said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and one more Antient and Mystical asserted The time of this First Round Table with the manner of its Solemnity William Montagu Earl of Salisbury dies his Praise Pedigree Issue King Edwards Buildings at Windsor his Institution of the Most Noble Order of the GARTER The Names of the XXVI Founders A short View of the said most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof King Edward hears how King Philip had put to death sundry Lords of Bretagne his Friends King Philip's Cruelty to the Messenger of these News King Edward's Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. King Edward sends a Defiance to Philip But is alarm'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Islands King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and the Frontiers of Scotland He makes his Remonstrance to the Pope who endeavours to pacifie him A Parliament at Westminster The Earl of Darby lands in Gascogne His Acts. His Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philip's Lieutenant before Auberoche Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter named Mary John Earl of Monford acquitted his Prison The Lord Oliver Ingham dies his Issue From p. 287. to p. 312. Chap. XXIII King Edward tells the Pope that unless King Philip gives him Satisfaction he will renounce the Truce The Earl of Northampton commissioned to defie the French King. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce His New Commission to the Earl of Darby An account of his Actions in Gascogne this Year The Lord Walter Manny finds his Fathers Bones in Reole The Castle of Reole yielded The Earl of Darby's Victorious Progress and Return to Bourdeaux From p. 312. to p. 320. Chap. XXIV Henry Earl of Lancaster dies The motives and manner of Jacob van Arteveld's Fall. The Flemings appease King Edward The young Earl of Hainalt slain The Lord John of Beaumont brought over to the French side The Lord Godfry of Harcourt revolts to England John of Monford amidst his Victories in Bretagne dies The Earl of Northampton combats Charles of Blois and routs his Army The Scots discomfited by the English whereon ensues a Truce The Death of one Lord and two Bishops From p. 321. to p. 330. BOOK II. CHAP. I. KIng Philip sends the Duke of Normandy against the Earl of Darby aliàs the Earl of Lancaster Duke John sits down before Angoulesme the Earl of Lancaster new Garrisons Ville-Franche and reinforces Aiguillon The Seneschal of Beaucaire wins Ancenis Sr. John Norwich escapes the Duke of Normandy by a quaint device The Duke of Normandy comes before Aiguillon with the Particulars of that Siege The French King's Seneschal of Guienne beaten by the Earl of Lancaster which Earl holds the Duke of Normandy short From p. 331. to p. 337. Chap. II. King Edward resolves to succour his Friends in Aiguillon calls a Parliament settles the Realm sets Sail for Gascogne but lands in Normandy and Knights his Eldest Son Prince Edward c. King Philip strengthens Caën against him A Cruel Execution done at Paris upon a Frenchman for Asserting King Edward's Right to France King Edward marches thrô Normandy King Philip prepares to encounter him King Edward takes St. Lo and Caën Rejects the Cardinals Endeavours for Peace stays at Poissy to repair the Bridge and sends a Defiance to King Philip who goes to his Army King Edward gets over the Seyne receives and replies to an Answer of King Philips to his Challenge His Progress thrô France His Princely Carriage to two Fair Ladies that were taken at Poix The Inhabitants of Poix being found treacherous are put to the Sword. King Edward endeavours to get over the Somme A French Prisoner shews him the Passage at Blanchetteaque which yet he finds guarded but goes over and discomfits Godmar du Fay who kept the Passage King Philip rests at Abbeville King Edward encamps in the Fields of Cressy and prepares to receive him From p. 338. to p. 353. Chap. III. The Number and Order of King Edward's Forces the Names of his Chief Captains He creates 50 Knights King Philip goes out of Abbeville against him The Order of the French. King Philip advances his Oriflambe and King Edward his Burning Dragon The Battle of CRESSY The Earl of Warwick sends to the King for Succour with the King's Answer The Prince of Wales having overcome several Bodies of the French marches forward against their Main Force routs the Marquess of Moravia kills the Old King of Bohemia and wins his Banner of the Ostrich Feathers King Philip flies and leaves the Victory to the English The Number of the slain on both sides An Enquiry into the Antiquity of Guns King Philip retires to Broye thence to Amiens and so to Paris The Behaviour of the English after the Victory Two Bodies of the French defeated The Conquerour takes the Spoil of the Field and care for the burial of the Dead King Edward marches from Cressy and lies down before Calais From p. 354. to p. 365. Chap. IV. The Description of Calais The strength of King Edward's Navy He lays a formal Siege to the Place Plenty of Provision in his Camp. The Earl of Warwick takes Teroüenne The Flemings besiege St. Omers Seventeen Hundred poor People being thrust out of Calais are relieved by King Edward The Copies of two Letters containing the summe of this Expedition from the Winning of Caën to the Siege of Calais The Duke of Normandy makes another attempt upon Aiguillon but to his Loss King Philip commands his Son to rise from before Aiguillon and perswades the King of Scotland to invade England The Duke of Normandy leaves the Siege of Aiguillon the Lord Manny cuts him off at the Reer His Agreement with a Prisoner of Quality The Prisoner brings him a safe Conduct and is set free The Lord Manny riding towards Calais in Confidence of this Conduct is seised by King Philip's Order But the Duke of Normandy saves his Life The Earl of Lancaster upon the Duke of Normandy's Departure takes the Field and Conquers in Sainctogne Rochellois and Poictou An Instance of this Earls Liberality and Munificence He wins Poictiers leaves it Desolate and Returns to Bourdeaux An Army of Poictevins discomfited by the English Garrison of Lusignan From p. 365. to p. 375. Chap. V. King Philip by his Ambassadors perswades the King of Scots to break with England King David resolves on a War Raises an Army and begins to march His Cruelty to an English Knight in cold blood He encamps near Durham Queen Philippa makes her Musters at York and sends an Expostulation to King David The Order and Number of the Scotch Army Also of the English with the Names of their Chief Leaders Queen Philippa encourages her Men. She beats Douglas and Graham before the Battle Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland begins the Fight but is obliged to Retreat King David is taken Prisoner by
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 * Peâes 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. Bâât 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 Wallaâe 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
Discord between the Father of our Lord the King and the Queen his Consort making her believe that if she went to him he would kill her with a Ponyard or other weapon or murder her some other way And by reason of that and other his Conveyances he did so much that the Queen never went to her Lord to afford him her Bed to the great dishonour of the King and the whole Realm and perhaps for time to come for its Dammage which God forbid 10. Item That the said Roger had taken and caused to be taken for himself and others of his Council the Kings Treasure without reason to be disposed of at his pleasure to the utter Impoverishment of the King so that he was left unable to pay for his Provision or maintain his Royal Estate 11. Item That the said Roger had taken to himself and his Allies the 30000 Marks which were paid by the Scots according to the form of the Peace so that nought thereof came to the Kings use or profit 12. These Articles with three more relating to the Publishing the Kings Secrets his Murdering and Fining several Peers of the Land and his Usurping the Kings Authority with some things in respect of the Kings Honour not to be drawn up in Writing which I suppose related to his Familiarity with the Queen Mother were the summ of what was said against him and consisted of Treasons Felonies and high Misdemeanours Whereupon the King o M. S. Rec. Parl. p. 10. Knighton p. 2558. n. 40. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm of the Records set out by Mr. Pryn p. 6. c. chargeth the Earls Barons and others Peers of the Realm to pronounce just Judgment upon him the said Roger Mortimer Who all thereupon consulting together agreed that all and singular the Articles against the said Roger above attested were true and notorious and known to all the People of the Land and especially that Article touching the Death of the King at Berkley-Castle Wherefore it was by them adjudged that the said Roger as a Traytor and an Enemy of the King and Kingdom should be Drawn and Hanged And this Sentence he received without being p Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 147. called to any kind of Answer as he himself had before order'd in the case of the Spencers and of the Lord Edmund late Earl of Kent the King's Uncle A just Judgment upon him though in it self illegal For it is not the usage of the Law of England to condemn without Hearing or due summons to Judgment And doubtless the sins of Sodom were more notorious to God in Heaven than those of any person can be to mortall Men in Parliament But yet we read in the Sacred Books how that most just Judge both would and did go down to hear and proceed in a Judicial way Wherefore also q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. twenty four Years after his Attaindure was reversed and Roger his Grandson restored to all his Titles and Honours the Judgment being reckon'd void and erroneous because not done according to the Laws of England However now according to the Sentence the Earl Marshal being so commanded with the assistance of the Mayor and Sheriffs of London saw him executed upon the common Gallows now called Tyburn on the r Knighton p. 2559. l. 3. 29 of November being the Vigil of St. Andrew and a Thursday or rather Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. as it was found by inquisition twenty four Years after on the Monday next after the Feast of St. Catherine the Virgin which was the 26 of November and the very first day of this Parliaments Sitting and was t Menast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 224. buried the third Day after which indeed was the 29 of November having hung two days and two nights by the King 's special Commandment After which by the Kings Favour his Body was granted to the Friers-Minors or Gray-Friers in London who buried him in their Church now called Christ-Church whence u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. many Years after he was translated to Wigmore So that Du x Du Chesne Histoire d' Angleterre p. 637. Chesne appears to be mistaken who affirms that he was hang'd drawn and quarter'd his Quarters set up upon the Gates of Four chief Cities of England and his Head upon London-Bridge He died seized y Dugd. 1 Vol. 147. of the Mannors of Stratfield-Mortimer and Wogfield as parcel of the Mannor of Wigmore also of the Mannor of Newbury and the Moiety of that Town all in Berkshire Likewise of the Mannors of Clifton upon Temede and Odingley in Worcestershire of the Mannors of Noke Mawrdyn and Wynfreton with the Advowson of the Church of Wynfreton in Herefordshire of the Castle and Mannor of Nerberth and the Third part of the Town of St. Clier with the Advowson of the Church the Third part of the Commots of Amgeyd and Pentyryock and the Third part of the Town of Haverford in Herefordshire of the Castles and Dominions of Blenleveny and Bulkedinas in the Marches of Wales besides z Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 641. the Castle Town and Mannor of Denbeigh and the Cantreds of Roes Rewinoc and Keirmer with the Commot of Dinmal and the Appurtenances in Northwales as also the Castle and Mannor of Mongomery with the Mannor and Hundred of Chirbury in Shropshire All which his great Possessions were seized into the Kings Hands as a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 146. appears by his Precepts bearing date the 23d of October which were directed to several Persons for the Seizing of his Castles Mannors and Lands in Wales he being then only under Arrest for several High Misdemeanors tending to the Dammage of the King and Kingdom as the words therein do import and within 3 Days following Commission was granted to John Kingston and Others to take an Inventory of all his Treasure and Jewels in Wales and the Marches but not to carry away any thing out of the Wardrobe of Joan his Wife then at Ludlow or any thing that belonged to any of her Children or Servants By this Lady Joan who was b Mills Catal. Honor. p. 575. Daughter and sole Heir of Peter Jenevill Knight this great but unhappy Man had Issue c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 147. four Sons and seven Daughters his First Son was Sr. Edmund who was never Earl of March his Fathers Attaindure not being reversed in his time the Second was Sr. Roger the Third Sr. Geoffry Earl of Jubien and Lord of Cowith which three were all Knighted at the Coronation of this King Edward and the Fourth was John Mortimer unhappily slain in a Tournament at Shrewsbury His Daughters were Catherine wife to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Joan married to James Lord Audely the Son of Nicholas Lord Audely Baron of Heleigh Agnes to Laurence Hastings afterwards Earl of Pembroke Margaret to Thomas Son and Heir of Maurice Lord Barkley or as d Catal. Nobility by R. B. Dugd. Bar. 1
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 Câart 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
then in France about renewing a Truce toward a full Establishment of Peace And indeed King Philip who knew that the Lord Robert of Artois his Mortal Enemy was harboured and protected in England did not at all question but that he would do his utmost to embroil the Affairs of France nor was he ignorant what just pretences King Edward might make to his Crown beside the ancient and inveterate Antipathy that seem'd almost Natural between the two Kingdoms He gave therefore to King David the Castle of Galliard upon the Seyne to reside in during his Necessitous condition and assign'd him a truly Royal Allowance for nothing could be got from Scotland considerable enough to maintain a Port becoming the Majesty of a King. Nor was it long e're Philip sent into Scotland to those Lords who held against the English honourable Messengers with many large Promises of great Assistance both in Men and Money provided they would engage never to strike up a Peace with the King of England but by the consent and allowance of him and David their King. This Message so encouraged the Brucean Lords that they readily accepted the Motion and sware to keep the Covenant which they sent back to the French King with their Seals thereto annexed The Contents whereof were but the same with those which their King Achaius of old had made with Charlemaine King of France and which were usually from King to King renewed between the two Crowns till at last in our Fathers Days Scotland was happily united to the Crown of England Which Covenant since the Articles are but short and few it will not I hope be amiss here once for all to record y Favin's Theatre of Hon. 2 Vol. p. 79. l. 5 c. 3 1. That a firm and perpetual Alliance and Confederacy should be maintained between the Scots and French. 2. That when the English made War upon either the Scots or French they should both give mutual Succour reciprocally one to the other 3. That if it happen'd the English should war in France the Scots should then give them Succour with Men of War to be waged and maintained at the Expences of the French They also engaging to do the like for them if it happen'd the English should make War in Scotland 4. That neither Scots nor French should for the future aid or assist the English with Men Money Victuals or Advice without the consent of the Kings of both Nations under penalty of being declared guilty of High Treason 5. That the French should make no Peace or Truce with the English except the King of Scots may be comprised named and allowed therein 6. And lastly That the Covenants and Conditions above-named should be confirmed from King to King and at each Change or Succession of them that their Pragmatical Sanctions should be sealed and confirmed reciprocally on both Sides This is the summ of that ancient League with France which was now renewed again And accordingly King Philip soon after z Frois c. 33. sent into Scotland to the assistance of the Bruceans Men of War under the Command of the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan who after became Marshal of France and a Famous Warrier and the Lord Garenciers with many other Captains Knights and Esquires Besides which he a Fabian p. 200 mann'd out ten Men of War to the Reinforcement of the Scots but these meeting with a Terrible storm at Sea were driven into Flanders and so beaten that after much loss of their Stuff and Provision they were fain to return home inglorious and without effect King Edward the mean while having so happily obtained the Victory aforesaid and settled his Affairs at Barwick and thereabouts adding Piety to his Valour b Walâing hist p. 114. n. 40. goes according to the Superstition of those Times with a few Attendants to visit several Places in England which were most fam'd for Sanctity and there offer'd his Thanks to God Almighty the Blessed Virgin Mother St. Cuthbert at Durham St. Edward at Westminster St. Erkenwold at St. Pauls in London St. Thomas at Canterbury and St. George at Windsor for at that beloved Seat of his he finish'd his Pilgrimage After which in * Fabian p. 200. November he again marched toward Scotland as we shall shew in the beginning of the next Chapter and kept his * Grafton p. 229 Christmas at York being still c Frois c. 26. fol. 16. attended with the Lord Robert of Artois who never ceased day nor night to set forth before him the Great Right which he had to the Crown of France and the King took pleasure to hear him But as yet matters were not fully ripe IX And now was Scotland for a while quite out of breath her Nobility being so mightily consum'd by the continual Wars and their own too great Courage and none remaining who was any way able to encounter or impeach King Bailiol who from this time had the sirname of Conquerour attributed to him So that now with his d Hector f. 316. 40. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Army aforesaid wherein was the Lord Richard Talbot and many young Knights and Esquires of England he took in almost all Scotland diligently viewing every Place and prudently settling his Affairs for the most part furnishing his Garrisons with English as not yet daring since the late Treacherous surprize to repose much confidence in the revolted Scots whatever Submission they now pretended Only a few Castles continued true to King David in this Alteration which as they could not then be easily taken for their strength so for their Number were they very inconsiderable If any thing may be said to be so in a War when no less than a Kingdom lies at stake Hereupon King Bailiol finding himself pretty well established in his Throne e Walsing hist p. 115. M.S. vet Angl. c. summons a Parliament to meet him at Perth alias St. Johnston to which those English Lords that claim'd Possessions in Scotland came and there did their Homage to him for the said respective Lands held under him reserving still the Allegiance they ow'd to their natural Lord and Soveraign the King of England Among these was Henry Lord Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who had to wife the Lady f John Cumin Earl of Buquhan died without Issue but Alexander Cumin his brother left three Daughters his Coheirs of which this Alice the Eldest Mills Catal. Hener p. 957. Alice one of the Sisters or rather as others say Cosins and Heirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan and Constable of Scotland of the Lands of whose Inheritance doing Homage therefore he had g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 50. b. Livery and Seisin in the Sixth of Edward the Second thô afterwards he was dispossessed as other English Lords were till this time This Great Lord they say did first advise King Bailiol to implore the King of England's Aid toward the recovery of his Right and till the King's
of Provision This Victory thô not of it self considerable did yet prove a Mighty Refreshment to the dejected Minds of the Scots especially since the Numbers of each Party were so unequal that the English exceeded the Scots almost three times in Number For l Fourden one says that the Earl of Athol had 3000 Men the Bruceans being but 1100 beside those 300 fresh Men who by their sudden Sally quite turn'd the Scale of Victory Thô the most Resolute Men in the World being so surprised from behind in the heat of an Engagement when nothing is certain and as little can be deliberated may well be frighted into a Fatal Confusion Yet m Walsânââ Hyped p. 113. others report the matter something otherwise saying that upon this sudden Sally of the Scots the Earl of Athols Men thrô Treason or Panick fear fled all from him except about 13 who being content to partake of the same Honourable Fortune with their Valiant Leader were all slain with him This Earl David Strabolgi whom Hector and Buchanan erroncously call by the Name of David Cumin was a Baron also of England where he had large Possessions for he died n Dâââ 2 Vol. p. 96. b. seised of the Mannor of Gainsborough in Com. Linc. Bulindon in Com. Buck. Posewyke West-Lexham Styvely and Holkellam in Norfolk as also of the Castle of Mitford with two parts of the Mannors of Pont-Eland and Calverdon and certain Lands in Mollesdown in Northumberland beside what he held in Scotland leaving behind him David his Son and Heir then three Years of Age and Catherine Beaumont Daughter to the Lord Henry Beaumont his Wife surviving he himself being but eight and twenty Years of Age at his Death This Battle was struck on the last day of December from whence the distressed Bruceans Raised themselves with Hopes that the succeeding Year would prove more favourable to their Cause X. This Year o Wilingh hâst p. 118. there was found in the Forest of Wolmer a young Mule with two Heads and two Necks of equal bigness in other parts nothing different from another She was kept alive for some time after in the yard of Sr. Edward St. John Warden of the said Forest It is also p Id. ibid. Odoâic Rainald cenâin ad Bâenium An. 1335. n. 58. reported that a young Woman named Joane living in the Parish of Kingsley in the Diocess of Winchester and the Decanate of Aulton being on the fourth of June at Night advised by a voice to go and meet her Sweet-heart William in the Forest of Wolmer aforesaid early in the Morning met with an Incubus in his Shape who then and there carnally knew her At her return home she fell into a grievous Malady and then upon Conference with her Sweet-heart William it appeared that she had been seduced to her Confusion by an Evil Spirit Whereupon with great Contrition and Lamentation she bewailed and confessed her sins all the house being filled with an intolerable and noisome Savour In this deplorable Condition she held for three days and then died having her whole Body extreamly swoln and her bosome and privy Parts most dismally Black and Dreadfull and so prodigiously heavy that eight lusty Men could hardly bear the Body to the Grave I know not how far it may please God sometimes for the Punishment of Impure thoughts and Unchast desires as well as for Example to others to permit Satan to Tyrannize by his Illusions Many Grave Authors have not doubted to attest Instances of the like Nature However be this true or not I leave it to the Decision of others and the credit of the Author King Edward this Year q Pat. 9. Ed. 3. par 1. Sandford Genealthist p. 109. Speed p. 539. §. 106. §. 107. confirmed to his Cozen Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster the County of Provence in France being the Inheritance of Queen Eleanor Wife of King Henry the Third of England and Second Daughter of Raimend Earl of Provence Grandmother to the said Earl Henry which Inheritance the said Queen Eleanor granted to her second Son Edmund sirnamed Crouchback Father to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who dying without Issue this Henry the younger Brother became his Heir I know not how valid this Grant of the Kings might be but sure at this time Provence was in other Hands as we shall shew hereafter This Year the Lord Ebulo le Strange who in Right of his Wise Alice Daughter and Heir of Henry Lascy Earl of Lincoln obtained the Title of Earl of Lincoln r Sândsââd p. 109. Dââd 1 Vol. p. 668. departed this Life in Scotland His Relict the said Lady Alice of whose Lasciviousness I shall say nothing here immediately upon his Death Married a certain Knight called Hugo de Frenes who likewise in her Right was entitled Earl of Lincoln but he also died the next Year in Scotland as we shall see in due place Ebulo's Heir was the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokin Senior his Cosin Besides there died the Thrice-Noble Lord John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and High-Constable of England he deceased Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. at Kirby-Thure in Westmoreland on the Feast of St. Fabian and Sebastian and was buried at Stratford near London but leaving no Issue behind him was succeeded in his Honours and Estate by his next Brother Humphry a Man Famous for Military Affairs as we shall have Occasion to take Notice CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. In the Revenge of the Earl of Athols Death the English Lords in Scotland lay Siege to Dunbar but are not able to take it II. King Edward sends word to King Bailiol to keep the field with his English Forces and himself leaving the Parliament sitting follows them in Person with his Exploits there III. King Philip endeavours to divert him from an entire Conquest of Scotland and sends out a Fleet against him with King Edward 's Commission to his Admirals about the Defence of the English Seas IV. King Edward furnishes himself with Money divers ways yet again makes overtures for Peace V. His Considerations about the War with France and the Advice of his Gouncil thereupon VI. He sends an Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with the Result thereof VII The two Kings put themselves in a Posture VIII Prince John of Eltham King Edward 's Brother dies a Scotch Tale of his Death refuted The Earl of Lincoln dies The Queen deliver'd of a Son. IX A Comet forerunner of the French War with other Prodigies I. UPon the News of the Earl of Athols Death the Lord William Montague AN. DOM. 1336. An. Regni X. and the Lord Henry Beaumont his Father in Law were greatly displeased as were also the two Kings of England and Scotland For he was a Man of Considerable Power Valour and Conduct But especially the Lord a Hector l. 15. fol. 320. n. 50. Holinshead Scotland p. 237 n. 60. Beaumont
1 Vol. p. 802. Antwerp while the King held a Noble Turneament there on the Vigil of St. Andrew or the 29 of November 1338. The Infant was Baptised with the Name of Lionell and sirnamed from the Place of his Birth Lionell of Antwerp who became in time Earl of Vlster Duke of Clarence and a Person of Extraordinary Features of Body and which is a more aimable Beauty Valour and other Princely Endowments But as the Queens Fecundity did on one hand make the Royal Family to flourish so on the other Fatal Necessity was busied in lopping off a Princely Branch from that Regal Stem For this very z Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 64. Year the Kings Uncle Thomas Plantagenet sirnamed of Brotherton from a place of that Name in Yorkshire where he was Born being Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England departed this Life and was a Weevers fun Mon. p. 726. buried in the Choire of the Famous Abbey at St. Edmunds-Bury in Suffolk where there was a goodly Monument erected to his Memory but it is now wholly buried in the same Ruines into which the Fatal Dissolution cast both that and many other Religious Houses He left Issue by the Lady b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 65. Alice his first Wife Daughter of Sr. Roger Hales of Harwich two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Margaret and the Lady Alice the former first Married to the Lord John Seagrave and after to the Famous Sr. Walter Manny the latter to Sr. Edward Montague Brother to the Earl of Salisbury He is c Mill's Catal. Hânor p. 510. said to have had also a Wife named Anne before the Lady Alice by whom he had a Son Edward who died without Issue and also another after her by whom he had a second Son named John who became a Monk in the Abbey of Ely. Upon his Death however the Earldom of Norfolk and Office of Marshal for want of Issue Male fell into the Kings hands by Escheat But the Lord William Montague Earl of Salisbury in consideration of his many Eminent Services both in War and Peace abroad and at home obtained presently after a d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 646. ex Pat. fact apud Antwerp 12. Ed. 3. p. 3. m 7. Grant bearing Date at Antwerp the 15 of September of the Office of Marshal of England During this the Kings Stay in Brabant the Lady e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Eleanora Plantagenet Fifth Daughter to Henry de Torto Collo the old Earl of Lancaster and Sister to Henry Earl of Darby brought forth to her Husband John Lord Beaumont of England Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan a Son called Henry Whereupon two Years after Sr. John the Father obtain'd the Kings Special Letters Patents declaring That notwithstanding the said Henry the Son was begotten and born in Foreign Parts yet since it was occasion'd by Sr. John's and his Lady's Attendance on the King and Queen he should be reputed a Lawfull Heir to inherit his Father's Lands as well as thô he had been born in England Now that it may appear how King Philip was much more in the Pope's Books than our Edward it is observable that when he heard of King Edwards Arrival at Antwerp as one that saw a Dreadfull Tempest of War hanging over France he wrote a f Extat apud Odoric Rainald ad hunc annum §. 55. Letter to King Philip bearing Date at Avignon V. Id. August Anno Pontificatûs IV. Wherein piously indeed he stirs him up to implore the Divine Assistance and to the end he might obtain the Favour of God to put away all things that might offend his Majesty and first to pacifie his own Conscience lest he should nourish a War within himself to desist from Oppressing the Clergy and the Poor lastly he advised him to admit of honest Conditions of Peace and upon Occasion to offer the like For whereas in that War much Christian Blood was like to be shed he would then appear clean of the Sin of all that should be shed both before God and Man but that he should not put his Confidence in the Power of his Forces but in the Divine Assistance As for his Part that he together with the Whole Church would power forth his Prayers unto God for him IV. King g Knighton p. 2571. n. 50. vid. Rebdârfii Annales de hâc anno Edward the mean while according to the Emperors Request went forth Royally attended to give him a Meeting he being then in High Germany about 7 Diets beyond Colen But when he heard of the King of England his Brother-in-Law's Approach toward that City he also set forward with Imperial Pomp till he came to h Alii dicunt lâcum fuisse Confluentias alâi Francofurtum Cologne where he was met by King Edward The Enterview was very Glorious and Magnificent the Emperor greatly Honouring the King of England thô some i Walsingh hist p. 132. say at the first Meeting he took it ill that King Edward refus'd to submit himself to the Kiss of his Feet as it should seem Kings were wont to do to Emperours but our Edward gallantly k Selden's Titles of Hon. part 1. c. 3 p. 29. answer'd That He Himself was a King Sacred and Anointed and had Life and Limbs in his Power being accountable to none but God as Supream and Independent of all Others being also Lord of Sea and Land and Wearing no less than an Imperial Crown Wherefore he ought not to abase himself to any Mortal Potentate whatsoever This Answer was accepted And presently l Knighton p. 2571. n. 60. two Royal Thrones were erected in the open Market-place One for the Emperour the Other for the King the Emperour took his Place first and King Edward sate down by him In which Honourable Enterview there were for Assistants four Great Dukes three Archbishops and six Bishops thirty seven Earls and of Barons Banerets Knights and Esquires according to the Estimation of the Heralds Seventeen Thousand The Emperour held in his Right Hand the Imperial Scepter and in his Left the Golden Mound or Globe which denotes the Government of the World a Knight of Almain holding over his Head a Naked Sword. And then and there the Emperour publiquely declared the Disloyalty Falshood and Villany which the King of France had used towards him whereupon he defi'd him and pronounced that both He and his Adherents had forfeited the Protection and Favour they might expect from the Empire and had justly incurred whatever Displeasure might be done unto him thereby And then He m Ashmole p. 649. Frois l. 1. c. 34. f. 19. made ordain'd and constituted King Edward his Deputy and Vicar General of the Sacred German Empire granting unto him full and absolute Power over All on this side as far as Cologne Of all which he gave him his Imperial Charter in sight of all that were present The next day these two Illustrious Persons with the Great
in England and so without Fear it is answer'd that even so it was not without Fear when there was a fear of losing the whole Dukedom aforesaid by reason of an Army then ready to invade the King himself in the Dukedom and in England by the way of Scotland and that the said Letters were sealed while the said King was notoriously under Age as aforesaid not of the perfect Knowledge of the said King nor upon due Notice of his Right or Prejudice as neither by reason of the frailty of his Age could then be had Besides he the said King ought to be restored in full in this Case within the Times thereto limited if he had had a Competent Judge and because he had not a Competent Judge he used in due time other Remedies whereby there was taken better Provision as to his Right And the King of England would have our Lord the Pope to be more surely informed that the said King never did any thing on purpose to the Lord Philip bearing himself as King of France for which he ought to cease or desist from the Prosecution of his said Right or for which he thought or doth think his Conscience wronged in this part and that it was so He calls God to Witness As to the Objection wherein 't is said that the said Lord the King of England is not of the Blood of France but by means of a Woman who is not capable of the Right of the Hereditary Realm of France it is answerd that althô by the Custom of the Realm of France a Woman of the Royal Blood be excluded from the Hereditary Rights of the Realm of France yet hereby it doth not follow that her Son being a Male and able to Reign ought to be excluded from the Succession of his Forefathers devolved unto Lawfull Heirs because the King of England claims the Succession of his Uncle the Lord King Charles deceased according to the Prerogative of his Degree as next of Kin to the deceased King who ought not to be excluded from the Inheritance of his Uncle or his Grandfather by any Kindred more remote in Degree even althô the Mother of the said King by reason of her Sex should be excluded or put by And if it be said that some Nephews and Kindred of the Lords Lewis and Philip Brethren of the said Lord King Charles successively have been excluded from the Royal Succession upon that Account that they were only allied to the said Kings by the means of Females as also the King of England was allied to the said Lord King Charles by means of a Female only namely of his Mother it is answer'd that not upon that account were the said Nephews excluded but upon this that none of the said Nephews was in Being at the Time of the Death of the said King about whose Inheritance the Controversie was and this will evidently appear by matter of Fact underwritten For it is to be known that the Lord Philip the Fair King of France deceased leaving behind him three Brothers namely Lewis the Eldest Philip the Long the Second Born and Charles the Third and Youngest and one Daughter namely Isabell Queen of England Lewis the Elder Son succeeded his Father Philip the Fair immediately in the Kingdom of France and got one Daughter after which King Lewis died leaving the said Daughter which had no Issue during the Life of the said King Lewis and his Wife impregnate who after the Death of the said King brought forth a Male Child named John who after Nine Days wherein he was accounted King of France deceased And Philip the Long the Middle Brother of the said Three succeeded him immediately in the said Kingdom This King Philip begat three Daughters but no Male the Elder Daughter whereof was coupled in Matrimony to the Duke of Burgundy the Second to the Dauphin of Vienna the Third and Youngest to the Earl of Flanders Of the First Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy was born a Male Child called as is said Robert during the Life of King Philip but that Robert died before King Philip his Grandfather and so was not in Being at the time of the Death of the said Lord Philip his Grandfather Of the Second Daughter married to the Dauphin there was no Issue at all during the Life of the said King Philip as neither of the Other who was married to the Earl of Flanders After the Death of the said King Philip his Third and Younger Brother namely the Lord Charles immediately succeeded who in the end leaving two Daughters unmarried deceased without Issue Male. From all which it is evident that the said Lord Charles was True and Lawfull King of France and by Consequence that the Lord the King of England who was Son of the Lady Isabella Queen of England Sister to the said Charles as aforesaid ought as his Nearest Kinsman to succeed him in the Kingdom These Instructions were given to Nicolas de Flisco and his Son Andrew who were to be follow'd by others with Letters from the King to his Holiness sealed with the Arms of England and France which New Seal was not yet made But while the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco remained at the Court of Avignon under the Pope's Protection certain wicked Persons thinking to curry Favour with the King of France about Midnight on Good Fryday Eve enter'd his House by Violence broke open his Chamber and hardly giving him time to put on one thin Garment hurried Him and his Son and one young Gentleman away and carried them down the Rhosne to a certain Tower where they kept them close till Saturday and then convey'd them into the Parts of France At which Injury his Holiness was so moved that he began to thunder out the most heavy Edicts against the Authors and Accomplices of that Crime and put France under Interdict as appears by an Expostulatory Letter of King Philips to the Pope Wherein calling God to Witness that this Violence was neither done by his Command nor Will or Knowledge and that when he heard the English Men thus taken were within his Kingdom he had given Order to make diligent Search for them and to return them to Avignon again he complains that those Processes were too sudden and too rigorous since he was wholly innocent of the matter and so to the blackning of his Honour and that for the future he would not be so hasty in acting against him without giving him Notice c. Dated at Moncell near Pont St. Maixence 21 of Maii. To which the Pope return'd That he could never think the Knowledge of that Fact did belong to him however it was so horrid that the Severity which he had used was necessary But that his Paternal Affection toward him was no way diminished thereby nay he would rather conspire with him in a mutual Agreement of Good-will and kind Offices Dated at Avignon iii Kal. Jun. Anno Pontif. vi Soon after at King Philips Command Nicolas
to this Earls Son a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. ex libro Islip dicto f. 178 thô by reason of a Precontract with the Lord Thomas Holland upon his complaint to the Pope she was adjudged unto the latter The former as it seems acquiescing therein by his after-marriage with another young Lady namely b Catal. Honor. p. 1044. Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of John Lord Mohun of Dunstor Castle Whereby it is evident that this Lady Joan Plantagenet could never be rightly called Countess of Salisbury Nor yet was she Countess of Kent at this time nor till ten years after when her Brother John Earl of Kent dying without Issue left her then Husband the foresaid Lord Holland Earl of Kent in her Right After whose Death she was upon the account of her extraordinary Endowments and Perfections both of Body and Mind taken to Wife by Edward Prince of Wales commonly called the Black-Prince Whereupon Historians either mistaking the young Earl for his Father and so consequently Joan Plantagenet his intended Wife for the Lady Katherine his Mother or not apprehending that the Order of the Garter of which we shall speak in its proper Place could have any other than an amorous Original thô we shall shew the contrary or resolving by right or by wrong to celebrate the Countess of Kent's Beauty and Vertues have thus confounded Matters that without this long Digression we could not perfectly clear the Truth which now we have sincerely and unanswerably done However near this Castle of Werk wherein at that time was the Countess of Salisbury and her Lords Brother the Scotch Army c Frois c. 76. lodged that night but thought not to spend any time in Assaulting the Place because they were now so laden with Booty and the Fortress it self seem'd too inconsiderable to employ so great an Army Wherefore early next morning they began their March for Scotland Prince Robert Stuart Heir Apparent of that Crown being in the Van the King himself with most of the Booty and Carriages in the Middle and the Lord William Douglas bringing up the Rear Sr. Edward Montague d Frois ibid. Du Ch sâe p. 655. B. who well saw from the Battlements of the Tower that the Scots were resolved to leave him in quiet and that they were so charged with heavy Carriages with the Plate and what else they brought from Durham that their Horses could hardly sustain the burthen presently mounts fourty Spears and he himself in the Head of them sallies out of the Castle and covertly following the Reer of the Scots overtook them as they were just entring into a Wood and set on them with such vigour that he presently slew and hurt of the Scots more than e Frois ibid. Du Chisue p. 655. B. two hundred and took away from them above sixscore Horses laden with Spoil which they drove back toward their Castle The cry and noise that follow'd this Action came to the hearing of Sr. William Douglas who had the charge of the Rereguard and was already passed the Forest But when upon this Alarm he looked back and saw his Men come flying over Mountains and Dales he was mightily surprized at first but being quickly informed of the Matter he commanded his Men to face about and having sent word thereof to the King and Prince Robert Stuart who led the other two Battalia's himself without any stop pursued the English even to the foot of the Castle and mounted the Hill after them with his Sword drawn But before he came to the Barriers the English were all entred together with the Spoil they had recovered and had closed the Barriers again However the enraged Douglas falls immediately to the Assault with great Fury and was received with as much Bravery This Action continued till the whole Army and King David himself were return'd before the Castle at which time when the King saw what Massacre they had made of his Men along in the Field and how weary and wounded they had already rendred the Assailants without any apparent advantage on his Side he caused the Assault to cease for that time but however gave command to encamp about the Castle Then all men were busied in taking up their Quarters as the Camp-masters had appointed and to gather their Dead together for Burial and to dress their Wounded Thus they were employ'd the remaining part of that Day till time of rest came Next morning King David gave command for a fresh and general Assault and the Besieged stood ready at their Defences The Countess of Salisbury for her part even beyond her Sex shew'd such a Masculine Spirit that instead of receiving Courage from others she added heart to all her Men She distributed her Gold and Silver largely among her Souldiers and promised more and told them King Edward their Lord would soon come to her Aid and spake so sweetly that every Man became as good as two Wherefore the Assault was sore and cruel being on both sides maintain'd with great Ardour and Animosity But the Assailants were exposed to infinite hazards the Presence of their King making them venture on any thing while the Besieged fought with all possible Care and Discretion as well as Courage as being Guardians of Beauty and Vertue besides the charge of their own Lives and the Honour of their King and Country which they were to maintain against a cruel and numerous Enemy The Scots carried thither Timber Faggots and other Stuff intending to fill up the Ditches whereby their Engines might the better approach the Walls But the English shot so fiercely that after a long and bloody Contest the Assailants were obliged to retire back weary and well-beaten and leaving great Numbers of their Companions behind Then * Frois c. 76. King David gave Order to guard well the Engines for that Night being fully resolved the next day to renew the Attack So all men retired to their Lodgings but those who were to stand upon Duty There some lamented the loss of their Friends others their own Wounds and Languishing Condition the whole Camp was out of humor either griev'd or vext or ashamed XX. On the other hand f Frois ibid. Du Chesne Sr. Edward Montagu Governour of the Castle called a Council of War Where having consider'd that if the Scots gave them many such Assaults it was impossible to hold out long They resolved that some body must adventure to pass thorough the Scotch Camp and ride Post to King Edward who as they heard from their Prisoners had been for some time at York gathering his Forces together to tell him their Condition Hereupon Sr. Edward Montagu threw down a Purse of Gold offering it as a Reward to Him that would adventure to do so signal a Piece of Service and withall his best Gelding to carry him But it seem'd so desperate an undertaking that every man look'd about upon his Neighbour but none durst engage in the
