hereafter that near this time King Philip being taken up with thoughts about the Holy War that he might be sure of King Edward of whose pretences to that Crown he was jealous had offer'd to enter into a strict Alliance with him by p Ashmole p. 675 Sandferd p. 184. a Marriage between a Daughter of his and the young Prince Edward of England And lest that might not suffice had importun'd him to be his Fellow in Arms and in Person to accompany him into Palestine or as q Odoric Rainald Add. tâ—ad Annal. Barerâ—i 1331. â— 29 c. Others say into Spain to fight against the Moors of Granada But because nothing was done in this Matter yet only it was refer'd to the foresaid Commissioners to advise about it we shall remitt the further prosecution hereof to the next Year to which it more properly belongs Yet this we must not pass over that now upon Occasion of the King 's being invited into France the former Resolution that he should personally go into Ireland took not effect this Year and as for the next other Business put it off and the Scotch Affairs the Year following wholly null'd it so that the King went not thither at all as it had been here resolved only an Armed Power was sent thither the Year after this In this Parliament St. Hugolin the Granchild of the Lord Hugh Spencer the Elder who with his Son Sr. Hugh had in the late Revolution been illegally executed by Queen Isabell having first by his great Valour r Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 880. in holding his Castle against the said Queen compounded for his life and since that Obtaining his Majesties Gracious Pardon was now
wholly acquitted thereupon As indeed by this time both his Father and Grandfather too might have been had not the too speedy violence of their Enemies taken them both out of the way Yet 't is observable by this Sr. Hugh the younger whose Manuprizors were Sr. Ebulo le Strange and eleven other Knights as also by Thomas Lord Barkley who had as many Manuprisors thô he was acquitted the last year that it was a custome to say no more in those days when any one had been tryed as an Offender against the King thô he were thereof acquitted or had his Pardon yet ſ M. S. p. 15. 16. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. notwithstanding he was to provide Twelve of his Peers to be Sureties for his Forth-coming during the Kings pleasure The Discontinuance of which custom has been too usefull to Traytors in our days It was also here moved by the whole Parliament either in compassion of Innocence or because all their Rancour was satisfied in the execution of Mortimer that the King's Majesty would be graciously pleased to extend some Favour to Sr. Edmund Eldest Son to the late Earl of March. At which bold request the King being offended as imagining they petition'd for his full Restoration to his Fathers Lands and Honours asked them with some Emotion What they would have since the King his Father had been murder'd by the procurement of the said Earl The Parliaments Answer was they only spake in the Young Man's behalf for some certain Lands Intail'd to which the King replied That he himself would do what to him should seem best at his Pleasure Which severity went so near to the heart of the young Lord that before the end of the Year t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. he died in the Flower of his Age leaving behind him Roger his Son and Heir then but three Years of age which Roger three and twenty Years after was fully restor'd to all the Lands and Honours of his Grandfather It is u M.S. p. 14. §. 5. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 10. §. 5. c. agreed that all Feats of Arms shall be defended as well by the Justices as Others untill the King and his Council do otherwise appoint It is agreed that Queen Isabell the King's Mother shall have yearly four thousand Pounds in Rents or Lands All the Estates in full Parliament do agree that none of them shall retain sustain or avow any Felon or other common Breaker of the Law. It is enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King Queen and their Children and that by good Warrant and ready Payment The King shall appoint certain Persons to determine the Office of Thomas de Ferrers and Other his Brethren of the Parsonage of Marleston in the County of Leicester Commandment is given to the Abbot of Crowland and Thomas Lord Wake of Lidel between whom there had been debate to keep the Kings Peace The like command was given to Sr. William de la Zouch of Ashby and Sr. John Grey of Rotherfield Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London was taken into the Kings Privy Council and took his Place at the Board accordingly At the request of the whole Estate the King now at last dischargeth the Lord Thomas Barkley of his Mainprisors day being given to him to appear at the next Parliament Whereas Sr. Henry Percy for the Yearly Fee of 500 Marks stood bound to serve the King with a certain number of Men as well in Peace as in War The King in release of the said Fee granteth to the said x In my M.S. and Sr. Rob. Cotton too he is here called an Earl thô the First Percy Earl of Northumberland was not till the Coronation of King Richard the Second An. 1377. vid. Mills Catal. He p. 718. Sr. Henry in Fee the Castle of Workworth in Northumberland and the Mannor of Rochbury In this Parliament Sr. Robert y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Benhale who was then or soon after a Baron of the Realm and a most noble and couragious Knight in his time as we shall have Occasion to see hereafter with William Clopton and John Clopton all young spritely Gentlemen having been convicted before the Justices of Assize in Norfolk and Suffolk of certain Ryots and other youthfull Extravagancies were brought to appear in full Parliament with several Knights and Esquires their Sureties where each of them was fin'd and further bound with other Sureties for his good Behaviour For at this time Justice being provok'd by the Insolence of those who took too great liberty during the Kings Minority was every where severely administred as in the next years Parliament we shall see more particularly Sundry Merchants of Brabant having been arrested by English Merchants for Wools taken up to the use of the Duke of Brabant upon the said Duke's request the King commands all the said English Merchants to appear before the Council and abide further Order therein About this time King Edward z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. confer'd on the young Sr. Walter Manny Carver to his Queen the Honour of Knighthood here in England by Bathing and other sacred Ceremonies with allowance of Robes for that Solemnity out of the Kings Wardrobe as for a Baneret And in the Sequel of this History we shall see how worthily he behav'd himself in this Honour VII There a Mill's Catal. Hener p. 683. departed this life on the 19 of April this Year the Lord Robert Vere called the Good Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Samford and High-Chamberlain of England So Valiant that King Edward the First often employ'd him in his greatest Affairs with equal success so Temperate that he had the common Repute of a Saint He was solemnly interred at the Priory of Colne and because he left no Issue of his Body was succeeded in his Honours by his Nephew Sr. John Vere son of his Brother Alphonso who was now about Nineteen years of Age The Arms of this Honourable Family are Quatterly Gules and Or in the First a Mullet Argent which have belonged to the Earls of Oxford of that House and Name from the Year of our Lord 1140 even down to our days In these days John of Luxemburgh Son and Heir to Henry of Luxemburgh once Emperour of Germany the most valiant King of Bohemia * Lanquets Chread hunc annum invading Italy brought under his subjection Brescia Bergamo Lucca Parma Reggio and Modena of whose noble Exploits and Death we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter But the Occasion of his Wars in Italy may be seen in the Writers of that Nation and no where more particularly than in Odoricus Rainaldus his Continuation of Baronius his Annals of the Church at the Year of our Lord 1330 and after CHAPTER the FIFTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster II. The true Grounds of the Scotch War enquired into III. A Recapitulation of the Scotch Affairs from the first Invasion of Bailiol to this time IV.
the King either could not or would not of themselves be fully resolved but after the manner of that Age wished the King to Advise first with the Pope and also with the French King both which befriended King David of Scotland and concern'd themselves in his matters However King Edward was so far from either violating the Peace first or even when 't was done by the Scots from precipitating himself into a War that thô the French King did openly abett the Scots and the Pope did abett France as palpably yet he follow'd this Counsel For we find that about this time among others k Philipet's Catal Chanceli p. 36. he sent this same Bishop of Winchester into France concerning these Affairs Of whom this is observable that being then Lord Chancellour he did not as afterwards Cardinal Woolsey did in the Days of King Henry the VIII presumptuously carry the Great Seal with him beyond the Seas but left it in his Absence with those who both could and would be responsible for it during his abode in France And these things being thus done the l M. S. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Commons had all leave to depart but the Lords were Commanded to attend the next day at which time the King dissolved the Parliament It is observable that on the first day of this Parliaments sitting Commandment was given to the Mayor of York in Presence of the King in full Parliament to see the King's Peace kept in the same City and the Suburbs thereof and to arrest them that did the contrary Also that Proclamation against Weapons and Plays should be made by the Steward and Martial before the Parliament-House and by the Mayor and Bayliffs in the City of York VI. Thus this Year ended the Peace not yet broke on the English part but all things being in so loose a Posture that nothing seem'd more certain than that a War would inevitably follow The Princess m Speeds Ed. 2. p. 564. §. 81. Eleanora King Edward's Younger Sister being about fourteen Years of Age was this Year given in Marriage to Reginald the Second Earl of Gueldre a great Lover of King Edward and the English Nation Her Portion was 15000 pounds Sterling no small Summe of Money in those Days for we find in Ancient Times that even the Marriages of the Daughters of France n Causin's Holy Câ—art l. 3. part 1 §. 39. n. 60. exceeded not 6000 Crowns ready Money thô in our Days a Merchant of London has made his Daughter worth Forty Sixty and a Hundred Thousand Pounds This Lady thô his second Wife brought to the said Earl two hopefull Sons Reginald and Edward both Dukes successively after their Father For when afterward King Edward was made Vicar of the Sacred Empire he Created this Earl Reginald Duke of Gueldre since which that Earldom became a Dukedom In her passage to Guelderland she was Honourably attended by many English Knights among whom was o Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 154. William Lord Zouch of Mortimer and Sr. Constantine Mortimer his Kinsman both Branches of that Great Family of the Mortimers late Lords of Wigmore Sr. Constantine four Years after became Steward of the Houshold to the foresaid Countess of Gueldre This p Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 214. Claus 6. Ed. 3. m. 31. Year the Lord Edmund Plantagenot Eldest Son of Edmund of Woodstock late Earl of Kent departed this Life being at his Death the King's Ward and so without Issue Whereupon his Brother John succeeded him in the said Earldom To repair which Diminution of the Royal Branches in England Queen q Knighton p. 2560. Speed p. 590. b. Stow p. 231. c. Philippa soon after Christmas was happily deliver'd at Woodstock near Oxford of her second Child a fair Daughter who was Christened by the Name of Isabella and many Years after by the King her Father given in Marriage to the Honourable and Valiant Lord Ingelram Coucy Earl of Guisnes and Soissons and in time Archduke of Austria CHAPTER the SIXTH AN. DOM. 1333. An. Regni VII The CONTENTS I. The Lord Robert Earl of Artois in Picardy being prosecuted by the French King flies into England to King Edward's Protection and becomes a Firebrand of the War against his Country II. King Edward Summons the King of Scotland to come and do Homage as also to render Barwick unto him with King David's Reply III. King Edward in Parliament resolves on a War with Scotland and sends his Defiance IV. Mutual Inroads as Praeludiums to the War with the Siege of Barwick V. King Edward's expedition in Scotland and return to the Siege before Barwick where he is met by the Lord Darcy VI. A Combat between a Scotch and English Knight with the Battle of Halidown VII The Names of the English Lords in that Battle with an account of the Loss on both sides Barwick taken and Garrison'd by King Edward VIII King Edward's Devotion after the Victory He leaves Edward Bailiol to prosecute the War in Scotland King David flies into France and makes a League Offensive and Defensive with King Philip. IX King Bailiol's Success in Scotland he calls a Parliament at St. Johnston to which the English Lords his Assistants come and do Homage for their Lands held in that Kingdom The Year concludes with the Death of the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Durham and the Lord Hugh Poynz I. THat it may appear that National Commotions and Destructive Wars do come by the Ordinance of God for the Correction of Pride Injustice or other Sins I shall here briefly touch at the seeds of the French War which being cast about this time lasted for so many years and brought forth so many strange and notable Events thô when first sow'd they seem'd so small and inconsiderable King Philip of Valois who now wore the Crown of France a Frois c. 25. obtain'd it at first chiefly by the Assistance Conduct and Authority of a Mighty Peer of that Kingdom named Robert Earl of Artois who was one of the most Noble Valiant and Politick Lords in France of High Lineage and Prince of the Blood. He had married King Philips's German Sister and was ever his Chief and Special Friend and Counsellour as well before in his private Condition as now in his Regal Eminence Insomuch that for the space of three or four Years nothing of any moment passed in all that Kingdom but at the Advise and Discretion of the Lord Robert of Artois This Lord Robert besides the Relation he bore to King Edward as having Married the Sister of King Philip who was Uncle to Queen Philippa was also by the b Sandford Geneal Hist p. 94. Mother's side descended from King Henry the Third of England King Edward's Great Grandfather by the Lady Blanch of Bretagne who was Daughter to Beatrice second Daughter to the said King Henry the Third He was the Son of Philip Earl of Artois Lord of Conches and Damfront and
was entituled Robert of Artois Earl of Beaumont le Roger Peer of France Lord of Conches Damfront and Mehun And as his Blood was Illustrious his Courage was undaunted and his Spirit unable to brook an Injury Now in process of time it happen'd c Gaguin Graston p. 229. c. that in a Plea of some High Concern for Lands between this Sr. Robert and his Aunt the Lady Mathilda Countess of Artois he had judgement awarded by the Court against him whether because of Letters that Sr. Robert was said to have counterfeited or for Respect to the Lady who was a Widdow or out of Envy to him who was the King's sole Favourite or thrô neglect and inadvertency or for any other cause Just or Unjust however the proceeding so much â—ncensed Sr. Robert that he could not forbear to utter in the hearing of many these High Words By me was Philip Crown'd and by me shall he be discrown'd again These rash Words had surely cost him his Head could Philip have taken him in his anger But he had wisely voided his Dominions and cast himself upon his Nephew John Earl of Namur The mean while King Philip had caused his Lady thô so near related to himself with her two Sons the Lords John and Charles to be apprehended and flung into close Prison d Graften p. 267. in the Castle of Gastenois whence he sware they should never return while they lived whatsoever he should be advised to the contrary Nor content with this he sends to the e Frois c. 2â— Bishop of Liege desiring him effectually that he would for his sake defie and make War against the said Earl of Namur unless he would deliver up Sr. Robert of Artois or expell him his Country All this the Bishop did accordingly he was so addicted to the Crown of France and thereupon the Earl was forced thô unwillingly to send Sr. Robert away Who went thence directly to his Cozen the Duke of Brabant by whom he was entertain'd with much friendship and generosity The enraged King upon knowledge hereof sends the Duke word that if he continued any longer to foster or entertain this his Enemy in any part of his Countrey he with all the Realm of France his Friends and Allies would thenceforth commence an everlasting Quarrel against him The Duke upon this Menace privately conveys this his Friend to a strong Fortress of his expecting the Issue of King Philip's Intentions But this angry Prince had so well studied his Revenge that by his Spies he was acquainted with this Finess of the Duke's Whereupon taking it very heinously to be thus impos'd on by his great Importunity seconded with round Sums of Money he engaged John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia thô he was Cozen German to the Duke of Brabant the Bishop of Liege aforesaid the Archbishop of Colen the Earl of Gueldre the Marquis of Gulick or Juliers the Earl of Bar the Lords of Ros and Fanquemont or Valkenburgh as the Germains with several others all at one time to concurr in a common Defiance against the Duke of Brabant And accordingly all these having joyn'd the Earl of Ewe Constable of France who led a considerable Army himself defi'd the Duke of Brabant and entring his Country by the way of Esdan or Sedain on the Meuse came to Antwerp at that time the chief City of Brabant and twice over-ran the Country where they pleased with Fire and Sword. Hereupon William Earl of Heinalt out of kindness to the Duke his Kinsman sent his own Lady Joan de Valois who was King Philip's Sister together with his Brother John Lord Beaumont of Heinalt into France to entreat for Peace and to obtain a present respit from War for the Duke of Brabant At last thô not without much ado King Philip was wrought upon to vouchsafe him a Peace upon these Conditions That the Duke of Brabant should cast himself upon the favour of the Court of France and of the Kings Council of them to abide the Censure and also without fail by such a certain time absolutely to banish out of his Territories the said Robert Earl of Artois The Lord Robert being thus eagerly prosecuted from one Country to another and wholly driven to despair at last resolves to fling himself upon the more powerfull Protection of the King of England and from this time sets himself with full Bent against his own Country So dangerously impolitick is it for a Prince to declare himself irreconcilable to any Great Man before he has him in his Power For here he kindled such a Fire as the blood of more than an hundred thousand Frenchmen could not extinguish He came into England disguised like a Merchant his Stuff and Riches being all convey'd hither before about the time that King Edward held his Parliament at f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 645. York in order to his Affairs relating to Scotland The King knew him well for g Graften p. 207 Polydor. l. 19. p. 364. both he and his Mother had formerly received much kindness at his Hands when they were persecuted by the Spencers and beside as we have shewn he was of Kin to the King by the Mother wherefore readily apprehending of what great use such a Man might prove to his future Attempts he immediately made him of his Council and assign'd him the h Frois c. 26. Speed p. 570. §. 37. Profits of the Earldom of Richmond till he should provide some other Settlement for him But of him we shall speak more anon II. King Edward before the sitting of this Parliament had upon Occasion of the foremention'd Rumours from the North sent l Ashmole p. 645. ex Rot. Pat. 6. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 3.14 Dec. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton and Sr. William Denham his Ambassadors to King David his Brother in Law demanding present Restitution of the Town of Barwick which his Grandfather Edward the First had held in peaceable Possession and also to summon him to come into England to render Homage unto him as Superior Lord for that his Kingdom of Scotland To which Message King David by advice of his Council return'd thus k Frois ibid. Lords it is no small wonder to Us and to all our Barons that the King your Master our Good Brother in Law should send us such a Message as here you bring us For it could never appear to us that the Realm of Scotland was of old bound or subject to England either to yield Homage or any other Service thereto Wherefore neither would the King our Father of famous Memory ever own any such thing for all the Wars that were made against him by your King's Father or Grandfather The steps of our Father we Our selves God willing intend to follow in all that is Just and Honorable even thô thereby we hazard both our Life and Kingdom As for Barwick it was l Vid. John Harding c. 172. and Speed p. 559. § 34. fairly won
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
Upon Request of the Commons that all Men might have their Writs out of the Chancery for Fees of the Seal only without any Fine according to that of Magna Charta Nulli vendemus Justitiam the King granted that Writs which were of Course should be so and that for such as were of Grace he would Command his Chancellour to be therein Gracious It is Enacted that Bigamy shall be Tryed only in Court Christian It is Enacted that Justices of Assise after their Assise taken shall not depart before they have made Delivery of their Goal on pain of loosing their Fees. It is Enacted If any Delivery be taken before any other Justices than such as are appointed thereto contrary to the Statutes at Northampton that the same may be void It is Enacted that no Purveyance be made but for the King. The Commons Petition That Remedy may be had against Oppressions of the Clergy for Probates of Wills and Citations for Trifles The King will herein do his Best and chargeth the Bishops to do the Like That every Infant acknowledging any Statute or Recognisance may at his Full Age Averre his Nonage The King reply'd There was a better Law than by Averment That all Men may have Delivery of their Beasts which escape into any Hay or Forest without any Fine to the Forester who accounteth them Forfeits and that Coroners may Execute their Office there The Coroners shall Execute their Office there and Wardens of Forests shall be commanded to keep their Officers from Extorting That certain may be appointed to hear the Debates between the Town of Great Yarmouth and Little Yarmouth The Judgements therefore made between them shall stand That Remedy may be had for the true making of Woollen Cloaths according to the Assize The King will Provide for the Execution of the Statute That no money be Exported out of the Realm The King will Provide therefore That Pardons may be granted for the Debts due to King John and Henry the Third for which Process came daily out of the Exchequer The King will Provide an Answer the next Parliament That Remedy may be had against Sheriffs and their Officers for Gathering of Green Wax The Statute therefore made shall stand For e In Derso ejusd Ret that the Staple was ordain'd to endure at the Kings Pleasure It is now Enacted that the same Staple should be revoked and that all Merchants-Strangers may freely buy any Staple Wares paying the due Custom Sundry Justices in several Counties were appointed to enquire of the Felonies of Bennet of Normanton Lastly because Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice was to be employ'd in the Kings Weighty Affairs it was Enacted that the Kings Bench should be continued in Warwickshire after Easter next Sr. Richard Willoughby being appointed to supply his Place for the time with the Assistance of Sr. William Shareshull one of the Justices of the Bench. II. This is the Summ of what I find transacted in this Parliament which being adjourn'd the King who was desirous to keep a watchfull Eye over Scotland passed on and held his Whitsuntide f Whitsâ—nday fell on the 15 of May. at Newcastle upon Tine Whither soon after Edward Bailiol King of Scotland Sirnamed the Conquerour came to him well and Honourably attended with the Nobility of either Nation and there g Walsingh hist p. 115. Holinshead p. 896. Ashmole p. 645. on the Day of Gervasius and Prothasius which is the 19 of June in the Church of the Preaching Fryers render'd his Homage and swore Fealty unto him for his Kingdom of Scotland and the Isles thereto belonging with the Ceremony of Kneeling while the Words of the Homage were pronounced after which he h Vid. Selden's Tit. Hâ—nâ—r p. 52. kissed the King of Englands Cheek all being performed in the Presence of several Archbishops Bishops Earls and many other Barons of both Nations Here King Bailiol acknowledged the King of England as Superior Lord of Scotland swearing to hold his Realm of him his Heirs and Lawfull Successours for ever Then and there also he gave and Granted to King Edward in Requital of his Expences and Labour in the Wars on his Behalf Five whole Counties next adjoyning to the Borders of England as Barwick Roxborough Peblis and Dumfres with the Towns of Hadington and Gedeworth and the Castles and Fortresses of Selkirk Etherick and Gedeworth So that all and each of these should from thenceforth be wholly separated from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to the Crown of England for ever And all this was confirmed by Oath Scepter Writings and Authentick Subscription Moreover King Bailiol by the Advice and Consent of his Scotch Nobles in Requital of King Edward's Cost and Labour for his Sake and to Nourish a continual Sence of his Gratitude Granted for him and his Heirs Kings of Scotland to King Edward and his Heirs Kings of England for ever That i Fabian p. 202. whensoever he the said King of England or any of his Heirs should have War either at Home or Abroad the Scots at their own proper Costs and Charges should assist him or them with 300 Horse and a 1000 Foot well Furnished for the War which said 1300 Men the Scots were to pay for one whole Year But if the King of England should not within the said Space end his War then he the said King of England should take them into his Pay as he doth his own Souldiers But this Homage of the Bailiols was so highly stomached by the hardy and couragious Scots that thô for the present they were necessitated to smother their Resentments and indeed could never be able to drive him wholly from his Kingdom as upon the same account was done to his Father he being constantly sustained by the English Yet what with their restless strugglings for Liberty and their frequent and obstinate Rebellions they so tired him out at the long run that seeing himself also old and childless he at last was fain to resign the whole Kingdom with all his Right and Title thereto unto his Superior Lord King Edward of England as hereafter will be shewn at large Yet at the same time k Knighton p. 2566. n. 50. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol Sr. Alexander Moubray and other Scotch Lords that held Lands Tenements and Fees in England did their Homage to King Edward for the same When also the Lord John l Mill's Catal. Honâ—r p. 606. Dreux Duke of Bretagne in France and Vicount Limouvicen Son to Arthur once Duke of Bretagne and Nephew to John the brother of Arthur late Duke thereof who died without Issue the 8 of February this Year performed m Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 10 Adam Muâ—â—mouth his Homage to King Edward on the 24 of June at Newcastle for the Earldom of Richmond in England Which Earldom thô our common Historians say it was lately given to the Lord Robert of Artois as I have shewn before appears n Catal.
being in a manner necessitated to break it when King Edward of England like a sudden Inundation rushing upon him drove all his High Designs and Vast Preparations another way I will not here dissemble that this first Mention of the Croisade and what else I have now related is nor without good Reason and Authority placed more forward by n Victorell p. 865. ibid. four Years But be sure the great Heat of all was about this time and I could not find a more proper place to mention the whole in than this upon several accounts wherefore also I believe Froissard chose to fix it hereabouts naming the Pope who sat then Benedict who notwithstanding entred not his Papacy till this Year King Philip who was look'd upon as the Chief General of this War and was so o Knighton p. 2567. Victorell 1 Vol. p. 865. stiled by the Pope made the greatest Preparation together with his Friends and Allies that ever yet had been seen either in the Days of Godfrey of Bouloigne or any other time before or after For in the Havens of Marseilles of Aquae Mortuae of Narbon and Mompellier were provided as many Vessels Ships Carricks and Gallies as would suffice for 60000 fighting Men with all their Horse Arms and other Warlike Furniture and Provision for 3 Years And besides p Pantaleon's Hist Rer. Gest Johannitarum Rhodier c. l. 4. p. 100. Odoric Raynald ad Baron Ano. 1333. §. 11. being assisted with the Popes Legats he had so wrought with Senior Philippo Belegno Blasio Zeno and Marino Morisini the Venetian Ambassadors that this Agreement was made the Pope and the French King setting out 20000 Horse and 50000 Foot to the War that the Venetians should furnish them with a Fleet of an hundred Sail whereof there should be Gallies man'd with 4000 Souldiers the Ships of burthen being fraught with Provision Engines and other things necessary for War as Bisquet Wine Fresh-water Powder'd Flesh Salt-Fish and the like Moreover King Philip sent his Ambassadors to Charles King of Hungary requesting him to open the Passages of his Country for these Holy Pilgrims who receiving the News gladly sent word of his Readiness to comply in all things with his Pleasure He sent also to Hugo the noble and valiant King of Cyprus to his constant Friend Robert King of Sicily and to the Genoans also to joyn the Venetians at Sea all who assured him they would gladly concurr with so great a Prince in so good an Enterprise The Grand Prior of France also was sent to the Isle of Rhodes to agree with the Knights of St. John to prepare things necessary in those Quarters The Rhodians lightly consented on certain Conditions to supply the Army from the fruitfull Isle of Candy anciently called Crete and at that time under the Dominion of the Venetians who had agreed with them of Rhodes to that purpose Thus in q Frois ibid. a manner all Christendom with one consent embrac'd this Holy War so that more than 300000 Men were ready to take the Cross upon them in this famous Expedition The Venetians had r Pantaleon l. 4. p. 100. already sent forth their Admiral Peter Zeno who being joyn'd with the Fleet of Rhodes by a wonderfull course of Victory chasing and destroying the Barbarians far and near secur'd all the Sea-coast which respects Syria about the Isles of Rhodes and Cyprus from the injuries of the Saracens and Tartars King Philips Navy also was ready in Provence and he had view'd it and made his Son John then about fourteen Years of Age his Lieutenant or Regent during his absence having commanded all his Lords to swear Obedience to him Nor content with all these vast Preparations he sent to our English Edward desiring also his Company in this his most Christian Undertaking but he being otherwise busied about his Wars in Scotland and not a little displeased that King Philip had interested himself in that his Quarrel made as then no direct Answer to his Embassy so that Philip perceiving he was not well satisfied in his mind and doubting to leave so Powerfull a Prince behind him in Discontent thought fit before he set forward to search his Mind more narrowly and thereupon by the Lord ſ Gaguin p. 133. Fabian p. 199 Ralph Earl of Ewe and High Constable of France he repeated his Embassy unto him These Ambassadors with some difficulty obtain'd an Audience thô little more was concluded on with them than that King Edward promised very speedily to send his Ambassadors over into France to confer about certain Points then in difference between the two Kings For said t Pantaleon l. 4. p. 100. Gaguin l. 8. p. 133. he The seat of this Holy War is not so far off as King Philip pretends it lies not in Palestine I am well assured but in Aquitain which evidently appears by his Offers that way already That as yet he said he could not consent to agree with him who had not agreed with his own self but had forgot if not broken the Promise made at Amiens about the Restoring of what he had seized on in Gascoigne That when once these Matters should be fully adjusted he would be rather more ready to undertake that Expedition than their Master With this short Answer he dismissed them promising to follow them with his Ambassadors II. Accordingly soon after there were u Gaguin ibid. Pantaleon ibid. Holinshead p. 897. Stow p. 232. Odoric Raynald An o Bened. XII 3. §. 42. sent Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham William Lord Montagu and the Lord Geoffry Scroop of Masham who being come to Paris could not be admitted to King Philips Presence in requital as it should seem of King Edward's Reservedness lately shewn to his Ambassadors or perhaps to make them surmise that he feared not War much who was so little carefull of making Peace But when the English Lords had roundly told the Earl x Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. of Ewe the Marshall of Troyes and Peter Roger Archbishop of Roüen how highly they resented this coldness of the King 's and withall intimated how reasonable their Masters Requests would be they were forthwith order'd to be brought before him well received and graciously heard So that immediately the Matter about which they came was propounded to be taken in hand and throughly discussed King Edward's Demands from the Crown of France were only these 1. That perfect Peace and Amity between the two Kings should be inviolably maintained to both their Powers 2. That all Towns and Castles heretofore taken from the English in Gascoigne by the Lord Charles of Valois Father to King Philip should be entirely restored to the King of England 3. That the said King Philip should swear never to give any Aid or Succour to the Scots against the King of England All which being fully Ratified and Granted King Edward would be
so well that they can best of all Men living advise You what Friends to have recourse to and by what means you may oblige them to your Side VI. The King was so well satisfied with this Answer that forthwith e Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 118. Ashmole p. 646. he sends over to his Father-in-Law that right Politick Prelate Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln with two Banerets the Lord William Montagu and the Lord William Clinton and many other Nobles besides two other Doctors learned in the Laws All who with a fair Wind arrived at Dunkirk and thence riding thrô Flanders came to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt where they found the Old Earl lying on his Bed sick of the Gout and the Lord John his Brother with him They were highly entertained and respected by the Earl and his Brother for the sake of him that sent them whereupon having distinctly shew'd the cause of their coming with King Edwards Pretensions to the Crown of France and all his Reasons and Scruples on either Hand they were thus answer'd by the Earl. So God bless me as I should heartily rejoyce if King Edward's Designs might take a full and happy Effect For I rather desire the Prosperity of him who hath married my Daughter than of him who thô I have married his Sister yet never did any thing of Good for me or mine Nay he was the occasion of hindering the young Duke of Brabant from marrying one of my Daughters as he desired to do Wherefore I shall be so far from failing to aid my Dear and Well-beloved Son the King your Master that I shall always be ready to the best of my Power to further his Undertakings both by Prudent Advice and Warlike Assistance Nor do I at all doubt but that my Brother Sr. John will do the same who has not been slothfull in his Service to the King your Master before this But alas our Country of Heinalt is too too inconsiderable in respect of the flourishing Realm of France And if we of our selves should once provoke the French Arms upon us England you know is too far off to afford us any timely Assistance Upon this the Bishop of Lincoln answered thus unto the Earl. Sir We most heartily in our Royal Masters Name return you our Thanks for the great Affection you are pleased to bear unto his Affairs and humbly desire you to give our Lord the King of England your Advice whose Friendship he had best have recourse to for their Assistance in this weighty Concern especially of such who are your Neighbours and border upon the Realm of France That thereby we may not only be render'd more Powerfull to prosecute this our Master's quarrel but your Country also may be more strongly Protected against any Violence which otherwise it might suffer for our sakes Surely Gentlemen repli'd the Earl I cannot for the present think of any more Puissant in War nor more surely my Friends nor more likely to be His than the Noble Duke of Brabant his Cosin-German the Earl of Gueldre who hath Married his Sister the Bishop of Liege the Archbishop of Colen the Marquis of Juliers Sr. Arnold of Baquehen Sr. Valeran his Brother and the Lord of Faulquemont For these Lords as they are well addicted to your Masters Interest so are they the only Men that at the shortest warning can Raise the greatest Numbers of good Souldiers of any I know They are all good Captains and well enclin'd to War especially against France which is near at hand if your Master can prevail with them to begin once being all together able to serve him with 10000 Men of Arms if they may have wages accordingly And then if he please to come this way 't is but passing the Water of Oyse and he is in King Philip's Dominions VII This was the Effect of this first Essay which when King Edward heard he was well satisfied and resolved to push on the business with all Speed and Vigour possible As for those English Ambassadors who were then in France they were now remanded home because King Edward understood f Walsing Hypod p. 114. n. 1. that while they were treating of a Peace King Philip had sent a well-rigg'd Fleet to the Assistance of the Scots against him Now the Admiral of this Navy for the French was g Ashmole p. 677. David Bruce the exil'd King of Scotland who did much mischief to the English Merchants about the Isle of Wight and besides had already enter'd the Isles of Garnsey and Jarsey and put divers of the Inhabitants to the Sword. Wherefore King Edward immediately h 11 Decemb. Rot. Scot. 10. Ed. 3. m. 3. gave Commission to the Archbishop of Canterbury the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to Henry Earl of Lancaster and others himself being then at Bothwell in Scotland so busied in the Affairs of that Realm that he could not be at the meeting appointed to treat with certain Prelates and others whom he had commanded to meet at London on Wednesday after New-years day following upon Matters relating to the Defence and safety of the Kingdom repulsion of the Enemies and other things concerning the State of the King and his Realm as also seriously and fully to acquaint them with the Kings Intensions to Ordain and do all things referring thereunto and to His Honour as if he were there Personally present Nor indeed was the King of Englands Design i Frois c. 28. wholly unknown to King Philip of France for whether by meer Suspicion or more certain Information the matter began by little and little to take wind so much that presently the Mighty Zeal for the Holy War grew cold in France of a sudden and King Philip countermanded all his Officers from making any farther Preparations till he might see whither King Edward's Designes would tend But before I proceed with those matters I shall rid my hands of some things which falling about this time are fittest here to be inserted Only I must not omit that k Od. ric Rainald ad An. 1336. § 46. Pope Benedict seeing how matters began to go between the two Kings sent by the hands of his Nuntio Philip de Camberlake his Letters bearing date the x Kal. Decemb. to both the Kings endeavouring to perswade them to an Accommodation but especially he sought to pacifie King Edward's enflamed mind and exhorted him to put away from him the Lord Robert of Artois who continually stirr'd him up to the War besides which he wrote to Queen Philippa and the Archbishop of Canterbury that they would use their endeavours to bring the King to Terms But all was too late King Edward was too far exasperated by the Insolence of his Adversary And thus the War began to break out between England and France than which hardly ever any was either of more long continuance or of more Fatal Consequence to Christendom VIII On the l Adam Marimouth 14 of September or
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
at this time was found to amount to One Hundred and Ten besides those in Ireland Aquitain and Normandy King Edward now thought fitting because of his Wars intended against France to confiscate unto his own Use all the Goods of the said Priories with all the Lands Tenements Fees and Advowsons of the same Letting out their Houses to Farm as his Grandfather before him had done in the 23 Year of his Reign upon the like occasion And this was Customary not only before this but also afterwards r id Clem. Reyner in Append Par. 3. p. 146. when ever the Wars brake out between England and France for the Kings of England to seise all the Possessions of the Cluniacks and other Aliens into their Hands and to put them out to Farm to the Religieux themselves on consideration of an annual Pension But when the War ended there was full Restoration made of all again as particularly we shall find four and twenty Years hence or in the 35 of this King. VI. While King Edward was thus busied at home and his Ambassadors equally concern'd in his service abroad there Å¿ Junii 9. obiit Vt apparet ex illius Historiâ in l. dicto Time's Storeh p. 720. Alii 6 Junii ponunt died at his Palace in Valenciennes William the Third Earl of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friseland Father to Philippa King Edward's beloved Queen who for his Great Mercy temper'd with Justice and other Princely Vertues was sirnamed the Good. One Example of his Exact Justice I shall shew whereby we may guess at his other Perfections The Deed was done not long before his Death upon a Bayliff of South-Holland t Vid. Time's Storeh p. 720. l. 7. c. 30. Engl. Atlas 4 Vol. p. 153. who had unjustly taken a goodly fair Cow from a poor Peasant which had been the sole support of himself his Wife and Children As there are some Kine in that Country which can give twenty u To enforce the truth of this Relation a little Conradus Gesner hath these Words The Oxen of the Belgian Provinces especially in Friesland and Holland are of very great stature For it hath been found by experience that one of them hath weigh'd Sixteen Hundred pounds Trey Weight And when the Earl of Hâ—ochstadt was at Machlin in Friesland there was presented unto him a Fair Large Ox which being killed weigh'd above Two Thousand Five Hundred Twenty Eight Pounds which I reckon to amount to 180 Stone and 8 Pounds Wherefore that succeeding Ages might not mistrust the Truth of so strange a Matter the said Earl caused the Picture of the said Ox to be set up in his Palace at his full Proportion with an Inscription signifying his Weight and the Day and Year when this Ox was deliver'd and killed Conrad Gesner Hist of Foursccted Beasts p. 70. Engl. folio Pottles of Milk and more in a Day The Earl lay then sick on his Death-Bed as it proved but it was his Custom never to Debar the meanest Suitors whether he was sick or well So that upon this poor Countrymans Complaint and Examination duly had the Bayliff was adjudg'd to give unto the Peasant an 100 Crowns of Gold for the great Wrong he had done him which was accordingly performed But then for his Affront to Publique Justice since he was an Officer and had thus abused the Authority entrusted to him the Earl sent for an Executioner and caused him to strike his Head off by his own Bed-side I shall only crave leave to add one more small digression of a matter happening in his Days which thô not pertinent to the History is yet well worthy Memory for its great Rarity In the Eleventh Year of this Earls Government which was the Tenth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Second of England and the Year of our Lord 1316 there happen'd even in England a great Scarcity of Corn as appears by x Walsing hist p. 83. our Historians but in this y Time's Store-house p. 720. Earls Country there was so terrible a Dearth and Famine that poor people fell down dead in the Streets for Hunger Many also were found Dead in the Highways and in Woods and Fields whither they went to seek for Herbs and Roots to stop the Importunities of craving Nature Little Children would die as they indeavour'd to suck at their starving Mothers Breasts and some Women could not refrain eating their Children In this time of Famine a certain Poor Woman of Leyden being extreamly opprest with Hunger came to a Sister of her own who was far better to pass begging of her for Godsake to lend her some Bread which she promised with Thanks to repay when it should please God to enable her The hard-hearted Sister deny'd her oftentimes notwithstanding the other was so importunate and withall told her that she was assured by her Countenance how she must needs have sufficient for her self if not to spare Hereupon the unmercifull Wretch lying both to God and her poor Sister said If I have any Bread to help my self withall I wish to God it may all instantly be turned into Stone It seems the heavy Displeasure of Almighty God laid hold on those rash Words of hers for going soon after to the Cupboard to relieve her self she found all her Loaves of Bread most plainly converted into solid stones so that she her self died for want of that which she had so wickedly deny'd her own Sister It is most credibly told us z Time's Stâ—â—ehouse ibid. that one or two of those Stone-Loaves are yet to be seen in St. Peters Church at Leyden in Memory of this most just and extraordinary Judgement However this Good Earl William King Edward's Father-in-Law having been all along a most Vertuous Prince Victorious in War Wise and Judicious Well-spoken and Learned a great Friend to Peace affable to all Men and universally Beloved after he had Governed his Provinces of Heinalt Holland Zealand and Friesland for the space of 32 Years died as before we said and with a Frois c. 29. great Pomp was buried at the Fryers in Valenciennes The Bishop of Cambray himself sang the Mass and besides the English Lords there were present many Dukes Earls and Barons of sundry Countries as well for the manifold Alliances he had abroad as for that his Fame was Singular and his Memory Dear to all Men. He was succeeded by William the Fourth his Son and Heir who had Married the Lady Joan Daughter to John Duke of Brabant giving her for her b Vid. l. 1. c. 24. §. 7. Joynture the Land of Binche upon the Haysne a fair and goodly Inheritance As for the Lady Johanna Countess Dowager of Heinalt the young Earls Mother and Sister to King Philip of France she resolved to spend the rest of her Days in a Nunnery at Fontaine on the River Scheld where being soon admitted she gave her self wholly to Devotion Almsdeeds and other Pious Offices VII And now
King Edward being fully in earnest sends Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham Henry Burwash Bishop of Lincoln and the Earls of Salisbury Northampton Huntingdon and Suffolk with Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice of England and John Lord Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshold his Commissioners to the French King not now to demand Restitution of a few Castles or Towns unjustly taken and detain'd but to declare King Edwards Rightfull Claim to the Crown of France it self as also by the by to propose some Conditions for a Treaty with c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. David Bruce the exil'd King of Scotland then in France But if the French King should prove untractable and averse to Reason then to proceed to the Court of Prince d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. Rupert Count Palatine of the Rhine Duke of Bavaria and the Emperours Brother to engage him also on the Behalf of England against King Philip. These e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 531. Ambassadours being arrived at Bologne received there Advice that King Edwards Mind was alter'd as who justly conceived that their journey might be hazardous and expose them to the Fury of a passionate Prince who in his displeasure made no difference between Just and Unjust Sacred or Profane and had before threatned his Negotiators with Death if ever they came again when before his Coronation they were pleading the King of Englands Right to that Crown in the Chamber of France Wherefore leaving off their design of visiting Paris they bent their course for Heinalt where they renewed the League with f Dudg 1 Vol. p. 531. William the young Earl of Heinalt the Earl of Gueldre and the Marquis of Juliers And proceeding to Colen made a like Agreement with Rupert Duke of Bavaria he undertaking to serve King Edward against all Men Living the Emperour his Brother only excepted with an hundred and fifty Men of Arms the whole number amounting to a thousand Men in lieu whereof the English Commissioners engag'd before their Return for England to pay unto him at Dort 2700 Florens of Florence or their equivalent Value in Sterling and moreover upon the Feast of St. Michael next ensuing the summ of 15000 Florens of good Gold viz. for every Souldier 15 Florens for the two first Months Service Nay it appears by one of Pope Benedicts g Extant apud Odoric Raynald ad An. 1337. §. 12. Letters to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon VIII Id. Novemb. Anno Pontificatûs III how there were Treaties on foot at this time that Lewis the Emperour laying aside his Right to the Roman Empire and only retaining to himself the Kingdom of Almain the Secular Electors therefore giving him some good Equivalent the King of England on Consideration of no small Summs of Mony should be made King of the Romans and elected Emperour Or if this might not be done that however he should be irrevocably deputed for his Life Vicar of the Empire as to the Lower Part thereof that by reason of the Neighbourhood he might the more opportunely and powerfully infest the Kingdom of France King h Frois c. 30. Philip of Valois was not ignorant of all this Diligence of King Edward's both at home and abroad But it chiefly fretted him that he had made so great Progress among the Flemings whom he repented he had not more early by way of Prevention sought to fasten to himself But remembring how i Fabian p. 205. firm the Earl of Flanders was to his side he did not wholly despair of bringing them over especially knowing them to be a People inconstant mercenary and likely to turn any way for Advantage He therefore sends to Gaunt the Bishop of St. Denis with Others to propose on his behalf very advantageous Offers both to that and other the good Towns of Flanders of which one was that King Philip would release unto them all such Seignories and Lordships of theirs as either he or any of his Progenitors had taken or withheld from them But he came too late For now Jacob van Arteveld bore such sway that none durst contradict his Opinion and the k Frois c. 30. Earl himself had been already forced to withdraw his Wife and Children into France for their Security So that Gaunt and Bruges Ipre Courtray and Cassel with other Towns thereabout rejected utterly the Offers of the French King and adhered firmly to King Edward especially bearing an l Fabian p. 205. old Grudge to King Philip for the War he made against them in the beginning of his Reign whereof we made some mention in the Second Year of this our History VIII The mean while in the Isle of m Frois c. 30. Holinshead p. 901. Stâ—w p. 234. Walsing hist p. 132. n. 1. Cadsand lying between the Haven of Sluce and Flushing certain Knights and Esquires of Flanders who held with the Earl against the Towns made a strong Garrison by command of King Philip and their Lord Earl Lewis The chief Captains were Sr. Guy of Rijckenburgh Bastard-Brother to the Earl Sr. Duras Halvin Sr. John Rhodes Sr. Giles Son to the Lord Lestriefe Sr. Nicholas Chauncy and Others These Men kept the Passage in hopes to meet some English against whom already they made Covert War Whereof the English Lords in Heinalt having Notice knew they should receive no very kind Salute if they went home that way But while they were in Flanders they rode about at their pleasure for Jacob van Arteveld had assured them of all Respect and Honour But however because King n Ashmole p. 647. Edward understood that the Flemings and French not only kept this Garrison in Cadsand but also had set out several Men of War to Sea to wait for his Ambassadors in their Passage home he directed his Writ to John Lord Roos Admiral of the Fleet from the River of Thames Northward to fit up a Convoy of 40 Stout Ships well Mann'd and to be with them at Dort in Holland on the Monday after Midsummer-day to secure their Return They lay ready for them at Dort and so took ship at their leisure for England having effectually perform'd their Business In their passage o Walsingh hist p. 118. Dug 1 Vol. p. 531. Knighton p. 2570. n. 30. homeward they took two Flemish Men of War with an hundred and fifty Scots on board among whom was the Bishop of Glascow Sr. John Stuart and other Noblemens Sons of Scotland as Sr. David Hay Sr. Hugh Gifford Sr. John de la More Sr. William Bayly Sr. Alexander Frasier with two Clerks Thomas Ferguson and William Muffet and a Monk of Dunfermlin besides certain Noble Ladies These with 4000 Souldiers for their Guard were sent by the French King to aid the Brucean Scots with Arms Horse Gold and Silver to the value of 15000 l. all which was now taken by the English Admiral the Souldiers being most slain and the
many Ships of the Gibellines of Genua and the Guelfs of Monaco which took much Booty from the English and infested the Aquitanian Ocean and also by his Royal Edict he had a Tom. 3. Epist secret 306. Odoric Rainald ad an 1337. §. 21. recalled the Rights of the Dutchy of Aquitain to the Court of France and had actually with an Army which he sent thither seized on several Castles besides that he had fired certain Places on the Sea-Coasts of England with his Navy which he sent into Scotland IX Now whereas the foresaid b Ashmâ—le p. 647. c. ex Rot. Alman 11. Ed. 3. m. 4. Ambassadors of the King of England had in making all those Alliances and Retainers upon the Kings Account obliged themselves to pay sundry great Summs of Mony the King taking all upon himself indemnified them their Heirs and Executors of all those Summs and other Things whereto they were so engaged But this great Affair of strengthening the King with Alliances was again set on foot and to that purpose c 3 Octob. Rot. Alman 11 Ed. 3. n. 10. another Commission was issued to the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln and Earl of Salisbury to whom was added Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and John Lord Darcy Steward of the Kings Houshold with Power to any Three of them to treat thereupon with Lewis the Emperour Another d Ibid. n. 11. Commission of the same Date was made out to them and to Richard Winkele John Hufford Paul de Monteflorum John Montgomery and John Waweyn impowring them to treat with and to retain all Persons as well Nobles as Others for the Kings Service And yet as the King did by these Means endeavour to enable himself for the Recovery of the Crown of France so did he not neglect all Methods of Peace e 7 Octob. ib. n. 13. Particularly he constituted the foresaid Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk and John Lord Darcy his Agents to treat with the Magnificent Prince the Lord Philip the Illustrious King of France as he is stiled in the Commission or his Deputies touching his Right to the said Crown to wit whether it ought to remain to him or King Edward And by another Commission of the same Date they were empower'd to treat upon all Controversies and Demands whatsoever relating to the Dukedom of Aquitaine or other Parts beyond Sea and also of an Happy and Perpetual Peace But in case his just Demands should not find an agreeable Answer on the same Day he prepared f Ibid. m. 1. another Commission for John Duke of Brabant and Lorraine whereby he constituted him his Lieutenant Captain and Vicar General in the Kingdom of France Where it is worthy Note that the King in this Commission where he challenges the Crown of France as devolved to him by Right of Succession and consequently become his Lawfull Inheritance did assume the Title of that Kingdom and Stiled himself Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Angliae Franciae Dominus Hiberniae Dux Aquitaniae And by another Commission bearing even Date made of these Officiary Dignities to the said Duke he put France in the First place thus Edvardus Dei Gratiâ Rex Franciae Angliae c. but soon after he voluntarily laid this Title of France aside nor did he solemnly assume it again till the Fourteenth Year of his Reign over England as we shall see in due place By several other Commissions of the same g Ibid. Date wherein also the Titles of England and France were in like manner transposed did the King appoint to the same Dignities William Marquess of Juliers William Earl of Heinalt his Brother in Law and William Bohun Earl of Northampton and by another then Dated and directed to the Archbishops Bishops Dukes Marquesses Earls Barons and all other Persons in the Kingdom of France having therein the Titles of France and England transposed as before they are commanded to receive the said Duke of Brabant as if it were the King in his own Person as also the said Marquess and Earls And further the said Marquess and Earls were by other Commissions severally constituted the Kings Special Ambassadors to make known his Title to all whom it should concern to challenge and prosecute his Right to require every Unjust Detainer to render unto the King whatsoever he so withheld from him to Displace and Punish such as they should think meet and lastly to Do and Execute all other Things which should be most necessary for the Recovery and Preservation of his Right Now it is to be remembred thô we also spake of this before that in the beginning of h Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m 29. in Dorso Knighton p. 2569. n. 10. this Year King Philip had sent Forces into Gascoign and thô not without considerable Loss to himself seised upon many of the Kings Castles and Fortresses notwithstanding that the Lord Oliver Ingham King Edwards Seneschall of Gascoign a noble wise and valiant Captain behav'd himself commendably against the French in all his Actions considering his small Forces Upon notice hereof King Edward gave i Rot. Vascon 11 Ed. 3. m. 40. Command to arrest twenty Ships in the Port of Southampton and thereabouts and to press Men to be ready at Portsmouth to set forward for Gascoign on Whitsun-Eve following to reinforce the Lord Oliver Ingham his Seneschall But it must not here be forgotten what is recorded of Sr. k Rot. Vasc 11 Ed. 3. m. 4. Raymund Cornely Lord of Abertha a Gascoigner that he made an Offer to the French King to fight with any Man living in Defence of King Edwards Right to those Countries for which he l 6 Jan. ibid. sent him great and particular Thanks Yet thô accordingly the King had raised a great Army to send into Gascoign he made withall several Fair Applications by his Ambassadours to the Court of France for Restitution of what had been seised on and Prevention of a War. His Offers were these 1. m Claus 11 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 28. Dorsâ— To Marry his Eldest Son the Duke of Cornwall to the King of France's Daughter without Dowry 2. The Marriage of his Sister the Countess of Gueldre to his Son with a great Summ of Money 3. The Marriage of his Brother i. e. his Uncle's Son n Hear the Learned Esquire Ashmole reads his Brother the Earl of Cornwall whereas 't is plain that the Earl of Cornwall died the Year preceding as we have shew'd and also upon the Death of the Earl of Cornwall that Earldom was converted afterwards into a Dukedom and conser'd upon Prince Edward Nor is it strange that I here am forced not only to read Kent for Cornwall but Brother for Fathers Brother's Son since we find in the Records that this very King calls Richard the Son of his Eldest Son Prince Edward his own Son as thus * Summonitio Parliamenti 51 Ed. 3. old Sr.
