Arms for that was try'd in vain but by the Faith he reposed in Your Princely Honour which all Kings should take the utmost Care to keep inviolate My Lord and Father let it not be said that the Heir of France after a Fruitless Siege of many Months was fain to falsifie his Word confirmed with his nay with Your Royal Seal to trepan a Generous Enemy into an Ignoble Death For thô all this proceeded of Your Majesties Pleasure alone yet there is no Man but will believe that it was I who betray'd him and so they justly may unless they shall see him set free again by my Endeavours Set Free again reply'd the incensed Prince let me see who dare pretend to dispose of my Prisoners otherwise than I shall think Convenient Be this your satisfaction that your Father and your King is resolved He shall die For I look upon him as One of my most Deadly Enemies and so would You if You knew how he aims to ravish away for another that Crown which You may one Day Wear Father said the Duke if this be Your final Determination surely I shall never bear Arms on Your behalf against the King of England nor shall any of those on whom I have any Influence For I am not greatly Ambitious to Wear a Crown that is upheld by any Unjust Action and then going out of the Presence in Great Displeasure he repeated his former Words Vowing on that Condition never more to bear Arms for the King his Father again Thus the Matter stood a while King Philip in doubt whether to appease his Son or rid himself of an Enemy the Prince in deep Sorrow Shame and Displeasure and the Lord Manny in great Danger of Death But there was at Court a Worthy Knight of Hainalt named Sr. Mansart de Sue who made it his sole Endeavour to deliver the Lord Manny he held about this Matter several private Conferences with the Duke of Normandy and by his means with the greatest Peers and Barons of France whereupon at last King Philip was so importun'd by their joynt Prayers and Remonstrances that he was content to let him go out of Prison with all his Men their Horses Goods and Armour and all their Costs paid And because now the King himself was ashamed of what he had done he sent for the Lord Manny to his Palace of Nesle in Paris and made him sit down with him at Dinner at his own Table All which time the King spake so familiarly with him and shew'd him so good a Countenance as might become the most Gracious King in Europe to use with his most Loyal Friend and Favourite After all he presented him with great Gifts and Jewels to the Value of a 1000 Florens of Gold. But Sr. Walter would not receive this Present saving on this Condition that if his Master the King of England upon his Arrival before Calais should allow thereof then he would keep them as Tokens of his Princely Bounty but otherwise he must crave Pardon thô he send them all back again to the Royal Donor The King said how he spake like a Man of Honour and so the Lord Manny took his leave and rode Northward till he came into Hainalt where he had his Birth and having only tarried three Days at Valenciennes he proceeded till he came to Calais where he and all his Men were welcome to the King of England But when he had shew'd the King the Particulars of all his Journey and the Danger he was in at first as also how afterwards on certain Conditions he had accepted of Gifts from the French King Edward took him aside and said Sr. Walter You have hitherto served Us with much Loyalty and We doubt not but You will continue so to do Send again to Philip of Valois his Presents You have no need of them We thank God We have enough for our selves and for You too And surely We design for You both great Honour and other Rewards according to the Good and Laudable Service You have done Us. Upon these Words of the King the Lord Manny took immediately all the foresaid Jewels and delivering them to a Cousin of his named Sr. Mansel a young Gentleman of Gallant Shape Deportment and Courage thô at that time of no considerable Office because of his Youth he said Cousin Mansel ride into France to the King there and recommend me to him and tell him that I thank his Majesty a Thousand times for the Favours he was pleased to shew me and the Gifts he gave me But let him know that it is not the Pleasure of the King my Master that I should keep them Wherefore I now send them again unto him This young Knight rode to Paris accordingly and deliver'd his Message with the Jewels to the King But he thought it agreed not with his Honour to take them back again wherefore as Sr. Walter had imagin'd He bad Sr. Mansel take them to himself He for his part as one whose Place laid no such Obligation upon him as the Lord Manny's did thanked his Majesty heartily and made no scruple to bring them along with him to Calais XI Now as soon g Frois c. 136. Ashuncle p. 681. Du Chesne p. 665. Holinshead p. 938. Meâ—â—crâ—y p. 28. Grev. Villan l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. as the Duke of Normandy had Raised his Siege from before Aiguillon and was returned to Paris Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby who during the Siege had kept at Bourdeaux or la Reole and thereabout when he heard of the Duke's Departure sent his Summons throughout Gaseogne to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of England besides such Gascogners as held for King Edward Among whom were the Lord of Albret the Lord de Le Sparre the Lord of Rosam the Lord of Mucidan the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Tourton the Lord of Bouqueton Sr. Emery of Traston and others so that the Earls Forces amounted in all to 1200 Men of Arms 2000 Archers and 3000 Foot. With this small but well compacted Army he passed the Garonne between Bourdeaux and Blaye and marching up the way toward Saintogne came to Mirembeau which he took by Storm both Town and Castle and set therein a Garrison of English Then he turned to Mortagne by the Sea-side in Poicton which he took by Assault and Garrison'd also From hence he rode to Taillebourg and wan the Bridge Town and Castle putting all whom he found to the Sword in Revenge of the Death of a Knight of his who was slain in the Assault After this he advanced to Aunay Surgieres and Benon all which he took but the Castle of Marans beyond Rochelle he could not prevail upon by any means Then he went and laid Siege to the Fair Town of St. John the Evangelist called in French St. Jean D'Angely and gave there a great Assault which lasted till almost Night There were no very Expert Captains at that time in the Place wherefore Sr. William de
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
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
Easter-Day Whereas Easter-Day that Year tell on the 5 of April and on the 1â— of April which was the Monday after Faster K. Edward left Paris Thô Mr. Ashmole thrô haste pastâ—r over this Fault of Stows Day being very dark and misty together with a great quantity of Hail there happen'd so bitter a Cold that several Men died as they sat on their Horses wherefore unto this time says my Author that Day is called the Black-Monday But this no doubt is a mistaken Relation of that horrible Storm and Cold which the King met withall afterwards as we shall shew in due Place These Actions being over the Lord Walter Manny returned to the Army which tarried still in those Fields all that Day and the Night following But the next Morning being a Monday and the 13 of April seeing no Provocations could bring the Dauphin to a Battle and that it was morally impossible to force otherwise than by Famine so great a City which was not only now well fortified but l Fabâ—an p. 239. ex Chron. â—â—anc furnished with great plenty of Souldiers besides the vast Numbers of Inhabitants the King therefore resolved to rise from thence till a more favourable season and the mean while to go forth with Fire and Sword through Beauce and le Maine till he came into Bretagne where having refreshed his Army he intended to return to the Siege of Paris in July or August at the furthest and so to famish them by a long Siege For as we shew'd before He had made a Vow never to return into England till he had brought France to his Terms either by Fair means or by Force Accordingly on the Monday after Easter m Frois c. 211. fol. 1â—4 he raised his Camp and began to march towards Mont-lehery VII The mean while certain Knights of England and of Gascogne having found a convenient place determin'd with themselves to lie in Ambush For they expected that among so many Valiant Lords and Gentlemen then in Paris some of them would not fail to follow the Army thô only to cut off straglers and such as lag'd behind Accordingly by the Kings Order the Ambush was laid in an empty old house about 3 Leagues from Paris consisting of 200 chosen Men of Arms English and Gascogners under these Captains the Lord Nevill the Lord Moubray Sr. Richard Pontchardon the Captal de Busche Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and the Lord of Courton the Three first of England and the other of Gascogne Now when the Frenchmen within Paris had seen the Decamping of the English Army it was thus discoursed among certain young Knights and Gentlemen there Surely it would be well worth our while to make a sally as secretly as we may and to follow the English Army at a distance for it s more than probable we may happen to win some notable Advantage Hereupon the Design was embrac'd by the Lord Ralph de Coucy Sr. Ralph de Ravenal the Lord of Monsault the Lord of Helay the Chastelan of Beauvais the Begue of Vilaine the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Flamone du Roye Sr. Peter of Savoy and others to the Number of an n Vid. Frois c. 211. fol. 104. l. â—or 22. 150 Spears in their Company They fallied out in good order all very well Horsed taking the way of Bourg la Reine till they had passed beyond the English Ambush With that the Ambush brake forth from behind them and follow'd after them crying St. George England The Frenchmen look'd back in great surprize to be so taken tardy but when they saw there was no flinching they stood their ground with a ready Courage setting themselves in the best Order to receive them on the points of their Spears The Rencountre was very rough and many on both sides were reversed on the Earth for they were all well Horsed Such as could mounted again and after this brunt with Spears they drew their Swords and fell in among one another giving and receiving several rude stroaks so that the Action deserved more Spectators For many Noble Deeds of Arms were performed at this time and the Battle lasted for a while doubtfull On the English part the Captal of Busche is said to have approved himself most eminently that day as also on the French side the Lord of Ravenal fought like a truly Valiant Knight for he gave many gallant proofs of his Skill and Courage under his own Banner till his Standard-Bearer being slain he himself was taken Prisoner For now the English and Gascogners prevail'd so that the Victory was clearly theirs Thô indeed they exceeded the French in Number about one Fourth Part. The other seeing the Scales turn against them fled away directly toward Paris thô continually they were fain to face about and fight as they fled they were so closely pursu'd And if the English had not doubted a Rescue from Paris now that their Horses began to be weary every Man of them had been either taken or slain But upon that account they were content to follow the Chace no farther than Bourg la Reine where they took Nine Knights and Esquires more and having by this Success a little secur'd the Reer of the Army from the French Pursuers they return'd with what they had got to Mont-lehery where the King lay that Night and then very courteously set their Prisoners to their Ransom permitting them to go that same Night whither they pleased only engaging their Faith to pay them by such a time at the utmost On the English part o Dadg Bar. 2 Vol. p. 16. ad an 34. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Aâ—tâ—gr penes Cler. Pâ—il we find about this time that the Lord Roger de la Warre was taken Prisoner by Monsieur John Haubert but that it was in this Action I have no warrant to affirm Thô this was the very last that we hear of till the Gates of Janus were shut in that Kingdom Now King Edward's p Frois c. 211. c. Design as we have already intimated was to march for the present into Beauce and so keeping along by the River of Loire to go into Bretagne q Pâ—l Virgâ— 19. p. 383 n. 4â— to the end he might subdue it wholly on the behalf of the young Earl of Montford his Son in Law for him to hold it of the Crown of England and the mean while to refresh his Army for now that Country had enjoy'd a long respite from the Wars Which done he thought to return about August at the time of Vintage and lay a formal Siege to Paris because of the Oath which he had made before his Departure out of England namely that he would never return alive till he had reduced France to terms agreeable to his Honour VIII And over and above the great Army he led along with him r Frois c. 211. fol. 104. he had sundry Garrisons in Champaigne and Brie in Picardy Normandy and almost over all the Realm of France besides