The Pope writing about the Matter of Provisions gains ground III. King Edward begins his Round-Table at Windsor with the Description Antiquity and Gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip in Emulation hereof sets up also a Round-Table at Paris IV. The Round-Table of Windsor being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was Instituted Five Years after the said Order is here enquired into its Original as vulgarly given exploded and One far more Ancient and Mystical Asserted V. The time of this First Round-Table of King Edwards with the Manner of its Solemnity The Death of William Montagu Earl of Salisbury occasion'd thereby with an account of his Worth Pedigree and Issue VI. King Edwards Buildings at Windsor and his Institution of the most Noble Order of the Garter with the Names of the First XXVI Founders VII A short View of the Honour of this most Noble Order and how many Foreign Princes c. have been thereof VIII Word brought to King Edward how King Philip of France had put to Death several Lords of Bretagne his Friends IX King Philips cruelty to the Messengers of this News and King Edwards Raillery on his Tax upon Salt. X. King Edward sends a Defiance to King Philip. XI But is Alarum'd from all Parts to look to himself The Pope makes Don Lewis of Spain Prince of the Fortunate Isles XII King Edward sends Forces into Gascogne Bretagne and to the Frontiers of Scotland XIII And sends a Remonstrance to the Pope with the Popes Endeavours to pacifie him and the Sum of a Parliament at Westminster XIV The Earl of Darby Lands in Gascogne His Actions XV. His Triumphant Return to Bourdeaux He takes King Philips Lieutenant before Auberoche XVI Queen Philippa of England deliver'd of a Daughter John Earl of Montford acquitted his Prison Oliver Lord Ingham Senescal of Bourdeaux dies His Issue I. NOW it is to be remembred that whereas in the Articles of the Truce AN. DOM. 1344. An. Regni Angliae XVIII Franciae V. it was agreed that each Party should send their Commissioners to the Court of Rome in order to hold a Treaty of Peace before the Feast of St. John Baptist or the 24 of June following King Edward upon more mature Deliberation and Advice wrote unto the Pope a Oderiâ Rainald ad an 1343. §. 24. desiring the Term to be prolonged unto the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin or the 8 of September That in the mean while the Earl of Montford who in the beginning of the Wars of Bretagne had been taken Prisoner at Nantes might be restored to his Liberty and that King David of Scotland might be admonished to keep the Truce Religiously But whatever King Edwards Meaning hereby was the Pope being jealous that he had his thoughts upon War b Tem. 3. Secr. Epist 718. extat etiam in M.S. Arch. Vat. de rebus transmarin p. 63. Odoric Raynald ad an 1344. § 4. wrote earnestly unto him in the beginning of this Year taking occasion from the late Winning of Smyrna from the Turks by the Christians to exhort him to turn his victorious Arms against the Enemies of Christendom where he should find such matter for his Sword as would crown his Name with Immortal Honour And that he would seriously resolve on Peace with France in order to distress the Pagans Dat. Avin Kal. Februarii Ano. Pontificatûs nostri III. To the same purpose also he wrote to the French King who according to the First Agreement made in the late Truce sent his Ambassadors to the Court of Rome at Avignion where they were punctually met by King Edwards Commissioners c Ashmole's Garter p. 653. Walsingh hist p. 153 Holinshead p. 921. who were Hugh le Despenser or Spencer Lord of Glamorgan Ralph Lord Stafford William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln Sr. William Trussel and Andrew Hufford a Civilian Their Commission bearing Date 20 Maii gave them Authority to treat in Presence of the Pope not as a Judge but private Person and Friend to both Parties with the Agents of his Cousin the Lord Philip de Valois upon the King 's Right to the Crown of France as also upon whatsoever Dominions Dignities Honours Lands Possessions Places and Rights appertained to Him concerning which any Controversie had risen between them or was like to arise And d Ashmole ibid. on the 19 of August following another Commission issued forth containing the same Powers to Henry of Lancaster Earl of Darby Thomas de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Robert de Vfford Earl of Suffolk Hugh le Despenser Lord of Glamorgan Ralph de Nevil Bartholomew de Burghersh John le Grey de Ruthyn Reginald de Cobham and Thomas de Bradestan Barons of the Realm William de Norwich Dean of Lincoln John de Hufford Archdeacon of Ely Robert Herward Archdeacon of Taunton and Andrew de Hufford Professor of the Civil Law or to any 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 or 3 of them who were to treat before his Holiness of the King their Master 's Right to the Crown of France not as before a Judge but only as a Private Person and Common Friend not in Form or Judicial Manner of Proceeding Here again was the Kings Right stated by the English before the Pope and several Cardinals with all the Arguments e § Dr. Stillingfleet's M. S. n. 8. which may be seen at large in the M.S. of the Reverend and Learned Dean of St. Paul's at the Title De jure titulo Regis Angliae ad Coronam Regnum Franciae Primò factum praesupponitur sequuntur Rationes Argumenta pro utrique Parte It begins thus Philippus Filius sancti Lodovici Rex Francorum genuit Philippum dictum Pulchrum Carolum de Valois Eidem Philippo filio sancti Lodovici successit in Regno Philippus Pulcher ipsius Primogenitus qui decessit relictu tribus Filtis videlicet Lodovico Philippo Carolo unâ Filiâ videlicet Dominâ Isabellâ Reginâ Angliae quae vivente Patre suo peperit Dominum Edvardum tunc Regem Angliae c. And so it goes on propounding Arguments and solving Objections of all sorts by the Laws of the Tables by Reason by Example and Scripture but because most of these things have been touched before we shall only instance a little in the Objection of his Homage done to the King of France and in the Famous Question of the Salique Law which latter was yet little on either Side insisted on in those days Nec Homagium quod fecit Rex Angliae Possessori Regni Franciae sibi nocebit quia prastitit Homagium ut Dux Aquitaniae ergo si veniat alio jure ut proximier Masculus in gradu non ut Dux sibi non nocebit Quia dicitur in Textu ei qui alio jure venit quà m eo quod amisit non nocet id quod perdidit sed prodest id quod habet c. Praetereà praestitit Homagium ut Ducatum
up to King Edward of England after it had endured a Siege of Eleven Moneths within three days viz. from the b Knighten p. 2595. n. 2â seventh of September 1346 to the 4 of August MCCCXLVII which was a Saturday and the Day that King Edward received the Keys Then the King spake to the Lord Walter Manny and the two Marshals of his Host the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Stafford afterwards Earl of Stafford saying Here Sirs take you the Keys of the Town and Castle and go and take Possession thereof in my Name and lay all the Knights and Esquires that be there in Prison but as for the Common Souldiers that came thither only for hire turn them all out of the Town as also after they are well refreshed all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children For I intend to Repeople the Town only with Englishmen So these three Lords with an 100 Men of Arms went and took Possession of Calais and secured in Prison the Bodies of Sr. John of Vienna the chief Captain Sr. John Surry Sr. Barton de Belborn and other Officers of the Garrison after which they commanded all the Souldiers to bring together their Harness into the Town-Hall where they laid it all together on an heap for they were not permitted to bear any Armour away Now the King of his wonted Goodness had already c Knighton p. 2595 ãâã 10. sent store of Victuals into the Town to refresh the poor Commons therewith But they were so hungry and afflicted and wasted with Famine that either thrô too much Greediness they surfeited or thrô too much Weakness were unable to digest so that by the next day at night there died of them more than 300 Persons As for the rest the King commanded them d Stow p. 244. ex Tho. de la Mere c. to be safely conveyed to the Castle of Guisnes within the French Pale when they had been refreshed with the Kings Alms and were grown strong enough to endure Travail But the most part of them thought themselves not secure e Frois c. 147. till they were got to St. Omers Thus all manner of People were turned out of the Town f Frois ibid. except one Priest and two other ancient Men who understood the Customs Laws and Ordinances of the Place and how to point out and assign the Lands that lay about the Town and the several Inheritances as they had been divided before And when all things were duely prepared for the Kings Reception he mounted his Great Horse and rode into Calais with a Triumphant noise of Trumpets Clarions and Tabours He took up his Lodgings in the Castle where he lay more than a Month all the while Fortifying and setling Affairs both there and in the Town untill g Frois ibid. his Queen was deliver'd of a Fair Daughter called Margaret of Calais who was afterwards married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was Son of Laurence Hastings now living but she died before the said John her Husband without Issue both he and she being at that time but very young Speeds h Speed p. 580. §. 105. Mistake is here to be corrected who makes Queen Philippa to be big with Child of this Infant at the Battle of Durham and Walsingham i Walsing bist p. 15â n. 3. also who fixes the time too forward by several Days making the Child to be born on the III of the Kalends of August when as the Town of Calais wherein she was born was not won till the iv of August Nor is Mr. k Sandford's Geneal Hâst c. p. 179. Sandford to be omitted who makes the Place of her Birth to be Windsor without any Authority but Conjecture While the King of England tarried thus at Calais he gave many fair Houses in that Town to the Lord Walter Manny to the Earl of Warwick to the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Bartholomew Burwash who l Dugd. 2 Vâl. p. 35. also obtain'd of the King in consideration of his Services a Grant of the Marriage of one of the Sisters and Heirs of Edward St. John Son and Heir of Hugh St. John deceased and his Son Sr. Bartholomew the Younger among other things obtain'd in recompence of his Services in the Wars a Grant of the Lands of John Louvaine deceased till his Heir Nicolas Louvaine then the Kings Ward should be of full Age. And besides we find that the King gave to all his great Lords vast Allowances for their several Retinues during this Siege as particularly to the Earl of Warwick for three m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Bannerets 61 Knights 106 Esquires and 154 Archers on Horseback the Summ of 1366 l. 11 s. and 8 d. And yet Others had far greater Retinues as Henry Earl of Darby n Knighton p. 2596. n. 10. who had 30 Bannerets 800 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers and kept such Hospitality in the Camp that he expended dayly an 100 l. and 8 or 9 Marks So that after the Truce it appeared by Computation that he had spent above 17000 l. Sterling out of his own Purse beside the Wages allow'd him by the King. All which Services were graciously consider'd by the King his Master who bestowed now on him and other Lords a competent Portion of Houses they never built and of Lands they never purchased that so they might be obliged to People and defend the Town Besides all which he design'd upon his return into England to send out of London 36 Substantial Citizens with their Wives and Families to dwell in Calais as he afterwards did but the greater part of the Inhabitants came out of Kent And thus from that time Calais became a perfect Colony of Englishmen Now on the Day o 9 Aâgâlli before St. Laurence while Order was taking to preserve the Town of Calais in the English Hands there p Knighton p. 2595. n. 60. happened in the English Camp before the Town a sad and grievous Mischance of sudden Fire which devoured the Tents and Pavilions without Remedy they being for the most part made of strong Timber But this was remarkable that as the fire came near the Kings Tent as if not willing or not daring to do any harm there it flew over among other Tents consuming and destroying Victuals Wine Gold and Silver things of pleasure and necessity Bows and Arrows and other Warlike Ammunition So that the King was fain to send into England for a fresh Supply Besides there came thither about the same time an Army of q Knighton ibid. n. 10. c. 60000 Flemings to assist King Edward supposing that the King of France was still there and that a Battle would ensue between the two Kings He for his part tho now he had no need of them having already taken the Town yet by the great Gifts he bestow'd among the Captains and other Officers and the liberal Donations he gave to the Souldiers
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f ãâ¦ã 3. §. 3. ãâ¦ã ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâe which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martââ 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
making his Complaint that Sr. John to build this House had pulled down many small ones which paid him Tithes the King ordained that House to pay the Parson in lieu thereof 40 s. per annum for ever On the x Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. c. 28 of the said Month died the Noble and Valiant Lord Thomas Holland Knight also of the Garter and in Right of his Wife Earl of Kent and Lord Wake thô it doth not appear that ever he had any Creation to that Dignity His Wife was that celebrated Beauty of the Age Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent Daughter of Edmund Plantagenet Sirnamed of Woodstock Earl of Kent and after the Death of her two Brothers Edmund and John who died successively without Issue Countess of Kent But Common Historians call her Countess of Salisbury the small Foundation whereof We shall now examine This Lord Thomas Holland y Liber Islep dict in Arch. Cantuar. Bibl. Vid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. had first made a Contract with her upon which as he afterwards alledged Carnal Knowledge did ensue Whereupon understanding while he was in France that William the second Earl of Salisbury had a purpose to Wed her by his Petition to Pope Clement VI he complain'd of this injurious Design fairly representing his own Precontract and the knowledge he thereupon had of her But that for all this the said Earl taking Advantage of his Absence in Foreign Parts had made a second Contract with her and unjustly detain'd her from him At this his Holiness having sully discussed the Matter gave Sentence for him and accordingly he enjoy'd her the Earl of Salisbury as it seems acquiescing therein by an after Matriage z Catal. Honor. p. 1044. with Elizabeth second Daughter of John Lord Mohun of Dunstor Castle By this Princely Paragon he left behind him a Catal. Honor. p. 765. two Sons Thomas Holland Earl of Kent who lived many Years after John Holland in time Earl of Huntington and Duke of Excester and a Daughter Maud first Wife of Peter Courtney Nephew of Hugh Courtney first Earl of Devonshire and after his decease Married to Valeran Earl of St. Paul. The Incomparable Widow Mother of these Children was now about two and Thirty Years of Age but her Vertues were so singular and her Charms so strong and attractive that still she made shift to Captive no less a Man than him that had taken King John Prisoner for the Black-Prince took her to Wife the Year following as in due place We shall see At this time b Odor Rainal ad an 1360. §. 13. Hugh King of Cyprus died leaving his Kingdom and the Defence thereof to his Son Peter Hugh the Son of an Elder Son Guy being put by This King Peter was a Man of great Valour and Fortune in the Wars against the Saracens of whom We shall shortly have an occasion to take some Notice CHAPTER the SEVENTH AN. DOM. 1361. An. Regni Angliae XXXV The CONTENTS I. King Edward causes all his Lords and Prelates to swear to uphold the Peace and sends Ambassadors to the Pope for a confirmation of all II. The manner of King John's Reception at Paris after his long Imprisonment III. The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of King Edward's Government IV. King Edward being put in Possession of all the Lands which were to fall to him by the Treaty makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in those parts the said Lords Praise and Character V. The English Garrisons deliver'd up to the French King many of the common Souldiers whereof joyning together turn Robbers They begin to do much mischief about Champaigne and Burgundy VI. King John sends against them the Lord James of Bourbon whom they overthrow VII Their formidable Progress the Pope fearing their Insolence procures them to be drawn off into Italy VIII A second Great Plague in England the strange Prodigies forerunning it It s excessive Fury it sweeps away the Good Duke of Lancaster the Lord John Moubray and Three other Lords with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh IX The Black-Prince Marries the Lady Joan Countess of Kent X. Prince Lionel made the Kings Lieutenant of Ireland with his Behaviour in that Place XI King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign I. KING Edward of England a Walsing hist p. 170. n. 40. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 231. having kept his Christmass in great Splendor at Woodstock near Oxford went after the Holydays to his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him at Westminster on the b Stow p. 264. 24th of January Where he communicated unto the Three Estates all the Articles and the whole Process of the Peace which he had made with the King of France Both Houses were entirely satisfied with the whole Affair and on the last of January the Archbishop of Canterbury with great Solemnity celebrated the Mass of the Holy Trinity returning Thanks to Almighty God in which Service there was this small but comprehensive Scripture c 2 Cor. c. 13. v. 11 c. Brethren rejoyce be Perfect be of good Comfort be of one Mind live in Peace And the God of Love and Peace shall be with you The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Ghost be with you all Amen After Mass the King and his Sons standing up in presence of the French Hostages Torches being lighted and Crosses held over the Eucharist and Missale all those of the Peers who had not sworn already to keep the Peace took now their Oath which also they read from Papers or Scrolls written and signed with their own Hands the Archbishop beginning thus viz. We Simon Archbishop of Canterbury do swear upon the Holy Body of God and his Holy Gospel firmly as much as in Vs lies to keep the Peace and Concord agreed on between the two Kings and to do nothing contrary thereto This being done every Man as he had taken the Oath gave up his Paper to the Kings Notaries to be laid up as a Witness to Posterity After the same Method King John made his Lords and Estates of Parliament to swear to uphold the said Peace to their Power and thereupon sent his Ambassadors to the Pope for his Apostolical Sanction and surer confirmation thereof As also King Edward did the like on his part and among his Ambassadors We find the Lord Guy d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. Brian to be One. And thus at last was this Peace as fully established and as strongly bound on Earth as Humane Wisdom or Authority could Devise or secure II. But we should say something more particularly of the French King and his Affairs We waited on him from Calais to Boulogne and there left him thô he did not stay long in that place for in the e Frois c. 214. beginning
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. Odâr 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
the King was resolved to execute the Statute of Apparel and therefore charged them all to promote the same After which he demanded of both Houses whether they would have such Matters as they agreed on to be by way of Ordinance or of Statute they answer'd by way of Ordinance that they might amend the same at their Pleasure and so it was done Then the King thanked them for their Pains taken and so dismist them for that time VII A Convocation x Regist Arch. Cant. Simon Islip fol. 186. b. Selden's Titl Honor. c. 5. § 43. p. 815. of the Province of Canterbury being held this Year under Archbishop Islip the Holy-days were by a Canon retrenched to a far less Number than before which indeed amounted to few more than We now observe in England Excepting to particular places the Days of Dedication of Churches and the Saints days Patrons thereof and also the Double Festival of y Lindâood de Feriis C. eâ Scriptur is St. George liberty being left to Work on any other Saints Days VIII This Year z Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. departed this Life the Fair young Lady Elizabeth Dutchess of Clarence leaving one only Daughter behind her by Duke Lionel her Husband called Philippa who afterwards was Married to Edmund Mortimer Third Earl of March Lord and Baron of Wigmore Trim Clare and Connaught as also of the Lordship and Town of Ludlow By him She had Roger Mortimer Fourth Earl of March whose Son Edmund dying without Issue his Daughter Anne was Married to Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge Son to Edmund Langley Duke of York Fifth Son of King Edward the Third and so convey'd her Title to her Son Richard Duke of York who thereupon openly challenged the Crown of King Henry the Sixth the Son of Henry the Fifth the Son of Henry the Fourth the Son of John of Gaunt King Edwards Fourth Son when as by the Mothers side himself was the Son and Her of Anne Daughter and Heir of Roger Mortimer Son and Heir of Edmund Mortimer by the Lady Philippa sole Daughter and Heiress of Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence King Edward's Third Son. And thô this Richard failed in the attempt yet his Son Edward afterwards call'd the Fourth obtain'd the point having destroy'd the House of John of Gaunt in the Third Generation after his Son Henry of Bolingbroke had depos'd King Richard the Second by Rebellion King Edward solemnized the Funerals of this great Dutchess of Clarence and a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. gave Command to the Keeper of his great Wardrobe to deliver out Four Cloths of Gold Baudekin or Tinsell and Nine of Baudekin of Lucca to be offer'd for himself and his Queen at her Funeral Her Body b Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was solemnly interred in the Chancel of the Augustine Fryers at Clare in Suffolk Queen Philippa who together with the Lady Catherine Countess of Warwick and Daughter to Roger Mortimer First Earl of March had stood her Godmother took her young Daughter Philippa into her Care and Protection She being then in the Eighth Year of her Age. This Year also Edward Bailiol who was in his time King of Scotland till he resign'd his Title to King Edward of England c Knighton p. 2627. n 50. departed this Life at Doncaster in Yorkshire without Issue being the last of the Family of John Bailiol So that hereby there was no pretence left to any to disturb the Then-uncontroverted Right of David Bruce King of Scotland and consequently of Prince Robert Stuart who being the Eldest Son of King David's Eldest Sister succeeded him in the Kingdom upon King David's Dying also without Issue as we shall see about Ten Years hence On the d Gedw Catal. Bps p. 371. Walsing hist p. 173. Dagd Warw. p. 557. Fourteenth of August Dr. Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells departed this Life being succeeded by Dr. John Bernet who was translated thither from Worcester and William Wittlesey Bishop of Rochester supply'd his place at Worcester whose vacant See was filled by Dr. Thomas Trillick Dean of St. Pauls London IX About this time e Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. one Walter Winkeburne was for some Capital crime or other so violently prosecuted by one of the Knights Hospitallers that whether Guilty or no he received Judgment to be Hanged and Hanged he was Being after such a time cut down as he was carried for Dead to be laid in the Church-yard of St. Sepulchers at Leicester he began to revive in the Cart and being thereupon carried for safeguard into the Church was there perfectly recover'd and carefully watched by the Clergy of Leicester lest the Sheriff should take him away to hang him again while some were sent to tell the King who was then in those Parts of the Adventure and to beg his Charter of pardon since the Person had in a manner satisfied the Law and that his miraculous Recovery might seem no bad Argument of his Innocency Accordingly King Edward presently after granted him his Charter of pardon in the Abbey of Leicester saying these Words which Knighton affirms that himself heard from him Since God hath given him Life I 'll give him my Charter Such another Case happen'd at London in my Time about the Year 1670 upon the Body of one Savage an hopefull young Man who gave great testimony of his Repentance both before and at the place of Execution After he had hung a full Half Hour his Body being granted to his Friends for Burial they perceiving some signs of Life to remain put him into a warm Bed and at last perfectly recover'd him thô by his own Confession he had been guilty of the Murther and Robbery laid to his Charge But he had not such Fortune as this Walter Winkeburne for before King Charles the Second could be made acquainted with the Accident the Sheriff having an inkling of the matter by the indiscretion of his Friends came and took him away to the Gallows again where finally he died X. In this Season either because the Wars being now ended those who had been Souldiers had rather do any thing than return to their former Occupations or thrô relaxation of Discipline there Å¿ Knighton p. 2628. n. 10 c. arose Swarms of Theeves and High-way Men in several parts of England who set upon Travellers and brake up Houses and robbed Churches and the Shrines of Saints and carried away the more pretious Reliques and all the Rich Offerings Particularly they robbed the Abbey of Thornton in Leicestershire and took away the Image of our Lady of Mirivale out of her Chappel and the Image of our Lady of Monks-Kirkby and the like they did in many other places thô most of the Authors were taken and hanged Some of these People stole away the Head of St. Hugh formerly Bishop of Lincoln which after they had spoiled it of all the Gold Silver and precious Stones belonging unto it they
Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Skipworth another of his Justices to be arrested and imprison'd on the account of many notorious Enormities which he understood they had committed against Law and Justice Nor could they redeem themselves from Prison without refunding to the King many large Sums of Money which by Injustice they had got from others But for ever after they were secluded both their Places and his Favour XI We have frequently heretofore mention'd the great Diligence which Peter King of Cyprus us'd in travelling to most Courts in Europe in Order to raise a Power sufficient to stem the furious Tide of Pagan Insolence which threatned a Bloody Inundation to all Christendom Now therefore being pretty well furnish'd with Valiant Souldiers of several Nations after that by the Pope's means he had made a Peace with Genoa which had some resentments against him u Philippus è Mazeriis c. 15. c. in Vità Becti Petri Thomx âpud Bâllând Tân 2. XXIX Januar. he went from Venice to Rhodes where he was Magnificently received by the Master of the Hospital and whither he had sent before many Ships laden with Armed Men and about 500 good Horses for the War. He had some Months before wrote to his own Brother the Prince of Antioch his Lieutenant in the Kingdom of Cyprus that having left a sufficient strength at home he would by such a time send an Army of his Realm of Cyprus to meet him at Rhodes which was done For the King had been but a little while in that Island when an Army of Cyprus came thither namely sixty sail one with another laden with Men of Arms Arrows Crossbows and other Weapons in good quantity to which the Master of the Hospital added an hundred chosen Knights of his Order and commanded his Gallies to be fitted up And all the while St. Peter Thomas Patriarch of Constantinople the Pope's Legate who had an extraordinary Zeal for the Work encouraged the King and his Souldiers and blessed them and pray'd and preach'd and signed them with the Cross and heard Confessions and absolved and reconciled Sinners one while labouring in the Kings Council another while among the Mariners and poor People now among the Lords and Knights and the Master of Rhodes and now again with the Common Souldiers in great humility Now he visited the sick and presently he fell to pacifying of Rumors sometimes he conversed with the English sometimes with the Cypriotes Venetians French Spaniards and Germans but always he exhorted to Unity and Charity to Faith and Courage and to the War of God And every Christian Soul in this small Army was by this Holy Legate a few days before they left Rhodes admitted to the Sacrament of Gods Body and strengthned with Divine Power by feeding on their Redeemer whose Cross they were going to advance At the time of their Departure from Rhodes the King in secret Council proposed to invade the Soldan of Babylon who usurped the Holy City of Jerusalem and his Inheritance not in the Tail but in the Head and to Steer his Course towards Alexandria and so taking leave of the Grand Master he went on board his Galley with a Fleet consisting of more than an 100 Vessels of all sorts above 10000 good Souldiers and about 1400 Nobles and Men of Arms with their Horses besides Mariners Being come to the Haven of Alexandria after about an hours resistance made by the Saracens they gain'd Land and soon after put all their Enemies to flight and made them retire into the City in great Confusion and shut their Gates But their Hearts were so lost that upon the Christians approach to the Walls and setting fire to their Gates they fled away towards Grand Cairo or New-Babylon Wherefore the City of Alexandria was taken by the Christians on the Fourth of October 1365 about Nine of the Clock in the Morning and all the Pagans found therein put to the Sword. But many of these Christians being now satiated with spoil began forthwith to cool in their Devotion and so were for leaving the City now it was rifled nor could the King of Cyprus nor the Zealous Legate with all their Endeavours prevail with them to the Contrary wherefore upon News of the Soldan's Arrival with the Prince of Assyria and a Mighty Army who were coming to relieve the City on the Fourth or Fifth day after he had won it he was forced to leave it to his great Grief The occasion of which dishonourable Departure is by the Legate in his x Eâtant apud Odor Rainal ad hânc an § 20 Letters attributed to the English and to their Leader and by y Petrarch l. 8. Senil Fp. 8. l. 13. âp 2. Petrarch to the Transalpine Auxiliaries in General who he says being always better at Enterprising than at Compleating forsook the King in the midst of a most Glorious Work and because they follow'd him not for Devotion but for Gain when they had laden themselves with spoils went away and being rendred Masters of their Greedy desire made him fail of his Godly Design The Prosecution of this Matter may be seen at large in the foremention'd Philip è Mazeriis who was himself present in this Expedition and also in z Odor Rainal ad ãâã §. 18. ad §. 22. Vid. Pan ãâã 1. V 3. Odoricus Rainaldus We shall only add that the Englishmen and Gascogners who had been at the taking of Alexandria upon a Walsing ââst p. 174. n 30. Speed p. 584. §. 129. their return into England and Aquitaine brought many rich pieces of Cloth of Gold Velvets and Precious Stones as witnesses of their Success in those parts XII It is said by some b Therton's Nottinghamshire p. 116. that John Lord Roos after this Expedition died at Paphos in the Island of Cyprus leaving no Issue behind him by his Wife the Lady Mary de Orrebe So that his Brother William succeeded in his Honours Thô to say the Truth this Lord John was not Born till this Year For Sr. William Dugdale shews c Dugd. 1 Vol. Baren p. 551. that his Death happen'd about 28 Years after this viz. in the Seventeenth of Richard the Second at which time he was but d For 18 years old Ano. 7. Rich. 2. id Dugd. ibid. p. 550. ex Esc 7. R. 2. n. 68. 28 Years of Age. Notwithstanding I grant that about this time as e Thoroton Nottingh p. 455. Thoroton says there died the Lord Thomas Furnival Sirnamed the Hasty leaving no Issue behind him whereupon he was succeeded by his Brother William Lord Furnival Who about 17 Years after died also leaving behind only One Daughter Joan. Her Sr. Thomas Nevile Brother to Ralph Earl of Westmorland and Treasurer of England taking to Wife became in her Right Lord Furnival But here again I am fain to correct Thorton's many mistakes by comparing him f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 727. with a more accurate and
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 âanford 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 Ashmâle'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
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
Skirmishes at the Barriers A Remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne intending to return to the Siege before Paris at a better season The Great Miseries of France whereby the Dauphin finds himself obliged to make certain Offers to King Edward for Peace The King being moved by a strange Tempest accepts the French Offers A Treaty ensues A Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny The two Eldest Sons of England and France sworn to uphold the Peace King Edward returns for England and sends King John over to Calais The Pope quickens him to finish the Peace which he does The Copies of both the Kings Letters The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides Other things relating to the Consummation of the Peace Endeavours to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne The Mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John goes to Boulogne King Edward returns to England The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton also of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Kent of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of the King of Cyprus From p. 575. to p. 607. Chap. VII The Methods of the two Kings to establish the Peace King John's Reception at Paris The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of the English Government King Edward makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in Aquitaine The said Lord's Praise and Character The Disbanded Souldiers turn Robbers and overthrow the Lord James of Bourbon The Pope gets them to be drawn off into Italy A second Plague in England The Death of the Good Duke of Lancaster of the Lord John Moubray and others with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh The Black-Prince Marries the Countess of Kent Prince Lionel made Lieutenant of Ireland with his behaviour there King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign From p. 608. to p. 619. Chap. VIII Ambassadors from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus entertain'd by the King with Justs and Tourneaments King Edward Creates his Son the Black-Prince Prince of Aquitaine The Copy of his Charter The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophesie concerning King Edward's immediate Successor The Prince his Reception in Aquitaine He settles his Court at Bourdeaux A Parliament at Westminster The Jubilee of King Edward's Age. He Creates his Son Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge His Acts of Grace to all his Subjects He holds a Solemn Hunting The Lord Fauconberg dies Sr. John Copland Murther'd From p. 620. to p. 626. Chap. IX King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of that County and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dies Urban V succeeds The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed The King of France being the Head thereof The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour The Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War. The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes The Duke of Anjou being one of the French Hostages makes an Escape The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edward's answer to the King of Cyprus when he ask'd his Company to the Holy War. A Parliament at Westminster A Convocation which retrenches the Excessive Number of Holy Days The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells A Man who after Execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. The King of Cyprus rob'd King David of Scotland comes into England A long and hard Frost From p. 626. to p. 633. Chap. X. King John comes into England King Edward welcomes Him. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at once The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitaine King John sickens and dies in England The King of Navarre stirs again Sr. Bertram of Clequin sent for to oppose him A Story of his Original He takes Mante and Meulan by stratagem The King of Navarre sends the Captal of Busche against Him. Sr. Bertram reinforced The Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville King John's Funeral Rights performed in England His Body buried in France A Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy The Famous Battle of COCHEREL wherein the Captal of Busche is overthrown and taken Prisoner by Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Guy of Granville redeems his Father by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims He makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Sr. Bertram of Clequin buys the Castle of Rolebois The Duke of Burgundy sent to reduce the rest The Army divided Acts separately Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois A Party of his surprises la Charité The Duke takes in several Places Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do as they please The Duke of Burgundy goes to oppose the Earl of Monbelliard La Charité besieged and taken From p. 634. to p. 650. Chap. XI The King of France helps Charles of Blois and the King of England John of Monford both who prepare for Battle The French Order their Men. The Lord John Chandos orders the English and gives a Reserve to Sr. Hugh Calverley The Lord of Beaumanoir obtains a short Truce in order to an Agreement The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty The Famous Battle of AURAY in Bretagne with the Death of Charles of Blois and the Number of the slain and Prisoners on both sides Earl Monford weeps over Charles his Body the Character and Praise of the said Charles Earl Monford gives a Truce to the Country and returns to the Siege of Auray which he soon takes A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge is dash'd by the French King's subtlety The Christians obtain a Cadmaean Victory against the Turks From p. 651. to p. 661. Chap. XII John of Monford reduces all Bretagne With King Edward's leave he holds the Dukedom of the French King. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre The Captal of Busche set at Liberty Is tempted to renounce the English Interest in vain The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre A Parliament at Westminster King Edward's Buildings and Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity-College The Pope demands King John's Fee-Farm Rent King Edward refers the Matter to his Parliament The Lady Isabella Daughter to the King given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy The King punishes sundry of his Judges for Male-Administration The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but leaves it again Dr. Thoroton twice corrected The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuaniâ's Son to
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
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
firm to the Young King his Nephew as the Cause for which he died shews that his Heart was never false to the Old King his Brother Yet for all this it is said that he was the less lamented r Walsin Hypod. p. 111. n. 40. Stow p. 229. b. because his Servants were very oppressive to the Commons and many great Disorders were allowed in his Family Certainly 't is not enough for a Man of High Degree to do well himself but to take Care that those who are under him do so too Since he is not only lyable to be censur'd for their Miscarriages in this World but also in some measure to answer for them in that which is to come He left behind him ſ Sandford Geneal Hist p. 212 Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 94. Catal. Honor. p. 764. inter se cellatis by his Lady Margaret Sister of Thomas Lord Wake of Lydel Four Young Children two Sons Edmund and John who were both soon after restor'd in Blood but dy'd successively without Issue and two Daughters Margaret who was afterwards married to Amaneus Eldest Son to the Lord Bernard de la Brett or Albret of Gascoigne and the other a little Female Infant scarce then two Years old named Joan who afterwards became the Paragon of her whole Sex for Exquisite Beauty Modesty and Discretion and upon the Death of both her Brothers becoming the Sole Heiress of all her Fathers Possessions was commonly called by way of Eminence the Fair Countess of Kent of whom more hereafter From the foregoing Story we may observe how early in this Kingdom Malicious Statesmen who sought the Ruine of those who faithfully interpos'd to hinder their Ambitious Designs made use of this now more-common trick of buzzing Sham-plots into their Princes Ears Which however false and improbable would yet never want Evidences to make out some plausible Circumstances IV. And thus at last happily We have past over the less Gratefull Part of this King's Reign wherein we have beheld him not as he was in himself Bright and Vigorous but as he was misrepresented by those who under his Name did but Eclipse and darken his Royal Authority Now that all things might succeed the better the Hopefull young King resolves to begin with Heaven and remembring that in his former Troubles during his Fathers Reign or in his late Danger at Amiens when he narrowly escap'd being seiz'd upon by the French King he had made t Stow p. 230. b. Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 362. Walsing hist p. 112. Knighton p. 2555. Joh. Tinem fol. 229. a Vow in Devotion to visit some Holy Places in France he now sets himself about performing his Vow Leaving therefore his Brother John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Protector of the Realm on Thursday in Easter-week u G. Lit. Dom. Pascha 8 April vid Labb Chro. Techn being the 12 of April he adventur'd privately to pass the Sea in the Company of John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and his Valiant and Loyal Servant William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury disguised like Merchants the whole number amounting but to Fifteen Persons It was a bold not to say a rash undertaking for a King to expose his Person so lightly if it is Lawfull to term any thing Light that proceeds from a Mind so Religiously affected especially into a Country so jealous of his Fortune and where he had before been publiquely seen more than once But the Strength of his Devotion encourag'd him to it and the Success that followed makes it in him warrantable I say in him For no exact Rules can be prescrib'd to such Mighty over-working Spirits and Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar thô they have committed many seeming-Rash and Indiscreet Actions I know not who dare blame or censure them for it Our King accordingly soon Returns safe and with his whole Company when immediately at Dertford in Kent he holds a Great and Solemn Tourneament thereby to Exercise his Nobles to delight in Arms. Thus Early did this Monarch lay his Foundation by Piety and Industry on which afterwards he Reared so many Glorious Trophies of Victory But I am well aware that there is another Account of the Reasons which induc'd the King to cross the Seas at this time which because it is very probable I shall here also deliver King Edward as we said before delaying beyond the time prefix'd to send that Declaration of his Homage for it was not yet dispatch'd away by the French Ambassadors till May in this Year King Philip caused him x Du Chesne p. 639. c. ex Monsieur du Tillet c. again to be summon'd and after some Motions and Hostility done by the English who were Rendezvous'd at Sainctes the chief City of Saintogne in Aquitain he sent his Brother the Lord Charles of Valois Earl of Alenson who laid Siege before the Town Which King Edward understanding began to talk of Peace to the obtaining whereof he sent his Ambassadors into France with whom this Agreement was made on the Ninth of March at Paris viz. I. That King Philip shall grant a full Repeal of Banishment to the Principal Authors of the Motions of Guienne named in the Treaty of the Year One thousand three Hundred Twenty and six according to the Promise made by his Predecessor Charles the Fair. II. That the Treaties preceding which import That those who were banish'd by the King of France or his Court should not be received nor concealed in Guienne should be kept inviolably That even without the approbation of King Edward the Seneschals of France should have Power notwithstanding to Banish his Officers and Ministers for Faults committed in their Precincts as by right of Soveraignty the King of France may and doth especially protest that all the Liberties of which the said Seneschals have been in Possession before this Treaty shall be conserved unto them accordingly III. That as to the Sums of sixty Thousand pounds on the one part and of fifty Thousand Marks Sterling on the other which King Edward oweth to King Philip Reason shall be done by Payment or Compensation IV. That the Quality of the Homages of the Dutchy of Guienne and of the Earldoms of Ponthieu and Monstroile shall be declared to be Liege and the Form thereof expressed which shall be Renewed on every Change and the Kings shall promise to keep the Treaties of Peace made by their y Ibi malè ut opiner par leurs Successeurs Predecessors V. That the Castles of St. Croix Madailhem Puipines and du Bourdet shall be demolish'd according to the Form prescrib'd by Robert Bertrand Marshal of France and that the other Points of the Treaties remaining to be perfected shall be respectively accomplished VI. That the Siege held by the Earl of Alenson before the Town of Sainctes shall be raised as soon as King Edward shall have Ratified the present Accord the mean while that those who are culpable in the