Lords and Prelates met again in the Cathedral of Cologne where they heard Divine Service and after High Mass the Emperour and all his Barons swore to the King of England That they would stand by him help and defend him against the King of France and all his Adherents both to live and to die with him for the space of Seven whole Years to come provided the War to be between the said Kings should not be compounded before that time It was also further sworn that all the Barons of Almain from Cologne and on this Side should presently enter the King of Englands Service and should always be ready to come unto him as often as they should be summoned thereto against the King of France as well where the King of England should be in Person as to any other Place to which he should assign them And if it should happen any of the said Lords of Almain should refuse to obey the said King of England in the Premises that then all the other Lords of High Germany should rise in Arms against that Man till they had destroy'd him At this time n Nicâ—laus Minâ—rita M.S. Bib. Vatican sign n. 4008. apud Odoric Rainald ad â—â—nc annum §. 68. also there was a certain Sanction formerly made repeated in King Edwards Presence containing these two Points the First That the Administration of the Empire belongs to the King of the Romans as soon as ever he is Elected by the Seven Electors without the Pope's Confirmation and the Other That those are Proscribed who do not obey him or as Rebdorf says that whosoever for the future shall esteem Lewis to be Excommunicate or shall omit Divine Service for any Papal Sentences shall be Proscribed in Body and Goods Which latter Clause chiefly respected the Bishop of Cambray who upon that Account had left the Emperor and revolted to the French King. These matters being thus fully contracted and established after many enterchangeable Caresses and Magnificent Entertainments the King of England took his leave of the Emperour and return'd with all his Company to Brabant The mean time o Frois c. 34. several great Lords of England rode about Flanders and Heinalt at their pleasure being wonderfull Magnificent and Liberal in their Expences freely bestowing Gifts of Gold and Silver and other Jewels to the Lords and Ladies of the Country to purchase their Good Wills And truly they obtain'd the very Hearts of the Country but especially they were extolled among the common Sort because of the splendid Shew they made wherever they came All these things must needs have been matter of incredible Expence and Charge to that Mighty Monarch And indeed it seem'd that he had made good Progress in his Affairs having succeeded so well with the Emperour and the Lords of Germany But those Friends that are made by Money commonly fall off at the appearance of a greater Interest and when they have got what they could expect as within a while all these did Thô as it chanced he gain'd more Glory thereby performing afterwards of himself what had been no such great matter to have done with the help of the Empire 's Forces As we shall see hereafter V. Now King Edward upon his Return into Brabant p Frois c. 34. fol. 19. sends his Summons to the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Juliers and all other his Allies in those Parts to come to him about q Novemb. 11 the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop to his Parliament to be holden at Arques in the County of Leuze near Brabant or as r Knighton p. 2572. n. 30. One says at Malines in Brabant Against which time the Town Hall was as richly adorn'd with Hangings and other Royal Furniture as if it had been the King 's own Chamber of Presence Thither at the time appointed came the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the young Earl of Heinalt the Earl of Juliers the Lord of Valkenberg or as the French pronounce it Faulquemont and all other Barons on this side Cologne except only the Bishop of Liege who had no less than Å¿ Ferrarii Lexâ—n Leodium twenty four Cities as they call them subject unto him both as a Secular Prince and as a Bishop In this Parliament t Frois ibid. King Edward in his Royal Robes with a Crown of Gold on his Head sat on a Stately Throne five foot higher than any other and there the Emperours Letters Patents were openly read wherein was declar'd That King Edward of England was made Vicar General or Lieutenant for the Emperour and as so had full Power to make Laws and to administer Justice to every person in the Emperours Name and to coin Money both Gold and Silver at his own Pleasure with his own Stamp and Inscription It was also commanded by these the Emperours Letters Patents that the Lords and other Subjects of the Empire should yield Obedience and pay Homage to the King of England his Vicar as to himself And the Lords of Germany there present u Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. promised in all things to obey him according as their Liege Lord the Emperour had commanded and that they were both willing and ready to attend his Service to the utmost of their Power Immediately hereupon certain x Frois ibid. Claims were made and judgment given between Parties as before the Emperour himself and at the same time a Statute before-time made by the Emperour was renew'd being to this effect That whoever design'd War or Combat or any other Harm against any Person Kingdom or Country should make his Challenge or Defiance at least three Days before he began any Hostile Deed otherwise that the Author should be look'd on as a Malefactor and the Deed Villanous Then the King y Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. 50. sent forth his Summons to the Bishop of Liege to come in accordding to his Duty but he absolutely refus'd to obey him for his Heart was French all over Whereupon the King sent Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln to make Complaint of him before the Emperour and to require Justice against him to which it was answer'd That the Emperour himself would shortly come in Person to the Aid of his most Dear Brother-in-Law the King of England for it was expected that a great War would begin the next Spring between the two Nations VI. After this the Lords of Almain departed having first agreed upon a Day wherein they were all to appear before Cambray which was at that time in the French Hands thô belonging to the Empire there to lay their Siege to wit on the 8 of July the Year following being Wednesday in the Third Week after the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward went back to Louvain to the Queen who as we said before was newly come thither out of England well accompanied with Ladies her Maids of Honour and other Gentlewomen who went over as well to wait
the chief Tower But here he found the Gate and the Wicket fast closed against him When the Watchman of the Tower heard the noise of Men of Arms he straight sounded a Trahee Trahee signifying Treason thereby At which the whole Castle took the Alarm and presently came to their Defence But the Lord Manny was not prepared with Engines sufficient for an Assault only he hoped to have broke down the Gate before the Alarm might be given which now failing of he Retreated and set fire however to the Street adjoyning to the Castle and so burning about 60 Houses put the whole Town in a fright but would not suffer his Men to scatter abroad for Murder Spoil or Plunder Because the Garrison was entire Thence therefore taking Horse again he rode back directly toward Conde where they passed the River of Haysne as he is falling into the f Scaldis Lat. Skell Thence he took the road to Valenciennes and coasting on the Right hand came to Avesnes whence by the Abbey he proceeded to Bouchain which stands on the Banks of the Skell between Cambray and Valenciennes Here he passed the River over the Bridge the Captain either not daring or caring to Impeach their passage After this he came before a strong Castle upon the Sambre called Thin l'Evesque because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray not standing above g Knighton p. 2573. n. 60. three Leagues from Cambresis This Place they took by surprise with the Captain and his Lady therein And here the Lord Walter Manny placed a good Garrison whereof he made his Brother Sr. Giles Manny the Captain who afterwards proved but an ill Neighbour to the City of Cambray This done Sr. Walter return'd into Brabant unto King Edward his Master whom he found still at Mechlin and there he shew'd what he had done for which the King gave him Thanks and approved of his Service At the same time the Earl of Salisbury made an Inroad into the Bishop of Liege his Country with a Thousand fighting Men h Knighton ibid. where having wasted all before him for several Miles together he return'd safe again laden with Spoil and Glory IV. l Frois c. 37. Nor was the King of France an idle Spectator of all these Preparations and Hostilities For he must needs be well aware aforehand of a Storm which he himself in a manner Raised and was sufficiently as to all humane Probability provided against it His Navies Magazines and Treasures were well furnished his Garrisons and good Towns well stock'd with Men of War and Provisions and his Allies stood all ready as in a Race to run the same Course together with him But as soon as ever he had received the Defiances from King Edward and his Confederates he immediately addresses himself to put Life and Vigour into all his former Preparations He straight began on all hands to retain Men of Arms and others in his Service and first he sent the Lord Galeas de la Bausine a Valiant Knight of Savoy to be Captain of the City of Cambray and with him two more Couragious Gentlemen the Lord of Roy and Sr. Theobald of Marnel with above two Hundred Spears both French and Savoyans At the same time he sent sufficient Forces to seise into his Hands the County of Ponthieu in Picardy which belonged to King Edward in k Sandford Geneal hist p. 130. l. 2. c. 1. Right of his Grandmother Eleanor sister to Alphonso King of Castille and Leon Daughter of Ferdinand III and only Child by his second Wife Joan Daughter and Heir of John Earl of Ponthieu and Provence He directed also his Letters to the young Earl of Hainault his Nephew to the Duke of Lorrain the Earl of Bar and the Bishops of Mentz and Liege desiring either their friendly Assistance in these his Wars or at least that they would remain Neuters and forbear all Hostility against him and his Realm The Earl of Hainalt wrote him a very courteous Answer That for his part He would be always ready to Assist his Uncle the King of France against any Person whatsoever But forasmuch as the King of England made his War as Vicar of the Sacred Roman Empire he said he could not in Reason Civility or Duty deny him entrance into his Country nor refuse to shew him Respect and gratifie him in his Lawfull Demands because he held part of his Lands of the Emperour Most of the other Lords answer'd to King Philip that they would never commit or undertake any thing which should be to his displeasure Besides l Da Chesne l. 15. p 646. he had John Earl of Luxemburgh and King of Bohemia whose Daughter the Lady Bona was Married to King Philip's Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy engag'd firmly on his side and by his means Henry Count Palatine of the Rhine undertook to serve him with 300 Men of Arms for 56000 Florins of Florence In like manner he engaged Albert Bishop of Metz then a Free City now under France Otho Duke of Austria Theodore Marquess of Monferrat Amè Earl of Geneva Geoffry Earl of Linanges Valeran Earl of Deux-Ponts Henry Earl of Vaudemont John Earl of Sarburg Prince Humbert Son and Heir to James Humbert the Old Dauphin of Vienna besides the Duke of Lorrain aforemention'd and many other Lords and Captains of Almain Spain la Franche Comtè Dauphinè Savoy and other Countries besides the Scots who were able to give Powerfull Diversions and besides the Towns of Fuenterabia or Fontarabie St. Sebastian St. Ander and Laredor in Biscay V. The mean m Frois c. 37. Knighton p. 2573. n. 20. c. while Sr. Hugh Quiriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Sr. Nicolas Barbenoire so called of his Black-Beard being joynt Admirals of King Philip's Navy and having full Commission to Intercept our Merchants and to burn kill and slay in England without Pity were scouring the Seas in several Squadrons as they saw occasion for Advantage Among other Particulars One Detachment from this great Fleet consisting n Fabian p. 206. Helmstead p. 904. of Thirteen Sail Great and Small met with 2 Great Ships of England full of Riches and Money received for Woolls in Flanders and well Mann'd also being accompanied with two lesser Barks and one Caravel only The two Ships were Named the Christopher and the Edward Now when each side knew their Opposites to be Enemies they both with equal Ardour addressed themselves to the Fight Neither side spared their shot from Engines from their long Bowes and Arbalists for Guns that are actuated with Sulphur and Fire were not as then known in Europe So there began a most Cruel Fight thô not on equal Terms the French almost thrice exceeding them in Number of Vessels but more than four times in Number of Hands they being all fitted up ready for War ours being but Merchants thô well Convoy'd Wherefore the three small English Vessels being unfit for Fight and Laden more with Merchandise
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
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
William of Strasburg Sr. Goswin de la Mulhausen Sr. Vauflart van Guistle and many others In all the Duke of Brabant had 12000 Men under 24 Banners and 80 Penons or Streamers The third and Greatest Battail of all was led by King Edward of England surrounded and attended by his English Captains the Chief whereof were these Henry Plantagenet Earl of Derby the Kings Cosin Henry Burwash the Noble and n Knighton p. 2577. n. 40. Warlike Bishop of Lincoln Richard Bury Bishop of Durham the Kings Tutor William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Bohun Earl of Northampton Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Robert of Artois who was called the Earl of Richmond at that time because the Duke of Bretagne for being on the French Kings part had lately forfeited that Title the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Percy the Lord William Roos the Lord John Moubray the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord John de la Ware the Lord Ralph Basset the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John Lisle the Lord Robert Benhale of Norfolk Sr. Otho Grandison Brother to the Lord Peter Grandison Sr. Lewis Beauchamp and Sr. John Beauchamp which latter was younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick and lastly Sr. John Chandos lately Knighted by the King of whom much Honour is to be spoken in this our History The King had with him in all besides his Royal Standard 28 Banners 80 Penons or Streamers 6000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 12000 Select Archers Besides he had set by another Choice Battail as on a Wing whereof the Earl of Warwick Thomas Beauchamp was Chief Leader and with him were Lawrence Hastings the young Earl of Pembroke the Lord Thomas Barkley the Lord John Multon of Egremont and others This Battail consisted of 5000 Men of Arms all on Horseback When thus every Lord stood under his Banner among his own Men as the Marshals had Commanded the King of England Mounted on a large White Palfrey and only attended with the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord Reginald Cobham and the Lord Walter Manny rode about before all his Battails and in the Head of each of them with a very cheerfull Countenance sweetly desired all the Lords and others that they would that day do their utmost to defend his Honour and their own and they all unanimously promised him so to do After this he returned to his own Battail and set every thing in good Order Commanding that none should presume to go before the Marshals Banners In the mean while the French o Frois c. 41. ad sin du Chesne l. 15. p. 648. Army was in like Manner disposed into Three Great Battails each whereof contained 15000 Men of Arms and 20000 on Foot in all 35000 Men the whole Three amounting to 105000 Warriers Among whom were Four Kings five Dukes Twenty six or as p Sala apud Du Chesne ibid. others say Thirty six Earls more than Four Thousand Lords and Knights and above 60000 of the Commons of France The Kings that were there were Philip himself King of France John of Luxemburg King of Bohemia Charles King of Navarre and David King of Scotland The Dukes were John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son John Dreux Duke of Bretagne Lewis the Great Duke of Bourbon Reginald Duke of Lorrain Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens The Earls Charles Earl of Alencon King Philips Brother Lewis of Cressy Earl of Flanders William Earl of Hainault Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix John Earl of Armagnac Amè Earl of Geneva Amè Earl of Savoy Lewis Earl of Blois the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Bar the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Longeville the Earl of Estampes the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of St. Pol the Earl of Guisnes the Earl of Boulogne the Earl of Roussy the Earl of Dampmartin the Earl of Valentinois the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Dreux the Earl of Gascoigne the Earl of Languedoc and many more Vicounts and others too tedious to enumerate It was a Glorious and Ravishing sight no doubt to behold these two Armies standing thus Regularly embattel'd in the Field their Banners and Standards waving in the Wind their proud Horses barbed and Kings Lords Knights and Esquires richly Armed and all shining in their Surcoats of Sattin and Embroidery IX And now it may be justly expected that a Bloody Battle should ensue upon these vast Preparations of these two Puissant Monarchs But we shall see all come to nothing upon these Reasons which now I shall more distinctly set down King Philip of Valois was no doubt a Man of singular Courage and as the Sequel shew'd rather too Rash than Timerous He had all along answer'd the English Ambassadors when they offer'd Peace upon easie Conditions q Knighton p. 2574. n. 50. 60. that the King their Master should never Rejoyce of two Foot of Ground in all the Realm of France And had often sworn by his Messengers that King Edward should not tarry one Day in his Realm without Battle let him come when ever he would The r Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. 40. Knighton p. 2574 n. 60. 2575. n. 1. ad n. 10. Constable of France also by Command of the King his Master had sent Letters to King Edward containing among other things that if he would choose out a Place not Fortified with Trees Ditches or Bogs the King of France without fail would afford him Battle Which same thing was also affirmed by the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lorrain in their several Letters under their Hands and Seals beside King Philips late Promise to Windsor Herald whereby he Obliged himself to come and give him Battle on this Day sufficiently shew'd his Resolution But Å¿ Frâ—â—is c. 42. all the Lords of his Council were not of the same Mind For thô some urged that it would be an indelible Stain of dishonour if now they should decline to come to the push seeing their Enemies were so near them in their own Country and had both demanded and been promised Battle Yet others of deeper Judgement replyed That it would be the most Unwarrantable Indiscretion in the World to Commit all to the Hazard of One Engagement For said they if Fortune prove adverse to Us Our King is in Jeopardy of loosing his Crown and thô he should Conquer his Enemies yet will he never be the nearer to gain the Crown of England or the Lands of any of King Edwards Allies Beside which gave the Greatest Suspicion to King Philip who knows said they whether all your Subjects are firm to You or no and that no Lords here present may Prefer King Edward or Revolt to him as the Lord of Artoic hath done already With these Debates time slipt away till Afternoon When of a
Peace and Concord would not only be rendred difficult but which God of his infinite Mercy avert impossible And moreover it doth not seem less worthy of consideration how mightily by occasion of the present Wars your Majesties Subjects are as it is said many ways exhausted of their Mony and other their Goods and are like upon continuance of such Burthens which God forbid to be further grieved And that the Event of War is doubtfull but especially upon the Divine Indignation to be feared Wherefore We more earnestly in the Lord require and exhort your Royal Magnificence nevertheless beseeching You by the Mercies of God that taking the Premises and what else may occurr to your Royal Wisdom into your Princely Consideration you may by taking Truce with the said King and renewing the Peace obviate the dangers both of your Self most Dear Son and of your People and so please God who loveth Peace and delighteth in Peace-makers rendring thereby your self more acceptable unto Him and confirming the strength of your whole Kingdom And that therefore you would incline to the wholsom Admonitions and Perswasions of ourdear Sons Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals of the Apostolick See our Nuntio's who are zealous of your Royal Honour and Success and whom we have lately by Advice of our Brethren sent to those Parts for that purpose Truly considering the Premises and that we might prevent the like dangers and innumerable more which are ready to follow from the said Wars and that between You our most Loving Son and the said King who is by the near Tye of Blood and Affinity joyned unto You the fulness of Peace and mutual Charity may flourish We wish with most ardent desires a Reformation of this Peace and if perhaps it cannot be obtained by the Instance of the said Cardinals yet if You O most Dear Son and the said King disposing your selves to mutual Concord acceptable to God amiable to Men profitable to Christendom and many ways the best for both of You will but consent that We also in our own Person should intend as Friendly Moderators to the Reformation of Peace taking a mutual Truce and granting a Cessation from Arms for a convenient time wherein the Treaty of Peace may be begun continued and if the Lord of Mercies grant brought to an happy End We thô we are continually occupied with weighty and importable Affairs even above our strength do notwithstanding thrô Desire of the said Peace hereby offer Our selves ready as far as conveniently and with honesty may be done effectually to interpose in the Reformation of this Peace to the Quiet Profit and Honour of each Party our share of Sollicitude as it shall be administred unto Us from above Concerning all which we request your Royal Majesty upon the most mature Deliberation to write unto Us your Pleasure Given c. at Avignon x Kalen. Jan. Anno Pontif iv To this Letter of the Popes the King of England wrote this Answer * * Walsingh hist p. 130. To the most Holy Father in God Benedict by Divine Providence Bishop of the Holy Roman Church Edward by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet We received with due Reverence and Devotion the Letters of your Holiness sent last unto Us wherein your Goodness persuades us to renew the Peace or take a Truce with the Lord Philip of Valois graciously adding that You in your own Person would intend to the Reformation thereof as a Friendly Moderator if We and the said Philip would consent thereto Surely We considering in the Lord your Holinesses Affection which is so sollicitous for the quiet of your Sons do humbly return You all possible Thanks for that your wholsom Persuasion and an Offer so condescending and so pious and in a firm love and confidence of your Integrity we desire to follow your Counsel and particularly to conform Our selves to your Holy Pleasure But it is now notoriously known how the said Philip contrary to Justice hath usurped unto himself the Kingdom of France lawfully devolved unto Us by the Death of the Lord Charles of Famous Memory the last King of France our Uncle And not content with this he hath seised into his hands our Lands in the Dutchy of Aquitain as many as he was able in Hostile manner invading our Islands in the Sea and also our Kingdom of England with that very Fleet which under colour of an Holy Expedition beyond Sea he pretended to rig forth having sworn for the Cause of Christ He hath also excited the Scots to rebell against us designing altogether to oppress us that so according to his unsatiable Desire of Sovereignty he may the more freely withhold from us our said Kingdom of France and other our Hereditary Lands To whom as we remember we have written before to your Holiness We have offer'd many desirable Methods of Peace willing even to purchase Quiet of him thô with no small Resignation of our own Rights But he long holding us in suspense by divers specious Treaties and exposing us to vast Expences that so he might drain our Exchequer and render us thereby unable to recover our Rights hath at last took no care to give us any Satisfaction but still his Persecution encreased and rag'd against Us Wherefore necessity so compelling We are now come to the Parts beyond Sea to take unto us the Assistance of our Friends to revenge the Injuries done and to repulse those that would have been done by him unto Us and to obtain our Hereditary Rights Which certainly we intend not to neglect but will pursue them when we cannot by any other agreeable way by Force of Arms God being our Help And althô in Presence of the Reverend Fathers Peter of the Title of St. Praxedis Priest and Bertrand of St. Mary in Aquiro Deacon Cardinals and Nuâ—tio's to your Holiness who have laudably and sollicitously labour'd in the Affair of Peace the said Realm of France which by all Right is known to belong to Us hath been demanded and We have under certain ways of Peace caused our said Will to be sincerely open'd to the foresaid Cardinals always offering Our selves ready to embrace any reasonable Method of Peace on condition the Adverse Party will agree thereto Yet neither by the said Cardinals nor by Others could we know to this Day that he the said Philip would do or offer any thing of Satisfaction unto Us. And truly if then he had made but never so small Offers to shun the hazards of Wars and the prosuseness of Expences we should have made a reasonable Answer thereupon but now we see not what we can do farther with our Honour in the way of Peace But for all that if it shall now please the foresaid Lord Philip to offer us any Reasonable Way or if your Prudent Consideration or the said Lords Cardinals shall open unto
on the Sea under the Command of his three Admirals Sr. Hugh Quyriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Nicolas Barbenoir the Genoan These were furnished with a notable Fleet of Genuans Normans Bretons and Picards who did this Winter no small damage to the Coasts of England at Dover Sandwich Winchelsey Hastings and Rye For they were more than 40000 Men in all Beside this King Philip wrote to the Lord of Beaumont-in Champaine the Lord of Bresne the h Qu. Videme i.e. Vicedâ—â—was Vidame of Chalons the Lord John de la Beau the Lords John and Gerard of Loire enjoyning them to furnish themselves with competent forces and so make an Impression upon the Lord John of Hainalts Lands burning killing and destroying without Pity because he took King Edward's Part against France These Lords did as they were Commanded and enter'd the said Lands with 500 Men of Arms appearing suddenly one Morning before the Town of Chimay a strong Town of Hainalt seated in a Wood on the little River Blanche Here they found a vast quantity of Cattle and other Prey for the Country People never imagin'd the French could have come so far without passing the Wood of Thierasche The Place was too strong however to be won by them so that setting fire on the Suburbs and the neighbouring Villages they return'd laden with Spoil to Aubenton and there divided the Booty At the same i Frois c. 44. time the Garrison of Cambray sent a small Detachment to a little strong House hard by called Relenques which also belonged to the foresaid Lord John of Hainault and was now kept by a Bastard son of his who had only 15 Men of Arms and about fourty others in his Company These few held out manfully one whole day against a continual Assault of the Cambresins but because the Ditches were so frozen that there was free Passage for the Enemy to approach to the very Walls about Midnight the Bastard and his Men in great silence trussed up all they had of any worth and setting fire to the House departed for Valenciennes whither they all came in safety Next day as the Cambresins came thither again to renew the Assault seeing all was reduced to Ashes they beat down the Walls and what remain'd to the ground and so returned III. We shew'd before k C. 13. §. 3. p. 135. how the Lord Walter Manny had taken the strong Castle of Thine l'Evesque so called because it belonged to the Bishop of Cambray over which he had set as Captain his Brother Sr. Giles Manny This l Frois ibid. Sr. Giles was a Valiant Knight and very much incommoded the Garrison of Cambray both distressing them that issued out of the Town and also boldly braving them at their own Walls Once particularly this Winter he Marched from his Garrison in the head of Sixscore Men of Arms and came to the Barriers of Cambray where the clamour rose so high and the skirmish grew so fierce that great numbers within the City were fain to run to Arms and come to the Gate to the assistance of their Fellows who were hitherto too weak for Sr. Giles and were ready to turn their backs But now upon this reinforcement Sr. Giles caused a Retreat to be sounded to his Men and so began to draw off fair and softly The fresh forces of the Cambresins issued out of the Barriers after him as they might well do both considering their own Numbers and that so strong a Place was at hand to second them Among the Frenchmen there was a young lusty Esquire of Gascoign named William Marchant who came out among the foremost into the Field well-mounted his shield about his Neck and his Spear in his Hand Him when Sr. Giles beheld he turn'd his Horse and rode up fiercely to him thinking to have slain or taken him But the Esquire held him tack gallantly insomuch that at last either by his Hands or some others for the Medley and Confusion was now at the highest Sr. Giles was stricken thrô all his Harness the Spear passing quite thrô his Body upon which he fell down to the earth Upon the fall of their Captain his Men renew'd the skirmish more fiercely but by continual Recruits from the Town they were finally overpower'd slain and put to slight The Cambresins took up the Body of Sr. Giles wounded mortally as he was and brought him with great Triumph into the City where presently they disarm'd him and got skilfull Surgeons to dress his Wound for they were very desirous to save him to be Ransom'd but for all their Care he died the next day after Then they resolv'd to send his Body to his Brethren John and Thierry for the Lord Walter the Elder was about King Edward's business which two kept Garrison at Bouchain in Ostervandt For thô at that time the Country of Hainault was not engag'd in any War saving the late Incursion made into the Lord of Beaumonts Lands yet all the Frontiers toward France were Garrison'd for fear of the Worst the times beginning to be troublesome So they prepar'd an Horse and Litter and putting his Body therein caused two Fryers to convey it to his Brethren who received him with great sorrow and saw him decently interred at the Fryers in Valenciennes where afterwards the Lord Manny m Frois c. 110. buried his Father as in due place we shall see This being performed his two Brethren John and Thierry who were also half n Id. c. 49. Brethren to the Earl of Namur went to their Deceased Brothers Castle of Thine whence they made sharp War upon those of Cambray in Revenge of the Death of their Brother IV. At that time the o Frois c. 44. Lord Godmar du Fay of Normandy was Captain of Tournay and the Country thereabout the Lord of Beaujeu was Captain in Mortagne on the Skell at the Consines of Hainault in Tournois the Seneshall of Carcasson in the Town of St. Amand on the Scarp Sr. Emeric of Poictiers in Doway and the Lord Galeas de la Bausine the Lord of Villers the Marshall of Mirepoix and Sr. Theobald of Marville in the City of Cambray All which Garrisons desired nothing more than to make an Inroad into Hainault there to rob and spoil the Country This their Desire was brought to effect by the Bishop of Cambray who being then at Paris with the King complained that the Hainalders had done him great Dammage having destroy'd and overran his Country more than any other And that the Lord John of Hainault was an apparent and known Enemy to France and the Earl his Nephew also secretly a Friend to England Whereupon King Philip as one that consider'd not how many Enemies he created to himself presently gave leave to the foresaid Garrisons of Cambresis and Tournois to make an Incursion into Hainault which they gladly did to the number of 600 Men of Arms. On a Saturday Morning they all began their March from Cambray and were met by
Marches and burnt and beat down the Mills on the River Rouelle and so came by Chartreux to their Host again But certain of their Company tarried behind at Marley to get store of Forage for their Horses Now there was a considerable Castle not far off formerly belonging to the Lord Robert of Namur in Right of the Lady Isabella his Wife who was one of the Sisters of the Present Earl of Hainault but now by exchange it was again reverted to the Earl. The Garrison within this Castle perceiving how these Frenchmen loytred thus behind their fellows in great Security and that the Army was now very far off before them made upon them a sudden and vigorous Sally wherein they slew the greater part of them recover'd all their Prey and without any loss return'd in Triumph to their Castle All this g Frois c. 47. fol. 28. while the Great Battail of the French was still on the Mount Casteres till now at last that all their Detachments were return'd from all Parts thô as we have shew'd not without loss they enter'd Consultation how they should proceed farther In the end it was resolved that since they were not sufficiently numerous to Storm so Great and Populous a City as Valenciennes they should content themselves for the present with what they had already done and so return to Cambray So that Night they reach'd Monchau and Fontaine au Tertre and the Abbey pertaining to the Lady Jane of Valois Countess Dowager of Hainault There they lodged that Night keeping good Watch as being still in the Enemies Country But the next Morning they decamped betimes some of those in the Rear upon their departure setting fire on Monchau and Fontaine together with the foresaid Abbey thô it belonged to the said Lady Jane Sister to King Philip of France This when Duke John her Nephew understood he was so displeased that he commanded those who began the Fire to be hang'd up immediately After this they burnt the Town and Castle of Tryche so lately rescued to no purpose and beat down the Mills also they set fire on Prony Romeny Thyaulx and all the plain Country between Valenciennes and Cambray Then the Duke proceeded to Escandure a strong Frontier Castle of the Earl of Hainalts standing on the River Skell the Garrison whereof had been a great Plague to the City of Cambray Sr. Gerard van Sanctius being the Captain But when the Duke of Normandy had lain before the Place six days it was deliver'd up unto him not without the Admiration of all who knew its strength and therefore vehemently suspected the Captain Sr. Gerard and an Esquire of his named Robert of Marmeaulx to have play'd the Traytors in this Matter However shortly after they both suffer'd a shamefull Death upon this account at Mons in Hainalt But the Garrison of Cambray rased the Castle to the ground conveying the Stones and Timber thereof into their own Town to help them in their Necessary Reparations IX After h Frois c. 48. this Desolation of Escandure Duke John return'd to Cambray where for the present he disbanded some of his Men and others he sent to reinforce the Garrisons of Doway Lille and other places As soon as these fresh Aids came to Doway the Garrison was so encouraged that they sent forth together with them of Lille 300 Spears whose Leaders were the Lord Lewis of Savoy Amè Earl of Geneva the Earl of Villers Sr. Galeas of Bausine the Lord of Vaurain and the Lord of Vasiers All these overran with fire and sword the fruitfull Country of Ostervandt in Hainault so that they left nothing untouch'd but the strong Castles At this the Three Brethren Captains of Bouchain were extreamly concerned as those who daily saw the fire and smoak and other ill effects of the Enemies Rage but were not strong enough to oppose it Wherefore they sent to Valenciennes to tell the Governour that if in the Night he would send forth 600 Spears to joyn him they would most certainly take a Notable Revenge upon the Frenchmen who lay scatter'd abroad without any Retiring place or shelter in the plain Country But whatever they alledged those of Valenciennes durst not stir out of the Town because the Earl had strictly enjoyn'd the contrary during his absence Wherefore the French meeting with no Opposition took great Booties and fired the Town of Nyche Descoux Escaudan Hery Monteney Senain Verlain Vargny Ambreticourt Lourge Salx Ruette Neville Lieu St. Amand and all the Villages of that Country from whence they brought off much plunder But as soon as they were return'd into Garrison those of the Garrison of Bouchain went forth and burnt a Moiety of Descon which was French and the Town of Desquerchine and all the Villages that held with France as far as to the Gates of Doway Thus on both sides were the Garrisons furnished with Men of War and daily mutual Advantages and Losses were exchanged between both Parties At the same time there was a Garrison of Germans in the Fortress of Mal-Maison which was but two Leagues from the Castle of Cambresis on the Selle being placed there by the Bishop of Cambray who held with France This Fortress on the side toward Hainault look'd directly upon Landrecy whereof the Lord of Poitrel was Captain for thô the Earl of Blois own'd it once yet on certain considerations he had lately parted with it to the Earl of Hainault before the Earl had broke with France These Germans of Mal-Maison aforesaid came one day to the Barriers of Landrecy and in sight of the Town began to drive away a great Booty of Cattle that grased thereabout The Lord of Poitrel understanding thus much Arm'd himself and all his Company and rode forth to the Rescue in the Head of his Men with his Spear in his Rest still crying after the Enemy Sirs it is a shame to fly away Now the Germans of the French side had among them an Hardy and Couragious Esquire of Almain named Albert of Colen who not enduring those biting Words immediately turn'd his Horse couched his Spear and ran furiously against the Lord of Poitrel giving him such a stroak on the Target that the Spear flew all to pieces but having presently recover'd another he redoubled his stroak with so much Fury that the Spear enter'd quite thrô his Armour into his Body just to the Heart so that the Lord Poitrel fell dead from his Horse But his Companions the Lord of Bausiers Sr. Gerard Mastin and Sr. John his Brother with their Troops renew'd the Chace against the Frenchmen so briskly that most of them were slain all the Prey rescued and their own Prisoners recover'd but a very few having the Good Fortune to escape So the Hainalders return'd again to Landrecy bringing along with them as a Qualification of their Victory the Dead Body of their Captain the Lord of Poitrel in whose place succeeded the Lord of Floron Thus various were the Rencounters between the Hainalders
and other Profits rising of the said Realm of England shall be set and dispended upon the Maintenance of the Safeguard of our said Realm of England and of our Wars of Scotland France and Gascoign and in no place elswhere during the said Wars Besides which extraordinary Grant of the Lords and Commons the Clergy also at the Motion of the Archbishop freely gave unto the King a Tenth Here also because the King in his Style was called King of France and had alter'd his Arms whereby his Subjects might think themselves in danger of becoming a Province to France that being the greater Kingdom the Kings Letters Patents of Indemnity were granted beginning d Vid. Statute Book 1 Vol. p. 82 Edvardus c. Edward by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all those who these Letters shall hear or see Greeting Know ye that whereas some People do think that by reason that the Realm of France is devolved unto Us as Right Heir of the same and forasmuch as We be King of France our Realm of England should be in Subjection to the King and Realm of France in time to come We having regard to the Estate of our Realm of England and namely that it never was nor ought to be in Subjection nor in the Obeisance of the Kings of France which for the time have been nor of the Realm of France And willing to provide for the Safety and Defence of the said Realm of England and of our Liege People of the same do will and grant and establish for Us and for our Heirs and Successors by Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons of our Realm of England in this our present Parliament summon'd at Westminster the Wednesday next after the Sunday in Midlent the xiv Year of our said Reign of our Realm of England and the First of France that by the cause or colour of this that We be King of France and that the said Realm to Us pertaineth as afore is said or that We cause Our Selves to be named King of France in our Stile or that We have changed our Seals or our Arms nor for Commands which We have made or hereafter shall make as King of France neither our said Realm of England or the People of the same of what Estate or Condition they be shall not in any time to come be put in Subjection or in Obeisance of Us nor of our Heirs nor Successors as Kings of France as aforesaid nor be subject nor obedient but shall be free and quit of all manner of Subjection and Obeisance aforesaid as they were wont to be in the time of our Progenitors Kings of England for ever In Witness whereof c. Certain Bishops and Lords require of his Majesty to be saved harmless for those great Summs of Money wherewith they stood bound on the Kings Behalf to the Duke of Brabant in case the Duke of Cornwall should not Marry with the Daughter of the said Duke which Request was granted and all with the Letters Patents aforesaid was enrolled in the Chancery The Petitions also of the Clergy by Assent were made into a Statute beginning Edvardus c. and enrolled as above After this certain fit Persons there named were appointed for several Affairs some to hold Debate of matters concerning Flanders some to speak with the Merchants touching Exchange to Brussels and to confer with the Merchants of England some to dilate with Priors Aliens of which we shall speak more hereafter others to advise touching the Defence of the North Marches others to treat about the Affairs of Gascoign and others how best to preserve the Islands and the Sea-coasts As to the Keeping of the Peace and performing of Covenants between the Duke of Brabant and Others on the Kings Behalf that was all to be debated in the Kings own Presence Concerning the raising of Money that was refer'd to the Commons But because the Taxes last granted were not duly answer'd to the King by those who had been entrusted with the Care thereof Certain Persons were now appointed to take the Accounts of Sr. William de la Pole Sr. John Charnells and Paul de Monteflore and Others who had received Money Wooll and other Goods to the Kings Use Whereupon Sr. William de la Pole and the Rest had Day given them to shew their Accompts each of them finding their sufficient Sureties The Earl of Derby and the Lord Wake were Sureties for Sr. William the same Earl of Darby and the Lord John Montgomery for Sr. John Charnells John Lord Dacres and Reginald Lord Cobham Sr. John Shareshull and Sr. John Stradling stood for Paul de Monteflore Sr. John Sturmy and Sr. John Charnells were bound for William Welchborne and the Earl of Huntington engaged for Pierce Dyme and other Merchants of Barton Thereupon the Parliament was Protogued till Wednesday in Easter Week then ensuing At which time certain were appointed to sit on Petitions had before the King When also the Bishops at the Kings Request promised never to dissent from the Kings Promise made for the Customs of Wooll but by Common Assent of Parliament A Motion to remember to Repeal a Commission made to Sr. Robert Waterford of the e Appâ—ser M.S. Opposer in the Exchequer Also to remember to respit the Prior of St. Dennis near Southampton and of Southwick from paying of the Tenths and Fifteenths And to direct a Commission to Sr. Robert Popham to be Sheriff of Southampton during the Kings Pleasure It is Enacted that the King may with the Assent of his Allies make any reasonable Peace In this Parliament in f M.S. Sr. R. Cotton ibid. Dagd 2 Vol. p 113. consideration of the many Good Services done by the Marquess of Juliers the King made him Earl of Cambridge and gave him in Fee a 1000 l. per annum till he could provide for him so much of Hereditaments Whence it appears that the Learned Antiquary g Cambden Brit. Mr. Cambden was mistaken who says that King Edward the Third for the Love he bore to Queen Philippa his Consort created the Lord John of Hainault her Uncle Earl of Cambridge And that upon his Revolt to the French he devested him thereof and conferr'd it upon William Marquess of Juliers Sisters Son to that Queen Whereas the said Lord John was not now nor of some Years after Revolted to the French as We shall shew in due place so that he could not yet forfeit with Edward nor is there any thing at all in Our publique Records that may give the least Countenance to this Assertion of that Famous Man as the Diligent Sr. William Dugdale acknowledges Whereas it is most Evident that at this time the Marquess of Juliers was created Earl of Cambridge as We have shewn But We have not made this Observation upon so Great and Venerable a Person out of Envy or Ostentation rather thrô love of Truth alone and to infer
thereby that if such Mighty Men may sometimes trip if after all Our Diligence We also are found Tardy the Candid Reader would reckon it to the account of Our frail Humanity But to return h M. S. ibid. Sr Rob. Cotton c. It was also now Enacted that Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall should in the Absence of the King his Father be Custos or Warden of England and that the Archbishop of Canterbury the Earls of Lancaster Warwick and Huntington taking for their Direction such Justiceers as they should think fitting should attend on him and be of his Council That the Charter by Writs do pay the Merchants of Barton and Lynn for their Purvey of Corn. Such Merchants Denizens as by Writ were to appear are commanded to attend the Day after the Ascension Pardons shall be made to Sr. Robert Joice and William Claxton Pierce Tiliol and Simon Rokeby of all Debts The like to be made to Thomas Brookhall for Thirty two Tunns of i Pouder Powder As to the Affairs relating to Scotland We shall still defer to speak till a more convenient occasion which will soon offer it self That We may not by dividing the Story distract the Reader Only in short We shall here remember that the Scots this mean while taking Advantage of King Edward's being occupied in Foreign Affairs had begun to struggle for their Liberty with such Success that King Bailiol was fain to Retire into England as well for his own safety as to require Succour against his Importunate Enemies the Bruceans However as yet King Edward saw no such great Matter as might Oblige him to make a Personal Expedition that way for they fought rather by Craft and Surprise than by plain and open force Wherefore he still resolves Himself for France only in this Parliament takes Care beforehand thus to provide for Scotland k M. S. p. 32. § 41. 14 Ed. 3. Gilbert Vmphraville Earl of Angos the Lord Henry Piercy Ralph Lord Nevill the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth the Lord John l Malè ibi Greygrave vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 675. Segrave undertook altogether to set forth for Scotland at their own Costs 210 Men of Arms and 220 Archers The Lord John Moubray whom Hector m Hujus Operis l. 1. c. 5. §. 3. p. 67. as we observed before asserts to have been slain 8 Years agone being now sound and well again for all that was n Dudg 1 Vol. p. 127. constituted in this Parliament Governour of Barwick upon Tweed being retained by Indenture to continue there from the First of May then next ensuing for one whole Year having for Defence thereof 120 Men of Arms one Hundred Halberdeers or Hobelers and 200 Archers of the which he was to provide of his own proper Retinue sixty Men at Arms whereof Ten to be Knights beside twenty Hobelers and o M. S. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton c. Vbi tamen 40 Archers sed 60 apud Dugd. sixty Archers and the King to find the Rest Of all which number it appears that there were three p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. Bannerets and ten Knights and that One Thousand Nine Hundred Eighty Nine Pounds five Shillings being due unto the said Lord Moubray by those Covenants Dr. Richard Bury Bishop of Durham with two great Barons of the North Henry Lord Piercy and Ralph Lord Nevill were commanded to take Care for the Payment thereof Besides he was to have an Hundred q M. S. ibid. §. 46. Sr Râ—â— Cotton c. Pounds Imprest to help to furnish him At the same time the Lord William Felton r M. S. Sr. Rob. ibid. who was Governour now of Roxborough Castle and had been so Å¿ Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. ever since the Eleventh of this King was charged with 60 Men at Arms â—50 Halberdeers and 50 Archers to ride in Company of those Lords that were to Defend the Marches besides 36 Men of Arms and 40 Halberdeers for the Defence of his own Castle King Bailiol only t M.S. Sr. Rob. ibid. undertook to find but 20 Men of Arms for he was reduced so low now that among other Methods for his Supply the King of England was fain to grant him toward the Maintenance of his Estate u §. 44. together with the Mannor of Hexlisham Three Hundred Pounds per annum out of the Desmes within the Diocess of York during the vacancy of that Archbishoprick For to the Establishing of the Credit of this M.S. so often by me Cited which agrees notwithstanding exactly with that Abridgement of the Records of Sr. Robert Cotton set forth by Mr. William Prynne we are to understand x Godwin Catal. Bps of York 42 43. p. 599. Obâ—â—t 5th April that Dr. William Melton Archbishop of York was now lately to wit in the beginning of April Deceased and for this and other Reasons we find that See kept void in the Kings Hands about two Years But this by the by Now besides all the foremention'd Preparations y M.S. Sr. Rob. ibid. the Lord William Roos of Hamlake Ralph Lord Bulmer the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Henry Fitz-Hugh and the Lord Adam Welles were to set forth to the Wars of Scotland 550 Men. The Valiant Sr. Thomas Rokeby of whose being Knighted we spake z L. 1. c. 1. § 6. p. 12. in the beginning of this Our History undertakes for such a certain number of Souldiers in time of Peace and for a Greater in time of War for the Defence of the Castles of Edinburgh and Striveling a M.S. c. ibid. A Commission was order'd to be made to Mr. John Burden Parson of Rothbury in Northumberland to be Chamberlain of Barwick during the Kings Pleasure his Yearly Fee being one Hundred Marks and that Robert Turchill who had been both Chamberlain and Victualler with one Hundred Marks Fee should have only fifty Marks Fee. It is agreed that every One who is of Power and Ability shall be ready upon Warning to go forth toward the North-Marches That no Victuals be carried by Sea out of England into Scotland and that a Commission be made to the Earl of Angos the Lords Piercy and Nevill or any two of them to set forth the Arrays of Yorkshire Nottingham Darby and Northumberland to punish all Rebels and Disobedient to determine of all Trespasses done in Northumberland and the Kings Lands in Scotland to receive any Person to the Kings Peace or Pardon and to grant a Truce The like Commission to be made to the Lord Wake the Lord Anthony Lucy and Sr. Pierce Tiliol whereof the said Anthony to be one of the West-Marches The Bishop of Lincoln is order'd to pass the Seas with the King and to be of his Council and Provision of Victuals appointed to be made at Southampton and Sandwich for the Kings Navy And thus all things being fairly Established for the Defence of the Realm on that
and rode to the Town of Orchies which was taken and burnt for it was not greatly fortifi'd many other petty Towns they burnt also and overran the whole Country after which they return'd to the Army before Tournay with much Pillage and Booty The Flemmings that lay at the Siege were ever the most Obstinate of all others in molesting the Besieged as well thrô the Encouragement of their Leader Jacob van Arteveld as because the hope of Gaining their Cautionary Towns of Lille Bethun and Doway depended chiefly upon the Success against Tournay at this time One Assault among the rest endured with great Pertinacy on both sides for one whole day without any Intermission during which space many notable Adventures happen'd for the Chief of the Captains and Men of Arms in Tournay came to that part the Fury of the Besiegers flaming there most terribly For they came by Water in Ships and other Vessels brought thither for that purpose intending to break down the Barriers and the Postern of the great Arch. But it was so resolutely defended that the Flemmings wan nothing for all their Labour but after all having lost a Vessel with sixscore Men in her which were every Man drown'd they were forced to give over the Assault being all Weary and soundly Beaten Many Adventures happen'd in the time of this Siege all which cannot be here enumerated but some Particulars must not be omitted in so general and full an History as this is On Land they had high Stages and Belfroys of Timber in manner of Batteries from whence the Archers would shoot upon the Defendants while others fought at the Walls and Barriers But Tournay was sufficiently provided and that King Edward knew well and therefore resolv'd to reduce them by Famine When the Captains within saw his Design they thrust out of the Town all manner of poor People Men Women and Children that were not fit for War to make their Provision hold out the longer being to serve fewer Mouths They were put forth thus inhumanely in the open day expos'd to the Enemies Discretion which was a most pitifull Object to behold But the Noble Duke of Brabant gave them all leave to pass thrô his Host allowing them moreover a safe Conduct to carry them to Arras where at that time the French King lay It was thought that secretly the Duke of Brabant favour'd the French either for fear of what might follow or out of Natural Inclination which surmounted his Private Quarrel against King Philip or t Villani Mezeray 2 Par. 3 Tem. p. 17. thrô Bribes or out of Envy to King Edwards Good Fortune or out of meer Inconstancy But however this Action he did not at this time without the Consent of the King of England V. u Frois c. 56. Du Chesne p. 652. B. King Philip had now in Order to Raise this Siege amassed together a Mighty Army the Chief Leaders whereof were John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh the Duke of Lorrain the Earl of Bar the Bishop of Metz the Bishop of Liege and the Bishop of Verdun upon the Meuse the Earl of Monbiliard the Lord John of Chalons the Earl of Geneva the Earl of Savoy and the Lord Lewis his Brother All these came to serve the French King with their several Troops Thither also came John de Dreux Duke of Bretagne the Dukes of Burbon and Athens the Earls of Alenson Forestes and Armagnac Lewis de Cressy Earl of Elanders Guy Castillion Earl of Blois with his Eldest Son the Lord Charles who is to make a considerable Figure in this History the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord of Coucy and many others of the Highest Quality Thither also came x Mezeray p. 2◠Philip the King of Navarre with a goodly Number of Men of War raised in those Countries which he held of the French King and for which he was obliged to serve him with such and such a Quota Lastly there was King David de Bruce of Scotland who led a handsome Number of Gallant Scotch Gentlemen and other Troops which he had hired with Money deliver'd unto him by King Philip to maintain his Estate withall during his Exile from Scotland While the French King lay with this great Army at Arras in Artois the poor People that had been excluded out of Tournay came thither and by their heavy Complaints mov'd the hearts of all Men to pity giving also y Du Chesne p. 652. b. advise to King Philip of the great Necessity of the Besieged In whose name they desired speedy Succour for else they were in danger to be lost the English assailed them so mightily and their stock of Provision was so extreamly wasted Hereupon King Philip sent thither the Duke of Athens the Viscount of Thoüars the Viscount of Andelot and other Lords to the number of 15 with a Detachment of 12000 z Fabian p. 21. ◠Men of War. These marched directly to Mount Cassel but they found it already taken up by a Body of Flemings So that being disappointed of that Convenient Post and knowing themselves unable to make their way by Force upon Consultation had they wheel'd off from Cassel and having done what harm they could in the Enemies Land return'd to the French King who was still at Arras They found him then in Consultation whether he had best in Person attempt to raise the Siege from before Tournay or go into Flanders and there make War upon the Towns that held with the King of England But it was resolved by a Council of War that it would be most for his Honour for him to endeavour Personally to raise the Siege and this being fully concluded on King Philip immediatly began his March toward Tournay with a mighty Power of his Allies and Men of War drain'd from several a Mezeray p. 17 Garrisons the like whereof for Number had b Walsing◠hist p. 135. n. 1◠never been seen in those Days among whom were c Fabian ibid. Four Kings Four Dukes and Fourteen Earls besides Viscounts Lords Knights and Esquires With this Army he went from Arras till he came to a d Frois c. 57. little River below Lille about 3 leagues from Tournay Where he found the Water so deep and the Ground so uncertain great Marishes lying all about that there was no way to pass but one which could admit of not more than two or three Horsemen on a Breast Wherefore not knowing how soon an Enemy might appear King Philip durst not adventure to pass the River but lay that night at a place called Pont a e Fabian p. 215. Bouvines The next Day the Army lay still in the same place as yet uncertain what course to take and while certain Horsemen were sent out to seek for a more convenient Passage Others advised to fling several Bridges over the River but that was found impracticable Those who had been sent out to search return'd to the King
telling him that his only best way would be by the Bridge of Cressin and this way was resolv'd on but however he tarried a while where he was before to consider more maturely of the safest and most honourable Management of his Affairs VI. Now when it was nois'd abroad that King Philip lay encamped with so great an Army between the Bridges of Cressin and Bouvines with intent to give the King of England Battle before Tournay every Man of Honour that either expected Glory or Prey drew to one King or the other as their Duty or Affection and Interest led them * Frois c. 57. Du Chesne p. 652. D. Among the rest there were in the Castle of Bouchain in Ostervandt three valiant Captains all Brethren and Germans that held for the Earl of Hainalt and consequently for the King of England When these Knights heard for certain how the two Kings were so near encamped that in all likelihood they would not part without Battle then Two of them desired the Third to stay behind for defence of the Fortress while they went to the Camp before Tournay to King Edwards Service The Matter was soon agreed on and the two Knights whose Names were Courrat departed from Bouchain and rode forth till they came to Escaupont beside Valenciennes designing to pass the River Skell at Condet When they were now between Escaupont and Fresnes they heard a great Tumult and Noise of Men and saw some flying in great fear to them ward Wherefore the two Brethren asked the foremost of them What might be the matter that they fled in such Confusion In the Name of God Sirs said they the Garrison of Mortaign yonder hath issued out upon us and having already done much mischief and slain and taken many People they are now returning with a great Booty to their Fortress Then the Brethren asked if they could shew them where these Frenchmen were and they said Yes So the Knights pursued after them by direction of these poor Countrymen being themselves * Frois Du Chesne ibid. 27 Spears in all and they overtook the Frenchmen hard by Nostre Dame Aux-Bois The French consisted of an 120 who were driving before them an 100 head of great Cattle and certain Prisoners Men of the Country Their Captain being a valiant Knight of Burgundy named Sr. John de Frolois who belonged to the Lord of Beaujeu at that time Governour of Mortaign As soon as the Germans saw these Men thy cri'd their accustomed Cries and rode in fiercely among them with great Courage The Knight of Burgundy set himself valiantly to receive them and some few of his Men with him but the greater Part fled down right they were so surprised with this unexpected Onset Wherefore Sr. John de Frolois after a short Resistance was taken Prisoner and all his Men either taken or cut in pieces for even those that fled were so eagerly pursued either by the Germans or those of the Country that not one escaped Thus all the Prisoners were deliver'd and all the Prey recover'd and rendred back to the Owners And the two valiant Brethren came before Tournay where they were Welcome to their Friends In this same season while the French King lay encamped at the Bridge of Bouvines William Lord of Bailleul in Hainalt and the Lord Vauslart de la Croix the same h Frois â—u Chesâ—e ibid. vid. c. 15. § 7. p. 168. German Knight who left the Earl of Salisbury when he was taken Prisoner for fear of the Men of Lille whom he had exasperated by his Hostilities these two encouraged a Party of Hainalders to venture along with them to go and rouse the French Army for they said they knew all the Avenues of the Country and that they would bring them to such a place where they should not be much overnumbred So very early one Morning they left the Camp to the number of about Sixscore Knights and Esquires and rode directly toward the Bridge of Cressin the Lord William Bailleul being appointed their Chief to whose Banner upon Occasion they were all to repair Now that same Morning it chanced that a certain Number of the Bishop of Liege's Men had rode forth from the French Camp under the Conduct of Sr. Robert Bailleul who was Brother to this Lord William Bailleul but held to the Contrary Party The Leigeois had already passed the Bridge of Cressin and were seeking Forage for their Horses and some further Adventure if they might But what of themselves they could not find Fortune offer'd into their Hands presenting them with a Success which they could not wish for For it being a very misty Morning the Hainalders passed beyond them and went over the Bridge on the other side neither Party having yet the least knowledge of other a man being hardly able to see the length of a Spear before him When the Hainalders were all over 't was resolv'd that the Lord William Bailleul should tarry there with his Banner and fourty Spears on the Bridge to secure the Retreat of the rest who were to adventure farther under the Conduct of Sr. Vauflart de la Croix Sr. Ralph de Monceaux and Sr. John Verchin These consisting of Fourscore Spears rode so far that they dash'd in upon the Troops of the King of Bohemia and the Bishop of Leige who were encamped nearest to that Bridge just at which time the Lord of Rademach who had kept Watch the latter part of that Night was going off from Duty for it was about seven of the Clock These Hainalders made a great Confusion and did some Mischief but the Army began to stir presently and to draw that way in good Order whereupon they retired again toward the Bridge with the Luxemburgers and Liegeois at their Heels Then was the Lord William Bailleul advised to repass the Bridge and expect his Men on the other side because they were so closely pursued that there would be much confusion if the Bridge was not clear at their Return Sr. William leaving them space accordingly the Hainalders repassed after him thô not without some difficulty their Captains being fain to place the best Men in the Reer who were yet much prest upon by the French. The Lord Vauflart de la Croix particularly staid so long behind in hopes to bring off his Men that being intercepted he saw plainly there was no possibility for him to recover the Bridge Wherefore with much ado getting out of the preass he took a way well known to him down among the Marches where he thought to lie hid among the Reeds and Rushes till night and so to escape The rest of his Friends fighting still at the Bridge with no great Advantage At which time Sr. Robert Bailleul who held on the French Part being allarum'd with the noise of the Scufflle came thither on the Hainalders Backs with his Banner before him when the Hainalders saw the Banner of Murrians they verily took it for the Lord William's who
Tournay and St. Omers a Parliament by Commission from the King was held at Westminster Å¿ M.S. Record Parl. p. 36. Sr Rob. Cotton p. 27. c. on the Wednesday next after the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr The Reasons of their meeting being declared to be 1. To consult what further course was best for the King and his Allies to take with France 2. To provide for the Common Peace and how to keep good Order at home 3. To take Care for the Defence of the Northern Parts 4. For the Dominion at Sea. 5. How to Answer the King the Subsidy last granted him The next day was openly declared in Parliament the great Victory which the King had lately obtain'd at Sea And that to go on so as to perfect these happy beginnings he must be further enabled with supplies of Money The answer to which was respited till Saturday then next ensuing At which time the Lords and Commons granted unto his Majesty as in the last Preceding Parliament the Ninth of their Corn Wooll and Lambs and many Carefull Proviso's were made for the Answering the same On this Saturday came in the Earl of Arundel and Sr. William Trussel who were sent from the King with Credential Letters under the Privy Seal directed to the Lords and Commons purporting his great Victory and no less necessity of speedy Returns of Money By which Letters among other things it appears that the King got the said Victory on St. John's Day in the Water of Swine in the Port there That the Kings Allies had carried him about Tournay with 100 Men and that Sr. Robert of Artois had carried him at St. Omers with 5 Men. The said Letters which are at large in the Records conclude with the fear of much Damage but especially loss of Honour to the King without a speedy and undelayed Assistance requiring their further Credit in the Bearers for what they should say After this certain Bishops and Knights as John Stratford Bishop of Canterbury Ralph Stratford Bishop of London Ralph de Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells Simon Montagu t Godwin Catal. Bps. p. 268. Brother to the Earl of Salisbury Bishop of Ely Robert Wyvill Bishop of Salisbury with the Abbots of Waltham of the Holy Cross and of Westminster Sr. Ralph Shirley and other Knights there named freely undertook at their own Credit to spare the King 20000 Sacks of Wooll every Sack to be sold five Marks under the Price rated at Nottingham So as for every Sack of the best sort the King should be answer'd six pounds for others five pounds and for the worst of all four Marks besides his Custom of 40 shillings for every Sack and of all this present Return to be made to the King. And it was order'd that the Subsidy of the next Year should be employ'd for the Payment of these Woolls and this to be confirmed by the Kings Letters Patents Provision is order'd to be made for the King two Parts at Sandwich and the Third at Southampton of Wheat two Thousand Quarters of Beans and Pease five Hundred Quarters of Bacon eight Hundred Flitches fourty Weighs of Cheese and an Hundred Tunns of Wine Ambrose de Newburgh being appointed Purveyor General for Sandwich and Sr. John Hothersall at Southampton and 4400 l. were Assign'd out of the Aid of Essex and Oxford to the Kings Butler Such Parsons of Churches as pay their Tenths shall be excus'd now from paying their Ninths The Sheriff of Southampton is appointed to Repair to the Constable of Carisbrook Castle in the Isle of Wight and there together with him to Muster the Islanders and to choose a Keeper of the Isle till further Order Others being nominated to make the like Enquiry on this side Trent A Writ of Warrant was now directed to the Sheriff of York to deliver up the Body of u Hector p. 322 n. 75. John Randal Earl of Murray to the Bishop of Durham the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill They to do with him according to their Commission Order'd that Priors Aliens and others who have their Possessions in Farm of the King shall pay no Ninths as neither such Hospitals as have not heretofore been Taxed A Writ to gather no Ninths of any Religious Person who pays his Desme and was not summon'd to the Parliament untill Michaelmas next It was further Order'd that every Sheriff by Writ should cause certain Merchants of every City and Town within their Bailywick to appear before the Kings Council at such a Day and that Proclamation be made that no Person Presume to buy any Wooll till the King be served whereunto those of the Custom-house to have a strict Regard It was also Enacted that the 20000 Wooll-Sacks granted to the King shall be taken in whose hands soever they shall be found or Agreement to be made therefore of the two Payments of the Ninths The Merchants of Barton and Yarmouth upon Security of the Ninths of several Counties mention'd in the Records Engage to pay to several of the Kings Creditors beyond the Seas the Summe of 28555. 15 s. 2 d. and that certain of the Kings Jewels lying in Pawn therefore should be redeemed Sr. William de la Pole undertakes for his Complement of Wooll or in Consideration of the first Ninth in Suffolk to pay to the King before Michaelmas Three Hundred Marks beyond the Seas Now of these Merchants that appeared before the Council Henry Goldbeater Thomas Grey William Lancaster and John Lodington take 1500 Sacks of Wooll within the County of York they to pay to the King for every Sack 4 Pounds ten Shillings besides the Custom of 40 s. within three Weeks So Bardolph Barton Merchant of Hull and Thomas Thirwit Merchant of Beverley take a 1000 Sacks half from Nottingham and half from Darby the first 500 at four Pounds thirteen Shillings and four pence per Sack besides the usual Custom of 40 s. and the latter 500 at three Pounds three Shillings and four pence in like manner So also Thomas Loveshead William Mallestroit and William Bambridge Merchants of York take 400 Sacks out of Cumberland and Westmorland at 4 Marks per Sack besides the Custom Walter Priest of Melton-Moubray and Hugh Cogshall Merchants of Barton upon Humber agree for 500 Sacks of Leicester for 8 Marks per Sack and an 100 of Rutland for 4 l. 10 s. per Sack besides the Custom Thomas Collis Richard Weston and Adam Hone and John Retoun have 400 Sacks of Shropshire for six Pounds six and eight pence the Sack and 400 out of Staffordshire for Twenty Shillings less by the Sack besides the Custom Then New Writs were sent to the Sheriffs to summon in more Merchants before the Council because they had still more Sacks to dispose of Now also 500 Sacks of the Woolls of Gloucester were Assign'd to Queen Philipps toward the Payment of her Debts Which was a Matter not the least acceptable to the King who always lov'd her
unto the dispose of our Lord the Pope especially the Lords Cardinals being his Assistants the greater Part of whom and in a manner all are Natives of the Kingdom of France or there Beneficed either in their own Persons or in the Persons of their Nephews and have Revenues as well in Temporals as Spirituals and of whom a great part publiquely make against him as to the Affair now in Hand I should in Answer thereto declare the Good Will which our Lord the Pope hath particularly to the Person of the Lord the King and his Kingdom and that in such Matters not concerning the Church and its Patrimony he is not wont to require the Counsel of the Cardinals And in this Affair if it should be refer'd to him he would not care to require Counsel of others Besides this the Pope exhorted those of the Privy Council to both Kings to perswade them unto Peace particularly to the English Lords among other things he wrote thus We desire and require and exhort You all in the Lord that having before Your eyes God alone to whom all Hearts are open and all desires are known and from whom no secret is hid as to such and such hazardous Matters concerning as is premised the state of all Christendom what You shall with Good and Right Consciences believe to be wholsome profitable and expedient to the said King his Weal Honour and Profit and also to Christendom aforesaid You would endeavour to perswade and advise him Dat. Avin VII Kal. Septemb. Ano. Pontificatûs nostri VI. But all this had signified little to King Edward who was sensible of the Loss he always suffer'd by these Treaties which were then most vigorously offer'd when some Great Advantage was in his Hands had not there been a Lady of High Quality and Wonderfull Vertue and Piety whose Tears and Prayers could not be lost upon a Man whose heart was acquainted with Pity This was the Lady Å¿ Frois c. 63. Jane of Valois Countess Dowager of Hainault Holland and Zealand Sister-German to King Philip and own Mother to Philippa Queen of England Who since the Death of her Husband William the Good late Earl of Haâ—nault had withdrawn her self from the World and entred the Abbey of Fontaine au Tertre resolving there to spend the Residue of her Life in Works of Charity and Devotion This Pious Lady as the Greek Poets Report of Jocasta when Polynices and Eteocles were prepared for Battle and as our t Warner's Albion's England l. 3. c. 16. p. 73. English Poets Relate of the Mother of Belinus and Brennus two Brittish Princes when they were ready by unbrotherly War to decide the Right of a Kingdom went assiduously with great Zeal and Diligence between the two Kings humbly kneeling to the King of France her Brother whose Haughty and Resolute Temper she well knew and sweetly like a Vertuous Mother intermixing with her Son-in-Law King Edward Commands and Prayers and moving Tears and convincing Arguments at the same time labouring with the Duke of Brabant whose Son was to have Married one of her Daughters but for a Trick of King Philips and also with her Son-in-Law the Marquess of Juliers and with her late Husbands Brother the Lord John of Hainalt to joyn with her to move King Edward to accept of a Truce thô never so short At last by the Aid and Counsel of the Lord Lewis D'Augemont who was equally acceptable to both Parties she so far prevail'd that both the Kings agreed to send to a certain Place 4 or 5 Commissioners a piece to propose and consider of some Moderate and Equal Way to decide the Matter For which Treaty a Truce was to be had for three Days the said Persons the Commissioners from both Parties to Meet and Treat each day about the Premises in a little Church or Chappel standing in the Fields of Spetelin On Saturday the 23d. of September there came accordingly to the Place appointed on the French Part the Venerable Old Prince John King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl of Armagnac on the English Part came John Duke of Brabant Henry Bishop of Lincoln Reginald Duke of Gueldre William Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord Beaumont All these at their first Meeting in the Chappel aforesaid began u Frois c. 63. with many Mutual Salutations and endearing Caresses as if they had been sworn Friends all their Lives Thence they fell upon the Mater in Hand and began to Propound and to Weigh divers Offers and Concessions and all the while the Incomparable Lady Jane of Valois was by earnestly entreating them for Godsake to lay aside all Prejudice and only to consider the Publique Good and the Weal of Christendom and be ready to accept of what should seem just and indifferent But for the first Day there was little or no Advancement made However they brake up with a Mutual Promise to Meet again at such an Hour the next Morning and in Conformity to the Day to dispose themselves towards the Entertainment of Unity and Peace Accordingly they Met and did at last unanimously Agree on certain Articles and Methods but not being able to draw them up at that time and to Compleat the whole Affair as it ought to be they deferred the Consummation of all till the last Day So being all Met again the Third Day they fully Agreed to hold inviolably a Truce for them and their Allies till the Feast of St. John Baptist following during which Term x Freis c. 63. fol. 35. certain Commissioners on both sides were to be sent to Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send certain Cardinals all these being to consult together about a Full Ratification of a Final Peace between the two Kings The Form of the Truce was this John y Knighton p. 2578. n. 44. Atouz ceur que cestez presentez lettrez verrent cue cieront Jean par la Grace c. by the Grace of God King of Bohemia and Earl of Luxemburgh Adolph Bishop of Liege Reginald Duke of Lorrain Amè Earl of Savoy and John Earl 〈◊〉 Armagnac to all who shall see or hear these present Letters Greeting Be it known unto all that a Truce is given and confirmed between the High and Mighty Princes the Kings of France and of England for Them and for all their Friends by the Assent of the High and Mighty Lords the Duke of Brabant the Duke of Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers and Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont on the one Party and of Us and of every of Us above-written on the other Party By vertue of Power delegated to Us and to those abovenamed from the said Kings So that we have drawn up Affiances with our own Hands between the said Kings their Friends and Allies whosoever they be to endure to both Parties from this time untill
the Nativity of St. John Baptist next ensuing and all that Day till the next Morning at Sun-rise in manner and form following that is to say 1. That z Knighton p. ibid. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 348 Du Chesne p. 653. c. during the said Truce no evil Will or Mistrust of either Party of it self shall be prejudicial to the said Truce and Respit 2. Item That during the said Truce either of the said Princes their Helpers Coadjutors and Allies whosoever shall remain in such Possession and Seisin as they have at this Time of all Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold and have conquer'd howsoever 3. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce the said Princes their Aiders Coadjutors and Allies may safely go from one Country to another and all Merchants with all their Merchandise and all manner of their Subjects with their Goods and Purveyances as well by Land as by Sea and by Water freely as they were wont in the times of the Ancestors of the said Kings only paying therefore the Customes anciently used Except such banish'd Men or any of them as have been banished out of the said Realms for other Causes than the Wars between the said Princes But that the Barons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy of Guienne and other Persons of Gascoign and of the Dutchy that are banished may be comprised in this Truce so as freely to come and go from one Country to another during the said Truce 4. Item It is accorded that the said two Kings shall not procure nor cause to be procured either by Themselves or by any Other that any new Practice or Grievance be made by the Bishop of Rome or Others belonging to Holy Church whatsoever upon or against either of the said Kings their Coadjutors or Allies or upon their Lands or Subjects by Occasion of the said War or any other Cause nor for Services which the said Allies or Coadjutors have done to the said Kings or either of Them. And that if our Holy Father the Pope or any Other will do against the Premises the two Kings shall hinder him or them to their Power without any fraud during the said Truce 5. Item That the Truce be immediatly proclaim'd in both the Hosts that all who know and hear it may be obliged to keep and observe it 6. Item It is agreed that within 20 Days to begin from this day either of the Kings shall cause to be proclaim'd in Gascoign and the Dutchy of Aquitaine in the Lands which they hold the Articles of this Truce that they may be known and understood 7. Item It is agreed that if by either of the said Kings their Subjects Coadjutors or Allies any Siege be laid in Gascoign in the Dutchy of Aquitain or in the Isles of the Sea in Garnsey or Jersey the same Sieges shall be raised as soon as this Truce shall come to their Cognizance And that a This is omitted in Fos who also varies not a little from the Original French both here and elsewhere c. Fourteen Persons to wit Seven for each of the Kings shall enter every Town Castle and Fortress where the Sieges shall be and shall view their Store of Provision both of Men and Victuals to the intent that on the Day when the Truce shall end the said Towns Castles and Fortresses shall remain and be furnished with the like Number of Men and the like Quantity of Victuals as at first they were found to be by the foresaid fourteen Persons 8. Item It is accorded that the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders that have been on the Part of the King of France b Here the old French a little imperfect shall not return during the Truce and if they do they shall forfeit all the Goods they have in Flanders 9. Item It is accorded that during the said Truce all Prisoners taken in this War shall be released from their Prisons upon their Faith and Oath to return thither again if they shall not be ransomed within the term of the said Truce so as if the said Prisoners shall deny in their due times to return themselves back to Prison the said Truce failing that then upon the failure of every Prisoner his Lord shall constrain him to come and make restitution of his Person So that the Levies which were made before this Truce in time of War whether they be Goods Spiritual or otherwise shall remain without making Restitution during the Truce 10. Item It is agreed that a Truce be forthwith taken between the English and the Scots their Aiders and Allies untill the Feast of St. John Baptist aforesaid And that certain Persons shall be deputed by the said Parties to be at a certain Day on the Marches of England and Scotland to vouch and stand to the said Truce c Frois c. 63. fol. 35. But if the Scots or any other of the Allies on either Side shall refuse to admit of this Truce let them be at their own Choice however France Picardy Burgundy Bretagn and Normandy shall be bound to this Peace without any Exception So that during the Truce however the Scots shall obtain no manner of Aid or Reinforcement from the French. 11. Item It is accorded that this Truce shall be proclaimed in England and Scotland within 26 Days after the Date of these Letters 12. Item it is accorded that within this Truce shall be included and comprised the Spaniard the Catalaunian the Genouese the Provincial the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray and the Castles in Cambresis as also the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac Gaston Lord of Lille the Lord of Tricouleon Sr. John Vernon and the Lord of Roye In Witness whereof We the foresaid John King of Bohemia c. on the one Party and on the other B. A. Dom. Lit. have Sealed this Instrument of Truce and Peace and deliver'd the same accordingly in the Church of Spetelin on Monday the 25 of September in the Year of Grace MCCCXL d Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 912. Besides there was at this time Consideration taken of the Flemings the Summ of Mony wherein they stood bound to the Pope and the French King being now released unto them And as by King Philips means they had before been Excommunicated so now at his Request the Interdict was repealed and they again received into the Bosom of the Church Lewis Earl of Flanders being thereupon restored to his Country It was moreover at this Treaty e Freis c. 63. fol. 35. resolv'd that either Party should send four or five Persons as their Commissioners to meet at Arras whither also the Bishop of Rome was to send 2 more who all together were to consult in order to a full Confirmation of the Peace between the Two Kings XII The Contents of this Truce were immediately proclaimed in both Armies whereof the Brabanders especially were wonderfull glad For they came at first but with an ill Will to