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
the Grand Prior of France the Lord Boucâ—quault Sr. Tristram de Magnilieu Sr. Peter and Sr. John Villers Sr. John de Auneville Sr. Nicolas de Bracquemont and divers other Lords Knights and Esquires Many of our Writers seem too indiscreetly to surmise as if one Occasion of King John's coming to England at this time was for Love of the Countess of Salisbury which Opinion the Noble Lord of b In hiâ— Play 〈◊〉 the black-Prince Orrery hath lately authorised with his excellent Pen. But it is to be consider'd that my Lord wrote a Poem for Delight and not an History for the Establishment of Truth wherefore he is not to be accused And yet Sr. Richard Baker and others of his Character are by no means to be pardoned who so lightly make such unwarrantable Roflections without weighing the Matter If they mean by the Countess of Salisbury the First Earl Montagu's Lady that was Madam Catharine Daughter of the Lord Grandison and she was dead c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 647. above 12 Years before this time If they refer to the Fair Lady of Kent so much talk'd of we have shewn how she was two Years since married to Prince Edward and it appears that she was now with him in Aquitain of which King John could not be ignorant And if they shall be forced to own the Lady Elizabeth Daughter to the Lord Mohun of Dunstor d Dugd. ibid. p. 648. who only was at this time Countess of Salisbury and Wife to the Second Earl Montagu let them bring the least shadow of Authority or shew that ever they themselves thought upon that Person before and I yield But otherwise I must profess that I cannot without Resentment see the Honour not only of a Noble Lady but also of two Kings John and Edward who are both said to have been in Love with her thus shamefully traduced by Men of either no Industry or no Honesty But to proceed King John of France when all things were ready for his Voyage and the Mariners told him the Wind stood fair for England e Frois c. 219. f. 114. went on Board and set sail from Boulogne with his Guard and other Attendants about the hour of Midnight and arrived safely at Dover about Ten the next Morning being the Day before the Vigil of the Epiphany or the Fourth of January f G F. Lit. Dom. which was a Thursday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV II. King Edward was at that time with his Queen and the whole Court at Eltham in Kent about 8 Miles from London to which Place News was brought him of King Johns Arrival Hereupon he presently sent forth certain Honourable Knights of his Court to bid him Welcome and to conduct him forward on his way as the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Alan Boxhull Sr. Richard Pemburge and Others who rode Post to Dover where they found King John and in their Masters Name gave him Welcome saying How the King of England was extreamly satisfied with the obliging Honour of that Royal Visit King John replied he never doubted of a Welcome from his Dear Brother of England The next Day they all mounted their Horses and rode to Canterbury where having din'd King John would needs visit the Cathedral where he offer'd a Rich Jewel at the Shrine of St. Thomas and there they tarried the remainder of that Day On the Sunday Morning they set forth all together toward Eltham where the King of England was with a great Number of his Nobility ready to receive his Dear Brother of France On Sunday after Dinner King John came thither where he was highly caressed and embraced by the King and Queen of England and between that and Supper-time there was nothing but Princely Diversions of Dancing Singing and Carolling But especially the young Lord Ingelram of Coucy set himself forth to entertain the two Kings and danced so pleasantly and sang so sweetly that he extreamly satisfied the Whole Presence and wan the Commendations both of the French and English Nobility who were all delighted to behold and hear him for all that ever he did became him wonderfully At this time the Lady Isabella Eldest Daughter to King Edward began to cast her Affections upon that Gallant Lord and became so serious therein that shortly we shall find it a Match Soon after the Court removed from Eltham toward London but in the way the Lord Mayor and Aldermen with an Honourable Retinue met the two Kings on Black-Heath and so conducted them over the Bridge thrô the City with Sounding of Trumpets III. King John was conducted to the Savoy in great Honour where he was lodged with those Hostages that were of his Blood as the Duke of Orleans the Duke of Berry and the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson the Lord Guy of Blois the Earl of St. Paul and divers Others He was well entertain'd among these his Relations with whom he constantly conversed at the same time making and receiving frequent Visits to and from King Edward of England King David of Scotland King Peter of Cyprus King Waldemar of Denmark Albert Duke of Bavaria Lionel Duke of Clarence John Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge many Sumptuous and Princely Sports and Banquets passing among them And the City of London was at that time so flourishing that not only the Lord Mayor but most of the Aldermen in their Turns had the Generosity and Ability to invite and entertain all these Great Kings and Potentates singly and together as Occasion served Particularly Sr. Henry Picard g Stows Survey of London p. 87. 255. d b. a Merchant Vintner of Gascogne who some Years before had been Lord Mayor of London one Day made a Splendid Feast at his own House now called the Vintry over against St. Martins Church at which Entertainment were present the Kings of England Scotland France Denmark and Cyprus the Duke of Bavaria the Chief Hostages of France and King Edwards Sons excepting the Black-Prince then in Aquitain and many of the Chief Nobility of England And after Dinner he kept his Hall for all Comers that were willing to play at Dice and Hazard his Lady Margaret at the same time keeping her Chamber for the Entertainment of the Princesses and Ladies IV. King John went h Frois c. 219. f. 114. b. as often as he pleased privately by Water to visit King Edward at his Palace of Westminster and both the Kings when upon their Communication they were put in mind of the Lord James of Bourbon who was slain two Years before at the Battle of Brignais near Lyons greatly bewailed his Loss as who was a Person of a most agreeable Conversation in all Noble Company The French King had brought with him into England a i Knighton p. 2627. n. 20. Moiety of one Million of the Three he was engaged to pay for his Ransom and desired that some of the Hostages might be deliver'd but that King Edward
still they had been so harassed But the next day and part of the day following they rode on still ignorant where the Scots were till at last there came up hastily an Esquire of Yorkshire named m Holinshead hist Scotl. p. 225 Thomas Rokeby riding toward the King who doing his Obeisance said these Words May it please your Majesty I have now brought certain tidings of the Scots your Enemies They are not above n Hector p. 308. Frois ibid. three Miles from hence lodged strongly on a great Hill in Weredale beyond the River Were where they have been these Eight days expecting our coming Dread Sr what I say I 'll maintain for Truth for I ventur'd so near to take the better view of them that falling into their hands I was carried before their Leaders where being question'd I declared how desirous your Majesty has been all along to find them out but when I mention'd the Estate your Majesty had promised beside the Honour of Knighthood as a Reward to him that should first bring tidings of them to your Majesty the Lords that command their Army having made me promise to discover where they were to your Majesty freely quitted me my Ransome and gave me full Liberty For they said they were every whit as desirous to fight with you and if it please your Majesty I shall shew you the Faces of them presently The King having received this exact account immediately assign'd unto the Esquire an hundred pound sterling for him and his heirs in perpetuum and therewith Knighted him with his own Sword before the whole Army And this Sr Thomas Rokeby by his Valiant and Noble carriage in time following shew'd how well he deserved this good Fortune as will appear in the Process of this History After this the King drew out all his Men into a fair Meadow where while their Beasts refreshed themselves the o Frois c. 18. fol. 9. b. King and those that were piously dispos'd went to a Neighbouring Abbey which the Scots had burnt to Confession as expecting without fail to have Battel now This done they all made themselves ready and having taken a little Rest and convenient Repast the Trumpets sounded to Horse and the Marshals Banners follow'd the New-made Knight Sr Thomas Rokeby after whom came every Battail by it self in good close Order because of the nearness of the Enemy thrô Mountains and Valleys with some difficulty yet they made such good speed that about Noon they came so near the Scots that each Host might plainly see the other The Scots beholding their Resolute approach as readily issued out of their Trenches and ranged themselves in three Battails on foot p Hector p. 308. at the descent of the Mountain A little beneath the q Frois c. 18. c. foot of this Hill there ran a great River called Were full of huge flints and other stones like the Tyne so that it was very hazardous to pass over even had there been no Enemy oppos'd to impeach the Passage And yet had the Scots permitted the English to come over quietly they had found no sufficient room to draw themselves up in between the River and this Mountain But they must have been fain to come in Parties and all disorder'd upon a compleat Army well and regularly ranged This made the English lay by all hopes of forcing them from that advantagious Station but yet to try whether they might not be provoked to break their present Order the King commanded all men to alight from their Horses and pull off their Spurs presenting themselves in three Great Battails before the Enemy at which time he made some new Knights and then to give courage to his Soldiers rode leisurely before the r Frois ibid. Battails praying and exhorting them all with much sweetness to be carefull that day of his Crown and Dignity and of the Honour of their Country After which it was commanded on pain of Death that none should go before the Marshals Banners nor by any means break their array without particular Order And now fair and softly they all advance forward till they came so near to the Enemy that the Front of either Host might perfectly