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. Râb 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 Stâw 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
in the late Rebellion humbly prayeth to be restored to his Blood and to the Lands and Goods of his Father considering that the said Earl his Father had been put to Death without being Tryed by his Peers according to the Law and Tenour of Magna Charta But because the said Attaindure was z An. Reg. 2. Ed. 3. afterwards confirmed by Parliament at Northampton the said Richard Corrects his Former Petition and prayeth to be Restored of the King 's meer Grace and Bounty Whereupon by the King he was accordingly Restored together with the Castle of Arundel which had been given to Edmund Late Earl of Kent upon promise by him made to pay the Value of the said Castle to Edmund Son of the Late Earl of Kent the said Earl Richard paying the usual Rents to the Crown and saving to the King all such Additional Lands as were too lavishly given to the Late Earl of Arundel by King Edward the Second Nor was the Young King at this time unmindfull of those whose faithfull Friendship had thus asserted his Royal Prerogative and deliver'd him from the over-awing Tyranny of his Enemies For in this Parliament a M.S. §. 15. Sr Rob. Cotton he gave to the Lord William Montagu for his Loyal Service against the Late Earl of March and his Favourers the general Entail of a Thousand Pounds per annum and for one Thousand Marks thereof both the Castle Town and Mannor of Denbigh and the Cantreds of Roos Rewyinoc and Kaermer with the Commot of Dinmal and the Appurtenances in North Wales all late belonging to Roger Earl of March Moreover he granted unto him the Castle of Shireburne in Dorsetshire with the Customs of Ale and Beer in that place On the like Consideration b §. 16. c. he granted unto Sr. Edward Bohun who was Vice-constable under his Eldest Brother the Earl of Essex and prov'd the first occasion of Broaching this Matter as well as a Resolute Assistant in it four hundred Marks per annum in general Entail Together c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. with the Lordships of Vphavene and Sende in Wiltshire to hold to himself and the Heirs Male of his Body Lawfully begotten Further at the same time he gave unto Sr. Robert Hufford there Hundred Marks in Special Entail d Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. with a Grant of the Mannors of Causton and Fakenhambden in Fee besides a Grant for Life of the Town and Castle of Orford in Suffolk as also another in Tail Special of the Mannors of Gravesend in Kent Burgh and Coffesey in Norfolk and two parts of the Mannor of Gesting-thorp in Essex Lastly to Sr. John Nevil e §. 16. p. 12. of Horneby he granted 200 Marks in Tail Special and to others other Rewards proportionably In a Plea of the Crown holden before the King this Parliament f M. S. ibid. 4.12 § 17. 18. Sr Rob. Cotton c. Thomas Lord Barkley in whose Castle as we shew'd before the Old King had been Murder'd was Arraign'd for the Death of the said King for g Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. that the said King had been committed by Henry Earl of Lancaster to the Custody of the said Thomas Lord Barkley with an allowance of five Pounds per diem for his Expences that notwithstanding soon after he was inhumanly Murder'd in the said Castle To which the said Thomas saith that being forced to Resign his Castle and Charge to John Lord Maltravers and to Thomas Gournay Knight he retired to his Mannor House at Bradley that at the time of the Death of the said King he lay sick at Bradley and was not within the Castle of Barkley nor was witting nor consenting to the Death of the said King and so he put himself upon the Tryal of Twelve Knights his Peers whose Names are there Recorded and by whom the said Sr. Thomas was found not Guilty he not having fled nor withdrawn himself thereupon But only that he had Resign'd his Castle upon peremptory Command to Sr. Thomas Gournay and Sr. William Ogle who then and there did Murder the said King Edward the Second Upon all which thô he was acquitted in Parliament yet there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 357. are some Circumstances which make it very suspicious that he was at least a Favourer of the Action as his Conniving at Gournay therein and sheltering him privately for a while after Several others were now Restored to their Lands and released of those Forfeitures imposed on them by the Late Earl of March as Sr. i M.S. p. 13. §. 19. Ebulo le Strange of Knoking and his Lady Alice who was Daughter to Henry Lascey once Earl of Lincoln and first Wife to Thomas Late Earl of Lancaster these had Lands Restored to them to the Yearly Value of 1200 Marks And Sr. William k §. 20. Lord Zouch of Mortimer with his Lady Eleanor was Restored to his Lands in Glamorgan or Morganow in Wales For avoiding other Inconveniences that might arise from private Distastes the King enjoyn'd the new Earl l §. 24. of Arundel to pardon Sr. John Charlton Lord of Powis and son in Law to the Late Earl of March who was one of those that apprehended his Father Edmund Earl of Arundel and commanded them both henceforth to keep the Peace mutually It was also Enacted m §. 26. that William Lord Montagu and all others with him at the Apprehension of the Late Earl of March and others in Nottingham since what they did was Authorized by the King's Command should be wholly acquitted thereof and of all Murders and Felonies there done From whence we cannot but observe that the n Ant. Weed's Antiqu. Oxon. l. 1. p. 176. b. Laws of England do so abhor Murder and Bloodshed that even He who spills Blood thô in his own most just Defence nay thô in his King's Behalf and at his Command seems yet in a manner to stand in some need of a Pardon from the King before he can be fully Restored to the state of Innocence Several other just Gracious and Profitable things were done this Sessions but these shall suffice as being the Chief nor could I be less large unless I should have left out many things necessary to the clearing the Story and have conceal'd something that makes for this Young Monarch's Honour I find nothing in the Records of this Parliament relating to the Queen Mother all this while whether in respect to the King they Dutifully declin'd to call her in Question or whether the King himself forbad them to concern themselves in a matter so nearly touching him which is more likely And surely whoever considers the Inequality of this Queens Age with that of Mortimer's She being little more then Thirty and He at least more then Fifty for we find o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 144. that he received the Order of Knighthood from this King's Grandfather will rather believe that by his
Honor. p. 603. ad p. 6â6 yet to have been and continued in this Family of the Dreuxes ever since the year 1268 in the days of King Edward the First untill this time and seven years after when upon the Death of this John de Dreux without Issue King Edward gave this Earldom to his Fourth Son o Ib. d. p. 610. John Plantagenet sirnamed of Gaunt Nevertheless thô I know not how nor when the Lord Robert of Artois had the Title of Earl of Richmond but I never could find that he had any Creation thereto But this John Dreux as we intimated just now died seven years after in the 15 of this King leaving no Issue behind him thô he had been thrice Married To whom John Earl of Montford his Half-brother succeeded in the Dukedom of Bretagne which John was Father to John sirnamed the Valiant after his Fathers decease Duke of Bretagne of whose Wars and gallant Exploits this History makes honourable mention III. Immediately after this Enterview at Newcastle the two Kings parted the One toward Scotland the Other for Windsor whence King Edward speedily issued out his Summons to the Lords both Spiritual and Temporal commanding them to meet him at Nottingham on the 10th of that instant July there with him to advise about Affairs concerning the Weal of the Realm In this Council 't was ordain'd that a Parliament should be call'd at Westminster to meet on the 24th of September or the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the day bearing some proportion with the Design which was to exalt the interest of Christendom At which time the Parliament being assembled the Pious Young King did then declare That being thereto invited by his Kinsman the Duke of Bretagne who came in Embassy from France he had formed a Resolution to march with his Cosen the French King and other Christian Princes into the Holy Land to advance the Cross of Christ against the Turks and Infidels For thô he had not as yet answer'd King Philip directly when he requested his Society in this Croisade because he had been credibly informed that King Philip about this time had victuall'd and mann'd out ten great Ships which he design'd for Scotland in pursuance of King Davids Quarrel yet forasmuch as those Vessels being miserably shatter'd at Sea were at last forced to return home without any effect and because now Scotland seem'd fully settled under the government of King Bailiol all things appearing safe from those Quarters and quiet at home himself also flourishing with Riches Honour Children and full and vigorous Youth he declares as we said before to this Parliament his Resolution to partake with Christendom in this pious and honourable Enterprise And thô he did not expresly limit the time since there can be no exact certainty before hand of such weighty and slow-moving matters yet then he appointed Dr. John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury as his Ambassador to go to the Pope and to the French King to consider and agree with them as of other things so especially about the Time when the two Kings should set forward to the Holy Land together But for all this althô the Lord Robert of Artois could by no means prevail to divert the King from this Design to that of claiming his Right in France which he earnestly labour'd to persuade him to Yet thrô some secret Ordinance of Providence it happen'd even while this Parliament sat that by other means he was compell'd to take other Measures Which were not indeed so happy for Europe but nothing less glorious to this English Monarch IV. For King Bailiol being thus fully settled in his Kingdom of Scotland and no way fearing that his Enemies had any Ability left sufficient in the least to shake his Throne began first himself to open a way to his own Ruine by imprudently occasioning Discord among his most powerfull Friends Many of his Followers had been long disinherited of their Rights in Scotland and several interchangable Marriages happening the while among them it was utterly impossible to avoid but that some Controversies would happen in deciding matters now by adjusting all things equally And besides all this not a few who had no great Concerns in that Kingdom before could not yet but merit high Considerations from the Bailiol in regard of their late Services Among Others John Lord p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 81. Waren Earl of Surry was now by full consent of Scotch and English Nobles created Earl of Strathern instead of Malisius the late Earl who had forfeited that his Honour by Rebellion Thô afterwards q Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. at the sollicitation of Malisius his Friends great endeavours were used for Revocation of that Judgment and Forfeiture This was one difficult Point insomuch that King Edward of England whose clearer Judgment saw the ill Consequences of these matters had by his Letters to King Bailiol desired him that the Business might be publiquely discussed by his Nobles and Faithfull Peers of the Realm and not by such whose Fidelity might be called in question And he had also sent his Letters to Henry Lord Beaumont one of the chief of King Bailiols Council requiring him to use his utmost interest for preventing any sudden Determination in that business Considering of what ill Example it would be as also of peril to himself and others in the like case But there arose another Controversie higher than this by far For whereas the Lord Henry Beaumont had already received what he claimed in Right of his r Hector p. 316. 60. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Lady Alice one of the Cosens and Coheirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan as was shew'd before now it seems her Uncle Sr. Alexander Moubray a potent Man lately brought over to the Batliol claim'd a Purparty of her Lands from the said Lord Beaumont The Cause was debated in Parliament with great heat the Lord Richard Å¿ The One was Lord Beaumont's Wife 's Sister's Husband the other Sister's Sen. vid. l. 1. c. 6. §. 9. Talbot and David Strabolgi Earl of Athol taking part with the Lord Beaumont their Kinsman and Others as their Opinions Humour or Interest lead them with the Lord Moubray King Bailiol thinking himself sure of his Old Friends and hoping now for ever to bind fast unto him this late-reconciled Enemy too rashly adjudged the matter in behalf of Sr. Alexander Moubray As it was too soon done it was too late repented of for the other Party was immediately so exasperated that in the very Parliament House they could scarce forbear flying to extremities But the Parliament hereupon being presently adjourn'd the Quarrel seem'd to sleep for a while Yet however King Bailiol who by the greatness of the Smoak perceived what a dangerous Fire was kindled doubting the worst made towards Barwick in all hast for his better security with Sr. Alexander Moubray in his company The Lord t Hecter fol. 316 60. Buchan p. 290. Richard
Clergy a Tenth of all Burroughs and of English Merchants for every Sack of Wooll 40 s. but of Merchants Strangers 60 s. Besides t Walsing ibid. n. 20. this the Clergy of their own accord granted unto the King all the Mony that had been collected and laid up in the Cathedral Churches throughout England toward the Holy War. About this time also it was ordained u Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 40. Stow p. 233. Holinshead p. 900. Fabian p. 214 That no Wooll of English Growth should be exported the Land and that all Cloath-workers should be received from whatever Foreign Parts and fit Places should be assigned them with many Liberties and Privileges and that they should have certain Allowance from the King till they might be fix'd in a way of living by their Trade It was also ordain'd that none should use Cloth wove beyond sea or to be imported hereafter except the King the Queen and their Children only Also that none should wear Foreign Skins Silks or Furrs unless he had of yearly Revenues an hundred Pounds By these and the like good Laws thô for the present they took not their full effect King x Judge Hales his Origin of Mankind p. 161 Edward reduced the Woollen Manufacture after it had been lost for many years in this Nation from whose Time it hath flourished unto our Days to the general advantage of the whole Kingdom Also this or the following Year the King sent his Commission to John Lord y Dudg 2 Vol. p. 146. Molins empowring him to seise on all the Merchants of Lombardy with their Goods Jewels of Gold and Silver and other Chattels then in the City of London and to deliver them for the Kings Use to the Constable of the Tower. No doubt among all these and many other ways of Raising Mony the Inquisition after Corrupt Officers called Trailebaston was now renewed for the Advantage of the Kings Coffers For that Wise Prince well knew that neither Friendship nor Honour was to be expected abroad without Money the Nerves of War. Wherefore also he is said to have seised into his Hands z Knighton p. 2571. Rich Vestments and Vessels of Silver and other Ornaments out of Abbeys before he went Personally beyond the Seas By all which means he is said to have amassed together such an Excessive Heap of Treasure that by his Plenty of Coyn the Land was almost quite drain'd insomuch that Victuals and other Commodities became exceeding cheap a Fabian p. 203. Knighton p. 2569. n. 20. Lanquet f. 237. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. a quarter of wheat being sold at London for two shillings and a fat Ox for six and eight pence a fat Sheep for eight pence a fat Goose for two pence a Pig for a Penny and six Pigeons for a Penny. Having by these and the like Methods pretty well stock'd himself with Money the Sinews of War and conscious both of his own Courage and that of his People he yet notwithstanding like a Wise Prince seeks out at the same time for Foreign Assistance and yet in the midst of all these hot Preparations for War he as piously endeavours by Offers of Peace to prevent the Effusion of Christian Blood. Once again therefore c Walsingh Hypod p. 114. n. 1. he sends his Ambassadors to treat of an Accommodation between the two Kings and to see if by any means King Philip might be brought to Reason both in Restoring what he had unjustly seized on in Aquitain and in Forbearing any farther to intermeddle with the Matters in difference between him and Scotland And thô this he did after many humble and advantagious Concessions offer'd by him in vain rather now to satisfie the World of his own equitable Proceedings than that he had any hope of settling a firm and friendly Correspondence between himself and his Cosin Philip Because he well knew that the French King being so mightily addicted to the Scotch Interest was by no means likely to comply with his just Demands he counselled yet farther how he might by Force compell him if by fair means he should not be able to enduce him to reason V. Now the Lord d Frois c. 28. fol. 17. Robert of Artois was still as we said before of his Council and in great esteem with him He was continually urging him to a War with France and made it his only business to take all occasions of perswading him to a Breach with Philip of Valois who had unjustly usurped his lawfull Right and withheld it from him against all Law both Humane and Divine King Edward was inwardly well pleased with the words of this great Personage and more than once conferr'd with his Privy Council about the matter For as he was of a noble and daring Spirit always ready to undertake the highest Enterprizes so withall he was agreeably circumspect and ever carefull by Wisdom to mark out his Designs beforehand As yet he saw but small likelihood that of himself he should ever attain to the Conquest of so entire and flourishing a Kingdom as France was And as he consider'd it was much both against his Honour and Interest wholly to neglect so great a Concern as his Right to the Crown of France so also he thought it better not to lay any Claim thereto than not to pursue that Claim with Force of Arms to the utmost of his Power Often therefore he demanded Advice of the Ablest Counsellors Lawyers and Divines in his Kingdom who thô they all agreed that he had a clear Right to the Crown of France were notwithstanding something backward to determin any thing in a matter of that Consequence as doubting if the Event happen'd otherwise than well to have all the blame laid at their Doors But at last the Kings Council being much pressed by him agreed upon this Answer Sir the Matter about which Your Majesty requires our Advice is so weighty and of such vast moment that we dare not presume by any means to speak directly to the Point nor absolutely to determine your Royal Mind either one way or the other For to put you upon a War may be of dangerous Consequence to You and your People and yet wholly to disswade you from it is to betray your Right and Honour both which we are bound by our Allegiance to maintain with the hazard of our Lives and Fortunes This one thing therefore we have at this time to say That it would not be amiss for your Majesty to send some Discreet Personages sufficiently instructed in your Royal Pleasure to the Earl of Heinalt whose Daughter is your Queen and to John Lord Beaumont his Brother who hath always yielded your Majesty both valiant and loyal Service That of them your Majesty would by your said Ambassadors require their Advice and Assistance in way of Love For they are not only well able to render your Majesty good Service on this Occasion but also they understand the whole Matter
at the East-end of his Cathedral toward the North At whose Feet there lies his Brother Sr. Robert who was a Great Souldier in his time and also a Son of Sr. Robert's Named Bartholomew There died also this Year two Famous Old Barons of England the a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 639. One was Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire of almost 90 Years of Age who left behind him his Son and Heir of the same Name then about Thirty three Years Old. The Other was the * Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan in Scotland He left behind him John his Son and Heir then Twenty two Years of Age and a young Daughter Named Elizabeth afterwards Married to Sr. Nicolas Audley Son and Heir to the Lord James Audley of Heley Besides these two there Died about the same Time at Gaunt in the Kings Service the Lord Chief Justice of England Sr. Geoffry Scroop He had been very Loyal to King Edward the Second as appeared by the joynt Testimonies of the Prelates Earls and Barons in b Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 22. Parliament whereupon he Obtain'd much Grace with King Edward the Third whom he also Served till his Death with Indefatigable Industry Admirable Discretion and Untainted Loyalty In Consideration whereof among other Princely Favours bestow'd on him we find that the King Advanced him to the Degree of a c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. Knight Banneret with a Gift of two Hundred Marks per annum for his better Support and that but this very Year he d Stow's Survey Lond. p. 249. gave unto him the Great House call'd the Erbar by the Church of St. Mary Bothaw near Dowgate-Street in London He lest behind him together with a Good Name and a Plentifull Estate Henry his Son and Heir at that Time Twenty five Years of Age who prov'd a Valiant and Noble Knight in his Days and John a Younger Son who many Years after Married Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of David Strabolgi Son to David Earl of Athol slain in Scotland five Years before We shall conclude this Chapter with a short Relation of a most signal Victory obtain'd this Year on the 30 of October over the Saracens Moors and Africans in Spain In the foregoing Year e Câââân Victorell de PP Reman p. 884. p. 887. Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon being hardly put to it by the Barbarians begg'd aid of the Pope and all the Great Princes of Christendom From France and England went but few or none because of the Wars then hot between the two Realms But from other Parts many gallant Knights and Gentlemen went against those Enemies of God being especially encouraged thereto by the Pope's Bulls wherein he granted large Indulgences to those who undertook this Expedition Alphonso therefore being now reinforced with a small but well-compacted Army and joyned with his Neighbour Alphonso the Brave King of Portugall gave Battle to the Moors in the Plains of Tartessos vulgarly called Tariffa from a Town of that Name in the Boetic Province which enclines to the River called Rio Salado near the Herculean Sea. The Forces of Alphonso were 35000 Foot and 14000 Horse but the Army of Allibohacen King of Morocco with those of Granada under their Miramolin and three other Kings of the Moors consisted of 600000 Foot and 80000 Horse And yet thrô the Divine Assistance the Christians wan the Day f Jos Teixera de Orig. Reg. Port. and with the Loss of no more than g Joh. Mariana l. 16 c. 7. 20 Men slew in the Fight and in the Chace above h Vasaus Hist Hisp Genebr l. 4 Chronog vid. Odâric Raynal ad hunc annum §. 40. usque ad §. 56. 200000 of the Infidels besides an incredible number of Prisoners taken Thô Others reckon no less than 450000 to have fallen that Day among whom were two of the Sons of Allibohacen In Memory of which Miraculous Victory the said 30 of October hath ever since been kept as an high Festival in Spain being dedicated to the Honour of the Holy Cross which was at this time so successfully advanced against the Enemies of Christendom King Alphonso after this Exploit having first and chiefly return'd his Thanks to Almighty God now also in token of his Gratitude to the Pope sends him for a Present to Avignon out of the Spoils he had taken an 100 gallant Horses of Barbary in rich Trappings with an 100 Saracen Slaves to lead them an 100 Morisco Cimitars and an 100 Shields of Tann'd Leather plated Also 24 Military Ensignes and the Horse and Standard of King Allibohacen which he used in this War together with many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver and Jewels of great Price besides his own Horse on which he fought and his own Royal Standard which he follow'd in that Battle i Ita Literae Pontis gratulatoriae ad Alphonsum neminant John Martin Don Leyva and Pedro Didaci de Corduba the Spanish Ambassadors who brought all these Presents were received with extraordinary Pomp by the Cardinals and other Prelates at their entrance into Avignon And the next day his Holiness k Victorell ib. himself celebrated Mass and after that made a notable Sermon wherein with great Eloquence he magnifi'd the Kings Victory and exhorted all present to praise God therefore and to pray for the Kings Health and Perseverance in Prosperity And to enable him the better to maintain his Wars against the Moors he then granted unto him the Thirds of the Tithes of all his Subjects which the Kings of Spain enjoy to this Day From this happy Success of the two Alphonso's Kings of Spain and Portugal against Jutzeph King of Granada and Allibohacen King of Morocco the Pope took an Occasion to exhort our King Edward of England to dispose himself towards a l Odoric Raynald ad ann 1340. §. 55. Peace with his Rival of France that they might both unite their Forces against the general Enemies of Christendom These Letters bear Date from Avignon the xv of the Kalends of January i. e. 18 of December in the Close of this Year being the VI of his Pontificate The Copy of which Letter is to be seen in the Ecclesiastical History of Odoricus Raynaldus at this Year 1340. King Alphonso presently after this Victory lays Siege to the great Town of Algezira belonging to the Moors and lying upon the Streights of Morocco on the Frontiers of Granada Which after a long Siege was enforced at last thrô Famine to yield to the Christians Thô still the Saracens held Footing in that Kingdom till having lost the City of Granada to Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain they were at last finally expelled that Kingdom by Philip III. Because we may not disturb the intended Order of our Discourse which follows in the next Chapter we take leave in this place to tell the Reader that the Fruitfull Young Queen of
The Occasion was given first in Bretagne For e Frois c. 63. fol. 35. after the Truce had been confirmed and sealed before the City of Tournay and every Man was gone his way the Lord John Dreux then Duke of Bretagne who had been there on the French Kings side in as gallant an Equipage as any other Prince whatsoever upon his Return homewards fell suddenly sick of a mortal Disease and died in little Bretagne and was buried at f Catal. Honor. p. 606. Ploermell in the Diocess of Nantes He had been thrice married first to Isabell Daughter of Charles Earl of Valois and Alanson and Sister to King Philip of Valois secondly to Blanch Daughter of the King of Castille and lastly to Margaret Daughter of Edward Earl of Savoy but yet died without any Issue From whence a lasting War was entailed upon his Country which occasionally also involved the Realms of France and England This same Duke g Frois ibid. Catal. Honor. had two younger Brethren the one by the Fathers side onely of a second Venter named John Earl of Montfort who was then living the other named Guy Earl of Pentebria his Brother both by Father and Mother side was dead indeed but had left one Daughter behind him named Jane which her Uncle the late Duke had before his Death married to the young Lord Charles Castillion Eldest Son to Guy Earl of Blois by another Sister of King Philip of France Upon which Marriage the said King promised after the Decease of her Uncle Duke John to uphold and maintain the said Charles her Husband in the Dukedom of Bretagne For the late Duke always suspected vehemently that his Half-brother Monford would struggle for the Inheritance after his Death against the Daughter of his own Brother Guy to whom he reckon'd it more justly belonged That she might therefore find an able Friend upon Occasion to abett her Quarrel he thus wisely to his thinking match'd her with a Son of King Philips Sister And accordingly King Philip however partial he was in King Edwards Cause who claim'd the Crown of France by a Title derived from a Woman yet without any Scruple undertook to defend the Title of his Nephew Charles to this Dukedom as we shall shew at large anon V. However John Earl of Monford had this Advantage that he h Frois ibid. first heard of the Duke his Brothers Death and thereupon resolving not to dally in a matter of such Consequence he rode immediately to Nantes the chief City in Bretagne where upon his fair Address to the Burgesses and those of the Country thereabouts he was forthwith received as their Chief Lord and had Homage and Fealty done unto him Then the Earl and his Lady Margaret Daughter to i Mezeray p. 19. Robert late Earl of Flanders and Sister to Lewis of Cressy the present Earl of Flanders a Lady of a most Masculine Spirit determin'd by Advice of their Council to call a Court of Parliament and keep a Solemn Feast on such a Day at Nantes against which time the Earl of Montford sent forth his Summons to all the Nobles and Representatives of the good Towns of Bretagne to be there to render their Homage and Fealty unto Him as unto their Soveraign Lord. But in the mean while before the time of the Feast came the Earl of Montford went from Nantes with a competent Number of Men of Arms unto Limoges the Chief Town of Limousin whereof the Dukes of Bretagne were Vicounts where he was informed that the vast Treasures which his Father Arthur had amassed together were securely kept Being come thither he enter'd the City in great Pomp and Splendour and was honourably received of all the Clergy Burgesses and Commons who then and there made Homage and swore Fealty unto him Here he handled the Matter so discreetly that he had all that inestimable Treasure deliver'd up to him which of a long time before his Father had gather'd and strongly secur'd with this Injunction left to his Son that he should not meddle therewith till he should be brought to some Extremity So having obtained this hitherto untouch'd Prize he brought it away with him to Nantes to the Countess his Wife as the most able Nerves of the War which he expected By this time was the Day of the Solemn Feast come but no Breton of any great Name or Quality was found to be concern'd at Monfords Summons onely one valiant and wealthy Lord named Sr. Henry du Leon came thither to yield him his Obersance However the Feast was continued for three Days with much Real Pomp but Feigned Cheer because it look'd so ill that his Cause was so universally discountenanced by the Nobility and Gentry After the Feast it was resolved that all the New-found Treasure should be set apart for Wages for Men of War both Horse and Foot which the Earl design'd to retain on all Hands as well to constrain the Rebellious as to maintain the Dutchy against his Adversary Being therefore as soon as might be well furnished with Men of War and Chosen Captains from divers Countries he resolved to March forth and either by Love or Force make himself Lord of all Bretagn The first Place he design'd to attempt was the strong Castle of Brest standing upon an Arm of the Sea the Captain whereof was the Lord Garnier Clisson a Noble Knight and one of the Greatest Barons of Bretagne Earl Monford all along in his Passage thither prest the Men of the Country to his Service none daring to refuse so that by that time he came thither his Forces were mightily encreased Brest and Nantes being distant almost the whole length of Bretagne one from another Being come to the Castle he sent the Lord Henry du Leon to summon the Captain to yield up the Place and to obey the Earl as his Lord and Duke of Bretagn The Captains Answer was short That he was not inclin'd to do any such Matter till he should be commanded so to do by the Right Heir of that Dukedom So the next day an Assault was given But within the Castle were 300 Men of Arms besides Others and all things were well disposed for Defence Wherefore the Captain full of Courage came to the Barriers with 40 good Men of Arms and made a very brave Resistance But so many of the Assailants came thither that at last the Barriers were won by fine Force the Defendants being obliged to retire toward the Castle in some Confusion having lost several of their Company But the Captain did so much that he secur'd the Retreat to the rest as far as the first Gate When those who kept the Ward thereof fearing from what they saw more mischief in an ill time let down their Portcullis and shut their Captain out with most of his Company who fought with him in the Reer with much Resolution and Bravery Thus they all remain'd without expos'd to eminent Danger for the Captain would never yield
the Matter was kept very close and none but his Council knew certainly of it for he had not been above Eight or Ten Days abroad in all and the Nantois thought he had visited some other Parts of his Dominions that while VII When the Lord n Prois c. 69. Charles Castillion commonly called Sr. Charles of Blois who look'd upon himself as true Heir of Bretagne in Right of his Wife heard of all the Conquests that the Earl had made in that Country which he took for his own he addrest himself to his Uncle King Philip to complain of these Injuries The King deliberating what course to take in this Affair was in the end counselled to summon the Earl of Montford by sufficient Messengers to make his Personal Appearance at Paris by such a day there to answer to what should be objected against him in the Chamber of France Messengers were accordingly sent who found him at Nantes keeping of a Solemn Festival Here he treated them highly and then having well understood their Errand answer'd that he would punctually obey the Kings Commandment Soon after being prepared for his Journey he rode from Nantes toward Paris with a Princely Equipage of 400 Horse in his Company The next day after his Arrival he rode with this Great Attendance to the Palace Royal Where the King and the 12 Peers with other High Lords of France expected his coming with the Young Lord Charles of Blois in their Company The Earl was conducted to the Kings Chamber being highly regarded and civilly saluted in his Passage thither by all the Lords for the Fame of his great Exploits and the Grandeur of his Person When he ãâã before the King he enclin'd his Body something low and said Sir I am come hither in Obedience to your Command and Pleasure The King answer'd Earl Montford for that you have so done I give you thanks But I wonder how you durst take upon You the Dukedom of Bretagne whereunto you have no Right For there is another nearer than your Self whom you seek to disinherit And to maintain your unjust Quarrel by Violence you have been with mine Adversary the King of England to whom as I am enformed you have done Homage for the same The Duke who thought it impossible that the King should know this Conveyance of his reply'd not without some Confusion Sir I beseech your Majesty not to believe any such Matter for You are not rightly informed as to that Point But Sir as for the Right which You mention saving your Displeasure You do me wrong to question it For Sir I know of none living so near to my Brother deceased as my Self And if it can be made appear by Right Law and Judgment that there is any Person nearer than I am I am not He that should rebell against Reason or be asham'd to renounce what I had unjustly usurped Well Sir rejoyn'd the King you say well But I command you in whatever you hold of me not to stirr from this City of Paris these Fifteen days in which space the 12 Peers and Lords of my Realm shall consider impartially on the Matter And then you shall know where the Right lies And if you shall presume to do otherwise be assured we shall not be Friends The Earl having promis'd all should be at his Pleasure went from the Court home to his Lodgings to Dinner But having din'd he mus'd much with himself in his Chamber and thought he had done too rashly in coming thither where he should be oblig'd to stand to the Award of such as were byass'd another way At last being o Mezeray p. 18. disguised like a Merchant and only three in his Company he privately took horse in a clear Night and leaving the City got home into Bretagne before the King or any else knew what was become of him Being come to Nantes he shew'd unto his Countess what he had done and wherefore and then by her Advice he rode about to all the Towns and Fortresses which he had won and set over them Vallant and Loyal Captains with sufficient Numbers of Souldiers Horse and Foot and gave them large Wages before-hand VIII For some p Prois c. 70. time the Court of France thought he had been detain'd in his Lodgings by some Indisposition seeing his Servants constantly about the House and tending his Affairs as if present But they also getting off by degrees when his Departure was fully known it may be guessed how deeply King Philip resented this Affront But for all that he kept so much decorum as to tarry till the 15th Day came whereon the Peers were to give their final Judgment concerning the Dukedom of Bretagne At the time appointed the Case was adjudged clearly in behalf of Sr. Charles of Blois his Lady Jane who was Daughter and Heir to Guy Earl of Pentebria Brother German to the Duke last deceased and therefore was now declared to have more Right than John Earl of Monford q Catal. Honer p. 6â4 who was Younger Brother to the said Ladies Father by a second Venter namely by Violanta sole Daughter and Heir of Almaric Earl of Narbon and Montford They alledged further that althô the Earl of Montford had had the Right yet now he had forfeited it on two Accounts First because he had received the Dutchy of another Lord than of the French King of whom only he ought to hold it and secondly because he had broken the Kings express Command and disobeyed his Arrest in going away Wherefore neither would they r Mezeray p. 18. admit of his Request which was to accept of his Procuration whereby he had left One as his Deputy to manage this Matter in his Behalf From which Judgment it being manifestly influenced by King Philips Authority that Prince was much Å¿ Giov. Villani l. 11. c. 142. censur'd of injustice by those who allow'd the Ancient Order and Custom of the Baronages of France and the Salique Law especially since it was contrary to that very Judgment by which He himself had been Declared and Crowned King of France Since if Charles of Blois had the Right to the Dukedom of Bretagne by his Wife Daughter to the last Dukes Brother German much more had King Edward of England the Right to the Crown of France by his Mother sole Daughter and Heiress after the Death of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair her Brethren of Philip the Fair King of France But Prejudice is so strange a thing that it byasses the Minds of the Great and the Wise Men of the World by representing Falshood and Injustice under the specious Titles of Fair and Equitable unless there be present an Awe of Religion and a Sense of Honour and Conscience to suppress those selfish Considerations IX However as soon as this Judgment was thus given King Philip called unto him the Young Lord Charles of Blois and said to him Fair Nephew you have a fair and large
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annuâ Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Chââ Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâmâle p. 654 ex Rât Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Rââ Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâcle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fââ Acts and Mân An. 1345. Adam Mââimoâth M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingââeet qu âas cum Foxo ãâã ââitus faâes âut peritia videbâ tur defideraââ EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
abated But by this time his House was so broken up that near upon four Hundred Persons were enter'd in one of whom named Thomas Dennis gave him his Deaths wound thô others say that a certain Cobler whose Father Jacob van Arteveld had formerly caused to be slain followed him so close as he was fleeing into a Stable where his Horses stood that overtaking him he clove his head in sunder with an Ax so that he fell down stark dead upon the ground Thus Jacob van Arteveld who by his Popular Air his Policy and Wisdom had arrived to the most absolute Government of all Flanders was by a sudden turn of Fortune miserably slain on a m Holinshead p. 927. Sunday in the afternoon being the * B. Dom. Lit. Labbè ad hunc an 17 of July There accompanied him in his Death ten other Principal Persons of his Council among whom were a Brother and a Nephew of his besides as many of the Welchmen as made Resistance to the Number of 70 in all the Rest being spared in respect to the King their Master got away safe unto him again as he lay at Scluse waiting for other kind of News than what these Men brought him VI. As n Frois c. 115. for Lewis Earl of Flanders who was then at Dendermonde a City of that part of Flanders which belong'd to the Empire he was very well pleas'd when he heard of the Death of this his old Enemy And yet for all that he durst not put any entire Confidence in the Flemings nor venture as yet to go to Gaunt But when King Edward heard of it he was infinitely displeas'd at the loss of so serviceable a Friend and immediately departed from Scluse and took the Sea again grievously threatning the Gauntois and the whole Country of Flanders and vowing that his Death should be dearly Revenged But for that time he returned into England The People of Flanders expected no less for now when the Murther was known abroad among all the good Towns of that Country they seriously began to consider how ill King Edward would in all likelyhood resent this Matter wherefore in time they determin'd to go and excuse themselves before him especially the Burgesses of Bruges Ipres Cassel Courtray Oudenarde Antwerp and Franker And it was high time for them so to do for the Parliament of England had o Sr. Winston Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 24. already made their humble address to the King to break the Peace with Flanders Presently therefore they sent after the King into England to request his safe Conduct that they might come according to their Duty to make their excuse And this the King at last yielded to his first fit of Passion being blown over So that about Michaelmas certain Burgesses of the best Quality came from all the Towns of Flanders except Gaunt only for as yet the King would not permit any of them to see his Face The Rest were introduced before the King then at Westminster where they humbly excused themselves of being any way accessory to the Death of Jacob van Arteveld and sware solemnly that they knew nothing of the Matter till it was done and that if they had he was the Man whom to the best of their Powers they would have defended and that they were extreamly concerned for his Death for he had governed their Country very Wisely and to their great Advantage They added further that the Gauntois themselves who had done this barbarous Act should make satisfaction therefore And they told the King and his Council that althô this Man was Dead yet the King of England was not a jot fallen in the Love and Fidelity of the Good People of Flanders as he should find in all things except what pertained to the Inheritance of Flanders which they said the Flemings were resolved by no means to presume to give away from the Right Heirs They said also to the King Sir You have a Fair and Noble Progeny both Sons and Daughters and as for the Prince of Wales your Eldest Son he cannot choose but be a great Prince without the accession of Flanders But then Sir You have a Young Daughter and We have a Young Lord the Earl's Son who is the Heir Apparent of Flanders and he is now in our Custody So that if it please You to make a Match between a Daughter of Yours and this Lord the Earldom of Flanders will be for ever after in the hands of your Posterity From these words of theirs we are to observe a Mistake of p Mez. p. 24. Mezeray's who tells us how they offer'd King Edward a Daughter of their Earls to be Married to his Son the Prince of Wales when as we can find no Daughter that Lewis had nor could such a Marriage have signifi'd any thing to the Prince of England when there was a Son also living who was to inherit Flanders and besides before this Offer a greater Match had been q Sandford p. 184. ex Pat. 19. Ed. 3 p. 3. m. 11. this Year proposed between the Prince of Wales and a Daughter of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal The Flemings also added at the same time how r Holinshead p. 927. they doubted not to perswade the Earl their Lord to do Homage unto the King of England till when they promised not to receive him These and the like Protestations somewhat pacified the Kings displeasure so that soon after the League between England and Flanders was renewed and the Death of Jacob van Arteveld was quite forgotten Thô he left a Young Son Philip behind him who after King Edwards Death became as Great in Flanders as ever his Father had been and by involving those People in new Combustions occasion'd a severe Revenge of his Fathers Blood by the Lives of many thousands of the Flemings As may be seen in the Stories of Flanders and particularly in the second Volume of Froisards History However the Earl of Flanders would by no means consent to make his Homage to the King of England but remain'd still firm to the French Interest and Title whereby his Troubles continued till the next Year he lost his Life fighting against the English in the Famous Battle of Cressy to which we are now hasting VII About this time ſ Frois c. 116. vid. Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 155. Prince William the Young Earl of Hainalt Holland Zealand and Friseland King Edwards Brother in Law having also met with some Rebellion among his Subjects both of Holland and Friseland resolved to reduce them both to a sense of their Duty and first he went and laid Siege to Vtrecht in Holland where one Robert van Arckell was Governour against him after a long Siege he wan the Place and took his Pleasure of his Enemies making t Eng. Atl. ibid. five Hundred of the Principal Citizens come forth bare headed and bare footed and beg his Pardon And shortly after in the Moneth of * Giov.