which he always had and hath to undertake this Holy Expedition offer'd to be ready to undertake the said Expedition with him and to grant a reasonable and final Truce to the Scots on that Condition that the said Lord Philip would faithfully promise him after their Return to do him full Justice as to the Dutchy But he despising and rejecting Conditions so reasonable nay more than reasonable answer'd That he would do nothing untill he had given unto all the Scots as well those that were Living as unto the Heirs of the Dead full Satisfaction for all Places which in his time he had by force taken in Scotland And when the Messengers of our said Lord the King answer'd that as to that Point they were not empower'd nor did they believe how their said Lord the King would do it the Lord Philip answered in these Words It will never be well untill there be one King of both the Realms of France and England This the Lord Arch-bishop of Canterbury declared publiquely before a great Number of Prelates Earls Barons and Others Our Lord the King hearing these things being then come to Years of Discretion caused a Parliament to be called wherein by the Advice and Consent of all the Prelates Earls Parons and other Nobles and of the Commons there present and especially of the said Lord of Canterbury particularly insisting thereupon it was Ordained that since by the way of Humility he could not obtain Peace and by the Sentence and Decision of the Doctors and Advocates as well of the Court of Rome as of the Students of Paris and Oxford and others and also of all the more Expert and Famous Prelates of England with whom he had caused his Right to be carefully discussed the said Kingdom of France by the Death of his Uncle the Lord Charles last King of France of Famous Memory was Lawfully by Right of Succession devolved unto him as the next Heir Male He should take Care effectually to prosecute even by a strong Hand his foresaid Right And that this he might do more securely and secretly there were sworn there to the Lords Canterbury Lincoln London Salisbury Litchfield and many other Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles Peers of the Realm upon the Cross of the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury aforesaid Also among other things it was Ordained that the Alliances should be made in Almaine which are now made and that the Lord Bishop of Lincoln taking unto him certain Noblemen of England should be constituted Agent for the perfecting those Alliances aforesaid Who by Ordinance of the said Parliament and by the Command of our said Lord the King being so obliged accepted the same Office of Agent and brought it to effect Which done our said Lord the King in pursuance of the Counsel aforesaid passed the Sea and wasted certain Parts of the Realm of France with an Army of his own and of certain his Allies Afterwards the Winter Season approaching our said Lord the King being Returned into England heard that there was a great Fleet of Ships prepared on the Sea for a sudden Invasion of him and his Who by the Counsel of his Friends his then Assistants and principally of the foresaid Lord Canterbury speedily prepared himself to scour the Seas and expos'd himself to go over without Provision of Money or Horses chiefly upon Confidence of the said Lord Canterbury who had promised within certain and few days to send him Money enough And passing the Seas he found his Enemies upon the Sea near the Haven where he designed to Land and obtain'd that Victory which God gave him Who afterwards taking Land on Confidence of the foresaid promise with a Mighty Multitude of Armed Men Besieged the City of Tournay and there having sat a great while destitute of all Aid of Money althô at the Importunate Instance of many yet in very deed being forced by the only failure of Money he consented to take a Truce as being in the greatest Danger and utmost point of Necessity since as he said he had not all the time of the Siege received one Penny out of England and further unfolding his Opinion against the said Archbishop he said these Words I verily believe that the Archbishop would that for want of Money I had been ruin'd and slain And further he hath privately said to me such things of my Wife and on the other Hand hath said to my Wife such things of me for which if he had been credited he had provoked Us to such Mutual Discord that there would have been a perpetual Division between Us. Truly Holy Father our Lord the King hath often remembred all those things touching the Lord Archbishop to me William Norwich as well apart as before others of his Council and strictly enjoyn'd me upon Oath that I should fully and faithfully Report them to your Holiness Those things most Holy Father namely that our Lord the King consented to a Truce for want of Money and what Relates to the Lord Archbishop if it please You may be kept secret All the rest may be made Publick At the same time these Negotiators declared King Edward's Resolutions in these Words Most Holy Father and Lord that He may particularly and nakedly open his Mind to your Clemency he signifies unto your Holiness that he Challenges and intends to Challenge the whole Realm of France as Lawfully due and devolved unto him by Hereditary Right But for the Reverence of You and of the Apostolick See and to avoid the Perils which in all probability will happen by continuance of the Wars he is ready to Treat of Peace and to consent to a Good Peace but so as that in the Treaty of Peace to be made consideration be had as to the Right proportionable unto him in the said Kingdom and not only as to the Dutchy because with the whole Dutchy alone althô free from all Service and Subjection of any One he intends not to be contented And moreover because your Holiness being Highly sollicitous for the Reformation of Peace have offer'd your self by your Letters to Labour in your own Person at the Apostolick-Seat if the Deputies of the Parties be therefore sent to your Court or by others as it may be Honestly and Profitably done our Lord the King out of his great Confidence and Devout Reverence consents that this may be in your Holinesses choice These were King Edward's peremptory Demands so that there appear'd no way of a Final Agreement Nay it was to be expected that King Philip upon hearing thereof would be inflam'd the more Wherefore the Pope advis'd him to be more moderate in his Demands for the King of France was so far from granting thus much that in his k Extant apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 38. Letters to the Pope he only gave him Liberty to declare a Restitution of those Lands of Aquitain which had been Won by his Father Charles of Valois in the time of Charles IV. When King
England whom we shall shortly bring home with the King her Husband was soon m Walsingh hist p. 135. after in the Tower of London deliver'd of a Fair Daughter named Blanch who to temper King Edwards Felicities unfortunately died before she was weaned and lies buried at Westminster CHAPTER the EIGHTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward in great Displeasure comes privately over into England where he displaces and imprisons several of his Chief Ministers of State. II. His Quarrel with the Archbishop with the full State of the whole Case in Epitome III. The Archbishop's Letter to the King. IV. The Archbishop's Letter to the Lord Chancellour V. His Remonstrance to the King and his Council VI. His Letter to the Bishop of London VII His Articles of Excommunication which he publishes over all his Province VIII A Copy of the King's Letters to the Bishop of London in Defence of his Proceedings against the Archbishop IX The Archbishops Answer to the King wherein he defends himself against all his Objections X. The King's Reply to the Archbishop's Defence which he sends to all the Suffragans of that Province with absolute Command to obey the Archbishop in nothing contrary to his Pleasure wherein we shall find a notable Instance even in those Times of the King's Supremacy and Jealousie of his Rights and Royal Prerogatives XI The Particulars of a Parliament at Westminster wherein at the last the Archbishop upon his Submission is fully pardon'd and received into Favour I. WE said before that upon the Truce taken before Tournay King Edward went to Gaunt and how thence he returned into England But now we are to take up that Thread again and so to proceed in a further Discourse of his Affairs While a Holingshead Engl. Chron. p. 912. b. he lay at Gaunt Lewis Earl of Flanders being now by vertue of the Truce restored to his Country came thither to visit him And for several Days he made great Cheer to him and his Queen caressing and entertaining them with magnificent Feasts and Banquets But King Edward took small Delight in such matters now his Mind ran upon the Mony which he dayly expected from England to pay off his Debts contracted beyond Sea which having long look'd for in vain pretending b Stow p. 237. that he would ride abroad for his Pleasure he went suddenly into Zealand where he took Ship privately with only his Queen and Eight more Persons of Quality in his Company designing for England But upon the Sea he met with a Storm which for three days together tossed him too and fro with great fury to the utter hazard of his Person It is said c Grafton p. 247. Fabian p. 216. that the Tempest was rais'd by certain Necromancers of France who purpos'd thereby to destroy him or at least to cool his Courage from passing the Seas any more Whatever was the Occasion this is certain that as if King Edward had been only destin'd for the Kingdom of France which he so greatly desired it seem'd fatal for him always in his Passage thither to have calm Seas and Wind at will but in his Return all things contrary so that often he endur'd many great Losses and Shipwrecks And this was his Fate while his Fortune stood fair but when he began to decline he found the Wind so contrary to him that by no means he could once set his Foot more in France However now at last this storm being happily abated on the third Night being d 30 Novem. St. Andrews he arrived safe at shoar and landed at the Tower of London about the Cock-crow The Lords that came with him and the Queen were the Earl of Northampton the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord John Darcy the Lord Guy Beauchamp Eldest Son to the Earl of Warwick with the Lord John Beauchamp his Uncle and two Chaplains which were also his Secretaries Dr. William Killesby and Dr. William Weston with their Servants only Upon the King's entring the Tower he found there no Guard ready but only his Children and three Servants waiting on them Wherefore in great e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. Anger he sent for the Lord Nicolas de la Beche Constable of the Tower and committed him to Prison in the said place As also he served at the same time Andrew Aubry Lord Mayor of London the Lord Thomas Wake Sr. John St. Paul Keeper of the great Seal Sr. John Stonore Lord Chief Justice of the Kings Bench Michael Wath Henry Stratford and Robert Chickwell Clerks of the Chancery and Philip Thorp Clerk of the Exchequer All whom he sent for and imprison'd as he had done also to the Archbishop of Canterbury if he could have got him After this in several Parts of the Kingdom he caused to be taken and clapt up in divers Prisons Sr. John Poltney Alderman of London Sr. William de la Pole Baron of his Exchequer Sr. William Shareshull one of the Justices of the Kings Bench Sr. Richard Willoughby Deputy Lord Chief Justice Sr. John Shardelow and Sr. Thomas Ferrers Thô within a while after the Lord Wake was deliver'd with Honour having no Fault fix'd upon him The City of London during the Imprisonment of their Mayor was at the Kings Command govern'd by a Bayliff as will appear hereafter As for Dr. f Philipot's Catal Chancell Treas p. 34. Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester who was then Lord Chancellour of England and Robert Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield then Lord Treasurer he immediately discharged them of their Offices threatning to send them into Flanders there to lie as Pledges for Money which he owed or if they refus'd to go to lay them in prison in the Tower. But upon the Bishop of Chichester's Remonstrance to him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 912. that he would then be in danger to incure the Penalty of Pope Clements Canon De non incarcerandis Episcopis he relented and let them go free thô deprived of their Offices Sr. Robert h Philipot's ibid. p. 34. 38. Bourchier succeeding in the Place of Lord Chancellour and Sr. Richard Saddington in that of Treasurer and Dr. Killesby in the Place of Privy Seal Sr. John St. Paul the late Keeper being also discharged All the Sheriffs also of Shires and other Publique Officers were at this time removed and new ones put in their Places And certain Justices were appointed to enquire into the Faults of Collectors and other Officers concerned in the Gathering the Taxes so that few or none escaped unpunished so strictly these New Justices proceeded in their Commissions As for the i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 146. b. Lord John Molins a Great and Noble Baron of the Realm the incensed Prince in the heat of his Displeasure flang his Body into Prison and seised all his Lands into his own Hands which thereupon were committed to the custody of Sr. John Eldred his Offence having been judged
no less than Rebellion Thô six years after the King being appeas'd he was again received into Favour and restoration of all his Lands made unto him The Archbishop of Cantorbury had surely felt as hard Measure as any of them if not worse But by meer chance he was then gone from Lambeth and when he understood what indignation he had incurr'd wisely kept aloof till the Storm was over As we shall shew at large hereafter Certainly k Holinshead ibid. p. 913. at this time the Kings Mind was beyond Measure exasperated against those whom he had intrusted to levy Monies here in England and to send it over to him into Flanders Because thrô their Neglect when he was just upon the point of obtaining Tournay he was forced to accept of a Dishonourable Truce as Himself complains in his Letters which we shall see by and by And truly 't was a great Pity if thrô the Avarice Fraud or Treason of his Officers at home these things happen'd thus For he was thereby enforced as it were to consent to lose the fairest Opportunity and to let a certain Victory slip thrô his Fingers even then when his Friends were yet uncorrupted and in Presence And verily I doubt not but this was an Occasion which made the Emperour and the Lords of Germany for the most part to fall off from him shortly after Because they saw his Money come in so slowly at this great Exigence Wherefore not unreasonably doth honest Walsingham l Walsingh hist p. 135. n. 25. bemoan That so Worthy a Prince should from his own Subjects find such unworthy Dealing For as he truly adds if in very deed they had scann'd and exactly weigh'd with themselves the Acts of all the English Kings from the First Monarch to that Day they would not have found that ever this Island brought forth a Prince of such Mature Vertue at so unripe an Age he not having compleated 28 Years II. Now that we may State the Archbishops Case Right We are to take Notice that as he was at first a great Promoter of the Wars with France so lately m Antiq. Brit. p. 223. c. by the Perswasions and Threats of the Pope he was brought over to be at least cold in the Affair Whereby he mightily incensed the Minds of all Men against him who abhorr'd this Weakness and Inconstancy These things being known while King Edward lay before Tournay Henry Burwash then Bishop of Lincoln and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Lord Chief Justice who both when living secretly maligned the Archbishop inflam'd the Kings Mind more vehemently against him and laid to his Charge no less than flat Treason and that he had Conspired with the French King. Upon these Presumptions and urg'd by his Necessities the King as we shew'd came Incognito into England and Landed about One in the Morning at the Tower of London without the least Rumour or Suspicion any where gather'd of his Arrival There a Council of those about him being held it was at last resolv'd that the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Chichester Chancellour of England and the Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield Treasurer with others abovenamed being forthwith taken up by the Kings Guard and Officers into Custody should be brought before the King to render an Account of what they had done in his Absence In the Morning early certain of the Guard were at Lambeth but the Archbishop by chance had gone thence the day before Whereupon the Officers returning over the Water to London took up the Bishops of Chichester and Coventry with the rest abovenamed and brought them away to the Tower. This being nois'd abroad the Archbishop hies him to Canterbury but is follow'd by Sr. Nicolas Cantilupe who being sent by the King together with one John Faringdon a Publique Notary to Register Notes of what should be done with the Archbishop in the Kings Name warn'd the said Archbishop That whereas he had bound himself to Foreign Merchants under Penalty of forfeiting his Goods to see such Summs of Money paid as the King had borrow'd for the Maintenance of his Wars and that the King being disappointed of those Moneys for the receiving whereof he had put his entire Confidence in him had met with an Interruption in his Warlike Affairs and the Kings Army with the Lords of the Realm there present had been reduced to a want of things Necessary for War He would now either presently pay that Money to those Creditors who perpetually call'd upon the King and his Lords or would go into Flanders there to Answer the Creditors in Foreign Court and deliver himself up into their Custody till the whole Summ for which he had bound himself should be discharged This Message being thus deliver'd the Knight in presence of the Notary demanded an Answer The Archbishop said that he must deliberate in Matters of that Moment before he could give in his Reply whereupon the Knight withdrew And now when the Archbishop saw how he was not only in Danger of losing all his Fortunes but also his Life and Good Name he began roundly to deal with the King by his Letters advising him to take unto him better Counsellors to beware of Flatterers and Misreporters of other Mens Lives and Actions and being engaged in Wars abroad not to disturb the Peace at home But when by these Letters and other Suasory means he could not pacifie the King he began from the Pulpit to Preach unto the People concerning his Integrity and Fidelity both to the King and Kingdom Insomuch that having call'd an Assembly of the Clergy and Layety together in the Metropolitan Church of Canterbury he took his Text out of the n Ecclesiasticus c. 48. v. 12. Apocryphal Scriptures Non pertimuit Principem Potentiâ nemo vicit eum And here in a long and various Drscourse he commended Thomas Becket once Archbishop of Canterbury who withdrew himself from Secular Affairs to the Government of his Church But he blamed himself for that laying aside the Care of his Flock he had been wholly taken up in Menaging the Kings Affairs The Punishment whereof he declared with Tears that for his Merits towards the King and Kingdom being brought into Envy and Danger of Death he now most justly suffer'd But for the future he promised to be more Diligent in the Government of his Province Sermon being thus ended he published certain Articles of Excommunication intending thereby to Guard himself from the Kings Power with the Dreadfull Ceremony of Bell Book and Candle the Bells Ringing Dolefully and the Candles being suddenly Extinguished with a Stench In these Articles all such were Excommunicated as should disturb the Peace and Tranquillity of the King and Kingdom all Layicks who should lay Violent Hands on the Persons Lands Goods or Houses of Clergymen all those who should violate the Liberties of the Church all who by any device should lessen the Privileges granted to the Barons in Magna Charta all who should raise
that of the Wise Man g g Ecclus c. 11. v. 5. Many Tyrants have sat on the Throne and a Man unthought on hath wore the Diadem The Sword being thus in the Hands of Madmen not thrô any proud Arrogance or Disobedience but by wisely * * Currenti cedende Furori yielding to the Course of Fury we have hitherto defer'd our Access to You that just Fear excusing us which might fall upon the most Resolute being notwithstanding ready to obey your Majesty in all things the Honour of God and of Holy Church and of our own State and Order being always in all points preserved But truly in the mean while during the Power of these Tyrants to the rooting out whereof let Him that ariseth from on high vouchsafe to assist You that the word of the Wise Man may be fulfilled h h Wisd c. 16. v. 4. For it was requisite that upon them exercising Tyranny should come Penury which they could not avoid Lest the clamour of our Infamy should grow higher to the manifesting of our Innocence we answer to the Articles contained in those Letters or infamous Libels not sophistically but truly in form following viz. For the Beginning of your foresaid Letters The Archbishops Answer to the first Article or of the foresaid infamous Libell being full of Reproach containeth That your Majesty being formerly exalted to the Royal Throne in the Years of your tender Youth and desiring at your first Vndertaking that Princely Charge to be directed by wholesom Counsel did make use of our Spiritual Advice in matters concerning the Health of your Soul and also of our Temporal in Affairs relating to the Augmentation and Conservation of your Kingdom And that afterwards when by Right of Succession the Realm of France was devolved unto You and by the Lord Philip of Valois de facto manifestly usurped we perswaded You by our Importunities to make a League with the Lords of Almain and Others for the Recovery of your Right and that You should only take care to provide Men of Courage and Skill sufficient for the War because we would effectually supply you with Monies for the Necessities of You and Yours and for Wages for the Army And because You altogether wanted this due Assistance you were fain to submit to the heavy burthen of Vsury To these things most Excellent Prince even thô we hold our Tongues and speak not a word the notoriety of the Fact knows how to give a fit Answer For in the beginning of your Reign while we presided over the Church of Winchester by whose Counsel your Majesty was directed is known to the whole Kingdom For He who is ignorant of nothing knows that when the Question about the Kingdom of France after the Death of King Charles the Brother of your Serene Mother i i Vid. l. 1. c. 2. §. 2. p. 28. was handled and discussed in the Parliament then held at Northampton and it was thereupon ordained that the Bishops of Worcester then now of Winchester and of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and in your Name claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois who according to this Ordinance taking then upon them the Legation enjoyned them went into France which very Embassy gave the greatest Occasion of this present War we had at that time no concern in the Government of You or of your Youth as others had who directed You both in Spirituals and Temporals because neither as then did we any ways intermeddle in the Kings Business but remained at Court for what cause God knows hated by all the Courtiers But afterwards in times of Unity since it pleased Your Majesty that We also together with others of Your Council should confer about Your Affairs toward the Establishing of Peace between the two Realms of England and of France considering the Perils of Souls Bodies and Goods that were impending from the Devouring Gulf of War We labour'd with all Our Power and to that end frequently crossing the Sea not without many Dangers Toyls and vast Expences We together with other Prelates and divers Peers of Your Realm have sought the Personal Presence of the said Philip and have effectually offer'd him We say not Measure sufficient enough but even running over as before this it hath been known for the obtaining of Peace But the said Philip like the Deaf Adder stopping his Ears and not willing to hearken unto Us there were sent unto him on Your Part two Spiritual Ambassadors to wit the Bishop of Durham and of Worcester then now of Winchester for the obtaining of his Peace And another time the Lords Henry of blessed Memory Bishop of Lincoln and William Mountagu and William Clinton now Earls of Salisbury and of Huntingdon who yet could neither obtain Peace nor any delay from War But while the said Ambassadors were yet in the Parts beyond Sea the the said Philip of Valois presently sent divers Commissions to all his Maritime Coasts to kill and destroy the Men and Ships of England wheresoever they could be found at Sea and with all Expedition sent an Armed Band to Invade your Country of Gascoign And so the War being begun by the said Philip and not by Us according to the deliberation of Your Parliament at Westminster Summon'd on that Occasion and not on Our Account only but on the Account of the great Cruelty and Obstinacy of the Haughty Mind of the said Philip who Invaded the English and refus'd all manner of Agreement and for the obtaining of Your Right in the Realm of France which was wickedly Usurped by the said Philip it was Ordained and Agreed that an Alliance should be struck up with the Almains and others But as for the Wages in this part to be paid to Your Forces in a certain Council then for that end called at Stamford there were certain Agreements made with certain Merchants of Your Land We being present the Form whereof may plainly appear in Your Chancery Which if they had been observed together with other Subsidies given by the Clergy and People to the Aid of Your War and the great Customs of Woolls not only in our Opinion but in the Judgement of all Your Counsellours would have sufficed for this whole War. And Your Majesty well knows that the foresaid Agreements were neither Violated nor Changed by Us and that the Subsidies by no means came to our Hands If then any Misfortune happen'd for want of Money for which We are sorry this is to be wholly imputed to those who brake the said Agreements and wickedly wasted and embesel'd the said Subsidies and not to Us who bore the Burthen and Heat of the Day and especially for this Cause that after Your first Crossing the Seas We have made no long abode in this Kingdom But with the Reverend Fathers the Lords Cardinals and the Bishop of Durham We went into France for the Reformation of the
Generals we answer generally that according to the discretion given unto us by God being in your Offices we always faithfully served your Royal Majesty and in our Actions gave you in our judgment sound Counsel To prodigal Donations or unlawfull Alienations or excessive Largesses or Relaxations of great Sums of Money due unto You unless upon good Reasons by you done neither thrô Bribery Hate Love or Favour yielding fallaciously any Assent but to our Power conserving your Honour and Interest in the Premises and all other Matters And because sundry times we stiffly withstood several Donations and Relaxations we often went away with small Thanks from the Kings Servants and Others And if particularly any thing had been made out as to each of the Premises we should have given a particular Answer agreeable to God and the Truth For at present it doth not occurr to our Memory that your Royal Highness hath made any extraordinary Donations we being present and knowing those onely excepted which unto certain Earls lately by You first made by Consent of solemn Parliament then held in your Royal Palace at Westminster You of your Royal Bounty gave Which then we believed and yet do not to have been done to the Kings Prejudice but to make for your Interest and Honour For the Experience of things teaches what rank they held for You and your Realm and how much they have suffer'd and do suffer at present But as for any Excessive Largesses or Relaxations of the Kings Liberality made we remember not at present unless your Majesty would have us understand it of one Relaxation made to a Debtor even to all your People of England in your last Parliament You being present conven'd at Westminster Which Grace on that occasion was granted by the Assent of the King and of the whole Parliament on consideration of a greater Advantage thereby accruing to You viz. that the Community of the Land should grant You a Ninth aforesaid nor would the Community have otherwise assented to give the Subsidy of the said Ninth Which latter Instance where Reason sways ought not to be imputed unto us But when the said Generals are declared more particularly as the Law requires we will give in our Answer to what shall be so declared distinct enough And yet one thing we shall not here omit which we wonder that it should be objected against us namely that we have applied unto the use of us and of our Friends the Kings Rents and Revenues For the just Judge sitting in Heaven knows that hitherto we never appli'd any of the Kings Lands Rents or Profits to our selves or ours nor ever intended to apply them But in the Affairs of You and of your Father and Grandfather for whom we have crossed the Seas 30 times and have often gone to and fro for Scotland and in other your Employs we have spent so much of our own that of our Purses it may be said as above in your Letters it is repeated Here a little and there a little For from the beginning of the Wars to this present day we have received nothing at all from the Kings Exchequer except 300 l. And so the Evil design'd against us is remembred but our Labours Expences and Gratitude are utterly forgotten of all Men. u u Job c. 6. v. 2. Therefore I may say with Job Oh! that my sins were throughly weighed and my Calamity laid in the Balances together surely this would appear heavier than the sand of the Sea. As for Acceptors of Persons truly God is our Witness we never were but desirous always to prefer the Kings Will we placed and caused to be placed Worthy Persons in Publique Offices in whatsoever Lands or Places were subject to the Kings Government as far as Human Condition permitted us to know the Manners of Men according to the knowledge and power given us from above taking therefore Gifts or Rewards of no body And if any one will say or prove that we have taken any Gifts or Mony from any we shall be ready upon Occasion to answer all Plaintiffs or Impeachers whensoever it shall please the Kings Majesty according to the Law and Customs of the Realm the Honour of God our Estate and Order being in all things preserved Knowing most Serene Prince for certain that if we might with a safe Conscience reveal the secrets of your Council we could show openly to all the World to whom the Failing in all the Premises ought to be imputed in the just Judgment of God and all true Men. Thus much for the present may suffice as to the said infamous Libel and I wish that for your Majesties Honour it had never been written and published which althô at the first view it seems to bespatter and wound our Reputation yet things being seriously consider'd as they ought to be and the Writings therein contained weighed in a just Scrutiny those Men cannot avoid the blot of Treason to the King and Kingdom who dictated this Libel or thereto gave their Counsel and Consent or reported the Contents thereof to our Injury or published them to our Infamy Which may your Royal Majesty vouchsafe with an Upright Heart to consider whom may that King by whom x x Prov. c. 18. v. 15. Kings reign and Princes decree Justice vouchsafe to preserve in Health and in his own Love. Amen This notable and artificial Letter the Archbishop wrote in a strain agreeable to the Times sometimes standing stiffly upon his Pontifical Authority and the sacred Liberties of the Church sometimes humbly conceding the Regal Power always full of submissive Courage which was fomented by his Innocence or Dignity But all these Arts could neither frighten nor mollifie the Kings Exasperated Mind yet so that he presently followed it with this Reply which he sent as an Antidote against the Archbishops Insinuations to all the Bishops and Clergy of that Province X. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland To the Bishops Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiastical Persons of the Province of Canterbury Greeting The Wound of Hearts Pride which always soareth aloft doth often turn the Remedy to a Disease and the Physick to Poison And this is proved by the presumptuous Arrogance of John Archbishop of Canterbury who when lately he had publiquely Preached and commanded to be Published in several places of great Resort sundry sinister Matters concerning Us and Ours as more fully is contained in our Excusatory Letters to You and others thereupon directed now heaping up more heavy Injuries to his former endeavours to intimate to our Liege People that Our Excuses which We provided to heal the Wounds of Our Dignity and Royal Fame are not true and with Exquisite Engines to batter them and by New Letters lately sent to You and others with a slanderous Pen and lying Style more grievously and freely to defame them And thô it be the Custom of Popes Cardinals and Inferior Prelates to
were forsworn throughout the Land. Then they shew'd how several of the Clergy were imprison'd by the Kings Officers without due Process and that therefore they may be deliver'd To which the King answer'd That he intended not any Clergyman should be attached against Law and that he would be ready to hear if any was in that Manner Imprison'd either against Magna Charta or the Statute of Northampton They complain'd further that several of the Kings Officers had entred divers Religious Houses and have by Oath extorted a Confession of things deposited in those Houses and them so found have carried away The King answer'd that he would not his Officers should do thus But that if Laymen to defraud Him do conceal their Goods in such places then the Privilege should not avail For so the King is wronged On Saturday following the King thus answer'd the Petition of the Lords which Petition was That Magna Charta might in all points be observed so as such Persons who are neither appealed nor indited nor presented at the Suit of any and yet have their Goods Lands or Possessions taken away may be restored thereto again R. The King granteth for Him and his Heirs for ever that if any Person commit any Act contrary to the form of Magna Charta or any other Good Law he shall be lyable to answer it in Parliament or else where he ought by Law. The same answer he gave the Commons whose further Petitions with their Respective Answers follow Com. That the Chancellor and other Officers of State there named in the Records may upon their Entrance into the said Offices be sworn to observe the Laws of the Land and Magna Charta K. The King willeth the same Com. That every Man for Debts due to the Kings Ancestors may have therefore Charters of Pardon of Course out of the Chancery K. The King granteth Com. That Certain by Commission may hear the Accounts of those who have received Woolls Monies or other Aid for the King and that the same may be enrolled in the Chancery K. It pleaseth the King so as the Treasurer and Lord Chief Baron may be joyned in the Commission Com. That the Ordinance made at Northampton That Men of evil Life and Conversation should be attached may be repealed Because on Pretence thereof many Honest Men have been arrested K. The King doth revoke it Com. That many Commissions whereby sundry Men have been fined outragiously by the Commissioners may be revoked and New ones granted to Others K. The King is pleased that the same shall be done in the Presence of Him of the Lords and certain of the Commons Com. That the Chancellor and all other Officers there named may be chosen in open Parliament they at the same time to be openly sworn to observe the Laws aforesaid K. The King yieldeth onely thus much that if any such Office by the Death or other Failure of the Incumbent become void the Choice to remain solely in the King he taking therein the Assent of his Council but that every such Officer shall be sworn at the next Parliament according to the Petition and that every Parliament following the King shall resume into his Hands all such Offices so as the said Officers shall be left liable to answer all Objections Hereupon at the request of the whole Three Estates made unto the King these Articles were Statutes as on the Back of the Roll doth appear Which Statutes with the Conditions were after read before the King his Officers being present as the Chancellor Treasurer Justices of both Benches Steward of the King's Chamber and Others all which Officers were sworn on the Cross of Canterbury to perform the same Only the Chancellor Treasurer and certain of the Justices refused the said Oath as being repugnant to their former Oath and the Laws of the Realm However for that time the Statutes and Conditions aforesaid together with the Commissions to enquire after Oppressions were exemplified under the Great Seal and deliver'd to the Lords and Commons Althô afterwards the King judging them to entrench upon his Prerogative Royal and consequently to be in themselves illegal did absolutely revoke and annull them declaring them void and of no force Because the King before Michaelmas then next ensuing was to transport 20000 Sacks of Wooll it was at this time provided that no Subject should before that time pass over any Wooll on peril of treble Loss viz. of Wooll Life and Member Also that during the War with France the King may charge Religious Aliens Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester the Lord Robert Wake and Sr. Robert Sodington were appointed to proportion the Wooll according to the Assesment of the Fifteenth lately made by the direction of such as had perfect Knowledge of each County Which particular Rates being accordingly made were deliver'd and enter'd upon Roll in Chancery and thereupon Commissions issued out for Collecting the same And this is all I thought fit to observe of this Parliament they that would know more may have recourse to the Printed Books of Statutes which in this Year agree exactly with the Record except in one Point touching the Revocation of the Statute aforesaid to which some Officers would not agree thô in the n Statute Book 15 Ed. 3. p. 85. Print it is set here there is no mention in the Record Nor is it likely that it was Revoked till two Years after as the o Ed. 3.17 n. 23. Revocation of a Statute Record places it As to what Sr. Robert Cotton observes immediately before that there is no mention of the Revocation of the Statutes aforesaid in the Record of this Year but for that he refers Us to the Seventeenth of this King it is to be noted that indeed the Statutes aforesaid were not revoked during this Session for then they were made and that in a Parliamentary way they were not revoked till the time fixed by him viz. the 17 of Ed. 3. But that shortly after according to the Printed Book of Statutes the King of his meer Prerogative without any Parliament only by Advice of his Council did abrogate what formerly he had as he judg'd unadvisedly Enacted and this being done this Year was two Years after confirmed by Act of Parliament But for the Rarity of the Case I shall subjoyn the Form of the Kings Revocation which is this EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to N. N. Sheriff of Lincoln Greeting Whereas at Our Parliament Summoned at Westminster in the XV of Easter last past Certain Articles expresly contrary to the Laws and Customs of our Realm of England and to our Prerogatives and Rights Royal were pretended to be granted by Us by the manner of a Statute We considering how that by the Bond of our Oath We be bound to the Observance and Defence of such Laws Customs Rights and Prerogatives and Providently Willing to Revoke those things which be so improvidently done to
Personal harm saying further Sr. Henry if you can bring this about I shall love you the better for it whilest I live Presently he had his 500 Men allotted him with whom he rode forth before the Army and toward the Evening arrived before Hennebond When the Captain Sr. Oliver Penfort heard and saw and knew that his Brother was there supposing he came with that force to his Assistance he immediately open'd the Gates and received him with all his Men himself hasting forward joyfully to salute him in the street When Sr. Henry saw him he hasted forward to meet him and taking him suddenly by the Arm for the first Complement said Brother Oliver now You are my Prisoner How so cry'd his Brother amazed Did I put my Confidence in your Kindness expecting you were come to my Assistance in defence of this place and am I now deceived Brother reply'd Sr. Henry the matter is nothing so I am come hither to take Possession of this Town and Castle for my Lord the Earl of Montford who is now Duke of Bretagne and follows us just at our heels To him I have made fealty and Homage and the greater part of the Country obeys him as You also are like to do now But surely it were better for You to do it of choice than by compulsion and You will receive more thanks for your pains for the Duke is a Gracious Prince I 'll assure you Upon these and the like Words together with the Consideration of his present Condition Sr. Oliver presently consented and so the Earl without one stroke given or taken was admitted into Hennebond where he set a good Garrison Thence he marched with all his Army to Vannes another considerable City which after a small Treaty upon Fame of his Success open'd her Gates and received him for her Soveraign Lord. Here having in three days time Established all manner of Officers and given necessary Orders he went thence and laid Siege to a strong Castle called la Roche Bernard on the other side the Vilaine whereof Sr. Oliver Clisson Cosin German to the Lord Clisson was Captain The Siege here lasted ten days but the place was too strong to be won by force and neither threats nor promises could work upon the Governour Wherefore the Earl thought fit to rise thence for the present and go and attempt the Castle of Auray about 10 Leagues Westward from la Roche Bernard and very considerable for its strength and scituation it standing on an Arm of the Morbihan between Vannes and Blavet The Captain thereof at that time was the Lord Geoffry de Malestroit who had with him another Valiant Knight Named Sr. John de Triguier The Earl gave them two notable Attacks which they as worthily sustained so that when he saw he might lose more there than he could hope to win he thought to try them by fair means and so gave them a Truce for one Day at the Request and Advice of the Lord Henry du Leon who was always near him This short time Sr. Henry made so good use of that by his fair Words and Perswasions they were content to hold the Castle for the Earl John and to yield him their Homage as their True and Lawfull Lord. This done the Earl left them still Captains of the place and the Country about and then passed forth to another strong Castle called Gony en la Forest which they prepared to Assault The Captain thereof saw well what great forces the Earl had with him and how in a manner all the Country fainted before him so that by the perswasion of Sr. Henry du Leon with whom the Captain had kept good Company formerly in the Holy War in Prussia and Granada and other Foreign Parts he was at last contented to keep that place for the Earls behoof for the future to whom he then made his Homage After this the Earl went to Karhais whereof at that time a Bishop who was Uncle to Sr. Henry du Leon was Governour But he by means of his Nephew was brought off to own the Earl for his Lord till some other should come who could shew more Right to that Dutchy VI. Thus Earl m Frois c. 68. John conquer'd almost whereever he went and seriously took upon him the State and Title of Duke of Bretagne but by Advice of his Council he was perswaded to have recourse to some Powerfull Protector that upon occasion might uphold him against the French King who doubtless would take the Part of his Nephew Charles of Blois Having therefore bestow'd his Men about in Garrisons and provided sufficiently for the Defence of his Country he took shipping for England with some of his Chief Lords in his Company and arrived safe at a Port in Cornwall where upon Enquiry understanding that King Edward was at Windsor thither he went and was very welcome to the King Queen and Lords of England There he declared to the King and his Council How he had taken Possession of the Dutchy of Bretagne devolved unto him by Right of Succession upon the Death of his Elder Brother the late Duke But that he feared lest the Lord Charles of Blois by help of his Uncle the French King would at last force him from his Right Wherefore he said He was come thither to receive and to hold that Dukedom of the King of England as true King of France and his Soveraign Lord by Fealty and Homage for him and his Heirs for ever Desiring him to Defend him in his Quarrel against the French King or whosoever else should molest him about that Matter King Edward consider'd that his War with France should be much furthered by the Accession of so great a Prince and that there was no way more Commodious for him to pass into France than by Bretagne especially remembring that the Germans and Brabandens had done him small or no service but had made him spend much Money to little purpose and that now since the Emperour whose Letters he had just then received was also fallen off there would be little good done for him by any Lords of the Empire upon these Reasons He readily condescended to the Earl of Montford's Request and then and there received Homage of him as Duke of Bretagne Which done in Presence of all the Lords as well English as Bretons that were there he promised to Aid Defend and Sustain him as his Liegeman against either the French King or any other whatsoever This Homage and this Promise being interchangeably Sealed and deliver'd the King and Queen presented the Earl and his Company with such great Gifts and so Royally entertain'd them that they accounted King Edward to be a most Noble Prince and Worthy to Reign in much Prosperity After this the Earl took his leave of England and arrived in short space at an Haven in lower Bretagne whence he went to Nantes to his Lady who applauded his League with England as likely to be of most Advantage to his Affairs But
but they judg'd this sadness to proceed not from Love but from this that he had missed of the Scots his Enemies In the k Frois ibid. Morning however the King arose early resolving forthwith to follow after the Scots and to chase them out of his Realm Accordingly having taken leave of the Lady he put himself in the head of his Army and went after the Scots till he came to Barwick from whence afterward he proceeded till he encamped within four Leagues of the Forest of Gedeours whereinto King David was entred with all his Forces in confidence of that Impassable Wilderness For three days together King Edward lay there to see whether the Scots would come forth and give him Battle All this while there were divers skirmishes between the two Armies and several were slain and taken interchangeably on both sides thô the greater share of the loss fell to the Scots But Sr. William Douglas was the Man among them that did most harm to the English His Arms at that time are said to have been Azure a Chevron Argent Thô after upon the Encrease of the Honour of that House the Douglasses as * Vid. c. 4. §. 2. p. 57. We said before took the bloody Heart for their Arms in memory of Sr. James Douglas the Author of their Nobility who died in Spain as he was carrying King Roberts Heart to Jerusalem XXII Now for all these Skirmishes between the Scots and English during these three days l Frois c. 78. Du Chesne there were certain Noblemen on both parts who earnestly labour'd to compose matters between the two Kings And their Treaty took at last such effect that a Truce was agreed on for two Years provided the French King should give his Consent thereto For King David was so strongly confederated with King Philip that he could admit of no Peace without his Leave Which unless he should now grant then the said Truce was only to endure unto the First day of May following It was also agreed that the Earl of Murray should be quitted of his Ransom and Captivity if the King of Scots could so far prevail with the French King as that the Earl of Salisbury who was already at liberty but upon Parole should now fully be acquitted of all Obligations This Truce the King of Scots was by his Council earnestly advis'd to make that Scotland might thereby have some Breathing time to recover Strength from all its Miseries and that the Husbandmen might return to their care of the Fields which were now almost wholly neglected And King Edward for his part agreed the sooner not only because the Season of the Year began to call for a Respit but because he had Men of War at this time maintained at his charges in France in Gascogne in Ponthieu in Xaintogne in Bretagne and other Places besides his other vast Expences King David soon after by his Ambassadors persuaded King Philip to allow of this Agreement and moreover to send a Release to the Earl of Salisbury into England on sight whereof King Edward immediately return'd the Earl of Murray into his Country Only the King of France did by a caution oblige the Earl of Salisbury to pay him m Leland Câ—ll 1 Vol. p. 803. 805. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 2 Vol. p. 48. 3000 l. Sterling to boot which before he had undertaken to do for the redemption and Fees of himself and of the Lord Robert Hufford le Fitz Son to the Earl of Suffolk In consderation of all which Charges we find that a Year after the Earl of Salisbury had his Liberty his good Master King Edward allow'd him leave to transport n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. 240 Sacks of Wooll into Flanders as part of a Requital of what he had lost and suffer'd for his sake CHAPTER the TVVENTIETH The CONTENTS I. Charles of Blois layes Siege to Rennes in Bretagne II. The Countess of Monford sends for Succour to King Edward who orders the Lord Walter Manny to her Aid But he is detain'd at Sea 40 days III. The City of Rennes taken by Charles of Blois IV. He besieges the Countess in Hennebond with a notable Exploit performed by her in Person after which she is forced to ride off to Brest V. She returns again to Hennebond with a good Succour whereupon Charles of Blois leaving half the Army still there under Don Lewis of Spain goes with the other half and lays Siege to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against the Garrison of Rosternan VI. Hennebond being just on the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives the Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess VII The Lord Manny in a sally breaks the Enemies biggest Engine of Battery to pieces and gives them a brisk Camisade VIII Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois before Auray who sends him to take in Dinant In his way thither he takes Comper IX The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond X. The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who after that takes and sacks Guerande XI Auray taken by Charles of Blois XII He takes Vannes and lays Siege to Karhais XIII The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis killing 5700 of his Men the Don narrowly escaping XIV While the Lord Manny attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet takes and carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny pursues and besieges but hearing of a powerfull Succour approaching rises and goes homeward taking Gony en la Forest in the way The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement XV. Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who thereupon returns before Hennebond Don Lewis having obtain'd as a gift the disposal of the two English Knights Prisoners vows to behead them both in sight of their Friends in Hennebond XVI The Lord Manny hereupon calls a Council of War and propounds and effects the Rescue of the two Knights XVII Hereupon Charles of Blois raises his Siege again but takes Jugon by a wile XVIII A Truce taken between the Lord Charles and the Countess which latter comes to England with her Son where she is honourably received of the King. XIX The Earl of Salisbury conquering the Isle of Man is by the King of England crowned King thereof Pope Benedict the Twelfth dying is succeeded by Clement the Sixth I. WE have before given an Account of the Occasion and Beginning of the Wars in Bretagne how John Earl of Montford was taken at Nantes and deliver'd up as Prisoner to King Philip who committed him to the Louvre and that all that Winter the Lord Charles of Blois remained about Nantes intending to renew the War in the Opening of the Year Now therefore having remov'd out of the way the Matters of Scotland we shall return again to Bretagne where shortly we shall find England engag'd in a War. Early a Frois c. 79. in the Spring of this Year MCCCXLII
all the French Lords who had the Year before assisted the Lord Charles of Blois returned unto him to the City of Nantes with a great Power of Armed Men. Among them it was in a Council of War agreed that the City of Rennes upon the River of Vilaine should be first attempted as being a place of great Importance and the Seat of Parliament for the whole Province The Countess of Montford who foresaw no less had already well provided for that City having made a most loyal and couragious Gentleman of Bretagne named Sr. William Cadudal Captain thereof However the Lords of France laid their Siege to Rennes but were so well received by the Captain that they lost much more than they could win Yet still they continued there resolving one way or other to be Masters of the Place II. Upon the first News of their Return into Bretagne the Countess of Montford sent the Lord Emery Clysson into England to desire Succour of King Edward proffering her only Son and Heir in Marriage with one of the Kings Daughters who thereupon should be Dutchess of Bretagne King Edward upon this Lords Arrival was at London holding a great Feast for it was Easter whereupon most of his Chief Barons and Knights were about him When the Lord Clysson had punctually related his whole Errand the King granted his Request in contemplation of the Alliance already made and to be made between England and Bretagne Whereupon he commanded the Noble Lord Walter Manny to take with him as many Men of War as Sr. Emery thought necessary besides 5000 Select Archers at least and with all speed to cross the Seas for Bretagne in order to aid the Countess Sr. Walter Manny prepared with all Expedition and when all things were ready took the Sea with these Lords of England and of Bretagne in his company the Lords of Bretagne were Sr. Emery of Clysson the two Brethren of Lyndale Sr. Lewis and Sr. John Sr. Alan Sirefond Sr. John Hayes of Brabant and of England the Lord John b Didg 1 Vol. p. 682. Bardolph the Lord Miles Stapleton the Lord John Darcy senior Sr. John Butler and Sr. Matthew Trelauny being in all c Knighton p. 1581. n. 10. 620 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers with others For we find d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. that Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester was also there as a Volunteer under the Lord Manny with a Troop of an 100 Men of Arms himself accounted for one whereof there were befides one Banneret twenty Knights and seventy eight Esquires and these were joyned with another Troop of an 100 Archers on Horseback Here was also the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton who e Id. ibid. p. 185. had Commission to receive Fealty and Homage from the Bretons on the behalf of King Edward as King of France But thô these Succours took the Sea early enough it was almost too late before they came to the Countess for they were detained at Sea more than fourty Days by Tempests and bad Weather III. The mean while the Lord Charles of Blois who had layn some while before Rennes gave such Trouble to them within that the Citizens would gladly have Articled but Sr. William Cadudal their Captain would by no means hear of any Agreement The Besieged however when they saw that all this while there came no Succour from England nor from the Countess as they had been promised and that they had already endured much Trouble urged the Captain again more importunately to think of yielding while there was time of Mercy but he absolutely refused saying he was strong enough to hold out but if not had rather die than turn Traytor When they saw his Resolution they kept their own counsel secret and being resolved to save themselves thô without doing him any harm for they lov'd his Person for his valour Bounty and Loyalty they once by a wile train'd him from his Attendants and seising his Person cast him into Prison Then they presently agreed with Sr. Charles of Blois to yield up the Town the next Day on condition that the Captain and all those who would still hold on the Countesses side might have free leave with their Horse and Arms to depart whither they would and the rest should make Homage unto him Accordingly in the beginning of May the City was yielded up and the Lord Charles received there as Duke of Bretagne to whom all the Burgesses made their Homage and sware Fealty But Sr. William Cadudal could not be wrought upon to own him or his cause wherefore according to the Articles he had leave to depart which he did with all those of his Mind and went straight to the strong Town of Hennebond where he found the Countess who as yet had heard no News of Sr. Emery Clisson and his Fellows IV. Rennes being thus taken the Lord Charles of Blois was ſ Frois c. 80. fol. 41. l. advised to go and lay his Siege to Hennebond where the Head of the War the Countess and her Son were For said the Lords his Friends now the Earl himself your Adversary is in Prison if We might get the Countess and her Son into Our Hands the whole War would be at an end This Advice if it had been taken before they went to Rennes had in all likelihood succeeded as they wish'd For even now We shall find the Place to be almost reduc'd by that time the slow Succours came from England When the Countess understood that the French were come to Besiege her she immediately commanded an Alarum to be given with the Watch-Bell for all Men to go to their Defences And she had now with her in the Town a Competent Garrison well furnish'd with Provision Ammunition and Good Captains as the Bishop of Leon Uncle to the Lord Henry du Leon who was Revolted Sr. Pierce of Triguier the Lord of Landernear Sr. William Cadndal Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver his Brother the Governour of Guingand and many other Valiant Gentlemen When Sr. Charles came thither with his Army he encamped within a quarter of a Mile of the Town But some of his lusty young Knights and Esquires would not rest till they had try'd what Defence their Enemies could make So to the Barriers to skirmish they went and others as bold went forth to meet them The Dispute was continued very hot between them for a while but at last the Frenchmen and Genouese being overpower'd were forced to retire with considerable loss The next day Sr. Charles perfected his Siege round both the Town and Castle except where the Castle opens to the Sea for he had no Navy and then took Advice to give a fierce Assault at the Barriers which continued till Noon At which time the Assailants were compelled to draw back themselves all weary and having lost many of their Men. When the Lords of France saw their people retire thus they were no less ashamed than displeased insomuch that they all
the Daughter of St. Iewis King of France Whose Sons were put by the Crown by their Uncle Alphenso that row Keigned Odoric Raynald ad an 1344 §. 47. Lewis of Spain Nephew to King Alphonso the XI who continu'd the Siege before Hennebond had so broken and shatter'd the Walls of the Town with his Engines that the Besieged began to doubt extreamly One day among others the Pishop of Leon having had some Communication in the Camp with Sr. Henry du Leâ—s his Nephew after much arguing for the Bishop was sent forth to obtain some short respite it was at last agreed that the Bishop should endeavour to perswade them within to yield up the Town and Castle to Sr. Charles of Blois and Sr. Henry du Leon on the other side engag'd to obtain of the Lord Charles a full freedom and liberty for them all that they should receive no Damage either in Body or Goods Upon this conclusion the Bishop enter'd the Town again immediately whereupon the Countess who suspected his Errand after she had heard of his conference with Sr. Henry beg'd earnestly of the Lords and Knights who were with her in Council that for the love of God they would all take heart and hold out a little longer For she said she was confident that within three days the Succours from England would arrive But yet the Bishop spake so effectually and gave so many Reasons for what he said that all their Minds were mightily perplexed and they remain'd in doubt all that Night The next Morning they met in Council again And at last they began to agree about yielding and had accordingly then done it had Sr. Henry been near with his Forces to enter and take possession Then the Countess ran to a Window in great Agony and look'd down along the Sea from the Castle with her heart aking while her Lords were left debating of these unpleasant matters Of a sudden she leap'd for joy and cry'd out aloud I see I see the Succours of England coming There 's the Cross of St George God has heard our Prayers He has heard Us Then all the Lords and others ran to the Window and to the Walls and up to the High Tower whence they beheld a Fleet of Ships Great and Small freshly deck'd making up to the Port. They presently knew it to be the English Fleet as indeed it was and had been detain'd above 40 days at Sea by ill-weather but now happily came in the very Golden Opportunity to save the Countess and the Town Now k Frois c. 81. when the Governour of Guingand Sr. Pierce of Triguier Galeran Lord of Landerneau and other Knights of Bretagne saw these Succours coming they said to the Bishop Sir you may e'n leave off this pious Harangue about Peace for we are not at present disposed to follow your Doctrine Then said the Bishop if so Gentlemen we must e'n part Stakes For I will go to that Side which hath most Right Having so said he went out of Town and defi'd the Countess and all her Abettors and being brought to Sr. Henry du Leon shew'd him how Matters stood Sr. Henry was wonderfully displeas'd and gave Command that the very greatest of the Engines which were rais'd against the Castle should be pli'd Day and Night without ceasing And so he led his Uncle the Bishop to Don Lewis of Spain who in the Name of Sr. Charles of Blois received him kindly as well for the Accession of so considerable a Person as for Sr. Henry his Nephew's sake VII The mean while the Countess of Montford made ready Halls and Chambers to entertain the Lords and Captains of England that were coming and she sent out the Chief of her Court to welcome them in the Haven upon their Landing When they were landed she her self went forth to meet them and shew'd all along great Respect to the Captains and feasted them highly and gave them hearty Thanks and lodged all the Knights and Others at their Ease in the Castle and the Town The next day she made them a very noble Dinner in the Castle now all the night before and all that morning the great Engines cast mighty Stones against the Castle wherefore after Dinner the Lord Walter Manny who was General of all the English Forces enquired of the condition of the Town and of the Army without and having heard a full Account of all he said Surely Gentlemen I have a desire to sally out and break down this Great Engine that stands so near us if any man will follow me Then Sr. Pierce of Triguier and the Lord of Landerneau said they would not fail to follow him in this his first Adventure So they immediately arm'd themselves and went out privily at a certain Postern with 300 Archers and about 40 Men of Arms. The Archers shot so thick altogether that those who kept the Engine fled away and the Men of Arms who came after the Archers pursu'd and slew many of those that fled and then with Axes they beat down the Engine to the ground and brake it all to pieces Nor content herewith they ran in among the Tents and Lodgings that stood nearest setting Fire in divers Places and killing and wounding till the whole Army began to stirr Then they put themselves in good Order and withdrew fair and softly they of the Host running after them like Mad-men Hereupon Sr. Walter-Manny said aloud Let me never be beloved of my Lady if I refuse to take a Turn with one or two of these Pursuers And therewithall he couched his Spear and faced about to his Enemies so did the two Brethren of Landale Sr. Hayes of Brabant Sr. Pierce of Triguier and the Lord of Landerneau with the other Knights of Bretagne and of England that were there Then might have been seen a fierce Medley indeed Spears shivering to pieces Horses falling down and Men revers'd upon the Earth But those from the Camp encreasing upon the Others continually it behoved the English by little and little to endeavour to recover the Town In this bonourable Retreat it was a gallant fight to behold how here a Prisoner was taken and immediately rescued again here a Knight was unhorsed and forthwith remounted upon his Enemies Beast The Lord Walter Manny shew'd himself both a Wise Captain and a valiant Knight For all the while he fought couragiously in the Reer of his Men as he retired discreetly to the Ditches Where the Archers being planted on each Flank he made a stand with his choice Captains about him till he saw all the rest in safety By which time almost all the Men of Arms within the Town sallied forth with great clamour to rescue their Friends and about 3000 Archers more came out and ranged themselves on each side the Dike in order to receive the Enemy But they for their part prudently retired finding it a vain Attempt to force them upon such Disadvantage and the English returned all safe and victorious into the
into the Ships which he had found there with Sr. Otho du Rue and a good Number of Genouëse and Spaniards resolving to coast along by the Sea side in hopes to find some Purchase But the Vicount of Rouën the Bishop of Leon and Sr. Henry du Leon his Nephew with all the rest of that Army return'd back to the Lord Charles of Blois who lay still before Auray There they found many Lords and Knights of France as the Lord Lewis of Poictiers the Earl of Valence the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Porcien the Earl of Joigny the Earl of Boulogne and several Others whom King Philip had newly sent thither to reinforce the Lord Charles against the English besides not a few who of their own Good will came to serve him Untill this time the Castle of Auray held out very well But now there began to rage such a Famine among them within that they fed upon whatsoever they could meet with having for seven days before dieted upon their Horses And yet even this Plague which tameth all other Creatures could not make these Warriers yield Because the Lord Charles would not grant them Honourable conditions but demanded them to yield absolutely to his Pleasure However one dark Night these valiant Men seeing they could do no better went all silently out of the Castle on Foot and as God would have it escaped quite thrô the Host except some few of the Weakest who being left behind were perceived and slain But the two Loyal Brothers Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver by means of a little Wood hard by got off clearly with most of their Men and came to the Countess to Hennebond but about 4 French Miles from Auray XII Thus after ten Weeks Siege Sr. Charles of Blois hardly at last gain'd the strong Castle of Auray which he supplied with a good Garrison and Provision and so went and laid Siege to the Great City of Vannes The Captain of Vannes was the Lord Geoffry of Malestroit a Loyal and valiant Gentleman who resolved to defend the Place to the last The Day after Vannes was besieged a part of the Garrison of Ploermel which being little more than 7 French Miles from thence held for the Countess rode forth early in the Morning to the Camp of Charles of Blois where falling suddenly on they slew and wounded and terrified many But having no expert Leader they engaged themselves too far and so were well-nigh enclosed unawares before they could get back So that they lost many of their Company and the rest were chased almost to the Gates of Ploermel When the Bloisians were returned from this Chase the Lord Charles commanded a general Assault upon Vannes Whereupon within a while the Barriers were won by Force So that there was held a Bloody Contest at the Gates of the City which lasted till Night At what time a Truce was by the Besieged required and granted for all the day following The next day the Burgesses of the City mauger all that the Lord Geoffry could do or say concluded to yield up the Place to Sr. Charles but however during the time of the Treaty the Captain seeing how things would go got privately out of the Town and with a few of his own Mind came safe to Hennebond The Lord Charles enter'd the Town peaceably and had the Homages of all the Inhabitants yielded to him and so having tarried there five days to set things in Order he went thence and sat down before Karhais upon the River Aufene XIII The mean while o Frois c. 84. fol. 43. b. Don Lewis of Spain who with his Troops had taken Ship at the Port of Gnerande which he had so cruelly destroy'd sailed forth till he came into Bretagne Bretonant to the Haven of Quimperlay near Quimpercorentin Here he landed and burnt and wasted all the Country about and gat a vast quantity of Riches and spoil which having sent on board himself proceeded on farther ravaging about in those parts Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Emery Clisson heard at Hennebond of all these proceedings wherefore calling a Council of War they resolv'd to sail in quest of Don Lewis And so they set forth to Sea with 3000 Archers and a competent Number of Men of Arms till at last they arrived at the Haven of Quimperlay where they found Don Lewis his Navy Which immediately they boarded and took with ease putting all to the sword they found therein But they admired at the vast Riches and Prey which the Spaniards had heap'd together not as we may guess with a Design to leave them thus for the English However Sr. Walter Manny was not satisfied with all this unless he might dispute his Right thereto with the Owners themselves He therefore leaves his own Vessels and those he had won to the Protection of 300 Archers and with the Rest of his Forces takes Land and Marches up into the Country in quest of Don Lewis being ranged in three distinct Battails distant about half a Mile from each other that the Enemy might not escape them And thus Command being given to fire all Towns which had owned Charles of Blois they went on driving the Country before them When Don Lewis heard of these new Intruders he drew all his Men together and endeavour'd with all speed to recover his Ships which as yet he knew not to be in his Enemies Power Upon his Return he encountred with One of the three English Battails and finding he could not well avoid them he resolv'd to engage with them so he order'd his Men and made several new Knights among whom was his Nephew Don Alphonso a young hopefull Gentleman and presently gave the English a brisk Onset In all likelihood He had soon prevail'd over this Brigade but by the Cry and Noise of the Country people who had sufficient cause to hate the Spaniard the other two Battalions of the English were in good time directed thither Then the Archers of England shot so fiercely that neither the Spaniards nor Genouese could any longer keep their Array So they were all beaten down discomfited and slain For after the Flight was once begun the Country People fell in with Prongs Staves and Stones and slew all they met without Mercy Of 6000 there escapednscarce 300 Don Lewis himself thô not without several wounds hardly with a few being able to reach the Haven But his Nephew Don Alphonso was slain When Don Lewis came to the Ships he could find no entrance for the Archers of England who kept him off with their shot But at last with much difficulty he made shift to get into a little swift Barge wherein with some few of his Company he fail'd away as fast as he could XIV Sr. Walter Manny upon his Return hearing of the Escape of Don Lewis took the best and nimblest Vessel he had which he made the Admiral and follow'd hard in the chace of him the whole Navy failing after But the Spaniard had got such
Among other instances they also shewed how the Pope had secretly granted unto two New Cardinals sundry Livings within the Realm of England and particularly to the Cardinal of Perigort above ten Thousand Marks Yearly Collections Whereupon they humbly require the King and his Lords to find a Remedy for these Intolerable Encroachments for that they neither could nor would any longer bear those heavy Oppressions or else they desired that his Majesty and the Lords would help them forceably to expel the Papal Power out of this Realm The King in Consideration of the Premises willeth that the Lords and Commons among themselves consult of the most Decent and fitting way promising his consent to any reasonable Remedy Hereupon the King Lords and Commons presently sent for an Act made at Carlile in the y So in M.S. Rot. Parl. Sr Rob. Cotton But Fox says the 34. and yet pâ—ts it to the Year of our Lord 1307. which was the 35. and last of Ed. 1. I rather believe it should be 35. Ed. 1. 25 Year of Edward the First upon the like Complaint Which utterly forbad to bring or attempt to bring any thing into this Realm which should tend to the Diminution of the Kings Prerogative or the Prejudice of his Lords and Commons And so at this time the Famous Act of Provision was made prohibiting the bringing in of any Bull or the like Trinkets from the Court of Rome or the using allowing or enjoying of any such Bull Process or any other Instrument obtained from thence as there at large doth appear This Act however z Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. as One observes could not be agreed to by the Bishops and the rest of the Clergy but they rather seem'd resolv'd to protest against it till the King peremptorily commanded them to surcease such Presumption However the Lords Temporal only and the Commons by themselves wrote a Letter to his Holiness the Purport whereof followeth a Adam Murimouth Fox Acts Mon. p. 352. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 921. from the Original French. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman and Catholick Church the Chief Bishop his Humble and Devout Children the Princes Dukes Earls Barons Knights Citizens Burgesses and all the Commonalty of the Realm of England assembled in Parliament at Westminster on the 28 Day of April last past Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet MOST HOLY FATHER the Pious Discretion Prudence and Equity which seem and ought indeed to be in You who are so Holy and so High a Prelate Head of the Holy Church by whom the Catholick Church and People of God should as by the Sun-beams be enlightned do give us good Hope that the just Petitions hereunder by us declared to the honour of Jesus Christ of his Holy Church and of your Holiness also shall be of You gratiously consider'd and that all Errours and Injustice shall be quite removed instead whereof fruitfull Amendment and necessary Remedies thrô the Grace of the Holy Spirit which You in so eminent a Degree have received may be by You gratiously ordained and applied Wherefore most Holy Father after great Deliberation We all with one Assent come unto your Holiness shewing and declaring that the most Noble Kings of England Progenitors to his Majesty that now is as also our Ancestors and our Selves too according to the Grace of the Holy Ghost to them and to us given every one of his own Devotion have established founded and endowed within the Realm of England Cathedrals and other Churches Colleges Abbeys Priories and divers other Religious Houses And to the Prelates and Governours of the same have given and granted Lands Possessions Patrimonies Franchises Advowsons and Patronages of Dignities Revenues Offices Churches with many and divers other Advantages and Emoluments Whereby the Service of God and the Faith of Christ might be honoured and had in Reverence Hospitals and Alms-houses with all other Edifices Churches and Colleges might be honestly kept and maintain'd and Devout Prayers in the same Places made for the Souls of the Founders and the Poor also of the several Parishes conveniently aided and nourished Of all which such only were to have the Cure who were able to take Confessions and were otherwise meet in their own Mother Tongue of England effectually to teach and inform their Flock And forasmuch most Holy Father as You cannot well attain the knowledge of divers such Errours and Abuses as are crept in among us nor yet be able to understand the Conditions and Customes of Places being your self so far distant unless your Holiness be of others duly informed and instructed We therefore having full and perfect Notice and Intelligence of all the Errours and Abuses of the said Places within the said Realm have thought fit to signifie the same unto your Holiness namely That divers Reservations Provisions and Collations by your Apostolick Predecessors of the Church of Rome and by You also in Your time most Holy Father have been granted and now more largely than heretofore unto divers Persons as well Strangers and of other Nations as unto some who are our professed Enemies and who have little or no Vnderstanding at all of our Language and of the Conditions and Customs of those of whom they have the Government and Cure Whereby a great number of Souls are in peril many of the Parishioners in Danger the Service of God neglected the Alms and Devotion of all Men diminished the Hospitals brought to Decay the Churches with their Appurtenances ruin'd and dilapidated Charity waxeth cold the good and honest Natives of our own Country unadvanced the Charge and Cure of Souls unregarded the pious Zeal of the People restrained many Poor Scholars of our own unpreferred and the Treasure of the Realm exported against the Mind and Intention of the Founders All which Errours Abuses and Slanders most Holy Father We neither can not ought any longer to suffer or endure Wherefore we most humbly require Your Holiness that the Slanders Abuses and Errours which we have declared unto You may of your great Prudence be throughly consider'd and that it may please You that such Reservations Provisions and Collations may be utterly repealed that the same from henceforth be no more used among us and that such Order and Remedy be forthwith taken therein that the said Benefices Edifices Offices and Rights with their Appurtenances may by our Countrymen to the Honour of God be supplied occupied and governed And that it may further please Your Holiness by your Letters to signifie unto us without Delay or further protracting of Time what your Pleasure is touching this our lawfull Request and Demand that we may diligently do our Devoir herein for the Remedy Correction and Amendment of those Enormities above specified In witness whereof unto these Letters Patents We have set to our Hands and Seals Given in full Parliament at Westminster the 18 Day of May Anno Domini 1343.