view each others Arms and Cognizance Here the English perceived that their Adversaries as secure in their present condition were fully resolv'd no way to alter it either by moving forward to meet them or by retiring back to give them space to approach wherefore here they made an Halt to advise further In the mean time some of the stout Barons and Knights of the Host mounting their great Coursers resolv'd to skirmish with the Scots and to view well the passage of the River as also to behold the Face of the Enemy nearer if by any means they might find a way to join Battel The King having this while been at Council sent Heralds to the Scots to assure them That if they were willing to come and pass the River towards obtaining a Battel he would freely retire back till he had left them sufficient space to range themselves in either then or if they pleased the next day or else let them allow the same to England and the King would without fail come over to them Upon this the Scots took Council and there thô the Lord James Douglas with equal Courage approved of the Proposal and was ready to embrace the offer yet the Prudent Lord Thomas Randulph oversway'd his Heat by good and weighty Reasons and so they sent this ſ Frois c. 18. fol. 10. Answer by the Heralds The Scotch Lords are better advis'd than to follow the Counsel of an Enemy Your King and his Barons are not ignorant where now we are and what we have done in coming hither If they are displeased let them correct us when they can For here we are resolved to maintain our Post as long as we shall think fitting and when we see occasion we may give them Battel to their Cost But as for the Offers we reject them both After the delivery of this Answer it was by Order from the King proclaim'd that all men should there take up their rest for that Night without retiring to the Camp and so there they lay all Night on the hard ground with their armour on having neither stakes to tie their Horses to nor much Forage to give them nor fuel to make any fire But the Scots on the other hand leaving good Watch in the place where they stood ranged before went every one else to their former encampment where they made so many and so great Fires of English wood as if they design'd thereby to provoke their Enemies by wasting so prodigally that suel of which they themselves had so little But from Midnight till Morning they made such a noise with perpetual and universal shoutings and cries and winding of Horns and Clarions as if they design'd not only to daunt their Enemies but to rend Heaven it self Thus were both the
rest all made Prisoners and the Bishop by chance wounded in the Head slightly thô being brought into Sandwich thrô that and his grief together he died soon after Besides this small Success the p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 138. Merchants of Bristow about this time took in fight a French Ship called the Christmas of which Sr. Thomas Lord Bradestan had a Grant from the King in requital of his good Services Now upon the safe arrival of the Ambassadors in England and their Complaint of the Garrison in Cadsant q Frois c. 30. Holinsh p. 901. King Edward said He would very speedily provide a Remedy against that And accordingly soon after he sent the Earl of Darby the Lord Walter Manny the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. 67. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 784. Reginald Cobham and divers other Knights and Esquires with 500 Men of Arms and two thousand some say ſ James Meire four thousand Archers who all went on Board at London in the River Thames The first Tide they went to Gravesend the second to Margate and with the third they took the deep Sea and made directly for Flanders They had Wind and Tide at will and so being come before Cadsant they prepared themselves for Battle and having placed the Archers on the Decks before them in the Name of God and St. George they sounded their Trumpets and sailed toward the Town The Men of Cadsant saw their Approach and knew well who they were but like good Warriers they ranged themselves along by the Dikes on the Sands with their Banners waving before them having for encouragement sake made 16 new Knights They consisted of 5000 Men of War valiant Knights and Esquires with their Retinues besides the Inhabitants their Chief being Sr. Guy the Bastard of Flanders who was an expert and hardy Captain and now earnestly desired all his Company to have regard to their Honour and to do their Devoire With him besides those mention'd before were present Simon and John Bouquedent and Peter of Anglemonster who were then and there made Knights with many other valiant Gentlemen The English were resolved to assail and the Flemings were as resolutely bent to defend But when the t Frois c. 31. fol. 19. English Archers with a great Shout began all at one instant to send among them a thick Flight of deadly Arrows they that kept the Shore recoyled back in great dismay leaving many dead but far more grievously wounded upon the place Insomuch that the English immediately took Land in very good Order and so came to Handy-Stroaks with their Enemies who fled not before them but having recovered their late Disorder came bravely forward to dispute their Landing Here the Earl of Darby behav'd himself worthy of the Royal Stock from whence he came but in the first Shock adventur'd so forward among his Enemies that in the Preass he was at last fell'd down to the Ground thô without any hurt for he was arm'd at all Points after the Manner of that Age Sr. Walter Manny was not far behind but saw when and where he fell and inflam'd with generous Valour prick'd forward so boldly and laid about him with his Battle-Ax so furiously encouraging also his Men to the Rescue with these Words Lancaster for the Earl of Darby that he clear'd the place by fine Force raised his General from the Ground and set him safe in the head of his own Guard crying all the while Lancaster for the Earl of Darby On the English Part beside the foresaid Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby and Son to the Earl of Lancaster and the valiant Lord Walter Manny who thus rescued him there were the Lord Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Robert Bourchier and the Lord John Norwich the Lord William Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Lewis Beauchamp his Cosin with other good Captains Upon this Rescue of the Earl of Darby both Powers joyn'd again with more Animosity than before the English to revenge the former Affront and the Flemmings in hope to succeed better now The Battle was surely fought on both Hands very well for the Flemings were Chosen Men and the English resolv'd not to part Stakes by any means but to win all at this their first Setting out or perish Many therefore were slain on both Sides but the greater number fell to the Flemings share But all the while the Archers of England flanking their Men of Arms shot with such violence and so wholly together that they were not to be endur'd so that at last the Enemies Ranks being made thin and broken they began to fly Sr. Guy the Bastard was taken Prisoner there were slain Sr. Duras Halvin Sr. John Rhodes the two Brethren of Bouquedent Sr. Simon and Sr. John who but a little while enjoy'd their Knighthood Sr. Giles Lestriefe and above 36 Knights and Esquires more and of the Common Souldiers more than 3000 what in the Haven Streets and Houses Besides all which about u Stow p. 234. Walsing hist p. 132. n. 10. 3000 more of the Inhabitants being fled for safety into a Church were by the enraged Welchmen burnt together with the Church it self For after the Battle they took the Town plunder'd it and then set it on fire and so with much Prey and many Prisoners return'd for England without any x Frois c. 31. f. 19. considerable Damage themselves King Edward received Sr. Guy the Bastard respectfully for he was a valiant Man and only taking his Oath to continue true Prisoner permitted him to walk abroad at his pleasure But y Frois ibid. he was so won with the Kings Goodness that that very Year of his own accord he became a Leigeman to him and swore Faith and gave him Homage as one who heartily embraced his Service However for him and for the rest of the Prisoners about two Years after King z Holinshead p. 901. E. Lit. Dom. Edward gave to the Lord Walter Manny the summ of 8000 l. Sterling This Battle between the English and Dutchmen was fought on the 9 of November being a Sunday and the day before St. Martin Of this Discomfiture at Cadsant * Frois c. 32. Tidings were immediately spread over all Flanders and generally the Flemings said They were e'ne serv'd well enough since without the consent of the good Towns nay and against their Wills only in Obedience to the Earls unreasonable Humour they had presumed to keep a Garrison against their Friends of England This was just as Jacob van Alteveld desired and thereupon he sends Messengers to King Edward to recommend him heartily to his Majesty and to request him to take the Sea and come ove◠forasmuch as the Flemings were impatient till they had a Sight of Him The effect whereof we shall see hereafter Nor even here was King Edward the First Aggressor for it appears that King Philip had * Foliet hist sen l. 6. already hired
took a fifteenth of all the Commonalty of his Realm in Wooll the Price of every Stone Rated at fourteen Pound per Stone at two shillings And yet before this e Knighton p. 2570. n. 10. 20. about the Feast of all Saints he had sent the Bishop of Lincoln and the Earls of Northampton and Suffolk with ten Thousand Sacks of Wooll into Brabant to make Retainors in High Germany and there at the same time they sold all their Wooll every Sack for fourty Pounds which amounts in all to 400000 Pounds Besides all this he is said about this time to have seised on the Wealth of the Cluniacks and Cistertians Aliens of which we spake in the former Chapter and of the Lombards f Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 21. and all the Triennial Tythes which were first intended for the Holy War. Nor was the French King behind him in these Arts of Raising Money for he also laying Usury to their Charge confiscated all that the Lombards had Coyned Moneys both Gold and silver of a less Value and drain'd the Clergy Exceedingly On the First g Rot. Alman 12. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 36. vid. Pat. de â—â—d in p. 1. â— 24. of March at the Cardinals Instance the King Prorogued the foresaid Truce to Midsummer following in case the King of France should consent to it and give Security that it should be observed after which on the 21 of the said Month the Cardinals who h Knighton p. 2570. n. 20. cost the Church of England fifty Marks per diem all the time of their stay here took Sea at Dover the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London bearing them Company with intent to further the Treaty between the two Kings but because all their Endeavours brought forth no Accommodation we shall say no more of their Proceedings But hasten to the Matter in Hand King Edward when it was understood i Ashmole p. 649. that the French King refus'd to give Security for the observing the Truce inviolably being advised to revoke the latter Prorogation did so on the sixth of May and immediately set himself about a Journey into Flanders there Personally to confer with his Allies in pursuance of his Design against France But before he went upon the Cardinals further importunity a Commission was issued * 21 Jun. Râ—t Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 5. to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Robert Earl of Suffolk Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knight and Mr. John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely with Power to Treat and agree touching all things in Difference between the two Kings in Reference to a full and final Peace And by another Commission bearing the same Date of the 21 of June the Duke of Brabant the Earls of Heinalt and Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers and Sr. William Dunort Lord of Ostervandt Knight are added to them These Commissions were double and of two several Styles in the One the King calls King Philip only Philippus de Valois Consanguineus noster Franciae but in the other Excellentissimus Princeps Dominus Philippus Rex Franciae Illustris Consanguineus noster Charissimus II. But these Offers being all rejected and Jacob k Frois c. 32. van Arteveld urgently requesting his Presence in Flanders the King at last on the * Ashmole p. 649 Walsing hist 119. 