Villant p. 862. l. 12. c. 53. September he went from Dort in Holland with a great Fleet of Valiant Souldiers gather'd from Hainalt Flanders Brabant Holland Guelderland and Juliers to take Revenge of his Rebells of Friseland For he claimed to be Lord thereof and it was indeed his by Right if the Frisons had not been of Barbarous and Unreasonable Principles But here at last it was his ill Fortune to be met by the Frisons in a narrow passage near Staveren where being unknown he was presently slain before any of his Friends could come up to his Assistance He was a Prince of high Merit and a most Famous Souldier whereof for the short time he lived u Tââe's stcrehouse p. 721. he gave many good Testimonies in his Wars against the Saracens and Moors in the Kingdom of Granada and against the French in the behalf of his Brother in Law the King of England also in his Victories in Lithuania and Livonia and against the Russian Infidels where he loaded himself with Honour and his Men with spoil and booty Lastly in his Conquest of Vtrecht and his frequent Victories over the Frisons till this unhappy encounter wherein he lost his Life He died without Issue whereupon he was succeeded by his Eldest Sister Margaret the Empress whose Son William of Bavaria was Earl after her Decease Which William Married the Lady Mathilda Daughter to Henry Plantagenet now Earl but then Duke of Lancaster by whom yet he had no Issue There was slain at the same time with this Young Valorous Earl of Hainalt his Sisters Son William x Giov. Villani p. 862. c. Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge a Lord of great Power and Valour and while he lived a sure Friend both to him and King Edward His Uncle Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont was y Frois c. 116. not in Friseland at the time of this woefull chance but soon after coming thither when he was told of the Death of his Nephew he rag'd like a Man distracted and would immediately have taken the Field against the Frisons But he was hinder'd by his servants and especially Sr. Robert Gluves who was his Armour-bearer and by a Dutifull Violence forced him into his Ship against his Will. So he return'd into Holland with a small Company and came to St. Geertruydenberg where he found the Young Lady his Niece late Wife to the said Earl named Joan the Duke of Brabant's Eldest Daughter who being informed of this heavy loss went and lived disconsolate in the Land of Binche about three Leagues Eastward of Mons z Vid. c. 10. §. 6. p. 114. which had been assign'd her for her Dowry The Government of Hainalt was menag'd by the Lord John till the Empress Margaret his Niece came thither to take Possession in her own Person VIII After this News was spread abroad in France King Philip whom it became to be vigilant about this own Advantage began to think how he might bring over the Lord John of Hainalt to his Side now the Earl was dead with whom since his Invasion of his Lands he could never have hopes of Reconciliation But the Lord John's Resentments he knew were not so deep wherefore he spake to Guy Earl of Blois who had married the Lord John's Daughter and had by her three Sons Lewis John and Guy besides the Lord Charles whom he had by a former Venter to use his Interest with him to bring him over to the French Side and he himself also by his Royal Letters assured unto him greater Revenues in France than he had in England which he promised to assign unto him in Lands where he should think best himself But to all these Arguments the Noble Lord was wholly Deaf for he consider'd that he had spent all the slower of his Youth in the King of Englands Service and ever found great Favour and Love from him wherefore now he had no mind to leave him When the Earl of Blois saw there was no sixing on him this way he resolved to try another and first to win the Lord of Saginelles his Chief Companion and Counsellour and so by his means to work further upon the Lord of Beaumont This Man being soon gain'd as one that had no such Obligation to England it was agreed between him and the Earl of Blâis to make the Lord John believe that King Edward would no longer pay him his usual Pension but had absolutely refus'd upon Demand to pay it to his Use as he had been wont This Device took for the Lord John without enquiring into the Bottom of it was so displeas'd at this supposed Unkindness that he forthwith renounced his Service and Good-will which hitherto he had born to King Edward The French King hearing hereof sent immediately sufficient Deputies to him and chose him of his Council and retained him in his Service for War at certain Wages assigning him moreover in France as much Land or more than he had in England But to require the Loss of these four Friends of King Edward's Earl William his Uncle John the Marquess of Juliers and Jacob van Arteveld about a Frois c. 114. this very time came over to his Side the Couragious and Politick Lord Godfry of Harcourt Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother to John Earl of Harcourt He had been once as Dear to King Philip of France as any Lord of his whole Realm but on b Fabian p 271. Occasion of a Quarrel between his Brother and Sr. Robert Bertram Marshal of France which was hugely fomented by Partakers on both Sides he so greatly displeased King Philip that if he could have got him into his Power 't was concluded he had found no better usage than the Lord Clysson had done before But he having timely Notice from his Friends withdrew into Brabant to the Duke his Cousin by whom when all his Lands were seised on by King Philip he was advised to go into England and proffer his Service to the King there He did so and was welcome to the King who received him with large Demonstrations of Good-will and made much use of him in his following Wars And this Displeasure of his cost the Realm of France dearly especially the Dukedom of Normandy for there the sad Effects thereof were seen an hundred years after IX In the Close of the foregoing Year it may be remembred c c. 22. §. 1â p. 312. how we spake of the Deliverance of John Earl of Montford who claim'd the Dukedom of Bretagne from Prison And that by Vertue of the Truce King Philip was obliged in a manner to give him his Liberty but it was done with this Proviso that he d ââbian p. 270. should not go into Bretagne nor make the least offer to intermeddle with the Affairs of that Country Notwithstanding this Tye of his Promise Earl Montford took the first Opportunity to make his Escape into England as he did about
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 Bâeast 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 Pâize 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 lâing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thââ consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. ãâã ad ãâã namely on the 19 of November to be beheâded 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 ãâã 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 ââwe 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 ãâã Others say p Stâw 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 Creââ in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâhus 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. Mârtââ p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâs 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 Râs 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
Mills Catal. Hener p. 324. Good Duke of Lancaster out of his devout Respect to the Canons of his Collegiate Church at Leicester permitted u Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. Knighton p. 2606. them this Year to enclose their Woods and stored them with Deer out of his own Parks and likewise interceded personally with the Pope for Appropriating the Churches of Humberston and Hungerton to the said Abbey About which time x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 787. he received special Command from the King to keep a strict Guard upon the Sea-coasts of Lancashire and to arm all those 40 Lanciers which were then raised in his Territories of Monmouth Grosmont Whitcastle Kedeây Karwathelan and Iskennin for the publick Service For there came into y Ashmâle p. 682. c. England a prevailing Rumour that the French King had provided an Army and Navy to invade the Land wherefore now besides the Maritime Parts of Lancashire aforemention'd the King committed all the Sea-Coasts of Dorset Somersetshire Wilishire and Hantshire unto this powerfull Duke to secure and to resist the Enemy At the same time among others Thomas z Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Beauchamp Earl of Warwick was one of the Commissioners assign'd by the King for the Arraying all sorts of Men able for the War as well Knights and Esquires as Others within the Counties of Warwick Leicester and Worcester As also a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 153. Thomas Lord Musgrave and Thomas Lord Lucy were Commissioners for the like purpose in the County of Westmorland Sr. John b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 168. Kirketon of Kirketon in Holland in Lincolnshire and Sr. John c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 83. Willoughby of Eresby two noble Barons of the Realm being constituted Commissioners of Array in the said County as others were in other places for the Defence of the Realm against the French then threatning an Invasion Though this Threat like a great many more of theirs came to nothing The Earl of Warwick d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. aforesaid recover'd about this time the Dominion of Gowerland in Wales from John Lord Moubray whose Title thereto accrued by the Lady Aliva his Mother Daughter and Heiress to William Lord Braose Which Lordship King John in the Fourth Year of his Reign had wrongfully given to William de Braose whilst Henry Son of Waleran Newburgh Earl of Warwick Ancestor to this Thomas Beauchamp now Earl was in his Minority But till now it could not be recover'd for the Right Owner thô e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 69. Roger Predecessor to the said Waleran who lived in the Days of King Stephen was reputed to have been the Conquerour of Gowerland On which Account his Posterity had enjoyed it untill the said Fourth Year of King John. XIV This Year f Odor Rainal ad ann 1352. §. 24 25. c. Knighton p. 2605. n. 30. Walsing Hist p. 161. Frois c. 153 c. Pope Clement VI after he had sat in the Pontifical Chair ten Years and seven Months wanting a Day departed this Life in his Palace at Avignon on the 6th of December being as was thought poisoned In whose stead upon the 18 of the said Month was chosen Stephen Albert a Limousin by Birth Priest-Cardinal Titulo SS Joannis Pauli and then Bishop of Ostia he took upon him the Name of Innocent being the VI of that Name and was Crowned with the Papal Mitre on the 30 Day of the same Month the day after which he wrote his Letters Encyclical bearing Date 11 Kal. Januarii An o Pontif. I. But of his partiality towards his own Nation of France our Historians do not unjustly complain This very Month there departed out of this World the Hopefull Young Prince John Plantagenet Earl of Kent Son to Edmund of Woodstock King Edwards Uncle who had lately taken to Wise the young Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Marquess of Juliers but died now without Issue as we have said So that his Sister Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent being at that time g Dugd. 2 Vol. p 94. Sandford p. 215. ex Inquisitione câpta 13 Febr. 27 Ed. 3. 24 Years old and the Wife of the Lord Thomas Holland was found his next Heir and in her Right the said Sr. Thomas became Earl of Kent It is remembred h Stew's Survey of London p. 279. that two Fishmongers were this Year beheaded at the Standard in Cheap-Side London thô their Offence is not recorded Wherefore I only mention it to shew how more mild and humane thô withall seldome the Executions were under this Prince's Government in comparison of those Butcherly Dismembrings used during the Reign of King Philip of Valois his Adversary CHAPTER the TVVELFTH AN. DOM. 1353. An. Regni Angliae XXVII Franciae XIV The CONTENTS I. A hard Winter Storms Drought and Dearth II. A Riot in Chester The Black-Prince's Munisicence III. King Edward founds a College at Westminster IV. A Treaty with Scotland V. A Treaty and Truce with France VI. A Parliament with the Names of the Lords summon'd thereto c. VII Another Parliament wherein Roger Mortimer and Richard Fitz-Alan were fully restored VIII A Treaty at Avignon which begets a short Truce IX The Foundation of Trinity Hall in Cambridge X. A Quarrel between the Town and Vniversity of Oxford XI Two Fryers burnt at Avignon A Third recants at Paris I. THIS Year a Knighton p. 2607. n. 10. Walsingh Hist p. 161. M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 224. began with a terrible long hard and cold Winter which endured with extream Rigour from the 6 of December till the 12 of March and was succeeded by a furious Hurricane or Tempest of Wind the like whereof had not been seen in England For it tore up the Coverings and Leads of Churches overthrew Mills and Walls and Trees to the ground and did exceeding much Mischief in sundry places Besides which there happen'd an unusual Drought b M.S. id ibid. so that from March to July little or no Moisture fell upon the Earth Wherefore all manner of Seeds being corrupted there ensued a great Dearth of Corn and other Grain and Fruits Insomuch that England which was always before sufficient for it self was now fain to seek Assistance from other Countries Which thing being known to William of Bavaria Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand and Son in Law to Henry Duke of Lancaster out of his hearty Love to the English Nation he sent several Ships laden with fine Wheat to London to the great refreshment of the People And soon c Stow p. 254. after were brought great Quantities of Corn from Ireland which being distributed to several Port-Towns and Mercate-places of the Land was a timely Asswagement of the Dearth and a kind Relief to the poor People especially And then also by some means or other d Walsing ibid. there was a general Scarcity of Minerals as Iron Lead Brass
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâquault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ Play ãâã the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
he sent word thereof into the Principality of Aquitain to the English Knights and Esquires of the Princes Court but especially to the Noble Lord John Chandos desiring him and them heartily now at this great and last Pinch to send him a Competent Assistance not doubting but that in Bretagne they should find many a fair and honourable Adventure for which all men of Honour ought especially to seek toward the Advancement of their Names When the Lord John Chandos who greatly desired the Prosperity of this Noble Earl saw how earnestly he wrote unto him he went immediately and asked leave of the Black-Prince his Lord and Master who told him He was well content that he should go to the Assistance of his Dear Brother-in-Law because said he this is no Breach of the Peace between England and France For the Frenchmen in like manner take Part with Sr. Charles of Bloic against the Earl of Monford and have a Licence so to do from the French King himself And thus much was expresly agreed on in the c Vid. l. 3. c. 6. §. 10. Art. 22. p. 588. XXII Article of the Peace of Bretigny that if the two Parties cannot be reconciled the Friends of either of them shall aid either Party as they please without any impeachment from the said two Kings or without incurring or bearing any dammage blame or reproach for the cause aforesaid With this answer Sr. John Chandos was extreamly satisfied and provided accordingly desiring several Knights and Esquires both of England and Aquitain to bear him Company in this his Attempt Thô but a few Gascogners I know not upon what Grounds for 't is evident they lov'd him well went with him but several English Knights that were there except such whom the Prince's Service detain'd embraced the Invitation heartily So having collected 200 Spears and as many Archers Voluntiers for the Prince would not appear in the Matter he lead them thrô Sainctogne and Poictou till passing the Loire he entred into Bretagne and came safely to the Siege before Auray Here he found the young Earl of Monford who received him with great joy as who divin'd himself a Victory from his Coming and so did Sr. Oliver Clisson Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and others both English and Bretons who all generally concluded there could no ill Success fall unto them now that they had the Lord Chandos in their Company Upon the account of whose Reputation in Arms sundry Knights and Esquires of England passed the Sea being desirous to advance their Honour in Fighting against the Frenchmen all who came in good time before Auray where they were heartily welcome to the Earl of Monford and some of them brought d True Use of Armory in Bib. Cotton Lord Chandâs his Liâe p. 62. Letters from the King of England directed to the Lord Chandos wherein he was required to take particular care of his most Dear Son Monford and in time of Battle constantly to attend his Person And now the whole Number of English and Bretons amounted to about 2000 Men of Arms and about 900 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen II. All this while Sr. Charles of Blois was in the City of Nantes where he made his Musters and gather'd together Men of War from all Parts where he could procure them for Love or Money For he had perfect Intelligence of all the Earl of Monfords Preparations But especially he required all those Lords Knights and Esquires of Bretagne who had already own'd his Cause and Title and rendred Homage unto him as to their Lord to come now and help him to defend his Inheritance against his Enemies Upon these Summons there came unto him the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Rochefort the Lord of Leon the Lord of Raix and the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit the Lord of Quintin the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Lodeac the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Lomine the Lord of Ponto and Sr. Charles of Dinant with divers others whose Names we cannot at such a Distance recover All these together with their several Retinues were quarter'd in the City of Nantes and in the Villages thereabout and together with the Aid from France consisted of 4500 Men of Arms besides Crossbows and Footmen These Lords in a Council of War advised the Lord Charles now that he was so strong not to waste any more time there but presently to march forth against his Enemy and give him Battle This Counsel the Lord Charles resolved to pursue and being now ready to march the sprightly and Masculine Lady his Wife the Lady Jane Daughter of Guy Earl of Pentebria who was Elder Brother to John of Monford stept forth and said these Words unto him in presence of Sr. Bertram of Clequin and many other Lords and Knights of France and Bretagne Sir You are now going to fight for mine Inheritance and your own for what is mine is yours also which the Earl of Monford claims wrongfully and without cause God Almighty knows And all the Lords of Bretagne here present know very well that I am indubitate Heiress thereto Therefore my Dear Lord and Husband I heartily require of You not to make or accept any Composition Agreement or Treaty of Peace with Earl Monford unless the whole Body of the Dutchy shall be yielded to remain entire with Us and our Heirs for ever This her Husband promised to do and then saluted and took leave of his Dutchess as they call'd her and so directed his march toward Vannes At which place he made an Halt as well to refresh his Army as to inform himself of his Enemies behaviour and to advise how to get some advantage in ordering his Men. Here there was much altercation and debate among his Council for certain of the graver sort who were wholly sway'd by Christian Principles of Charity made such friendly Overtures that the Lord Charles of Blois who was of a sweet and Candid Disposition had perhaps been perswaded to accept of a Peace and to Divide the Dukedom had he not been so adjured by the last Words of his Lady and also now set on by the encouragement of the Hotter sort of his Captains that he absolutely declared he neither could nor would propose or admit of any such kind of Treaty III. Now between Vannes and Auray where the Earl of Monford held Siege it was about the space of Three Leagues so that News was presently brought to the Earl that the Lord Charles of Blois was coming with the goodliest Company of Men armed at all Points that ever was seen in France At these tidings the Englishmen rejoyced greatly the better sort for the opportunity of gaining Honour and the Companions for the occasion of reaping benefit For being almost bankrupt with the long Peace they desired nothing more than War in hopes of Spoil and Riches Then they all made ready their Harness with great exactness new furbished their Spears
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 aââ 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. Rât 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
Earl by some English Title which all the Lords yielded to be very convenient Whereupon the King by his Letters Patents bearing e Dugd. 1 Vol. Baron p. 761. b. Date the same XI of May advanced him to the Title of Earl of Bedford and for the better support of himself and his Lady Isabell gave him a Grant of a 1000 Marks per annum to be paid him out of the Exchequer as also Thirty Marks more out of the Issues of the County of Bedford to be Yearly paid by the Sheriff of that Shire At that time f M.S. Ret. Par. c. ut suprà Sr. Thomas Ludlow Chief Baron of the Exchequer declared before the whole Parliament how William the Son and Heir of William Stephens who held diversly of the King in Capite as of the Crown had by Writ of Aetate probanda sued out Livery out of the Kings hands whereas the said William the Son for a long time should be within Age as by a prolix Schedule doth appear Whereupon the whole Parliament upon sight of the said William the Son judged him still to be within Age and therefore took Order that all his Hereditaments so sued out of the Kings hands should be forthwith reseised into the Kings hands till his full Age and that all Obligations Charters Statutes Recognisances and all other Writings made by the said William the Son should be null and void This done the King gave thanks to the Three Estates and licensed every One to depart and so this Session ended II. Galeacius or Galeas the Second Duke of Milain and Elder Brother to Duke Bernabo g Paul. Joviâs in Vitis Princip Mediolanens p. 151. being a Person of a truly Royal Spirit had already Married his Son John Galeas to the Lady Isabella Sister to the King of France and now for the more sure Establishing of his Affairs design'd to match his Beautifull Daughter Violantis with King Edward of England's Son Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence To that purpose he began to make some Overtures about this time insomuch that King Edward sent over to him an Embassy whereof the Lord h Dugd. 1 V. l. Baron p. 186. Humphry Bohun Earl of Northampton Hereford and Essex was the Principal Person to adjust Matters fully and equally on both sides The Effect of which Embassy we shall take notice of hereafter III. Dr. Simon Islip Archbishop of Canterbury i Godw. Catal. Bpsp. 142. riding to Magfield this Year his Horse chanced to fling him into a Miry Pool So being very wet however he continued his journey till he came to the said place Being there and having changed his Apparel he fell asleep but at his waking found himself in a Palsie and so within a few days died viz. on the 26 of April 1366. This Man k Vid. Anton. Wood Antiqu. Oxon. l. 2. p. 246. p. 338. founded a College in Oxford then called Canterbury College but since that it hath been mightily augmented and enlarged and bears the name of Christ-Church being at this time One of the most Magnificent Colleges in the whole World. This College the said Archbishop endow'd with good Possessions appropriating to the same the Parsonages of Pagham and Magfield but some Ages after the Famous and Munificent Cardinal Woolsey took it in as a part of his College and lastly that and this was accounted the Foundation of King Henry VIII so that now it is wonderfully encreased and is still acquiring New Magnificence and Beauty every day Archbishop Islip being thus dead the l Godâ ibid. p. 143. Monks of Canterbury chose Dr. William Edington then Bishop of Winchester for Archbishop but he declin'd the Dignity saying as it is reported That Canterbury was the Higher Rack but Winchester the better Manger Whereupon Simon Langham then Bishop of Ely was translated to that See and John Barnet Bishop of Bath and Welles went to Ely and Bath and Welles was given to a Chaplain of the Black-Prince named Dr. John Harewell 'T is observable that Dr. Simon Langham m Philipet's Catal Chancell Treas p. 37. on the day of his Consecration demanded and had Homage of the Earl of Stafford of Sr. Thomas Ross Sr. John Tyrrell Sr. Robert Brockhill and Sr. Ralph Sr. Leger for their Lands which they held of the See of Canterbury But of this Great Prelate we shall speak more largely hereafter IV. In these n Frois c. 229. fol. 125. days there was still in France a Mighty Number of Warlike Companions who after the Wars of Bretagne were ended knew not what to do but however were so wickedly frugal that they had rather do Mischief than be idle The scene of all their Extravagances was the unhappy Realm of France which they called their Chamber for they durst not do any harm in Aquitaine the Land would not suffer them And to say the truth the greater part of their Captains were Gascogners or Englishmen Subjects of King Edward or the Prince his Son there were but a few Bretons and Runagate Frenchmen Wherefore many French Lords began to murmur against King Edward and the Prince and said among themselves how they did not acquit themselves fairly to the French King Since they did not do their utmost to destroy these kind of People who now began to be unsufferable For the Duke of Anjou had lately gone against them with an o Knighton p. 2628. n. 60. Dugd. 2 Vol. Baron p. 148. Army of 15000 Men all whom Sr. Nicolas Dagworth their General vanquished and put to slight and took many Prisoners among whom were the Duke of Orleans and the Duke of Anjou himself It is reported of this same Sr. Nicolas who was a Baron of England and Son to the Famous Sr. Thomas Dagworth of whom we have spoken heretofore in this History p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 148. ex âeland Collect. Vol. 1. p. 826. M.S. in Bibl. Bodleian that with Thirteen English Horse he fought sixty French near to Flavigny in Burgundy and by means of certain Chariots which he made use of for his Defence they being placed in a Circle whereinto he could enter at pleasure utterly vanquished them But that he Headed the Companions at this time against the Frenchmen proceeded from the great desire he had to Revenge the Blood of his Father who about 17 q Vid. Lib. 2. c. 9. §. 6. p. 445. Years before had been basely murder'd by the French in time of Truce However King Charles of France and his Nobles being terrified with this great Success of the Companions r Walsingh hist p. 175. n. 10 c. sent to King Edward of England desiring him to interpose his Authority against the Fury of these Men who were for the most part English or at least under his Dominion For it was so provided in the Articles of the Peace at Bretigny that if the Souldiers should refuse to acquiesce both the Kings should joyn together to compell them First
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 Gâlielmi Wickhâuni 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
after married the Lady Eleanora Daughter to the said Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton and in time became Constable of England Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester The Admiral of the Fleet was the Lord Guy Brian a most expert Commander both by Sea and Land and one of the Honourable Order of the Garter With him was joyned Sr. Richard Sturry and many other Valiant Captains with a choice Number of Archers for their Defence upon Occasion Nor was all this Precaution needless thô they were neither encountred by the Fleet of France nor of Spain for since the Heiress of Flanders had been given away to Philip of Burgundy there was no good Correspondence between England and Flanders The Flemish Fleet had been at Rochell where they were laden with Wine and now in their Return homewards they called at la Baye in Bretagne where they took in vast Quantities of the best Salt the Heer van John Peterson being their Admiral The English making up to the same Port knew not at first who they were but when they saw them prepare to entertain them as Enemies they made hast to receive them couragiously So there began a fierce and terrible Medley which lasted long For b Frois ibid the Flemings were more in Number and better provided for a Battle as those who waited for such a Business thô they found here but an indifferent Mercat neither This Naval Fight endured for three Hours together in which time many Gallant Actions were performed by the valiant Men on both sides and many wounded hurt or slain For they were fastned to one another with Grâpling-Irons so that there was no other way but to conquer or die At last the Victory fell to the English the Heer van John Peterson the Flemish Admiral being taken Prisoner together with all that were left alive the rest being either drown'd or slain not c Jacob. Meyer ibid. a Man of them escaped one of these three Evils For the English were more than usually severe when they had the full Mastery because they had been so bold as d Walsing hist p. 182. to begin the Assault After the Fight the Earl of Hereford advised Sr. Guy Brian the Admiral to make for England as then and not expect his Return till he had reinforced the Fleet So he took land with the rest of the Commissioners at la Baye and went straight to Brest where he found the Duke of Bretagne But the Lord Guy Brian set sail for England returning with his Conquest and Prisoners above 4000 of the Enemy being slain and as many taken with 25 Ships laden with Salt and all the Wine they had taken in at Rochell XI The King of England was wonderfully pleased as this unexpected Success of his Fleet and so much the more when he heard how the Flemings had been the Aggressors and gave the first Occasion and yet were so entirely defeated The Heer van John Peterson their Admiral was sent to the Tower of London and the other Flemings bestow'd about in other places And because the King resolved by any means to pull down the Pride of those People who had thus presumed to begin a War against him e Frois Jac. Meyer ibid. he forthwith sent out a Royal Fleet against the Flemings giving strict Command to his Admiral and Viceadmiral to make sharp War upon all the Merchants of Flanders and to block up their Ports and constantly ply about the Sea called la Manche or Pas de Calais between Dover and Calais so to intercept all their Commerce with France When this was known to the Men of Gaunt Bruges and Ipres they had a Council together wherein all things consider'd they concluded it most for their Interest to remain at Peace with England and not any longer to have the Displeasure of King Edward for the sake of their Lord the Earl of Flanders who was now again wholly for the French. Wherefore all the Good Towns of Flanders having agreed in this Resolution sent Deputies sufficiently instructed into England to treat for a Peace with the King and his Council And these Deputies had such Success that they return'd with a Consummation of Peace with Flanders on certain Conditions sealed and agreed to on both Parts Thus lightly can Vulgar Minds be moved to begin a War and when they are beaten as readily sue for Peace XII It may be remembred that upon the Black-Prince's Return out of Spain we observ'd how James the Young King of Majorica by reason of sickness was forced to tarry behind and how shortly after he was taken Prisoner in his Chamber by the Bastard Henry upon his return to make new War against King Don Pedro. Now I suppose it will not be amiss to inform the Curious Reader what further became of this Unfortunate Prince And first Pope Vrban being moved with his Calamity f Dat. vâ Kal. Januar. Ann. 6. Vid. Tom. 6. Fp. Secr. p. 32. Odor Rainald ad an 1367. §. 18. wrote in his Behalf to Don Henry that he would restore to liberty the unhappy young King who had so long languished in the King of Aragon's Prison before And the Queen of Naples his Lady and the Marchioness his Sister when they were informed of his Mischance took it very heavily and within a while g Frois c. 294. Gallicè fol. 242 sent certain discreet and sage Gentlemen to treat with Don Henry who was then King of Spain about his Ransom So at last he was deliver'd for the Summ of an 100000 Franks which the Ladies paid very punctually to King Henry's satisfaction When the King of Majorica had thus got his Liberty he returned into Naples where yet he lay not long idle but having amassed together considerable Sums of Money and gather'd many Valiant Captains and hired Souldiers about him he began his March towards Navarre with design to make War upon the King of Aragon his Adversaây to whom he could by no means be reconciled for he had Murther'd the King his Father and had long kept him himself in Prison and unjustly and violently withheld from him his Crown and Heritage Upon which account he had furnish'd himself with Men of War from all Parts as English Gascogners Italians Almaines Bretons and some Troops of the Companions Who in all amounted to 1200 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen The Captains of the Companions were Sr. Gracian du Chastel Sr. John de Malestroit Silvester Budes and James Braye besides sundry Lords and Gentlemen of Divers Countries to all whom he gave great Wages and promised to satisfie them in each point King James order'd his Affairs so well that he had leave to bring this Army into the Realm of Navarre and also to tarry there some few days to refresh himself From thence he entred into Aragon and began to make heavy War against Don Pedro King of that Realm and ravaged the Country and took little Fortresses and Ransom'd and slew Men