These Letters were dispatch'd away b Holinshead ibid. p. 922. Sandfords Geneal Hist p. 164. Walsingh hist p. 150. n. 20 hypod p. 116. Adam Murimouth M.S. to the Pope by Sr. John Shoreditch Knight a Man of great Gravity and deep Knowledge in the Law Who coming to Avignion and being conducted into the Pope's Privy Chamber where his Holiness then sat among his Cardinals humbly presented these Letters from the Three Estates of England assembled together in Parliament The Letters being once read the Knight made Answer to what the Pope thought fit to object against them and particularly he instanced in the Deanry of York which his Holiness had lately taken up for one of the Kings Enemies Whereat the Pope with some Emotion reply'd Well well it is not unknown to Us who made and endited these Letters and We are sensible how you are not the Author But there is one who endeavours to pinch us narrowly whom we shall find a way to bring down For we understand these Affairs well enough and will not suffer them to be too nicely handled by others He added that there was a Knight of England who accustomed himself to speak derogatory to the Church of Rome wherewith he could not but be highly offended especially since he saw his Honour invaded with Impunity In conclusion he promised to answer the Letters of the Lords and Commons of England in reference to the Contents thereof Whereat the Cardinals rose up and departed in great seeming Displeasure and the Knight having taken his leave left the Court and without longer tarrying went for Bourdeaux in Guienne about other of the Kings Business Either because he was so commanded or least otherwise on some Pretence or other he might have been detained there against his Will. The Pope never theless soon after sent an Answer directed to the King in Behalf of those Cardinals for whom he had before made Provisions which now the King by vertue of his Prerogative Royal had deprived them of The Tenour whereof followeth c Antiquitates Britannicae p. 237 n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 152 n. 10. Adam Murimuth c. XI CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ the Lord Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Lately after the Creation of new Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church having before taken a provident and mature Deliberation We judg'd it highly requisite both for the Honour of God and of his Holy Church and also for the publick Utility that those Cardinals who partake with Us of our Labours and Burthens in dispatching those great Affairs which from all Parts as to their proper Chanel flow into the Apostolick See should also have agreeably wherewithall to supply their Necessities according to the Dignity of their State and Condition Whereupon having consider'd of the most proper and lawfull Ways and Means whereby the said Provision might with less burthen to the Churches and their Clergy be made We gave out of Ecclesiastical Benefices then vacant in sundry Realms of Christendom and also of such as should from that time be vacant unto each of the said new Cardinals for their Support our Special Grants unto such a certain Summ and under certain Forms and Limitations so distinguished as We judged might be proportionable to the several Provinces Now since unto two Cardinals born in the Dukedom of Aquitain to wit our beloved Sons d d Victorellus de Vit. Pontif. p. 894 895. concerdat cum Histericis nâ—stris Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of St. Sabina Priests We have made the like Grants of Benefices within your Kingdom and Territories most Dear Son contained in Form for them and other the said Cardinals with great Deliberation ordained and they for the obtaining the said Grants have sent their Proctors and Ecclesiastick Messengers being Persons of Wisdom and Learning unto the Parts of your Kingdom of England the said Proctors and Messengers when being enter'd the said Kingdom they began there to pursue the Business of their said Lords were not only hinder'd in their said Business by the Kings Subjects and Officers but also confined and after that in very Disgracefull manner ejected the said Kingdom as We have too well understood by the too-unwelcome Relations thereof Truly most Beloved Son if the Premises which about the said Proctors We have premised are founded upon real Truth considering the sincere Devotion which You are known to bear towards the Lord and toward the Holy Roman Church your Motheâ— as the Kings of England your Progenitors of Famous Memory in their Days have born We cannot easily believe that they proceeded from your Knowledge But this is certain that not only in your said Kingdom and Territories but in a manner in all Kingdoms and Countries as well near as remote whereever the Catholick Faith flourishes We have made the like Grant to other new Cardinals Where notwithstanding except the said Rebellious Denial which if it be true We mention with grief of Heart We have hitherto heard of no manner of Refusal For We thought and still do think it sufficiently advantageous for your Royal Honour and Interest that Cardinals especially such who are naturally affected to your Royal Honour and Interest should obtain Ecclesiastical Benefices in your Kingdom and Territories Because thereby they may be induced more freely and frequently to promote your Princely Advantage And we wish to God that those who are fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments were not too probably suspected not without a Note of most Detestable ingratitude and to their own peril to have procured the foresaid impediments unto Her Whereby they have to the great hazard of their Souls rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons Which respect the happy Encrease of the Health Fame and Honour of your Majesty towards which if with Loyal Endeavours these Men had attended they would not by doing the contrary so eagerly hunt after their own filthy Lucre under the pretence of their Prince's Service Finally We entreat your Royal Excellence and most earnestly exhort You in the Lord that diligently within your Princely Breast considering the Premises and what else shall occurr to your Royal Wisdom You would graciously order those things which were done against the said Proctors and Others authorized by the said Cardinal Ademare who are reported to have been afterwards taken and confin'd to be decently amended and revoked and that your Royal Majesty would cause the said Proctors being upheld by the Royal Favour in the Prosecution of the said Affairs in the same Kingdom to rejoyce with full Security for the Reverence of God and of Us and of the said See not lending your Royal Ears to those things which may bring any Offence to God Dishonour to the said Church
or harm to your Imperial Honour Safety and Dignity That so you may render the Lord always propitious unto You and the foresaid See still more ready to serve your Occasions We desire You would again write unto Us most Beloved Son what your Royal Wisdom shall think fit to ordain in these Matters Dated at Villeneuve in the Dioecese of Avignion the v. of the Kalends of September in the second Year of our Pontificate XII This Letter to the King of England was accompanied by another of the same Date directed to his Council which being no where extant but in e Adam Murimouth ad An. Ed. 3.17 Adam Murimouth whose Authentick and Ancient MS. was kindly communicated unto me by the Learned and Reverend Linguist and Philologist Dr. John Covel Dean of York I also thought fit to set it down faithfully translated from the Original CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his Beloved Sons the Counsellours of his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction A Displeasing and most ungratefull Rumour hath in these Days reported unto Us how that when our Dear Sons Ademare of the Title of St. Anastasia and Gerard of the Title of Sabina Priests Cardinals did send their Proctors to the Parts of the Kingdom of England in order to pursue the Grants lately by Us granted unto them as unto other new Cardinals in divers parts of the World of Ecclesiastical Benefices being in the Parts of the said Kingdom of England the said Proctors thô both Learned and also Ecclesiastical Persons were not only hindred in the Pursuance of the said Affairs but also by the procurance of some who have been fed with the Crums of the said Roman Church and by her have been exalted to Honours and Preferments as it is probably supposed whereby as well they as others who procured or perpetrated the same have to their great Danger rendred themselves liable to Excommunication and other Punishments and Sentences promulged against such Persons by the Canons have been ignominiously taken and then expelled the said Kingdom certain other Proctors of the foresaid Cardinal Ademare being afterwards taken and detained Prisoners But since We cannot by any means believe that the Premises which if Truth agrees with the Relation would redound to the Offence of the Divine Majesty the Discredit of the Roman Church and the exceeding Reproach of the said Cardinals could proceed from the Knowledge of our most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England considering his Devotion which he beareth to God and the Holy Roman Church his Mother as neither can We by any means imagine that He to whom We write also about this Matter would endure such things as are contrary to his Honour Safety and Dignity We therefore entreat Your Wisdom and in the Lord more earnestly exhort You That You whose Office is to direct the Actions and Affairs of the said King by the way of Honesty Righteousness and Justice the Contrary whereof if it should happen which God forbid would be imputed to You do â—rudently speedily and discreetly take Care that whatsoever Matters in this part have undecently and unjustly proceeded be revoked and amended Knowing that in divers other parts of Christendom as well near as remote wherein We have made the like Grants to other New Cardinals We have not heard of any notable impediment given unto them or unto their Proctors which therefore they have sent to those parts long since Given at Villeneuve in the Diocese of Avignon f f i. e. 28 Aug. V. Kal. Septemb. in the second Year of our Pontificate XIII To these Letters of the Pope the King immediately return'd this Famous Epistle in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England g Adam Marimouth Antio Brit. p. 238. Walsingh hist p. 150. 2 M.S. ex Vatican apud Odoric Raynald ad hunc annum §. 90. To the most Holy Father in God the Lord Clement by Divine Providence of the Holy Roman Catholick Church the Chief Bishop EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet When We seriously consider the Goodness of the Apostolick See which is wont to be most solicitous concerning the Encrease of Devotion in Christs Flock and the Welfare of their Souls not seeking that which is its own but rather those things which are Christs We have a very probable hope that Your Wisdom being now worthily placed in the Watch-tower of the Apostolick Eminence will graciously take Care to reform those things which detract from the Honour of the Church and the Devotion of the People and threaten inevitable Danger to the Souls and Goods of Mankind We nothing doubt but that it is now publiquely known how from the very first rise of Christianity in our Kingdom of England our Progenitors the Kings of England and the Lords and other Subjects of the said Realm have for the augmentation of Divine Worship built Churches enriched them with ample Possessions and endowed them with large Privileges placing fit Ministers therein who have nor without Success Preached the Catholick Faith to the People in their Mother Tongues By whose Care and Diligence the Vineyard of the Lord of Sabaoth hath wonderfully prospered both in Culture and Fruit. But now which is to be lamented the slips of this very Vine are degenerated into a Wild-vine and the Boar out of the Wood doth waste it and the h h Ita Hebraâ—ice singularis fera Latinè i.e. Quadriennis aper 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Graeâ—è sanglier Gallicè singular English vid. Wase on Gratius p. 69. Wild-Beast of the Field doth devour it While by the Impositions and Provisions of the Apostolick See which now grow more insupportable than ever its own proper Goods against the Pious intent and appointment of the Donors are held in the Hands of the Unworthy and especially of Foreigners and its Dignities and Chief Benefices are confer'd upon Strangers who for the most part are Persons at least suspected unto Us and who neither reside on the said Benefices nor know the Face nor understand the voice of the Flock committed unto them but wholly neglecting the Cure of Souls like Hirelings only seek their own Profit and Temporal Advantage And so the Worship of Christ is empaired the Cure of Souls neglected Hospitality withdrawn the Rights of the Churches lost the Houses of the Clergy dilapidated the Devotion of the People extinguished the Clergy of the said Kingdom who are Men of great Learning and Honest Conversation and are both able and willing effectually to perform the Work of Ministers and would also be very fit for our and the Publique Service forsake their Studies because the Hope of a Reasonable Preferment is thus taken away Which things We know can be no ways acceptable to the Divine Pleasure but will most certainly prove a Mighty Prejudice and unspeakable
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
always Prelate of the Order and then he proceeded to give the same Habit to the other 25 Knights Companions as in Order they follow 2. His Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but in the 14 then in the 19 Year of his Age. 3. His Noble and Valiant Cousin Henry at that time Earl of Lancaster and afterwards Duke of the same Title 4. Thomas Beauchamp the thrice Noble and Valiant Earl of Warwick 5. John q Here Mr. Ashmole is stagger'd because 〈◊〉 he finds it on Record that John de Greilty Son. of Peter was Captal of Buch from the 5 to the 29 of King Edward the III as indeed he was from the 5 to the 50. Yet notwithstanding upon the Original Plate of his Name set up in the Chappel at Wâ—ndsor it is engraven Piers Capitow de la Bâ—uch as if his Name also was Peter When as it is evident that these Plates were not set up at the Foundation but many Years after perhaps after King Edward's Death as may be made manifest to any strict enquirer And his Fâ—ther being of the Name of Peter might cause a mistake at least in the Engraver From whence afterward Authority grew also even to other writings Nay I shall hereafter prove that as great a Mistake as this was engraven upon Queen Philippa's Tomb thô done in King Edwards Life de Greilly Captal of Buch which is a great Lordship in Aquitain the Governour whereof is stiled Captal and the Country it self is called le Captalat de Buch or Busch the chief Town whereof called la Teste de Buch is about seven Leagues Westward of Bourdeaux This Gentleman was a Mighty Man of Valour and most firm of all others to the English side so that after many Renowned Exploits whereof this History will not be silent being at last taken Prisoner by the French he chose rather to die in Prison than to swear never more to bear Arms for England 6. The next Knight in Order was Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford 7. William Montagu the hopefull young Earl of Salisbury 8. Roger Lord Mortimer Grandson to Roger Earl of March who five Years after obtain'd a Revocation of the Judgement against his Grandfather and thereupon was restored in Blood and to the Earldom of March and to all his said Grandfathers Lands Honours and Possessions Being for his Valour and Worth highly meriting to be inserted into this most Noble Order 9. After him was invested the Couragious Knight John Lord Lisle 10. Then Bartholomew Lord Burghersh alias Burwash Junior at that time but twenty Years old but every way Worthy of this Honour 11. John Lord Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick a Noble Martialist of that Age. 12. John Lord Mohun of Dunstor a Constant Attendant of the Black-Prince in all his Wars 13. Hugh Lord Courtney Son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire 14. Thomas Lord Holland of Holland in Lancashire who about the time of this his Creation or the 23d. of King Edward was Married to the Beauty of England Joan Sister to the Earl of Kent 15. John Lord Grey of Codonore in Derbyshire 16. Sr. Richard Fitz-Simon whose Services in War rais'd him to this Honourable Title 17. Sr. Miles Stapleton a Man of Great Nobility and Integrity and Expert in Martial Affairs 18. Sr. Thomas Wale a Knight of great Vertue and Worthiness but one who thô by his early Valour he merited so High a Rank yet by his too early Death which happen'd within three Years after the Institution left his Stall void the First of all these Founders 19. Sr. Hugh Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the County of Stafford Knight from whom in a direct Line is Sr. Walter Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the foresaid County Baronet now r Ashmole ità Ano. Domini 1672. living descended 20. Sr. Nele Loring a Knight of great Valour and Nobility and whom we have shewn to have been first Knighted for his signal Courage in the Naval Fight at Sluce 21. The Lord John Chandos a most Illustrious Hero of whose Generosity and Valour to write sufficiently would require a large Volume 22. The Lord James Audley a most Adventurous and Fortunate Commander and Cousin to Nicolas Audley Earl of Gloucester 23. Sr. Otho Holland Brother to the Lord Thomas Holland aforesaid 24. Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant commonly by Historians called Sr. Henry of Flanders a Valiant and Loyal Servant to King Edward 25. Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt a Valiant Knight of Heinalt now Naturaliz'd in England 26. Sr. Walter Pavely who was Famous for his Exploits in several Warlike Expeditions These were the Names and this the Order of the First Knights of the Garter whom the thrice Noble King Edward chose to be his Companions and Fellows in this Honourable Society All Men of most signal Valour and Conduct of High Birth and untainted Loyalty So Generous and Heroick that they might all seem Worthy to be Kings and their Perseverance in Vertue to the last as it partly declares the sharp Judgement the King used in their Election so it shews of what Power and Efficacy that Honourable Tye was and what Obligations to Vertuous Behaviour it laid upon them But methinks it may justly be Wonder'd how it came to pass that this Great Honour being confer'd on so few those other Worthy Barons who deserv'd it no less being laid aside should notwithstanding never shew the least disgust at the Matter For certainly the Noble and Heroick Lord Walter Manny the Valiant and Daring Lord Reginald Cobham Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Warlike Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Roger Delaware and many more for Birth Wisdom Loyalty Wealth Vertue or Valour were well Worthy of the Highest Honours But this Prudent Prince would not make his Institution cheap by communicating it to many nor have any of his Successors to this Day exceeded the Number of 26. The mean while 't is highly probable that the other Lords thought it more Noble to grow emulous who of them should be most Worthy to ascend the first vacant Place and we find by Degrees that most of them did as the Stalls fell void attain to that Dignity as the two Earls of Essex and Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Suffolk the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald Lord Cobham and others but the Rest either died or were decrepit and past Action almost before their turns came and so found no Room at all VII The Order being thus well-stockt at the beginning has since that obtain'd such an High Esteem thrô all the Christian World that divers Å¿ Ashmole p. 189. Emperours Kings and Sovereign Princes have reputed it among their greatest Honours to be chosen and admitted thereunto insomuch as some of them have with Impatience Courted the Honour of Election
by a Commotion of War between Us and Him have offer'd to the said Philip divers Friendly Methods of Peace not without a great Diminution of our own Rights that so we might as we desire pursue the War of Christ in the Holy Expedition beyond Sea against the Blasphemers of the Christian Name which alass is too much neglected to the no small Ignominy of Christendom he by his Fox-craft driving us off with Incertainties would in effect yield nothing unto Us but still by feigned Treaties hath abundantly heaped Injuries upon Injuries Wherefore not willing to neglect the Gift of God who in the Devolution of the said Kingdom hath shewed unto Us his marvellous Kindness but desiring as it is fitting in hope of the Divine Assistance and a Confidence of our Righteous Cause to take pains about the Recovering and Maintaining of our Hereditary Rights since by peaceable Ways we could not prevail Necessity so requiring we descended with an Armed Power into Bretagne to reform the Injuries done and to prevent those that otherwise by him would be done unto Us and also to the Obtaining of our Hereditary Rights Being willing to set forth powerfully to the Succour of those that adhered unto Us rather than to expect at home the Dangers threatned unto Us. And while thus we were occupied in our Wars there repaired unto Us the Reverend Fathers Peter Bishop of Palestrina and Annibald Bishop of Tusculan Cardinals Nuntio's of the most Holy Father in Christ Pope Clement VI and of the Apostolick See desiring us in the Name of the said Lord the Pope to admit of a Truce with the foresaid Lord Philip for a time during which space there might be a Treaty held before the Lord the Chief Bishop concerning a final Peace and adding that the said Lord the Pope did believe to find out a way whereby a Peace might very well be reformed And in hope of an Agreeable Peace to be made by his Holy Mediation and especially for Reverence of the said Lord the Pope and the said See We consented to the said Truce And moreover We took care to send Commissioners endued with sufficient Power to his Holinesses Presence and accordingly there was a Truce taken between Us and the said Lord Philip so that a was to be observed every where within the Dominions of both Parties especially within the Dukedom of Aquitain between Us and the said Philip and our Acherents and his even thô they should pretend to have a Right in the said Dukedom of Aquitain and that all Coadjutors and Allies of the Parties should remain in such a Possession of Things and Goods as they had in the time of making the Truce and under other Forms and Conditions more fully expressed in the same And when thrô a smiling hope of Peace in Confidence of the said Truce returning into England having sent a few of our Servants into Bretagne for the Governance of those Parts and of our Coadjutors there we had designed to send our Commissioners to the Presence of the said Lord the Pope in order to a Treaty of Peace there came unto Us certain News not a little stinging our Mind namely of the Death of certain Noblemen our Adherents who were taken in Bretagne and by the special Command of the said Philip contrary to the Form of the said Truce shamefully and tyrannously put to Death at Paris And also of the great Slaughter and Devastation of our Liege People and Places in Bretagne Gascogne and elsewhere and of his subtle and secret Treaties held with our Allies and Subjects whom so he endeavoured to take off from Us and to Bind unto himself and of other his Injuries not easily to be numbred and of his Offences against the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip done and attempted both by Land and by Sea whereby the said Truce on the Part of the said Philip is notoriously known to be dissolved And althô the Truce being thrô Fault of the said Philip thus broken we might as even yet lawfully we may have justly resumed War against him forthwith Yet notwithstanding to avoid the ill Effects of War being desirous first to prove if by any Amicable way we might obtain a Reparation as to the Premises more than once we sent sundry our Ambassadors to the Presence of the Lord the Pope as well to treat of the Peace aforesaid as to require Reformation of the said Abuses attempted and done within the Limits appointed for the said Treaty for that Purpose also frequently prolonging the said Term reserving always unto our selves a Liberty of Resuming the War by Default of the said Philip sought out against Us. And truly the Terms appointed for the Treaty are now past and no Reasonable way of Peace hath yet been opened unto Us or our said Ambassadors Nor hath the said Philip in the least taken care to reform the said Abuses althô he hath been thereto required and admonished by the Letters of the said Lord the Pope as the said Lord the Pope by his Letters unto Us hath written but there are always multiplied against Us Tyrannies Conspiracies and Alliances to our Subversion by the said Philip who subtily practises against the Form of the said Truce Not to say any thing of the excessive Enormities of the Pope's Legate lately sent into Bretagne for the Conservation of the said Truce who more earnestly rais'd the contention which he ought to have allayed not approving himself a Conservator of the Truce but rather a Party against Us and Ours Concerning which the said Lord the Pope by his leave did apply no Remedy althô as was fitting he was thereto required Wherefore We ought to be excused before God and his Holiness if when We can receive no other Remedy We endeavour to repell the Violence and Injury done unto Us Especially since We have a most just Cause and which is most notorious to the world And therefore esteeming the foresaid Truce to be as indeed it is dissolved and broken from the Causes aforesaid which we know and in place and time will-prove to be True by the foresaid Philip and his Adherents especially those who in the said Dukedom of Bretagne pretend to have Right and that We are free and acquitted of the Observance thereof Him the said Philip as a Violator of the said Truce and our Enemy and Deadly Persecutor and an Unjust Usurper of our Kingdom of France and a Rash Invader of our other Rights justly Necessity so requiring We defie protesting that We will not attempt any thing to the Offence which God forbid of his Holiness or of the Apostolick See which by all means We desire to revere as we ought nor to the injury of any One but only with due Moderation to pursue our Rights and to defend Our Selves and our Rights For it is always our Intention amicably to admit of a Reasonable Peace when We may obtain it But these things g g The Letter to the Pope differs from this
Castle but rather offend them to the best of their Power till they were reduced After this the Earl having proclaim'd that none should presume to do any the least harm to the Town or Inhabitants of Reole made his entry into the Place and immediately began to invest the Castle round about as much as he might and then raised his Engines which cast against the Walls Day and Night but to little purpose they were so thick and strongly cemented of most hard stone molten-lead and morter It is thought that this Castle of old time had been wrought by the hands of the Saracens who made their Works so strong that the later Buildings were no way comparable to them Wherefore the Earl seeing that with his Engines he could do no good called unto him the Captains of his Pioneers and gave them Command to make a great Mine under the Walls which yet was not expected to be done under many Days VI. Now q Frois c. 110. fol. 54. during this Siege and while the Mine was carrying on the Lord Walter Manny remembred that his Father who had been heretofore Assassined in his Return from a Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella was buried as he had heard in his Youth in Reole or thereabout Wherefore now being desirous to find where his Bones lay he enquired about the Town offering an 100 Crowns to any Man that could shew him his Tomb. Within a while there came an old Man of the Town to Sr. Walter who said Sir I believe I can bring You to the very Place where my Lord your Father was buried Sr. Walter told him if his Words proved true he would keep his Promise with him and something more The Lord Manny's Father is reported to have been slain upon this Occasion Almost 24 Years before this there was a Gascogner of the House of Mirepoix Bishop of Cambray in whose Days happen'd a Solemn Tournament before the City of Gambray in which on both Sides there were no less than 500 Knights It was the Fortune of the Lord of Manny an Hainalder Sr. Walter 's Father to just with a certain Knight of Gascogne who was near of Kin to the said Bishop But the young Gascogner was so roughly handled by him that he lived but a few Days after Wherefore the Lord Manny incurr'd the heavy Indignation of the Bishop and all his Kindred But two or three Years after some Pious Men by their great Diligence labour'd to compose Matters and to make a Reconciliation between the Lord Manny and his Enemies So that the Bishop and his Relations either did or at least pretended to pardon all and a Friendship was made only the Lord of Manny was enjoyned by way of Penance to go on Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella In his going thither he passed by Reole where he then found Charles of Valois Father to King Philip that now reigned laying his Siege to that Town which then together with all Guien and Gascogne belonged to King Edward II of England Having ended his Pilgrimage and returning the same way he gave a Visit to the said Earl Charles in the Town of Reole which by that time r Giovan. Villan l. 9. c. 169. was upon Composition yielded up to him by Edmund Earl of Kent He was entertain'd at Supper that Night by the said Charles Earl of Valois but going home late to his Lodgings he was set upon as was thought by some of the Kindred of that Gascogner whose Death he had occasion'd and there barbarously murder'd The Authors of the Murther could no ways be clearly proved thô the said Bishops Kindred were generally suspected But they were as then so high and the Truth was so dark especially the Lord of Manny having no Friend there to pursue his Quarrel that the matter was hush'd and by degrees quite put up However the Earl of Valois caused him to be decently interred within a little Chappel in the Field then without the Town but afterwards the Lord Charles having won the Place enlarged the Walls and so took in that Chappel also into its Compass Thus was Sr. Walter 's Father slain and the Old Man remembred all very well as one who then belonged to Charles of Valois and was at his Burial Sr. Walter therefore followed this old Man and went with him into the Chappel aforesaid where he shew'd him a little plain Stone of Marble which his Servants had laid over him and said Sir most certainly my Lord your Father lies buried under this Stone Then the Lord Manny drew near to view the Tomb and there he found a Latin Inscription which imported that the Lord of Manny's Body lay there He could not forbear Weeping to find this poor Remembrance of his Dear Father whom he could scarce remember to have seen alive for he was but young at his Death The old Man he rewarded as he had promised and two Days after took up his Fathers Bones and putting them in a rich Coffer sent them to Valenciennes in his native Country of Harnalt and there caused them to be deposited in the Church of the Fryars and his Obsequies to be kept Annually with great Solemnity which for many Years after were commemorated VII All this ſ Frois c. 111. while the Earl of Darby held his Siege before the strong Castle of Reole and now when it had held out near 11 Weeks the Miners were at last come under the Base Court but under the Dungeon they could not get by any means for it stood on an hard Rock Sr. Agoust de les Baux the Captain of the Castle perceived how he was undermined and told his Officers their Danger Then they said Sir the Peril is common to us all and we fear now inevitable unless you in your great Wisdom contrive a Remedy You are our Chief whom as hitherto we have obey'd so now will we follow your Determination But surely we have so long and so worthily held out already that if we could now come to any good Composition no man could blame us for Yielding at last Try if you can get the Earl of Darby to grant us our Lives and Goods and so to accept the Castle Upon this the Captain went down from the High Tower and looking out at a little Window made a sign that he desired to speak with some Body Being demanded what he would have he answer'd how he would gladly speak with the Earl of Darby or the Lord Walter Manny The Earl hearing hereof took along with him the Lord Manny and the Lord Stafford saying Come let us go to the Fortress and know what the Captain has to say now So they all rode to the Castle and when Sr. Agoust de les Baux saw them he took off his Cap and saluting them all three in their Order said My Lord of Darby I must confess the French King sent me hither to defend and keep this Town and Castle to my Power And you know very well how I have
e Knighton p. 25â—5 Easter there to require Aid from King Edward to recover his Right And accordingly we find that this Summer about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward sent over with him a considerable Power under the Command of William Bohun Earl of Northampton With whom f Stow p. 239. were John Vere Earl of Oxford Hugh Lord Spencer Richard Lord Talbot and Dr. William Killesby each of them retaining many Men of Arms and Archers With these Forces Earl Montford g Mezeray p. 23. wan and sack'd Dinant and laid Siege to Quimperlay but being suddenly taken with a Calenture or burning Feaver he died about the end of September at Quimpercorentin leaving the Management of his Pretensions to the Conduct of his Virago-Lady and his young Son John who many years after having slain Charles of Blois in Battle obtained together with the Dukedom the honourable Sirname of Valiant One h Gaguin l. 8. p. 140. reports that this Earl died distracted many Devils appearing at his Departure and that at the time of his Death such a multitude of Ravens settled upon the House wherein he lay that 't was thought the whole Kingdom of France could not have yielded such a Number As for his being distracted I shall not stand to question that since in a Burning Feaver many a Good Man may suffer a Delirium and God forbid that we should always judge hardly thereupon But for this horrid Apparition it seems to me not so credible nor could I ever find any great Evil of this Earl except that now he broke his Word with King Philip who yet was his Enemy and extorted it unreasonably and violently from him Nor if I had known him to have been a Notorious Sinner durst I ever give the more faith to this Story I reverence the Judgments of God and think it not fit for Sinners as we are to pry too sawcily into his Counsels concerning our Brethren perhaps no worse than our selves But this I well know that either Superstitious or Prejudiced Persons may enhance common Accidents into Prodigies or invent what they please against those for whom they have no Charity After his Death however the greater Part of Bretagne was for some time in the hands of Charles of Blois for now l Fabian p. 219. most of the English Souldiers return'd into Gascogne to serve the Earl of Darby Except Sr. Thomas Dagworth and those who before were sent to the Assistance of the Countess of Montford But however the English brake not up their Army thus till Winter for the Earl of Northampton hearing that the Lord Charles of Blois presuming on the Death of John of Montford was come to Morlaix with a great Power intending to overrun the Country went forward with all his Forces to meet him In the Champaign Ground near k Lel. Collect. 1 Vol. p. 805. Stow p. 239 c. Morlaix the two Armies of the Lord Charles of Blois and William Bohun Earl of Northampton joyned Battle together with Equal Courage and Bravery And at this time it is said that the two Generals both the French Lord and the English Earl met together by consent in single Combat where they fought so long at Handy-stroaks in the Field that it would have pos'd an equal Judge to have determin'd who had the better For three times that day being both wearied they withdrew to take Breath and as often both return'd to renew the Combat which was fought with Spear and Shield Sword and Target after the manner of that Age. Only at last the most Noble and Valiant Lord Charles seeing his Men begin to fly was obliged also to set Spurs to his Horse and forsake the Field leaving the Victory to the English who yet paid dearly for it having lost almost as many in the Fight as the Enemy But when the Chace began then the Lord Charles his Men were beaten down on every side and the Success of this Day grew more important in that thereby the Earl of Northampton had no more Enemy to obstruct his Progress at that time wherefore presently l Leland ibid. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 185. Fabian p. 220. p. 276 he went and lay before a strong Fortress of Bretagne called la Roche D'Arien about ten French Miles Northward of Morlaix which he took by Assault thô after his Departure it was retaken by the other Party till the Lord Thomas Dagworth took it again from them as two years hence we shall shew When the Earl of Northampton and the other Lords of England with him had thus settled Affairs for the present in Bretagne and had disposed of what Places they had won to the Custody of good Captains with sufficient Garrisons Winter being now well enter'd they all came over into England to the King And the Truce which the Deceased Earl had broken was again punctually observed XI This Year the Scots by the Instigation of the French King enter'd England by Westmorland and passing over the River Vlles burnt Penreth and m Carletonum pro Carleolum apud Walsingh hist p. 156. Nam Carleolum non folum erat satis validum sed etiam ab hec latere nimis distans Quod qui Walsingh secuti sunt parùm prespiciebant Neque ulla de Carleolo combusto per hos dies apud antiques mentio c. Carleton and many other little Towns and Villages thereabouts But John Kirkeby Bishop of Caerlile with the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth and Sr. Robert Ogle having collected a small Body of Choice Men went about their Host surrounding them in the Night and so terrified them with perpetual Alarms and Noises of Trumpets Clarions and Horns that the Scots could neither take Rest for Fear nor send out their Foragers to seek Provision And now the Lords Piercy and Nevil on the other Part and the Men of Lancashire on a Third had appointed together with the Bishop and those of Caerlile to fall upon the Scots all together who would then be in a manner quite enclosed by the English When Sr. Alexander Straghan being compelled of Necessity to go on Foraging for the Army and going forth for that purpose with some of the most Select Troops of all the Scottish Host was luckily encountred by the Bishop of n Walsingh hist p. 156. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 262. Stow p. 241. Carlile the Lord Lucy and Sr. Robert Ogle which latter happening upon Sr. Alexander himself fiercely spurred up his Horse against him and ran him quite thrô the Body with his Spear himself also at the same time receiving thrô his Shield a Wound on the Left side but not Mortal In this Rencounter the Martial Bishop also being Cast from his Horse was in danger of being made a Prisoner but having Valiantly recover'd his Saddle he brought such Courage to his Men that most of the Scots of that Brigade were either slain or taken Whereupon the Rest being also informed of the two other
displeas'd that he seised his Temporalities for a while And We find him the Year following a Ano. 1334. obliged to make use of all his Cunning and Sophistry b Vid. Apologiam Adae Orleton c. apud Hister Angl. Scriptâ—r Antig. p. 2763. Edit London Ano. 1652. to Answer an Appellation that then came out against him thô not in the King's Name and proved him Guilty of Felony c. Consisting of these Articles 1. That he Commanded and caused most Sacrilegiously Violent Hands to be laid on the King's Chancellour Robert Baldock Bishop of Norwich c. Item that in the City of Oxford in the Moneth of November he falsly and maliciously Preached and Taught and more than once Asserted that the Lord Edward of Famous Memory was a Tyrant c. Item that by his false and subtil Insinuations and Assertions he struck such a fear into the Lady the Queen Mother then at Wallingford that she durst not go to her Husband the foresaid King by occasion whereof the use of Matrimony both as to the Procreation of Children and as to the Faith and Sacrament thereof was render'd ineffectual All which with more he Answer'd for that time very plausibly suppressing the most Dangerous Articles and eluding and evading the Rest and at last concludes his appellant guilty of Perjury in offering to swear to the Truth of what he falsly laid to his Charge By these Means and by the Aid of the Clergy who c Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 874. ad â—n 1324. once before took him with their Pastoral Crosiers in their Hands from the King's Tribunal when he was to be try'd for Treason he escaped Punishment in this World except that for d Walsing hist p. 155. n. 50. Godw. Gatal Bps p. 233. many Years before his Death he was stricken stark blind thô We can hardly think that without an unfeigned and thorough Repentance of which this his Apology gives Us little hope he could avoid those Torments which are prepared in the other World for Murderers and Traytors Nay e Sr. Winston Churchill's Drvi Britan. p. 239. some say that Horrour of Mind at his Death gave him as great Torture as if the burning-Iron which sear'd his Conscience had been thrust into his Bowels Which expression is no doubt allusive to the manner whereby King Edward the Seconds Death was effected thrô his Means and Contrivance However here now we fix him as an Example to deter Men of such Principles from the Consideration of the Evil Memory they are like to leave behind them He was succeeded by Dr. William Edingdon who was very Dear to King Edward and the Knights of the Garter being created in his time became the first Prelate of that most Noble Order The End of the First Book THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. AN. DOM. 1346. An. Regni Angliae XX. Franciae vii BOOK THE SECOND CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Philip sends his Son John Duke of Normandy with a mighty Army against the Earl of Darby now since his Father's Death called Earl of Lancaster II. Duke John having retaken Miramont and Ville-Franche in Agenois goes and sits down before Angoulesme III. The Earl of Lancaster hearing the Enemy had left Ville-Franche void sends thither a new Garrison as also a Reinforcement to the strong Castle of Aiguillon IV. The Seneschal of Beaucaire with a Detachment from the French Host wins Ancenis and returns with a great Booty to the Camp. V. Sr. John Norwich the English Captain of Angoulesme by a neat Device escapes away thrô the French Army in the Day-time with Bag and Baggage and goes to Aiguillon After whose Departure the Duke takes the City to Mercy as also the Fortress of Damasan by Force and Tonneins by Composition VI. The Duke of Normandy takes Port St. Mary by Force and goes before the strong Castle of Aiguillon VII The Particulars of the Famous Siege of Aiguillon counted the most Notable of that Age. VIII The French Kings Seneschal of Guienne beaten and taken Prisoner by a Detachment from the Earl of Lancaster Which Earl hovering near the Duke cuts him short I. ALL this while we may wonder that between two such Potent Monarchs as Philip of France and Edward of England althô no less than a Kingdom was the Prize there seem'd rather a certain-Tendency and Disposition to War than any deadly and irreconcileable Rupture But this we should attribute to the Goodness of God who is always slow when he intends to strike home and partly also as well to the pious Assistance of the Pope King Robert of Sicily the Lady Jane of Valois and other Peace makers as in a manner to the Humanity of these Princes themselves and also to the weight of the Affair which required much Advice and vast Preparations But now at last all things being sufficiently ripened we shall presently see the Bloody Flag of War hung out in good earnest and the two Kings hastily opening the Way to their own several Destinies King a Frois c. 118. Philip of France was quickly alarum'd at those notable Conquests which the Earl of Darby whom henceforward we shall call the Earl of Lancaster had made in Gascogne the preceding Year and resolv'd with all Expedition to provide a wholsom Remedy against so devouring a Gangrene While therefore himself was busie in raising a Mighty Power for the Defence of his Kingdom he dispatched away his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy with considerable Forces to stop the English Earls Career But when he began to approach he heard such Reports of the strength of the English the Terror of their Conquests belike encreasing their Numbers that for that time b Gaguin l. p. 140. Fabian p. 220. itâ Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 856. Messer Giovanni di Francia no venne al sâ—ccerso ne tenne campo ma si ternò addietro he return'd back to his Father again without once looking the Fail of Lancaster in the Face And this was towards the Declining of the preceding Year King Philip was extreamly incensed at this Action of his Sons Wherefore to avoid his Fathers Displeasure he immediatly resolves to address himself with all his vigour to the War and rather to venture any thing than to hazard the loss of his Fathers Love and his own Reputation King c Frois c. 118. Philip also desiring to Reinforce him in the best manner sent forth his General Summons That all Nobles and Others on that side the Loire of such and such Qualifications and able for the War should laying aside all Excuse repair to Orleans and Bourges and the Parts thereabout by such a Day Whereupon there came to the King being at Paris Eudes Duke of Burgundy and his only Son Philip Earl of Artois and Boulogne with a 1000 Lances There came also the Duke of Bourbon and his Brother the Earl of Ponthieu Ralph Earl of Eu and Guisnes and Constable of France the
Mans nor for none other Cause and in case any Letters come to You contrary to the Law that Ye do nothing by such Letters but certifie the King thereof and go forth to do the Law notwithstanding the same Letters And that Ye shall do and procure the Profit of the King and of his Crown with all things where Ye may reasonably do the same And in case Ye be from henceforth found in Default in any of the points aforesaid Ye shall be at the Kings Will of Body Lands and Goods thereof to be done as shall please him As God You help and all his Saints A like form mutatis mutandic was set for the Clerks of the Chancery for which we refer the Reader to the Statute-Book Where also he will find an excellent Statute made 7 Maii Anâ— Reg. Angl. 20. Fr. 7. which is to be refer'd hither Now also the King hearing e Holinshead Eng. Chr. p. 929. Complaints made against the Purveyors of Victuals for his Houshold who under Colour of their Commissions abused the same in taking up whatever they pleased among the Commons at the rate only set in their Commission he caused strict Inquisition to be made of these Misdemeanours and those who were found Offenders in the Premises of which there were many all condemned some to the Gallows and other to Great-Fines whereby the Groans of the Commons ceased and other of the Kings Officers were made more Wary and Discreet Having thus provided for the settlement of Justice during his Absence he f Frois c. 121. left his Queen to the Care of his Cousin John Plantagenet the Young Earl of Kent his Second Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp he g Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 167. ex Rot. c. constituted his Lieutenant of the Realm appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury and others of his Council to assist him And to Watch the Motions of Scotland b Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 929. he left the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Ralph Nevil of Raby together with the Archbishop of York the Bishop of Durham the Bishop of Lincoln and the Chief Lords of the North But he gave an especial Charge to Sr. Geoffry Witchingham Lord Mayor of London and to John Croyden and William Clopton Sheriffs to take diligent Care of the Peaceable and Quiet Government of the City and particularly he i 20 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 18. 26. commanded them to look after the Spreaders of False News in and about the City and to apprehend all such Persons and lay them up in the Prison of Newgate II. And having thus providently settled Affairs at home k 6 Maii Claus 20. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 11. dersc vid. Rot. Franc. 20. Ed. 34. 2. m. 2. and sent to the Prior of the Order of Fryers Preachers in London to offer up Prayers that God would please to Protect and Defend him and give his Forces Victory over his Enemies he repaired to his Army which was now ready to go on board And there he spake aloud to all his Captains and Officers which was also communicated to the whole Army l Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872 That he had more Right to the Realm of France upon the account of Queen Isabella his Mother Daughter of Philip the Fair than Philip of Valois had who was Son of the Lord Charles Second Brother which was of the said Philip the Fair who now usurped the said Realm thô he was not in the direct Line but collateral He therefore earnestly desired them to play the Men forasmuch as it was his Resolution to send back his Navy again as soon as ever he was Arrived in the Realm of France Wherefore it behoved them to be Valiant and either to Win the Land with their Swords or resolve to die every Man for they would have no place to flye But that if any one was in doubt or fear to pass the Seas with him he might ev'n stay in England with his good leave To this they all answer'd as it were with one Voice That they would follow him as their Good and Dear Lord with a good Will even to the Death Then the King seeing his Men well disposed to the War deliver'd his Letters close Sealed to the Admirals of his Fleet least it should happen that by force of Wind they should be separated from the Rest in which letters was contained where he would have them Land and commanded them unless they were divided by Storm not to open them till they came to Land. And so he went on board in the Name of God and St. George at m Frois c. 221. Southampton in the close of June with a Fleet of n Mezeray ad hanc an p. 24. ubi 200. Knighton verò 1100 magnas naves 500 mineres ponit p. 1585. n. 40. Stow p. 241. has a 1000 ships of Barthen and Pinaces Speed p. 577. about a 1000 Sail. Gaguin 1100. Grov Villani 6â—0 c. 200 Sail thô Authors vary much in the Number wherein were 4000 Men of Arms 10000 Archers and Footmen of Wales 12000 and 6000 Irishmen The King had with him in his Company the Young Prince of Wales at that time about sixteen Years of Age There was also Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel John Vere Earl of Oxford William Clinton Earl of Huntington Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk and of Barons the Young Lord Roger Mortimer the Lord Gerard o Dudg 1 Vol. p. 738. Lisle and his Kinsman the Lord John Lisle the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lords John and Roger Beauchamps the Lord John Moubray the Lord William Ros of Hamlake the Lord Thomas Lucy of Cockermouth the Lord William Felton the Lord Thomas Bradestan the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcoate John Lord Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Peter Mauley V. of the Name * Hâ—c nemina â—u sequuntur ad numerum 22. er M. S. Vetust Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. cui titâ—â—us Acta Edvardi Fihi Edvardi Tertii Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Fitz-Walter William Lord Kerdeston the Lord Roger Say the Lord Almaric de St. Amand the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John le Strange the Lord Edward Montagu the Lord Richard Talbot the Lord John Mohun of Dunster William Lord Boteler of Wemme Robert Lord Ferrers John Lord Seymor John Lord Grey William Lord Botreaux the Lord Hugh Spencer the Lord John Striveling Michael Lord Poynings Robert Lord Morley Thomas Lord Ashley John Lord Sutton the Lord Nicholas Cantilupe and Others and of Knights Batchelours the Lord John Chandos the Lord Peter Audeley and the Lord James Audeley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash junior the Lord Thomas Holland the Lord Fulk Fitz Warine Sr. Richard Pembroke and several others There were but a few Strangers at this time with King Edward because his Friends of Germany had fell off together