16 of July took shipping at the Port of Orewell near Harwich in Suffolk with a Royal Navy of l Avesbury 300 alti 500 Sail and many great Barons of England in his Company among whom were m De his â—mnilus vid. Dugd. Bar. ad singulorum nomina hunc an Ed. 3. Henry Earl of Darby William Montague Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Suffolk the Lord John Fauconberg Norman Lord Darcy Hugh Lord Meinill John Lord Beaumont Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buqhan in Scotland Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Sr. John Beauchamp a younger Brother of Thomas Earl of Warwick Sr. Robert Benhale of Norfolk that vanquished Turnbull the Scot Sr. Otho n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 181. vid. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bpps p. 406. Grandesson Son of Gilbert or William Grandesson who was Brother to the Great Otho Lord Grandison descended of the Ancient House of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy Sr. Walt. Manny many others of High Birth Youth and Courage for King Edward chose the most Personable of all his Nobility to accompany him in this Expedition thereby to gain the greater Reverence to the English Nation from Strangers who should see their Proportion Shape and Stature These were all with their Retinues Men of Arms besides whom the King had a great o Knighton p. 2571. n. 20. Joh. Villan l. 110. c. 83. Multitude of Archers and Welchmen with all whom he arrived at Antwerp belonging then to the Duke of Brabant on the 22 of July While he resided here People came flocking from all Parts to see him and to observe the Royal Magnificence of his Court He for his part upon his first Landing had sent out his Summons to his Cosin the Duke of Brabant to his Brother-in-Law the Earl of Gueldre to the Marquess of Juliers to the Lord John of Heinalt Uncle to the young Earl and to all others in whom he had any confidence signifying unto them that he would gladly confer with them at Antwerp They accordingly came all thither within two days after at which time King Edward p Ashmole p. 649. ex Rot. Alman fact apud Antwerp Julii 22. 12 Ed. 3. m. 7. 3. expresly revoked all the Power which he had given formerly to his several Commissioners to Treat with Philip of Valois as King of France and then he desired to know their Minds and when they would in good Earnest perform what they had undertaken in his behalf He earnestly also required them to dispatch what they intended with all possible Expedition q Frois c. 32. for to that purpose he said he was come thither with his Forces ready prepared to begin the War and that it would be an infinite damage to him to protract the Matter much longer The Lords having consulted among themselves return'd this Answer Sir our coming hither at this time was rather to give your Majesty a Visit then for any thing else we are not yet prepared to give a Determinate Answer to your Demands But by your leave we shall go back again among our Subjects Friends and Allies and return hither at what time you shall please to fix us when we shall give you so direct and positive an Answer that it will nor appear otherwise but that We shall well have done our Devoirs The King shew'd them what Charges he had been at and still was like to be with these Delays that he expected to have found all ready at his coming thither but since it was not so He for his part resolved not to return to England till he had a plain Answer from them one
Skill diverts that deadly Matter that is hastening to those Parts of the Body where the Receptacle of Life is to other Parts where that very Poyson which was design'd for present Destruction cannot be suspected At this Our Care he Storms Holy Father he Storms is uneasie and complains he who sought by his subtle Devices to find Us unadvised and unprepared But without doubt it was more Discreet for Us according to the Theory of War which teaches that he more avoids the Inconvenience of War who carries it further off from his own Country to go forth into another Realm to fight against our Notorious Enemy with the joynt Power of our Allies than alone to expect him at Our own Doors Let not therefore the Envious Information of Our Detractors find Place in the meek Mind of Your Holiness or create any sinister Opinion of a Son who after the Manner of his Predecessors shall always firmly persist in Amity and Obedience to the Apostolick Seat. Nay if any such Evil suggestion concerning your Son should knock for entrance at your Holinesses Ears let no Belief be allow'd it till the Son who is concerned be heard who trusts and always intends both to say and to prove that each of his Actions is just before the Tribunal of Your Holiness presiding over every Creature which to deny is to maintain Heresie And further this we say adjoyning it as a further Evidence of our Intention and greater Devotion that if there be any One either of our Kindred or Allies who walks not as he ought in the way of Obedience towards the Apostolick See We intend to bestow Our Diligence and We trust to no little purpose that leaving his Wandring Course he may return into the Path of Duty and walk Regularly for the future Again there is One thing which by Your Holinesses leave having heard of many We must declare thô the more We think of it the more cruelly it stings Our Mind and that is that the Hand of Our Adversary who notoriously Labours now as formerly for Our Destruction when no Body made War against him nor he against any Body but Us was even at that time armed out of the very Patrimony of Christ Which unkindness that the Kings of England Our Predecessors those Illustrious Champions of Christ those g g Fidei Athletas DEFENDORS of the FAITH those zealous Assertors of the Right of the Holy Roman Church and Devout Observors of her Commands that either They or We should deserve this Unkindness We neither know nor believe And thô for this very Reason many do say We say not so that this Aiding of Our Enemy against Us seems neither an Act of a Father nor a Mother towards Us but of a Step-Mother yet notwithstanding We constantly avow that We are and shall continue to Your Holiness and Your Seat a Devout and Humble Son and not a Step-Son Hence We hope not without Reason that Our Humility being made Greater and Firmer by this that it deserved not any Ill-turn from Your Fatherly Charity will receive a more exuberant Encrease of Favour that what it laid upon Us who were Innocent Your tender Compassion which at first was wanting will now endeavour to Recompense unto Us with Goodness And this Account of Our Right and of the Injuries thus multiply'd against Us We intimate to the Preheminence of Your Sacred Dignity that Your Holiness who best know the Measure of Good and Just and in whose Hands are the Keys to open and to shut the Gates of Heaven upon Earth as the fulness of Your Power and Excellence of Your Judicature requires if there shall appear Reason may favour Our Right We being ready not only from Your Sacred Tribunal which is over all but from any Body else Humbly to receive Information of the Truth thô contrary to Us if any one knows it And We who freely submit to Reason will embrace any other Truth which shall be given to Us to understand with Full and Humble acknowledgements But because You ô Fathers are superscribed in these Our Letters who are for Your condign Merits called to partake in the Cares and Counsels of our Lord the Chief Bishop and assist by his side to give the Knowledge of Salvation to the People of Christ We are willing to open these things also to Your Knowledge that knowing the Justice of Our Cause You may pay that Duty unto Truth which You owe and to which with urgent Requests We excite Your circumspect Wisdome which is wont equally to weigh the Rights of every Man without accepting of Persons And if in any thing that we have done there shall be found any flaw We Request herein better Advice from You and desire to be profitably informed being ready in all our Actions to yield to Reason Given at Antwerp the 16 of July An. Dom. 1339. III. This Letter of the Kings was shortly after thus Answer'd by the Pope whose Name was Benedict the XII BENEDICT the Bishop h h Haec Epistola extat etiam apud Rainald ad An. 1338. §. 59. ex Tom. 4. Epist Secr. 380. tisdem verbis quibus apud Walsingh Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Being long since Desirous that You should follow the Commendable Footsteps of Your Progenitors Kings of England who were Famous for the Fulness of their Devotion and Faith towards God and the Holy Roman Church and have shew'd forth the Splendour of their Nobility untainted And wishing that these Qualities might shine more Eminently in You thrô that Fatherly Love and Charity wherewith We affect both You and Your Realm We remember how We directed Our Letters to Your Highness among other things recounting unto You that those Excesses which had been wickedly perpetrated with a complication of manifold and heinous Offences by the Noble Lord Lewis of Bavaria long since as was told You thrô Discord Elected King of the Romans against God and the said Roman Church and against Pope John the XXII Our Predecessor of Happy Memory could not escape Your Notice which as being Notorious to the whole World We took Care to recite in Our Letters not all since the Repetition thereof would have been too long and tedious but some of them as follows For the same Lewis contrary to the Processes of our said Predecessor and his Inhibitions made and had by the Advice of his Brethren the Cardinals of the same Roman Church containing divers Spiritual and Temporal Penalties and Sentences enter'd Italy and openly admitted into his Familiarity several Hereticks Publiquely and Notoriously condemn'd of Heresie himself also Asserting manifest Heresies and upholding and maintaining Hereticks who openly taught the detestable and horrid Errors of the foresaid Heresies and knowingly or rather madly approving Heretical Opinions sent an Evidence of that his Approbation by divers Letters Sealed with his own known Seal to the Peril of other Nations And afterwards
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 annu◠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