Reverend Brethren Cardin is of the Holy Roman Church viz. Simon of the Title of St. Sixtus and John of the Title of the Four Crowned Saints Priests-Cardinals Nuntio's of the Apostolick See. Lest therefore ô most Beloved Son the Eastern Parts do now irreparably run to ruine and fall irrevocably into the Hands of cruel Barbarians We thought good to have our Recourse to your Piety earnestly entreating and desiring you in the Lord JESVS CHRIST and also perswading you in Order to the Remission of your sins that considering the Premises with such pious Meditation as is fitting you would induce the said King of England and our Beloved Sons John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge Sons of the said King to whom also We write to this very purpose to make a good and lasting Peace and Concord with the said King of France and to provide for some Succour as shall seem good to them in the said next Expedition when for such as shall be willing to pass the Seas a mighty Fleet will be equipped by the said Genoans So that such great Evils may soon be obviated and the said Peace being made which God grant who is the Author of Peace speedy Succour may be sent unto the said Eastern Parts For We request very many Princes and Nobles for speedy Succour by writing unto them effectually for that Purpose And what shall seem good to your Magnificence in the Premises forget not to write back unto Us as soon as may be Dat. apud Villam Novam Avenion Dioeces Kal. August An o Pontif. 1 mo Thus did his Holiness use his utmost Diligence to oppose the Success of the Infidels Arms by healing the Breaches of Christendom but the French King being now more confident upon the late League with Spain was less carefull to hearken to moderate Terms and so this Design fell and the War continued open as before XV. The q Frois c. 296. Duke of Lancaster and his Brother the Earl of Cambridge tarried at Bourdeaux with their New Ladies in great Jollity and Sporting till after Michaelmas about which time the Duke resolved to return into England not only because there was a Great Council to be held about Carrying on of the War but also that he might more particularly inform the King his Father of the Affairs of Aquitain But before his Departure he summoned all the Loyal Barons of Guienne to meet him at Bourdeaux Where he declared unto them How he design'd to go for England about certain Affairs relating to their Advantage and the Weal and Safety of all Aquitain and that by the next Summer at furthest he would be there again with them if so it should please the King his Father And all Men being highly satisfied with these Words he appointed the Noble and Valiant Lord John de Greilly Captal of Busche his Deputy Governour of all Guienne and with him he joyned as Assistants the Lord of Mucidan and the Lord of Lesparre In Poictou he set as Chief Governour the Lord Lewis of Harcourt and the Lord of Partenay and in Sainctogne the Lord Lewis of Argenton and the Lord William of Montendre and all his Seneschals and other Officers he left in statu quo priús Then there were nominated certain Representatives for the Good Towns of Gascogne Sainctogne and Poictou who were to go along with the Duke of Lancaster into England the better to inform King Edward of the State and Condition of Aquitain the Chief whereof were the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinant and Sr. Emery of Tarse When they had all made themselves ready for the Voyage the Duke of Lancaster went on Ship-bord with his Lady the Dutchess and her Sister and his Brother the Earl and a great Company of Men of Arms and Archers so that the Fleet consisted of Threescore Good Vessels together with those that bore their Provision and Necessaries They had Wind at Will and so landed with safety at Southampton where having tarried two Days they went all to Windsor to the King. He was glad to see his two Sons the Duke and the Earl and his Daughters the two Spanish Princesses and also all the Lords and Knights Strangers But in especial manner he welcom'd Sr. Guischard Dangle for he was a most Valiant and Loyal Baron and one who had a Deep insight into Men and Matters CHAPTER the NINTH The CONTENTS I. The Death of the Earl of Northampton and the Lord Walter Manny II. Some Overtures for a Peace but both the Kings prepare for War. III. King Edward designs the Duke of Lancaster to invade France by Calais and Picardy and the Earl of Pembroke by Rochell and Poictou IV. The Earl of Pembroke being come before Rochelle has a sharp Engagement with the Spanish Fleet but on the second Day is beaten and taken Prisoner with many more V. Sr. James of Surgeres obtaining his liberty on easie Terms makes Relation of the Fight to the Rochellers The Spanish Fleet bear off with their Prisoners and set sail for Spain The Captal of Busche with a great Number of Men of Arms comes to Rochell all too late VI. An Account of one Owen or Evan a Pretended Prince of Wales He serves the French King against England VII He invades the Isle of Garnsey and overthrows the Governour thereof in Battle and lays siege to Cornet Castle but is call'd off by the French King and sent into Spain VIII King Edward's Concern for the loss of the Earl of Pembroke and his Designs for the Security of Poictou which are dash'd by new Affairs from Bretagne IX Owen of Wales being in Spain insults over the Captive Earl of Pembroke The English Prisoners presented to King Henry who uses them respectfully but commits them to safe Custody X. The Captal of Busche reinforces the Garrison of Rochelle and goes and clears the Country about Soubize of the Enemy XI The Constable of France takes Monmorillon Chauvigney Lusac and Moncontour Poictiers much strengthned by the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux XII AN. DOM. 1372. An. Regni Angliae XLVI Franciae XXXIII The Frenchmen laying siege to St. Severe the Captal of Busche the Lord Thomas Percy and Sr. John Devereux prepare to raise the siege XIII The Constable takes the Place before their coming and is invited to come and take Seisin of Poictiers which he does with all speed XIV The English and Gascogners hereupon separate the latter going to Thoüars the former to Niort which latter being shut against them is taken by Storm and Garrison'd for England XV. Owen of Wales brings a Fleet from Spain before Rochell Soubize being besieged by the French is rescued by the Captal of Busche but Owen of Wales coming suddenly upon him he himself is taken and so Soubize follows his Fate XVI The French take St. Jean D'Angely Angoulesme Taillebourg and Sainctes XVII Rochell Castle obtain'd by stratagem The Inhabitants submit to the French King on Composition XVIII Sr. Bertram
Peace was now done we shall proceed orderly to the War. All this Winter l Frois c. 296. c. Gallicè f. 244. there were held in England by the King many Consultations how to carry on the War the Summer following for he design'd to send two Powerfull Armies the One to act about the Parts of Aquitaine and the other from Calais to March thrô Picardy into France And all the while he neglected not to Establish himself with Friends on every side as well in Almaine as the Marches of the Empire where he purchas'd many good Knights and Esquires to his Service And befides all this in England he made such Wonderfull Preparations that the like had hardly been seen before But it seems that God Almighty was willing to prepare this Glorious Monarch by some sensible Affliction for his final Dissolution and that He might by observing his own Weakness fall to a due Consideration of Gods Power and learn to despise the salse Grandeur and Painted Glories of the World he was pleased from this time to blast both his maturest Counsels and his strongest Preparations whereby as a Father doth his Child he weaned him from the Delights and Allurements of this Life and directed him to seek after a better For to say the Truth We cannot till this time Date the Full Birth of King Edward's Misfortunes But from henceforward We shall see his Great Web of Victories continually to unravel and the strong spring of his Success to run backwards with much more speed than ever it was wound up King Charles m Frois ibid. of France was perfectly informed of all King Edward's most secret Resolutions whereupon he provided in all Places accordingly And first he mightily fortified all his Towns Cities and Castles in Picardy and the Marches towards Flanders supplying all his Garrisons with good Captains and Souldiers and other necessaries Nor did he forget his Concerns in Guienne but besides the Armies on that side in Garrison which were able to resist any Encounter after his usual way of Artifice he tamper'd secretly with the Chief Burgesses of Rochelle and other Places and sent also to his New Confederate the King of Spain desiring him effectually to assist him with a strong Fleet the next Summer III. On the other hand King Edward when the Spring was enter'd and he had magnificently solemnised the Feast of St. George as was his constant Custom at Windsor having created Sr. Guischard Dangle Knight of the Garter in the Room of Sr. Walter Manny deceased return'd to London and at his Royal Palace at Westminster held a Great Council about the Affairs of his Realm Here he ordain'd the Duke of Lancaster as his Lieutenant to invade France with a great Army by the Plains of Picardy the Earl of Cambridge being to attend him Then at the instant request of the Lord Guischard Dangle and all the Poictevin Lords whom he and his fellows represented he order'd the Earl of Pembroke n Rot. Vasc 46. Ed. 3. m. 4. as his Lieutenant in Aquitaine to go into Poictou to preserve that Country and to make Powerfull War against the French on that side For the Gascogners and Poictevins had earnestly requested of the King both by their Letters and the Mouth of Sr. Guischard Dangle that if he could not spare some One of the Princes his Sons yet at least he would send the Earl of Pembroke unto them whom next to those they lov'd and honour'd most as having had good Experience of his Extraordinary Courage and Conduct Hereupon King Edward before all his Barons and Knights then assembled in Council said unto the Earl of Pembroke who thô now Husband to the Lord Manny's Daughter had for his first Wise a Daughter of the Kings My Fair Son John I here appoint You as my Lieutenant and Commander in Chief over all Aquitaine to go into Poictou along with my Lord Guischard of Angoulesme and there to be Captain of all my Forces as well of those whom I shall send with You as of such whom You shall find there ready to joyn You who are no small Number as I am credibly informed The young Earl kneeling down said Sir I heartily thank your Majesty for the great Honour You are pleased to confer upon me thô I should be glad to be employ'd in your Majesties Service either there or elsewhere as One of the meanest Officers of your Army IV. These Orders being thus settled and due Care taken for all things to be ready against the time appointed the Council brake up and the King return'd to his Beloved Seat of Windsor He took along with him among others the Noble Poictevin Lord Sr. Guischard Dangle with whom he frequently spake of the Affairs of Poictou and Guienne Sr. Guischard advis'd the King by no means to doubt the Loyalty of his Good Subjects there For Sir said he as soon as my Lord of Pembroke shall but once appear he shall find a Considerable Army in the Field to joyn him For We shall make up to the Number of Four or Five Hundred Spears at least with their several Retinues all at Your Majesties Service to live and die for You so they may have their Wages duly paid them Sr. Guischard Sr. Guischard reply'd the King take You no Care for Gold and Silver to maintain the War when You are once come thither For I thank God I have enough and I am well content to bestow it on such a Commodity as the Glory and Advantage of Me and my Kingdom In such o Frois c. 297. sed Gallicè fol. 244. b. Discourse the King past the time with Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he entirely respected and credited no less as indeed he deserved till the Fleet was ready and the Earl of Pembroke came thither to take his leave of the King in order to his going on Board The Captains that accompanied him were the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Thomas of St. Albans Sr. John Lawton Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John Curson Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Grimston all Knights of England besides the Poictovins as the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinan the Lord John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and others but they had no great Company with them because Sr. Guischard Dangle had advis'd the King not to exhaust England of her Best Men at that time when there were enough ready to fight for him in Poictou provided he sent over sufficient for their Wages All the Captains and their Men were order'd to repair to Southampton where they were fain to tarry no less than fifteen days in expectance of a Wind and then they went on Board with a good merry Gale and set sail for Poictou as they said in the Name of God and St. George but most certainly in an unlucky Hour For King Charles of France being either inform'd of all this or thrô his great Insight into Matters guessing how things would fall or thrô doubt
Southerland As for the former King John Baliol he liv'd at this time a retired life in France having only two Sons the Lord Edward and Henry who as yet had no Issue and therefore their Father had on certain considerations resigned and quitted and given over to King Robert his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland so that Robert was now quit of all fear on that part and otherwise very strong in the affections of his People who were then a great and flourishing Nation And this was the state of Scotland when King Edward the Third of England came to the Crown wherefore encouraged with their former success and despising King Edwards Youth r Rich. Sâuthwell on the very night of that day whereon King Edward was Crowned the Scots had intended to take the Castle of Norham Å¿ Grafton p. 173. between the Marches of England and Scotland by surprize and so well they managed their design that about t Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 225 sixteen of them had already mounted the Walls but the Captain Sr Robert Manners being warned of the Matter before-hand by one of his Garrison who was a Scotchman had so well provided to receive them that of those who had mounted he took five or six and put the rest to the sword their Companions below upon this disappointment retiring This seem'd a good Omen of King Edward's future Victories over the Scots by occasion of the Lord Edward Baliol who was himself a Scotchman Presently after King Robert Bruce supposing it now a very fit season to take some advantage against his old Enemies the English during this their Kings Minority sends about u Frois c. 15. Grafton p. 218. Easter a short and brisk Defiance to King Edward and all his Realm telling them that he would shortly with his Power invade the Realm of England with Fire and Sword and there do as he had done before in his Fathers Reign at the Battle of Bannocksborn near Striveling or Sterling where the English received that mighty Overthrow we spake of by reason of those x Sr Tho. de la More Ed. 2. p. 2. Holingshead hist Scotl. p. 217. Hector and Buchan Pits into which the Scots had intrapt them unawares I must not omit that the Scotch Writers attribute the occasion of this Defiance to some fraud or other wherewith the English had lately endeavour'd to ensnare them by foul Collusion of their Ambassadours but neither can it be imagin'd what necessity the King of England should have either by fraud or force to attempt to injure the King of Scots with whom he stood on no ill Terms before his own Affairs were in any posture of Settlement nor do any of their own Historians assign what this fraud or injury was nor indeed was ever the English Nation noted so much for fineness or subtlety as for down-right Honesty and blunt valour Nor is the consideration of King Robert's Age and sickness sufficient to conclude that of necessity there must be some great Cause given that could provoke so decrepit a Man to begin a War toward the End of his Life since thô his Person was weak his Mind was strong and vigorous and Scotland was never in better case than at that time and the Generals he intended to employ were Barons of great Fidelity Conduct and Resolution and he might reasonably hope to have at least as much advantage over this Young King as he had over his Father in his Full Age when attended with a most flourishing Army Nor is any great Captain thô never so satiate with Lawrels so unambitious after all but that in his weakest condition he would lay hold on any occasion of so probable success against a professed Enemy 'T is sweet to an old Warrior to end his days among Triumphs and Victories This is certain King Edward the Third neither did nor could send any Ambassadors to him before his Coronation yet even then we shew'd before that the Scots began to break the Peace by attempting to surprize a Castle thô no less than y Hâlinshead hist Scot. p. 224. Ashmole p. 645. ex Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 2. Dârs Nine years were to come of the last Thirteen years Truce struck up between this Kings Father and King Robert of Scotland four years before And besidââ we find that there had been since the Coronation of this Young King an Agreement for a further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on the Sunday next before Ascension Day then ensuing But as I said before King Robert imagining to make an easie prey of the young Monarch neither much valued the old Truce not yet ended nor the new Agreement not yet perfected but resolves upon War. Hereupon soon after he invades the North Borders with an z Hector p. 307 b. n. 60. Army of Twenty five thousand Men a Bachan p. 273 all Horse that they might do mischief more speedily and retire with more expedition if by any necessity they should be so obliged VI. The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance and to secure himself for the future from the like Contempt immediately with all his Power addresses himself to defend his Reputation And first he b Frois c. 17. sends his Uncle Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England with a choice number of Soldiers to Newcastle upon Tine who there made his Musters as he was appointed on the c Ashmole p. 645. Monday next before the Ascension in like manner the Lord Robert Hufford and the Lord John Moubray were commanded away to the Reinforcement of the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth then d Dugd. Baron 1 Vol. 565. a. Governour of the Castle and Town of Carlile At the same time the King issued out his General summons to his own People and moreover by kind letters invited his noble Friend John Lord of Beaumont in Heinalt and brother to William Earl of Heinalt by whose aid chiefly the Queen had deposed her Husband and who was but newly return'd home again to come over to his assistance about the time of the Ascension Sr John Lord Beaumont hereupon came over to the King to the City of York the place appointed for the general Rendezvous thô Newcastle also was pitch'd upon for the assembly of other Forces a week before within three days of Whitsuntide accompanied with more than fourty Lords and Knights of Heinalt Flanders and Bohemia with other Knights from Cambray and Artois to the number of Five hundred Men of Arms all well Arm'd and gallantly Mounted Soon after Whitsuntide follow'd for the sake of this John of Heinalt the Lord William Son to the Duke of Juliers or Gulick and Sr Henry Thyrry afterwards Earl of Lewis and with them another goodly Company all expecting to purchase much honour under this hopefull Young King and no less profit as well from his Royal bounty as from the
safe with a merry Gale to Dover In their Approach to London f Knighton p. 2552. the Mayor and Aldermen went forth in their Habits well attended to meet their New Queen and to do her honour 'T was about Christmass when she came to London and the whole City enlarged their Joys and Feastings in honour of so welcome a Guest From London they all went to York where the Court then was and there g Id. Ibid. Frois c. 19. Fabian p. 195. Lit. Dom. C.B. on the twenty fourth Day of January being a Sunday and the Eve of St. Pauls Conversion the Marriage was Solemnized at which Dr. h M.S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. William Melton Archbishop of York and Dr. John Hotham Bishop of Ely sang the Mass And afterward i Sandford Geneal hist p. 159. on the first Sunday in Lent following was the Young Queen crown'd at Westminster with much Pomp and Glory Upon these happy Nuptials there was great Joy over all England but especially at Court where there was nothing but Justs and Turnaments in the Day-time Maskings Revels and Interludes with Songs and Dances in the Evenings and continual Feasting with great Magnificence for three Weeks together Soon after the Queens Coronation all except a very few of her Attendants Relations and Countrymen departed with her Uncle the Lord John of Beaumont into their own Country highly satisfied with their Entertainment and well rewarded by the King of England Among those few necessary Servants that stay'd here with her there was one a very proper and well-shap'd young Gentleman of strong Limbs and exalted Courage named Sr. Walter Manny k Frois c. 19. Lord of the Town of Manny in the Diocess of Cambray who was then Carver to the Queen but after that became for his exceeding Valour Generosity and Eminence in all Vertue One of the most Renowned and Gallant Knights in the whole World as the Sequel of this History will abundantly declare Now l Ashmole p. 669 there had been before in this King's Father's Days several other Matches proposed for him thô none of them took but this last And first his Father had design'd him for the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt and Sister to this Queen Philippa who was afterwards Married to Lewis the Emperour Another time for Sibylla a Kinswoman of the said Earls and thirdly for Iolant the Daughter of James King of Aragon fourthly for the Lady Eleanora Sister to Alphonso King of Spain and while this Match was in Treaty another Alphonso King of Portugal propos'd his Daughter to the Prince but neither this nor that came to any effect because all former measures were broken by that great and sudden Alteration of Affairs in England II. And thus was King Edward a Married Man at the age of Fifteen but not fully Lord of himself being kept from the true Knowledge of Affairs by the Queen Dowager and her Minion the Lord Mortimer who by his great Power with her so Lorded it over his Betters that he began to grow insupportable to the Kings Uncles and Henry Earl of Lancaster which ill-will of their's was encreased by this Occasion In m M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. Whitsunday Week being the latter end of May there was a Parliament held at Northampton in which first King Edward began to stir about his Title to France For Charles the Fair King of France and Brother to his Mother Isabella Queen Dowager of England being lately dead without Issue-Male notwithstanding that King Edward acknowledged their Salic Law whereby an Infant Daughter of the said Charles was excluded wherefore neither did He claim the Crown for his Mother yet he maintain'd this Point n Mezeray ad an 1328. That the Sons of the Daughters having no such Imbecillity of Sex were not at all uncapable and that so the Peers of France ought to prefer him who was a Male and Grandchild to King Philip the Fair before Philip of Valois another Pretender to that Crown who was but a Nephew These things o Antiq. Brit. p. 228. n. 50. being discussed in Parliament it was thereupon Ordained That Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester and Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and there in the Name of King Edward their Master claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois But of this matter we shall say no more till we are called to enter upon the Wars of France which King Edward in his Riper Years undertook upon this Occasion Now we must look upon him as influenced by others counsels and so neither Formidable abroad nor Powerfull at home and one notable Instance thereof appeared in this very Parliament at Northampton where not so much the Honour and Profit of the King and his Realm was respected as the enriching security and advancement of the Lord Mortimer Here the two Spencers Father and Son Edmund late Earl of Arundel who had been executed by the Queen Mothers Party without any legal Process made against them And Walter Stapleton late Bishop of Excester whom for firmly adhering to his Master King Edward the Second against Queen Isabell's Pretensions the Commons of London had in a seditious tumult illegally beheaded together with his brother p Godw. Catal. B shops p. 405. Sr. Richard Stapleton a valiant and loyal Knight who died in the same manner at the same time all these now thô dead * Martin Ed. 3. p. 104. M. S. Record p. 12. Sr Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 8. were in this Parliament attainted of High Treason by the directions and influence of the Queen Mother and the Lord Mortimer Whether it proceeded of implacable Malice which recked not to pursue them even into their Graves or whether by this means they meant to cover their former unjustifiable Proceedings against those Persons by a subsequent countenancing of the Action in Parliament Such pittifull shifts are Men put to when once they deviate from the straight way of Justice and Vertue thô at last all disguises must fall off and Wickedness appear open in all its natural Turpitudes From the same Influence also at this time by very subtle dealing and precontrived Overtures which the Scots were underhand dealt withall to propose a base and dishonourable Peace was struck up with that Nation profitable indeed to Mortimer and the Old Queen who with Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester were the chief contrivers of it but utterly inconsistent with the Honour of the Young King or Profit of his Realm and People The Reason that moved the Scots to part with so much Money as was given by them upon the Establishing this Peace was because they were beforehand assured that they should have a good Return made them in consideration thereof beside they were sure to loose much more by the War next Year if continued because their
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.
Archimbald Douglas on the 20 of March being the Sunday after the Annunciation had enter'd the Marches of England as we u L. 1. c 5. §. 4. p. 68. shew'd before where he continued four days in great Outrage without any encounter and after that got off safe thô with no great Booty But now King Edward had order'd Reprisals to be made upon the Enemy and soon x Knighton p. 2562. n 40. 50. after the Lord William Montague Ralph Lord Nevill the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Old Earl of Lancaster and Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel passed with King Bailiol into Scotland where they did much Damage to the Enemy and among the Rest they took a certain Fortress wherein they found the Lord Robert Colvile a Baron y Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 626. of England Prisoner whom they released with many other English Gentlemen and several great Ladies of the Country all whom they deliver'd Here also they found a vast quantity of Provision of all sorts which they kept for themselves and so ras'd the Castle to the ground From hence they March'd directly for Barwick which they began to lay Siege to both by Sea and Land. A little before to retaliate those Hostile Incursions made by the Scots upon the Marches the Lord z Knighton p. 2563. n. 10. Walsingh Hist p. 114. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth and William of Loughmaban with only 800 Resolute Men had enter'd Scotland in Hostile manner for above twenty Leagues when they were met by the Lord William Douglas Captain of the Fortress of Loughmaban attended with a great Multitude of Men of War. However at last the Victory fell to the English the Lord Humphry Gurdon Sr. William of Carlile and more than an hundred and sixty Men of Arms being slain the Lord Douglas himself with Sr. William Ward and about an hundred others were taken Prisoners with a great deal of Booty But the Lord Anthony Lucy on the English part was very much wounded in the Fight thô not mortally and so they all return'd with their Prey and Prisoners into England About the same time another party of the English Borderers made a sudden Inroad into Scotland and coming to Haddington in the time of a great Fair they slew and took all they found there seising on all their Cattle and other Commodities that were of any Value V. But now while the Siege of Barwick was carrying on King Edward himself comes thither in Person with a well appointed Army and there resolutely invests the Town declaring he would never depart thence till he had reduced the Place or the King of Scots should come thither to give him Battle Some five Weeks before he had been before Barwick but a Frois c. 26. fol. 16. then he was advised not to spend his time in a tedious and uncertain Siege but to ride up in the Land and Destroy and Conquer as his Grandfather had done in the furthest parts of Scotland the Forces of King Bailiol being judg'd sufficient to hold a formal Siege thô not to carry the place by force Upon this reason and hoping thereby to draw King David or his Lieutenant to a Battle he follows the advice Wasting and Destroying all the plain Country of Scotland and taking in several fortified Towns and the strong Castle of Edenburgh particularly wherein he placed a Garrison Thence passing the Frith at Queens-ferry he came to Dunfermlin and destroy'd the Town but not the least harm was done to the Abbey the King giving special Command to the contrary hence he over-ran all the Country about Scone as far as Dundee and on the left hand as far as Dunbritton an impregnable Castle about five Miles from Glascow standing on the River Cluid in the Marches bordering on the wild Scots To this place King David with his Queen was now retired for safety for he had been advised by his Council not to hazard a Battle seeing that beside the common uncertainty of War he had but few good Captains remaining and himself was little more than ten Years Old the Lord William Douglas also now being Prisoner in England But wait a while say they till this Tempest is of it self blown over another time we may recover these Losses more easily Hereupon the King being thus secur'd the rest of the Scots of those parts had withdrawn themselves and the best of their Moveables into the Forest of Gedworth which was impassable but to those who were well acquainted with the Country King Edward therefore having thus ravag'd over all Scotland at his pleasure without the least proffer of Battle made to him except that some Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland would frequently Skirmish with any small detachments from his Army and finding it fruitless to expect any just Opposition from King David intends back again for Barwick But in the way thither he took the Castle of Blacknes belonging to Earl Douglas which being about 10 Leagues or 20 Scotch Miles from Edinburgh he Garrison'd also for himself as he had done divers other Castles before intending thereby to make constant War upon Scotland within its own Bowels Just as the King of England was return'd to the Siege before Barwick with a Resolution not to stir thence till he had taken the Place or that King David should raise his Siege by Battle about the same time came to Barwick the Lord b Thoroten's Notting p. 264. John Darcy Justice of Ireland with a Gallant small Body of Men to the King his Masters Assistance He had three Years c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. before been sent by King Edward into Aquitain to the Reinforcement of William de Burgo alias Burgh Earl of Vlster then Guardian of that Dutchy But the said Earl being this Year d Knighton p. 2563. Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 70. ad An. 1333. desirous to pass into Scotland to wait upon the King his Lord as he was riding to Knockfergus near the Fords of Vlster and talking familiarly with his Followers about the subject matter of his present Undertaking an Irishman called Robert Fitzmartin Mandevil suddenly drew his sword and ran it into his belly so that there the young Valorous Earl was slain only because he had imprison'd one Henry Mandevil of that Family leaving behind him e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. one Daughter Elizabeth Heir of all his vast Possessions which afterwards was Married to a Son of King Edward's not yet Born. To Revenge his Death the Lord Darcy leaving Aquitain came now for Ireland with this small Army but understanding that the Men of the Country had already done that Work to his hand by putting the foresaid Mandevil and his Fellows to due Execution he set Sr. Thomas Burgh in his place as Lieutenant of Ireland and so made directly for Scotland whither he came just in time to give a Specimen both of his Loyalty and Valour For in this very juncture
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 Whitsânday 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. Hânâr 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. Honâr 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 Muââmouth 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.