6000 Crossbows of Genona with other Italians under the Command of Sr. Carolo Grimaldi and Sr. Antonio Doria in all about 20000 Men. But afterwards it was encreased when John the King of Bohemia advised a Da Serres c. that all those Genouese Crossbows who were under the Leading of Amè Earl of Genoua should be joyned to the rest of their Countrymen in the Front as a Match for the English Archers and so they were in all 15000 Crossbows and 29000 Men were contained in this First Battail The Second Battail was headed by King Philip himself having with him thô some deny it James b M.S. Biblioth Vatican sign n. 2040. in Clem. VI. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 66. p. 879. Oder Rain ad hunc an §. 41 Aeneas Sylvius Hest Bâ—hem l. 32 Knighton Walsingham Stew Sâ—eed Joh. Aventin Annal. Boiorum l. 7. p. 629. Vnà omnes testantur Regem Balearicarum in Creâ—acâ hâc Pugnâ eccubuisie King of the Baleares now call'd Majorica and Minorica but I agree not with those who say that the Kings of Scotland and Navarre were here also for 't is evident that King David was now in his own Country and Charles King of Navarre was at home being a Minor and under his Mothers Tuition as Mezeray well observes But there were in this Battalia with King Philip Prince Albert Elector Palatine of the Empire Otho Duke of Austria the Bishop of Liege John Lord Beaumont of Hainalt and others to the Number of six Thousand Men of Arms and fourty Thousand Foot And hither was the King of Bohemia removed afterwards at King Philips desire The Third and Last Battail was Lead by Amè Earl of Savoy a Valiant and Noble Lord sirnamed le Vert who c Fivine le Parisien Theatre of Honer l. 8. c. c. p 310. Ferne's Blazen of Gentry p. 124. afterwards became the Soveraign of a Knightly Order called the Snares of Love which in time was changed to that of the Annuntiada with him were joyn'd the Bishop of Noyon the Earl of St. Paul the Earl of Sancerre and other Noble Gentlemen to the Number of about 5000 Lances and 20000 Foot. VI. And now when this Numerous Army was with much ado order'd in the best manner that might be by that time they stood in the open field ready embattel'd against the Enemies it was about Three in the Afternoon King Philip when first in the Head of his Squadrons he beheld the Face of the English his d Frois c. 130. fol. 64. a. Blood changed and he said aloud to his Marshals Make the Genouëse there go on before and let them begin the Battle in the Name of God and St. Dennis Now it is to be remembred as we said before that in all there were 15000 Crossbows of Genoua rightly fitted for the War But they were so weary with going on foot that day 3 long Leagues armed and with their Bows that they said to their Constable how they were not able to do any great Service at that time for they had then more need of a little Rest than of fresh Labour But yet they followed their Commanders and so were removed to the Front of all the Battails the mean while their words being told to the Earl of Alencon he said A Man has wonderfull advantage in hiring such a Company of Rascals who then begin to faint and flinch when there is most need At that ver Instant e Villani p. 876. Knighton p. 2587. Mezeray p. 27. Frois Speed Holinsh and Walsingh hist p. 157. Seres c. before the Armies engaged there fell suddainly a smart Shower of Rain accompanied with loud Thunders and a short Eclipse of the Sun before which Storm there flew over the Host an infinite Number of Ravens and other Birds of Prey crying and cawing which the Old King of Bohemia hearing of said to those about him How that was indeed a Prodigy and an evil Token for it signified many Carcasses would fall But immediately the Air began to clear again and the burning Sun appearing out of a Cloud at the Englishmen's Backs darted his Rays full in the French-men's Faces and made a spacious f Da Serres c. Rainbow At that very time the Genouëse g Frois ib. d. c. 130. c. began to approach giving after their Manner a great Leap and Shouting horribly to amaze their Enemies who yet stood still with their Bows ready and their Arrows nock'd Then the Genouëse took a second Leap and shouted as before but still the English stirred not lastly the Genouëse after a third Leap accompanied with the like Noise being now within Shot sent forth all together their Quarrels against the English But they all fell short because their Strings had received Wet in the late Rain Then at last the English Archers whose Bows were kept cover'd in their Cases during the Shower stept forward one Pace and altogether let fly their home-drawn Arrows among the Genouëse which fell as thick as Hail upon them wherefore when they felt these stinging Scorpions and saw them piercing the Heads Arms and Bodies of their Fellows and that the English were ready to send an other deadly Flight among them many of them cast down their Bows and others cut their Strings and turned their Backs in much Disorder King Philip seeing them fly thus cry'd out aloud saying Slay these Rascals for they will hinder us all by their Cowardise And then the Lord Charles of Alencon no less fierce than his Brother cry'd out like a Desperate Man h Da Serres c. Come on my Friends come on and let us boldly Charge the English making our Way over the bellies of these Genouëse who do but hinder us These Words were followed with Actions agreeable thereto so that there arose a wonderfull Confusion between the Horse contending to go forward and the Foot who sought to retire the English Archers at the same time sending their thick Flights of Arrows where the Confusion was greatest Then the Cry of the Genouëse and others arose unto the Stars being overrun and trodden down by their own Horse as well as stung in their backs by the English Archers who liberally bestow'd whole Clouds of Shot upon them So that many of the Men of Arms also fell down Horse and Man among the Genouëse where they were so far from being able to rise again that they were an occasion to Others of falling over them And immediately certain i Frois ibid. Rough Fellows that belonged to the English Army ran in among them and with Long Knives cut the Throats of those that lay thus entangled on the ground whether Earls Lords Knights or Esquires for none that Day were taken to Mercy The mean while the Earl of Alencon and the Earl of Flanders the Earl of Blois the Duke of Lorrain and James Dauphin of Vienna having at last got clear of the poor Genouëse coasted wide about with their Troops
besides the Prisoners who were David Bruce King of Scotland the Earl of Fife the Earl of Menteith the Earl of Southerland the Earl of Wigton the Earl of Carrick the Earl Douglas with a Brother of his the Lord James Douglas the Lord Robert Vescy the Bishop of Aberdeen and the Bishop of St. Andrews the Lord William Kinaston the Lord William Ramscy the Lord Malcolm Flemin the Lord David Banant the Lord John St. Clare the Lord William Moubray besides those of less Mark. In the Field many Spoils of great Value were taken together with the Holy-Cross of Halyrood House which was found upon the King who bare it about him in confidence of its Vertue and that thereby he should be secur'd from all Danger But he was now spoil'd both of that and other his Jewels which were found about him Now also was all the Booty recover'd which the Scots had taken in this Expedition and all the Provision which they had left for their own use at Hexham or elsewhere and the Chace of them was held as far as m Stow p. 243. Pruddo-Castle and Cerbridge for about 14 or 16 Miles together XII John Copland the Esquire of Northumberland immediately after he had taken his Royal Prey rode out of the Field with him and having Eight of his Friends and Servants in his Company all well mounted and armed never left riding till he had gotten above twenty Miles from the Place of Battle unto the strong Castle of Ogle in Northumberland on the River Blithe whereof He was Captain and then he said He would not deliver the King of Scots to any Man or Woman living but only at the Command of the King of England his Sovereign And so with great Care he apply'd himself to heal the Kings Wounds and sent for his Friends and Allies and others whom he could procure for Money or Friendship to help to defend the Castle because he well knew he must give an exact Account of this his Royal Prisoner The Queen of England tarried in the Field till toward the Evening with her Guard about her at which time most of the English Captains were returned from the Chace unto her But when she heard that an Esquire named John Copland had taken the King of Scots Prisoner and carried him away no Man could tell whither She dispatched a Pursuivant after him with Command to bring forth his Prisoner the King of Scots unto her gently admonishing him that he had not done well in carrying Him away without leave All the Remainder of that Day and the Night following the English Army kept the Field as well for their greater Honour as for the security of their Friends many whereof were still in the Chace But the Queen had Lodgings provided for her in the City of Durham After which she rode back with her Guard to York leaving Edward n Hector Buch. Aiscue's Hist Scotl. Holinsh c. Bailiol and the other English Lords of the North to prosecute the War with Scotland who forthwith entring that Land with fire and sword took the strong Castle of Hermitage for Roxborough was English before and without any Resistance subdued the Countries of Anandale and Galloway the Marches Tividale and Ethrick Forest extending their Arms to Cockburne-Peke and Sowtray-Hedge And thus for that time Scotland was subdued XIII The mean while Esquire John Copland o Frois c. 139. having received and perused the Queens Letters returned this bold Answer That as for the King of Scots he should be safely kept and he would be answerable for his forth coming upon occasion But that He was resolved to deliver him at the Command of no Man or Woman living but only at the Pleasure of his Sovereign Lord and Master the King of England This Answer did not well satisfie the Queen wherefore she sent to the King her Husband who lay before Calais Letters of Complaint desiring to know what he would have done in this case when one of his Subjects refus'd to Obey her Commands And fully enforming him of the Affairs of the Realm particularly of this last Success near Durham King Edward having received these Letters from his beloved Queen sent immediately for John Copland to come over the Sea to him to Calais which Command the Esquire most readily obey'd and having put his Royal Prisoner in safe Custody under the Hands of the Lord Ralph Nevill and other his Friends and Allies he rode thrô England till he came to the Lands end at Dover Where he went on Board a good Vessel arrived safe at the Camp before Calais and so was brought to the Presence of the King. As soon as the King saw him he took him graciously by the hand and said Ha! now welcome my Loyal Esquire that by your Hardiness have taken mine Adversary the King of Scots Sir said the Esquire kneeling if God of his Grace have suffer'd me to take the King of Scots by true Conquest of Arms I think no Man ought to look with an Evil Eye upon me For God of his Goodness may as well send such Fortune to a poor Esquire as to a Great Baron And Sir I humbly intreat Your Majesty not to be displeased with me thô I did not deliver the King of Scots at the Queens Command For Sir I held Service of Your Majesty as mine Oath is also made only to You and not of the Queen but only in Good Manners Besides I did not think fit to commit so great a Prisoner to any small Company least had he been lost by a Rescue I my self had incurr'd the forfeiture of my Head to Your Majesty and thô the Queen sent Messengers indeed yet there came no Forces sufficient to have secur'd his carrying up to London if I had deliver'd him upon Command The King took him up graciously from the ground saying John the good Service that You have done Us and your known Loyalty and Valour are of so high Merit that they must countervail your trespass So that We admit well of your Excuse and shame light on them that bear You any Envy or Evil Will. But now it is our Pleasure that within these three days You return home and upon the next demand deliver up your Prisoner to the Queen my Wife And to encourage You to pursue Honour as well as to requite this last piece of Service I hereby assign You near to your House where You shall think best 500 pounds Sterling of yearly Rent for You and your Heirs for ever Which till it shall be fully settled shall from this day forward be paid You yearly out of my Exchequer and here I make You Esquire for my Body By this we must understand him to be made Knight Banneret as Mr. p Stow ex Re cordo p. 243. Speed p. 580. Stow proves out of the Record who also shews from thence how this Annual Donation was paid viz. 400 l. out of the Kings Custom of the City of London and an 100
Prince Lionel holds another in King Edwards Name at Westminster III. The Pope writes to the King of England to perswade him to Peace King Edward's Answer and Odoricus Rainaldus refuted IV. King Philip attempts to gain the Flemings but in vain The Earl of Flanders returning home is imprison'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England V. King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais VI. The Earl of Flanders by pretending a Compliance gets his liberty and escapes into France VII Two Frenchmen for favouring King Edwards Right put to Death at Paris VIII John Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel in Flanders IX The French make several Efforts to relieve Calais but fail The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. X. Sr. Robert of Namur tenders his Service to King Edward before Calais XI A short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of Durham XII An Account of the Affairs of Bretagne The Battle of Roche d' Arien where Sr. Charles of Blois is taken Prisoner by Sr. Thomas Dagworth XIII Roche d' Arien retaken by the French and the English Garrison put to the Sword by the Men of the Country XIV The French Navy intended to Victual Calais defeated The Calisians thrust 500 Poor out of the Town XV. And send a Letter of their Case to King Philip c. XVI The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philips Approach returns to the English Camp The French Kings Strength he desires Leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings besiege the Town of Aire but upon Philips Approach rise XVII King Philip comes to Sangate near Calais and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer XVIII Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair XIX The Manner how Carais was yielded XX. Calais settled by King Edward XXI A Truce betwen the two Kings King Edward returns for England XXII A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders XXIII Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case I. THE mean while King Philip of France AN. DOM. 1347. An. Regni Angliae XXI Franciae VIII having now about him his Son the Duke of Normandy with his Forces thô he had by this heard also of the great Loss that his Friend the King of Scots had suffer'd for his Sake was not able as yet to attempt any thing against his Enemy of England because of the Winter Season further than that he provided a Frois c. 140. Du Serres for the Cities of Picardy that lay nearest unto Danger and set Men of War in every Fortress in the Marches of Guisnes Artois Boulogne and about Calais But however being desirous to employ that Unactive time of the Year to the best Advantage that he might as well further the next Campagne as also seek the Advice of his Peers Lords and Commons of France he b Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 893 calls a Parliament of the Estates to meet together at Paris on the Palm-Sunday following which fell that Year c Lit. Dom. G. Pasch Kâ—l Apr. on the 25 of March or the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and so became a double Holy-day Requiring all the Barons Prelates and Commons of his Realm to assist him in Leavying a mighty Army against the King of England who lay as then before Calais For he said how he had sworn not to make a Peace or so much as a Truce with his Enemies untill he had taken full Revenge for the Loss he had received at Cressy and of the high Indignities which the King of England had put upon the Crown of France as well by Invading his Realm in Hostile Manner as now by holding a Siege before Calais Which Oath tho it could not be punctually observed yet prov'd a strong Enforcement to assemble together all his Barons Prelates Chief Burgesses and Citizens to his Parliament Here several Ways were in this Great Council devised to raise Mony for the maintenance of his Wars and leavying of two Formidable Armies For King Philip had long since in his Secret Council resolved to carry on the War against England with an High hand this next Campagne Himself intending in Person to go at the Head of one Army against King Edward to raise the Siege of Calais and at the same time to send his Son the Duke of Normandy with another mighty Army into England to attempt the Conquest thereof And upon this latter Point there had been an Ordinance drawn up and contrived called the Ordinance of Normandy of which we shall speak when we come to the English Parliament held at Westminster in the beginning of this Year Now for the Procuring of a sufficient stock of Money for the Kings Service d Du Serres p. 12. it was in this Assembly agreed first of all to call the old Treasures and other Great Officers and Ministers of State to an exact Account for Abusing their Places and embezling or converting to their own Use the Taxes and other the Kings Monies they had been entrusted with and to leavy and raise of all such Offenders Fines and Mulcts proportionable to their Offences And for the future to refer the Government of the Treasury to the most eminent Persons of the Clergy and Nobility thereby to free the People from suspecting that their Contributions were any more like to be ill employed Of this Affair the Abbots of Marmoutier and Corbie are chosen Superintendants to whom Four Bishops and Four Temporal Lords were joyned Assistants Monsieur Peter of Essars Treasurer of France is flung into Prison and condemned in a vast Fine to the King and together with him many other great Officers being condemned whether justly or unjustly yield up that at once for a satisfaction which they had been so long in heaping together the Golden Spunge of Oppression being now squeez'd by the Iron Hand of the Law. Then the Banquers Lombards and other Usurers are call'd to a strict Account for all their unjust Exactions upon the poor Subjects of France The interest is proved to exceed the Principall wherefore the Principal is adjudged forfeit to the King and the Interest to be remitted if not paid or if paid to be refunded to the Debtor who had borrowed the Mony upon such Interest and all the Bonds and Obligations therefore to be cancell'd and made void And yet after e Fabian p. 274. this Wipe the Usurers themselves were not released out of Prison without large Fines to the King. But the chief Honour of this Assembly was that the whole Body tenderly sympathizing with the Head was unanimous to serve the King with their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Crown and Dignity Wherefore at that time they leavied vast Contributions among themselves according to
stand Resp The King will be advised It is Enacted that no Person bring into the Realm to any Bishop or other any Bull or other Letters from the Court of Rome or from any Alien unless he first shew the same to the Lord Chancellour or to the Warden of the Cinque Ports on loss of all that he hath It is Enacted that all Religious Persons for Lands purchased since the 20 of Edward the Third and paying no Demesne therefore amongst the Clergy shall pay Fifteens After this Mr. John Charleton one of the Messengers aforesaid produced Letters from the Bishop of Durham from the Earls of Northampton Arundel Warwick Oxford and Suffolk and from Sr. Hugh Spencer Lord of Glamorgan directed to the whole Parliament purporting that whereas the King at his Arrival at la Hogue St. Vast in Normandy had Knighted his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales whereby he ought to have an Aid of the Realm viz. Fourty shillings of every Knights Fee they would now consider thereof Whereupon the Parliament agreed thereto immediately and took Order for the speedy levying the same It is Order'd in full Parliament at the Request of the Commons that the Benefices of all Aliens should be seised into the Kings Hands and he to take the Profit of the same and that in Order thereto all Bishops should before the next Convocation certifie into the Chancery the Names of all Aliens their Benefices and the Value thereof An Act that no Alien do send any Letters forth of the Realm that shall not be first perused by the Lord Chancellour or the Warden of the Cinque-Ports on pain of losing all he hath This was the Substance of this Parliament But those who were set as Counsellors over Prince Lionel were not at all forgetfull of their Duty both as to the Defence of the Realm and to the supply of the King their Master with Men and Money Especially the Valiant and Noble Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby being now in England was very diligent in Mustering Men of War against the next Campaigne part whereof he intended to bestow about in Garrisons that fronted Scotland and with the Rest he intended to pass the Seas in Person as the Kings occasions or Commands should require For when he had finished the last Years Expedition so Gloriously as We have related the King sent unto him a Ashmole p. 681. enjoyning him to leave Gascogne and repairing into England attend to the aforesaid Affairs the Effect whereof We shall shew hereafter Only We shall not here omit that in the beginning of this Year the King had also sent back his Eldest Son the Black-Prince into England no doubt about the same business that things of that Moment might be sooner expedited For We find by the b Vid. Ashmole p. 707. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 9. §. 11. Date of One of his Letters that he was on the 18 day of January at Westminster But the Time of Action being not yet come we shall take leave to speak of such Matters as happen'd the mean while not only to carry on the continual Thread of History but also to satisfie the Curious in Matters which indeed were no whit of less moment than the more noisie Atchievements of War. III. Now thô King Philip of France was very busie as we have shewn in making Preparations to raise the Siege of Calais by Force yet was he not wanting nevertheless in his Artificial Attempts to save the Effusion of Blood and if possible to prevent the hazard of another Blow by milder Counsels He secretly therefore ply'd the Pope to use his Endeavours with King Edward if by any means he might persuade him to entertain a Treaty Wherefore c Odor Rainal ad hunc annâ—◠§. 23. Pope Clement VI. commanded his Cardinal-Legats Annibald and Stephen to spare no pains but if they could not procure a Peace that they would at least take care to make a Truce between the two Kings And he himself by his Letters exhorted them Both Philip that by the Calamities of France he would be moved to embrace Peace and Edward that he would not only consider the innumerable Mischiefs whereof he was look'd on to be the Author in that War but that he would cast his Eyes towards the East where he might obtain immortal Triumphs over the Enemies of God and a Crown of Temporal and Eternal Glory but that the Barbarians grew insolent at these Wars of Christendome and entertain'd hopes of trampling the Cross quite under feet d d Odor Rainal ibid. ex Tâ—m 5. Epist secret ep 896. Fox Acts and Men. p. 505. sed nos verbatimcae Origin CLEMENT the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his well-beloved Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolicall Benediction If you would diligently consider most Dear Son as a Catholick Prince ought to do the slaughters of innumerable Persons redeem'd with the pretious Blood of Christ the loss of Goods and the hazard of Souls more bitterly to be bewailed which the Dissentions and Wars stirred up between You and our well-beloved Son Philip the Illustrious King of France have brought forth and yet dayly do bring forth without any intermission together with the Groans of poor Pupils Orphans Widows and other miserable Persons who being plunder'd and robbed and almost famished do cry unto the Lord with Tears running down their Cheeks Besides the Destructions of Churches and Monasteries and Holy Places the Sacrilegious Taking-away of Vessels and other Ornaments dedicated to Gods Service also the Seisings Incarcerations Oppressions and Spoilings of Religious and Ecclesiasticks and other Persons and other innumerable detestable and execrable Evils manifestly offending the Eyes of the Divine Majesty if you revolve all these things in your Royal Breast and add further to your Consideration in this Part that by the Premises the Catholick Faith especially in the Eastern Parts is oppressed and the Faithfull there abiding by reason of the said Dissentions and Wars being deprived of the Assistance of the Catholicks of the Western parts are thereby afflicted by the Infidels who behold Christendom so embroiled with deadly Persecutions more cruelly than ever althô in these Days there is in the said Eastern Parts a better opportunity of Propagating the said Faith than hath been for many Ages past We believe verily we believe that you will soften your Heart and lest such and so great Evils might further proceed and so much good as might be done by propagating the foresaid Faith in these our Days might be hindred that You will apply and turn your gentle Mind to make Peace and Agreement with the foresaid King. For most Beloved Son if God hath given You prosperous Success and Fortune your Mind ought rather to be humbled than to be puffed up and to appear more inclinable to the said Peace that so You may take care to direct the Endeavours of your Soul to please God who loveth Peace
and delighteth in peace-full-minded Men thereby to put an end to the foresaid Evils which no doubt do now grievously offend him Furthermore We have great cause to marvell that our Reverend Brother Annibald Bishop of Tusculum and our Beloved Son Stephen of the Title of St. John and St. Paul Priest and Cardinal of the Apostolick See being sent as Legates from Us and the said Apostolick See to treat of Peace thô they diligently and faithfully labour'd for the same as Lovers of Verity Justice and Equity and therewithall had an high regard to your Honour could not yet for all that obtain Licence as touching any Treaty relating to the said Peace to be admitted into your Royal Presence Wherefore We more earnestly desire your Princely Majesty and for the Mercies of God with more Ardency require the same that by taking up and preventing with the sweetness of Piety and Compassion the foresaid horrible Evils You may avoid the Vengeance of Gods indignation which were much to be feared if you should still persevere to foment those Evils which God forbid And as touching the Treaty of Peace for which the foresaid Cardinals were sent unto You howbeit secretly lest it might have been any Derogation to your Honour We desire You again to condescend thereunto and with your Affections to encline your Mind unto the same since Peace is so pleasing unto God so desirable to the World and so profitable both to You and the foresaid King and the whole Catholick Faith That so the said Peace being by Gods Assistance established and settled You may assay your puissant Valour about the Service of God in the foresaid Eastern Parts so good occasion as we said before being at this time offer'd which would be an apt Advancement of your Honour and no doubt a prosperous Augmentation of your Princely Name For We have heard of You that You are wont to behave Your Self servently and vigorously in all your Undertakings Thus We doubt not but that You will write unto Us again concerning the Premises and the Purport of your Intentions touching the same Dat. e e Ita Odor Rainald ex Copia Vatican malè ergo Fox 18 Febr. Avenion xviii Kal. Februarii Anno Pontificatus nostri V. This Letter was answer'd by King Edward in this Manner To the most Holy Father in God CLEMENT by Divine Providence Chief Bishop of the Holy Roman and Catholick Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of France and of England and Lord of Ireland Devout Kissings of his Holy Feet Most Holy Father We understand by the Letters of the Reverend Fathers in God Annibald Bishop of Tusculum and Stephen of the Titles of St. John and St. Paul Priest Cardinals and Legates of the Court of Rome as also by your Holinesses Letters sent unto Us that you have great marvel for that your said Legates being sent unto Us to treat of an Accommodation between Us and our Adversary of France We would not yet suffer them to talk with Us secretly for the safeguard of our Honour the intention of your Heart being in that manner to have made the foresaid Accommodation Wherein also You complain and bewail the Death of Christian People the loss of their Goods and danger of their Souls the dolefull Cries and Lamentations of the Poor Orphans and Widows and the Destruction of other wretched People with the sacrilegious Robbings of Churches and other Mischiefs innumerable especially the Decay of the Christian Faith in the East which by the Wars between Us and our Adversary of France is deplorably impaired as the said Letters do import And that forasmuch as God hath given unto Us Triumphant Fortune We ought so much the rather to abase and humble our Heart and be the readier to accept of and encline to Peace Now as concerning all these Things most Holy Father We give your Holiness to understand that both to your foresaid Legates and other your Messengers sent unto Us to every of them We have still offer'd Reasonable ways of promoting of Peace and We every Day declare the same and that not secretly but openly For We are not afraid nor asham'd to make our Purpose manifest For He that is the High Judge both of ſ Philip King of France Him and Us in whose Dispose all things are hath given unto Us the Crown of France as our Right and Heritage The which Right our foresaid Adversary hath for a long time by Force detained from Us thô We sought in peaceable Manner to obtain the same and yet do if by any Reasonable way We may obtain the same And this the rather for the Benefit of Christendom and that the foresaid Evils might cease which by His Injustice only have had their Birth and Continuance Yet notwithstanding as you know before this time We assented to a Truce upon certain Articles contained in Writing all this he hath infringed Neither doth the Wrong which he offereth unto Us in our foresaid Heritage suffice but he endeavoured also during the said Truce to invade our Realm of England and other our Lands and furthermore maintaineth the Scots and aideth them for the utter Destruction of Us our People and Lands aforesaid So that We were enforced for the safeguard of our People and Lands by such Lawfull means as We might to defend Our Selves and frustrate his wicked Design For which intent committing our Quarrel to the Hands of God We are come against him to conquer our Heritage of France since when God hath given Us divers Victories over him as We trusted he would in his most Righteous Judgment and as We knew he was able by his Almighty Power Which indeed he hath graciously manifested unto Us all Chance of Fortune set aside in respect only of our Just Title and without the least of our Deserts Whereface with all Humility of Soul We always give him Thanks praising his Holy Name most devoutly both Night and Day For We acknowledge that these things were not brought to pass by our Strength and Force Wherefore most Holy Father We desire your Holiness and as much as in us lies earnestly require You that You who supply the Place of the Son of God on Earth and have the Care of the Souls of all Christians and therefore ought to be Indifferent Upright and Equal towards all Men without any Respect of Persons that You I say will receive good and true Information concerning the foresaid Objections and will put to your holy helping Hand that as much as in You lies our said Adversary of France may be brought to acknowledge the Wrong which in this Point he hath done unto Us and which by your Aid may be redressed But that especially he may receive no Aid nor Countenance from You in this his wrongfull Dealing For if it be so We then appeal unto the Supream Judge of Judges who for a time may permit Wrongs to be done for the sins of Mankind but in the end redresseth the same neither leaving
Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. the Twelfth of February the valiant English Lord Maurice Berkley younger Son to Maurice Lord Berkley and Brother to the Lord Thomas Berkley in the Camp before Calais to the extream Regret of his Master King Edward who set an high value upon his Services of which an Estimate may be from the Retinue he had at the time of his Death Which consisted of six Knights among whom p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 89. was Sr. Nicolas de St. Maure aliàs Seymour and 32 Esquires with 30 Archers on Horseback and 200 Archers on Foot. Three q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. days after his Death the King in contemplation of his singular Merits gave unto Thomas his Son and Heir a Grant of the Profits of his own Wardship as to his Lands and Marriage This Noble Family of the Berkleys is derived from Maurice the Son of Robert Fitz-Harding who was the Son of Harding one of the Royal Blood or as some say r Vetus M.S. in Castro de Berkley Leland Coll. 1 Vol. p 912. Youngest Son to the King of Denmark who came into England with William the Conquetour The foresaid Maurice Son to Robert Fitz-Harding had in Marriage the Lady Alice Daughter and at last ſ Dudg 1 Vol. p. 352. Godwins Catal. Bishops p. 500. sole Heir to Roger Lord Berkley so called from his Castle of Berkley in Gloucestershire and thereupon changing his Name became Ancestour to this Illustrious Family which since that Time hath flourished and still continues in great Honour to this Day X. I do not meet with any more Persons of Rank that died during this Siege in the English Camp but 't is certain that not a few of the Common Sort were wasted away as we said before The Loss of whom was notwithstanding easily made up by succeeding Recruits from England and other Places For many great Lords of Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Almain came thither to the Camp some indeed onely to pay their Respects to the King and Queen others to joyn with the English Forces And of all the Visitors none departed home again without an agreeable Gratuity from the King. Among all those Lords that won by the Kings Fame or otherwise came now to embrace his Service the Lord t Frois c. 141. Robert of Namur was not the least Considerable This worthy young Lord had lately received the Order of Knighthood at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by the hands of that Renowned Christian Souldier the Lord Lespentine and had thereupon continued for some time in the Holy Wars but was now newly returned into the Country of Namur and Liege He was as then in the first flower and vigour of his Age of good Discretion Courage and Conduct and had not since his Return been engaged by either of the two Kings of England or France but now of his own Accord he came gallantly attended and richly provided to the Siege before Calais and there offer'd himself to the Service of King Edward By him he was received very graciously as also he was highly welcome to the Queen and the English Lords but especially he won upon the Kings Affections on the Account of the Lord Robert of Artois his Uncle whose Name he bare and whose Person and Vertues seemed again to be revived in him Nor shall it be forgot that this Martial Knight was a great Friend to the Muses as we may learn from u Frois l. 1 a. 1. f. 1. ad finem Sr. John Froisard For whose laborious and noble History which for the most part contains the Heroick Acts of King Edward and his Children we are not a little beholding to this Sr. Robert of Namur Lord of Beaufort who requested him to set about that Laudable Work and both encouraged and assisted him in it Sr. Robert of Namur bare for his Arms x Ashmoles Garter p. 79. Plate 85. Or a Lion Rampant Sable Crowned Gules and in process of time became Knight of the Garter For from this time forward he became Liegeman to the King of England who thereupon gave him for the first Hansel of his Favour 300 l. per annum to be paid by Yearly Return at Bruges in Flanders and now he continued with his Troops amounting to 300 Men of Arms before Calais till the Place was taken About y Knighton p. 2592. Whitsuntide King Edward sent to all the Abbeys and Priories throughout England for an Aid of their Woolls and for a proportionable Support from all other Religious Houses as lately had been granted unto him in Parliament One z Odoric Rainald ad hanc an §. 24. ex Archivis Vaticani says that he seized on all the Ecclesiastick Wealth under the specious pretence of Borrowing it to maintain him in his Wars against France By whose Example King Philip to defend his own laid hands on the Revenues of all Priests except Cardinals not residing in his Kingdom and of other Benefices he took the Tenths Whereupon the Pope sent unto him Pastor Archbishop of Ambrun and William Bishop of Chartres to restrain him and the Gallican Clergy he exhorted to maintain the Liberties of the Church Threatning a Tem. 5. ep secret 1160. Clem. VI. PPae moreover to use his Pontifical Authority against him unless he would restore the Ecclesiastick Right to its pristine Splendour But we do not find that King Philip alter'd his Course of Proceeding for all this the Necessity of his Affairs calling for extraordinary Supplies XI Before we come to the Winning of Calais it is fit we should take notice of other Matters that happen'd elsewhere the mean while no whit less Worthy of Memory And first we shall enquire after the Condition of Scotland at this time We shew'd before how the preceding Year immediately after the Battle of Durham the English pursuing their Victory recover'd the Castle b Hector l. 15. f. 325. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. of Hermitage with all Anandale Marches Tweedale Tividale and Ethrick Forest besides regaining what the Scots had won in England enlarging their Limits as far as Cockburne's pit and Solway And all this was obtained in a manner with little or no Resistance for the Scots were now brought c Buchan ibid. so low since that blow they received near Durham that for a long while after they were unable to bring any considerable Army into the Field But now early this Year King Edward Bailiol in hopes to recover his Inheritance during this weak Estate of Scotland d Knighton p. 2592. Hector Buchan Holinshead Scotl. enters that Kingdom by Carlile with an Army of 20000 Men and the Lord Piercy with as many more by Barwick made a Road into Louthian and Cliddisdale whence he brought great Booty of Goods and Cattle while the Bailiol raged alike in Galloway Niddisdale and Carrick so that the Scots were at last compelled to yield unto him and accept him for their King. From hence when both the Armies
and many others have observed But to return to Affairs at home After * Stow p. 245. Easter King Edward made an Order in Council that none of his Servants should presume to take up any Victuals of any Man against his Will nor then without paying ready Money on pain of Punishment proportionable to his Offence and being banish'd the Kings Court for ever To the Execution of which Decree Sr. Richard Talbot Lord High-Steward of the Kings Houshold was appointed to have an Eye VI. The Truce taken between the two Kings at Calais last Year drawing now toward an end upon z Ashmâ—le p. 656. ex Rot. Franc. 15. Maâ—i 22 Ed. 3 m. 13. the Pope's Letters to King Edward he was prevail'd with to depute Thomas Falstaff Arch-Deacon of Welles John Carleton Canon of Welles both Doctors of Law and Frier John de Reppes of the Order of Mount Carmel who had Commission to prorogue the Truce and to Treat of a Final Peace The Truce they accordingly prorogued for six Weeks to Commence on the 13 of September following and to be observed throughout all Picardy Normandy Artois Boulogne and Flanders But the King well perceiving the delay and backwardness of the French to close with him sincerely either for a Truce or Peace in a Claus 22. Ed. 3 p. 2. m. 8. in Derse October next drew down his Forces to Sandwich intending to pass the Seas Whereupon the French were quicken'd to a speedy agreement as to the Prorogation of the foregoing Truce b 18 Novemb. Râ—t Franc. 22. Ed. 3 an 10 from the 18 of November 1348 unto the 1 of September 1349 on News whereof the King return'd to London VII On the c Knighton p. 26â—0 Stow p. 248. Walsirgh hist p. 160 n. 20. Odor Rainald quanquaâ— hâ—c 2 post annis pen. t. 25 of October King Edward solemnized the Translation of St. Themas the Confessor once Bishop of Hereford to the great Expence and Charge of his Kinsman the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe This St. Thomas had been also of the sirname of Cantilupe being in his Life time a Gentleman of a very Noble and Ancient House as appears * Vid. Dagd 1 Vol. p. 731. by the Antiquity of their Baronage in our Records but as Bishop Godwin d Gedâ— Catal. Bps p. 457. says of a much more Noble and Excellent Mind For he was not only of a wonderfull Ingenuity and exquisite Judgement but even from a Child of great Diligence and Industry in his studies of Marvellous Exactness of Life and of incomparable Candour and Vertue His Father was William Lord Cantilupe e Mâ—tth Paris l. 17. p. 815. Dagd ibid. High-Steward to King Henry III of England a Man of great Power and Loyalty His Mother was the Lady Millicent Countess of Eureux in Normandy He first studied at Oxford and afterwards at Paris where having proceeded Master he return'd to Oxford and there apply'd himself to the Canon Law till he went out Doctor in that Faculty After this he entirely gave his Mind to the study of Divinity whereof he was to proceed Doctor in the Year 1273 Robert Kilwardby with whom he was very familiarly acquainted was then Provincial of the Friers-Preachers and Doctor of the Chair in Oxford when he was presented But before the time came that he should keep tho Act or rather the Act being by some Accident delayed till then the said Doctor Kilwardby was become Archbishop of Canterbury But this notwithstanding he vouchsafed this his old Friend the Honour to come down to Oxford to his Act on purpose and there gave him the Ceremonies of his Creation And it is observable that this Archbishop and Pâ—ofessor in his speech after the Disputation among many other great Praises which he bestowed on him affirmed that he the said Archbishop having of many Years been Confessor to the said Candidate Dr. Thomas Cantilupe had never perceived him guilty of any sin which he could judge to be Mortal Certainly either the Confessee did a little mince Matters or the Confessor was blinded with the prejudice of Friendship or some other Infirmity or the Relator did take a little too much liberty in Honour of the Man. Who notwithstanding was no doubt of great Merit every way as may appear by these manifold Honours which as so many loud Testimonials of his Vertue were heaped upon him both Living and Dead For first he was made Arch-Deacon of Stafford then Chancellour of the University of Oxford then Lord f Philipor's Catal Chancellors p. 24. Chancellour of England and afterwards Bishop of Hereford lastly a few Years after his Death Canonised a Saint For whereas in his Travels to or as some say from Rome he departed this Life at Civita Vecchia a Town of Tuscany in the Year of our Lord 1282 and was Honourably buried in the Church of St. Severus there from whence afterward his Bones were brought into England and solemnly interred in his own Church of Hereford near the East-Wall of the North-Cross-Isle where we see an High-Tomb of Marble Within a few Years after his Death there being no less than g Nâ—c Harpsfeld Hist Feel Angl. secul 13. c. 21. ex Floril ad an 1287. 163 Miracles said to be wrought by him his Fame was so great that we find h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 92. ex Rot. Rom. 12. Ed. 2. m. 9. King Edward the Second in the Twelfth Year of his Reign and the Year of our Lord 1318 sent an Embassy to Pope John XXII about his Canonization And two Years after namely in the Year of our Lord 1320 i Oder Rainald ad an 1320. à § 43. ad §. 47. being the 13 of King Edward the Second on the XV of the Calends of May he was by the said Pope John Canonized with great Solemnity at Avignon and the VI of the Nones of October was set apart for his Festival as appears by the said Pope's Bull bearing Date at Avignon XII Cal. Maii Pontificatús nostri Anno IV. But now King Edward designing to Honour the Memory of this Holy Man took up his Bones this Year being k Nic. Harpsfield Hist Fecl Angl. secul 13. c. 21. Sixty five Years since he died and had them Honourably reposed in a Rich and Glorious Shrine of great Value This small Digression I ow'd to the Memory of this Worthy Prelate as well that the Reader might understand what kind of Man he had been whose Translation King Edward did now so devoutly solemnize as also because I believed that such a Person to whom so many of several Nations and Interests never envied the Title of a glorified Saint would much less by any Man of Modesty be envied an Honourable Mention in History VIII While King Edward was thus with as much Devotion as Splendour keeping a Feast in Memory of this Great Prelate Henry the Noble Earl of Lancaster was by him l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 786. ex Claus
London and of all his Ancestors And this c Stâ—w Survey 〈◊〉 p. 478 479 480 481 c. House of Carthusian Monks he the said Founder willed to be call'd the Salutation and that One of the Monks should be called Prior and he gave them the said place of 13 Acres and a Rod of Land with the Chappel and Houses there builded for their habitation He also gave them the three Acres of Land lying without the Walls on the North-part betwixt the Lands of the Abbot of Westminster and the Lands of the Prior of St. John Which three Acres being purchased enclosed and dedicated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London as aforesaid remain'd till our Fathers days by the Name of Pardon Church-yard and served for burying of such as desparately ended their own Lives or were executed for Felony But now it is an Hospital for poor Men and Children of the Foundation of the Worthy Thomas Sutton Esquire still called by Corruption the Charter-house and for its Revenues and decent Provision for young Scholars and others excepting that Royal Foundation of Christ-Church Hospital in London to which I owe my Education the most notable in all this Kingdom About the same time and upon the same occasion that this Work of Charity began in West-Smithfield One d Stow's Chron. p. 246. 277. and Survey of London p. 117. Mr. John Corey a Godly and Learned Divine purchased of Doctor Nicolas Prior of the Holy Trinity within Aldgate one Toft of ground near East-Smithfield by the Tower of London for the Burial of them that died with condition that it might be called the Church-yard of the Holy Trinity which ground by the aid of divers Devout Citizens he caused to be enclosed with a Wall of Stone In which place afterwards namely in the Year 1359 King Edward III in contemplation of a vow which in a Tempest at Sea he had made to build a Monastery to the Honour of God and our Lady of Grace if God would graciously bring him safe to Land did by the consent of the said Prior and his Convent build and found the Abbey of St. Mary of Grace causing it to be named East-Minster thô it was also called by the Name of New-Abbey placing therein an Abbot and Monks of the Cistertian Order VII The mean while in consideration of this grievous Mortality e Stow Chron. p. 246. all Suits and Pleadings in the Kings Bench and other places ceased and all * M. S. R. P. p. 71. §. 4. Sr. Rob. Cotten's Abridgement p. 73. §. 4. Ano. 25. Ed. 3. Sessions of Parliament for the Space of more than two Years were hindred Pope Clement for his part being alarum'd with these heavy and prodigious Judgements of Almighty God never ceased * Knighton p. 2598 Odâ—r Rainald id an 1349. §. 26. c. ex Tom. Epâ—st Secret. ep 72. 73. by his Letters to both the Kings of England and France to exhort them as he doth most earnestly to a final agreement that they might so avoid the severe stroke of Gods Vengeance Assuring them that all these things happen'd as a Punishment for the Sins of Mankind But especially he entreated King Edward to send his Orators to Avignon f Oder Rainald ibid. ex Tem. 7. Epist Secret. ep 102. having says he our confidence in him in whose hands are the Hearts of Kings We resolve by no means to desist from the prosecution of the Treaty already begun But intend by so much the more effectually and carefully to promote it by how much the more the miserable state of the World which the jealous God and the Lord of Vengeance being provoked with the multitude of Sins which Charity doth not cover but wrath encreases doth consume in sury by a general slaughter of an unheard-of Pestilence doth most especially require an agreement between you and the said King of France and is known to want it extreamly Lest which God forbid that small Flock which the Saviour of the World who woundeth and healeth hath like Seed-corn preserved from this Destruction should now be drown'd in the Waves of Commotions and swallow'd in the miserable Tempest of War c. Dat. Avin XV Cal. December Ano. Pontif. nostri VIII Upon this Pious Exhortation King Edward was so far prevail'd with as to g Stow p. 246. Holinsh p. 945. send his Commissioners who were William Bateman Bishop of Norwich the Earls of Lancaster Suffolk and Northampton the Lord Walter Manny the Lord h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 127. Robert Bourchier the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Richard Talbot These all arrived at Calais in order to Treat with the French Commissioners who were then come as far as St. Omers to meet them together with the Bishop of Lyons the Abbot of St. Dennis and the two Cardinals who came on the Pope's behalf to moderate Matters between the two parties Being all met in a Convenient place half-way between the Towns of Calais and St. Omers the Frenchmen still insisted on the restoring of Calais or rasing it down to the ground But neither of these would the English admit of However at last by the urgent Prayers and Intercession of the Cardinals it was at last agreed that certain Commissioners from both the Kings of England France should enter upon a Treaty of Peace to be held from the time that this Treaty ended unto the Month of September following By which if then a final Peace could not be had that the Crown of France should be brought by the Consent of both Partys to a certain convenient place within that Realm and there without any other Tryal or Appeal the Right thereof to be decided by a Pitch'd Battle This Truce and Agreement was thus made on the i Ashmole p. 657. Tenth of March * 13â—â— / â—â— 1349 / 50 but the Conditions came to no Effect the whole project being null'd on occasion of the Death of Philip of Valois who died a Month before the limited time to wit on the k Mezeray ad an 1350. 22d of August the Year following VIII During the rage of this horrid Pestilence the Pope l Matth. Villani l. 1 c. 3. Odor Rainald ad an 1348. §. 33. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 83. p. 893. to raise the Faithfull to a Christian-like Constancy by the hope of a Glorious Immortality gave Authority to all Priests of absolving the Penitent from all their sins and granting them the benefit of Indulgences And in his Diploma bearing date the XIV Kal. June the Year foregoing he proposes great Indulgences to those Priests who should administer the Sacrament or other Ghostly Comforts to the sick as also to all those who should perform any good or friendly Office to the Dying or to the Dead either in Physick Burial or the like And further because many were like to be deprived of the Benefit of Priests Conversation he now by his Bulls m Knighton p.