Castle but rather offend them to the best of their Power till they were reduced After this the Earl having proclaim'd that none should presume to do any the least harm to the Town or Inhabitants of Reole made his entry into the Place and immediately began to invest the Castle round about as much as he might and then raised his Engines which cast against the Walls Day and Night but to little purpose they were so thick and strongly cemented of most hard stone molten-lead and morter It is thought that this Castle of old time had been wrought by the hands of the Saracens who made their Works so strong that the later Buildings were no way comparable to them Wherefore the Earl seeing that with his Engines he could do no good called unto him the Captains of his Pioneers and gave them Command to make a great Mine under the Walls which yet was not expected to be done under many Days VI. Now q Frois c. 110. fol. 54. during this Siege and while the Mine was carrying on the Lord Walter Manny remembred that his Father who had been heretofore Assassined in his Return from a Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella was buried as he had heard in his Youth in Reole or thereabout Wherefore now being desirous to find where his Bones lay he enquired about the Town offering an 100 Crowns to any Man that could shew him his Tomb. Within a while there came an old Man of the Town to Sr. Walter who said Sir I believe I can bring You to the very Place where my Lord your Father was buried Sr. Walter told him if his Words proved true he would keep his Promise with him and something more The Lord Manny's Father is reported to have been slain upon this Occasion Almost 24 Years before this there was a Gascogner of the House of Mirepoix Bishop of Cambray in whose Days happen'd a Solemn Tournament before the City of Gambray in which on both Sides there were no less than 500 Knights It was the Fortune of the Lord of Manny an Hainalder Sr. Walter 's Father to just with a certain Knight of Gascogne who was near of Kin to the said Bishop But the young Gascogner was so roughly handled by him that he lived but a few Days after Wherefore the Lord Manny incurr'd the heavy Indignation of the Bishop and all his Kindred But two or three Years after some Pious Men by their great Diligence labour'd to compose Matters and to make a Reconciliation between the Lord Manny and his Enemies So that the Bishop and his Relations either did or at least pretended to pardon all and a Friendship was made only the Lord of Manny was enjoyned by way of Penance to go on Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella In his going thither he passed by Reole where he then found Charles of Valois Father to King Philip that now reigned laying his Siege to that Town which then together with all Guien and Gascogne belonged to King Edward II of England Having ended his Pilgrimage and returning the same way he gave a Visit to the said Earl Charles in the Town of Reole which by that time r Giovan. Villan l. 9. c. 169. was upon Composition yielded up to him by Edmund Earl of Kent He was entertain'd at Supper that Night by the said Charles Earl of Valois but going home late to his Lodgings he was set upon as was thought by some of the Kindred of that Gascogner whose Death he had occasion'd and there barbarously murder'd The Authors of the Murther could no ways be clearly proved thô the said Bishops Kindred were generally suspected But they were as then so high and the Truth was so dark especially the Lord of Manny having no Friend there to pursue his Quarrel that the matter was hush'd and by degrees quite put up However the Earl of Valois caused him to be decently interred within a little Chappel in the Field then without the Town but afterwards the Lord Charles having won the Place enlarged the Walls and so took in that Chappel also into its Compass Thus was Sr. Walter 's Father slain and the Old Man remembred all very well as one who then belonged to Charles of Valois and was at his Burial Sr. Walter therefore followed this old Man and went with him into the Chappel aforesaid where he shew'd him a little plain Stone of Marble which his Servants had laid over him and said Sir most certainly my Lord your Father lies buried under this Stone Then the Lord Manny drew near to view the Tomb and there he found a Latin Inscription which imported that the Lord of Manny's Body lay there He could not forbear Weeping to find this poor Remembrance of his Dear Father whom he could scarce remember to have seen alive for he was but young at his Death The old Man he rewarded as he had promised and two Days after took up his Fathers Bones and putting them in a rich Coffer sent them to Valenciennes in his native Country of Harnalt and there caused them to be deposited in the Church of the Fryars and his Obsequies to be kept Annually with great Solemnity which for many Years after were commemorated VII All this ſ Frois c. 111. while the Earl of Darby held his Siege before the strong Castle of Reole and now when it had held out near 11 Weeks the Miners were at last come under the Base Court but under the Dungeon they could not get by any means for it stood on an hard Rock Sr. Agoust de les Baux the Captain of the Castle perceived how he was undermined and told his Officers their Danger Then they said Sir the Peril is common to us all and we fear now inevitable unless you in your great Wisdom contrive a Remedy You are our Chief whom as hitherto we have obey'd so now will we follow your Determination But surely we have so long and so worthily held out already that if we could now come to any good Composition no man could blame us for Yielding at last Try if you can get the Earl of Darby to grant us our Lives and Goods and so to accept the Castle Upon this the Captain went down from the High Tower and looking out at a little Window made a sign that he desired to speak with some Body Being demanded what he would have he answer'd how he would gladly speak with the Earl of Darby or the Lord Walter Manny The Earl hearing hereof took along with him the Lord Manny and the Lord Stafford saying Come let us go to the Fortress and know what the Captain has to say now So they all rode to the Castle and when Sr. Agoust de les Baux saw them he took off his Cap and saluting them all three in their Order said My Lord of Darby I must confess the French King sent me hither to defend and keep this Town and Castle to my Power And you know very well how I have
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 Tâ—â—e'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 Blâ—is 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 â—â—bian 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
Bill-men the whole Battalia amounting to 12000 Men and all Three to 30000 compleat As for the Names of other Lords and Knights who were present in this Action I have recovered these thô here placed out of Order because no certain Rank is any where assigned Sr. Peter Grandison Banneret Robert Lord Morley the Lord William Felton the Lord Adam Eâ—â—ringham Robert Lord Ferrers the Lord Hugh Meinill the Lord Maurice Berkâ—â— Thomas Lord Furnival the Lord William Kerdeston the Lord Michael Poynings the Lord Robert Vghtred the Lord Thomas West the Lord John Engaine Banneret the Lord John Striveling the Lord John Montgomery and Sr. Giles Erdinton of his Retinue Sr. Fouk c Dugd. Warw. p. 658. Bermingham Peter Lord Mauley Sr. William Swinnerton Sr. Richard e Id. p. 750. Whitacre Sr. John f Id. p. 434. Murdaâ— Sr. Gerard g Id. p. 623. Burdel besides many Others whose Names it is both difficult to collect and tedious to recite Over and above all which the King to encourage his Men the better to pursue Honour created this Day no less than h Asâ—mole p. 655. 50 New Knights the Chief whereof were Sr. Guy Brian a young Baron Sr. Robert Mauley Brother to Peter Lord Mauley Sr. John Ravensholm Sr. Peter Brewis Sr. Thomas Lancaster Sr. Henry d' Engaine and Sr. John Beauchamp younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick to which i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 231. Vbi tamen militari cing de dâ—natum brennic antebâ—â— memerat Aâ—t verò in hoc errat aut haec in Campo Equitum Creatio differt ab alià Hìc Ashmolaeum sequer last was committed that Day the Honour of Bearing the Kings Standard All things being thus order'd every Lord and Captain under his own Banner and Pennon and the Ranks duly settled the Valorous Young King mounted on a lusty White Hobby and with a white Wand in his Hand rode between his two Marshals from Rank to Rank and from one Battalia into another exhorting and encouraging every Man that Day to defend and maintain his Right and Honour And this He did with k Frois c. 128. so cheerfull a Countenance and with such sweet and obliging Words that even the most Faint-hearted of the Army were sufficiently assured thereby By that time the English were thus prepared it was Nine a Clock in the Morning and then the King commanded them all to take their Refreshment of Meat and Drink which being done with small Disturbance they all repaired to their Colours again and then laid themselves in their Order on the dry and warm Grass with their Bows and Helmets by their side to be more fresh and vigorous upon the Approach of the Enemy II. That l Frois c. 129. same Day King Philip on the other side rose early in the Morning and heard Mass at Abbeville in the Abbey of St. Peter where he had lodged and exactly at Sun-rise began to March out of the City against the English with more than an m Frois ibid. Mezeray p. 26. Hundred Thousand Men. Abbeville is between three and four Leagues from Cressy whereof when King Philip had passed about two Leagues some of his Lords said to him Sir it is now High time to set your Battails in good Order and let your Infantry pass on forward while You range your Cavalry here This Advice the King follow'd and moreover sent out four Knights of great Experience viz. the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg in Bohemia the Lord of Nogheres the Lord of Beaujeu and the Lord of Aubigny to ride forward and discover the Face of the Enemy These Lords rode so near that they took notice of much part of their Order and Behaviour and yet the English made no offer to hinder them but lay still and let them alone thô they saw their Business and knew who it was that sent them So these four Lords return'd to their Master who presently demanded of them what tidings They look'd about upon One another as being every Man loath to speak since they had no good News to declare Then the King Commanded the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg to tell him what discovery they had made and freely to utter his opinion Now this Moyne Lord of Bastelberg in Bohemia was an Ancient Gentleman a Native of that Country who in his Youth had been an Esquire to John of Luxemburgh the Valiant Old King of that Realm and had behav'd himself in all his Masters Wars with so much Gallantry that he gain'd the Reputation of being One of the Bravest and most Expert Knights in the World Thô now Age had rendred him more fit for Counsel than Action This Man thus Answer'd the King Sir since it is your Pleasure I shall speak under Correction of my Fellows if they should chance to think otherwise Sir We have ridden forth and at our Leisure view'd the Countenance of Your Enemies and know for certain they are ready ranged in three Fair Battalla's as resolved to wait Your coming being in all by Estimation little more or less than 30000 Men. Sir as for my part bateing Your Majesties Displeasure I would Advise that for this Day You go no further for before Your Reer is fully come up and all Your Forces ranged in good Order of Battle it will be late Not to say that Your Footmen are weary with this long March in their Armour and their Ranks much disorder'd whereas the Enemy is Fresh and Lusty and ready to receive You. Thô by to morrow Morning as their Vigour will be more languid and pall'd so Your now-tired Troops will then be more Vigorous And hereby also Your Majesty may with more Deliberation and greater Exactness both Order Your Men and view the whole Posture of the Enemy as well as consider after what Manner to assail them For doubtless Sir they will not flinch from You. This Counsel the King Commanded to be put in Execution but the Evil Genius of France would not suffer that Command to take any Effect Althô the Kings two Marshals rode forth One to the Front and the Other toward the Reer saying to all the Captains and Ensigns Stand and tarry here in this place in the Name of God and St. Dennis They that were foremost stood still according to Command but the Hindmost would hear nothing of Obedience or Order but with Words of great Bravery rode forward saying they would make no stop till they were as forward as the Foremost So that by their pressing on the First were again forced to March to make room for them that thus followed by which means neither the King nor his Marshals could make them stand till they came in sight of the English And then the Front recoyled back very disorderly to the great Wonder of those behind who thought the First Troops were now engaged with the Enemy And then they might have had Leisure and room enough to have gone forward but they were content to make an Halt Yet some went with