the Lords of his z Frois c. 42. Council told him that he had not lost one jot of his Honour since he had Couragiously sought out his Enemies and Faced them boldly for several days and finally for by that time King Edward also was return'd to Antwerp had made them quit his Realm without any Great Advantage And they moreover said that the King of England must be fain to make many vast and expensive Voyages before he should be able to Conquer France unless the Frenchmen by their own heat and rashness would fling their Country away King Philip however went the next day to St. Omers and thence placed his Men of War in Garrisons especially at Tournay Lille and Douay and to other Towns bordering on the Empire Sr. Godmar du Fay a Norman Lord was now made Captain of Tournay and Sr. Edward Lord of Beaujeu was sent to Mortagne confining on Hainault near the Skell And having thus settled Affairs King Philip returns to Paris X. The mean while King Edward who knew nothing of the Departure of the French Army stood after his usual manner embattlel'd in the Fields the next Sunday on which Day the Lord of a Knighton p. 2575. n. 50. Andelys was taken by the English Then the King heard that the French Army was marched off and retired to their own homes Whereat he was extreamly amazed But on the Monday the Marquess of Brandenburgh Son to the Emperour the Marquess of Nuys his Son in Law the Duke of Brabant and the other Germans disposed themselves for home because of the sharpness of the Weather the Winter being already pretty well enter'd King Edward gave them his leave to depart and he himself went straight to Antwerp in Brabant where he had left his Queen and her young Son Prince Lionel Upon his Return to Antwerp he issued out another b Ashmole p. 650 ex Pat. inter Regem diverses Magnat German 15 Novemb 13 Ed. 3. m. 3. Commission to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knights and John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely to treat of Peace with Philip of Valois as he is called in the Commission or with Commissioners from him and a Month after to wit on the 16 of December the said Commission was renewed upon adding Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk to the forenamed Commissioners The mean while the King kept his Christmas in great Splendour at Antwerp together with his Queen and her Ladies and many German Lords c Walsingh hist p. 132. most part of his Army remaining still about him To adorn the Solemnity the better he had sent for his Eldest Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester for he was not yet creaated Prince of Wales whom he had left his Lieutenant or Warden of England being now a Proper Hopefull Young Gentleman of almost ten Years of Age. His great Grace and exact Shape made him as acceptable to the Ladies Eyes as his large and well-proportion'd Limbs rais'd a full Expectation of his future Manhood among the Lords both of England and Almain And here it seems by what follows in the next Year that a Match was if not fully concluded yet at least propounded and well-nigh agreed on between the said Young Prince and the Duke of Brabants Fair Daughter the Lady Margaret at that time but four Years old thô indeed the same thing had been projected the Year foregoing as appears by d Ret. Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. vid. Ashmcle p. 675. Sandford p. 184. the Rolls About the same time Prince Otho Duke of Austria stirred up with the Fame of King Edward with whom he had enter'd an e 16 Febr. Patentes inter Regem diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. Alliance this Year sent and required the Lady Isabella his Daughter in Marriage for his Young Son the Letters beginning thus f Walsingh hist p. 133. To the most Excellent and Magnificent Prince the Lord Edward the most Illustrious King of England his Sincere and most Dear Friend Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Austria Stiria Suabia and Carinthia Lord of Carniola Moravia and Portaenaon Earl of Hapsburgh and Chiburgh and Land grave of Alsatia with all Hearty and Devout Affection wishes a good Success of his Desires and a continual Encrease of Health and Felicity c. But neither g Ashmole p. 675. 676. of these Matches took effect the Pope by the King of France's underhand-dealing still refusing a Dispensation for the First they being within the Third Degree of Consanguinity and the Other being otherwise hindred as we shall see hereafter At the End of this Year there came from the Pope to King Edward this Letter following the like whereof He also at the same time sent to King Philip of France * * Walsingh hist p. 129. Censimiles Literâ Regi Franciae directae exstant apud Odoric Rainald ad an §. 1339. 14. Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction While we seriously consider and deeply revolve in our Minds how great hath been the Bounty of the most High and Eternal King and the Abundance of his most mercifull Goodness that when lately your Army most Dear Son and the Army of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France stood so near together confronted in Battle Array furiously dispos'd to a terrible Conflict on both sides those miserable Effects did not ensue which those warlike Preparations and Force of Armed Men did threaten to him we pay the tribute of our Praise since it ought to be esteemed as the greatest Gift of Almighty God and no less than a Miracle gratiously wrought by the Goodness of the Wisdom of God which never fails in its Dispensations And surely it may be more evidently gather'd that so great an Effusion of Blood of those who had been redeem'd with the precious Blood of our Lord as must needs have followed if the said Armies had come to Battle at that time to the great loss and scandal of all Christendom and to the hazard of many Souls was by no means pleasing to the most High who maketh Wars to cease and by the Prophet threatens to scatter the Nations that delight in War. Your Royal Wisdom also may consider how deeply both You and the foresaid King must have incurr'd the Divine Anger if you had proceeded to hazard so many of those whose Souls and Bodies he hath so dearly ransomed And it is to be feared that without doubt God Almighty will most severely animadvert against him especially who of the two should be most forward in promoting such Mischief whereby such Slaughter and Confusion would follow that all Christendom would be shook thereby and a Reformation of
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 Haânault 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 ãâã 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 War and were now quite tired out with the length of the Siege So that the very next Morning with the light ye might have seen Tents taken down Carts and Waggons lading and People removing with all speed imaginable The Brabanders therefore went away first as being more eagerly bent upon home the King of England thô much against his Will departed also but he was so earnestly parswaded to the Truce both by his real and false Friends and also by the necessity of his Affairs that he could not but comply And the King of France had so much of the bad Air and hot Weather already that he was glad to make hast away from that unfortunate Place Thus was the strong City of Tournay wonderfully preserved from utter Ruine without Battle given only by the power of a Ladies Tongue and by the Providence of the Divine Goodness which even yet seem'd desirous to give further Warning to King Philip and as it were to offer him one more Opportunity for Deliberation Before it would resign his Kingdom up to those Destructions for which already it was marked out Yet notwithstanding f Frois ibid. the City had been so reduc'd that their whole Provision of Victuals could not as was said have held out above three or four Days longer So in France it was reckon'd that King Philip had the chief Honour of this Expedition because he had as he design'd saved Tournay from ruine and obliged her Enemies to forsake the Siege and to depart the Country On the other Hand the Lords of England said how they had the Honour only because they had tarried so long in the Realm of France without Battle having for more than nine Weeks besieged one of the best Towns thereof wasting and destroying about in the Country all the while at their pleasure and that the French King had not once offer'd to relieve the Place at the time prefix'd in his Letters but had in the end without giving Battle as he ought to have done first himself sought and after agreed to a Truce with them who had done him all this Displeasure King Edward g Frois ibid. went from Tournay directly for Gaunt where he found his Vertuous and Beautifull Queen in good Health with whom about two Months after he went privately for England as we shall shew in due place all his Men being Order'd to follow except those Lords who were to be at the Parliament at Arras King Philip for his Part dismist the Main of his Army and himself went first to Lille whither the Burgesses of Tournay came to wait upon him He received them very Graciously and shewed them much favour upon the account of their Hazard for his Sake restoring unto them at this time all their former Privileges and adding to them several New ones to their great Satisfaction for a while before he had upon some Displeasure taken away their Charter and set over them the Lord Godmar du Fay and other Captains successively to be their Governours But now for their late approved Loyalty and Valour they had their old Form of Government restored and leave to choose a new Provost and Jurats according to their Ancient Customs All which being done and ratified the King went from Lille to Paris XIII While King Edward tarried yet at Gaunt he h Odoric Raynald An. 1340. §. 33. ad §. 37. wrote unto the Pope a Letter wherein thanking him for his diligence in Labouring after a Peace between the two Realms which he himself also mightily desired that thereby he might be at liberty to prosecure the Holy War against the common Enemies of Christendom and declaring how at the importunate Instances of some he had accordingly condescended to a Truce even then when he had almost reduced Tournay to the last Extremity he shews that upon sight of his Holinesses Letters he had prolonged the Term of the Truce that thereby he might give his Holiness suller Information of his own Intentions and also of the Equity of his Cause requiring thereupon his Advice which he should be ready to embrace Also that he had sent his Envoys to the Apostolick See to return Thanks to his Holiness for his Diligence in obtaining the Liberty of Nicolas de Flisco desiring God Almighty to preserve his Holiness in the Government of his Holy Church many and happy Days Datum apud Gandavum 19 no Novembris Anno Regni nostri Franciae Primo Regni verò nostri Angliae Quartodecimo At which time also he sent unto his Holiness the following Justification of Himself and his Cause i Extat apud Benedict Tom. 2. Ep secr 114. in Bib. Vatican Odoric Raynald ibid. These are the things in effect which are reported unto You Most Holy Father our Lord by Us William of Norwich Dean of Lincoln John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely and John Thoresby Canon of Southwell on the Behalf of our Lord the Illustrious King of England Most Holy Father and Lord that your Holiness may be more fully informed of the sincere and just intention of our said Lord the King which is ever prone and ready to accept of a Reasonable Peace something in Fact is to be opened The Lord Philip who now bears himself as King of France from the time that he first occupied the Realm of France verily believing nor without Reason that our said Lord the King directed the Eyes of his mind toward the Kingdom of France or at least would afterwards look that Way was pleased what in the Parts of Scotland by really Adhering to the Scots and what in the Dutchy of Guienne by there Usurping many Places so continually and strongly to divert him that he should have no leisure to intend to the Recovery of his Rights in France And because he being under Age and having no skill in the matter of his Right nor Experience as to what he was to do especially because of the foresaid Snates as is premised prepared for him had not untill of late any way open of duly prosecuting his Rights as to his said Kingdom of France Our said Lord the King desiring Peace and Quiet offer'd unto the said Lord Philip the Methods here under-named only for the Recovery of the Dutchy aforesaid and that he would absolutely refrain from Assisting the Scots Viz. First the Marriage of his Eldest Son for a Daughter of the Lord Philip to be Coupled with him in Matrimony without any Dowry Secondly the Marriage of his own Sister now Lady of Gueldre for a Son of the said Lord Philip with a great and excessive Dowry Thirdly the Marriage of his own Brother the Earl of Cornwall for some one Kinswoman of his Fourthly to redeem the Seisure of his Lands he offer'd unto him a Summ of Mony to be adjusted at the Discretion of the said Lord Philip Fifthly because the said Lord Philip pretended that he would cross the Seas to the Aid of the Holy Land our said Lord the King out of the great Zeal
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
Jacob van Arteveld desired himself for the better security of his Person because he said that one Gerard Dennis who was Dean of the Weavers and a very seditious fellow did maliciously plot his Ruine And no doubt but by this time he had Enemies enow as we shall quickly find V. Now the k Frois c. 115. Burgesses of Gaunt that came from Scluse had declared to the People with no great Advantage how Jacob van Arteveld went about to depose and exclude their Natural Lord and his Heirs from their true Right and Title and to introduce an Alien to rule over them at which News the Commons began generally to murmure against him for that Design of his did no way suit with their Desires and they said That althô there had past some unkindness between the Earl and them yet by the Grace of God no such Disloyalty should ever be found in them as to disinherit and exclude their own Natural Lord and his Issue to endow a Stranger with his Right We may well think that Gerard Dennis and others who either favour'd the Earl. or maligned Jacob van Arteveld did not overslip this opportunity but used all their Art and Diligence to embroile matters further They lay'd whatever had happen'd amiss during his Government all to his Fault but chiefly scattered about the Town such Reports as these that Jacob van Arteveld had gather'd in the whole Revenues of Flanders for seven Years together of all which he had never yet given any account but had spent it upon himself in Housekeeping and otherwise as he pleased And that having secretly Convey'd vast Sums of Money into England he intended when he had quite Ruin'd his Country to make his Retreat thither and laugh at them These and the like malicious and false Reports set the Minds of the Gantois on Fire But while these seeds of Displeasure were thus by his Enemies sowing against him in Gaunt this Popular Man had wholly brought over the Men of Bruges and Ipres to his Opinion Whereby he became so blinded with Confidence that without half his Guard of Welchmen he came one Morning before Dinner to Gaunt with his usual unconcernedness and security The Commons had warning of his coming beforehand and so he found some Numbers of them met in the Streets where he was to pass not as they used to do to bid him Welcome but to attend his Downfall When they saw him instead of making their usual Honours they turned aside and began to run three Heads under one Hood and to murmure and whisper among themselves saying one to another See yonder comes our great Master who will dispose of all Flanders at his Pleasure But this is no longer to be endured Jacob could not but observe a Wonderfull Alteration as he rode thrô the Streets but when he saw those whom he knew to be his Friends to shake their Heads and look heavily and then turning their Backs to go into their Houses silently he began to distrust that there was no good meant unto him Wherefore being come to his House he order'd to shut up his Doors Gates and Windows which was scarce done but the street was full of Men who consisted chiesly of the smaller Trades and the more Rascally sort of People Such being always the first for any Mischief or Sedition These presently Assaulted Jacob's House with all their Fury and had made quick work but that the Welchmen gave them some diversion for they barricado'd all the Avenues of the House and shot among the mixt Multitude and threw down upon them huge Weights of Massy Stone and Timber wherewith they slew and l Gievan Vâllan p. â55 hurt many But when Jacob saw he could not possibly hold out long and that by this time near upon three parts of the whole Town was gather'd against him he thought once more to try what his tongue that never yet had failed him could do in this exigence So a Parly being demanded and obtain'd he came bare-headed to an high-Window and said with great Modesty Ah! Ye good People how comes it to pass that you are thus strangely stirr'd up against me Wherein have I ever displeas'd You Do but declare it unto me and I will endeavour to correct mine Errour thô with the utmost hazard of my Life which I never yet accounted Dear in respect of your Advantage As he was going on those that heard him answer'd as it were with one voice We will have an Account given us of the vast Treasures of Flanders which you have squander'd away and dispos'd of at your pleasure without the least title of reason Jacob answer'd Certainly my Friends of the treasure of Flanders I never converted any thing to my own private use and if it will please you to retire peaceably to your several homes and come again to morrow in the Morning I shall give you so good and just an account of what has been in my hands that will make you all well satisfied of my truth in your Service Then they all cry'd out with more fury Nay nay we will have an account made immediately you must not think to escape us so For we are very sure you have convey'd away great Riches into England without acquainting us therewith And therefore You shall die When Jacob heard that Word he clasp'd his hands together woefully and said all weeping Sirs such as I am You your selves have made me and You have all sworn to me before now that You would protect me against all Persons whatsoever and yet now You talk of slaying me without Reason You may do it if You are so resolved for I am but one Man among You all But for Gods Sake and your own souls sake be better advised and remember the time past and consider the great Favours and Courtesies that I have shewn to You and yours Methinks you intend to give me but a bad Reward for all the Goodness that I have used toward You and your Town hitherto You know very well that Merchandise was almost Ruin'd throughout this whole Country till I prov'd the occasion of reviving it again and that I have govern'd You in great Peace and Prosperity for during my Government among You You have had all things at your desire as Corn Riches and all sorts of Merchandise Then they all cry'd with one voice Come down and be hang'd and don 't Preach to Us at such a Distance but give Us an account of the vast Treasure of Flanders which You have had so long in your hands For it is not the part of a just Officer to receive the Goods of his Lord or of his Country without making account When Jacob saw that nothing would prevail with them he drew in his Head and shut the Window thinking if he might to steal out on the backside and to escape away on his Horse or however to get into the Church adjoyning there to take Sanctuary till this Fury of the Rabble should be
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 6â0 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 * Hâc nemina âu sequuntur ad numerum 22. er M. S. Vetust Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. cui titââus 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
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
Invitation the young Earl accepted of and returned forthwith into Flanders where he was received in most splendid manner and presented with Gifts of great Value But as soon as King Edward heard of this Change of Affairs in those Parts he sent thither William Bohun Earl of Northampton Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and Reginald Lord Cobham who prevail'd so far with the Demagogues and Leading Men of Flanders that all the Country was quickly of the mind that their Lord should rather take to Wife a Daughter of England than the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant or of any other Prince whatsoever And so they effectuously desired their Lord and shew'd him what Reasons he had so to do nor durst those few Burgesses who were for a Match with Brabant speak the least syllable to oppose them But the young Earl boldly declared his Resolution saying That by the Grace of God never while he lived would he Marry her whose Father had slain his thô he should have half the Realm of England for her Dowry When the Flemings heard this peremptory Answer they as boldly but with little Care of their Duty told him that he was too much sway'd by French Counvels and sought the Interest of their Enemies more than it became him And that he must expect no good from them if he would not rather believe the Counsel which they should give him and which was for the common Advantage both of him and them But the Young Prince not being at all shaken with this they proceeded further and took and put him in the Prison of Courtray swearing That he should never come forth thence while he lived unless he would govern himself after their Advice and Counsel And they told him moreover that the Earl his Father believed and loved the French Nation in like Manner to his utter Ruine whereas had he follow'd their Advice and been a Friend to their Friends he might have been as Great a Lord as any in Christendom and have recover'd again Lille Douay and Bethune and still on this side Heaven Thus Matters rested for a while and the Earl was kept short nor without some inconvenience in no little fear being emprisoned by his own Subjects V. King Edward the mean while was still before Calais and had kept all that Winter especially during the Christmas Holy-days a most Magnificent Court in the Camp but as soon as the Spring began to open the Year for Action he set himself earnestly to establish his Affairs On the o Ashmele p. 704. ex Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. 2 April second of April therefore being Easter-Monday he sent the Lord James Audeley from the Siege before Calais into England with Command to raise what Forces he could and to bring them down to Sandwich by Ascension-day well-arm'd in Order to pass over to Calais in regard the French King was drawing together a Vast Army with a purpose to raise the Siege About a p Ashmele p. 681. 14 Maii. Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3 p. 1. m. 10. Month after hearing the French King intended to be at Calais about Whitsuntide he sent also into England to his Cousin Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby commanding him speedily to repair to his Assistance with the Forces he had raised In reference to whose Passage Command was given q 19 Maii Rot. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 6. five Days after to the Lord John Mongomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships in readiness at Sandwich and Dover with all speed for the transportation of those Forces Accordingly the Earl arrived at Calais before the end of May immediately upon whose coming thither King Edward among other Gracious Tokens of Favour wherewith he welcomed this High-born Subject taking into consideration his many great Services and Victorious Successes in Aquitain and elsewhere r 1 Junii Ret. fact apud Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 13. granted unto him and his Heirs-Male for ever by Charter the Castle Town and Place of Bergerac on the Dordonne in the Diocese of Perigort with the whole Chastellany and all Jurisdiction High and Low Royal Authority Absolute and Mixt as also the Coynage of Money there To which he afterwards added a Grant of the Examination of the Assay with both the Criminal and Civil Punishment of all Offendors for Coyning of Money And ſ 17 Jun. Ret. Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 16. because this Town and Castle stood upon the Frontiers of the Enemy the King granted that during the War there should remain in that Garrison an 100 Men of Arms and 200 Foot at the Kings pay subject nevertheless to the Command of the Kings Seneschal of Gascogne and to be by him drawn out upon occasion he leaving sufficient strength to Defend the same And further because this Noble Earl had taken divers Prisoners at the Town of St. Jean d' Angely when he reduced that Place as we have shewn the King therefore toward the latter end of this Year granted unto him all the Lands Tenements Vines and other Goods of those Prisoners till their Ransom was fully paid And a little after he granted unto him and his Heirs for ever the Houses Lands and other Goods and Possessions of Bernard Barrham Burgess of that Town to hold by the service of rendring to the King and his Heirs One Rose annually at Midsummer And besides all this he t Extract Donat 21. Ed. 3. m. 10. Novemb 10. granted unto him the Castle of Horeston in the County of Darby with the appurtenances and 40 pounds per annum out of the Farm of the Town of Darby to him and his Heirs-Male and for default of such the same to revert to the King and his Heirs All these Grants and more were made to him by that Munificent Monarch upon the Account of his many good and acceptable Services by him performed VI. While King u Frois c. 140. Edward was thus busied in reinforcing the Siege at Calais and King Philip was on the other hand preparing to rescue the Town Lewis the young Earl of Flanders whom We lately left confin'd at Courtray having by loss of Liberty and some hardship learn'd a little Experience resolved now to work his own Will but therein to use more caution and to procure his escape by Dissimulation Since he found it impossible to avoid ruine if he should still openly avow what he could not but harbour in his heart He often therefore said to those who were about him that he would for the future believe the Counsel of his good Subjects of Flanders for he knew well he said that he should live in more splendour there and in a Higher Condition than in any other Country For in France he was subject to the pleasure of other Men and could not do as he would These Words being noised abroad were greedily swallowed by the plain-dealing Flemings who could not penetrate into the forced Dissimulation of the Willfull young Lord.
Wherefore they took him out of Prison and suffer'd him to go an Hawking a Sport which he loved well on the other side the River Lys or Leye But still there were Persons appointed to watch him who were charged upon their Lives to look carefully to his Motions that he should not by any means steal away from them And besides his Keepers themselves were such as chiefly prefer'd the King of England's service so that he could not do the least occasions of Nature without their knowledge This new way of Imprisonment obliged the Earl to another Device he said at last as it were from his heart and of his own accord that he desired extreamly to Marry the Daughter of so Renowned a Prince as King Edward was but none of his Friends would endeavour to procure him that happy Promotion Of this immediately the Flemings sent word to the King and Queen then before Calais and appointed a Day whereon they should come with their Daughter the Lady Isabella to Bruges and they would at the same time bring thither their Lord the Young Earl and so the Nuptials should be solemnized between them in the Abbey The King and Queen x Frois ibid. Giov. Villant l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. who were well pleased with this Overture said how the Flemings had now done like true and honest Men and so prepared for the intended Meeting At the time appointed the most Discreet and Wealthy Burgesses of the Towns of Flanders came unto Bruges a Chief City of Flanders between Ostend and Sluys and brought with them the young Earl their Lord in great Pomp and State Here they found the King of England and his Queen who received them graciously The Young Earl enclin'd himself with great Demonstrations of Respect to the King and Queen and then King Edward took him by the Right Hand very courteously and lead him forward saying unto him As for the Death of the Earl your Father as God shall help me I am Innocent For I knew nothing of his being in the Field at the Battle of Cressy neither on the Day of Battle nor till the Evening of the next Day when the Heralds brought me an Account of the slain The Earl seem'd to believe this Protestation and to acquiesce in so just an excuse And thereupon other Communication succeeded and at last the Marriage was agreed and a Bond of Ensurance made certain Articles of perpetual Amity being on both sides sworn to and agreed on between Edward King of England and Lewis Earl of Flanders And then and there the Young Earl affianced the Lady Isabella King Edwards Daughter and promised on such a Day to Wed her So for that time they all brake up the Earl returning to Courtray and the King and Queen going back to the Camp before Calais where they made great Preparations against the Marriage for Jewels and costly Apparel and Presents to give away according to their Estate The mean y Frois ibid. while the Earl of Flanders pass'd away his time very pleasantly about the River Leye and seem'd so extreamly satisfied with the Person of the English Lady that the Flemings verily believing him to be in earnest took no such great heed to him as before But they did not understand the deep Dissimulation of their Lord for whatever appearance He made outwardly his Heart was wholly addicted to the French Interest and he resolved in his mind never to admit unto his Bed the Daughter of him who had sent his Father to his Grave A just Resolution had it been rightly grounded For indeed his Fathers Death ought not to have been imputed to King Edward but to his own Misfortune for taking part with King Edwards Enemies in that Battle where he was slain by chance of War and without any knowledge of the Kings as himself protested However the Earl having now obtain'd a little more liberty by reason of his fine conveyance for he made huge Preparations against the Marriage he never intended found at last an Opportunity to escape away which was done in this Manner In the Easter-week z Fibian p. 274. being that very Week that the Daughter of England was to be brought into Flanders and the Espousals to be solemnized he rode forth with an Hawk on his Fist by the River side after his Manner At last his Faulconer cast off a Faulcon at a Heron and the Earl presently cast off his Thus these two Faulcons were in chace of the Heron and the Earl followed as after his Faulcon But when he found himself to have got the start of all his Attendants with the Advantage of the Open Fields he then clap'd Spurs to his Horse and gallop'd right on till his Keepers had wholly lost him The Earl continued hard on the Spur till he came into Artois the next Province to Flanders and there he was safe Thence he rode at his Leisure into France and came to King Philip to whom he shew'd the Reasons and Manner of his Escape the King commended him and said he had done Worthily and Wisely But the Englishmen said He had falfifi'd his Oath and with the loss of his Honour and Interest betrayed and deceived them But for all this King Edward did not break with the Flemings For he saw plainly that they were extreamly offended with this Rash Action of their Lords and that they knew as little of this Cheat as himself And indeed they made their Excuse so well that either the King did really believe it or however thought best to admit of it for that time VII We must not omit a Gaguin l. 8. p. 142. Fabian p. 274. c. one memorable Matter which happen'd about this time concerning an Advocate of the Spiritual Court named Dr. Gawin de Bellomont an Inhabitant of Laon in Picardy Who intended as it was laid to his Charge to have betrayed the City of Laon to the English Which City of Laon being seated on a Mountain not far from Vermand stands very commodiously to make War upon all its Neighbours round about Now there was at that time a poor Man named Colin Tomelin who formerly had lived in good Fashion but some while before being fled from Laon for Debt had gone to Metz on the Borders of Lorrain where he made shift to live a miserable Life To this Man Dr. Gawin de Bellomont aforesaid resorted frequently and as it were in pity of his Condition relieved him considerably till at last when he thought he had him fast enough he began something to break his Mind unto him But only then told him in General that if he would be ruled by him he would not only restore him to his former Ease and Sufficiency but raise him to an Eminent Degree of Wealth and Prosperity Colin readily embraced the Offer and sware unto him Secrecy and Fidelity Whereupon Gawin shew'd him a Letter sealed up and gave it him to carry to the King of England lying as then before Calais
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
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
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 theâ 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
to Calais where they took the Sea all together and Landed at Dover where at that time the King was with certain of his Council ready to receive them and to Treat further with the Earl of Flanders about the Consummation of the foresaid Affair This was the occasion of the Kings being there at that time when the foremention'd Pursuivant came and brought him the News of the Victory near Auray Whereat the King was wonderfully pleased and all the Court the Earl of Flanders being no less glad than any of them because of the Advancement of his Cousin German the Earl of Monford which must needs happen thereby Thus King Edward tarried with the Earl of Flanders at Dover for the space of Three Days which were spent in Royal Feastings and Princely Recreations And then Matters concerning which they met being adjusted He took his solemn leave of the King and sailed back for Flanders being attended to Bruges by the Duke of Lancaster and Earl Edmund his Brother But yet this Intended Match was soon after d Walsing hist p. 128. n. 40. broke off by the French Kings envious Policy he craftily hindring the Pope from granting a Dispensation and then he never left Courting the Earl of Flanders till he had given his Daughter in Marriage to that Kings Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Notwithstanding which it appears e Rot. Franc. 39. Ed. 3. m 9. Vid. Dagd 2 Vol. p. 154. that the Year following Sr. Nicolas Tamworth Knight and John Wyn Esquire were sent by King Edward to all the Nobles and other his Friends beyond the Seas to sollicit their Help for expelling those Strangers who had invaded the Lands of Burgundy Nivers and Reth of Right belonging to the Countess of Flanders and her Son which were to return unto Edmund Earl of Cambridge and to the Dutchess of Burgundy Daughter to the same Earl of Flanders in regard of that Matrimonial Contract made betwixt them as the Record doth manifest XIII This Year on the Feast of All-Saints f Walsingh hist p. 174 n. 20. there was fought a great Battle on the Plains of Turkey between the Christians and Pagans where the Christians after a long and doubtfull Fight obtain'd a Bloody and Cadmean Victory For on their side there fell the Great Master of the Hospital of Rhodes and one or two Kings and of the meaner sort to the Number of 5210 But of the Infidels there were slain more than 40000 of their Men of Arms besides an incredible Number of the Common Souldiers The Chief Captains of the Heathens were the Soldan of Babylon and the King of Turkey Kinstut or Keystut the King of Lithuania Janibech King of Tartary King Baldoc and King Belmarine three whereof were slain in the Field and the King of Lithuania's Son g Dugd. 1 Vol. Bar. p. 233. id in Warwickshire p. 317. a. was taken Prisoner by Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick who afterwards brought him into England and made him a Christian calling him Thomas after his own Name as being at that time his Godfather But whereas Walsingham says that among other Christian Princes I King of Hungary was slain at this Fight there is a double mistake for it should be written L in stead of I that King's Name being Lewis and it is most certain that he lived many Years after h Vid. Odor Rainal Cântin Baron Tom. XVI Tom. XVII as will appear to any that shall enquire CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. John of Monford having taken Auray goes before Jugon which yields thence to Dinant which at last yields also then he invests Quimpercorentin II. The Prisoners taken in the Battle of Auray secur'd for fear of new stirs while Earl Monford takes in all Bretagne III. The French King perswaded to admit John of Monford for true Duke of Bretagne AN. DOM. 1365. An. Regni Angliae XXXIX sends unto him to try him He has King Edwards leave to hold the Dukedom of France and so Bretagne is settled in Peace and John Monford sirnamed the Valiant own'd Duke thereof IV. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre by Vertue whereof the Captal of Busche is acquitted his Prison the French King endeavours to win him but in vain V. The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre VI. A Parliament at Westminster VII King Edwards Buildings and the Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity College VIII The Pope Demands the Annual Fee which King John of England engag'd to pay to the Apostolick Chamber and orders King Edward upon his refusal to be cited to answer the Contempt at the Court of Rome Which Matter the King refers to his Parliament IX The Lady Isabella Daughter to King Edward given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy X. The King punishes the Lord Chief Justice and others his Justices for Male-Administration of the Laws XI The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but is forced to leave it again XII Dr. Thoroton twice corrected XIII The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuania's Son his Prisoner whom he makes a Christian and stands his Godfather naming him Thomas after his own Name I. BEing now enter'd upon the Thirty Ninth Year of King Edwards Reign it will be necessary for the understanding of what follows to set down an account of Matters which happen'd in the close of the foregoing Year namely after the Battle of Auray And we shall find that the Earl of Monford upon that notable and entire Victory return'd a Frois c. 228. fol. 128. unto the Siege of that Fortress which he follow'd with greater application than ever before and made a Vow not to Rise thence till he had the Besieged at his Devotion And surely those within were much diminished in Courage thô not in Provision for they had lost in the late Battle their Captain Esquire Henry of Tintineac together with Fourty Men of Arms the very Flower of all their Garrison Wherefore since now they could not expect any further Succour they at last resolved to yield while they might hope to obtain tolerable Conditions and so they began to enter a Parly with the Earl to that purpose The Earl was not willing to lose much more time here and besides he knew not how other Places stood affected to him and he had a mind to try the Country while the Terrour of his Arms was fresh on which Considerations he received them to Mercy and gave them leave to depart with their Goods for they would not yet own his Authority or submit to his Government Having now placed in Auray a good Garrison of his own he rode on with his Army which encreased daily Men of Arms and Archers continually flocking to him Nay the very Bretons who before rejected his Yoke being now won by the Reputation of his Sword came in to him apace especially the Bretons Bretonant or those of Lower Bretagne First he marched
them to be reasonable for the ease of his People That 3 s. 4 d. laid upon every Sack of Wooll at Calais and all other unreasonable Impositions may cease The King willeth that all unreasonable Impositions should cease It is agreed that One Staple be at l Melcomb Regis in ãâã Melcomb and another at Ipsewich and that all Merchants and others for their Ease may ship Woolls at Lewes where the Customers of Chichester shall take the Customs and the Customers of Yarmouth shall take in like manner at Lynn As for the Statutes made in this Parliament I shall refer those who desire to Inspect them to the Statute-Books in Print especially because those of this Year do more exactly agree with the Record Only for my self I must put in this Caution that whereas in the Record and Statute-Books this Parliament is rightly fixed to the 38 of Edward the Third considering that he began not to Reign till the 25 of January before which time the Parliament sat yet I have placed it here as well because I begin the Year constantly with January as because it was indeed the Thirty Ninth of this Kings Inchoate before the Parliament was adjourn'd For on the m Ita M.S. Feâârd Paâl ââd Sr. Rob. Câttââ's Abrid pââent Seventeenth legit Seventh of February after the King in Presence of the Lords and Commons had given his Royal Assent to all the Premises He gave his Thanks to the Three Estates and so gave them leave to depart VII Now is King Edward said to have finished all his Wars for he had full Peace with France and Scotland and all the Quarrels about the Dukedom of Bretagne were ended and Aquitaine gladly embraced the Government of his Son Prince Edward and his other Son the Duke of Clarence had brought Ireland to a very good Settlement Wherefore thô in the Midst of his Wars he always would find leisure to exercise Actions of Devotion Piety and Charity yet now he more seriously apply'd himself and in a manner wholly Dedicated his time to such Matters as in his Buildings at Windsor Castle Queenborough Castle and Town St. Stephen's Chappel at Westminster Aberconney in Wales Henley and East-Hamstead and his Royal Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge which being afterwards augmented with the Addition of Two or Three other adjoyning Foundations was by King Henry VIII named Trinity-College and lastly by the Beautifull Accession of a Magnificent Building called the Library is rendred now the most August and Famous Structure that ever the Christian World hath seen Dedicated to the Studies of good Letters Which College is no less adorned with those Illustrious Lights of Learning that have continually shined there Nor have their Beams been confined to any Limits but have spread themselves like the Rays of the Sun over Earth and Heaven and enlightned the Church and State and the whole Universe 'T is now happily Govern'd by the Reverend Doctor John Montagu Brother to the Earl of Sandwich a Person no less conspicuous for his Eminent Parts and Vertues than for his Birth and Quality VIII This Flourishing Condition of our King Edward put the Pope it seems in mind of some Old Debts which he pretended to be due from England to the Apostolick See for the Kingdom of England and Lordship of Ireland which King John promised to hold of the Church as a Fee Farm for ever His n Extant apud Odor Rainald ad hunc an §. 13 Letters bear Date at Avignon Idibus Junii Ano. Pontif. III in which Letters it appears that the Sum demanded was but 1000 Marks sterling per annum and that the last payment was made by this King on the Seventh of July Ano. Dom. 1333 but had ever since by reason of the Wars been discontinued So that at this time there was due no less than 32000 Marks to the Apostolick Chamber Thô in good truth saving the Authority of these Letters I could never find o Vid. John Speed in the Reign of King John p. 500. §. 48. 49. that ever this Annual Pension was paid to Rome since the Days of King John. But in the next Year we shall see how King Edward now resented this Matter For the Pope had besides his foresaid Letters empower'd his Nuntio John Abbot of the Monastery St i Bavonis Gaudensis of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Tournay by process to cite the King unto his Court to answer for his Default on Condition he should refuse to pay the Arrears But the effect of this daring Summons we shall see in the Parliament of the next Year IX At this time King Edward p Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. Ashmole p. 669. Sandford p. 178 Dugd. p. 761. Mills Catal. Hon. p. 440. Knighton p. 2628. n. 40. c. gave his Daughter the Lady Isabella in Marriage to the Young Lord Ingelram de Guisnes the Rites being performed with Great Pomp and Splendor at the Famous Castle of Windsor The said Lord was by Birth a Baron both of England and of France and his Titles were Lord and Baron of Coucy of Oisey and Mount-Mirabel of Doüilly of Beauraine and of Barques Earl of Soissons and of Nide and some Years after Arch-Duke of Austria Besides which the King at this time created him Earl of Albemarle to have and to hold the said Earldom for him and the Heirs Male of his and her Body for ever He also confirmed unto him the Mannor of Moreholme the Moieties of the Mannors of Wyersdale and Ashton with the Third Part of the Lordship of Whittington in the County of Lancaster to him and to the said Isabell and to the Heirs of their Bodies lawfully begotten I say he confirmed them unto him For the q Robert Glover Somerset Herald set forth by Tho. Mills Author of the Catalogue of Honour mistakes in saying they were now given him in the name of a Dowry since we find the said Places or the greatest part of them did belong unto his Grandfather r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. William de Guisnes Lord Coucy What further Honours he obtain'd we shall see next Year wherefore at this time we shall only add this that the King gave him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. ex Pat. 39. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 8. leave to go over with his Lady into France declaring that whatever Children Male or Female they might have between them thô born beyond Sea they should enjoy and inherit all Lands descendible to them in this Realm as Freely as if they were born in England He bare for his Arms t Mill's Catal. Hon. p. 440. ubi haec Arma Periscelidi inveluta cernurtur the First and Fourth Barry of Viverry and Gules the Second and Third Gules A Fess Argent and in process of time he was elected into the Most Honourable Order of the Garter of which Grace he was well Worthy X. In these days King Edward caused the Lord