those many notable Successes of King Edward rather to the Vertue Holiness and Prayers of this Man than to any other worldly either Wisdom or Prowess Thus much we shall readily acknowledge that althô after his Death King Edward had the same good Success as before the Reason may be justly attributed to that Prince's Care of following the Precepts of this memorable Prelate For whose wonderfull Modesty we have this also to say that whereas he might have obtain'd of the King whatever Preferment he would have asked he was so far from any Ambitious Desire of superfluous Promotion that it was long e'r he could be prevail'd with to accept a Prebend of Lincoln when it was offer'd him he being at the same time Chancellor of St. Pauls in London And it is certain that the Archbishoprick came at last to him without the least of his Endeavours for it the Convent electing him the King allowing their Choice and the Pope who knew not any of these things at the same time conferring this Dignity upon him without the least Application made to him in his Behalf Whereas had he but shew'd the smallest Inclination for the Place he might have obtain'd it of the King before Concerning which Matter when certain spake to the King saying they admired that his Majesty did not admit of this Mans Election from the Convent for they had chosen him before his Predecessour John Hufford was chosen he replied That it was because he could very ill spare so Worthy a Man to be from him and he never could perceive that he himself desired to be spared He was succeeded by Simon Islip Keeper of the Privy Seal who was Consecrated in December 1349. Besides these c Walsingh hist p. 160. ubi Banham male pro Langham Vti aperte lâ—quet 〈◊〉 Simon Langham selus sib haec cmnia Officia Tâ—talos vendicet v. Godw. Catal. Bâ—sh p 143. Philpets Catal. Chancell p. 41. Catal. Treas p. 36. Simon Abbot of Westminster being taken away in this Visitation was succeeded by Simon Langham who was afterwards Lord Treasurer of England then Bishop of Ely soon after Lord Chancellour then Archbishop of Canterbury in which Seat having sat two Years he was by Pope Vrban V created Cardinal Titulo S i Sixti and lastly was made Bishop-Cardinal of Preneste by Gregory the XI X. These are all whom I find to have died this Bout of the most Eminent of the Prelacy of England a Number not great but for the Heighth of the Dignity and Worth of the Persons very considerable But of the inferior Clergy there was such havock made that many Churches were left wholly void without either Parson or Curate or any to perform the least Divine Office whether Mass Mattins Vespers Sacraments or Burial So that it was hard to procure any one to be a Chaplain or to Administer in any Church under Ten Pounds or Ten Marks per Annum at least d Knighton p. p. 2600. n. 20. Which Ten Marks as Money then went did countervail 40 l. with us And few or none would accept of a Vicaridge worth 20 l. or 20 Marks per annum whereas before the Pestilence when there was Plenty of young Divines a Man might have a Chaplain for four or five Marks per annum nay sometimes for two or three besides his Board So that now the Prophecy of Robert the Jacobin Frier against the Clergy was very fully and severely accomplished indeed But shortly after this Scarcity of Clergymen was abundantly made up or rather the Church was overstock'd For vast Numbers of Laymen whose Wives were dead of the Plague came crowding now into Orders many of whom were meer Idiots and utterly unlearned except that perhaps they knew how to read thô not with Understanding Sr. John Poultney e Stow's Survey p. 86. 252. who had been Mayor of London Four times and a very charitable and munificent Person died also in this Pestilence but of others who were either considerable for their Dignity Birth or Station I have not met with any So that it is no wonder if when the Wars were again renewed between England and France King Edward seem'd nothing the weaker for all the great Loss of his People in this Plague For of the Common Sort France was as much exhausted hereby as England and in a manner all King Edwards expert Barons and Captains remained still alive to be another Plague to that Nation XI In Wales f Stow p. 246. Holinsh Chr. Ireland p. 72. also this Epidemical Calamity raged extreamly and shortly after passing over into Ireland it made great havock of the Englishmen in those Parts especially about the Sea-coasts But as for those who were true Irishmen born and dwelt in the hilly Countries it scarce just saluted them So that they suffer'd but little or no loss thereby When the Scots heard of this strange and dreadful Fatality here in England g Knighton p. 2600 n. 1. Stow p. 246. a. n. 60. they too maliciously insulted over our Sufferings and instead of humbling themselves under a due sense of Gods terrible Judgments made a Scoff and Derision of what should have been their Warning and in their ordinary Conversation took up this profane Oath by the foul Deaths of the English Nor this only but out of a most inveterate and implacable hatred desiring if possible to add more weight to the heavy Judgments of Gods Hand they made a Warlike Rendezvous in Solkirk Forest on purpose to invade the North-Borders But before they could make any considerable Progress a sudden and most terrible kind of Death fell among them So that more than 5000 of them died in a manner presently Whereupon they made all the haste home imaginable as well the infected as the whole but they were overtaken wearied despairing and out of Order by a strong and well-prepared Body of English who easily overcame and slew of them with a great Slaughter But however so many escaped home as sufficed to communicate the Infection they had won by this Expedition over all that Kingdom also So that Scotland partook of the universal Contagion in as high a Degree and in the same manner as other Countries had done before them Only in this there was a difference that whereas other Nations with trembling sat still and waited for it the Scots did seem ambitious to fetch it in among themselves XII In the mean time whereas during the Plague there was almost every where sufficient plenty of all things so that in a manner no other Mischief reigned all that while as soon as this grand Conquerour was march'd off innumerable other Mischiefs as so many petty Tyrants began to play their Tragical parts also And h Knighton p. 2599. lin 65. first by occasion of the Plague the Cattle for want of Men to look to them wandred about in fields at randome from whence no Body drove or gather'd them So that they began to perish among
Prisoner and at that time had the Custody of him to deliver him up to the Bishops of Durham and Caerlile to William Earl of Northampton the Lords Henry Piercy and Ralph Nevill or to any Four Three or Two of them and at the same time another Command was issued out to them to deliver him under the form and upon the Conditions agreed on And so toward the latter end of October King David being at liberty upon Parole went into Scotland in hopes by his Presence to quicken his Subjects to come to a Composition with King Edward but not being able to accomplish his intention so soon as he had design'd x Knighton p. 2603. n. 1â— c. the Scots refusing also to redeem him on such Conditions as King Edward propounded he return'd into England about half a Year after at which time a Command bearing date y Râ—t Scâ—tâ—â— 26. Ed. 3. n. 3. 28 March an 26. Ed. 3. was sent to the Sheriff of Yorkshire to conduct the Hostages of Scotland to Barwick they to be there in Quindena z Pasha 17. Aprâ—s B. Dom. Lit. Paschae it being the Day fixed for King Davids return to that Town And so he remain'd a Prisoner still in England CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1351. An. Regni Angliae XXV Franciae XII wherein the King advances several Great Men to Honour II. The Lord John Beauchamp Captain of Calais being taken Prisoner is succeeded by Sr. Robert Herle His Acts a Truce III. A Truce with Spain The Lord Guy de Nesle taken Prisoner before the Truce with France IV. Twenty four Christians Martyr'd by the Governour of Damascus who is therefore put to Death by the Soldane of Babylon V. King John renews the Order of the Star. VI. The Manner how the Castle of Guisnes was taken by the English of Calais VII King John of France endeavours to recover it in vain VIII The Lord Charles of Blois set at Liberty upon his Parole IX The Lord Guy de Nesle slain in Battle by Sr. Walter Bentley X. The Earl of Stafford created Lieutenant of Gascogne wins a Victory over the French the Death of Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the Garter XI King Edward provides for Defence of the Seas William Earl of Hainalt Marries the Eldest Daughter of Henry Duke of Lancaster XII The Duke of Lancaster gets Honour of the Duke of Brunswick XIII King Edward prepares to resist the French. XIV Pope Clement dies and the Earl of Kent Two Malefactors beheaded at London I. ON the a M.S. Record Parl. p. 71. c. Sr. Rob. Cottâ—n's Abridgment p. 73. c. Seventh of February being the Monday in the Vtas of the Purification of our Lady at the Opening of this Year King Edward held his High-Court of Parliament at Westminster Over which at first Prince Lionel the Kings Third Son was commission'd to preside because the King and his Eldest Son Prince Edward were then preparing to cross the Seas thô afterwards that Voyage being defer'd we shall find them both present at this Sessions Thô the Parliament began so early to sit yet by reason of several Continuations from Day to Day because many of the Lords were not yet come it was not open'd till Tuesday the 15 of February At which time Receivers being appointed to gather and Tryers to consider of the several Petitions from England Wales Gascogne Scotland Ireland Bretagne and other Foreign Isles and Places the Reasons for the Calling of the Parliament were declared in Presence of the King and his Nobles As first because the King having in the Twenty second Year of his Reign summon'd a Parliament was both hindred to continue that Session and also to b From hence it appears that the Printed Statutes pretended to be made anno 23 Fd. 3. are falsly dated call them to another by reason of the late dreadfull Plague untill this time Also that the Business of his Wars required their Concurrence because the Peace was not punctually observed and Domestick Matters were likewise to be taken into Consideration for that Labourers refused to do their Service at reasonable and usual Rates and lastly because the Treasure of the Realm was exported For these Considerations was the Parliament convened and hereupon to consult the King did especially command and require them and Sr. William Shareshull Knight the Kings Chief Justice repeated the Substance of all this to the Commons willing them to weigh all things well and provide for them effectually The whole Process and Matter following as it is to be seen at large in the Record was deliver'd by Dr. John Thoresby Bishop of c Ita emendo Winchester in M. S. Sr. Bob. Câ—ttâ—n ea I hâ—lpets Catal Chaccell Worcester then Lord Chancellour to John Codington Clerk of the Parliament at the Kings Command to be entred into the Rolls of the same Parliament In this d Godw. Catal. Bâ—sin Câ—nter §. 54. p. 14. Parliament the old Controversie between the Archbishops of Canterbury and York concerning Bearing their Crosiers began to be renew'd with the usual Heat but at last it was wholly referred to the King 's Hearing Who set down this final Rule to be observed for the future That the Archbishop of York might bear his Cross in the others Province saving the Preeminence to Canterbury but that in token of Subjection every Archbishop of York at his Entrance into that Bishopâ—â—ck should offer an Image of Gold to the value of Fourty Pounds at the Shrine of Thomas of Canterbury The same Image to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two Months after his Inthronization In this Parliament Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel by his Petition prayeth that his Restitution granted in the e Vid. Lib. 1. c. 3. §. 6. p. 52. 53. Fourth of Edward the Third may be now better declared and confirmed Which the King in Consideration of the Equity of his Request and also of his many worthy Services done to the Crown most ready granted Whereupon the said Act made in the Fourth of Edward the Third Tit. 14 touching this Earl was read over and afterwards this Clause thereto adjoyned That it is by the King and Parliament Agreed that the said Restitution be Confirmed and shall remain of such full Force and Effect that John now Earl of Kent and his Heirs shall neither Challenge nor Obtain against the said Richard Earl of Arundel in any Court of England or in Wales by Writ or otherwise by any Petition in Parliament any of the Possessions or Titles that the said John or Edmund his Eldest Brother long since deceased ever had in or to the said Castle of Arundel or of any Part or Parcel thereof So as by this Restitution the said Earl Richard shall have the like Estate and Title as he should have had by Descent of Inheritance as well to all other Hereditaments whereof
ensuing in order to hold a serious Treaty for a firm and final Peace On King i Knighton p. 2607 n. 50. c. Stow p. 254. b. Frois c. 154. fol. 76. Walsing hist p. 161. n. 33 Edwards Behalf there went Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel the Lord Guy Brian and other Nobles who coming with an Equipage of 200 Horse whereof 32 were cover'd with Harness toward Avignon were met on Christmas-Eve by the Archbishop of Roüen the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Armagnac the Lord Geoffry Charny and Others who were sent Ambassadors from the French King all who being thus joyned were received with great Honour by several Cardinals Bishops Nobles Citizens and Others to the number of 2000 Horse who met them within two Miles of Avignon and brought them into the New-town called Villeneufe to the Pope's Palace but the Pomp of the Cavalcade was so great that from three of the Clock till Night they had scarce time to pass the Bridge The Noble Duke of Lancaster at his Entrance saluted all the People and rode forth to the Pope's Palace Where alighting from his horse without the Gate he made his Approach to his Holiness with all due Reverence which he was perfectly instructed how to perform by his Court-like and Princely Demeanour After some brief Discourse as the Time would permit he went thence for that time and took along with him his Holinesses Blessing to his Lodgings which had been prepared for him beforehand All the time of his Residence there which was more than six Weeks he kept such Hospitality that he was admired by the whole Court having laid in an Hundred Tuns of the best Bourdeaux Wine before his Coming and behaving himself during his Stay so obligingly to all Persons especially to the Pope and his Cardinals that they said of him how he had not his Fellow in the World. But as to the Business about which all these Great Personages came thither that being openly declared in the Consistory before the Pope and his Cardinals the English Ambassadors requested to have those Covenants now confirmed which had before been concluded upon between them at Calais To whom the Duke of Bourbon and the Earl of Armagnac retracting what they had themselves agreed to and sealed and confirmed with their Oaths in the Presence of Guy Cardinal of Bologna replied now That gladly they would have Peace if they might but as to the Disposal of Aquitain and the forefaid Counties neither said they can the French King himself nor any other whatsoever by any means alienate them from the Crown of France Nor yet could they or any of them give their consent that they should be dismembred from the entire Body of that Kingdom since both the King himself and they also had been sworn to maintain them with all their Power But yet if the King of England would cease to bear the Arms of France they were content that the Dominion and Profits of the said Dutchy and Counties should remain with King Edward in like manner as his Ancestors had held Aquitain that is to say provided always the Regality of the Crown of France should be reserved in Witness whereof Homage should be made as of old to the Kings of France for those Places To these new and unexpected Demands the Duke of Lancaster replied That as for the Oath wherewith they pretended to be so strictly bound never to alienate those Places from the Crown of France they might soon for the sake of Peace be by his Holiness absolved therefrom For having so fair a Pretence to the whole the King of England was resolved to have at least these Parts absolutely to himself to be restored unto him without any Limitation otherwise that those Arms of France which by the Advice and Consent of his Liegemen of Flanders he had undertaken to bear he would never relinquish for the fear or pleasure of any Man living And that the King of England would never do Homage to a Person over whom by Hereditary Right from his Mother he claimed Superiority But yet if they could conceive of any more equal and rational way of Agreement and resolve to be more consistent with themselves and more observant of their own Concessions than now they seemed to be King Edward as a Lover of Peace will be ready to embrace what was reasonable At this the Lords of France in a Huff replied That if so they were both ready and able to defend their Country against the English for ever And so they offer'd to rise up but thrô the urgent Importunities of the Pope and his Cardinals this bitterness was soon corrected and at last they agreed so far k Frois ibid. as that another short Truce was taken to endure till the Feast of St. John Baptist following the Pope in the mean time to endeavour what in him lay to promote the Peace and for that end by his Messengers to both the Kings to require them again to send their Ambassadors to conclude on some other Conditions that might be more acceptable to either Party And so they brake up for that time on both sides and the Duke of Lancaster having with l Knighton p. 2608. n. 30. much adoe escaped the snares laid by the French to entrap him returned with safety and Honour into England together with the Rest of his Company except only Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who m Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. died at Avignon on Twelfth-Day and was there Honourably buried And that the perfecting of a Peace at this time was hindred by the French is witnessed by an n M.S. in Bibl. Vatican sign n. 2040. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 15. vid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229 c. Ancient Anonymous M. S. in the Vatican-Library at Rome which accuses the French King of all saying In this Popes Innocent's time the Lord Guy Cardinal of Bologna by the Consent of the Pope and of his own Proper Motion went into France at his own expences to Treat of a Peace with the said King of France and Edward King of England For which Treaty the Duke of Bourbon with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of France and the Duke of Lancaster with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of England came to Avignon in the time of Innocent VI in the first Year of his Coronation to finish and compleat those things which had been ordained by the said Lord Cardinal concerning the said Peace between the said Kings to be had But finally they could not agree and the said Dukes with their Ambassadors went away in discord from the Court to their several Countries And this was done thrô default of the King of France as was commonly said He then denying those things which had been Treated Engrossed and Sealed by them and sworn to in the Hands and Presence of the said Lord
Harcourt his Lieutenant who kept at St. Saviour le Vicount his own Possession to hold frontier War in those parts And this he performed with such Zeal and Success that he alarum'd the Regent of France and obliged him to seek a Remedy as we shall see by and by XVI It is to be observed that the Three Sons of King John who fled from the Battle of Poictiers were all Green and unexpert in managing Publique Affairs especially in such a Confusion as must needs follow so Great and Publique a Loss and in the Kings absence too Charles the Dauphin thô the Eldest yet knew not how to steer his Course in so tempestuous and turbulent a Season However as Regent of the Realm o Fabian p. 282. Frois Mezeray Da Chesne p. 678. on the 29 of September which was but Ten days after the Battle he summon'd a Parliament of the Three Estates to meet him at Paris on the 15 of October then next ensuing At which time the said Duke sitting as Regent in the Parliament Chamber and the Three Estates being present Peter de la Forest Archbishop of Rouën and Chancellour of France declared openly the great Misfortune that had lately befallen the Realm by the taking of their King and Head at the Battle of Poictiers and exhorted them in a long and well-composed Oration to be aiding and assisting every Man to his Ability toward the Redemption of their Lord and Sovereign Whereupon Answer was returned by the Mouth of Dr. John Craon Archbishop of Rheims in the Name of the Clergy by the Mouth of Philip Duke of Orleans King John's Brother in the Name of the Nobility and by the Mouth of Stephen Marcell Burgess and Provost of Paris in the Name of the Commons of the Towns of France That all of them were ready to assist in that Affair to the utmost of their Power but they prayed that they might have a convenient time allowed them to consult together and to consider how to raise wherewithall to do it Which was granted So the Three Estates held their Consultation at the Fryers Minors or the Grey-Fryers in Paris for the space of 15 days In which time they appointed among them to the Number of 50 Persons to inspect and make an Enquiry after many Enormities and things as then out of Order in the Realm These Fifty superintendants chose from among themselves Six Representatives to go to the Duke of Normandy and to Request of him in their Name that he would promise to keep secret what they were about to declare unto him which he granted And then they humbly besought him to discharge all such as they should name unto him and to seise their Goods as forfeited to the Kings use And first they named Peter de la Forest Archbishop of Rouën and Chancellour of France then Sr. Simon Bucy Chief President and Counsellour to the King Sr. Robert de Lorize the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Nicolas Braque Master of the Kings Palace Ingelram de Celer Under-Treasurer of France John Brill de Berry Sovereign Master of the Moneys and Chief of the Accompts to the King and John Channeau de Chartres Treasurer of the Kings Wars All these Officers the said Persons Delegates from the Fifty would have to be discharged of their Offices for ever and moreover they demanded of the Dauphin that the King of Navarre might be deliver'd from his Imprisonment and that He himself would please to be advised and counselled by such as they should assign unto him p Frâ—is c. 170. That is to say Twelve Prelates Twelve Knights and Twelve Burgesses which Thirty six were accordingly forthwith chosen for that purpose But among them were many of whom neither the Duke of Normandy nor his Council had any good opinion And yet these Thirty six were not only to be as so many Tutors to the Duke but as so many Tribunes the whole Power of the Three Estates of Parliament being in a manner Epitomized in them When the foremention'd Officers of State heard what Arbitrary Judges were like to sit upon them they thought it their best way to fly from the impending Storm and take refuge in foreign parts till they might hear better News The Duke of Normandy upon the first proposal of these Requests and others as little agreeable q Fabian ibid. gave this reply that he would know the opinion of his Council and accordingly return them some suitable answer But first he desired to hear what aid the Three Estates would give him toward the Redemption of the King his Father Whereunto they answer'd That the Clergy had granted one Desme and an half to be paid within a Year provided they might obtain the Pope's leave and that the Lords had granted as much to be levied on their Lands and that the Commons had granted the Tenth peny of all their Moveables On the Morrow following the Duke assembled his Council in the Palace of the Louvre and there shew'd them the High Demands of the Three Estates whereupon many scruples were raised and many Messages sent too and fro between the Duke and them But the Estates return'd this final answer That except he would reform all the foresaid Miscarriages and conform himself to their Minds for the Publique Good they would not give him any Aid with their Goods as they had promised him Wherefore the Duke being in a mighty plunge sent secretly to his Father then a Prisoner at Bourdeaux to inform him of all the Premises and the King wrote back to him again That he should not by any means agree to their Insolent Demands for He had rather continue still a Prisoner to an Honourable Enemy than return home to become a slave to his own Subjects The Duke upon receit of these Letters because he would not have such Matters to be scann'd in open Parliament sent for the most Eminent of all the Three Estates to come to him to the Louvre and accordingly there came the two Archbishops of Rheims and of Lyon and the Bishop of Laon for the Clergy Sr. Waren de Luxemburgh Sr. John de Conflent Marshal of Champagne and Sr. John de Picquigny Governour of Artois for the Lords and for the Commons and Burgesses of Paris and other Towns Stephen Marcel Provost of the Merchants and Charles Cusac Unto these the Duke communicated the News he had lately received from the King his Father requiring their Advice whether it were best that day to acquaint the whole Parliament therewith or to defer it till they might be more calm and in a better humour In the end it was agreed that he should defer it till the fourth Day after all which time he waited to see if they would grow more Dutifull and more Modest in their Demands But all was in vain they still ran as High as ever and especially in the matter of Changing the Officers and of delivering the King of Navarre from the Castle of Creveceur in Cambresis where he
the same time almost in an instant to fortifie so vast and spacious a City as Paris And whatever the occasion was most certainly never any Provost did an act of more Advantage to that Place for had it not been for these Defences the City had not only been shortly after taken by King Edward but upon several other occasions easily overrun and spoiled Now when the x Frois c. 185. Duke of Normandy had compleated his Musters and gather'd together to his Assistance sundry Persons of Honour not only of the Realm of France but also out of the Empire and elsewhere for pay so that he had more than 3000 Men of Arms besides others He presently went and laid Siege to Paris toward the Gate of St. Anthony along by the River of Seyne himself being lodged at St. Maur des Fossez and his Men thereabout who every day went and skirmished even to the Walls of Paris But still the Provost's Workmen proceeded for the Souldiers within the City defended them upon all occasions Sometimes the Duke lay at St. Maur and sometimes at Charenton so that nothing could come to Paris on that side either by Land or Water For he had caused both the Rivers of Seyne and Marne to be well kept and had burnt all the Villages about Paris which were not enclosed the better to curb the Insolence of that Rebellious City And surely he had served Paris it self in the same manner if it had not been pretty well fortify'd However none durst go in or out for fear of his Men who rode on both sides the Seyne at their Pleasure there was none to Resist them Yet there were in the City several Loyal and well-disposed Persons as John Maillart and his Brother Simon and many of their Relations and Friends who were very much troubled at the Duke of Normandy's Displeasure with the City and would very willingly have submitted unto him and have beg'd his Pardon But the Provost had so inveigled the Vulgar by his Popular pretences that no Man durst contradict him unless he had a Mind to be torn in pieces The Provost for his part still kept in with the King of Navarre following his Directions in all things and all the while he had Men at Work both Day and Night by turns for Defence of the City and moreover retain'd Souldiers on all hands as well Navarrois as English Men of Arms and Archers and other of the Companions For no other Englishmen durst make War in France because hitherto there was a Truce between the two Nations When the King of Navarre saw this Difference between the Duke and the City he began to call to Mind the Words of his Brother Philip That there was no Trust to be reposed in the Vulgar and therefore doubting the Worst if Matters should proceed he very fairly took his leave of them thô not without many kind Promises and drew off to St. Dennis Where he began to retain Souldiers in great Numbers but the City of Paris paid their Wages The Duke of Normandy had now lain at Charenton six Weeks and the King of Navarre almost as long at St. Dennis and between them both all the Vicinage was in a manner destroy'd and eaten up V. But in this sad juncture it pleased God to raise up certain Eminent and Worthy Personages to labour effectually to compose Matters first between the King and the Duke and then also between the two Realms And here we must not forget the great Diligence of the Pope y Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 2. 3. ex Tom. 6. Epist Secret. p. 6. 7. who by his Letters both to the Dauphin and the King of Navarre earnestly exhorted them to a final Concord so profitable to the Realm and so comfortable to all Good Men. Besides the Archbishop of Sens then newly Ransom'd out of England the Bishop of Auxerre and the Bishop of Beauvais the Lord Charles of Monmorency the Lord Moreau de Fiennes and the Lord of St. Venant joyned together to do their utmost in this pious way of Pacification These six went so often between the Parties interceding qualifying arguing and conjuring and bare themselves with such discretion That now the King of Navarre of his own meer good Will without the least Constraint went to Charenton to the Duke of Normandy and excused himself of what he was suspected especially of the Death of the Lords of Clermont and Conflens and of Doctor Simon Bucy and of the Affront which the Provost had done unto him in the Palace at Paris Swearing that it was all without his Consent and knowledge and promising the Duke to embarque with him and joyn issue in all his Affairs both good and evil and to make the Parisians give him satisfaction for what they had done Hereupon there was Peace made between the King and the Duke the latter whereof said He was willing to pardon the Parisians on Condition that he might have the Provost and 12 other Burgesses such as he should name to punish after their Demerits After this Agreement the King of Navarre returned to St. Dennis and the Duke went to Meaux in Brie which had suffer'd so much lately on occasion of the Jaquerie Both the King and the Duke disbanded the greater part of their Troops now and several of the Burgesses in Paris especially such as had been concern'd in promoting the Treaty had invited the Duke to come to Paris promising to render him all the Dutifull Respect imaginable But the Duke reply'd How he would surely keep the Peace which he had made and sworn to without any breach or flaw on his part But as for setting his Foot within Paris that he was resolved never to do till he had satisfaction for the Affronts put upon him When the Duke of Normandy had thus broke up his Siege the Provost of the Merchants and the Chief of his Partakers went frequently to St. Dennis to visit the King of Navarre and they told him How for his sake the◠had incurred the Duke's Displeasure for that they had deliver'd him out of Prison and brought him in such Honour to Paris Wherefore they desired him for Gods sake to have some respect to their safety and not to repose too much Confidence either in the Duke or his Council nor leave them as a sacrifice to attone for all the Publique Miscarriages The King who was very subtle resolving now however things went to make the best Market for himself reply'd Certainly Friends you shall suffer no harm but I will bear a part therein But to be armed against the worst Events I would advise You since at this time You have the sole Government of Paris in Your Hands to furnish Your selves with Gold and Silver so that if You should be thrust out of your Places You may have a Friend left at a Pinch And what You can thus heap together for its better security send it hither to me as privately as may be to be
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
the Bridge and the English Archers passed over on the Joists of the Bridge and shot so fiercely together that the Citizens began to despair of making good the Place much longer While the Skirmith lasted thus there came thither on the City side Sr. Otho de Granecy with four or fire Captains of Quality and 60 Men of Arms in his Company Immediately upon his coming being rightly informed of all things he march'd straight to the Bridge and display'd his Banner being very desirous to meet the Navarrois At l Frois c. 196. his coming the whole City was refreshed and followed his Banners gladly But when Sr. Peter Audley saw these Burgundians ready to assist the Citizens he retreated the same way he came and finding his Valets with the Horses in their expected Place he and his Men remounted without any Impediment and so return'd with small winnings to Beaufâ—râ— Castle Of their Retreat the Citizens of Châlons were heartily glad for they had been in a bodily Fear and thanked God and the Lord of Grancey also for the Good-will he had shewn them for which they made him an immediate Present of 500 Franks besides double Pay for a Month both for him and all his Men And then they desired Sr. John Sars who was there present and their Neighbour to come thither by such a time with so many Men to Counsel and Defend them To this their request he agreed for such and such Wages for himself and his Men and then he fell to Repair the Fortifications of the City where it needed the Charges whereof the Town paid IV. At the same time the Garrisons of Veilly and Roucy made among themselves a secret Rendezvous and went and took by Assault the Fortress of Sâ—ssone where they set a good Garrison consisting of several Nations Over all whom they made Chief Captain One Hanekin Francois a lewd barbarous Fellow of Colen on the River Rheyn He was a most bloody Putcher indeed not knowing any Mercy for those whom he overcame for he burnt and ravaged in the Country thereabouts putting to the Sword without any just quarrel or provocation Men Women and Children if they paid not such Ransoms as he asked Now it happen'd that the Earl of Roucy who mightily laid to heart the loss of his Town and Castle of Roucy which the Navarrois as we shew'd had taken from him the last Year apply'd himself so effectually to the French Knights and Esquires about him that at last he gat together an 100 Spears besides Fourty Men of Arms from the City of Laon and the Earl of Poreren the Lord Gerard of Corncy the Lord Montigny in Ostervandt and several other Persons of Quality in his Company These all riding toward Sâ—ssone found by the way certain Navarrois of the same Garrison who were burning of a Village and prepared to set upon them When Hanckin saw these new-Comers he commanded all his Men on Foot and placing the Archers in the Front began the Battle boldly At the first Brunt the Fourty Laonnois basely deserted their Friends and â—an away upon the Spur however the other Frenchmen stood still to their tackle and fought long and couragiously Yet Fortune was not for them for the Navarrois were far more Expert and at least equal to them in Number So that there the Earl of Rouer being sore wounded was again taken Prisoner this being the second time he was so served within the space of less than a Year and with him were taken the Lord Gerard of Coincy the Lord of Montigny in Hainalt and many others the rest except a very few that fled being slain in Battle V. Not long m Frois c. 197. after the yielding up of St. Valery in that manner as we have related the Duke of Normandy sent three Thousand Spears besides others to go and lay Siege to Melun on the Seyne which was then held by the Navarrois This Army was commanded in Chief by the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and with him were the Earl of St. Paul the Lord Ingleram de Coucy the Bishop of Troye the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages a Lorrainer Sr. Peter du Barre and Sr. Philip of Dormois and others who came and sat down before Melun There were then present in the Place three Queens two of them being Queen-Dowagers of France namely Jane formerly Consort to King Charles the Fair and Aunt to the King of Navarre and Blanch late-Consort of King Philip de Valois and Sister to the King of Navarre and the Third was the Queen of Navarre her self Sister to the Duke of Normandy The Navarrois themselves were not a little surpriz'd when they beheld the Place fâ—rmally Besieged by so considerable an Army But the Three Queens were extreamly affrighted at the Engines and Springalls which being brought thither from Paris play'd upon the Fortress continually Wherewith together with the frequent Assaults the Ladies were so terrified that they desired at any rate to be rid of that trouble whatever it should cost the King of Navarre their Kinsman and earnestly entreated the Captains who were the Lord James Pipe and Sr. Hugh Calverley English Natives to yield up the Place But they comforted the Ladies all they could and told them how they had no need to fear any thing for within a few days they should see the Siege happily Raised For said they the King of Navarre who is now at Vernon and Prince Philip his Brother have sent us word that they have gather'd a great Army about Mante and Meulan and will shortly bring them hither to raise the Siege and that rather than fail they would drain all their Garrisons for that purpose On the other side the Duke of Normandy who knew all this to be true entertain'd in his pay Souldiers from all Parts whom daily he sent to reinforce the Siege at Melan So that in all probability it must have come to a bloody Battle each Party sending their utmost strength that way But that the Cardinals of Perigort and St. Vitalis being assisted by other well-disposed Personages on either Part laboured now so effectually that at last they obtain'd a temporary Truce between the Parties in order to the carrying on of a Treaty at Vernon Thither on a day appointed came the Duke of Normandy and his Council and the King of Navarre with his Brother Philip and his Council In short there was now a Peace made between these two Princes the King swearing for the future to be true to the Crown of France and the Duke obliging himself to pardon 300 Knights althô yet some few were excepted from the Peace whom the Duke would not Pardon by any means But Prince Philip of Navarre would not concern himself about this Peace but rated the King his Brother smartly telling him how he was enchanted with these Flattering Overtures and proved very forgetfull of the King of England's Favours to whom he was by Oath and Covenant engaged and who had always shew'd himself
ready to sustain his Quarrel With these Words he left the King his Brother in an Huff and with four Persons only in his Company rode Post to St. Saviour le Vicount which was as we have shew'd an English Garrison under the Command of the Lord Thomas Holland a great Baron of England and n Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 7◠〈…〉 afterwards in Right of his Wite Earl of Kent and Lord Wake who received him very gladly and said how he had acquitted himself with commendable Loyalty and Honour towards the King of England However o Frois c. 198. by this Treaty of Peace the King of Navarre had the quiet Possession of certain Towns and Castles in Normandy and on the Borders thereof besiâ—es Mante and Meulan And now a Reconciliation was made between the Duke of Normandy and the young Earl of Harcourt chiefly at the Intercession of the Lord Lenis of Harcourt who was of the Duke's Council and of his Houshold So that the Duke gave in Marriage unto the said Earl the Daughter of the Duke of Bourbon who was Sister to his own Dutchess Upon this Peace the Siege before Melun brake up the Place becoming thereupon of the French Interest Thô the Realm of France gain'd little ease or respite by all this for the Truce between England and France being soon after expired those who before in the King of Navarre's Title had made War in Normandy Beauvais Picaray Champaigne or Brie now began to make War as hotly in the said Places in the Title of King Edward of England VI. Now the young Knight Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt had been for more than a Year signally Notorious for the Injuries he did to France in these times of Comâ—â—sion for p Frois c. 198. in Champaigne he had no less than 700 Fighting Men under him by whose Aâ—d he wan great Riches as in Plunder Ransoming and safe Conducts So that at last no fewer than Twelve good Fortresses were at his Command and as then he was in the Flower of his Age a lusty young amorous Batchelour And the Year q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 94 95. after this he Married the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Jultere but now Countess Dowager of Kent in England altho upon the Death of John Pormagâ—â—s late Earl of Kent she had vow'd Chastity and was solemnly Veiled a Nun by Wâ—â—liam Edingdon Bishop of Winchester at Waverley in that Dioecese For this Noble young Nun upon report of Sr. Eustace's great Renown in Arms began withou thving seen him to set her Love about this time upon him and often sent him châ—â—e Geldings and Horses of Service with Love-Letters and other Favours wherewith Sr. Eustace was so elevated in his Courage that every day he grew more Notable So that all his Men thought themselves happy they gain'd such Riches under his Conduct But the Duke of Normandy who had heard of all his outragious Viclenâ—es upon the breaking up of the Siege of Melun desired the Lord Broquant of Fâ—â—â—strages a Lorraâ—ner who had 500 Companions at his Command to go into Gâ—ampaigne and help to expell this Sr. Eustace and his Englishmen that made War in those Parts on which account he undertook to pay him for himself and his Troops such a certain Sum of Florens Upon this Sr. Broquart having encreased his Forces with the Assistance of the Bishop of Troye the Earl of Vaudemont the Earl of Joâ—â—ville the Lord John of Chalons and others from Champaigne Lorraine and Burgunay to the Number of 3500 Men in all they began to set forward against the Enemy First they came to the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne which had been held by English Navarreis a Year and an half but now it was taken at the Third Assault and fourscore Englishmen slain even every Man in the Castle there was none had any Mercy shewn him After this hot Service the Frenchmen went to Troye to refresh themselves and within two or three days they sent out a strong Detachment of 1200 Spears and 900 others under the Lord Brequart of Fenestrages who took the way directly toward Nogent on the River Seyne Early that Morning Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt having heard of the Frenchmens being about in the Country chose out of his Garrisons 400 Spears and 200 Archers and with those Troops marched forth of the Castle of Pongny to sind his Enemies He rode on a stately Gelding Armed at all Points except his Head-piece which an Esquire carried after him his War-Horse being led by his side He had hardly passed the Seyne at Mery when he heard tidings of the French as they also by this had heard of him But surely had he known the Number of those who came against him he would have desired the Assistance of his Neighbour Sr. Peter Audley and the Lord de la Bret who could well have spared him 400 Fighting Men if they had not come to his Aid in Person Upon the First certain knowledge oâ— his Enemies and of the way they took he gather'd his Men together without the Town of Nogent sur Seyne and took the height of a little Hill among the Vines and set his Archers ready before him When the French Men of Arms came up in sight of him they ranged themselves in Three Battails The first was led by the Bishop of Troye and the Lord Broquart of Fenestrages the Second by the Lord John of Châlons and another good Captain the Third by the Earl of Vaudemont and the Lord Joinville besides a Fourth Battail of 900 Foot which was not yet come up The mean while Sr. Eustace spake aloud to his Men Gentlemen let us Fight with a good Courage for if this day be ours we shall be Lords of all Champaigne which was once an Earldom And I hope this day by your Valiant Assistance to do such a piece of Service for the King of England whom I account the Rightâ—ull King of France that he will bestow this Earldom upon Me And you shall all be the better for my Advancement Then he called unto him certain Young Gentlemen as the Couragious Manny who being his Cousin and Nephew to the Lord Walter Manny was constantly Honoured with the Epithet Couragious John de Paris and Martin of Spain with some others whom then and there he Knighted And all his Men being placed on Foot in a strong Battail his Archers a little forward on the left hand he himself stood in the Front of his Men of Arms his Standard waving before him which was Ermin three Hameds Gules When r Frois c. 199. c. Sr. Broquart of Fenestrages who was both very expert and couragious saw that Sr. Eustace designed not to come down to him and that he had wisely placed his Archers to gall them on the right side where they had not their Shields he said aloud Let us first of all fall on whatever happens changing our Shields to the Spear Hand till we have past the Archers
And in this manner his Battail consisting of 400 Men of Arms marched up towards the English They pretty well escaped the Archers by that sudden Device but Sr. Eustace received them so sharply that at the first Brunt he slew of them more than Threescore and had well-nigh totally discomfited the whole Body when of a sudden the second fresh Battail of equal Number with the former came on with great Resolution and at the same time the third Battail came on a Wing at their Lest hand both a Defence and Comfort to the other two The French were almost Four to One viz. 1200 Spears against 400 and 900 Foot against 200 but however the English played their Part gallantly and Sr. Eustace presently with his own hands slew four of the most Hardy among his Enemies When Sr. Broquart beheld this his Prowess he strack at his Vizor over other Mens heads till he beat out three of his Teeth but Sr. Eustace left not off fighting for the pain he then began to make his Enemies feel more severe effects of his Anger And still the English were so united in a close Phalanx that the French could as yet make no Impression upon them and the Archers of England shot so thick on the Enemies left Flank that they earst not approach to break them Then the French Men of Arms began to wheel about to the Left and as they went the English Battail faced them without once breaking their Order For all the File-leaders and Bringers-up were the Choicest Men in Front Flank and Reer But at that instant the 900 French Infantry came into the Field well covered with broad Targets who marching directly against the Archers wholly brake their Array for their Shot gave them but little trouble they were so well protected with the mutual Defence of their Shields When thus the Archers were broken the second Battail of the French Men of Arms rode in among them and took or slew most of them but a very few escaped After which they went against the English Valets and won all the Horses except those which the Valets carried away upon the Spur. The mean while the two remaining Battails of Men of Arms entertained the English on one side and the Fourth Battail of Footmen after they had beaten the Archers on the other side so that at last all their Array was broken and Sr. Eustace his Standard beaten down and torn in pieces and most of his Men taken or slain The Lord Eustace himself fell into the hands of a worthy Gentleman called Sr. Henry de Quingey a Burgundian who had much ado to save his Life for the Commons of Troye would fain have had him sacrificed because of the terrible Havock he had made among them in the Country of Champaigne With him were taken alive Sr. John of Paris and Sr. Martin of Spain with many other Knights and Esquires and those that escaped gat into the Fortress of Nogent but they were not many the greater Part not being able to quit the Field in any time because their Horses were all taken The Couragious Manny was left for dead among others in the Field but a while after the Battle when the Enemy was marched off thô grievously wounded and almost exhausted for want of Blood he chanced to open his Eyes and then being something reviv'd with the fresh Air he lifted up his Head a little but saw nothing about him except Dead Men lying on the Ground By and by he enforced himself so far as to rise as well as he could half way and so sat down a while and look'd about and found he was not far from the Castle of Nogent which was an English Garrison Hereupon he never left creeping by little and little till at last with much difficulty and much danger of Relapsing he came to the Foot of the Tower Where making signs to them that look'd down that he was a Friend he was received into the Fortress and had his Wounds presently dressed and carried himself so regularly and temperately that within a few Weeks he was perfectly healed This Battle was thus fought ſ Frois ibid. in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX on the Vigil of St. John Baptist or the twenty third of June VII After this Discomfiture of the Englishmen near Nogent sur Seyne the French Lords and Men of Arms return'd to the City of Troye with all their Booty but they durst not bring thither any of their Prisoners for fear of the Common People who sought to kill them wherefore they sent them to be kept in other French Garrisons But when Sr. Eustace Dambreticourts Men whom he had left in the Garrison of Pougny heard of this their Loss they presently trussed up Bag and Baggage and marched off into better Quatters for they were not enough to maintain the Place The same did those who held other Fortresses which depended on the Lord Eustance For they greatly doubted the Bishop of Troye and the Lord of Fenestrages But Sr. Peter Audley thô he had lost a good Neighbour of Sr. Eustace held his Garrison still at Beaufort Sr. John Segar at Nogent and the Lord de la Brett at Gye upon the Seyne About that time some of Sr. Peter Audley's Men rode forth and took a Neighbouring Town called Rosnay t Frois c. 200. while the Curate was at Mass an English Esquire is said to have gone into the Church and to have taken the Chalice wherein the Priest should have consecrated from the Altar Which Wine he poured out on the ground and being therefore with much Christian Gravity blamed by the Priest he strack him over the Face with his Gauntlet that the Blood gush'd out upon the Altar and so went his way with the Chalice and Patine along with him It is affirmed and I dare not omit so memorable an Instance of God's Judgments tho it displease never so many that this same Esquire being presently after mounted in the Field his Horse began suddenly to turn about and flounce and curvet so fiercely that none durst come near him till at last he and his sacrilegious Master fell both together Dead on the ground and soon after they crumbled away to Powder Whereupon all the other Souldiers that were eye-witnesses of this dreadfull Judgment were so terrified that they vow'd never more to violate any Church or Holy Place while they lived VIII In these days as if it pleased Almighty God to afford some short Breathing to the afflicted Realm of France before King Edward came over to add to her Afflictions the greater part of these licentious Plunderers of a sudden fell to decay and declin'd so fast that it was miraculous And first u Frois c. 200. in the strong Castle of le Herelle within four Leagues from Amiens the Lord John of Picquigny who had been so perfidious to his Lord and Master the French King was now in God's just Judgment repaid by his own Servant his Chamberlain by whom as
the Esquires we know very well but we pretended to be Englishmen and told him that you were the Lord Bartholomew Burwash whereupon he desired your Company as we said before At this Sr. Galahaut studied with himself a little and then asked Advice of his Friend Sr. Roger of Coulogne and other his Captains what they would have him to do in this Case Sir said they since of your own Accord you always sought out for Adventures now they fall into your Hands you may well afford to take them For by Right of Arms a Man ought to offend his Enemy when once so declared either by Stratagem or open Force as Opportunity serves best To this Sr. Galahaut readily agreed and presently leap'd on his Courser and clapt on his Helmet with the Visor down because his Face should not discover him and the same did all his Company So they left the Village and took the Fields having already determin'd what to do and rode forth on the Right hand toward the Wood where Sr. Reginald waited for them with not above Å¿ Frois c. 207. fol. 102. 30 Men of Arms in his Company whereas Sr. Galahaut had about 70 by this time When Sr. Reginald saw them he displayed his Banner before him and rode forth fair and softly to meet them verily taking them for Englishmen Being come up he raised the Visor of his Helmet and saluted the Lord Galahant by the Name of Sr. Bartholomew Sr. Galahaut thought not to discover himself yet till he had train'd them further off wherefore he only answer'd faintly in English Let us ride on and so set himself among his Men on the one side as Sr. Reginald was with his on the other When Sr. Reginald saw this their Manner and how Sr. Galahaut rode sometimes near him without exchanging a Word shewing his Face or unfolding his Banner then he began to suspect the matter So that after he had rode thus about the space of a quarter of an Hour he made an Halt and stood still under his Banner among his Men and said aloud Sir Knight I am not well assured what you are I think you are not Sr. Bartholomew Burwash for I know him well and he would have been more familiar with me So that I see you are not the Man and therefore you are like to tell me your Name before I ride any farther in your Company Then Sr. Galahaut lifted up his Visor and made towards him thinking to have laid hold on the Reins of his Bridle and crying aloud our Lady of Ribemont while his Fellow Sr. Roger of Coulogne cried Coulogne to the Rescue When Sr. Reginald saw this he was not in the least dejected but drew out his Sword and just as Sr. Galahaut endeavour'd to have seised his Bridle ran him clear through the Body and drew out his Sword again and immediately clapping spurs to his Horse took the open Field and left Sr. Galahaut grievously wounded But several of Sr. Galahaut's Esquires pursued after him so hotly that seeing he must either turn again or incurr Reproach he faced about like a Valiant Gentleman as he was and stood the formost and gave him such a warm Reception that he had no more desire to follow him and in this manner he served three or four of his Pursuers wounding and bruising them all and if he had had a good Ax in his hand he had surely slain a Man at every Blow By this Means and the goodness of his Horse he made shift to escape himself without the least harm His Friends received him gladly and his Enemies and all that heard the Action applauded his good Presence and Courage for coming off so well Thô most of his Men were either taken or slain but a very few enjoy'd their Masters Fortune For when Sr. Galahauts Men saw their Captain wounded in that manner they fell upon the Germans with all the Fury imaginable till they had slain taken or routed them every Man. The Sword had not penetrated any of Sr. Galahaut's Vitals wherefore they dressed up his Wound and bore him carefully to Perone But he never perfectly recover'd that hurt for he was a Man of such indefatigable Courage that he would by no means spare himself in time of War althô his Case required it wherefore he lived but a little while afterward V. The mean while King Edward t Frâ—â—sâ— â—â—8 c. marched thrô Artois where he found a poor Country and little or no Provision but being entred Cambresis he met with plenty of all things For there nothing was taken care of because that Country as holding of the Empire since the Death of Lewis of Bavaria and not of France took it for granted that the English would not hurt them but King Edward was not of that mind He was now lodged at Beaurevoir bordering on Cambresis where because of the Goodness of the Country he tarried four Days to refresh his Men and Horses many great Detachments the mean while overrunning the whole Country as well of Cambresis as Vermandois Whereupon Peter Bishop of Cambray and other Lords of that Country with the Burgesses of the Good Towns having obtained safe Conduct sent their Deputies to the King of England to expostulate with Him and to know by what Title and for what Cause he committed those Hostilities Answer was return'd that it was because heretofore they had been Confederates with France and Enemies to England of which as yet they had given no sign of Repentance But had since that also received Frenchmen into their Towns and Castles and had rebelliously held out against England On all which Accounts they thought it lawfull to use them now as Enemies This was all the Answer they could have and they were fain to be content therewith After this King Edward marched forth into la Tierasche foraging the Country about on all sides and bringing in Prey to the Army One day the Lord Bartholomew Burwash rode before St. Quentin where by chance he met with the Captain of that Place u Frois ibid. sed Knighton vâ—cat tro Danequin Bald. Barton p. 2621. Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows between whom began a terrible Medley wherein many were overthrown on both sides but the English obtain'd the Victory without the loss of one Man and Sr. Baldwin himself was taken Prisoner by the Lord Bartholomew's own Hands But soon after paying his Ransome he had his Liberty and thereupon x Frois c. 210 fol. 103. went to defend the Town and Castle of Tonnerre in Burgundy With this Success which was obtained on the 26 of November Sr. Bartholomew return'd to the King whom he found at the Abby of Fenney where was good store of Provision both for Horse and Man. Thence the Army removed and went into le Rhemois or the Marches of the City of Rheims in Champagne the King taking up his Station at St. Vall beyond Rheims the Prince of Wales at St. Thierry and the Duke of Lancaster
put all the Infidels to the Sword. This Peters Ancestor Guy of Lusignan King of Jerusalem k Speed p. 477. §. 40. in Ricardo Primo purchased the Island and Kingdom of Cyprus of our Richard the First King of England sirnamed Coeur du Lyon by Exchange for his Kingdom of Jerusalem ever since which it remain'd in the hands of the said Guy and his Descendants II. King Peter came to Avignon l Frois c. 217. about Candlemas in the beginning of this Year of whose Coming the whole Court was glad and most of the Cardinals together with the French King went forth to meet him and conducted him with much Honour to the Popes Palace where they were highly caressed and after a splendid entertainment the two Kings returned to their Lodgings prepared for them in Villeneufe Thus they tarried during all the season of Lent and made frequent Visits to the Pope and discoursed him of many serious Matters concerning which they came thither While the Kings were at Avignon there happen'd a Controversie in Arms which by the Court Martial was adjudged to be tried by Combat between two Noble and Experienced Knights namely Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and Sr. Fulk de Orillac the King of France being to sit as Judge of the Field Both the Knights behaved themselves with that Activity Skill and Resolution that is was no easie matter to say who was the Better So that when after a long and gallant Fight neither had any apparent Advantage of the other and both their Spears and Swords being broken they were proceeding to Pole-Axes King John presently flang down his Wardour and caused the Combat to cease after which He reconciled them together Now the King of Cyprus spake more than once to the Pope his Cardinals and the French King That it would be both an exceeding Honour and Advantage for all Christendom if some Powerfull Christian King would undertake to lead the Way over the Sea and rear his Banners against the Enemies of the Christian Faith who for want of such Opposition overran all Asia and hung now like a dreadfull Storm over Europe These Words the French King consider'd well and resolved with Himself if he might live Three Years longer to be One among the Foremost in this Holy Expedition not only out of a pious Consideration backed with the Words of the Pope and the King of Cyprus but also for two other Respects the one because his Father King Philip had made a Vow so to do to the m Odâ—r Rainal ad hunc an §. 14 Breach whereof he constantly attributed all the Miseries which had befell France since that time and the other that by so doing he should not only drain his own Country of those Evil Companions who harassed his People without any just Title or Pretence but also thereby prove an Instrument of saving their Souls by making them draw their Swords in the more righteous Cause of Christ These were his Reasons and this his Resolution which he kept secret to himself till Good-Fryday at which time Pope Vrban himself preached in his Chappel at Avignon in the Presence of both the Kings of Cyprus and of Frâ—nce and also of Waldemar King of Denmark who was newly come thither for the same purpose Sermon ended the French King in great Devotion stept forth and professed himself a Champion of Christ and took upon him the Croisade which he solemnly sware personally to set about and to begin the Voyage within two Years from that Time it n Pascha 2 Apr. Lit. Dom. A. being then the last of March. He also requested the Pope to yield his Consent and Furtherance thereto and by his Bulls to authorise this his pious Undertaking The Pope not only most readily agreed to this Request but also granted him his Pontifical Diploma Dat. Aven Pridie Kal. April Anno Pontif. I. Wherein he constitutes him Governour and Captain General of all the Christian Armies and produces these three Causes of that Expedition First the Indignity of the Matter that Christians should suffer those places which our Saviour had honoured with his Footsteps and the Mysteries of our Redemption to be defiled and trodden down of the Mahometans also the seasonable Occasion of Recovering Syria now that the strength of the Saracens was exhausted with a Pestilence and lastly the great Necessity of repressing the growing Tyranny of the Turks when 't was to be feared that all Christendom would be a prey unto them unless their Fury should meet with a timely Check Talayrand the Cardinal of Perigort was the Popes Legate in this Holy Expedition and then Methods were taken how to support the Design with Tithes and other pecuniary Collections the Prelates were commanded to publish this Croisade from their Pulpits and to distinguish those who took it upon them with the Sign of the Cross And then Excommunication and an Anathema was set forth against them who should offer to disswade the French King from his pious Design of recovering Syria On which account circular Letters were sent and solemn Prayers were appointed to engage the Divine Assistance The Pope also sent his Letters to the Emperour Charles to King Edward of England to Lewis of Hungary and to other Kings and Princes that they would now employ all their power and Conduct toward the reducing of Asia unto Christ and because King John could not conveniently set forth till about two Years after by reason that his Realm was so unsettled and he could not in less time finish his Musters and other vast Preparations thereupon wherefore he tied himself to a certain Day which was to be the Kalends of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand three Hundred Sixty and five The King of Cyprus resolved in the mean time to go about and visit all the great Courts in Europe and as he should succeed to go over before the King of France to whom the Pope o â—dâ—r Rain ad hâ—nc ann §. 19. promised considerable Assistance And thus a mighty Resolution was taken up and the Cross of Jerusalem was worn by John King of France Waldemar King of Denmark and Peter King of Cyprus p Freis c. 217. also by Talayrand commonly called the Cardinal of Perigort thô he was Earl of Perigort and Bishop Cardinal of Alba the same was done by the Earl of Artois and the Earl of Eu the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Dampmartin the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord Bouciquault and the Grand Prior of France and many other Lords and Knights then and there present The King of Cyprus was extreamly overjoy'd at the great Zeal he found in all these Christian Worthies and thought his Journey well bestow'd in so great a purchase towards the Advancement of Religion But yet not content with this he design'd to proceed and visit Charles the Emperour and all the Princes and Chief Lords of the Empire he intended likewise to see the King of England the Prince of Wales
Three Dukes together with the King of England's Captains who had the charge of them received the King of Cyprus into Calais where they were all together for two or three days till there came from England a Safe Conduct bearing Date 6 f Ashmole p. 665. December and to continue in Force till Midsummer following for the King of Cyprus the King of Denmark and Albert Duke of Bavaria Then these two Kings and the Duke aforesaid took shipping for England and arrived at Dover a little before Christmas where tarrying two days to refresh themselves and their Retinues and till all their Carriages and Horses were unshipped they rode by small journeys easily till they came to London Here at the Kings Command they were Honourably met by the Young Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton by the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Ralph Ferrers Sr. Richard Pemburge and Sr. Richard Sturry together with the Lords of France Hostages who conducted them to the Lodgings prepared for them 'T is to no purpose to mention all the Great Dinners and Publick Entertainments wherewith King Edward received these Grand Personages he shewing by all ways imaginable the high Respect he had for them and for the Pious Enterprise they had all taken in Hand But unto the King of Cyprus he made a free declaration of his Mind saying That from his Soul he desired to be reckon'd among the Heroick Champions of the Christian Faith but he added how it could not be warranted by the Word of God that Religion was to be propagated by the Sword or that it was a thing pleasing to God to endeavour the Recovery of the Land of Palestine at the expence of so much Christian Blood as it hath too often cost already or that it was the Duty of a Christian King without any absolute necessity to leave his own Subjects over whom God hath set him to rush into Foreign Wars which had no immediate relation to him But only in this case where a Pagan Prince doth unjustly seek to ruine or destroy any Christian Prince that it would be the Interest of other Christians near unto him to protect and maintain his cause with their United Powers against the said Infidel That as for him he was not to be look'd on in that capacity neither could he be spared from the Realm for thô blessed be God! he had now Peace both abroad and at home yet it behov'd him not only to look to the Peaceable Government of his Realm but also to stand upon his Guard lest by occasion of his Absence an Advantage might be taken against him which he might never be able to repair But as to a Friend and to a Christian King who had come so far for the cause of Christendom he promised him very considerable Sums of Money and leave to take as many Voluntiers as he could raise thrô the Realm VI. Before this t M.S. Rot. Par. p. 92. Ano. 37. Ed. 3. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 96. c. Vid. Statute Book p. 120. there was a Parliament Summon'd this Year to meet the King at Westminster as on the Fryday in the Octaves of St. Michael being the Sixth of October of which I shall take leave to glean some few remarkable Observations On the Fryday aforesaid both houses not being full the Lord Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green in presence of the King Lords and Commons by the Kings Order prorogued the Parliament till Fryday following At which time Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellour of England declared before the Lords and Commons the Reasons why the King had called the said Parliament namely because he was desirous to know the Grievances of his Subjects and particularly that he might by the help of their advice redress what wrongs had been done against the Liberties of Holy Church and also all Enormities especially about exhibiting of Petitions Then there were appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Places and Isles On the Wednesday after Commandment was given that no Man should transport Woollen Clothes Sheep Butter Cheese Malt or Ale only that the Merchants of Almaine might export Worsteds and straight Clothes and the Merchants of Gascogne might carry forth Woolen Clothes to the Value of the Wines imported Then the Commons gave the King their most humble thanks for the great Goodness he had shewed and confirmed unto them with his own Mouth the last Parliament And they humbly pray that the King would enjoyn the Archbishops and all others of the Clergy that they would put up their joynt Prayers to God Almighty for the Prosperity of his Majesty in Order to the Peace and good Government of the Land and for the continuance of his Majesties Good-Will towards his Commons The same prayeth the King. That the Coyners be order'd to Coyn half their Bullion into half-pence and farthings for the use of the Poor The King hath so appointed That Remedy may be had against Merchants Hostelers Regraters and Forestallers of Wares Fish Wine and Corn. The Ordinance for Fish sold at Blackney in Norfolk shall be kept to look to the Execution whereof William Wickingham and John Barry are appointed That an Order be set forth against Merchants for exporting of Corn Meal and other such Provision A Proclamation to the contrary hath been and is now again newly made That Remedy be had against Wears and such other Engines on Rivers as are a great annoyance to Boats. The Statute made for that purpose shall be kept That the House of Commons may choose Justices of the Peace for every County and that those whom they shall so choose be not displaced upon any surmises Let the House of Commons name Able Men and the King will choose as he thinks best That such Persons as in the time of the Great Pestilence did let out their Mannors which they held of the King in Capite to sundry Persons for term of Life without Licence may accordingly continue the same untill the Land become more populous The King will be advised That those who bring in any Wines from any of the Kings Dominions may be obliged to bring Testimonial under Chief Officers hands of the Prizes of the same so that upon their Arrival the Justices of the Peace may set Prizes agreeable thereto The Statute therefore made shall stand The Printed Statutes for the u Vid. quâ—medò Rot. Parl. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 97 c. n. 20. c. most part agree exactly with the Records except that where the Print touching Wines hath Couchers the Record hath English Couchers and that of the Seventh Chapter in the Print touching Silver Vessels and of the Nineteenth for finding of Hawks there is no mention found in the Record This Parliament was continued by several Prorogations till the Third of November when the Lord Chancellour in Presence of the King Lords and Commons declared that