Courage enough and many of the Common Souldiers of whom all the Ways between Abbeville and Cressy were full when they perceived the Enemy was near them drew their Swords and cry'd down with 'um down with 'um let us slay them every Mothers Son. There was no Man present could imagine or guess at the Reason of all this Disorder that happen'd among the French but only for that they were such a great Number and despis'd the small Power of their Enemies This account Sr. John Froisard n Frois c. 129. fol. 66. learn'd not only from several English Gentlemen who were present and saw all this but also from certain Knights belonging to the Lord John of Hainalt who was all that Day near the Person of King Philip and proved the Occasion of saving him from being either flain or taken III. When the o Frois c. 130. English who lay still on the ground in three Battalia's saw the Approach of the Frenchmen they sprang up lightly from the Earth upon their Feet and order'd themselves fair and leisurely In the first Battail which was govern'd by the Young Prince of Wales his Chief Assistants being the Earl of Warwick and the Lord John Chandos the Archers stood in Manner of an p Holinshead p. 933. Herse about 200 in Front and but 40 in Depth which is undoubtedly the best q Vid. Clement Edmunds notes on Caes Comment l. 7. c. 15. way of embattelling Archers especially when the Enemy is very numerous as at this time For by the Breadth of the Front the extension of the Enemies Front is matched and by reason of the Thinness in Flank the Arrows do more certain Execution being more likely to reach home In the bottom of this Fatal Herse stood the Prince of Wales on Foot among his Men of Arms in a close square Battail On whose left Wing were the Earls of Arundel and Northampton with a strong Brigade of above 7000 Choice Men of Arms Bill-men and Archers And on their Left Hand ran a Ditch new cast up toward the Town and the River to prevent being surrounded Which being like an Half-Moon with One Horn reach'd the Park behind the Princes square Battail and with the Other touch'd the Left-side of their Front their Right-side being cover'd with the Princes Brigade And afar off on the Right-side of the Park where the Carriages were stood the Kings firm Battail of 12000 Men near an Hill whereon there was a Wind-mill as a Forlorn if need should be Old John r Walsing hist p. 157. of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia who in his Days had been a Great Souldier and having in his Wars in Italy formerly lost one Eye was now by reason of his great Age reputed little better than Blind having heard from the Lord Moyne this account of the good Order of the English Army reply'd as a Man of much Experience Then I see the English are resolv'd to win all or die IV. 'T is ſ Sr. Tho. de la More apud Stow p. 242. reported that King Philip as fully secure of the Victory and resolving to make an end of the War at One Blow had by erecting his Banner of Oriflambe which was the Great and Holy Standard of France signified thereby that all the English should be put to the Sword on pain of Death and none taken to Mercy except the Persons of King Edward and of his Son the Prince of Wales only And that on the other Hand King Edward understanding of this cruel Determination of his Adversary caused also his Burning-Dragon to be raised up which signified as little Mercy to be shew'd to the Frenchmen And this presents us with a sufficient Reason for King Edwards standing still all the time of the Battle for on this account he may well be supposed to alter his First Resolution of fighting himself as seeing then that without a Powerfull Reserve if Fortune should be adverse all would be utterly lost And therefore now sending his Eldest Son as his Dearest and most valuable Pledge into the Field with Good and Expert Captains about him he himself tarried on the Hill which he fortified either thence to relieve his Men if they should be worsted or to pursue the Victory if they succeeded And this Opinion seems highly probable if We consider that this Banner being by the Frenchmen held sacred as having come down from Heaven was originally only used in Wars made against the Infidels however afterward it was used against Christians also till at last it was wholly lost in a Battle against the Flemings and likewise that according to the Rigour signified by the Burning-Dragon of England not one Frenchman was taken Prisoner at this time thô so many Thousands were slain which Calamity had happen'd in like Manner to the English if the loss had fell on their side This Standard is t Gaguin said to have been of Red Silk Adorned and beaten with very broad and fair Lillies of Gold and bordered about with Gold and Vermilion Thô Villani u Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. doth not mention this Ensign to be taken down or used in these Wars till the next Year when King Philip resolved severely to Revenge his Losses and Dishonour upon the King of England However We rather encline to believe that at this time King Philip brought with him from St. Dennis this Hallowed Banner into the Field as well upon the foremention'd accounts as because without this Supposition 't is hard to give a Reason why King Edward should leave his Eldest Son to deal with so numerous an Enemy and that so many being slain on the French Part We yet hear not of so much as One taken Prisoner Except that this might be the Occasion which is also Reported that King Edward seeing how far the Enemy exceeded him in Number and fearing his Forces would be too much distracted if they were allowed to take Prisoners gave a x Frois c. 130. fol. 65. a. severe Charge that Morning that no Man should be taken to Ransom till the Victory was Compleat V. King Philip had divided his Army into y Stow p. 242. Frois c. 130. Nine Squadrons which made also three Great Battails thô the French Lords coming up one after another there was much changing and confusion among them The Van was first committed to the King of Bohemia and Charles Earl of Alencon King Philips Brother the One's Sagacity and Experience being prudently joyn'd with the Others Youth and fiery heat to temper it With them was the Marquess of Moravia Charles of Luxemburgh Son to the King of Bohemia and afterwards Emperour of Germany Peter of Clermont Duke of Bourbon Lewis Earl of Flanders Ralph Duke of Lorrain James the only Son of Prince Humbert Dauphin of Viennois Henry firnamed the Liberal Earl of Vaudemont Guy Earl of Blois and others to the Number of z Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 66. p. 876. 3000 Men of Arms
and came though not without much Loss on the Right Side of the English Archers where they fell to Handy-strokes with the Prince's Battail right fiercely VII King Philip saw their Banners and would willingly have come on to their Assistance but if he had coasted after their manner all his Battails had been disorder'd and he thought it impossible yet to force a way thrô that great Hedge of Archers So that after much Valour shew'd in vain the Prince of Wales prevailed against this Battail of the French and there all their Men of Arms were beaten down to the Ground and cut in pieces by the obstinate Prowess of the English and Welchmen with the Prince Scarce was this done when three Fresh Squadrons of French and Germane Gentlemen rushing forward with great fury forced the Archers Battail to open and so came full upon the Prince with such Violence and such a Number of Men of Arms that the Young Prince was very hard put to it But then the Archers joyning their Ranks again and stepping several Paces forward the Earls of Arundel and Northampton sent out a strong Brigade of Men of Arms to help the Prince who falling in at their Reer and on their Flank the Enemy was almost enclosed while in the Front the Couragious Prince and his Men laid about them most furiously with Spear and Shield When first these Men broke thrô the Archers the Earl of Warwick doubting the worst and that the whole French Army follow'd them at the Heels dispatched a Knight away to King Edward who saw all the manner of the Fight from the Windmill desiring him to move forward and succour his Son. Sir said the Knight the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Oxford Sr. John Chandos and Sr. Reginald Cobham are so fiercely fought withall and so hard put to it by the French that they are in much danger wherefore they desire that You would please to set forward to their Aid For they are now disputing with the main Strength of the Enemy so that if any more Troops should break through upon them both They and the Prince your Son would go nigh to miscarry Well said the King is my Son Dead or Wounded or Fell'd to the Ground For I see the French Standards drop and conclude no otherwise but that things are yet in good Case No Sir replied the Knight Thanks be to God our Prince is yet well but he begins to want your Assistance Go you back said the King and bid them that sent you take care to trouble me no further while my Son is alive But let him take pains to win his own Spurs and to deserve the Honour of Knighthood which I so lately confer'd upon Him. For I am resolved by the Grace of God that the Reputation of this Glorious Day shall fall to his Portion and to those that are with Him. This Answer being brought back to the Prince's Captains they were wonderfully encouraged thereby being displeased with themselves that ever they should send so mean a Message to the King. But by this time the three Squadrons were utterly broken beaten down and slain by the Prince and his brave Companions That Morning King Philip had given a lusty black Courser to the Lord John of Hainalt who appointed his Standard-Bearer Sr. John Fussels to ride thereon This mettlesome Horse in the Heat of the Battle at the same time that the Archers were broken taking the Bridle in his Teeth carried his Master by force thrô the English Van between the Prince's Battail and the Earl of Arundels on the left Hand and as Sr. John thought to return he fell Horse and Man into the great Ditch which the English had made and there had perished had it not been for his faithfull Esquire who having followed him thrô the Archers saw now this Mischance of his Masters thô he was in no other Danger but what he might receive from his Horse For the Englishmen would never stirr that day out of their Ranks to take any Prisoner whatsoever Wherefore the Esquire securely alighted and relieved his Master from under the Horse but they went not back the same way they came but coasted far about and so at last came again in safety to the Lord John of Hainalt VIII And now the Prince and his Men being throughly chafed and enflamed with Courage began to March sorward the Archers being order'd to fall into a Wing on each Side and the Earls of Arundel and Northampton joyning the Prince The Frenchmen met them with equal Courage being refreshed with the Thoughts that now their Deaths should not be sent them at a Distance but that they might contend hand to hand for the Mastery And first the Marquess Charles Elect Emperour resisted the Prince with great Courage but his Banner was beaten to the ground his Men slain miserably about him and himself wounded in k Villani p. 878 Mezerâ—y p. 27. Three places of his Body wherefore thô not without much Difficulty he turned his Horse and rode out of the Field having cast away his Coat-Armour that he might not be known The mean while his Father John King of Bohemia who was Son to the Noble Emperour Henry of Luxemburgh althô he was near blind with Age when he understood how the Day was like to go asked of his Captains what was become of the Lord Charles his Son They told him they knew not but that they supposed him somewhere in the Heat of Action Then the good Old King resolving by no means to Disgrace his former Victories and Cancell the Glory of his Youth by a degenerous Old Age said unto them Gentlemen you are my Men my Companions and Friends in this Expedition I only now desire this last piece of Service from You that You would bring me forward so near to these Englishmen that I may deal among them One good Stroak with my Sword. They all said they would obey him to the Death and lest by any Extremity they should be separated from him they all with one Consent tied the Reins of their Horses one to another and so attended their Royal Master into Battle There this Valiant Old Heroe had his Desire and came boldly up to the Prince of Wales and gave more than one or four or five good Stroaks and fought couragiously as also did all his Lords and Others about him but they engaged themselves so far that there they were all slain and the next Day found dead about the Body of their King and their Horses bridles tied together Then were the Arms of that Noble King being the Ostrich Feathers with the Motto IGH DIEN signifying I SERVE taken and won l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 182 by the Prince of Wales in whose Memory they have ever since been called the Princes Arms being also from that time worn by his Successors Princes of Wales Eldest Sons to the Kings of England With him also fell the Unhappy King of Majorica named James by the Hands of