Summons giving special Command thrô all his Dominions by his Letters Royal and by his Messengers which went Post into all Parts that without any delay they should come to him and help to resist the Publick Enemy who had invaded his Kingdom But when he thought to have had a Royal Army he found himself deceived for few or none came in to him Almost all the Lords and Knights of Spain forsook him and went over to his Bastard-Brother who was now generally adored as the Rising-Sun Upon this Don Pedro was forced immediately to fly or else he had been taken he was so much hated by his Enemies and even his own Friends were asham'd of him Yet at this very time l Odâ ãâã ad ãâ¦ã §. 31. meeting with Don Juan of Torres Brother to him who had yielded up the City of Calahorra to his Enemies he caused him to be put to Death There was no Person of Quality that would stick to a Prince of this Character in so ebbing a Fortune but only one Loyal Grandee Don Hernando del Castro he would by no means forsake his Lord and Master whatever came of it Thus Don Pedro being attended with this Lord and a small Troop of Loyal Gentlemen went with his Family and a good part of his Treasures to Seville on the River Guadalquivâr which was the best City then in Spain and from thence he went to his Kinsman Don Pedro Sirnamed the Justiceer King of Portugal with whom he might have been safe but that Don Henry m Odor Rainal ibid. §. 32. c. the Bastard made interest with Don Hernando the Infant of Portugal whereof the unhappy King of Castille being aware privately trussed up all his Treasure and put it into Coffers and took shipping at Lisbon with his Wife and Children and Don Hernando del Castro and a few others with him and left Portugal and set Sail for Galizia the Farthest Part of all Spain Westward where there is by the Sea-side a strong Castle called Corunna and here he and his Queen Maria de Padilla and his three Daughters the Ladies Beatrice Constance and Isabella arrived and took Harbour but of all the Great Lords of his Court and Council he had not One there except that never-enough-commended servant Don Hernando del Castro And yet during his stay in those parts he is said to have put to Death n Odor Rainal ibid. c. in the City of Compostella Suero the Archbishop and Pedro Dean of Toledo And thus we shall for a while leave this unhappy Prince and see what became of his Bastard Brother the Earl of Trastamare from whose face he now fled III. As soon o Frois c. 230. fol. 127. as the Castillians knew that Don Henry was enter'd the Land with so great an Army they all slock'd to him and acknowledged him for their Lord and so rode forth with him and all along as he went he caused the Cities Towns and Castles to be open'd to him and every man to do him Homage the Spaniards still crying out with one voice Live Don Henry and die Pedro the Cruel The Grandees of Spain led him thus thrô all the Realm of Castille as the Grand Master of Calatrava and the Master of St. Iago and all men every where obey'd him as their King. And so at last he was Crown'd in the City of p Alii dicunt Toleââ alti Olgis cerânam accepisse Astorga the Metropolis of the Kingdom of Leon all Prelates Earls Barons and Knights doing unto him as unto their Sovereign Reverence and Homage and swearing to uphold him as their King or else to die in the Quarrel Thus he rode a Progress thrô the Realms of Castille and Leon having Received a Kingdom without a stroke and being almost lifted up to Heaven by the Acclamations of the senseless Multitude Who as they are always the most instrumental in such sudden Revolutions do also commonly pay the dearest for their Rebellion when the just owner comes with Sword in hand to demand his Right against the Usurper Don Henry being thus Crowned distributed largely unto the Knights strangers such as came with him great Gifts and rich Jewels besides the Souldiers pay so that every Man confessed him to be a Prince of much Honour and Liberality And the English Normans Frenchmen and Bretons said among themselves frequently that he was the Fountain of Generosity and well Worthy to live and Reign over a great Realm as he did for a while in high Power and Prosperity Till the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain beat him out of his ill-gotten Possession and replaced Don Pedro in his Throne again as we shall see hereafter When now Don Henry saw himself well settled in this Estate Royal and that all the Land without Controversie obey'd him and acknowledged him for their only Sovereign he first q Odor Rainal ibid. §. 32. gain'd the Kings of Portugal and Granada of his side and then held a Parliament wherein he caused to be Enacted that if any thing should happen to him after the manner of Men his Eldest Son John should be look'd on and taken as the Right Heir of his Kingdom And at this time he advanced his two Brethren Tello and Sancho to the Dignity of Earls the Former being made Earl of Sancelloni upon whom together with their Titles he heaped large Revenues and Possessions Then he began to imagine and cast in his mind how he might Act most Worthy of the Supream Dignity which he had attained and render his Name and Memory as Dear as his Brother Don Pedro had made his Abominable He principally desired to exalt his Honour by good Actions and to maintain that Kingdom by Justice which the Injustice of another had occasion'd to fall to him But as for those Numbers of Companions which he had now with him he design'd shortly to employ them in an Expedition against Mahomet King of Granada notwithstanding the formal Alliance he had lately struck up with him And of this Design he spake frequently to several Lords and Knights who highly applauded as they reckon'd his Pious and Honourable Resolution And still he kept about him the Prince of Wales his Knights as Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Walter Hewet Sr. Matthew Gournay and Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt to whom he shew'd particular Favours and special Tokens of his Love and Respect in hopes to tie them the to his service in his intended Expedition to Granada But most of the Knights of France took their leave of him presently after his Coronation having first received many ample Rewards from his Hands as namely the Lord John of Bourbon Earl of Marche the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord of Beaujeu and others But Sr. Bertram of Clequin and Sr. Oliver Manny with all the Bretons and all the Companions tarried still with the King having convenient Quarters assign'd them and Sr. Bertram in consideration of his good Services was by King Henry with the Consent of
his Council made High Constable of all the Realm of Castille IV. All this while was r Frois c. 231. poor Don Pedro in the strong Castle of Corunna on the Sea and with him his Wife his three Daughters and the Loyal Don Hernando del Castro and his Retinue only But when he heard how his Bastard-Brother had made himself King and that all the Land freely own'd him for their Lord he began to be in fear of his Life For he knew that if Don Henry once heard where he was he would besiege him so close by Land and by Sea that it would be impossible for him to escape Wherefore one Night he took his Wife and his Daughters and Don Hernando and his Lady ſ Pavine le Parisien's Theatre l'Honneur l. 6. c. 7. p. 148. Joan of Castille natural Daughter of King Alphonso XI and all the Gold and Silver that he had with him and set Sail designing for some other place But the Wind was so contrary to him that he could by no means get off from that Coast and so he was fain to re-enter the Castle of Corunna Then in a great Agony he demanded of Don Hernando his only Counsellor what Course now he had best take to preserve himself and those poor Reliques of his Family complaining bitterly how adverse Fortune was against him After some study the Knight spake thus May it please Your Majesty before You leave this place of Safeguard it would be well to send to your Cousin the Heroick Prince of Wales and of Aquitaine to know whether he will be willing to entertain You or no and to request him in meer pity to consider a little Your sad and necessitous Condition For surely besides that he is noted for a Person of extraordinary Courtesie he will think himself something obliged to take notice of You upon the account of those strict Alliances made between Your Father and His. And althô indeed the Lady died before Consummation yet he cannot but remember that his Sister the Lady Joan t Vid. Lib. 2. c. 8. §. 9. p. 438. was given in Marriage to You about 17 Years ago And certainly the Prince of Wales is so Noble so Courteous and withall of such exalted Courage that when he shall be fully informed of your Affliction he will take some Compassion on You. And if but once He undertakes to set You again in Your Throne there is no Man in all the World can do it better He is so Valiant and Successfull in War and so feared respected and beloved by all Men especially the Souldiery And Sir for the present You are here in a good strong Fortress able either to conceal You or defend You till You may hear News from Aquitaine This Counsel Don Pedro readily embraced and fell immediately to write Letters which he did all with his own hand so pathetical and full of pity as none but one in his Condition or as bad could easily endite These Letters Don Hernando gave to a Knight and two Esquires of his with Instructions concerning the whole Affair and so they went on board and sailed happily till they came to Bayonne a City of Gascogne on the River Adour belonging to the King of England Here they asked tidings of the Prince and were informed that he was then at Bourdeaux Wherefore they took Horse and rode thither and chose out an Inn to lodge in and changed their Apparel and so went to the Abbey of St. Andrew where the Prince kept his Court. There they gave out that they were Spaniards and came from Castille on a Message from King Don Pedro. When the Prince heard thus much he said he would see them and learn their business So they were introduced before him and kneeled and saluted him according to the Custom of their Country and humbly recommended the King their Master unto him and so deliver'd the Letters into his Hands The Prince presently raised the Messengers from the ground and received their Letters and then stepping aside a little read them over leisurely wherein he found how pathetically King Don Pedro wrote unto him declaring his great Misfortune Danger and Poverty and how his Bastard-Brother by the Alliances he had made with the Pope the French King and the King of Aragon with the Assistance of the Companions had violently expelled him from his Inheritance of the Realm of Castille Wherefore he humbly and heartily desired the Prince for Gods sake and out of his great Generosity to help him in this his deplorable Condition and to provide him some Counsel and Remedy whereby he would atchieve Grace of God and Honour of all the World. For said he it is a thing not to be allow'd in Christendom that a Pope or a King should disinherit a true and lawfull Heir and by force of Tyranny invest a Bastard with the Right The Prince whose Wisdom was no way short of his Courage having read thus much closed the Letters again in his Hands and spake thus to the Messengers Gentlemen You are heartily Welcome to Us from our Cousin the King of Castille Tarry here a while with Us and before You go You shall have our answer With that the Prince's Attendants who knew well their Business conducted the Spanish Knight and the two Esquires to an appartment ready for them and the Prince tarried still in his Chamber seriously musing on these fresh Tidings Presently he sent for the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton two of the Chief of his Council for the First was High-Constable of Aquitaine and the latter Seneschal thereof At their entrance into the Presence the Prince said smiling My Lords You shall hear fresh News out of Spain The King Don Pedro our Cousin makes Grievous Complaint of the Bastard Henry who hath taken from him his Inheritance and hath thrust him out of his Kingdom as no doubt You have heard reported by sundry that came from those Parts And now he instantly requireth Us to lend him our Aid and Assistance as it appeareth here by his letters And with that the Prince read over the Letters to them word for word two several times and these two Lords heard all very distinctly Having done with the Letters he proceeded Sr. John and Sr. Thomas You two are the Chief of my Council and those on whose Fidelity and Wisdom I more especially rely Wherefore now I demand Your Advice what You think is best for me to do in this Case Shall I after the manner of the World neglect a Man in Adversity Or shall I as Vertue requires lend an helping Hand unto him Here is Quiet attended with Silence or Infamy and there is Labour Crown'd with Honour and Immortality As they stood silent looking upon one another the Prince continued My Lords tell me Your minds freely and plainly what is fit to be done in this Matter Then they both agreed that it would be convenient for his Highness to send some Ships of War to King Don
Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 232. in the Month of June there appeared in the Northern Sea a great Navy of Danes who purposed to come into England and overrun rob and slay as their Ancestors had done in the time of the Saxon Kings But they were encountred and met with at Sea by a good Fleet of English Mariners and other Valiant Men who overthrew and scatter'd them and made them return inglorious into their own Country But among others there was a Mighty and Strong Ship called the Denmark which being oversailed by the Englishmen was taken and sunk and in her was found the High-Steward and other Great Officers and Lords of Denmark who being brought into England were by Order from the King and Council cast into Prison Shortly after there came certain Danish Deputies to negotiate for the Delivery of the foresaid Lords of their Country with their Goods but receiving an answer no way pleasing unto them they return'd home again having left behind them in their Inns written on Scrolls and Walls this threatning Verse Yet shall Danes Ering you n Despair or Loss ab AS Wanian to Diminish wanes Which Rhymes being seen by an English Poet he immediately wrote underneath them Here shall Danes o i.e. Fetch or find Frett their * Destruction Banes. XXIV And now We shall close close up this Active Year when We have first made mention of the Death of a Person whose Memory ought not to be forgotten This was Don Pedro Son of Alphonso the Brave King of Portugal who for his love to Equity obtain'd the Honourable Sirname of The Justiceer This Man that p Joseph Teixera de Origin Regum Portugallix he might remove the Fuel of Contention compell'd the Lawyers Pleaders and Proctors of his Kingdom to till the Land thô he himself was a most strict Observer and Maintainer of the Laws He punished two Forsworn Traytors by causing the Heart of One to be thrust out at his Breast and of the other out at his Back both which at his Command were torn in pieces It is attributed unto him as his Familiar saying q Vid. Marian. l. 17. c. 9. Odor Rainald ad hunc ann §. 19. that a Prince did seem unworthy of the Name of a King on what day he had done no Grace or Kindness to any Body AN. DOM. 1368. An. Regni Angliae XLII He died this Year having Reign'd Nine Years as many Months and Eight and Twenty Days and left behind him his Son Hernando or Ferdinando who r Odor Rainald ibid. soon after sent his Complement to the Pope after the Custom of Christian Kings newly come to the Crown and received an answer full of Good Counsel and Ghostly Admonitions CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. Prince Lionel is married to the Lady Violantis Daughter of Galeacius Duke of Milain with the Magnificence and Splendor of the Nuptials II. He falls sick his Testament Death and Burial III. A Parliament at Westminster IV. The Archbishop of Canterbury made Cardinal V. A strange Relation of a Sea-Woman taken in the Zuyderzee VI. Sr. Bertram of Clequin by a pretty Conveyance obtains to be admitted to Ransom VII The Companions waiting for their pay prove troublesome to the Principality But at the Prince's Command they depart and go into France where they do much Mischief VIII The Prince to recruit his exhausted Stores ordains a Tax throughout Aquitain which occasions a Revolt of some Malecontents I. IN the Fourtieth Year of King Edward it may be remembred how We spake of an Overture made by Galeacius the second Duke of Milain unto the said King about a Match to be struck up between the Daughter of the said Duke and Prince Lionel second Son living to the said King Edward The Negotiation concerning this Affair had been carried on till this time when all Conditions were fully adjusted on both sides among which these were not the least considerable a Paul. Jovius in Galeacio 11. p. 151. That together with the Lady Violantis Prince Lionel should receive 2000000 Florens of Gold together with the Cities of Mons Regalis or Mondovi and Alba Pompeia by the Name of a Dowry I shall not here be particular in relating how the two Brethren Dukes of Milain Galeacius and Bernabo recover'd from those troubles whereunto John Marquess of Monferrato had some Years before cast them Nor shall I insist on the Eminent Worth and Military services which Sr. John Hawkwood an English Knight performed for them in those their Wars with such considerable Advantage that Duke b Paul. Jovius in Barnabâ p. 159. Bernabo gave unto him the Lady Donninia one of his Natural Daughters in Marriage with a Portion of 1000000 Florens Let it suffice for this place that the two Brethren Dukes being assisted by this Valiant Knight Sr. John Hawkwood began again to flourish in great Prosperity which that they might the better preserve to their House and Family it was thought fit to enter Affinity with King Edward of England at that time by many Degrees the most Powerfull and Renowned of all the Princes in the World. And so when all things were fully adjusted the Marriage c Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was concluded at Windsor on the 25 of April at which time the King acquitted the Duke of Milain of 10000 Florens by him paid in consideration of the said Treaty and then with all speed the Prince made his Preparations to go over the Sea and to consummate his Nuptials It is said d Joh. Harding c. 186. fol. 186. that the two Dukes of Milain the Marquess of Monferrato the Dukes of Venice Mantua and Florence the Lords of Genua Pisa and other chief Princes of Italy had with the unanimous Consent of the whole Senate of Rome sent their Ambassadors to King Edward before this to assure him that upon this Marriage of his Son Prince Lionel with the Duke of Milain's Daughter all the Princes and States of Italy should own him for their Lord and by their joynt Interest at last raise him to the Title and Dignity of Emperour For besides the Reputation of the King his Father's Glory he himself was generally fam'd and extoll'd for one of the most Accomplish'd Personages in the World. Of Stature he was beyond the Ordinary Proportion of Men Tall and streight as a Palm-Tree exceeding Well-set Shap'd and Featur'd in his Chamber Modest and Gentle as a Virgin Affable Sweet and Pleasant in Conversation but Bold and Fierce as a Lion in the Field So that for all Accomplishments of Mind and Body he had not his Fellow in all England except only his Elder Brother the Prince of Wales than whom he was yet eight Years younger being now in the very Flower of Manhood in the Thirtieth Year of his Age. Thus about the latter end of April the Lord Lionel Duke of Clarence and Earl of Vlster Third Son born but the Second living of King Edward the Third
Garrison resolv'd to die every Man rather than to yield up the Place thô the Townsmen would gladly have received the French if they durst Wherefore the Captains of France sent to Tholouse for Four great Engines which they made ready and reared up against the Walls casting therewith both Night and Day massie Stones and huge pieces of Timber against the Fortress besides which they set their Pioneers a Mining But the Englishmen with great Courage comforted each other and slighted all their Art and Fury thô at last for want of Succour We shall find them to be taken only by reason of the Mines But for the present We shall leave them V. While these French Captains d Frois c. 252. f. 152. were thus busie in Quercy the Duke of Berry was in Anvergne with a great Power of Men of War the chief Leaders whereof were the Lord John of Armagnac his Uncle the Lord John de Villemur the Lord Roger Beaufort the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Villiers the Lord of Semur the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin and many more who ravaged about the Marches of Rovergue Quercy and Limosin where they did much Harm and at first found no great Opposition And besides this application of Force there were not wanting other Arts not then so frequent in the World but since those Days very common which made use of the help of the Church to blow up a Fire of Combustion in the State. For the subtle Dukes of Anjou and Berry prevailed with the Archbishop of Tholouse who was a Politick and Learned Prelate to go to the City of Cahors of which place his Brother was then Bishop and here together these two Brothers so elegantly preached and set forth the Right of King Charles against King Edward's Pretensions that the whole City turned French and sware unto the French King Faith and Homage from that time And with these Arts the Archbishop rode about thrô the Country and every where took care to set forth the Equity of his Masters Quarrel with such advantage of popular Arguments and the Reputation which he added thereto from Religion and Scripture Proofs that together with the Terror of the Duke of Berry's Arms and those of the Duke of Anjou who hover'd thereabout he obliged no less than sixty Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses to submit to the Obedience of the French King who had indeed the cheif place in their Hearts before And as this Archbishop went abroad abetting and maintaining the King his Masters Cause in and about the Marches and Limitations of Languedoc So also in Picardy divers other Prelates and Clergymen brought the Right of the Two Kings into their Pulpits where they discussed the Matter so plausibly that King Edward was ever concluded in the wrong And the Common People who in those Days readily swallowed more Course Morsels than these were fully satisfied with all that was said thô in my Opinion it is not only below the Dignity of Princes to make use of such abject Devices but also no way corresponding to the same of Learning and Religion to appeal so fawningly to the Vulgar whom as they please they may easily cheat with false Colours But in France Dr. William Dorman was especially remarkable for these Tongue Victories for he rode about from Town to Town and from City to City and spake with such power and force of Rhetorical Insinuations and handled his Points so cleverly that all who heard him believed in a manner every Word he said and the Controversie between the two Kings was so artificially represented by him that the French King had apparently the Advantage on his side Besides all this King Charles himself was so moved with Devotion e Frois ibid. Mezeray c. that he not only caused Fastings and Processions to be used throughout his Realm by the Clergy but Himself also and his Queen would often attend them going barefoot and in all Churches there were put up continual Prayers to God devoutly requiring and imploring of his Majesty to assist and maintain the Right of the Realm of France which had suffer'd so great Tribulation for so many Years Nor was King Edward less Pious or less honourably Politick For he also used the same Method thrô his Kingdom the rather that his Subjects might be the more ready to venture their Lives and Fortunes in a Cause which they first understood to be Just and Right There was at that time one Dr. Simon Tibuld alià s Sudbury Bishop of London a Man very well seen in the Canon Law and the Scriptures and of great Eloquence who made many Sermons in the most publick places of the City declaring and proving unto the People that the French King had renew'd the War not only against his Oath but also against all Right and Reason with manifest Injustice Fraud and Perjury all which together with King Edward's Title to France he demonstrated with great force of Argument and Rhetorick to the ample satisfaction of all his Auditors And I must confess that it might not seem unnecessary for both the Kings to provide that their Subjects should be generally informed of the particulars of their Quarrel that so they might more teadily and with a good Conscience assist their several Masters in this War at which both the Nations were sufficiently alarum'd already And King Edward himself who was as well furnish'd with Wisdom as Valour nothing doubted but that this War would prove as great and as momentous as ever any he had been engaged in because of the Advantage which the French King had gain'd by surprising him thus as chiefly because of the new Method of this his politick Enemy and also of the Mutability of his French Friends Wherefore he thought it fit for his behoof to stirr up all his Assistants and Allies that might any ways lie opportunely to divert the impending Mischief And so he sent into Brabant and Hainalt to learn whether they would own his Quarrel or no and especially he desired Duke Albert of Bavaria who at that time govern'd the Country of Hainalt instead of his Elder Brother Duke William who had been for some time before Distracted and continued so to the day of his Death to open his Country upon Occasion and to let him go and come into France or tarry there if need should be with an Army Duke Albert at the Request of the King of England his Uncle especially because Queen Philippa his Dear Aunt urged him also thereto readily granted to have his Country open for the use of King Edward being not ââtle perswaded to this Matter by Edward Duke of Gueldres who was Son to King Edward's Sister Eleanor and had lately married Duke Alberts Daughter and with him concurred the Duke of Juliers who was Cosen German to the said Albert of Bavaria These two Lords were strictly bound to King Edward the one being as we said before his Nephew and the other the Cosen German to King Edward's Children and to
Chandos when he found not the English Lords where he had left them before Domme rode after them so long till at last he lighted on them as they lay before a certain Fortress in Quercy When these Lords saw the Herald they received him with Honour because of his Office and demanded of him what News from Angoulesme He said how the Prince saluted them all heartily and desired much to see them and therewithall produced the Princes Letters which the Lord Chandos took and read in full Council and there 't was found How the Prince would have the Lord Chandos the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche to come speedily unto him to the City of Angoulesme But that Sr. Robert Knolles and his Men with all the Companions might tarry still where they were and make War as they had done When these Lords who were the Principal of all understood thus much they began to look one on another and demanded what Course they had best to take Then they said with one Voice to Sr. Robert Knolles Sir you see and understand how our Lord the Prince hath sent for us and hath order'd you to tarry here in this Country as Chief General of all the Army Sirs answer'd he my Lord the Prince puts me to more Honour than I would desire But Gentlemen be sure of this that without your Company I will not stay For if You go I 'll go along with You. So in short they all agreed to return to the Prince together to know his further Pleasure and then they brake up for that time to the abundant satisfaction of the People of those Parts who had felt much but dreaded far more from them Only upon their Departure they sent Sr. Perdiccas of Albret to the Town of Roquemadour to defend the Frontiers there against the Enemy And as for the other Captains of the Companions they spake unto them such Words as these Gentlemen You have heard how the Prince hath sent for Us with what Design we know not But however we shall direct you what to do the mean time You shall all keep close together with your Companies and enter the Marches of Limosin and Auvergne and there make War for without War you cannot live And Sirs this we promise you upon our Faith that if you win Castle Town or Fortress whatsoever it be and it chance that you or any of you be therein besieged We will by no means desert You but will assuredly take Care to bring you such Assistance as shall raise the Siege and set you free When the Captains of the Companions heard this Promise they said Well then Gentlemen we will do to the best of our Power in Confidence of this your Promise For perhaps we shall some time or other stand in need of such an Assistance Thus they parted and the Lords that were sent for went to Angoulesme to the Prince who received them with great joy A little before which time the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke and the Lord John Montague were also return'd from the Siege of Bourdeilles which they wan by stratagem as we have shewn XII Of those Companions whom the Lord Chandos had sent toward the Marches of Limosin there were three Notable Captains above the rest who were Valiant Esquires Hardy and of vast Experience in the Wars especially for Assaulting and Scaling Towns and Fortresses namely Edmund Ortingo Bernard Wiske and Bernard de la Salle These Three resolved not to lie still all the Winter but to do something whereby to get Advantage and Honour too if they might With this Resolution they went toward Limosin the Seneschal and Governour whereof under the Black-Prince was Sr. John Devereux and there they studied day and night to get some Castle belonging to their Enemies At last they heard of a strong Castle in Bourbonnois called Bellepeche wherein the Lady Isabella Mother to the Duke of Bourbon and to the French Queen was in a manner all alone without any good Watch or Guard for the Constable of the Castle as they heard would often ride abroad at his Pleasure taking little or no heed to the Safeguard of the Place Whereupon these Captains having selected a competent Number of their Assistants slept not long after they had been informed of these Matters but rode hard for a Day and a Night till in the Morning early coming to the Castle of Bellepeche they suddenly took it by Scalado and the Good Lady Isabella de Valois therein And then finding the Fortress to be both fair and strong and to stand in a fertil Country they fixed themselves there saying they trusted to keep it against all the World. The Night of that same Day they took another Castle called St. Sever upon the Marches of Limosin which they committed to the Care of Sr. John Devereux When it was noised about in France that Bellepeche was taken and the Queen's Mother therein by the English the King of France was extreamly vexed and so also was the Queen her Daughter and the Duke of Bourbon her Son but as yet they knew not how to mend the matter In these Days the Lord Lewis of Sancerre a Knight of notable Courage and Conduct was made one of the Mareschals of France instead of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan who was yet alive But so old and batter'd by the frequent Use of Arms for many Years past that he could not well perform his Office thô upon occasion he would after that bear Arms and go into the Field XIII All that Summer had King Charles of France spent in equipping a Royal Fleet in the Port of Harfleur for he design'd to send a mighty Army into England being encreased with a sufficient Number of Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires under the Conduct of his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this great Design took him up so wholly that he lay all along in the City of Roüen thereby to be nearer at hand to inspect and hasten the Work and every Week he would go two or three times to view his Navy he had such an Affection for the Business And his Command was so general thrô all the Realm that there came in Men of War in such Numbers that 't was admirable and dayly huge Quantities of Provision was brought in for the Fleet as if they were going to Castille or Portugal or some other Far Country And yet the Lord Oliver Clisson who was now one of the Chief of the French King's Council was always against this Expedition and dehorted the King and all the Nobles of the Realm against Enterprising any Voyage for England telling them how the Frenchmen were not accustomed to make War abroad as the English had been and alledged the eto divers Reasons as one who was better acquainted with the Nature and Conditions of that Nation and with the State of England at that time Notwithstanding he could by no means dissuade the King from this Undertaking but still He
Duke of Burgundy came thither with his great Army and sat down over against the English between St. Omers and Tournehan in very good Order But he took up a large extent of ground for it was said how he had in his Army more than y Frois ibid. 4000 Knights whereby the Number of the rest may be conjectur'd And in this manner the two Armies lay facing each other without any offer to come to a decisive Battle For thô the Duke of Burgundy did so far outnumber the English that he was z Frois ibid. fol. 169. Seven to their One yet he durst not come to a pitch'd Battle because the King his Brother had commanded expresly to the contrary And no doubt that Circumspect Prince considering that in spite of such disadvantages the English had oftentimes conquer'd in the Days of his Predecessors particularly when they took his Father Prisoner in the Battle of Poictiers thought it best now like Fabius the Cunctator to oppose delay to their Fury which indeed as Matters then went prov'd the best Council As for the English thô being so inferior in Number they thought not good to attaque the Enemy in his Trenches a Fro. s ibid. yet they would not have refus'd him had he come forward for every day they ranged themselves in good Order of Battle to receive him all Men being appointed what to do in their several Offices and Stations However most of the time was entertain'd with Skirmishes between the two Armies now this fide gaining the better and now that as the chance of War is And Lewis Earl of Flanders who very much studied the Welfare of his Son-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy and now lay at a fair Palace of his which he had newly built near Gaunt hearing an account of the State of both Armies by Messengers going too and fro between the Duke and Him would always advise him by his Letters that he should not by any means break the Command of his Brother the French King to present the English with Battle XX. While b Frois c. 264. fol. 169. these two Armies of France and England lay thus idly confronting one another there fell many memorable adventures in Poictou of which we shall now say somewhat For it is not agreeable that any of the Exploits of that Gallant Hero Sr. John Chandos should be forgotten We remembred before how upon the Lord James Audley's not Death but only Retirement into England he was by the Prince of Wales made Grand Seneschal of Poictou and as he yielded in Conduct or Courage to no man living so now especially he desired to adorn his Province and to do some memorable Act upon the Frenchmen Wherefore he soon assembled a considerable Body of Men of Arms in the City of Poictiers saying he design'd to make an Inroad into Anjou and to come back again by Touraine and look upon the Frenchmen in the Marches and Frontiers there Notice of this his Design he sent forthwith to the Earl of Pembroke who lay then in Garrison at Mortagne a Fortress of Poictou lying on the River la Sevre and confining on the Borders of Anjou and had at least two Hundred Spears in his Company The Young Earl was huge glad of this News and very much desired to go along with the Lord Chandos but some Green Heads among his Followers diverted him by saying Sir You are but as yet in the Flower of your Youth Your Honour is yet to come whereof from those early Seeds of Vertue within You We may expect a plentifull harvest But if You put your self in Company of the Lord Chandos his Ripe and High-grown Reputation will choak yours in its very growth So that whatsoever Noble Exploit You shall now perform the Glory thereof will be only his because He is the Sovereign and most noted Captain in these parts Wherefore since You are so great a Lord and nothing Inferior to him either in Birth Alliance or Courage 't is fitter that what You do You build on your own Foundation And e'en let the Lord Chandos do what he pleases upon his own account c Frois ibid. since in comparison to You he is but a Knight Batchelour A Lecture of Ambition is easily received by most Men but especially by Young Persons who apparently hazard their Lives for Honour So that the Earls Eagerness to accompany the Lord Chandos was upon this occasion very much abated whereupon he made his Excuse for that time and declin'd to joyn Issue in the Enterprise Envy is surely the Stepmother of all Brave Undertakings and the Laudable Course of Vertue is never stopt but by the Rubs she flings in her way However the Just God has made her a Plague to her self and in the End all the Mischief she design'd falls redoubled upon her own Head. The Earl of Pembroke will find a time to repent this folly of his and we shall shortly see him to owe his Life to the Assistance of this General under whom He now despis'd to learn the Rudiments of War. Notwithstanding the Lord Chandos would not break his Purpose but made his Rendezvous at Poictiers and then began his March with 300 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 1100 Archers in his Company The Chief Noblemen and Captains under him were the Lord Thomas Piercy the Lord Thomas Spencer Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Dangouses Sr. Thomas Banister Sr. John Trivet Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. William Montendre Sr. Moubron Linieres Sr. Richard Taunton and many more all who rode forth with their several Retinues and the Archers in good Array and passed thô Poictou into the parts of Anjou their Van-Currours who rode before them ravaging all the Country as they went. At this rate they proceeded and did what they pleas'd in the fruitfull Land of Anjou none offering to oppose them thô they tarried in those parts for 15 days especially in Loudunois After which they return'd again with much Booty taking the way between Anjou and Touraine along by the River Creuse whence they descended into the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and put all to fire and sword leaving nothing untouch'd except perhaps what was secur'd in strong Fortresses So at last they passed the Vienne at St. Junien and shew'd themselves before the strong Town of Rochechoüart which they attempted but in vain For the Vicount had beforehand well fortify'd the Place and set therein two good Captains Sr. Tibault du Pont and Sr. Helion de Talay whereupon the Lord Chandos would spend no more time there Just then he had notice how the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France was at la Haye en Touraine with a considerable Body of Men wherefore being desirous to go thither and yet thinking himself not strong enough he sent once more to the Earl of Pembroke kindly entreating him now that an Advantage was offer'd against the Enemy to come and joyn him with all his Power at Chastelleraut in order to march
Paris to the Vicount of Rochechouart the Lord of Maleval the Lord of Marvejols and Others such as had revolted to the French. But for all that neither do we hear of any that they reduced to their Duty again nor that they hindred others from falling off dayly which they did now as much as ever when they saw a fair opportunity of doing it safely Especially when they heard ſ Du Chesne p. 705. Mezeray c. that King Charles had in the Chamber of Peers confiscated the whole Principality and whatever else either the Prince or King Edward held beyond Sea summoning in all the Vassals to come and render unto him their Fealty and Homage So that many Towns Fortresses Lands and Countries as well in Guienne as in Picardy return'd to the Obedience of the French King as will appear hereafter IV. We speake before how the English suffer'd Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton and Sr. William of Bourde to go free again when by the help of the French King they had paid their Ransoms Which Usage by the bie thô it savour'd much of a generous Confidence and of a Freedom from Malice yet can it not escape without a mark of Imprudence at least For those who had been once taken would be sure to endeavour to revenge the Affront and also to pay themselves double the cost of their Ransom as Sr. Nicholas Lovaine did to Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Nor was there any likelihood of ending the War while these Grand Boutefeus of Mars were perpetually let loose again to set the World on fire Sr. Bertram of Clequin alone shall stand an Instance of the Truth of what I say for he being more than once a Prisoner to the English and by them as often acquitted for Ransom became not only a means to destroy their Friend and Confederate Don Pedro as we have seen but also at last in a manner turn'd all the English out of France so that he was stiled the Restorer of that Realm However this was the Custom of those Days among the English French and Scots courteously to put their Prisoners of War to Ransom whereas the Spaniard and German used to bind them in Chains and handle them roughly in Prison thereby to extort the greater Summ of Money from them Which thô not so Generous was perhaps more safe in one respect But to return whence we have made this Digression Sr. Lewis of St. Julian being thus upon Ransom got home again to his Garrison of la Roche de Pozay Sr. William Bourde into that of la Haye en Touraine and Carlonet the Breton into St. Salvin which had lost us the Lord Chandos these Three made privately an Assembly of Men of War all hardy Companions and well armed with whom one Morning early they went to Chastellerault and scaled the Town and had like to have taken the Lord Lewis of Harcourt in his Bed. For at the winning of the Place he was asleep in his Quarters in the Town till being awaked he was fain to fly in his Shirt bare-footed and bare-legg'd from House to House and from Garden to Garden in great fear of the French who had enter'd the Town by Scalado and by that time had won the Fortress However at last with much ado he made shift to put himself under the Bridge of Chastellerault on the River of Vienne where his Men had made a good Fortress and here he was safe and held himself so for a good while But thus the Frenchmen were Masters of the Town where they made a strong Garrison and left Carlonet the Breton Captain of the Place and every Day almost the Frenchmen went to the Bridge and skirmished with Sr. Lewis of Harcourt and his Men that kept it V. The mean while t Frois c. 272. Lewis Duke of Bourbon was informed how the English Companions were in his Country of Bourbonnois and that Ortingo Bernard de Wisk and Bernard de la Salle had taken his Castle of Bellepeche and therein the good Lady his Mother whereat he was horribly incensed and resolved to go and lay siege unto Bellepeche and not to stir thence till he should have won the Place Upon his request the French King gave him leave to undertake the Enterprise promising also not to be wanting in his Assistance towards the Work. So the Duke of Boubon left Paris in the beginning of the Year and made his Rendezvous at Moulins on the River Allier in Bourbonnois and at St. Poursain on the Marches of Auvergne in which places he raised a great number of Valiant Men. There was the Lord of Beaujeu with 300 Spears the Lord of Villers and the Lord of Roussillon with an 100 Spears apiece and several other Lords and Knights of Auvergne and Forestes whereof he was Lord in Right of his Lady who was Daughter to the Noble Lord Beroald late Earl Dauphin Being thus enforced the Duke of Bourbon went to Bellepeche before which he built a great Bastion encompassed with a Ditch and defended with Towers both for the ease of his Men it being now but February and for their safety in case of a Counter-siege or sudden Appearance of an Enemy And so every Day he skirmished with the Companions and at Night retired with the best part of his Troops into this Bastion Besides this the Duke had with him four Terrible Great Engines which cast huge massie Stones and Timber against the Castle insomuch that the Tops of their Towers and Houses were beaten down and a considerable part of their Turrets overthrown Whereat the Duke's Mother who was Prisoner there being extreamly affrighted sent forth Messengers to the Duke her Son desiring him to forbear using those fearfull Engines which did so terrifie her and her Women that they knew not what to do But the Duke of Bourbon who knew that she was put upon this by his and her Enemies or however that to obey her at this time was more for the Advantage of the English than of Her return'd answer that he was resolved by no means to forbear whatever came of it and so continued playing with his Engines When therefore these Companions saw how they were streightned and that the Frenchmens Forces encreased for the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France was newly come thither with a great Power then they resolved to acquaint Sr. John Devereux Seneschal of Limosin who lay then at la Sousterraine two little days-Journey from them of this their Desperate Condition and how the Lords of Poictou and Gascogne when they left them in the Expedition of Quercy had promised them on their Faiths how that if they should take any Fortress in France and be besieged thereupon they should have Relief upon Demand Having wrote Letters to this Effect they sent them away one night secretly by a Valet who undertook to carry them and got safe to la Sousterraine When the Lord John Devereux had read the Letters he remembred very well how the