as lief see him Dead as Alive and so he went thither with the Knights who were about him Being come to the place where he lay cover'd with a Shield he caused his Shield to be taken off and then beheld him with much Compassion and having look'd stedfastly on him a while he burst out in these Words Ah! Sr. Charles my Fair Cousin by your indiscreet Obstinacy how many Evils have fell out in Bretagne And yet so God help me as I am sorry at my Heart to find you in this Condition But now it is past Remedy And with that he began to weep over him not that he was not well satisfied with the Victory he had so hardly obtained but that this cruel and costly Decision of his Quarrel did much affect his Generous Mind considering his own Case might have been the same But Sr. John Chandos quickly drew him out of this melancholy and unseasonable Humour saying Sir pray come away and thank God for this fair Adventure thus happily fallen to You For without the Death of this Man you could never have enjoyed your Inheritance of Bretagne and perhaps he would have been content to have found You here in his stead Then the Earl gave order that the Corps of his Cousin Sr. Charles of Blois should the next Day be conveyed in Great State to Guerande a City of Bretagne where he was honourably interred as he was well worthy For he was a most Noble Courteous and Valiant Knight so that a while after he obtain'd the Reputation of a Saint being reported to have done many Miracles after his Death whatever Bloodshed he occasion'd in his Life-time But 't is a Mistake of Froisard's z Frois c. 226. ad sin where he says how he was Canonized for a Saint by Pope Vrban V. When as the Truth is that thô indeed he had some such Matter in his Mind and there are a Tem. 6. Ep. secr p. 160. Vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1368. §. 11. extant Letters of his to John Duke of Bretagne to that Purpose yet when he understood that by the manner of his Death he was not to be look'd on as a Martyr he was very angry with those who presum'd without the Approbation of the Apostolick See to give such Honours unto his Memory and by his Letters to the Bishops of Bretagne enjoyned them in their several Dioeceses to prohibit that any such thing be done for the future Dat. apud Montem Flasconem XVII Kalen. Octobris Anno Pontificat VI. Which agrees with the Year of our Lord 1368 being the Fourth Year after his Death XI Now when all the Dead were spoiled and the Englishmen were all returned from the Chace the whole Army drew off to their former Camp and unarmed themselves and took their ease having first set a good Watch and secured their Prisoners and caused the Wounded to be well dressed On the Monday in the Morning the Earl of Monford caused Proclamation to be made to the Citizens of Rennes and all the Towns and Villages thereabout that he would most inviolably grant them a Truce for Three Days following whereby they might be emboldened to come forth and gather up the Dead Bodies and bury them in Holy Ground which Christianlike Proclamation was both well accepted and also generally prepar'd the Hearts of the People in his behalf Then the Earl return'd to his Siege before Auray saying that he would not stir thence till he was Master of the Place And soon after it yielded unto him The mean while Fame was very busie in carrying tidings abroad into Divers Countries that the Earl of Monford by the Assistance and Conduct of the Englishmen had won the Day against Sr. Charles of Blois and discomfited slain or taken all the Cavalry of Bretagne such as were against him The Lord John Chandos especially had great Renown every where for all manner of People Lords Knights and Esquires as well Foes as Friends that had been present in the Field agreed together in acknowledging that chiefly by his Conduct and Great Valour his side had got the better But at this News all the Friends and Assistants of Charles of Blois were extreamly cast down and especially the French King for this Loss concerned him very nearly as well because of the Death of his Kinsman Sr. Charles as also because many of the best Knights of his Realm were either there slain or taken as Sr. Bertram of Clequin whom he highly favoured and the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and all the Barons of Bretagne none excepted Wherefore presently he sent his Brother Lewis Duke of Anjou to the Marches of Bretagne to animate the Country which was utterly dejected and cast down with this great blow and also to comfort the Dutchess of Bretagne as she was called Relict of the Lord Charles who took on so extreamly for the Death of her Husband that it was a great Pity to behold her comfortless Condition The Duke of Anjou had newly Married a Daughter of hers and therefore thought himself the more strongly engag'd to this Office And indeed he promis'd faithfully to afford unto all the Good Cities and Castles in Bretagne his best Counsel Comfort and Assistance in all Cases whereby the Poor Afflicted Lady whom he called Mother and all the Country that held for her had for some while a little Confidence yet to see better times Till the French King to avoid worse Inconveniences took other Measures as we shall see hereafter The Earl of Monford wrote the News of this Victory to his Father-in-Law King Edward of England five days after the Battle was ended His Letters bearing Date from before Auray the Fourth of October were shortly after brought unto the King then at Dover by a Pursuivant at Arms who had been in the Battle And the King was so well pleas'd with the News that immediately in reward thereof he b Frois ibid. Aâ—â—mâ—lâ— p. 703. made him an Herald at Arms by the Name of Windesor But it will not be amiss briefly to declare the Occasion why King Edward was then at Dover XII About Three Years before there began a Treaty concerning a Marriage between Prince Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge King Edward's Fifth Son and the Lady Margaret Daughter of Earl Lewis of Flanders To which Match the said Earl had lately given his Consent on Condition there might be a Dispensation obtain'd from Pope c Rot. Fr. nc 38. Ed. 3. m. 8. Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 154. Fros c. 227. Vrban V because of their Proximity of blood And so a Contract was made between the Parties And on this account the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother had lately passed over the Sea into Flanders with many Knights and Esquires in their Company to visit Earl Lewis of whom they were received very Honourably and with special Tokens of Peace and Love. Insomuch that upon their Return the Earl of Flanders accompanied them
his Ransom for till now thô at Liberty he was but a Prisoner upon Parole And indeed the French King began to shew himself wonderfull Gracious and Favourable to the Captal and gave him freely the fair Castle of Damemarie in Brie with all its Appurtenances which Gift was more than 3000 Franks per annum And by this seeming Generosity of that subtle Prince the Candid Gentleman was easily won to do Homage to the French King and to become his Liegeman thô only for that Castle wherewith King Charles was wonderfully pleased for he had an extream Value for all Men of Worth but especially he prized the Service of so Famous a Knight as the Captal was But that Service lasted not over long For when the Captal was returned into the Principality of Aquitaine and came before the Prince of Wales who had been fully informed of all that was done the Prince took him aside and chid him very smartly asking him how he could acquit himself Loyally and truly to two several Lords of different Interests and whether it was agreeable for a Man of Honour to taint his Mind with Covetousness and to sell his service for Bribes and indeed but to accept of Lands lying in France where he knew himself to be neither sincerely loved nor duly respected When the Captal heard these words and saw how he had unawares incurred an evil Opinion from his Natural Lord the Prince he was very much ashamed and began to excuse himself saying Sir I am not so strictly bound to the French King but that I may easily undo again all that I have done or promised since I acted only conditionally if it might so please you my Lord and the King your Father to whom the French King knows me bound by Ties far more strong and more early Then the Prince gave him his Hand and banished all evil thoughts of him and the Captal presently sent into France to the King an Esquire of his by whom he flung up all that had been given him and renounced to hold any thing of him whereby he might be tempted to divide the Service which he ow'd entirely to the Prince of Aquitaine He himself tarried still with the Prince at Bourdeaux for he was wholly acquitted of his Imprisonment by Vertue of the Articles of the Peace made between the Kings of France and Navarre By which Articles also the Cities of Mante and Meulan were to remain for ever with the King of France in Consideration whereof the King of Navarre had other Castles in Normandy restored unto him as an Equivalent V. About this time the Young Lord Lewis of Navarre took his leave of France and went into Lombardy having taken of the French King at his Departure 60000 Franks in lieu of certain Castles in Normandy which he deliver'd up What his business was in Lombardy I do not find for 't is certain g Frois c. 229. Froisard is in a mistake who says he went thither to Marry the Queen of Naples and that accordingly he did Marry the said Queen when as we are h Vid. Odor ad an 1362. § 10. 11. infallibly assured that Joan Queen of Sicily and Naples was at this time and 3 Years before and many Years after the Wife of James the Young King of Majorica However Prince Lewis of Navarre died soon after without any Issue of his Body thô he left behind him the Reputation of having been all along a most Valiant Courteous and Noble Knight which is a Character that Worthy Souls esteem beyond Life or Children VI. On the i M.S. Record Parl. p. 95. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgement p. 99 Fourth of December in the Close of the foregoing Year King Edward sent forth his Summons for the Parliament to meet him at Westminster on the Octaves of St. Hilary following On which day being assembled accordingly Proclamation was made in Westminster-Hall that for that Day they might depart but they were to return the next Morning into the Painted Chamber there to hear the Kings Pleasure At which time Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England began in a long and solemn Harangue to open the Parliament taking for his Theme that of the Royal Prophet Vera justitia c. Faithfull Judgement doth adorn the King's seat From whence he took occasion to discourse of the King his Master and of the great Prowess and manifold Victories which by Gods Assistance he had Atchieved in his Youth not forgetting the constant and dutifull Goodwill and ready concurrence of the King 's Loyal Subjects towards the Furtherance of those his Important Undertakings For which as now the King did by him return them his hearty thanks so he let them know that on his part he was resolved to seek the Common Peace and Tranquillity of all his People especially by enforcing a due Observation of all the good and sound Laws and by amending such of them as were faulty as also by Establishing New ones where Necessity should so require Then they proceeded to appoint Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other foreign Countries and Isles That same day the King declared with his own Mouth to the Three Estates how Citations and false Suggestions were daily made to the Pope for Matters determinable in his own Court within the Realm and for procuring Provisions for Ecclesiastical Dignities to the great Scandal of the Ancient Laws to the Derogation of his Crown to the daily conveying away of the Treasure of the Land to the Diminution of Ecclesiastical Livings to the Withdrawing of Divine Service Alms Hospitality and other Good and Acceptable Works and to the daily encrease of all Mischiefs wherefore no Person c. And the King by his own Mouth requireth them according to the old Statute heretofore to provide a sufficient Remedy Whereupon besides two former Acts made against the Popes Provisions the One k Vid. Statute-Book ad an 25. Ed. 3. ad an 27. Ed. 3. ad an 38. Ed. 3. 25 Ed. 3. and the other 27 Ed. 3. as may be seen in the Statute-Book another Act to the same purpose was made now which agreeth in all things with the Print c. 1 2 3 4. Only in the Record are more biting Words a Mystery says Sr. Robert Cotton not known of All Men. On the Saturday after being the Conversion of St. Paul or the 25 of January the Bishops Lords and Commons brought into the Parliament the foresaid Act and another touching the Preservation of the Liberties of the Bodies of Prelates and other Lords of the Parliament Then follow the Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That no Victuals or Corn be carried from the North-Marches into Scotland and that no Protection or Pass-port be granted to any Scot to pass thrô the Realm The King will provide therefore That the Fines of the Chancery may be as they were at the Kings Coronation The King would have
judicious Writer XIII Toward the End of the Year the Noble and Valiant Hero Thomas Earl of Warwick who had been in the Parts of Prussia g Hist M.S. Jehan Rous p. 253. c. return'd into England with his Retinue and the Voluntiers who accompanied him besides the King of Lithuania's Son whom as we shew'd before he caused to be baptized and called after his own Name Thomas he himself at that time standing for his Godfather Soon after that h Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. Warwick p. 317. a. ex Claus 40. E. 3. m. 4. the said Earl of Warwick was sent by the King upon special Service into Flanders having an allowance of 7 Marks and an half per diem at which time also he had his Commission for Earl Marshal of England renewed CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament at Westminster AN. DOM. 1366. An. Regni Angliae XL. wherein notice is taken of the Pope's foremention'd Citation to the King Peter-Pence forbid to be paid thenceforward to the Pope The Quarrel taken up between the Fryars Mendicants and the two Vniversities The Kings Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy made Earl of Bedford II. A Treaty of Marriage began between Prince Lionel King Edward's second Son living and the Lady Violantis Daughter to Galeas Lord of Milain III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury dies his Foundation of Canterbury-College in Oxford now called Christ-Church Dr. Simon Langham Bishop of Ely translated to Canterbury IV. On the French Kings Complaint of the Insolencies of the Companions King Edward raises an Army to repress them but finding the French King jealous of his Designs desists in great anger The King of France and the Pope endeavour to have those Licentious Souldiers drawn off into Hungary but they would not stir till a business from Spain invited them that way the Relation of which Matter is refer'd to the beginning of the Fourth Book I. IN the beginning of this Year viz. a MS. Rot. Par. p. 98. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 102. sed ibi tempus aâ—â— gnatur esse The Monday next after the Invention of the Cross which is the 4 of May this Year quod mirè discrepat à M.S. on the 30th of March being the Monday next after the Feast of the Annunciation of our Lady King Edward held his high Court of Parliament at Westminster At the opening whereof Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in presence of the Lords and Commons the Reasons why that Parliament was called which in effect were these That since the King had sent his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales to govern the Country of Aquitaine as also the Duke of Clarence his next Son then living into Ireland to be his Lieutenant there his chief Care now was how he might best govern his Realm of England here at home And so having appointed Receivers and Tryers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Aquitaine and other Foreign Isles and Places they adjourn'd till the next day And then the Chancellour in presence of the King Lords and Commons declar'd that he had the day before informed them in general of the occasion of their Assembling and that now they should know it more particularly there being a fresh Matter which the King was resolved to communicate unto them viz. The King had lately received Notice that the Pope in consideration of the Homage which King John of England acknowledged to the See of Rome for his Realm of England and Dominion of Ireland and because of the Tribute then by him granted unto the said See intended by Process to cite the King to the Court of Rome Then at Avignon to answer for his Default in not performing what the said King John his Predecessor had so undertaken for him and his Heirs Kings of England Whereupon the King required the Advice of his Parliament what Course he had best to take in case any such Matter should be attempted The Bishops by themselves and the Lords and Commons by themselves desire Respite to give in their Answer till the next day which was granted And then the Three Estates being met together with one Consent Enacted in effect following viz. That forasmuch as neither King John nor any other King could bring his Realm and People into such thraldom and subjection but by general Consent in Parliament which was not done and therefore what he did was against his Coronation Oath and moreover that he was notoriously compell'd by the necessity of his Affairs and the iniquity of the times besides many other Reasons if therefore the Pope should attempt any thing against the King by Process or any other way that then the King and all his Subjects should with all their Force and Power oppose and resist the same Thus was this business quash'd for ever and it seems the King was so moved at the Insolence of the thing that over and above he caused it now to be b M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. ordain'd that from that time forward St. Peter's Pence should not be paid which the Noble King Ina sometime King of England of the West-Saxons who began his Reign about the Year of our Lord DCLXXV had first granted to the See of Rome in consideration of an English School there to be continued for ever That same day c M.S. Râ—t Par. ibid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment ibid. the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and the Fryars of the Four Orders Mendicants within the said Universities made long and grievous Complaints by their Proxies each against the other to the King in Parliament But in the end they all submitted themselves to the Kings Order Whereupon the Lords having well deliberated on the whole Matter by full Assent in Parliament took Order that as well the Chancellour and Scholars as the Fryars of those Orders within the said Universities should in all Graces and School-Exercises use each other in Friendly manner without any noise and disturbance as before And that none of those Orders should receive any Scholar into their Orders being under the Age of 18 Years And that the Fryars should take no advantage nor procure any Bull or other Process from the Court of Ronie against the said Universities or proceed therein But that the King alone have Power to redress and determine all Controversies between them from thenceforth and the Offenders should be punished at the pleasure of the King and his Council The Parliament continued till d Lit. Dom. D. Vid. M.S. Ret. Parl. p. 99. §. 13. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 103. §. 13. Monday the XI of May at which time the Lord Chancellor declared how the King had given in Marriage the Lady Isabell his Daughter to the Lord of Coucy who had a Fair Estate as well in England as elsewhere and that it would concern the King's Honour to create him an
him to revoke his Promise But the Prince who was a Person of much Honour and Equity said positively Gentlemen since We have agreed thereto We will by no means break our Word And truly it would be a great Shame and Reproach to Vs if We should any longer refuse to deliver him since he is content to pay so considerable a Ransom So after this Sr. Bertram had nothing to do but to contrive how to raise the Money and he minded his Business so well that by the Assistance of the French King of the Bastard of Spain of the Duke of Anjou who loved him entirely and of some other Friends he made a Purse of an 100000 Franks or 10000 l. Sterling all which he paid in less than a Months time and so was quit of his Imprisonment and went straight with 2000 Fighting Men of Provence to serve the Duke of Anjou who then held Siege before the City of Tarascon which at that time held of the King of Majorica and Naples in Right of his Wise Queen Joan. VII We have before declared at large the whole Manner of the Prince of Wales his Expedition into Spain t Frois c. 240. and how at last he left that Country not well contended with King Don Pedro and returned home again into his Principality of Aquitaine After him returned all manner of Men of War who had attended him for they saw it in vain to tarry any longer in Castille because Don Pedro did but shuffle with them and on the other hand they had a firm Confidence in the Prince's Word But when they were come back the Prince had not wherewithall to pay them so readily as he expected For the Business of Spain had wonderfully exhausted his Treasures even to a Miracle However all the rest went home relying on the Prince's Promise but the Companions tarried still being quarter'd in Aquitaine where for their Lives they could not forbear robbing and plundering being to the Number of 6000 Fighting Men For the Prince had left the other 6000 in Spain under Sr. Hugh Calverley When therefore the Prince heard the Complaints of his People concerning these Companions he sent unto them desiring and commanding them to avoid his Dominions for the Country was not able to bear them Now their Captains and Leaders were all either Englishmen or Gascogners as Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. John Frevile Sr. Robert Cheney Sr. Galiard of Viguier the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg of L'Esparre Nandon of Bergerac Bernard de la Salle and many others who neither durst nor would displease the Prince for they did not a little fear to provoke him but they much more lov'd to oblige him And therefore they took the first opportunity to leave Aquitaine and passed forth into the Realm of France which they had us'd to call Their Chamber going over the River of Loire into Champaigne and to the Bishoprick of Rheims and still their Numbers encreased And these Men sought Adventures every where as they went in France and gat great store of Plunder and did much mischief complaints whereof came in daily to the French King and his Council who were as yet unable to apply a Remedy but the Commons of France wonder'd extreamly that the Prince of Wales should send Men to make War among them However King Charles of France sent presently for the Lord Oliver Clisson whom he made Chief Captain against these Companions because he was a Valiant Knight and of good Conduct wherefore also that Wise Prince held him in High Esteem and Favour About this time there was a Marriage struck up between the Young Earl of Albret and the Lady Isabell of Bourbon whereat the Prince of Wales was nothing pleased for he had rather that he had taken a Wife out of England Wherefore he spake many High Words against him till some of his Council began to appease his Displeasure by saying that it was Natural for every Man to seek to raise his Fortune as well as he might and that a Loyal Knight ought not to be blamed for exalting his own Honour and Profit by Marriage or otherwise if at the same time he did not forsake to serve his Prince or Master as far as in Duty bound These and the like Words somewhat allay'd the Prince's Passion But whatever appearance he made he was not fully satisfy'd for he verily believed that his Marriage would occasion some Revolting from him as indeed it fell out shortly after VIII While these Companions were thus troubling the Realm of France u Frois c. 251. the Prince of Wales was advised by some of his Council especially the Bishop of Rodez who was at that time Chancellor of Aquitaine to raise a Foüage or Tax upon Chimneys throughout all his Principality thereby to enable himself to pay the Debts he had contracted by his late Expedition and beside the State which the Prince and Princess kept was so great that in all Christendom there was not the like again So there was held a Parliament for raising this Foüage at Niort to which were summon'd all the Barons of Gascogne of Poictou of Saintogne and of divers other parts even from all the Cities and Good Towns of Aquitaine Before all whom the Bishop of Rodez declared in Presence of the Prince how this Foüage was to be raised and that the Design of Raising it was chiefly to enable the Prince their Lord to pay such summs of Money as he ow'd upon the account of his Spanish Expedition and that however it was the Prince's Mind not to continue the said Foüage any longer than for the space of Five Years to come All which time supposing x Du Châ—sne p. 699. One Frank for every Chimney the Prince would have a supply of 1200000 Franks per annum if the Matter had been effectually put in Execution But althô to this Ordinance the Porctevrns readily agreed as also did the Representatives of Sainctogne Limosin Rouvergue and Rochelle yet divers others of the Marches of Gascogne refused to concurr with them as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret his Nephew the Lord of Conde the Lord of Pincornet the Lord of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lord de la Barde and divers other Barons who said how heretofore when they served the French King they were not then grieved nor oppressed with any Subsidies or Innovations and no more would they now if they could help it for they said their Lands and Seignories were free and exempt from all such Duties and so the Prince had sworn to keep and maintain them But however the better to make fair Weather for the time and to get off with more ease from this Parliament they then only answer'd how they would take further Advice and so return again by such a day as well Prelates Bishops and Abbots as Barons Knights and others This was all the Answer that the Prince and his Council could have at that time and so they brake up and left
Niort having received a Command from the Prince to return again thither by a Day Assigned Thus the Barons and the Lords of Gascogne went home to their several Places having first firmly agreed together by no means to return to the Parliament appointed by the Prince nor to suffer the Foüage to be raised in their Lands but rather to rebell against Him. And shortly after the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Lord of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine and the rest of the Barons Knights and Esquires of those parts went into France and there put forth their Complaints in the French Kings Chamber in presence of the King and his Peers of the Grievances which the Prince of Wales would do unto them adding that in such Cases their whole Resort and Appeal ought to be unto the King of France as unto their only Sovereign Lord. Then the French King who made some scruple to break the Peace which had been so solemnly established between the two Realms answer'd them with dissimulation enough Surely Gentlemen the Jurisdiction of our Inheritance and of the Crown of France we will always preserve and augment to our Power But we have sworn to keep sundry Articles contained in the Peace of Bretigny all which I cannot perfectly remember Wherefore We shall Inspect and consider the Tenor of the Letters and as much as in us lies We will do you Right and shall be glad to reconcile You with the Prince our Dear Nephew For perhaps he is not well advised thus to deprive either You or your Vassals of their Customs and Franchises With this answer for the present they contented themselves but tarried still with the King at Paris resolving not to return to their own places nor to the Prince's Parliament wherewith the Prince was extreamly displeased but for all that he proceeded in raising the Tax aforesaid The Lord John Chandos who was the very Chief of his Council always gave his Opinion against this Foüage and now especially foreseeing the Ill Consequences thereof he would willingly have perswaded the Prince to remit it but when he saw the Prince resolv'd upon it to the intent he might not incurr any reproach or blame in that business he took his leave of the Prince shewing for his Excuse that he was desirous to go into Normandy to visit his Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount whereof he was Lord and had not been there of Three Years The Prince granted his request and so the Lord Chandos rode from Poictou into Coutantine and tarried in the Fortress of St Saviour more than half a year till the Prince's service call'd him forth to Action And all the while the Prince proceeded with an high Hand in raising this Foüage which if he had brought about would have amounted as we said before to more than 1200000 Franks per annum every Fire to pay a Frank and the Rich to have born out the Poor CHAPTER the FOURTH AN. DOM. 1369. An. Regni Angliae XLIII The CONTENTS I. Don Henry the Bastard understanding how the Prince's Affairs began to be embroiled takes Heart and returns into Spain with an Army against his Brother Don Pedro. He finds the King of Majorica sick at Valladolid takes him Prisoner and having received many Cities and Towns goes and lies down before Toledo II. Don Pedro goes hastily against him with a great Army but being met unawares is beaten flies into the Castle of Montiel and is there closely besteged III. For want of Provision he is forced to seek an Escape but being taken is soon after murder'd by the Bastard's own Hands the Bastard reigns in his stead IV. The Discontented Gascogners urge the French King to summon the Prince of Wales to answer unto their several Complaints in the Chamber of Peers V. At last King Charles by the perswasions of his Council under much Caution venters to summon the Prince and so the first seeds of War are cast again William of Wickham made Bishop of Winchester with some Observations concerning him VI. The Black-Prince in the midst of his Warlike Preparations is taken with an unknown and incurable Distemper VII The Gascogne Lords begin the War against the Prince who sends the Lord Chandos to oppose them VIII The French King lulls King Edward into security by his subtle Negotiations till being ready he might surprise Ponthieu before-hand Whereto when things are ripe he also sends his Defiance to King Edward IX Hereupon King Edward sends forthwith to secure Ponthieu but all too late the King of France had been there before him X. King Edward having taken all the Care he could for Scotland and Ireland calls a Parliament wherein he resumes the Title of France changes his Seals and obtains a Mighty Aid for his Wars XI Edward the Black-Prince creates the Valiant Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche Earl of Bigorre which Creation is afterwards confirmed by the King his Father I. NOW a Frois c. 251. f. 144. of the Affairs of Prince Edward and of Aquitain were all the Kings his Neighbours well informed especially Don Pedro King of Aragon and Don Henrique the Bastard who took particular care to understand how Matters went with the Prince And when they heard that the Barons of Gascogne had applied themselves to the Court of France and began already in a manner to rebel against him they were not a little pleased therewith But chiefly the Bastard was comforted at this News for now he saw the Prince of Wales entangled with Domestick Troubles he hop'd the more easily to reconquer the Realm of Castille which before he had lost by the Prince's means Whereupon he took his leave of the King of Aragon and departed from Valencia with the Vicount of Rochebreton and the Vicount of Rodez and 3000 Horse and 6000 Foot in his Company besides certain Genourse whom he retained for Wages Thus he rode into Spain and came before the good City of Burgos which open'd her Gates and yielded unto him acknowledging him for her Rightfull Lord and Sovereign Thence he went to Valladolid for he understood how the King of Majorica was still there being not yet fully recover'd of his sickness which rendred him unable to go along with Prince Edward when he left Spain The Inhabitants of Valladolid who heard how the great City of Burgos had yielded up thought not to offer to resist him wherefore they also received him and paid Homage unto him Being enter'd the City enquiring for the King of Majorica he was shew'd his Lodgings and went up himself into the Chamber where he lay not yet quite well and accosted him in this manner Sir King of Majorica You have been our Enemy and together with the Prince of Aquitain and a great Army have invaded this our Realm of Castille wherefore We have Reason to seize upon You and You must yield your self our Prisoner or You are but Dead When the King of Majorica saw himself in such a Case and that it
And still he set men secretly to enquire among them as it were of their own Heads what they would really do if the Peace were once broken between England and France whether they would stand firm to the latter or no. And they always reply'd That if the War were once open the French King should not need to trouble himself about any such thing For they said they themselves were strong enough to menage the War against the Prince and all his Power and that when once they were own'd by the King of France they would like good Subjects live and die in his Quarrel Besides all these Conferences which that Wise Prince held before he would venture upon a Breach of the Peace he tamper'd also secretly with many others of other Parts that were then under the English Dominion as particularly with the Burgesses of Abbeville a strong and fair City of Ponthieu in Picardy to sift out whether or no on such an Occasion they would admit of the French Government and they answer'd how they desired nothing so much in all the World if they durst they hated the English so mortally Thus the French King cunningly gat him Friends on all hands or else he durst never have done what he did For he knew it was no small matter to hold War against King Edward and his Son the Prince of Wales who had put his Father and Grandfather to so much Trouble And for these his Fine Dealings he obtain'd of the French Nation the Title of Charles le Sage or the Wise thô surely the Title of his Father was more worthy of a Christian Monarch for that was le Bon the Good. A little before this namely h 〈…〉 Chron. 〈◊〉 ad ann 1 68. on the 3d of December in the preceding Year being the first Sunday in Advent was born unto King Charles of France his Eldest Son Charles who was baptised by that Name on the Wednesday following being the 6 of December and the Feast of St. Nicolas the Bishop and Confessor in the Church of St. Paul near Paris And within a few Days after was born unto the Lord of Albret his Eldest Son also At the Birth of which Two who were Cosen Germans all the Realm of France rejoyced but especially the King himself V. Thus the French i Frois c. 243. Du Chesne Du Serres King being on all hands urged and perswaded did at last suffer Letters of Citation to be framed therewith to summon the Prince of Aquitain forthwith to make his Personal Appearance before Him in his Chamber of Peers to answer to the Complaints there to be made against him And this Letter was principally devised by the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmain the Lord de la Barde the Lord of Pincornet and the rest of the Malecontents of Gascogne who had been the principal Occasion of all this And when the Letter of Summons was drawn up and duly corrected by all the Greatest Heads in France then it was concluded by the King and his Council that it should be sent unto the Prince without any more ado And two Persons were pitch'd upon to execute this Office the one named Bernard Pelot who was Judge Criminal of Tholouse and the other a Knight of Beausse called Sr. John Chapponeau Which two with their Servants departed accordingly from Paris and took their way toward Poictou and so passed thrö Tourain Poictou and Sainctogne till they came to Blaye where they crossed the Garonne and so proceeded to Bourdeaux where at that time the Prince and Princess held their Court. And still in all Places where they came they declared how they were Messengers from the French King upon which account they gain'd the better Welcome every where Being come to Bourdeaux they took up their Lodgings for that Night and the next Morning at a convenient Hour went to the Abby of St. Andrews where the Prince kept his Court and were received handsomly When the Prince heard that Messengers from the French King were arrived at his Court he caused them to be brought before him And they being come into his Presence kneeled down to pay their Reverence and so deliver'd unto him first their Credentials The Prince having read these Letters said Gentlemen You are welcome Let us now know the business you are charged with unto Vs Then the Doctor began Right Dear Sir here is another Letter which being deliver'd unto us at Paris by our Lord the French King we promised on our Allegiance to publish openly in your presence For Sir they concern your Person nearly At this the Prince began to change Colour as wondring what the Matter might be as also did all the other Lords and Knights that were about him nevertheless He refrained Himself and said Speak on Sirs what you have to say Good Tidings We would be glad to hear Hereupon the Doctor took the Writing forth and began to read it aloud and distinctly word for word this being the k Frois c. 243. f. 147. b. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 699. D. Tenor thereof viz. CHARLES by the Grace of God King of France to our Nephew the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain Greeting Whereas divers Prelates Barons Knights Vniversities and Colleges of the Marches and Limitations of the Country of Gascogne dwelling and inhabiting on the Borders of our Realm with several others of the Country and Dutchy of Aquitain have withdrawn themselves unto Vs in our Court to have Right of certain Grievances and undue Molestations which You by weak Counsel and slight Information have purposed to do unto them and at which thing we are surprised with wonder To obviate therefore and remedy the said Matters We l l Nous nous sommes ahers aherdons avec eux are so strictly engaged unto them that by our Majesty Royal and Sovereignty We command You to come to our City of Paris in proper Person and there to shew and present Your Self before Vs in our Chamber of Peers to hear Right concerning the said Complaints and Griefs moved by You to do upon your People who claim to have and to hear Resort in our Court And that herein there be no fail but that it be done as speedily as you can after sight of these Letters In witness whereof We have set our Seal to these Presents Given at Paris the Twenty fifth Day of the Month of January When the Prince had heard and seen these Letters he was horribly incensed and shook his Head for Anger and beheld the Frenchmen with Eyes flaming with Fury and having paused a little to correct his Passion somewhat he returned this Answer Gentlemen We will gladly go to Paris to our Vncle since he hath thus handsomly invited Vs but I 'll assure you that shall be with Helmet on our Head and sixty thousand Men in our Company At this the two Frenchmen kneeling down in great Fear said
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
found his Adversary of France wanted no Cunning nor Industry whereby to oppose him And he heard particularly how the Scots also had engaged against him in a new Alliance with the French King and design'd to give him a Diversion at the Back-door Whereat he was grievously displeased for he doubted the Scots more than the Frenchmen not only because they were a more implacable and obstinate People and kept their former Losses in mind but also because they were his near Neighbours and could do him an Injury more easily and escape Revenge more securely Wherefore first he sent a considerable Number of Men of Arms Archers and Others to the Frontiers of Scotland as to Newcastle to Caerlile to Barwick to Roxborough and other Places Besides which he rigged forth a good Fleet which was to ply about Southhampton Jernsey and the Isle of Wight For he heard how the French King was setting forth a great Navy to Sea which was to come and invade England or as others said Ireland wherefore thither also he was obliged to send no small Reinforcement under the Command of the Lord William Windsor d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 509. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 27. who being at the same time constituted Lord Lieutenant of Ireland had in consideration thereof for his better Support in the Kings Service a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Kings Exchequer untill such a time as the King should settle upon him Lands and Rents of that Value for Him and his Heirs for ever and immediatly thereupon he had a Grant of the Mannor and Castle of Dungarvan as also the Castle called the Black-Castle to Him and the Heirs of his Body With him went in this Irish Expedition e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. ex Pat. 43. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 32 the Lord Thomas Fauconberg and other Persons of Rank and Conduct for King Edward not knowing on which side the storm would fall was obliged to take Care on all Sides Though indeed he himself was not without some anxious Thoughts by reason of the unexpectedness of this Alarum But having thus for the present provided for all as well as he could he calls together his High Court of Parliament f M.S. Rot. Par. p. 103. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridg. p. 108. which according to the Summons met at Westminster in the Octaves of the Holy Trinity At which time William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor of England declared in the Painted Chamber in Presence of the King Lords and Commons the Reasons of their present Assembly saying How the King had always in his greatest Affairs used their Advice and Counsel and especially in making the last Peace with the French which was yet made on Condition that by such a Day the French King should surrender up unto him certain Countries beyond the Seas that within such a time he should pay unto the King certain Sums of Money and that he should never pretend for the future to any Jurisdiction or Soveraignty over Gascogne or the Parts thereabouts in Consideration whereof the King of England should from thenceforth lay by the Stile of France which he had accordingly done That whereas he for his Part had not slacked his Duty the French King had done the quite Contrary for neither had he made a full and due Payment of the said Monies and also he had summon'd the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret and Others who were of the Kings Allegiance to answer to certain Appeals at Paris nay further he had summon'd the Prince of Aquitain himself who was also of the Kings Allegiance to appear among the Rest Besides all which he had sent certain Troops into Ponthieu where he had surprised several of the Kings Garrisons and Forts Whereupon the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain by Advice of his Council had sent to the King his Father wishing him to Resume the Title and Stile of France And therefore the Chancellor desired the Lords and Commons to take Counsel in the Matter and to advise the King to the best of their Power about the Premises Then there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland and also for Gascogne and other Foreign Places and Isles and after that Triers of the said Petitions for all the said Places On the Wednesday after the Bishops Lords and Commons answered the King with one Consent That considering the Premises He might with a Good Conscience take up again the Stile and Name of King of France and use his Arms as before Accordingly the King at that instant took upon him the Name Stile and Dignity of France and on the Eleventh Day of June being a Monday and St. Barnabas Day his Seal of England being safely laid up another Seal engraven with the Stile and Arms of France was taken and used and several Patents Charters and Writs therewith sealed and the same Day all the Kings other Seals were Changed one g Ashmole p. 665. being circumscribed with the Word Franciae in the first Place and the other with Angliae as at the Beginning From which Time even to this Day the Kings of England his Successors continue their Arms Quarter'd with France in token of that Right to which King Edward so justly now renew'd his Claim After this upon a full Account given of the Kings great Necessities the Lords and Commons granted unto him for Three Years following of Denizens for every Sack of Wooll Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twenty Dozen of Fells Fourty Three Shillings Four Pence and of every Last of Skins Four Pounds But of Aliens for every Sack of Wooll Fifty Three Shillings Four Pence of every Twelvescore Fells as much and of every Last of Skins Five Pounds Six Shillings Eight Pence over and above the Old Customs Then it was Enacted That all the Kings Forts and Fortresses should be surveyed repaired and edified And it was caution'd by another Statute that no Religious Aliens should be left in a Capacity to discover the Secrets of the Realm and now again were all the Lands of Religious Aliens seized into the Kings Hands and lett to Farm to the Sovereigns of the same That Remedy may be had against the excessive Selling of Armour and the unreasonable Demands of Horse-Coursers The King will appoint the Officers of every Town to provide therefore That the Time of Prescription may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First The Old Law shall stand That Sylva Caedua may especially be declared The Statute shall be observed That Sheriffs be no further charged than they shall receive The Party grieved upon Complaint shall have Remedy That the Indicted upon any Trespass or Felony may upon Issue joyned have a Nisi Prius against the King. So the same concerneth Treason the Chancellor or Keeper of the Privy Seal shall therein do Right That such as dwell upon the Sea-Coasts may set up Poles
and only set down here an Exact Translation of the said Record word for word that all the World may see upon what solid Grounds we go The Declaration Ordinance or Statute of the Succession to the Crown of Scotland made at Scone on the 4th of April in the Third Year of King Robert the Second Ano. Domini 1373. XV. In the Name of God Amen In the Year of the m Incarnationis ejusdem viz. Dei which went before Incarnation One Thousand Three Hundred Seventy Three and in the Third Year of the Reign of King Robert the Second the Fourth day of April the said King Robert the Second in his Parliament at Scone n Ac Cupiens c. sed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ac super fluum being desirous to avoid to his Power the Uncertainty of Succession which hath formerly happened in most Kingdoms and Parts and for him and his as much as may be to prevent it for the Future of Deliberate Counsel and with the Consent and Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Lords and Nobles and of all others of the Three Estates or Communities of the whole Realm there Assembled hath Declared Ordained and o Statuit Established that the Sons of the said King now begotten of his First and Second Wives and their Heirs shall p Succesive succedent in order succeed the said King in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning in manner under-written and under the form and conditions under-written Videlicet that the Lord John the Eldest Son Earl of Carrick and Steward of Scotland for whose Right of Succession Declaration was fully made in the q Hoc Parliamentum fuit coactum Ano. 1372 c. Vid. Statuta Roberti 11. c. 17. §. 2 3 4. Parliament immediately preceding and his Heirs after his Death shall succeed him in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning And the said Lord John and his Heirs failing perchance which God forbid the Lord Robert Earl of Fife and Menteith Second Son of the said Lord the King by his First Wife and his Heirs shall in Order and immediately succeed in the Kingdom and in the Right of Reigning And the said Lord Robert and his Heirs r Hic inseritur hujâ—smodi â—ticsè ut mihi videtur also failing perchance which God forbid the Lord Alexander Lord of Badenagh the Third-begotten Son of the said Lord the King by the same Wife and his Heirs only shall in the same manner successively and immediately after their Death succeed in the Kingdom and Right of Reigning But the said Lord Alexander and his Heirs aforesaid failing also perchance which God forbid the Lord David Earl of Strathern Son of the said Lord the King begotten of his Second Wife and his Heirs they so failing Å¿ Ex toto integrum in jus 〈◊〉 tâ—to in regnum c. shall ex toto succeed in like manner successively and immediately to the Kingdom and Right of Reigning But the said David and his Heirs aforesaid in like manner perchance failing Walter Son of the said Lord the King Brother German of the said Lord David and his Heirs shall succeed in like manner to the Kingdom and the Right of Reigning But the foresaid Five Brothers and the Heirs from them descending failing perchance in like manner and t Ex toto wholly which God forbid the True and Lawfull Heirs of the Blood and Stock Royal shall from thence succeed to the Kingdom and the Right of Reigning Which things being thus Established Ordained Declared and Done all the Prelates Earls and Barons and all of the Three Estates or Communities of the whole Realm in the said Parliament for that and other things there Assembled did Ratifie and approve them for them and their Heirs for ever And notwithstanding those underwritten namely Prelates Bishops of Churches the Lord William of St. Andrews Michael of Dunkelden Alexander of Aberdeen Patrick of Brechin Alexander of Murray Andrew of Dumblane Alexander of Rosse and Malcome of Cathanes on the Holy Gospels of God being present and open and the underwritten Earls Barons and Nobles namely First the Elder Sons of the said King that are of Age viz. the Lords John Robert and Alexander and also the Lord William Earl of Douglas George of Dumbar Earl of Marche John of Dumbar Earl of Murray Thomas Hayes Constable of Scotland the Lord William Keth Marshal of Scotland James Lindscy Lord of Crawford Archimbald Douglas Lord of Galloway James Douglas Lord of Dalkeith Robert de Irskin Hugh de Eglington Duncan Wallais David Graham Walter of Haliburton William Dissington Alan de Irskin Alan u Ità lacunam hìc suppleo Frazer James Frazer Alexander Frazer Robert Stuart of Innerness Roger Mortimer David Fitz-Walter Patrick Graham Andrew Vaux John Wallais John Maxwell Andrew Campbell William de Cunningham the Son and John Straquhan Knights John Kennedy and Alexander Cockburn Esquires and each of them on the said Holy Gospels by their Hands touched have corporally sworn that for them and their Heirs they will inviolably observe and by others to their Power cause to be observed for ever the foresaid Declarations Ordinations and Statutes Consequently and immediately whereto the whole Multitude of the Clergy and People being specially thereto called in the Church of Scone before the High Altar and the foresaid Declaration Ordination and Statute so sworn-to being read unto them openly and aloud Every One with his Hand lifted up in manner of giving Faith in token of the Universal Consent of all the Clergy and People did express and manifest publiquely their Consent and Assent In witness of all which the foresaid Lord the King commanded his Great Seal to be put to the present Writing or Instrument and for the Greater Evidence and Fuller Security all the Bishops Earls Barons and Nobles aforesaid caused their Seals to be put to the said Instrument for the sake of Testimony and to the perpetual Memory of those that are to come Acta fuerunt haec apud Sconam in pleno Parliamento Domini Regis Praedictis Anno Mense Die. superiùs annotatis Now if the pretended Defect be true as to the Children begotten on the Body of Elizabeth More it was a very palpable and undeniable One and could not but have been unanswerably known to the whole Nation And how then can We imagine that the whole Parliament would so unanimously draw upon themselves the dreadfull sin of Perjury by Excluding the Lawfull Heir against their National Oath taken in the Reign of King Kenneth the Third whereby they swore for ever to own the Immediate Heir Or that they would thus venture to entail upon themselves a Civil War by preferring even a Questionable Heir after the Miseries which they had so lately felt in the Competition betwixt the Bruce and the Bailiol Nay among these Seals We find the Seal of James Douglas Lord of Dalkeith is One and how ridiculous is it to think that
Prince of Wales so much values and had so greatly fortify'd This Resolution was put in practice and the Duke at the request of the Bishop having left in Garrison Sr. John Villemur Sr. Hugh de la Roche and Roger Beaufort Esquire with an 100 Men of Arms and others went himself into Berry the Duke of Bourbon into Bourbonnois and the other Lords of the farther Marches into their several Countries Only Sr. Bertram of Clequin remain'd still in the parts of Limosin with two Hundred Spears to keep the Castles of the Lord of Maleval who had newly revolted to the French. XVIII News came presently to the Prince of Wales that his City of Limoges had revolted from him and that the Bishop of the said Place who had been Godfather to his Eldest Son Edward and in whom he had reposed much Confidence was chiefly concern'd in the Treason The Prince was horribly incensed at this Falshood of the Bishop and never after so entirely respected Men of the Clergy as he had done all his Life before However first f Walsing hist p. 180 n. 30 40. he sent his Heralds unto the Inhabitants of Limoges commanding them to yield unto him and to return to their Duty acknowledging their fault before it should be too late But they finding themselves encompassed with strong Walls and Fortifications abundantly supply'd with Victuals and back'd with a strong Garrison valued not the Prince's Summons Whose Obstinacy when the Prince understood he sent once more unto them denouncing this Judgement against them That if they did not presently submit unto him and turn out the French Garrison and deliver unto him the Traytors he would surely come against them in Person rase their City to the Ground and put to the Sword their Men Women and Children even all whom he should find therein But for all this the Ignorant Vulgar being deceived by their Captains High Words and their own vain Confidence did not only refuse to take this Message into Consideration but affronted his Messengers and fortify'd their City yet more strongly against him Then at last the incensed Prince g Frois c. 280 c. sware by the Soul of his Father which was the most Solemn Oath he ever us'd that he would recover that City again and take Vengeance on those Insolent Rebels and make all the Traytors pay dearly for their Falshood So he went from Cognac hastily with 1200 Spears Knights and Esquires in his Company One Thousand Archers on Horseback and a Thousand Archers on Foot with his Brethren the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke the Lord Thomas Piercy the Lord Thomas Ros of Hamlake the Lord William Beauchamp the Lord Michael de la Pole the Lord Baldwin Frevile the Lord John Devereux the Lord Hugh Meinill Sr. Simon Burley Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. Stephen Cossington Sr. Richard Pontchardon Sr. Dangouses Sr. Percival Collins all Englishmen besides these Great Captains Gascogners Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Lewis of Harcourt the Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton the Lord of Monferrand the Lord of Chaumont the Lord of Landuras Sr. Emery of Chartres the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Mucidan the Lord de l'Esparre the Soldiche de l'Estarrac the Lord of Garonne all Poictevins and Gascogners together with Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt of Hainalt and the Captains of the Companions as Sr. Perdiccas of Albret Nandon of Bergerac the Bourg de l'Esparre the Bourg of Bartuel Batiller Espiot Bernard Wisk and Bernard de la Salle When the Black-Prince began to March with this Army of Expert Men all the Country trembled before him but He himself was so sore in his Limbs that he could not endure to ride on Horseback but was carried in an open Chariot taking the direct way to Limoges Being come before the Place he began to invest it round and sware he would never rise thence till he had it at his Mercy The Bishop and the Chief Burgesses who had yielded the Town to the French began now to Repent of their Treason but 't was too late for they were no longer Masters of the Town the French Garrison held them under Sr. John Villemur Sr. Hugh de la Roche and Roger Beaufort who were Captains of the City and Men of Exalted Courage and Skill in Arms did all they could to hearten their Men and the Inhabitants who most of all dreaded the Anger of the Incensed Prince Sirs said they be not at all daunted We are strong enough to hold out against the Prince and all his Power 'T was He himself that fortify'd this City So that by Assault He can never hurt Vs We are so well defended and also sufficiently furnish'd with Artillery to offend the Assailants And then We have Provision enough to hold out all the next Winter by which time He will find it but cold Lodging in the Field The Prince and his Marshals who knew well the strength of the City and were fully informed what Souldiers were within concluded that it would be to little purpose to Storm the Place and so they Resolv'd on another way namely to undermine the Walls Accordingly the Prince set his Pioneers of whom he had the best in the World with him on work about which they fell briskly The Captains within perceived or at least guessed that they were undermin'd and so they began to make Ditches and to countermine hoping to disappoint the Prince that way But here we shall leave the Prince at his Siege for a while and return to Sr. Robert Knolles whom we left on his journey to Paris XIX Now this mean while Sr. Robert Knolles had pass'd with his Army thrô Artois Picardy Vermandois the Archbishoprick of Laon the Archbishoprick of Rheims and Champaigne whence he turned back into Brie and so came before the Great City of Paris to try if thus he might engage the Frenchmen to a Battle And here he lay a Day and two Nights the French King himself being at that time within the City who might easily see from his Palace of St. Paul the Huge Fires and Smoaks which the English made about in Gastenois There was then with the King in Paris a considerable Army consisting besides the Common Souldiers of Knights Esquires and other Valiant Gentlemen of France under the Command of these Captains of Name Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France and the Earl of St. Paul newly come thither the Earl of Tancarville the Earl of Salebruce the Vicount of Meaux Sr. Ralph de Coucy the Seneschal of Hainalt Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. John de Vienne the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord de la Riviere the Lord de Chasteau St. Julian the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Crespy the Lord of Chauny Sr. Angerant Dourdan and others but not one Man offer'd to come out against the English for the King would by no means permit any such thing And indeed
of Clequin takes St. Benoist by Assault and puts all within to the Sword He takes Marans by Composition and Surgeres he finds void He takes Fontenay le Comté and sits down before Thoüars which obtains a Truce on promise to yield if not rescued by such a Day by the King of England or one of his Sons in Person The Captal of Busche brought Prisoner to Paris his Loyalty to the English for which he is confin'd for Life his Praise and Nobility and that he was Ancestor to Lewis XIV the present King of France XIX King Edward upon News from Thoüars resolves to go in Person to the Rescue and the mean while calls his Parliament and declares Richard of Bourdeaux the Black-Prince's only Son to have the Right of Succession after the Death of his Father and Grandfather and so leaving the said Prince Richard his Lieutenant during his Absence he sets Sail for Rochelle with a mighty Army XX. The French King prepares to oppose and the Loyal Lords of Gascogne to joyn him with all their Strength XXI But the Wind continuing adverse for a Month he is disappointed and forced to return into England XXII The English and Gascogne Lords offer themselves to save Thoüars but are not accepted because the Conditions required the King or one of his Sons to be there in Person XXIII Thoüars yielded to the French Mortagne besieged by the Lord. Clisson who leaves the Siege upon the Approach of the English Succours XXIV The Duke of Bretagne enters Alliance with King Edward and is made Earl of Richmond John of Gaunt resigning that Earldom upon an Equivalent XXV Prince Edward surrenders into his Fathers Hands the Principality of Aquitain The Death of the Earl of Stafford of Sr. William Molineux and of Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller I. THIS being the first Inauspitious Year of our Great Edwards Reign was begun with the Death of two Famous Peers of this Realm For first a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 186. Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 1075. on the 16 of January there died the Valiant Lord Humphry Bohun Earl of Northampton Hereford and Essex and Constable of England the Tenth of that Name and the last Male of that Noble Family For by the Lady Joan his Wife Daughter to Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel he left Issue only two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Eleanor who became the Wife of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Woodstock the Youngest Son of King Edward and the Lady Mary who was Wife to the Eldest Son of John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster called Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Darby and afterwards by Usurpation King of England by the Name of Henry the IV. This Earl is also said in a certain b M.S. Penes D. Ed. D. Mil. de Sharsted in Cantio private Genealogy which I have seen to have left behind him another Daughter named Beatrix which is there pretended to have been married to an Ancestor of that Family But this is a gross Error and Mistake and a Vanity worthy to be corrected thô here I spare the Gentlemans Name since it contradicts c Dugd. ibid. Mills ibid. Sandford Gen. Hist p. 227. c. all the Publique and Authentick Accounts that are any where to be met with About the same time viz. on the 15 of January d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. Frois c. 296. Lit. Dom. DC being a Thursday and the Day after the Feast of St. Hilary the Bishop and Confessor there died in the City of London that most Generous and Couragious Gentleman the Lord Walter Manny Banneret and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind him the Lady Anne his only Daughter and Heir then married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke she being at that time but Seventeen Years of Age. At this Mans Death King Edward and all the Lords of England were mightily concerned because of the extraordinary Judgment Loyalty and Courage that had always been found in him He was therefore e â—anford Gen. Hist p. 207. 208. Stow's Survey p. 478. Dugd. c. buried with great Solemnity in his own Chappel of the Carthusians now called the Charter-House in London King Edward and all his Children the Great Prelates of the Church and the Brethren of the Order of the Garter with many of the Chief Barons of the Realm honouring his Funeral Rites with their Prefence He died f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. siezed of the Mannor of Dunstaple in Kent of Dovercourt Chesterford Magna and Rumford in Essex of Weston and Knebworth in Hertfordshire of the Castle of Strigoile and Mannor of Tudenham in the Marches of Wales of the Mannors of North Pidele in Worcestershire of Bretteby in Darbyshire of Oneston and Barton-Hanrede in Northamtonshire of Scottesdon in Shropshire of Aspele Alspathe Thurlaston and Fleckenho in Warwickshire of Cold-Overton Dalby Segrave Sileby Montsorrel Groby Witherdale and the Hundred of Goscote in Leicestershire of Watton and Stoneham in Suffolk of Framlingham Southfield Lodden the Moiety of the Mannor of Dikelburgh and Half-Hundred of Ersham in Norfolk and of a certain Mannor in Penne near Beaconfield in Buckinghamshire All which Possessions except the Mannor of Dunstaple first mentioned came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Wife Daughter and Heir of Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Uncle to King Edward the Third Of her Body he gat besides a Son unhappily drown'd in his Childhood only one Daughter namely the Lady Anne married as we said before to the Earl of Pembroke Whereupon all these Lands and others as well in England as beyond the Seas in Hainalt his Native Country besides what King Edward g Vid. hujus Hist l. 2. c. 6. §. 20. p. 411. had given unto him in Calais and other Parts of France fell now unto the said Earl of Pembroke in Right of his Wife the Lady Anne Manny aforesaid Wherefore soon after the said Earl sent two of his Knights to make Seisin of the said Lands belonging unto him in Hainalt and they did their Devoir so well with Duke Albret of Bavaria who then Governed for his Distracted Brother William that they attained their Purpose II. Now thô King h Ashmâ—le's Garter p. 666. Edward design'd to enter France with two Fresh Armies this Year yet upon the Pope's earnest request both by Letters and Messages he first endeavour'd to lay hold of an Honourable Peace To which end i 19 Febr. Rot. Franc. 46 Ed. 3. m. 47. Power of treating thereon was given to Simon Sudbury alià s Tibald Bishop of London to the Lord Guy Brian and the Lord Roger Beauchamp Bannerets to Sr. Arnold Savage Knight Dr. John Appleby Dean of London and John de Branketre Treasurer of York And the k 20 Febr. ibid. m. 48. next day the King granted his Letters of safe Conduct for the Ambassadors of France to treat about that Affair But because nothing as to
Garrison among them But now that the Flower of the English Forces was lost before Sivray when the Inhabitants heard that the Constable himself was coming against them they went out to meet him with the Keys of the Town in their Hand and so conducted him into the Walls with great joy Having tarried here four Days to refresh his Army he went thence in great Array his Forces consisting of 1400 Spears besides others and presented himself before the Castle of Lusignan which yielded unto him upon Composition those of the Garrison being permitted to go off with their Lives saved and of their Goods as much as they could carry on their Horses before them and so to be safely conducted to Bourdeaux And thus was this strong Place also reduced to the French King's Devotion From hence the Constable rode to Chastellacher and summon'd the Lady thereof which was Madam d Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 918. Constance Wife to Sr. Guischard of Angoulesme to yield up the Castle unto him But she only desired of the Constable his safe Conduct that she might go to Poictiers to speak with the Duke of Berry which request Sr. Bertram granted and caused her to be attended thither with one of his own Knights Being come before the Duke she kneeled down but the Duke presently took her up demanding what her Pleasure was Sir said the Lady I am strictly summon'd by the Constable of France to submit my self my Lands and Castle to the Obedience of the French King. And Sir your Royal Highness knows very well how my Lord and Husband lieth as yet a Prisoner in Spain his Lands being left to the Government of me a weak helpless Woman Sir I may not dispose of mine Husbands Inheritance after my Pleasure for if I should do any thing of such high Moment without his Knowledge he would surely give me no Thanks therefore and so I might incurr blame which God forbid I should ever justly deserve from my Lord and Husband But Sir to satisfie Your Highness and to preserve my Lands in Peace I shall compound with You for my self and all mine that You shall make no War upon Vs nor We upon You till my Husband be released out of Prison At which time I believe he will make for England And then I 'll send him word of this our Composition and he will most surely let me hear whether he will agree thereto or no And so your Highness shall have a final Answer To this the Duke reply'd Fair Madam I am well content to grant your Desire on this Condition that neither You nor any Captains of your Fortresses make any greater Provision of Men Victuals or Artillery during this Cessation than you have at this present time And this also being agreed to by the Lady she return'd to her Castle where she caused the Siege to be raised by shewing unto the Constable the Duke of Berry's Letters to that Effect From thence the Constable went before Mortimer the Lady whereof submitted her self and her Lands to the Obedience of the French King and she also deliver'd up the Castle of Didonne which belonged to her Thus was all Poictou Sainctogne and Rochellois quite rid of the Englishmen Whereupon the Constable having set good Garrisons in all Places when he saw no sign of Resistance in those Marches even as far as the River Garonne returned homeward into France as also did the Dukes of Berry Bourbon and Burgundy and most of the French Barons who had been concern'd in those Parts All these were highly feasted and entertain'd by the King at Paris but none so much as Sr. Bertram of Clequin the rest were no more than Shadows to him his Glory eclipsed them all and when he came to Paris the King thought he could not honour and caress him sufficiently III. Now e Frois c. 307. f. 187. b. sed Gallicè s 256. b. while the Constable remain'd with the King at Paris in much Honour the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord de la Val the Lord of Vangoure the Lord of Tournemine the Lord of Rieux and the Lord of Rochefort with the Vicount of Rohan Sr. Charles of Diguier Banneret of Bretagne the Marshal of Blaroville the Lords of Hambie of Ruille of Fonteville of Granville of Farnville of Dennevalle and Des Cleres Bannerets of Normandy went with a great Army of Bretons and Normans and laid siege to the strong Castle of Becherel in Bretagne which they very much streightned by their continual Assaults But there were two Valiant English Captains within namely Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who with certain Choice Troops defended the Place couragiously and made many Sallies and Skirmishes and endured many warm Attacks to their Honour In Normandy the Frenchmen maintain'd at the same time another Siege before St. Saviour le Vicount wherein were Captains Sr. Thomas Tribles Sr. John de Burgo Sr. Philip Picard and the Three Mauliverers Brethren And it is to be noted that these two Garrisons before they were now besieged had overran all the Country of Base Normandy so that nothing could be secure from them but what was in strong Fortresses Besides which they ransom'd and took Prisoners as well in the Bishoprick of Bayeux as in Eureux the King of Navarre himself conniving thereat nay and sometimes assisting them with Victuals and Men such as he had disposed about in Garrisons in the Country of Eureux For as then he was not agreed with the French King So that the Garrisons of Cherbourg of Conches of Bretevil of Eureux of Cocherel and others under the Obeisance of the King of Navarre had made great Havock in Normandy as well as the English themselves But as f Vid. hujus Hist Lib. 4. c. 7. §. 10. p. 795. we shew'd before there had lately such Means been made between the two Kings of France and Navarre especially by the diligent Promotion of the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Eureux that they came to an Accord and so met together in Friendly manner at the Castle of Rohan on the River of Seyne And there besides the two Kings many Great Lords on both Parts were solemnly sworn to cultivate a mutual Peace Friendship and Unity for ever After which Assurance thus given and taken on both Sides the King of Navarre went along with the French King as we shew'd to Paris where He and all His were received with much Honour and Royal Magnificence And then and there the King of Navarre put all his Lands which he held in Normandy into the Hands and Disposal of the French King he undertaking their Protection and that the Propriety should remain entire to the King of Navarre but the Use of them to the French King during the Wars with England This done the King of Navarre left his two Sons Charles and Peter with their Uncle the French King and so took his leave of Paris and returned into Navarre And this Peace indeed he kept and upheld
c. 236. Caxton c. that not long before the King had sent the Ambassadors aforesaid to Avignon to require of Pope Gregory that as to the Reservation of Benefices of England made in his Court he would supersede Medling for the future that Clergymen might freely enjoy their Elections to Episcopal Dignities and that it might be sufficient for them to be confirmed by their Metropolitans as was the Antient Custom Upon these and the like Abuses they required Remedy of the Pope concerning all which Articles the said Ambassadors had certain Answers from his Holiness touching which the Pope enjoyned them upon their Return into England to certifie him by their Letters of the King's Will and of his Realm and also that they would press the King to let him first know what he and his Council design'd to do before they proceeded to determine any thing as to the Premises The Result whereof we shall refer to the next Year However in this Parliament it was Enacted That Cathedral Churches should enjoy their own Elections and that for the future the King should not write against the Persons so Elected but rather by his Letters endeavour their Confirmation if need were But this Statute availed not much afterward The o M.S. Ret. Par. ut ante Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Burgesses of Bristow in this Parliament require that the said Town with the Suburbs thereof may be a County of it self and that the Perambulation of the same with the Bounds thereof returned into the Chancery with all the Liberties and Charters thereto granted may be confirmed by Act of Parliament The King is content to grant that the Charters Liberties and Perambulation aforesaid may be confirmed under the Great Seal That no French Prior Alien be permitted to dwell within twenty Miles of the Sea-Coast for several Reasons there specified The King by his Council will provide therefore That Remedy may be had that Men be not called into the Exchequer upon Suggestion without Process contrary to the Statute made in the 42 Year of the King. Let any particular Man complain and he shall find Remedy After this the Lord Chancellor in the Kings Name gave great Thanks to the Lords and Commons and so this Session ended It is to be observed that the Printed Statute touching the Assize of Broad Cloath Cap. 1. agreeth with the Record As also that Cap. 2. touching Scottish Silver Coin. XVIII This Year it is reported p Mezeray ad hunc ann p. 92. Odor Rainal ad an 1374. §. 13. ex Chron. Belg. Job Leyd c. that there happen'd in Italy France and England especially in the Lower Countries a certain Maniack Passion or Frenzy unknown to former Ages for those who were tormented therewith which for the most part were the Scum of the People stript themselves stark naked put Garlands of Flowers on their Heads and taking one another by the Hands went about in the streets and into the Churches dancing singing and turning round with such vehemence that they would fall down to the ground quite out of Breath This Agitation made them swell so prodigiously that within an Hours time they would burst unless some-body took care to bind their Bellies about with strong Swathing-bands Those who looked on them too earnestly were often tainted with the same Malady It was thought to have come by some Diabolical Operation and that Exorcisms did much prevail against it The Vulgar called it St. John's Dance XIX There died q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. b. about this time a valiant Baron of England named the Lord Miles Stapleton one * Vid. Lib. 1. c. 22. §. 7. p. 298. of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter leaving behind Thomas his Son and Heir then of full Age who yet died also this same Year without Issue leaving his Sister Elizabeth his next Heir she being then married to Sr. Thomas Metham Which Sr. Thomas having at that time Issue by her and doing his Homage had Livery of the Lands of her Inheritance There died r Walsing hist p. 183. Vid. Godwins Catal. Bish c. also this Year Dr. John Thoresby Archbishop of York and Dr. John Barnet Bishop of Ely besides the Bishop of Worcester of whose Death we spake at the beginning of the last Parliament Alexander Nevile succeeded in the See of York Thomas Fitz-Alan younger Son to the Earl of Arundel in that of Ely and Henry Wakefield in that of Worcester CHAPTER the ELEVENTH AN. DOM. 1374. An. Regni Angliae XLVIII Franciae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward inquires into the Livings then in the Hands of Aliens with his Letters to the Bishop of Winchester for that purpose II. He sends Commissioners to treat with the Popes Legates about the Premisses with the Copy of their Commission and the Effect of their Treaty III. The Duke of Anjou's Expedition into Gascogne IV. A Truce between the Dukes of Lancaster and Anjou V. The Lords of High Gascosgne yield to the Duke of Anjou who takes in all 40 Towns and Castles from the English VI. Becherel for want of succour yields VII Sr. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France is redeem'd with an Adventure between him and the Lord of Gomegines Captain of Ardres for King Edward VIII A Treaty at Bruges concerning a Peace between the two Crowns wherein Care is had of the Earl of Pembroke and others taken formerly by the Spaniards with the Death of the said Earl of Pembroke and some Observations thereon IX The Death of Francis Petrarch Laureat Poet of Italy and some other Considerable Persons of England X. An Account of Madam Alice Perrers who was falsly said to be King Edward's Concubine I. KING Edward being perpetually alarum'd as well in Parliament as otherwise by his Subjects who complain'd of the many great Abuses done unto Him and his Authority by the See of Rome as of their Reservations and other Arts whereby they entrenched upon his Prerogative Royal and the Liberties of the Church of England exhausting his Kingdom to enrich Strangers and such as were his Enemies the King I say being now throughly awaken'd at these Cries of his People among other notable Ways whereby he encountred these Usurpations began a Fox Acts Monum p. 560. at this time to require an exact Survey of all Benefices and Dignities Ecclesiastical throughout his Dominions which were then in the Hands of Italians Frenchmen or other Aliens with a true Valuation of the same and sent unto all his Bishops his Royal Commission to make such Enquiry the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to the Right Reverend Father in God William by the same Grace Bishop of Winchester Greeting Being willing for certain Reasons Us thereunto moving to be certified what and how many Benefices as well Archdeaconries and other Dignities as Vicarages Parsonages Prebends and Chapters within your Dioecese there be