14 day of September VI. And now for a while we shall leave King Edward at the Siege of Calais and look what became of the Siege of Aiguillon in Agenois the News whereof had lately incited the King of England to make this Expedition All this while r Prâ—is c. 134. the Duke of Normandy lay before the strong Castle of Aiguillon not now so much in hopes to win the Place for not only the English held out still with their usual Bravery but he also himself was held short by the Earl of Darby as because he had rashly made a solemn Vow never to depart thence till he had the Fortress at his Devotion Now a few Days before the Battle of Cressy was fought Duke John hearing that King Edward was marching through France resolved to give one more general Assault if by any means he might by Carrying the Place both save his Oath and also be at liberty to go and assist his Father It was then about the middle of August and the Frenchmen being irritated with their long stay here became more resolved to do their Utmost in order to end so tedious a Siege with Honour Nor were encouragements wanting from the Duke nor provocations from the Enemy But for all that althô in a manner the whole Army was engaged in a general Assault carried on with the utmost vigour for the space of an whole Day yet all was in vain and their Losses were doubled but their Advantages no whit better'd Among many others there fell that day the young Lord Philip of Burgundy Eldest Son to Eudo the IV. Duke of Burgundy who was Earl of Artois and Boulogne and Cousin-German to the Duke of Normandy This Gallant Gentleman was in the Flower of his Youth and but newly come thither But being desirous at this time to signalize himself when the Skirmish was begun he set Spurs to his Courser and came onward to the Assault But the mettlesome Horse taking the Curb between his Teeth ran away with his Master and chanced to stumble in a Ditch where they fell both Horse and Man The young Lord being so rudely handled that he died within a few days after leaving behind him Å¿ Favine le Parisien l. 4. c. 3. p. 7. one Infant Son and a Daughter VII Now King Philip was returned to Paris where he busied himself in Thoughts nothing unworthy the Grandeur of such a Monarch nor did all this Adversity abate his Courage or extort one Low thought from him He resolves to try all means to uphold his Sinking Honour and take a severe Vengeance of his Enemies for the Loss he had received First therefore he sends a peremptory Command to his Son John who lay still before Aiguillon with a very considerable Army immediately to rise up and all Excuses laid aside to come away to aid his Country nearer Home against the Enemy who had already drank deep draughts of her best Blood and now lay gnawing at her very Bowels At the same time he seriously bestirs himself to raise another Mighty Army wherewith he design'd to go and drive away King Edward from before Calais Which he intended to succour in Person very early the next Campagne And besides this in hopes to divert the War from his own Doors into England or at least to repay the Losses of France with the like in England he presently after the Battle of Cressy sent his special Messengers to his Old Friend and Ally David Bruce King of Scotland Not only desiring him earnestly to remember former Obligations and their late strict Alliance but encouraging him at such a time t Knightâ—n p. 2589. n 40. when all the strength of England was drain'd out in the parts of Gascogne Bretagne and before Calais to invade the Northern Borders of his and their Inveterate Enemys the English and to revenge the manifold Injuries they had Both received earnestly requesting him not so much to stand upon a slight Truce which King Edward had only made for his own Advantage as to value and respect those sacred Tyes of mutual Amity and Entercourses that have been not only for many Generations inviolably maintain'd between both their Ancestors but also in especial manner had been cultivated and confirmed between them two And besides all these Arguments he sent him a good round Summ of Mony and 15000 Crossbows of Genoua to his Assistance thô not as some say under the Command of Antonio Doria and Carolo Grimaldi for they were both slain in Cressy-Field as we have shewn from the Testimony of Giovanni Villani who was himself an Italian And truly it might be wondred that any of the Genouese should now care to serve King Philip any more after that great Affront at Cressy but that it is to be remembred how these People were in those Days Mercenaries to the Crown of France as of late the Swissers have been and so might well be now appeased with gracious Words especially attended with Gold which always bears a Great Sway not only among Souldiers of Fortune but also with the major Part of Mankind The Effects of this Message we shall shew by and by when we have first related how the Siege was broken up from before Aiguillon VIII And as for John Duke of Normandy when he had received his Fathers peremtory Command he became infinitely displeas'd as well at the unhappy News of King Edwards Victorious Progress as because he saw his own Honour so apparently touched in that he had received such Opposition before so inconsiderable a Fortress Indeed he had met with many Checks and Rebuffs during this Siege not only from the Besieged themselves who maintain'd the Place with invincible Courage as we have particularly shew'd but also from the most Noble Earl of Darby who held him so short with his flying Troops that scoured about the Country for that purpose having certain strong Garrisons for their Retreat that he could never get in Provisions fast enough to supply the wants of his Army and what he got was not many times without great Labour thô fetch'd in by Considerable Bodies Wherefore that he suffer'd some Difficulty is very easily granted but that he was thereby obliged secretly to forsake his Army and escape away by stealth I cannot by any means allow thô u Knighton p. 2589. n. 30. c. some of our Writers have too heedlesly ventur'd to say as much And that his Headless Army thereupon flying away after him in much Confusion they were between the People of the Country and the Earl of Darby almost all reduced to nothing I have all along professed to have a zeal for Truth and must not therefore here allow of those improbable Relations of some of our Countrymen For it is certain that Prince John was a Man of truly Royal Courage and Magnanimity and the Army he lead very formidable for the Fame of its Captains and Officers as well as its own Numbers And we are sure not only that the
which was u Dugd. 2 Vol. Bar. p. 151. ex Clâ—â—s 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. â— born in this Adventure by a Noble and Valiant Young Baron of England called Sr. Guy Brian Besides which Lord Mâ—â—ny there were present divers other English Lords who had their Banners in the Fold as Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Ralph Lord Stafford the Lord John Montagu Brother to William Earl of Salisbury the Lord John Beauchamp Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick the young Lord Roger de la Ware the Lord Thomas Berkley the Lord William x Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 550. ex Bet. Franc. 23 Ed. 3. m 4. Rous the Younger and there were no more Lords that bore Banners in this Exploit All these being come on Horseback in great silence to the Gate that respects Boulogne the Gates were presently set open and they all issued forth in good Order of Battle When the Frenchmen saw them come forth against them and heard them cry a Manny a Manny to the Rescue they saw well the Lombard had betray'd them and began to be in some Confusion But then the Lord Geoffry Charny like a wise and hardy Captain said aloud Messieurs if we turn our Backs we are all lost without Remedy 'T is more safe to expect our Enemies with a good Courage and then we shall obtain the Day The Front of the English hearing these Words said By Saint George You say well A shame on them that turn their Backs first And then the Frenchmen began to light off their Horses and order'd themselves for a standing Fight Whereupon King Edward spake to the Lord Manny Let us also get on Foot for the Enemy I see will expect us And at the same time he order'd a Detachment to go to Newland Bridge For he had heard that a good Body of Frenchmon were just sent thither to make good the Retreat besides a Considerable Party left there at first by St. Geoffry Charny Accordingly there went thither six Banners of England and 300 Archers on Horseback and there they found the Lord Moreaux de Frennes and the Lord of Crequy and others ready to keep the Bridge and before them between the Bidge and Calais stood ready ranged a Brigade of Arbalisters and Cross-bows Here began a terrible Medley the Archers of England piercing and breaking their Ranks thro and thro with their thick Flights of deadly Arrows so that presently there were more than six hundred Frenchmen slain or drown'd and stisted for they were easily beaten away by the Archers slain discomfited and chaced into the Water on each hand This was early in the Morning before Day-break when all things being rendred-undertain those who are set upon are usually the most fearfull However the French Men of Arms kept their Ground and for a while fought gallantly enough and did many proper Feats of Arms but the Englishmen from Calais perpetually flow'd in upon them and the French decreased as fast wherefore the rest seeing they could no longer maintain the Bridge such as had Horses by mounted and shew'd their Backs the English following after them on the Spurr while others were gleaning the Reliques of the Field at the Bridge and slaying and taking those Frenchmen who could not recover their Horses There the Lord of Fiennes the Lord of Crequy the Lord Dâ—deauville and Others that were well horsed saved themselves But far more were beaten and overthrown and many were taken thrô their own indiscreet Hardiness that might else have saved themselves not dishonourably But when at last it was Day light and the Frenchmen could plainly see all about them they began to look back and beheld that the Pursuers was far inferiour to them in Number wherefore they boldly faced about and began to order themselves for Battle and to call upon their fellows to come back and joyn them And here