when the News of this Treason was brought to the Lord Thomas Felton and the Captal of Busche These two Lords were mightily surprised at this Treachery of Sr. Thomas Batefoile but they said however they would be present at the Delivery of the Town by the Grace of God. And so before it was light they rode from Bergerac towards la Linde whither they came by break of Day and having caused the Gate to be open on that side rode quite thrô the Town in silence till they came to the other Gate where the Frenchmen were to enter at which very instant the Gate was opening for the French and Sr. Thomas Batefoile stood ready to receive them Then Sr. John Greilly Captal of Busche alighted from his Horse and stept forward with his Sword in his Hand to the Gate and said Ah! thou Perfidious Traitor Batefoil thou shalt first die by my hand and never more commit Treason against thy Good Lord and Master And with those Words gave him so sure a Blow that he fell Dead to the Earth When the Frenchmen perceived the Captal and his Banner and Sr. Thomas Felton with him they saw plainly how their Plot was discovered whereupon they hastily withdrew from the Gates like one that found a Lion in his way and then turn'd their Backs and fled to their main Host Then were the Gates closed again for none pursued them because of their great Army which lay near and so the Town continued English but was in great Danger of being plunder'd and burnt by these Captains who were enclin'd to do so and to put all the Inhabitants to the Sword because they consented to this Treason But they excus'd themselves by laying all the Fault upon Sr. Thomas Batefoile who they said over-aw'd them to it by Threats and how they did nothing but for Fear being compelled thereto and so at last they were pardon'd But these two Lords tarried there till the Duke of Anjou had remov'd his Siege and taken another way as we shall shew when we have cleared our Hands of other Matters which naturally fall in at this Place XIV On the h Hector Boet. l. 15. f. 327. n. 50. Buchan l. 9. p. 306. Holinsh Scotl. p. 244. Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 27. Favine le Paris Theatre of Honour l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. Seventh Day of May David Bruce King of Scotland departed this Mortal Life at his Castle of Edenburgh leaving no Lawfull Issue behind him wherefore the Lord Robert Stuart Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret aliàs Margery his Eldest Sister by True Right of Succession came to the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland Which have ever since continued in that Glorious Family down to our Most Gracious Sovereign His Present Majesty King JAMES the Seventh of Scotland and of England the Second To whom may God Almighty grant a Long Happy and Victorious Reign and of his Race and Name to wear the United Crowns of Great Brittain till all Earthly Kingdoms shall be swallowed up in the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven The Original of this Illustrious Family is thus traced by i Favine le Paris l. 5. c. 3. p. 89. c. Favine in his Theatre of Honour Banquho who was Thane i. e. President or Governor of Loquhaber in Scotland being slain by the Tyrannical Usurper Mackbeth his Son Fleance made shift to escape into Wales where of the Daughter of Prince Griffith he begat a Son named Walter and Sirnamed also Banquho as his Grandfather was At that time the Arms of this Family are said to have been Or a Fefs Checkie Argent and Sable of Four Pieces This Walter long after the Death of Mackbeth returning into Scotland fought valiantly for his King against the Island Rebels and the Savages of Scotland and was in recompence of his extraordinary Vertue and eminent Services made Great Provost and Treasurer of the Houshold Royal which the Scots signifie by the Name of Stuart or Steward And he so faithfully discharged the Trust reposed in him without the least Reproach or Embezling of the Kings Money that the Sirname of Stuart was imposed on him and transmitted to all his Posterity Walter begat Alan Stuart who was in the Expedition of Godfrey of Boulogne Alan begat Alexander I his Son was Walter who begat Alexander II and Robert Stuart by whom the Family ran into many Noble Branches Alexander the II Eldest Son of Walter the II begat John Stuart James and other Children by whom Scotland hath been replenished with a Numerous Encrease of Generous Souls John Stuart Eldest Son of Alexander the Second left one Daughter named Jane Stuart who brought unto her Husband the Lord of the Isle of Bute Walter Stuart Third of that Name who taking to Wife the Lady Margery Eldest Daughter to King Robert the First and Sister to King David Bruce gat of her this Robert Stuart King of Scotland by the Name of Robert the Second But because there is a gross Error in all the Scotch Historians concerning the immediate Successor of this King Robert of which many Wicked Men have in our days thought to make Advantage for the sake of Truth and Justice and the Honour of Majesty We shall here fairly state the Matter and faithfully and truly settle it It is the Assertion of all the Scotch Writers whom I have seen thô in some particulars they differ one from another that this Robert before he was King had by a certain Mistress named Elizabeth More Three Sons and Two Daughters that after by his Wife Euphemia Ross who was also Queen he had two Sons and a Daughter that upon the Death of his Queen his Former Mistress being then also by the Death of her Husband Giffard at Liberty was by him taken to Wife her Children legitimated and the Right of Succession by Act of Parliament settled first upon them This is the Effect of what the Scotch Writers say wherein there are many abominable Falsities as We shall make appear for We shall most evidently prove that the Lady Elizabeth More was his First and Lawfull Wife and died before he Married Euphemia that John who succeeded him by the Name of k When he came to the Crown he laid by the Name of John as unfortunate to two Kings of England and France and took upon him that of Robert Fortunate to his Father and Great Grandfather Robert Bruce Robert was his true and lawfully begotten Eldest Son and so reputed both by his Father and King David himself all along and that this Act for settling the Succession was only a Declaration of what was Right and Equity and done in the Life time of Queen Euphemia as is abundantly * P. 189. ad p. 201. made out in Sr. George Mackenzies Jus Regium and l Dr. Brady's True c. p. 309. ad p. 311. Dr. Brady's True and Exact History of the Succession of the Crown of England to whom I shall refer the Reader for the Original Record
and won Cattle and Prisoners and fill'd the plain Country with Desolation The King of Aragon who very much doubted this War being alarum'd at this sudden Invasion sent Men of Arms in all haste to the Frontiers under the Conduct of the Vicount of Roqueberton and the Earl of Rodaiz while himself was busied in raising an Army to go against h Vid. Lit. Papales de hoc ad Regem Aragonium apud Odâr Rainal ad an 1363. §. 9. his Nephew the King of Majorica But He Poor Prince even while thus the War was fair on his side fell sick again in the Valley of Soria of which sickness he died within few days leaving the Injuries done unto his Father and himself unrevenged and all the hopes of his Crown and Life together It is likely that upon his Delivery from his Spanish Prison when he found how the Black-Prince in whose Fortunate Valour he had reposed a sure hope of Success was himself seised with an Incurable Malady he thereupon began by Degrees to entertain Melancholy thoughts till now at last his Grief and Sickness together put an end to his troublesome Life However his Uncle the Aragonese had Peace thereby and continued in that Condition several Years after As for the Companions who came with the King of Majorica to make War against him they return'd back into France where they thought to make their advantage either by owning the French or English Interest The rest of the Auxiliaries went as their Humor or Interest led them to other Parts XIII All this i Frois c. 295. fol. 178. Gallicè fol. 243. while John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was in the City of Bourdeaux on the Garonne where he kept a Court little inferior to that of the Prince his Brother having about him a Gallant Retinue of Barons Knights and Esquires of England and of Aquitaine And as yet Fortune had not taken her leave of King Edward as We may see by his late unexpected Victory over the Flemings Thô several Lords of Poictou Limosin and other Provinces revolted daily to the French King and immediately turn'd their Arms another way making frequent Skirmishes and Rencounters with the English But now Divine Providence began to weaken the English Interest and Power even by such a Means as all other Princes make use of to strengthen theirs viz. An Alliance by Marriage which thô Glorious in shew prov'd no more but an Airy Title and yet that brought forth in time many Expensive Wars and gave an Occasion of much Bloodshed and loss of Treasure principally in Spain and Portugal but by accident also it produced the loss of Rochelle and consequently of many more Places in France as we shall now see We spake k Vid. l. 4. c. 6. §. 31. p. 782. before of the Death of the Lady Blanch Dutchess of Lancaster upon which the Duke her Husband being left a Widower the Barons of Gascogne now with the said Duke at Bourdeaux began to consider how Don Pedro late King of Castille and Leon had left behind him two Daughters which he had by a Lawfull Bed. That these young Ladies were then at Aire a City of Gascogne having been left as Pledges with the Prince of Wales for certain Sums of Money due unto him from their Father And when these Ladies heard first of the Murder of the King their Father they were extreamly Disconsolate and in such Fear and trouble that it was a Thousand Pities such Innocent Virgins of Royal Blood should ever be brought to such Affliction by the Sins of their Father Especially all Men lamented the Condition of the Eldest who was now the True and Lawfull Heir to the Crown of Castille by Right of Succession devolved unto her immediately upon the Death of her Father King Don Pedro. All this Sr. Guischard D'Angle shew'd unto the Duke of Lancaster in the Presence of the Earl of Cambridge his Brother saying My Lord if it please your Royal Highness You are yet to be disposed of in Marriage once more and Sir We can tell You of a Match not unfitting your Birth whereby You shall obtain the Title of a King in her Right and your Children by her shall be Heirs to a Crown and she likewise hath a younger Sister which will make a good Wife for You my Lord of Cambridge They are both Ladies of Incomparable Perfections both of Mind and Body being the Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Castille and Leon. And surely it is no small point of Charity to succour and comfort distressed Damsels especially they being Daughters to a King in such a forlorn Condition as Fortune hath now reduced them to My Lord Duke We your Faithfull Servants would advise You to take unto Wife the Lady Constance who is the Eldest of these Princesses For We cannot tell where You can Match more Honourably or obtain Higher Dignity in so doing These Words and more to the like purpose made such an Impression on the Duke's heart who was now but One and Thirty Years of Age and in the Highest Vigour of Nature but especially when both their Beauties were enlarged upon he was so pleased that he resolv'd forthwith to send for the two Ladies Constance the Eldest whom he had pitch'd upon and Isabella the Youngest whom his Younger Brother the Earl of Cambridge design'd to espouse Four Lords with their Attendants went for them and they menaged their Business so well that the Ladies consented to go along with them to Bourdeaux when they should have got all things ready for their journey Upon News of the time the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge rode forth to meet them and were both so extraordinarily pleased with their several Mistresses that they immediately Married them in the next Village to them called Rochefort not far from Bourdeaux The Marriage was solemnised with a Great and Royal Feast and after that the two Princely Bridegroomes brought their Ladies to Bourdeaux where again there was Feasting and Joy and a most Splendid Resolemnization of this Double Marriage being attended with a great Number of Lords and Ladies all who Caressed the Royal Brides and presented them with many Rich Jewels and other Gifts to shew their Respect chiefly to the Duke But whatever all this might be in other Circumstances it was only now in effect to denounce Mortal War against the King of Spain and his Heirs for ever and thô indeed that King was an Usurper yet he was at that time of Great Power so that it seem'd no ways convenient to put him to Despair in a juncture when the King of England had his Hands full of War elsewhere King Henry of Castille had early notice how the Duke of Lancaster had Married the Eldest of his Neices and the Earl of Cambridge the other Wherefore by Advice of his Grandees who were all strictly United to his Interest he resolved forthwith to engage with the French King in a close and perpetual League Offensive
come and yet heard no News of the King. However to acquit themselves to their Power they sent to the Barons of Poictou that were in Thoüars this Message by certain Knights Right Dear Sirs we are sent hither unto you from the Loyal Lords of Gascogne and of England who remain under the Obedience of the King of England to let you know that there are come from Niort above twice twelve hundred Men of Arms ready prepar'd to aid and assist you in all manner of respect Only Sir they desire to know from you whether in the Absence of the King of England and of his Children you will accept of their Assistance or no. As for them they are ready if so it please you to adventure their Lives and Fortunes together with you The Barons of Poicton heartily thanked the Lords of England and of Gascogne who had made them so kind a Proffer but they desired time to consider what in that Case was to be done At first they could not agree for the Lord of Partenay who was a Principal Member among them would have them accept of the Assistance of these Lords who as he said represented the King of England But most of the other Lords were of a contrary Opinion saying How they had sealed and sworn to this Agreement that if by such a Day the King of England or one of his Sons did not appear there Personally in the Field then they should submit themselves to the Obedience of the French King. Upon this Resolution the Lord of Partenay went away to his Lodgings in deep Displeasure but the next Day he was so wheedled by those of the adverse Party that he also became of their Mind And so with one Consent they returned this Answer That they thanked them heartily for their Good-will Notwithstanding the King of England or one of his Sons must needs be there in Person according to the Treaty whereto they had sworn and sealed This Answer was no way pleasing to the English and Gascogners about Niort but they could no ways hope to save them who were thus disposed not to be saved by them XXIII On the Eve of St. Michael there came from Poictiers to hold their appointment before Thoüars the Constable of France the Dukes of Berry Burgunay and Bourbon the Lord Oliver Clisson the Vicount of Rohan the Dauphin of Auvergne the Lord Lewis of Sancerre the Lord of Sully and other Great Lords of France to the Number of 10000 Men of Arms besides others This vast Army stood ready ranged in Battle Array in the Field before Thoüars on the Eve and all the day long on the Feast of St. Michael and against Night they withdrew to their Tents But on the Morrow in the Morning the Constable and the Dukes sent to the Knights of Poictou within Thoüars demanding of them to deliver up the City according to their Promise and Oaths in that behalf made To these Summons 't was answer'd how they would shortly come to Poictiers and there submit themselves and all their Lands to the Protection of the French King. This Answer seeming sufficient to the Lords of France they brake up from before Thoüars and the Dukes dismist the greater part of their Army only retaining such competent Forces as they had before they expected King Edward's Arrival Among others the Lord Clisson was appointed by the Constable to go with 200 Spears and attempt Mortaigne on the Severe Nantoise which as then held for England having within sixty Men of Arms for its Defence under the Command of an English Esquire named James Clare The Lord Clisson being come before the Place began a fierce Assault whereat he himself was present but for all that he wan little or no Advantage but at Night was fain to retire to his Camp. The Captain within seeing himself thus put to it sent out secretly to the Lords of England and Gascogne then at Niort telling them that if they would send any Troops thither before Morning he would receive them into his Fortress whereby they might easily pass thrô the Castle into the Lord Clisson's Camp who had with him but 200 Men of Arms. Upon this Notice certain Lords went that Night from Niort with 500 Men of Arms in their Company and so rode on toward Mortaigne being very desirous to entrap the Lord Clisson if they could But there was a spy who knew all their purpose for he came out of Niort with them that Evening and so rode on upon the spur before and came to the Lord Clisson whom he found at Supper and said to him Sir Your Enemies to the Number of 500 Men of Arms have left Niort and are coming upon you apace With that the Lord Clisson thrust away the Table from him and arm'd himself with all speed and mounted his Horse and rode away hastily with all his Company leaving the greater part of the Carriages behind and never stopt till he came to Poictiers And the English having thus failed of their design return'd to Niort in great displeasure Soon after which having left Sr. Dangouses and Sr. John Creswell in garrison there the other great Lords and Captains brake up their assembly at Niort Sr. Walter Hewet with some few more returning into England and all the rest to Bourdeaux But as they went they burnt and ravaged in the Lands of the Lord of Partenay who was lately turn'd French at Thoüars Thus all the Country of Poictou was reduced under the French except a few Fortresses as Niort Les Esars Mortimer Mortaigne Lusignan La Motte Achart La Roche Sur Yonne Gauzar La Tour Landry Mexis and some others which made divers Excursions and Inroads among their Neighbours sometimes chacing and sometimes being chaced themselves XXIV Now the a Frois c. 306. f. 186. sed Gallice f. 254. Lord John of Monford Sirnamed the Valiant who had hitherto full and quiet Possession of the Dukedom of Bretagne his Competitor Charles of Blois being slain as We have shewn was infinitely displeased at these Losses of his Old Friends the English Both Gratitude and Honour made him rather love their Interest since it was truly said that the King of England had advanced him to what he was and that he had had nothing had it not been for Him who all along had made Powerfull War in his behalf and had lent him vast Sums of Silver and Gold and given him his Daughter also in Marriage Wherefore the Duke himself would rather have held his Lands of King Edward than of the French King But the Major part of the Lords Knights and Esquires of that Country were for France in their hearts especially the Lord Clisson the Lord de la Val and the Vicount of Rohan who were the Chief Lords of all that Country and these doubted not to assure the Duke to his Face that he must expect no service of them unless he continued true to France Sir said they as soon as We shall once perceive that You resolve
little longer and let them go on in Gods Name for thus they will never be able to wrest your Kingdom from You They will weary and spend themselves to no purpose but long they cannot subsist For behold when a Storm or Tempest ariseth if Men will but keep within Doors it wasteth away of it self without much harm doing and thus you shall see it will happen to these Englishmen And here we shall take our leave for the present of the Duke of Lancaster and what remains of this Expedition till we have Dispatched other Matters that fall in this place XIV It may be remembred y Frois c. 311. fol. 191. b. how we spake lately of Sr. Robert Knolles that he came to his Castle of Derval which was his Inheritance and that he wholly cancell'd and brake off the Treaty made between his Men and the Duke of Anjou who also laid claim to the same Castle as which had been formerly given unto him by the Lord Charles of Blois when he took to Wife the said Lord Charles his Daughter Thô after the Death of the said Lord Charles John of Monford the true Duke of Bretagne gave it to Sr. Robert Knolles a Knight of England to him and his Heirs for ever in Requital of his many signal Services done unto him in all his Wars Therefore now the Duke of Anjou went in Person before Derval resolving by Siege or Assault to win the Place But about the time he first came thither the French King sent hastily unto him to the Constable to the Lord Clisson and all the Knights of Bretagne Poictou and the low Marches and the rest that lay with the Duke before Derval commanding them to return with all their Power into France to assist his Brother the Duke of Burgundy in coasting and cutting short the Duke of Lancaster who was then marching thrô France Upon this the Duke of Anjou sent to those within Derval urging them to make haste and yield up their Castle as they had promised But when the Day was come and past whereon it was to be deliver'd and yet no such thing once offer'd the Duke began to wonder what they meant for thô he knew how Sr. Robert Knolles was got in with some Succour both of Men and Provision yet he hop'd they would not break the Obligation to which they were bound and thereby expose the Lives of their Hostages However not daring to linger much here because of the French Kings Letters he sent an Herald to Sr. Robert Knolles and especially to Sr. Hugh Bright who had made the Agreement with him which Herald being admitted into the Castle said Gentlemen my Lords have sent me hither to know the Reason why you don't take care to acquit your Hostages and deliver up the Castle according to Covenant to which Sr. Hugh you are bound by Oath To this Sr. Robert Knolles answer'd Herald tell your Masters that without my leave my Men could make no Composition concerning the Delivery of what was not their own Go to them again and tell them so from me The Herald return'd with this Answer and was sent back again with this Message Gentlemen my Lords send you once again word by Me how the Composition was that you should not receive any one into your Fortress till the day prefixed and yet since that Agreement was made and before the appointed term of two Months was ended they have admitted you Sr. Robert Knolles into their Fortress which they ought not to have done Wherefore Sir know for certain that unless you yield up the Castle forthwith your Hostages shall lose their Heads Herald answer'd Sr. Robert for all the Menacing of your Masters I will not lose my Castle so by God! Tell them they may do their worst but if so be that the Duke put my Men to Death let him know that I shall serve him like for like For here within I have both Knights and Esquires of France my Prisoners and thô I might have an 100000 Franks for their Ransom yet they shall surely die every Man of them if he offers to do so to the Hostages With this Answer the Herald went his way and reported what he had heard Presently whereupon the Duke of Anjou all enflam'd as he was with Anger call'd for the Executioner and caused the Hostages being two Knights and an Esquire of England to be brought before the Castle whose Heads were all immediately struck off in sight of Sr. Robert and his Men. Then the enraged Sr. Robert Knolles caused a broad board to be thrust out at one of the Hall Windows and four Prisoners which he had there with him Three Knights and One Esquire for whom he might have had a great Ransom all these he order'd to be brought thither and so the Executioner struck off their Heads flinging down their Bodies one way and their Heads another into the Ditch After this unhappy sight the Frenchmen brake up their Siege and went all into France the Duke of Anjou returning to Paris to the King his Brother But the Constable the Lord Oliver Clisson and the rest rode toward the City of Troyes in Champaigne for the English were then in the Marches thereabout having passed the Marne and directing their Course toward Auxerre XV. Now since the Christian Religion which might chiefly expect to be Defended by the Arms of the French and English being destitute almost of all Aid was in a manner overwhelmed by the Victories of the Infidels it is to be remembred that Pope Gregory XI had the last Year induced the Two Kings to hold a Treaty at Calais But that being dissolved without any good effect he again prevail'd with them to hold another at Bruges this Year and therewithall z Greg. XI Tâm 2. Epist sââ p. 237 238 239. Vid Odâr Râânâl âd hââc ãâã §. 22. sollicited both Edward and Charles to embrace peaceable Counsels To which that he might prepare the Minds of those Nobles who were to be on both sides at this Treaty in the Names of the Two Kings he directs his Letters also to them wherein having set forth the Miseries of Christendom in General arising from this Discord he gives them a shrew'd innuendo that those of them who shall be found to be in Fault if Peace doth not ensue are to expect no less then the Utmost the Church can inflict GREGORY the Bishop servant of the servants of God to his Dear Sons in Christ the Ambassadors of our Most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Commissioned to treat of and to reform a Peace between Him and our most Dear Son in Christ Charles the Illustrious King of France at Bruges in the Dioecese of Tournay Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Considering how much the Hostile Commotion of the Two Kings so long radicated and so hurtfull to the whole World hath been and is prejudicial to the Affairs of the Holy Land and not only induces the Babylonish Tyrant to
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâgree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâimus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
Mortimer Earl of March the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Kent the Lord Edward Spencer and the other English Captains returned also for England But the Lord Spencer presently upon his return fell grievously Ill wherefore he began to dispose himself for another World and among other things i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. ex libro Sudbury dicto fol. 89. made his Testament which bears Date at Lanblethian a Castle of his in the Marches of Wales upon the Sixth of November Anno 1375. Wherein he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abbey of Tewksbury in Glocestershire near his Ancestors on the South part and gave to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash his Great Bed of Camaka-Blew with Griffons as also another Bed of Camaka striped with White and Black and all the Furniture belonging thereto Moreover to the Abbot and Covent of that House of Tewksbury he gave an whole Suit of his best Vestments as also two Gilt Chalices and an Hanap or Bason Gilt likewise an Ewer wherein to put the Body of Christ on Corpus Christi Day which Ewer was given him by the King of France I shall mention no more Particulars but that he died shortly after viz. on Martinmass-Day in the same Month at his Castle at Kaerdiff leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then but Two years of Age and four Daughters Cecily who died young Elizabeth first married to Sr. John Arundel and afterwards to the Lord de la Zouch Anne who became Wife to Sr. Hugh Hastings and after his Death to the Lord Morley and Margaret the Wife of Sr. Robert Ferrers This Lord Edward Speucer was a Mighty Baron of the Realm and so Valiant that his Death was look'd on as a National Loss and a great Empairment of the Strength of England He died too soon being but in the 39 Year of his Age and was descended from those Delespencers Earls of Glocester who were such Favourites to King Edward the Second the Greatness of whose Condition may be estimated from this Inventory which was found to have belonged to Hugh Delespenser the Younger k Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. 2. n. 58. vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 372. Sr. W. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 396. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton his térve corrigendus ex Dug as Ten Good Castles in Wales and Twenty Three Mannors besides the Countries of Lantrissan Glamorgan and Wenceland with the County of Galesy and it appear'd that Hugh the Elder had at the time of his Fall no less than Fifty Nine Lordships in sundry Counties Twenty Eight Thousand Sheep One Thousand Oxen and Steers One Thousand two Hundred Kine with their Calves and Fourty Mares with their Colts of two Years one Hundred and Sixty Draught Horses two Thousand Hogs three Thousand Bullocks Fourty Tuns of Wine six Hundred Bacons Fourscore Carcasses of Martinmas Beef six Hundred Muttons in his Larder Ten Tuns of Cider Armour Plate Jewels and ready Money better than ten Thousand Pounds Thirty six Sacks of Wooll and a Library of Books VI. About this time there were sent into Scotland by Commission from King Edward the Lord l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 236. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Guy de Brian and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham to treat with William Earl of Douglas and Others appointed by Robert Stuart King of Scotland touching the Restitution of those Lands which by Vertue of the Truce formerly made did belong to England and m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. for Settling all things amiss which had fell out contrary to the Truce and Agreement made between the Kings of England and Scotland VII Now when the Truce of which we spake was thus made at Bruges being to continue for one whole Year unto the First of April 1376. between the Kings of England and France and their Allies the Duke of Lancaster on the one Part and the Duke of Burgundy on the other sware to uphold the same and that at the Feast of All-Saints next coming they would return again to Bruges in order to treat further about Prolonging the Truce or Compleating a Peace Each Party being permitted to hold and enjoy every thing which at that time they had in Possession untill the said First of April From this latter Clause the English concluded that St. Saviour le Vicount would be secure but the Frenchmen who always got the Advantage of them by Treaties resolved that the First Covenant should take place of the Latter At Whitsuntide therefore which was the Time appointed that the Garrison of St. Saviour was to yield unless rescued by their Friends the French King sent thither no less than 6000 Spears Knights and Esquires besides Others but none appear'd on the Behalf of the Garrison either to raise the Siege or hold the Field against them When therefore the appointed time was come and expired the English much against their Wills yielded up to the French the Captain Thomas Katrington Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs with the Three Brethren Mauliverers and the rest of the Garrison being convey'd to Carentan whence they all took shipping for England VIII And thô during King Edward's Reign this Esquire Katrington was never question'd in the least for this Matter yet a few Years after in the Days of King Richard the Second a Noble Knight named Sr. John Annesley n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. who had married the late Lord John Chandos his Niece o Sr. Rich. Baker p. 150. ad ann 1381. accused him of flat Treason in thus Delivering up that Fortress and thereupon challenged him to a Combat which the Esquire accepted and the King granted resolving to be himself a Spectator as He was with all the Court the Lists being made in the Palace Yard of Westminster This Esquire Katrington was a mighty Man of Valour of a large stature and far overtop'd the Knight being also of greater Expectation in such Matters But however whether Justice or Chance or Valour only decided the Business the Knight prevail'd and Katrington the day after the Combat died of his Wounds as some say thô considering the Laws attending the Duello in such Cases I rather here encline p Fabian p. 324. to Fabian who affirms that he was drawn to Tiburn and there hanged for the Treason whereof by being vanquished he was proved Guilty IX But to return besides this Encroachment on the Truce made by the French in taking St. Saviour le Vicount after that Manner q Rot. Par. 50 Ed. 3. n. 127. certain Ships of England which had lately carried over into Aquitain the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne whom they had landed at Bourdeaux being now return'd thence to le Baye in Bretagne were Boarded by certain Spanish Gallies and taken on the Tenth of August thô the late Truce extended unto the Spaniards also as being Allies of France Of which we
shall find Complaint made in Parliament the Year following by the Owners of the said Vessels X. On the r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 96. Tenth of October this Year there departed this Life the thrice-Noble and Valiant Lord David Strabolgi Earl of Athol leaving only two Daughters his Heirs behind him And the most Honourable Heroe Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 318. Catal. Henââ p. 650. died on the Ninth of the Calends of February this same Year in a good old Age leaving behind him three Sons and three Daughters Richard the eldest of his Sons succeeded him both in his Honours and Vertues Helming t Stow's Survey of London p. 217. Legat Esquire having obtained Licence of the King gave at this time one Tenement with a Cartelage or Yard thereto belonging and a Garden with an Entry leading thereto unto Mr. John Hariot Parson of Fen-Church and to his Successors for ever the House to be a Parsonage-House and the Garden to be a Church-yard or Burying-place for the Parish And about the same time u Dugd. Warw. p. 781. a. Ralph Lord Basset of Drayton founded an House at Atherston in Warwickshire called the Fryars-Hermits of St. Augustin over the Gate whereof is yet to be seen his Coat of Arms cut in a fair Shield of Stone CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH The CONTENTS I. Ingleram Lord Coucy makes an Expedition a second time into Austria but to no purpose II. Another Treaty at Bruges which only produces a short Truce and that another At which time King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it III. The Jubile of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster IV. During whose Sessions the Black-Prince dies his Will Character AN. DOM. 1376. An. Regni Angliae L. Franciae XXXVII Burial and Epitaph V. The Captal of Busche takes his Death to Heart and pines away VI. The Black-Prince's Character again his Children VII The Continuation of the foresaid Parliament at Westminster VIII A Censure thereof who the First Speaker of the House of Commons IX The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche X. Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome I. IN these Days Ingleram de Guisnes Lord of Coucy Earl of Bedford and King Edward's Son-in-Law a Frois c. 314. fol. 195. Gallicè f. 266. De bello inter Bernabonem Pentifices gesto vid. Odor Rainal ab Ano. 1360. n. 6. c. returned into France from the Wars in Lombardy which at the Instance and on the Behalf of the Pope he had maintain'd together with John Galeas Earl of Vertus Son of Duke Galeas against his Uncle Duke Bernabo and his Allies the Recital whereof would be Foreign to the Matter now in Hand This Lord of Coucy was Son to the Lady b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. a. Catherine of Austria who was Sister to c Catal. Hener p. 440. Peter Duke of Austria last deceased so that the said Duke dying without Issue lawfully begotten the Lord of Coucy was of Right to succeed in that Dukedom to his Uncle Peter aforesaid But the d Pannones olim dicti People of the Country had already given the Dukedom to another further removed than he whereof he had before this made frequent Complaints to the Emperour Charles the Fourth Who very well knew the Right which he had but durst not interpose too vigorously on his Behalf because the Austrians were a considerable Nation and Hardy in War. Wherefore the Lord of Coucy seeing he could not be righted otherwise had his last recourse to Arms wherein thô assisted by his Aunt Sister to the late Duke and his Mother he nevertheless had but small Success wherefore having afterwards exercised his Arms for some time in Lombardy he now returned as We have shewn into France where he was received very gratiously of the King who highly esteem'd him for his Valour and imagin'd by what means he might win him over from King Edward unto himself The Lord of Coucy understanding that there was a Truce at that time between England and France which was in a fair way to be prolonged and that there were many Men of War then in France without any Employment who as he thought might prove very serviceable to him in Recovering his Right in Austria began now to request of King Charles that he would permit those Bretons and Companions who during the Truce were like to be but a Burthen to his Realm to go along with him into Austria to help him to recover his Right The King as well to rid himself of that Charge and Trouble as to oblige him granted this his Request and besides that either gave or lent him 60000 Franks to bestow among his Followers Wherefore several French Lords themselves when they saw how well their King himself wish'd to this Cause joyned themselves with the Lord of Coucy as the Vicount of Meaux the Lord of Aunay Sr. Ralph de Coucy the Baron of Roye and the Lord Peter de la Bar with many other Lords and Knights of France Bretagne Artois Vermandois Picardy and Hainalt all desirous to advance their Bodies in Quest of Military Honour With these Forces the Lord of Coucy rode forth towards Austria about the Feast of St. Michael in the Year 1375 the Companions that were with him after their manner doing much Mischief all the way But when the Austrians and the Almaignes with their New Duke whom they had chosen understood for certain that the Lord of Coucy was coming against them with such Forces they immediately burnt and destroy'd for three Days journey along by the River Danube after which they retired into the Mountains and other Places hard of Access So that the Lord of Coucy and his Men who had expected to have met with Victuals could find none at all whereby they suffer'd that Winter infinite Loss and Trouble for not knowing where to get Forage or Victuals for themselves or their Horses many of both Sorts died what with Hunger Cold and Sickness These Afflictions put an end to this Expedition so that in the Spring the poor Remainders of the Army returned into France where they divided into several Quarters to refresh themselves But the King sent the most part of the Companions into Bretagne and Low Normandy to quarter there till he should have occasion for them which he expected shortly For there was only a Momentary Truce taken between the Realms of England and France of which we shall now speak a little II. When the Feast of e Vâd l. 4. c. 12. §. 7. p. 876. All-Saints drew near which was the Time appointed for a Meeting at Bruges in order to prolong the Truce beyond the forelimited time of the First of April or if possible to settle a lasting Peace there came again to Bruges for the French King the Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruse and the Bishop of Amiens but the
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 Frâis 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. âd 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 Rââ 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
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 âncensed 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
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 ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã 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 hujâsmodi âticsè 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 ãâã tâto 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
he would sit and declare a Bastard preferable to the Brother of his own Lady and also to his own Lady who would have succeeded if her Brothers had died without Issue And then it is most evident that when John was thus Designed Heir the Queen Euphemia Ross was not dead as the Scotch Writers say and the King Married to his Mother For as there is extant a Grant given by the said King to Paul Metine confirming unto him a Charter Granted by the Earl of Ross Father to Euphemia wherein the said John is Witness by the Name of Eldest-Son and Heir so there is a Charter granted unto Her by the King upon the very same day of the Lands of Lochleaven both Grants bearing Date Junii 1 mo Ano. Regni Primo And it is against all sense and reason to think he could have been acknowledged Heir Apparent during her Life if he had not been Legitimate Nay further we find by our Records that x Rot. Scotiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. Vid. Hujus Hist l. 2. c. 11. §. 8. p. 445. 19 Years before this he is stiled John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart as also seven Years after he bears the same Title being ranked * Vid. Hujus Hist l. 3. c. 2. § 3. § §. 4. p. 529. First among the Hostages which lay for King David And further to put all out of Question there is extant in Fourdons History a Charter granted by King David wherein the Witnesses are Robert Stuart Earl of Strathern our Nephew John Stuart Earl of Carric his Eldest Son and Heir Thomas Earl of Mar George of Dumbar Earl of March and William Earl of Douglass So that here again Buchanan is found Tardy who says that John was created Earl of Carrick by the King his Father after the Death of Ephemia Ross when here we find him stiled Earl of Carrick by his Great Uncle King David who also attests that he was Eldest Son and Heir to his Nephew Robert and surely he could be no wayâ byassed in the Affair But if any one shall say what need then had there been of this Act or Declaration if the Title of John had not been Doubtfull We answer that King Robert could not forget y Hector Buchan ibid. c. how William Earl of Douglas by pretending a Right from the Bailiols and the Cumins had like to have disturbed his own Coronation but that he was not allowed in his Design by his Friends And therefore to stop all Controversies for the future he thought good to fortifie his Right and the Right of his Children for ever by a National Declaration as well as by Statute And thus much for this Important Matter in this Place we now return to the Point from whence we digressed XVI This King Robert the Second of Scotland who had been well acquainted with the Power and Force of King Edward and knew what Havock of that Nation he had made in time past being now in the beginning of his Reign desirous to establish his Kingdom in Peace made a Motion for a Treaty with England which King Edward most readily embraced because of the great War that he expected from France So that at last a firm Truce and Peace was taken and settled between the two Realms to endure for the space z But for 3 years Mezeray for 14 Buchan and 9 Frois of Nine Years All which time it might be lawfull for the Scots to take Arms at their Pleasure and to serve for Wages either the King of England or of France without any Imputation of Breach of Peace So that Sr. Robert Knolles whom King Edward design'd to send into France with a Considerable Army had now with him no less than a Frois Gall. f. 231. Angl. c. 278. an Hundred Spears all Chosen Men of that Warlike Nation In relation to which Expedition b 6 Maii. Claus 44. Ed. 3. m. 15. Derse Proclamation was sent forth that all Souldiers design'd for Picardy and other Parts of France under Sr. Roberts Command he being c Rot. Franc. 44. Ed. 3. m. 14. constituted the Kings Lieutenant in those Parts should be at Southhampton by the Octaves of St. John Baptist following ready fitted to take Shipping there with him So that in the beginning of July Sr. Robert finding all things ready went on Board at Southhampton and arrived safely and landed with all his Men at Calais where he was highly welcom'd by Sr. Nicolas Stambourn Captain of the Town Here he tarried seven Days to refresh his Men and to consider what Course to take on the eighth Day early in the Morning he began to march out of Calais with an Army of d Mezeray ità sed 12000 Holinsh ego priârem praefere quia dicitur Exercitus magnus M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 234. Walsing hist p. 179. 30000 Men among whom were 1500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers on Horseback the Chief Captains whereof were Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Thomas Grandison Sr. Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Gilbert Gifford Sr. John Menstreworth Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Hugh Meinill Sr. Geoffry Vrswell and Others The first Day they reached Fiennes but Sr. Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France was then in the Place with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires all well provided and ready to receive their Enemies The next Morning the whole Army faced the Castle but when it plainly appear'd that much might be there lost and little or nothing won they passed by without attempting it and marching thrô the Earldom of Guisnes enter'd the Land of Fauquenberg burning all before them till they came to Teroüenne which yet they attempted not for seeing it well provided they thought 't would be but lost Labour Then they passed the River of Lys and began to enter Artois but they never went above four or five leagues a Day because of the Infantry and their Carriages still taking up their Lodgings early in the Afternoon and near some considerable Village or other At last they drew near to the City of Arras and took up their Lodgings in the Town of Mount St. Eloy near to the said City where they tarried two Days to refresh themselves all the while destroying and burning round about as far as the Marshals durst stretch Now the French King had already provided for all the Defensible Places in those Parts as well as elsewhere strictly enjoyning his Chief Officers not to be easily tempted out to a Battle but only to stand on the Defensive part Which Order was generally obey'd and prov'd more mischievous to the English than open Opposition could have done for by this means they could get very little Provision without Blows but could never come to a Battle as they desired and expected On the third Day they left St. Eloy and passed by Arras but Sr. Hugh Meinill and Sr. Geoffry Vrsewell who were the Marshals of the English Army resolved however to