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
Duke of Anjou tarried still at St. Omers From King Edward there came John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster John Dreux commonly called Monford Duke of Bretagne William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and William Courtney Bishop of London Sr. Robert of Namur was also with the Duke of Lancaster and waited on him to do him Honour while he staid in Flanders and the two Legates the Archbishop of Rouën and the Bishop of Carpentras went between the two Parties and took much Pains shewing many weighty Reasons to induce both Sides to Moderation but all to no purpose the Lords were so far asunder in their Resolutions For the French King demanded back again 1400000 Franks which had been paid for the Redemption of King John and also to have Calais rased and beaten down to the Ground To neither of which would the King of England by any means consent Then the f Fabian p. 258. c. French Deputies required Licence of the Legates that they might ride to Paris to declare more particularly unto the King the Offers made on the English Part after which they promised to return with an Account of his Pleasure as to the Premises Upon this Demand it was at last resolved that certain sufficient Persons for that purpose appointed should go and shew unto King Charles How the English Negotiators besides that they absolutely refused to refund the Money or to rase Calais as aforesaid stood stifly for the Absolute Sovereignty which they said belonged to the King their Master and that the King of England and his Heirs Kings of England should for ever enjoy all the Lands comprised in the former Peace made between Him and King John without any Homage or Resort or any other Duty paying or owing therefore Upon this King Charles summon'd his Peers and Nobles about him and there came many Lawyers and Doctors of Divinity unto him to Paris to hold a Debate and Argument on this Matter And here at last it was peremptorily determin'd that the King might not part with his Right of Sovereignty without great Peril of his Soul because he was so manifoldly engaged to maintain the Rights of his Kingdom This Report being brought to Bruges the Treaty immediately fell to pieces without any further Effect but only that by the earnest Intercession of the Legates the Truce however was prolonged to the g Rot. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. m. 16 21. Last of June then next ensuing and afterwards was lengthen'd out farther to the First of April of the Year MCCCLXXVII to give notice whereof to the English Subjects h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. a Proclamation was set forth So these Lords on both sides tarried at Bruges the Remainder of the foregoing h 7 Aug. Claus 50. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 3. Dorso vid. Rot. Vasc de cod an m. 8. Rot. Franc. m. 10. Winter and most part of the Lent following keeping great State especially the Dukes of Lancaster and Burgundy But in the Spring they all return'd to their several Countries except the Duke of Bretagne who tarried still in Flanders with the Earl Lewis his Cosen k Jacob. Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. who made him extream welcome for the space of a Year i Fabian p. 258. But we must not forget to make mention of the great Good-will which King Edward and his Children still manifested to the Person of the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who being taken as we have related before Soubise was all this while kept a Prisoner in the Tower of the Temple at Paris Him they l Frois c. 315. earnestly labour'd to get at Liberty and made frequent Overtures to that purpose but especially now by their Ambassadors and Negotiators at Bruges they offer'd in Exchange for him Valeran the young Earl of St. Pol and Three or Four other Knights besides m Frois c. 332. fol. 210. b. Gold and Silver in Abundance But the French King and his Council would by no means consent to deliver him n Frois c. 315. fol. 196. b. Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 194. unless he would swear Never more to bear Arms against the Crown of France To which Proposal the Loyal Gascogner stoutly reply'd That thô he was sure otherwise to die in Prison yet he would never make any such Oath But of this Valiant Prince's Death we shall speak hereafter III. This Year being the Fiftieth of King Edward's Reign over England he kept o Daniel's History p. 256. a Second Jubilee in consideration thereof and gave Pardons Immunities and Graces and shew'd many Notable Acts of Bounty and Goodness to his People as in the First Jubilee which was the Fiftieth Year of his Age. A singular Blessing which very few Monarchs have ever arrived to either before or since that time Soon after viz. on the 28 of April p M.S. Ret. Par. 50. Ed. 3. p. 116. n. 1 c. Item Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 120. c. being the Monday after the Feast of St. George FE Lit. Dom. the King of England held his High Court of Parliament at Westminster On which Day there was a considerable Appearance both of Lords and Commons before the King in his own Chamber Royal. But because divers of the Lords and some few of the Commons were not come Proclamation was made in the Great Hall at Westminster that all such who had received Summons to Parliament should be there the next Morning by Eight of the Clock At which Day Sr. John Knevet Knight Lord Chancellour of England §. 2. declared before the King Lords and Commons the Causes of the present Parliament to be Three viz. To enquire how the King should best provide for the Government of the Realm Secondly for the Defence of the same as well beyond the Seas as on this side both by Sea and by Land and lastly how he might prosecute his Quarrel against his Enemies and make good the same the Chancellour adding That as the King had always in all his Attempts follow'd their Good Counsel so now he meant to do no less Wherefore in the King's Name he wish'd them to go together the Lords by themselves and the Commons by themselves and speedily to consult and return an Answer So when there were appointed Receivers of Petitions for England Ireland Wales and Scotland as also for Gascogne and other Places and Isles beyond the Seas Tryers of the said Petitions after the Custom being subjoyned §. 3 4 5 6 7. the * §. 8. Commons were willed to depart to their accustomed Place being the Chapter-House of the Abbot of Westminster whither they went accordingly And then certain of the Lords and Nobles who are particularly named in the Records were order'd for the quicker Dispatch of Affairs to go and consult with the Commons In consideration of the necessary
Charges of the Government §. 9. the Lords and Commons grant unto the King the like Subsidy of Woolls Skins and Wooll-Fells as was granted in the last Parliament to endure for Three Years from the Feast of St. Michael then next ensuing Then an Order was devised by the Commons §. 10. that the King should have at least Ten or Twelve Counsellours without whom no weighty Matter should pass and for small Matters at least Six or Four of them Whereunto the King granted provided that the Chancellour Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Seal should by q His M. Sm. Corrigo ex Sr. Rob. Cotton their selves end all Matters belonging to their Offices and that these Counsellours should take no Rewards That no other of the Kings Officers and Ministers do take any Reward for any thing touching their Offices §. 11. That Report of Matters of Council shall be made to the King by some One or Two of the Council appointed §. 12. and by no others That all Ordinances made by the King and his Council shall be by all the Kings Officers Executed §. 13. That the Ordinance forbidding any Man within London §. 14. or elsewhere to sell sweet Wine by Retail is Repealed and that every Freeman may sell such Wines in London by Retail so as always the Lord Mayor have the Disposing of the Price thereof After this the Commons in full Parliament making Protestation of their due Allegiance to the King §. 15. declared That if he had Faithfull Counsellours and Officers he could not but have passed all other Princes in Treasure considering that the Ransoms of the Kings of France and of Scotland were to him paid besides the great Subsidies here And therefore they require that the Falshoods and Deceits of certain of the Kings Council and other Persons may be enquired after and punished whereby he might long maintain his Wars without any Imposition on the Commons and namely if due Enquiry be made as to Three Things viz. First §. 16. of such of the Council as convey Staple Ware and Bullion to other Places than to Calais for their own private turn Secondly of such as made shifts for Money for the King deceitfully Lastly of such as of Coven between certain of the Council and them bought of sundry the Kings Subjects Debts due by the King to them for the Tenth and Twentieth Peny Here Richard Lyon §. 17. Merchant of London was accused by the Commons of divers Deceits Extortions and other Misdemeanours as well for the time that he had repair to certain of the Kings Council as for the time that He was Farmer of the Kings Subsidies and Customs and namely for obtaining Licences to convey over great r Ibi Foizen i.e. Copia Quantities of Wooll and Staple-ware for devising the Change of Money for making the King for one Å¿ Chevisance i.e. Merces Mercimenium c. Chevisance of twenty Marks to pay 30 l. For buying of Divers Mens Debts due t To in M.S. c. sed puto non rectè from the King for small Value For taking special Bribes to pay the Kings due Debts by way of Broakage all which it should seem he must do not without secret practice with some of the Council To some part of which Articles the said Richard answereth §. 18. and touching the Rest submitteth himself to the Kings Pleasure as to Body Lands and Goods Whereupon the said Richard is committed to Prison §. 19. during the Kings Will and all his Lands Tenements and Goods order'd to be seised to the Kings Use And as to the Extortion done §. 20. while He was Farmer of the Subsidies and Customs Order was taken that by Commission throughout England it should be enquired into And further the said Richard Lyon was disfranchised William Lord Latimer was openly accused by the Commons for divers Oppressions §. 21. by him done as well while he served under the King in Bretagne as for the time he was Chamberlain to the King and of his Council Namely for that in Bretagne He and his Officers had taken of the People there in Victuals and Ransoms against the Kings Will to the Value of 24000 l. and at another time an Hundred Thousand u Sr. Roh Cotton Essentes pro Escutes Scutes of Gold whereof was never answer'd to the King One Peny The particulars of all which are to be seen in the Records The same Lord Latimer was also accused for Victuals sold in Bretagne to the Value of Ten Thousand x Itâ M.S. sed Franks apud Sr. Rob Cotton Marks as also for the Loss of the Town and Fort of St. Saviour in Normandy whilst He was Captain there and likewise of the Town of Becherel in Bretagne and of other Towns and Forts §. 22 23. §. 24. Besides all which it was urg'd that He was partaker of all the Crimes of Richard Lyon aforesaid y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. and that he had withheld from the King divers great Sums of Money which he had received for the Kings behoof §. 25. while he was Governour of Becherel in Bretagne that whilest he was of the Kings Council he had unnecessarily expended his Treasure and likewise that He had obtain'd Letters Patents to transport Woolls into other Places besides the Staple at Calais and laid Impositions upon Woolls without consent of Parliament to the prejudice of that Staple To all which the said Lord Latimer §. 26. saving the Tryal of his Peers offer'd to answer any particular Person but that the Commons would not allow insisting on this general Charge only Whereupon the said Lord answer'd every Objection §. 27. and as it should seem by the Record very well voided them in open Parliament Notwithstanding a Dugd ibid. â—â—â—ipso Recorde at the Desire of the Lords and Commons He was not only put out of all his Offices and Employments but Order'd to be committed to the Marshalsea §. 28. untill he should make Fine and Redemption for the same at the Kings Pleasure Besides all which an Order was made * §. 36. that the Prior of Egglefield an Alien should exhibit his Bill of Complaint against the said Lord Latimer concerning the Parsonage of Egglefield which the said Lord had wrongfully recover'd against the said Prior. But to avoid the Fury of this Tempest the Lord Latimer prudently submitted for the present only as to his Imprisonment he found certain Lords and others * § 29.30 his Mainprisers for the forth coming of his Body during the Parliament as by a Schedule doth appear Wherein his Mainprisers are found to have been One Archbishop Three Bishops One Prior of St. John Three Earls Fifteen Lords and Thirteen Knights all their Degrees of the best Renown Upon which Mainprise the Marshal of England offer'd him to be at large So that after all this upon the ending of
Durham another of Suffolk and another Archdeacon of York another Prebendary of Thame and Nassington another Prebendary of Yorkes in the Dioecese of York have divers other the best Dignities in England and have sent over Yearly unto them 20000 Marks over and above that which English Brokers lying here have That the Pope to ransom Frenchmen the King's Enemies who defend Lombardy for him doth always at his Pleasure levy a Subsidy of the b In M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton legitur Holy. Whole Clergy of England That the Pope for more Gain maketh sundry Translations of all the Bishopricks and other Dignities within the Realm That the Pope's Collector hath this Year taken to his Use the First-Fruits of all Benefices That therefore it would be good to renew all the Statutes against Provisions from Rome since the Pope reserveth all the Benefices of the World for his own proper Gift and hath within this Year created Twelve new Cardinals so that now there are Thirty whereas there were wont to be but Twelve in all and all the said Thirty Cardinals except Two or Three are the King's Enemies That the Pope in time will give the Temporal Mannors of Dignities to the King's Enemies since he dayly usurpeth upon the Realm and the King's Regality That all Houses and Corporations of Religion which from the King ought to have free Elections of their Heads the Pope hath now c Vid. Skinner's Etymolog accroached the same unto himself That in all Legations from the Pope whatsoever the English Clergy beareth the Charge of the Legates and all for the Goodness of our Money It also appeareth that if the Money of the Realm were as plentifull as ever the Collector aforesaid with the Cardinals Proctors would soon convey away the same For Remedy whereof it may be provided that no such Collector or Proctor do remain in England upon pain of Life and Limb and that on the like Pain no Englishman become any such Collector or Proctor or remain at the Court of Rome For better Information hereof and namely touching the Pope's Collector for that the Whole Clergy being Obedient to him dare not displease him it were good that Dr. John Strensall Parson of St. Botolphs in Holborn may be sent for to come before the Lords and Commons of this Parliament who being straightly charged can declare much more for that he served the same Collector in House five Years The Commons require that the Statute made in 14 Ed. 3. that the King's Ward should be committed to the next Heir of the Ward to whom the Lands cannot descend he yielding therefore as much as another would might be confirmed The King granteth thereto saving his Regality That time of Prescription in Writ of Right may be from the Coronation of King Edward the First and in Writs of Mort D'Auncester nuper Obiit d In hec lâ—co jus Cognationis significat Cosenage c Vid. Cowell in hac vece Ayel and such other Writs may be from the Coronation of the King now being The King will be advis'd for Changing the Law heretofore used That no Alien do enjoy any Living that hath Cure or requireth Residence This Bill is answer'd before in the two long Bills of Rome For that Errors had before Justices of Assise are Revocable before the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas they require that the Chief Justice there be appointed no Justice of Assise The King granteth when the Number may spare him That a General Pardon may be of all Misprisions and Intrusions made into any Lands holden of the King in Chief The King will shew Favour where him liketh That they may have an Action of Account against the Executors of the Guardian in Soccage The King will be advised untill next Parliament That Restitution may be made to Englishmen Farmers of any Religious Aliens House Touching Farmers abovesaid the King granteth so it concern Priors Churches Conventual Collegiate and Parochial but for English Governours the King will be advised That no Special Grant be made to any Man for singular Profit which may redound to the Disadvantage of the King or Realm Let them declare themselves more particularly That the Statute made for Buyers in f Inter Statuta Gallica M.S. Câ—ll Eman. ipud Cantabr ut Statata Anglica impressa nil tale occurrâ—â— sed potrus reseruntur ad An. 27. Ed. 3. c. 10. 36 Ed. 3. tit 10. c. may be kept and that Justices of the Peace may enquire of the same The Statutes therefore made shall stand and the Justices of the Peace shall determine the same That an Infant within Age levying a Fine may have Respit two or three Years after his full Age to reverse the same The King will be advised That no Alien be made Head of any Religious House belonging to Aliens and that during the Wars all French Religious Persons may be banished the Realm To this nothing was done Certain being taken Prisoners and unable to ransom themselves viz. Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Gregory Say Sr. Geoffry Werkesley Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. John Bourchier and divers other Good Knights and Esquires pray the King to ransom them The King is willing to do for their Comfort as far as Reason would The Commons of the County of Devon for divers Oppressions done by the Officers of the Stanneries there under Colour of their Liberties require the King by Parliament to explain his Grant to them made which being divided into particular Branches is done but too long to be here abridged The like Bill did the Commons of Cornwall exhibit for the Liberties of their Stanneries the Grant and Answer agreeing with the preceding but that also is too long for this Place The Commons of the County of Cumberland require Aid of the King for the Repairing the City of Carlile being in a manner spoiled and fallen down for that the Townsmen are not able to do the same and also for the Appointing of one to be Warden of the Marches there The Bishops and Lords together with the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Guy Bryan shall assemble and appoint reasonable Order therein The Inhabitants of the Port Towns in England pray that whereas it often happens that a Man or a Boy being in one of their Ships or other Vessels and by misadventure falling therefrom is drowned their Ship or Vessel is thereupon seised as a Deodand and that therein Remedy may be had If the Vessel be upon the Sea it shall be adjudged no Deodand if upon the Fresh-Water let the Owner complain to the King who will extend Favour The Watermen of London complain of leaving of Locks Stanks and Weares upon the River of Thames and namely of a Lock called Hamelden-Lock and for that there is Custom demanded of them passing the Bridges of Stains Windsor and Maiden-head and other Locks against their Franchises As for the Locks and Kidels the Statute made in the
and Suffolk besides many other Lords and Ladies In the First Division of these Mummers there rode Fourty Eight habited like Esquires Two and Two together all clothed in Scarlet Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendal with comely Visards on their Faces After whom went Fourty Eight Knights in like Order and in the same Livery of Stuff and Colour Then came One richly Arrayed like an Emperour and some distance after him Another Gorgeously attired in Pontificalibus representing the Pope with Twenty Four Cardinals attending him In the Reer of all came up Eight Persons with Black Visards and strange as if they had been Ambassadors from some Foreign Princes These Mummers being enter'd the Court of Kennington alighted all from their Horses and went orderly into the Great Hall Whereupon the Young Prince his Mother and the Great Lords who were acquainted with the Matter came out of the Chamber into the Hall and received the Salutations of the Mummers They by a pair of Dice flung upon the Table signified their Desire to play with the Young Prince and upon his Accepting their Motion they so obligingly contrived the Dice that the Prince always won whether He cast at Them or They at Him. Having thus lost some considerable Sums of Gold then they set to the Prince Three Jewels one after another viz. a Bowl of Gold a Cup of Gold and a Ring of Gold all which the Prince wan at three Casts Then they set to the Lady Princess to the Duke the Earls and other Lords to every One a large Ring of Gold which as the Dice were order'd those Illustrious Personages also wan After Play succeeded a Splendid Entertainment accompanied with most exquisit Musick the Prince and the Lords dancing on the One part and the Mummers on the Other And then all being concluded with a Banquet of Wine and Spices the Mummers departed in Order as they came III. Now it is to be observed that althô King Edward was something recover'd from his Sickness yet not being very Current and especially because of his great Age he had lately associated unto Himself his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Regency Who thô perhaps he might be Ambitious enough yet being of too Rough and Martial a Temper to please the People was not thereby in any great likelyhood of Injuring the Right of the Young Prince of Wales who besides the Advantage of his Title was also for his Great Fathers Sake most strongly rooted in the Affections of all True Englishmen However the Duke of Lancaster being thus advanced shew'd himself Terrible to all his Enemies especially to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester whom he hated mortally for what Cause I shall not here enquire and caused him e Fex p. 392. to be deprived of all his Temporalities with a Prohibition not to come within 20 Miles of the Court. And not being well assured of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March at that time Marshal of England with a Design to remove him out of the way he commanded him in the King's Name toward the End of the preceding Year to haste over unto Calais according to his Office and there to take a diligent View of the Castle and Town of Calais as also of all the Castles and Forts in the Marches thereof and to cause such Repairs to be made as should seem needfull and likewise to see them well Manned and Victualled But the Earl of March who saw how hereby he was set as a Mark for Envy declin'd the Matter and chose rather to yield up his Rod with the Office of Marshal thereto belonging than obey in so hazardous an Employ The Duke gladly accepts his Rod and gives it with the Office to his sure Friend the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the First of that Name and Family who was then f Dagd 1 Vol. p. 276. b. assign'd to the same Employ thô he had not full Commission till this present Year IV But now a Parliament is summon'd to meet at Westminster D. Lit. Dom. as on the Quindene of St. Hilary being the Tuesday g Vid. Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. M.S. praedict p. 143. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 144. next after the Conversion of St. Paul that is the 27 of January the Writs of Summons bearing Date at Westminster on the 1 of December preceding And here for instance-sake I shall set down the Names of those Peers to whom the Kings Writs were directed with a Copy of the Writ it self as taken from the Latine only premising that the King herein calls his Nephew Prince Richard by the Name of Son as well to set the higher Character upon him as because he was now in Law to be look'd on as his Son being come into the Place of his Deceased Father EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to his most Dear SON Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting Whereas concerning divers and Weighty Matters relating especially to Us and the State of our Realm We intend to hold our Parliament at Westminster on the Quindene of St. Hilary next ensuing and there with You and others our Peers and Barons of the Realm to consult about the Premises We command You upon the Faith and Allegiance which You owe unto Us firmly enjoyning that at the said time and Place all other Business laid aside You be personally present there to consult and advise about the Premises with Us and other our Peers and Barons and that this You omit by no means Teste meipso apud Westmonast primo Decembris Ano. Regni nostri Angliae 50 Franciae verò 37. Per ipsum Regem The like Letters were directed besides the Clergy to these Peers following viz. John King of Castille and Leon Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Cambridge Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas of Woodstock Constable of England Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos William Vfford Earl of Suffolk William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Henry Lord Percy Marshal of England William Lord Latimer William Lord Bardolph Guy Lord Bryan Roger Lord Beauchamp John Lord Clinton Gilbert Lord Talbot William Lord Botreaux John Lord De la Warre Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Nevill Thomas Lord Rous of Hamlake Richard Lord Stafford Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin John Lord Grey of Codnovre Henry Lord Grey of Shereland Nicolas Lord Burnel William Lord de la Zouch of Harringworth Roger Lord Clifford And the Lord Almaric of St. Amand. The Quindene of St. Hilary as We said before was the First Day of the Parliament At which time the Noble and Puissant Lord Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester together with the Bishops Lords Justices Commons and others summon'd to the Parliament assembled at the Palace of Westminster in the Painted-Chamber where
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
his stead for the Remainder of the Year The Commons request that the King would appoint two Earls and two Barons to receive as well their Subsidy as the Subsidy of the Clergy and the Subsidy of Woolls granted in the last Parliament so as the same may be imploy'd upon the Wars and that the High Treasurer do in no wise intermeddle therewith But when afterwards it was made appear to how great a Sum the Wages of these Four Treasurers would amount then the Commons changed their Mind and required that the High-Treasurer might be the sole Menager thereof for the use of the Wars Afterwards viz. on the 22d of February certain Bishops and secular Lords and also the Chancellour Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Seal by the Kings appointment went all to Sheen in Surrey where the King then lay sick and there in presence of them all the Articles of the Kings General Pardon were read with the Answers made to the Petitions of the Commons to which the King agreed willing that they should be read in the House the next day on which day he order'd them to be dissolved And so it was done the next day being the Twenty-third of February by Authority of the King and Prince Richard the President Petitions of the Commons with their Answers That all Persons and Corporations may have the Pardon freely without paying any thing for the Great Seal Such as for Felony are to sue shall do the same before the Nativity of St. John and pay the Fees only The Prelates Dukes Earls Barons Commons Citizens Burgesses and Merchants of England in this Parliament Å¿ Vid Mr. William Prinne in his Edition of S. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 152 Petition the King not only for a Pardon in General and of Fines and Amerciaments before the Justices of the Peace not yet levied in special but they also subjoyn thereto this memorable Request That in time to come Your said Prelates Earls Barons Commons Citizens and Burgesses of your Realm of England may not be henceforth Charged Molested nor Grieved to make any Common Aid or sustain any Charge unless it be by the common Assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons and other People of the Commons of your Realm of England and that in full Parliament And that no Imposition be put upon their Woolls Wooll-Fells and Leather above the Ancient Custom that is to say of One Sack of Wooll Half a Mark and of One Last of Skins One Mark of Custom only according to the Statute made the Fourteenth Year of your Majesties Happy Reign saving unto Your Majesty the Subsidy granted unto You the last Parliament for a certain time and not yet levied To all which the King then gave Answer As to that That no Charge be laid upon the People but by common Assent The King is not at all Willing to do it without great Necessity and for the Defence of the Realm and where he may do it with Reason And as to that That Imposition be not laid upon their Woolls c. without the Assent of the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and other People of the Commons of his Realm There is says He a Statute already made which the King wills to stand in its full force That such as owe unto the King may upon their Account be allowed of all such Laones as are due to them or to any of their Ancestors The Treasurer and Barons shall make allowance of due Debt That title of Prescription of any Liberties may as well be allowed as if it were by Grant and that Prescription may be from the Coronation of the King. The King by Advice will do herein as he shall think best That the Justices of the Peace do not enquire into any Articles which are to be redressed in any Lords Leet but only concerning the Peace and Labourers and that they hold their Sessions Four times a Year The Statutes heretofore made cannot stand if this be granted That the Patent of Reynold Chambers for being Water-Bayliff of the Thames may be revoked because on that pretence he suffereth Kiddles Trinks and other unlawfull Nets to be laid and cast in the said River of Thames The Chancellour calling unto him the Citizens of London the Constable of the Tower and Reynold Newport shall take Order therein The Citizens of London pray that the King will confirm unto them their Liberties for punishing all Misdemeanors in Southwark and that Commandment be given that the Marshal do not intermeddle within the part of Southwark which is called Gildable The King cannot do it without doing wrong to others The Citizens of London require Confirmation of the Kings Letters Patents made to them that no Stranger should sell any Merchandise or Ware to any other Stranger to the end that the same should be sold again Then follow the very Words of the Patent The King will be thereof informed The same Citizens pray that they may place and displace Coroners among themselves answering unto the King what belongeth thereto The King will not depart from his Ancient Right That no Alien do remain within the Realm during the Wars unless he be a Merchant or Artificer and that no Englishman become any Farmer to any Alien without Licence In which Act they protest that of Temporal things they owe Obeisance to none but to the King. The King by Advice will take Order therein That all Provisors of things from Rome and their Ministers may be out of the Kings Protection The Pope hath promised Redress the which if he do not the Laws therein shall stand That new Perambulations of the Forest be made according to the old Bounds out of which if any Forester do attache a Man that the attached may have his Writ of false Imprisonment Many Counties are not grieved wherefore let such as be shew their Complaint and they shall be heard That it may be declared what Pleas the Marshal shall hold and that Prescription may be as well allowed before the Marshal as before others the Kings Justices They shall hold such as have been in the times of the Kings Progenitors That no Man be impeached for hunting within the Purlieu or without the bound of the Forest and that there be levied no t Vid. Semneri Glessar in Assartari c. Assartments The Charter of the Forest shall be kept and as to the Assart the Demand is unreasonable That as well the Priest that taketh unreasonable Wages as the Giver thereof may either forfeit double to the King and that the same may be tryed before the Kings Justices The Statute therefore made shall be executed That the next Heirs of the Kings Wards may have the Wards Lands in Farm. There is a Statute therefore made That none of the Kings Officers be maintainers of any Quarrels within their Countries on pain to lose their Offices and to answer doubly to the Party grieved The King hath forbidden his Officers so to do and if any be grieved he
Inspection of his Body and other sufficient ways where it is not return'd by Office. The Chancellor upon sight of the Bodies of such Heirs and of Offices returns shall do what shall seem best to be done That the Lord Latimer being in the last Parliament by untrue Suggestions deprived of his Offices and of the Privy Council may by Authority of Parliament be restored thereto again The King granteth thereunto at the Instance of certain Bishops Lords and Commons John Hawkwood Knight requireth of the King such Charter of Pardon as was granted to Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. John z Fifteen years before this Sr. John Clifford slew John Copland who had taken King David of Scotland Prisoner at the Battle of Durham But for his other Merits now at last he obtain'd a Pardon Dug Bar. 1 Vol. p. 341. vid. hujus Hist l. 3. c. 8. §. 5. p. 626. Clifford Knight requireth the same The King meaneth and will shew favour to whom him liketh That the Statutes of Provisors made at any time may be executed and that Remedy may be had against such Cardinals as have within the Provinces of Canterbury and York purchased any Reservations to the value of Twenty or Thirty Thousand Scutes of Gold as also against the Pope's Collector who was wont to be an Englishman and now is a meer Frenchman residing in London who conveyeth Yearly to the Pope twenty Thousand Marks or twenty Thousand Pounds and who this Year gathereth the First-Fruits of all Benefices whatsoever The Means to obviate these Reservations and Novelties are to command all Strangers to depart the Realm during the Wars That no Englishman do become their Farmer or do send to them any Money without special Licence on pain of forfeiting the King's Protection The Statutes and Ordinances therefore made shall be observed Petitions of the Clergy with their Answers That upon Prohibition for Sylva Caedua Consultations may be readily granted The Law heretofore reasonably used shall continue That touching Pensions claimed by one Church or Benefice out of another there may no Prohibition be granted and that the Definition thereof may be only in the Ordinaries The King will make search in his Common-Pleas-Treasury or elsewhere and will thereafter deal therein That of every Consultation conditional the Ordinary may of himself take upon him the true Understanding thereof and proceed therein accordingly The King cannot depart with his Right but will yield to his Subjects according to Law. Touching the Bishop of Winchester and Matters by him attempted to be reformed Order was that his Temporalities should be seised into the King's Hands This done the Knights and Burgesses were willed to sue forth their Writs for their Fees And so the Parliament ended On the last Day of this Parliament Sr. Thomas Hungerford Knight Speaker of the Parliament declared how that during the Parliament he had moved the King in general to pardon all such as were in the last Parliament unjustly convicted And how the King willed him to make a Special Bill therefore which was done to Seven whose Names follow First the Commons moved for a Pardon for Richard Lyon Merchant of London and for his full Restitution then they made the like Motion for Revocation of the Judgment given against Alice Perrers and for her Restitution as also for the like Favour to be extended to John Lister Adam Bury and Walter Sporior John Peach of London made the like Request for himself and William Ellis of Great Yarmouth made the same Request for himself But nothing was at that time answer'd to this Bill because the Parliament ended that very Day However before they brake up the Commons shewed that whereas Hugh Stafford of Great Yarmouth had been accused of divers Extoritions in the last Parliament whereupon Commission was granted to the Earl of Suffolk and Sr. John Cavendish Knight to make Inquiry and determine of the same and they had since so done and by Eighteen Inquests had found him Guiltless as the same Sr. John in open Parliament witnessed he might therefore be in statu quo priùs but neither in this Matter was any thing done at that time because the Parliament ended the same Day V. But now We are called to another Matter which that we may make more manifest we must fetch a little Compass about so to afford a fuller prospect of the Person who gave the first Occasion to the thing in Hand We have already spoken of one John Wickliff an Oxford Divine who flourished toward the Declining of our King Edward's Reign About this time he began to be Famous in England for certain Opinions which he publickly maintained for True and Orthodox and together with a Hister Mâ—nast D. Albani his Eloquence in Preaching and Teaching gain'd b Vid. Aâ—ton Wâ—d's Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 186. Fex c. Many and Considerable Proselytes unto them althô by Others they were condemned as Heretical and Erroneous It is yet confessed on all Hands even by his c As Fryar Wedesord Walden Knighton Walsing c. most inveterate Enemies that he was in Learning equal if not superior to the very Best of his Age. One particularly d Knighton p. 2644. n. 30. confesses of him That he was Doctor in Divinity the most Eminent in those Days in Philosophy accounted Second unto none and in School-Learning Incomparable And no doubt if Sbinko Archbishop of Prague had not burnt 200 Volums of his Works we should have seen no small Arguments thereof However from those many various M. SS of his still remaining in Bennet College in Cambridge and the Bodleian Library at Oxford it appears that he held no such Monstrous Opinions as some have laid to his Charge as may be distinctly seen in those small Treatises set forth An o Dom. 1608. by the e Mr Thomas James who published 2 of John Wickliffes Treatises edit Oxford Printed by J. s Barnes Printer to the University 1608. together with an Apology for the said John Wickliff shewing his Conformity to the Church of England Collected out of divers M.SS. still remaing in the Bodleian Library Library Keeper of Oxford He received his First Education in Merton-College of which he was made Fellow and where he is supposed to have Translated the Old and New Testament into English from the Original Hebrew and Greek with no bad Design as we may presume thô Honest Knighton complains thereof grievously saying That so the Pretious Pearls of the Gospel are cast before Swine About the Year 1361. He was Master of Bailiol College and Four Years after by Archbishop Islip made Warden of Canterbury-College then newly by him Founded which is now a Part of Christ-Church as appears by the said Archbishops own Letters which follow Word for Word from the Original Latine f Fâ—tâ—d apud Anton. Wood's Antiq. Oxond 1. p. 184 ex Reâ—ish Islip dicto fol. 306. SIMON by Divine Providence Archbishop of Canterbury Metropolitan of all England to the Beloved Master John
Wickliff Greeting Directing our Eyes to the honesly of your Life and laudable Conversation and Knowledge of the Learning wherewith the Most High hath endued your Person who are Master of Arts and having great Confidence in your Fidelity Circumspection and Industry We set you over our Hall of Canterbury lately by Vs founded at Oxford as Warden thereof and do by these Presents commit unto you the Care and Administration belonging to the Wardenship thereof according to our Appointment in this Part reserving unto our selves the Receiving of your Corporal Oath to be by you made unto Vs and due in this Part. Dated at Magfield Vto Idûs Decemb. An o Dom. MCCCLXV And from hence it appears that Wickliff did not obtain this Place by any Ill means as some have said thô it is to be believed that when by this Archbishops Successor he was afterwards ejected no good Arts were used for as then g Anton. Wood Antiq. Oâ—ond 14. 183. nothing in the World was laid to his Charge but that he was a Secular which sure he that set him there first knew as well as they But whereas h Histor Monast D. Albani Fox Acts Mâ—n p. 392. An o ult Ed. 3. he is accused for that as an Hypocrite he resorted much to the Orders of Begging Fryars frequenting their Company and extolling the Perfection of their Poverty this must seem absolutely false and inconsistent to any who hath but once heard of i Eâ—tat in Bibliothâ—câ Publ. Aâ—adem Cantabr Fig. 19.10.13 that Notable Treatise of his now Extant which he wrote particularly against the Mendicant Fryars containing 50 Chapters However this is certain that his Tenets were not received by the Generality of the Clergy in those Days For he affirm'd sundry Doctrines very disagreeable to the Genius of that Age as k Fox Walsing Knighton Oder Rainald Antiq. Britan. p. 258. c. That the Pope had no more Power to Excommunicate any Man than another Priest That if it be given by any Person unto the Pope to Excommunicate yet to absolve the same is as much in the power of another Priest as in his He affirm'd also That the Temporal Power might and ought to take away from the Clergy what the Piety of former Times had bestowed upon them if they shall be found to abuse the said Goods or to approve themselves unworthy thereof and that he proved to have been heretofore practised in England by King William Rufus which thing said Wickliff if he did lawfully why may not the same be done now If unlawfully then doth not the Church err in Praying for him As for the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist he proved against the Fryars who held the contrary Opinion l Wickliffe's Treatise against the Fryars c. 16. p. 33. That the Accidents of Bread remained not without the Subject or Substance i. e. that the Body of Christ is present not without the Bread. He m Speed l. 9. c. 13. §. 118. p. 610. also stoutly asserted the Regal Supremacy against Papal Vsurpation he wrote against the Mass Transubstantiation Merit Adoration of the Host of Saints Images and Reliques and against Pilgrimages and Indulgences He likewise held That the n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 5 Walsing hist p. 188. p. 205 Knighton p. 2648. Roman Church was no more the Head of all Churches than any other Church That no more Power was given to St. Peter than to any other Apostle and that the Pope of Rome had no more Power of the Keys of the Church than any Other who was in Priestly Orders That the Scriptures were sufficient for Salvation and that all other Rules of Saints under the Observation whereof there are divers Religious Orders do add no more Perfection to the Gospel than Washing a Wall over with Lime doth make the Wall more perfect As for his Arguments they may be seen at large o Fox Acts Monum Johan Hus Opera Walsing hist p. 200 ad p. 209. Hist Monast D. Albani Knighton p. 2644. Nicol. Harpsseldius in Histor Wickliffiana Holinsh p. 998. in Mr. Fox his Acts and Monuments and more of his Opinions may be consulted in the Authors quoted in the Margin thô it is to be given as a Caution that they all vary one from another both as to the Number Order and Sense of the Articles VI. It is said that he was supported and upheld in these his Opinions by King Edward himself but this is certain that John of Gaunt the Great Duke of Lancaster and Entitled King of Castille and Leon who had now the chief Government of the Realm during his Father's Weakness was an Open Favourer and Patron of John Wickliff and his Doctrine But at the same time his Opinions were so distastfull to the Clergy that now there p Fox Acts Mon. ex Histor Mon. D. Albani Nic. Harpsseldus in Hist Wickliff c. 5. p. 683. came forth from Simon Sudbury Archbishop of Canterbury a Process and Order of Citation for the Author to be brought before the Spiritual Court the Time and Place being formally assigned When the Duke of Lancaster heard that his Client Wickliff was to appear before the Bishops fearing that he being single might be overcome by the Number of his Adversaries he took unto him Four Batchelors of Divinity of Good Learning and Skill in the Scriptures to joyn them with Wickliff for his surer Support On the Day appointed q D. Lit. Dom. Pascha 29 Martii which was Thursday the Nineteenth of February Dr. John Wickliff being accompanied with the Four Batchelors in Divinity aforesaid and also his Mighty Patron the Duke of Lancaster going along with him for the greater Honour and Countenance of his Cause went toward the Church of St. Paul in London the Lord Henry Percy High Marshal of England going before to make way for his Lord the Duke and the Doctor And all the way as they went Wickliffes Friends animated him all they could and bad him not fear nor shrink or be daunted at the presence of the Bishops who said they are all Vnlearned in respect of You And that he should not dread the unusual Concourse or Clamors of the People for they themselves would assist and defend him so that he should receive no harm With these Words of the Duke and other Nobles with him Wickliff being much encouraged came to St. Pauls where there was such a vast Throng of People that the Duke and the Lords with him could hardly pass thrô the Church for all the Lord Marshal made way with his Officers When William Courtney Bishop of London saw the stirr that the Marshal and his Men made in the Church among the People he said unto the Lord Percy that if he had known before how he would have plaid the Master in his Church he would have hindred him from coming thither At which Words of the Bishop the Duke disdaining extreamly answer'd him
that the Marshal should play the Master there as he had begun even althô he said Nay At last after much crowding they all got thrô and came into our Ladies Chappel where the Duke and other Barons sat themselves down with the Archbishop and other Bishops John Wickliff standing before them according to the usual Manner ready to answer what should be objected unto him The Lord Marshal first brake silence desiring Mr. Wickliff to sit down and alledging that he had many things to answer to and therefore had need of some Repose But the Bishop of London said He should not sit down there for neither was it according to Law nor Reason that He who was cited there to appear to answer before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer but rather stand These Words created others and they brought forth more the Bishop standing upon the Privilege of his Place and Function and the Marshal on his own and the Duke's Authority so that many bitter words and Menaces passed on both sides to the great Offence and Scandal of the People But then the Duke began to take the Marshals part and warmly chode the Bishop who was not a whit behind hand with him so that the r Erubuit Dux quod non petuit praevalere litigio hist Men. D. Albani ibid. Duke was asham'd to find himself worsted by the Bishop and threatned that he would shortly bring down the Pride not only of him but of all the Prelacy of England and to the Bishop he said Sir You are too bold and all in Confidence * He was a Younger Son to Hugh Courtney second Earl of Devonsâ—ire of that Name and of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Humphry Behun Earl of Hereford and Essex Eighth of that Name by his Wife Elizabeth Daughter of King Edward the First His Parents were both now living thô the Earl his Father died on the 2d of May this Year of your Parents who yet will not be able to help you they shall have enough to do to help themselves To whom the Bishop reply'd That he ought to be bold in declaring the Truth but that his Confidence was not in his Parents nor in any Mortal Man but in the living God alone in whom he trusted Then the Duke softly whisper'd to one that sat next him how he had rather drag the Bishop out of the Church by the Hair of his Head than take this at his Hands However this was not utter'd so softly but that some of the Londoners overheard him who being enraged thereupon cry'd out that they would never see their Bishop so abused but rather lose their Lives then that any one should draw him out of his Church by the Hair. Upon this Contention that Council was dissolved before Nine of the Clock and the Duke with the Lord Percy return'd to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster Wickliff being easily dismiss'd thô not without a Prohibition neither to preach nor write any more in defence of those Articles which were objected to him VII 'T is said that that same day before Dinner there was put up in Parliament by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock the Kings youngest Son and the Lord Henry Percy Marshal of England a certain Bill as in the Kings Name importing that the City of London should no more be govern'd by a Mayor but by a Captain as in times past And that the Marshal of England should have the sole ordering of Arrests within the said City as elsewhere with many other Articles tending to the Diminution of the Liberties of London Which Bill being read there stood up a Worthy Patriot Alderman John Philpot one of the Burgesses of that City who spake so notably against the said Bill and pleaded so strongly in behalf of the Charters and Privileges of that Famous Metropolis that immediately the Bill was flung out of the House and the Name of Alderman Philpot much set by I can find no Warrant for this indeed in the Records of the said Parliament which we have faithfully exhibited before and therefore dare not absolutely lean to the belief thereof But whether it was really so or only cunningly nois'd abroad by some seditious Arts to stir up the People however we find that the next day the Londoners assembled in Council to consider of the Matter and also how far the Power of the Marshal extended not forgetting to take notice of the Affronts put upon their Bishop the Day before While thus the Chief Citizens were entertain'd with sober Debates and perhaps only prepar'd some Petition or Remonstrance to shew unto the Parliament in the behalf of their City the Commons understanding that One of their Body was then in Prison in the Marshals House which stood within their Liberties being secretly animated by some considerable Beautefeus whom for several Reasons I cannot with others believe to have been the Lord Guy Bryan and the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter went immediately in great Fury to the House of the Lord Percy where breaking up the Gates they took out the Prisoner by force and burnt the Stocks wherein he had been set in the midst of the City Then they sought for the Lord Percy for whom all Corners and Privy-Chambers were searched and the Beds and Hangings torn in pieces with their Bills and Javelins But He it seems was at that time happily out of the way being together with the Duke of Lancaster invited to Dinner by one John of Ipres at his house Å¿ Stow's Survey of London p. 260. called Ipres-Inne in Knight-Riders Street of which the Londoners knew nothing but thought they were at the Dukes House called the Savoy and so posted thither in great fury But one of the Dukes Knights observing this madness of the People went in great haste to the Place where his Lord the Duke was and when for all his Knocking he could not be admitted he said aloud to the Porter whose name was Haveland Hark you Haveland If you love my Lord the Duke and your Life open the Gate At these Words he was let in and in great fear told the Duke that there were infinite Numbers of Armed Men searching for him so that if he had not a Care that day would be his last At this the Duke leap'd so hastily from his Oysters that he hurt both his Legs against the Form Wine was offer'd but he could not drink for haste and so fled at a Back gate with the Lord Henry Percy and taking a Barge at the Thames never left Rowing till they came to an house near the Mannor of Kennington where at that time the Princess-Mother of Wales lay with her young Son Richard before whom he made his Complaint against the outragious Insolence of the Citizens And the Princess promised him to take such Order in this Matter as should be to his Content The mean t Fox Acts Mon. p. 394. while the Commons of London had beset the Dukes House called the Savoy where
so on the 12 of April was executed at Tiburn and drawn hang'd and quarter'd after which his Head was set upon London-Bridge XI When c Frâ—is c. 314. f. 175. b Id. Gallicè 1 Vol. c. 267. the Lord Ingelram de Guisnes Earl of Bedford and Lord of Coucy was returned into France from his unhappy Expedition into Austria thrô the exceeding importunity of his Friends and a sense of Gratitude to the French King for his late Princely Supply and Assistance towards his Wars he was at last utterly overcome and resolv'd to yield himself absolutely up to the French side wholly quitting his Interest in England However that he might make the fairer shew and as little as might be disoblige his Father-in-Law King Edward he sent his Lady Isabella into England to endeavour to pacifie her Father the King where she remain'd a while for that purpose with her younger Daughter d Mill's Catal. Hen. p. 440. Philippa the Elder named Mary continuing with her Husband the Lord of Coucy For notwithstanding this Change his Counsellours and Friends told him that he needed not to fear he should lose his Heritage in England since the King his Father-in-Law could not reasonably expect that for his sake he should fling up a far greater Heritage in France especially since thô a e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 760. Baron of England he was a f Frois ibid. Frenchman by Name Blood Arms and Extraction XII Soon after the French King had such Confidence in the sincerity of his Conversion that he sent him to Bruges to assist his other Commissioners who had Orders to be there about a Treaty for Peace between the two Realms Thô as yet none of the Great Lords either of England or France were come thither save only the Duke of Bretagne who was still there with his Cousin the Earl of Flanders not much concerned about settling any Peace But now on the g Rot. Franc. 51. â—d 3. m. 7. Ashmele p. 668. 20 of February King Edward empowers Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford Sr. John Cobham of Kent and Sr. John Montagu Bannerets and John Shepey Dr of the Laws to go to Bruges to treat with the Earl of Salebruse the Lord of Chastillon and Monsieur Philibert l'Espiote where they met the Popes Legates who as friendly Mediators were present all the while that the Treaty lasted But when nothing was done here neither the Legates seeing all things like to break to pieces in Pious subtlety began to h Helensh p. 998. propose a Match between Richard the Young Prince of Wales and the Lady Mary Daughter to the French King. Which Proposal coming to the Ears of both the Kings begat another private meeting shortly after at i Frois fol. 196. ibid Holinsh p. 998. Montrevil by the Sea where Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Richard Sturry and Sr. Geoffry Chaucer the Prince of our English Poets met with the Lord of Coucy Sr. Nicolas Braques and Sr. Nicolas Brasier Commissioners from the French King. And here they k Frois ibid. treated earnestly about the Marriage which if it might take effect the Frenchmen offer'd many things in lieu whereof they would have such things as they named or else nothing Particularly it is said l Sr. Richard Baker p. 138. Du Chesne p. 711. c. that they offer'd to leave unto the King of England Fourteen Hundred Towns and Three Thousand Fortresses in Aquitaine on Condition that he would render back Calais and all that he held in Picardy But to this the English Commissioners would not agree knowing that if once they parted with that sure Landing-place the French King would soon take away all those Towns and Fortresses again But that while they held Calais as the Key of France in their Hands they might at any time be able to invade that Realm and sometime or other recover all their Former Losses Thus in Effect each Party having chiefly spent their time in sounding one anothers Inclinations they brake up again without any other Success than that they Prorogued the Truce one Month further viz. to May-Day following XIII Now the Old King being still desirous to add more Honour to his Grandson and Heir Prince Richard of Bourdeaux m Walsing hist p. 189. n. 20. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 239. Sed ili St. Gregory pro St. George malé at a Chapter held at Windsor on the 23d of April being the Festival of St. George Created him Knight of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER in Place of the Renowned Prince his Father late deceased XIV On the 26 of the said Month of April the King willing now if it might be to leave the Kingdom in Peace at his Death which he look'd upon as not far off caused n Râ—â— Franc. 51 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 668. a Commission to be made for Holding another Treaty with the French to Dr. Adam Houghton Bishop of St. Davids and Chancellor of England Dr. John Gilbert Bishop of Hereford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Sr. Robert Ashton the Kings Chamberlain Sr. Guischard Dangle Banneret Aubrey de Vere and Hugh Seagrave Knights Walter Skirlow Dean of St. Martins le Grand and John Shepey Doctor of the Laws empowering them fully to treat and compose all Differences Wars and Contentions according to the Instructions given them These Commissioners came in good time to Calais while on the other side the Lord of Coucy and Sr. William Dormer Chancellor of France with their Associates tarried at Montrevil but by reason of some Suspition which the Commissioners had or pretended to have of each other or else thrô some Punctilio of Honour neither Party would vouchsafe to go to the other whatever the Legates could say or do nor yet to meet in any Indifferent place either between Montrevil and Calais or Montrevil and Boulogne and so the time limited by the Truce viz. the First of May elapsed without any Fruit. Now when the War was open o Frois ibid. Walsingh hist p. 199. n. 30. Sr. Hugh Calverley was made Captain of Calais and sent thither by the King of England with a good Retinue All things began to threaten Bloody Consequences of the next Campain Commissions being sent to the Great Lords throughout all England to Array all able Men from sixteen to sixty Years of Age to be ready on Occasion to defend the Kingdom and to withstand any Invasion that might happen there being apprehensions that the French would take Land in some part or other At this time the Frenchmen came suddenly with considerable Forces and lay down before a strong Fortress near Calais called Outwick which they p Vidd 2. c. 3. §. 11. p. 361. began to batter so furiously with Nine pieces of Great Ordnance that the Governour thereof William Weston Esquire being terrified with the Novelty of those irresistable Engines yielded up the Place upon Conditions and so
Age as a Man zealous for his Masters Honour of whom the Chief Care had been committed to him by Parliament he began to Assemble his Friends and Retinue unto whom he spake of the King's Honour which was now expos'd to obloquy and it seems the matter was so manifest that the King 's two Uncles and many others of the Highest Quality and the Chief Citizens of London swore unto him to stand by him in Opposition to Mortimer And this was the substance of their Design n M. S. id ibid. 1. That the King should hold his Houshold and his Meny according to the Dignity of a King having all his Royalties entire to himself and that the Queen Mother should deliver up into the King's hands all manner of Lordships Rents Towns and Castles that pertained to the Crown of England and that she should live on the Third part of the Rents of England as other Queens before her had done and on nothing else 2. Also that Sr. Roger Mortimer should live upon his own Lands for which yet he had already disinherited many so that the Commons might not be destroyed thrô his wrongfull encroachments 3. Also to make inquisition how and by whom the King was betrayed and falsly deceived at Stanhop and thrô whose Counsel the Scots were suffer'd to escape by Night out of the King's hands 4. Also how and by whose Counsel the Ordinance that was made at the King's Coronation was put down viz. that the King for the good of the Realm and safety of his Person and Honour should be Governed and Ruled by Twelve the Greatest and Wisest Peers of the Realm without whom nothing should be Granted nor done which Order being neglected many Harms Grievances and Scandals have happen'd unto the King and to his Realm And that is to understand Forasmuch as Edward sometime King of England was ordained by consent of the Community in full Parliament to remain under the Custody and Governance of Henry Earl of Lancaster his Cozen for safety of his Person he was taken out of the Castle of Kenelworth where he was in Custody and thrô Counsel of the Queen Mother and Mortimer without consent of any Parliament they took and lead him where none of his Kindred might come to the speech or sight of him And after traitrously took and murd'red him for whose Death a foul Slander arose thrô all Christendom 5. Also all the Treasure that Edward of Carnarvon had left any where either in England or Wales was wasted and carried away without the Will or Knowledge of King Edward his Son to the great Detriment of him and his People 6. Also thrô whose Counsel it was that the King gave up the Kingdom of Scotland for the which Realm the King's Ancestors had full sore travailed and so did many a Noble Man for their Rights But now all was deliver'd up unto David the Son of Robert Bruce who had no Right unto that Realm as all the World knows 7. Also by whom the Charters and Remembrances that the King had of his Right to Scotland were taken out of the Treasury and given to the Scots the King's Enemies to the Disherison of him and of his Successours and to the great Loss of his Liege People and the Reproof of all English men for evermore 8. And lastly wherefore the Lady Joan of the Tower the King's Sister was disparag'd and Married unto David the Son of Robert Bruce that was a Traytour and Enemy unto England and through whose Counsel she was given into our Enemies hands out of England While the Earl of Lancaster the Earl of Norfolk and the Earl of Kent with their Council were contriving how to pursue this matter the Parliament sat at Salisbury to which they refus'd to come because of Mortimer's formidable Retinue and put themselves in a Posture of Defence against the Queen Mother and Mortimer being enforced with 600 men of Arms from London But certainly 't is good for Great Men at Court when they see a Favourite solely to possess their King not therefore to be carried away with unjust and causless Envy if they can perceive the Person to be notwithstanding blameless or usefull to the King's Affairs For Envy is a fierce unbridled and devouring Evil always ungenerous and void of Equity and withall often thrô Precipitancy more hurtfull to its Owner then its Object But if the Favourite appears really Haughty beyond Sufferance and dangerous to the Publique a Man truly Loyal and Brave ought by any means to consult the Interest of his Master Yet this he must not think to perform well by flying out first for that makes his own Cause seem the worst but rather by wisely concealing his Resentments till a fit Occasion offers it self For otherwise we do but rashly declare we are Enemies to One who is better provided than We our selves and will be sure to make use of his present Advantage to our Ruine The truth of this Aphorism appears from the sequel of this Story for by this publique Breach which the Earls of Kent and Lancaster with their Associates seem'd first to make Mortimer held the better appearance and so lightly perswaded the young King that these Men sought no less then his Life and Kingdom Whereupon he obliged him to ride out against them in Person about o An non Bradford legend quod est in Wilteniâ 24. Mill. à Sarisberiâ Bedsord immane quantum distat 24 miles in one Night towards p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 145. ex Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 685. Bedford where they were assembled in Arms thô only resolv'd to stand on the Defensive part But by Mediation of Dr. Simon Mepham q John Tinemouth p. 229. Archbishop of Canterbury and others upon their submission Mortimer also cunningly pretending to befriend them therein a formal Peace was huddled up and all taken to Mercy thô not without severe Fines imposed on them all which for the most part were converted to the profit of Mortimer And particularly the Earl r M. S. Vel. Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 216. of Lancaster was then Fined at no less then 11000 pounds thô that summe was never paid We shall see notwithstanding shortly by what subtle contrivances this aspiring Great One could find Occasion to destroy the Noble Earl of Kent and perhaps he would have done as much to the Earl of Lancaster had he not despis'd his Age which by that time rendred him almost decrepit On the contrary he himself at this very Parliament attain'd to greater Honour for here the King 's own Brother John of Eltham being made Earl of Cornwall and Sr. James ſ Dugd. Warn p. 445. a. Butler of Ireland Earl of Ormond this Roger Mortimer Lord of Wigmore against the liking of many Great Men was at the same time Created Earl of March in the Marches of Wales Thus did this notable Politician overreach all his Enemies the King's Uncles and the Bishops being indeed taken
to Favour and seemingly pardon'd but the Lord Henry Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. William Trussel and Sr. Thomas Withers as not being included in this Pardon or not daring to trust to it were fain to fly the Land till the Death of Mortimer For to these Men he was implacable they being the first Persons who began boldly to challenge him for the Death of the Old King tho some of them had been concern'd in his Deposal for which this new Earl of March would gladly have had a full Revenge upon them But however upon this their flight he got many good parcels of their Lands and Possessions to be siesed on for the King's Use in name but for his own in reality V. Here because the foresaid Henry Lord Beaumont is not only mention'd on these great Accounts already but must challenge much more to be said of him hereafter as also that it may be seen what kind of Men this proud Mortimer levell'd his aim at and that I may at the same time do right to the Posterity of that Noble Personage I shall not here think it amiss briefly to touch at his Original Most of those that mention his Pedigree bring his Descent from Lewis Son to Charles Earl of Anjou t Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p 50. 〈◊〉 a younger Son to Lewis the Eighth King of France which Lewis Son of Charles being Lord of Beaumont in France begot of his Lady Agnes de Beaumont this valiant Lord Henry Beaumont and his Sister Isabell who was wife to John Lord Vesci of Alnwick in Northumberland and is called Kinswoman to Queen Eleanor that vertuous Consort of King Edward the First This Lord Henry married the Lady Alice one of the Cozens and Coheirs to John Cumin Earl of Boghan or Bucquain and Constable of Scotland in whose Title he afterwards obtained that Honour But whereas there are some who by mistake bring this Worthy much later into England in the company of Queen Isabella King Edward the Third's Mother this their error arose we presume from those passages of Froisard which make such frequent mention of the Lord Beaumonts assisting that Queen when it is plain that he means there the Lord John of Heinalt who was also called Lord Beaumont from another place of that name in Heinalt and besides this Lord was u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Claus 20. Ed. 2. m. 12. confin'd in England upon Suspicion at the time of Queen Isabell's Arrival And yet * Dugd. ibid. p. 50. others derive this noble Vicount Beaumont from Lewis de Brenne second Son to John de Brenne or rather Bremen the last King of Jerusalem VI. But now this Noble Lord with othes of Mortimers Enemies was fain to yield to the iniquity of the Times and to retreat into France till the Storm should be blown over Mortimer in the mean while securely basking in the sun-shine of his Prosperity as great as Heart could wish if Ambition knew any Limits to its Desires Soon after the Young King to do him further honour x Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 225. takes a progress toward the Marches of Wales where he gives this new Earl a visit He for his part as he was indeed descended of a very ancient and Noble Family from y Catal. Honor. p. 574. Hugh de Mortimer a Norman Baron who came into England with William the Conqueror and received of him in reward of his good Services the Castle and Lands of Wigmore was besides his natural Ambition very glorious and singularly magnificent in all his Publique Appearances But now upon this Visit 't is incredible what sumptuous Entertainments he gave his Royal Master in his Castles of Ludlow and Wigmore what Sports and Diversions in his Parks and Forests what Gallantry and Expence he exhibited in his Tiltings Tournaments and other Military Pastimes much whereof thô it might proceed from an honourable Disposition and a sense of Gratitude and dutifull Respect to his Soveraign yet as was thought not a little was upon the account of the Queen Mothers presence and that all of it in general smelt rank of a Popular Air and a vain-glorious Humour Whether it was really so or that Pride is so loathsom to all who are at a distance from it that it causes even our best Actions to be misrepresented and be view'd from the wrong Prospect CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward summon'd to do Homage to the King of France for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Lands of Ponthieu and Monstroile II. A solemn Just held in London for three Days together AN. DOM. 1329. An. Regni III. with the Queen's danger by the Falling of a Scaffold III. The Old Queen and Mortimer compass the death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle with the Manner and other Circumstances IV. King Edward goes privately into France V. Soon after his Return a Son born unto him called Edward afterwards sirnamed the Black-Prince VI. Mortimer taken and executed a Parliament I. NOW was a Froisâ—c 24. M. S. Ang. C. C. C. ibid. c. 219. Philip of Valois the French King well settled in his new-acquired Throne having received all the Homages and Fealties of his Subjects and Others who held under him as Peers of France or otherwise except only of the Young King of England his Cozen who by right had ow'd him homage for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstroile had not himself been Heir to the Crown of France and so Supream Lord not only of those Parts but of the Whole But King Philip being too much elevated with his good Fortune never consider'd any such thing or at least had no great apprehensions of King Edward's Courage or Conduct and therefore finding himself now in full and quiet Possession of so flourishing a Kingdom by the advice and consent of his whole Council he resolves to summon our King Edward to make his Personal Appearance before him in France there to do Homage unto him as to his Supream Lord for the Lands which he held of that Crown He therefore soon after dispatches into England the Lord of Ancenis and the Lord of Beausalt with Monsieur Peter of Orleans and Monsieur Peter of Massieres two famous Civilians which Four with all their Retinue after provision made departed from Paris directly for Whitsant where they took the Sea and arrived safely at Dover Here having tarried one day as well to refresh themselves as to unship their Horses and Baggage they rode the next day toward the Court which they heard to be as then at Windsor Being at last come thither in respect to their Master that sent them they were soon admitted to the Royal Presence where they gave the King a full account of their Errand His Majesty answer'd with good Deliberation That the Matter required advice that as for his Part very few of the Lords of his Council were then about him but if they would withdraw to London he