as some y Walsing hist p. 159. Stow p. 249. will have it was the King of England in this Party among the Pursuers eager of Honour thô to the great hazard of his Person and that being at first because unknown follow'd but by a Few namely 16 Men of Arms and about an 100 Archers on Horseback when he saw the Resolution of his Enemies who perceiving his small Numbers turned back upon him he as resolutely dismounted and put away his Horse from him cast away the scabbard of his Sword and set his Men in the best Order he might placing the Archers on the dry hills encompassed with Quagmires and Marshes to preserve them from the fury of the Enemies Horse at which instant lifting up the Visor of his Helmet a little to shew himself unto his Men he exhorted them aloud to play the Game of Honour lustily telling them that he was Edward of Windsor and would bear a part with them in this adventure So that the Hearts of the English were wonderfully exalted beyond their usual height of Courage being as well animated by the Example and Presence of their King as also by Honour and Necessity it self The Archers especially stripping up their sleeves to the shoulder to have the more liberty for Action stood ready to bestow their home-drawn Arrows with such judgement and concernedness that not one of them might fail of due Execution Then the Armed Men on both sides met furiously and the King in the Head of his Men did Marvels taging as z Walsing ibid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in â—â—bl C.C.C. c. 228. One says like a Wild Boar and crying out for Indignation as his usual Manner was Ha! St. Edward Ha! St. George the Archers all this while doing great Execution on the Enemies flank till at last the English being well-nigh opprest by the too unequal Numbers of the Enemy the Young Prince of Wales came opportunely to the Rescue But let who will be of this Opinion I cannot cordially embrace it my self not only because it makes so Great a Captain against decorum too inconsiderate and rash for that Character but also because it seems utterly improbable that the Prince of Wales the Lord Manny and those other Lords who knew of the Kings being there should suffer him to be so lightly attended in so hazardous a juncture or that thô disguised to the rest he was not yet remarkable enough to them Not to say that it is scarce credible the King who had such a zeal for the safety of Calais should leave the Head of the Enemy fighting at the Gates and run forth after Matters of far less Moment leaving the Place in danger of being taken From all which we are enclin'd to believe that when the Causey and Bridge was clear'd by that Detachment which the King had sent thither one Moiety might remain there still to clear the field of the French who could not recover their Horses or who sled not so fast and the other in the mean time follow'd the Chace upon the Spur And perhaps here and there did meet with some resistance till
ensuing in order to hold a serious Treaty for a firm and final Peace On King i Knighton p. 2607 n. 50. c. Stow p. 254. b. Frois c. 154. fol. 76. Walsing hist p. 161. n. 33 Edwards Behalf there went Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich Henry Duke of Lancaster Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel the Lord Guy Brian and other Nobles who coming with an Equipage of 200 Horse whereof 32 were cover'd with Harness toward Avignon were met on Christmas-Eve by the Archbishop of Roüen the Duke of Bourbon the Earl of Armagnac the Lord Geoffry Charny and Others who were sent Ambassadors from the French King all who being thus joyned were received with great Honour by several Cardinals Bishops Nobles Citizens and Others to the number of 2000 Horse who met them within two Miles of Avignon and brought them into the New-town called Villeneufe to the Pope's Palace but the Pomp of the Cavalcade was so great that from three of the Clock till Night they had scarce time to pass the Bridge The Noble Duke of Lancaster at his Entrance saluted all the People and rode forth to the Pope's Palace Where alighting from his horse without the Gate he made his Approach to his Holiness with all due Reverence which he was perfectly instructed how to perform by his Court-like and Princely Demeanour After some brief Discourse as the Time would permit he went thence for that time and took along with him his Holinesses Blessing to his Lodgings which had been prepared for him beforehand All the time of his Residence there which was more than six Weeks he kept such Hospitality that he was admired by the whole Court having laid in an Hundred Tuns of the best Bourdeaux Wine before his Coming and behaving himself during his Stay so obligingly to all Persons especially to the Pope and his Cardinals that they said of him how he had not his Fellow in the World. But as to the Business about which all these Great Personages came thither that being openly declared in the Consistory before the Pope and his Cardinals the English Ambassadors requested to have those Covenants now confirmed which had before been concluded upon between them at Calais To whom the Duke of Bourbon and the Earl of Armagnac retracting what they had themselves agreed to and sealed and confirmed with their Oaths in the Presence of Guy Cardinal of Bologna replied now That gladly they would have Peace if they might but as to the Disposal of Aquitain and the forefaid Counties neither said they can the French King himself nor any other whatsoever by any means alienate them from the Crown of France Nor yet could they or any of them give their consent that they should be dismembred from the entire Body of that Kingdom since both the King himself and they also had been sworn to maintain them with all their Power But yet if the King of England would cease to bear the Arms of France they were content that the Dominion and Profits of the said Dutchy and Counties should remain with King Edward in like manner as his Ancestors had held Aquitain that is to say provided always the Regality of the Crown of France should be reserved in Witness whereof Homage should be made as of old to the Kings of France for those Places To these new and unexpected Demands the Duke of Lancaster replied That as for the Oath wherewith they pretended to be so strictly bound never to alienate those Places from the Crown of France they might soon for the sake of Peace be by his Holiness absolved therefrom For having so fair a Pretence to the whole the King of England was resolved to have at least these Parts absolutely to himself to be restored unto him without any Limitation otherwise that those Arms of France which by the Advice and Consent of his Liegemen of Flanders he had undertaken to bear he would never relinquish for the fear or pleasure of any Man living And that the King of England would never do Homage to a Person over whom by Hereditary Right from his Mother he claimed Superiority But yet if they could conceive of any more equal and rational way of Agreement and resolve to be more consistent with themselves and more observant of their own Concessions than now they seemed to be King Edward as a Lover of Peace will be ready to embrace what was reasonable At this the Lords of France in a Huff replied That if so they were both ready and able to defend their Country against the English for ever And so they offer'd to rise up but thrô the urgent Importunities of the Pope and his Cardinals this bitterness was soon corrected and at last they agreed so far k Frois ibid. as that another short Truce was taken to endure till the Feast of St. John Baptist following the Pope in the mean time to endeavour what in him lay to promote the Peace and for that end by his Messengers to both the Kings to require them again to send their Ambassadors to conclude on some other Conditions that might be more acceptable to either Party And so they brake up for that time on both sides and the Duke of Lancaster having with l Knighton p. 2608. n. 30. much adoe escaped the snares laid by the French to entrap him returned with safety and Honour into England together with the Rest of his Company except only Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who m Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. died at Avignon on Twelfth-Day and was there Honourably buried And that the perfecting of a Peace at this time was hindred by the French is witnessed by an n M.S. in Bibl. Vatican sign n. 2040. vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 15. vid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 229 c. Ancient Anonymous M. S. in the Vatican-Library at Rome which accuses the French King of all saying In this Popes Innocent's time the Lord Guy Cardinal of Bologna by the Consent of the Pope and of his own Proper Motion went into France at his own expences to Treat of a Peace with the said King of France and Edward King of England For which Treaty the Duke of Bourbon with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of France and the Duke of Lancaster with other Ambassadors on behalf of the King of England came to Avignon in the time of Innocent VI in the first Year of his Coronation to finish and compleat those things which had been ordained by the said Lord Cardinal concerning the said Peace between the said Kings to be had But finally they could not agree and the said Dukes with their Ambassadors went away in discord from the Court to their several Countries And this was done thrô default of the King of France as was commonly said He then denying those things which had been Treated Engrossed and Sealed by them and sworn to in the Hands and Presence of the said Lord
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
and elsewhere to fight against the Pagans in which employment he spent several Years At the same time that the foresaid Lord of Pamiers was apprehended there were several others taken up on Suspicion of being concerned in the same Matter as Sr. John du Plessac S. Peter of Landuras and Sr. Bertram de la France who lay in Prison at Bourdeaux in great Danger thô at last by endeavours of their Friends and because nothing could be clearly made out against them they were deliver'd There ran about also a Report as if Sr. Galiard de Vignier was not free from this Treason which made People wonder much because the said Knight was then in Lombardy with the Lord of Coucy in the Service of the Church Wherefore the Pope himself afterwards excused him and so he had his Lands and Possessions continued unto him And thus jealousies and heart-burnings arose between the Prince and his Subjects and there were not wanting Evil Men to enflame Matters further Thô still there remain'd a few Genuine Sons of Honour who could not by any Arts be prevail'd upon to relinquish their old Friends the English Particularly the Lord John p Frois c. 271. de Bourbon who held part of his Lands of the Prince and had rendred him Homage therefore came upon some occasion to Paris about this time where the subtle King ply'd him with all the Arguments imaginable to make him renounce his Fealty to the Prince but this generous young Earl of Marche absolutely rejected the motion telling him that if there was no Religion a Gentleman ought to keep his Faith and Promise Of a like steady temper was another great Baron of Limosin namely the Lord of Pierre Buffierre who being then also at Paris was urged by the King to fall off from the Prince but he would by no means agree thereto But there were two other considerable Barons of Limosin who knew not how to imitate the Fidelity and Honour of those Men for they with a little tampering quitted the Prince and embraced the French King's interest their Names were Lewis Lord of Maleval and the Lord Raymund of Marvejols his Nephew who soon after began to make Bloody War upon the English from their Garrisons Whereat the King of England and his Council were extreamly displeased especially because now many Barons began to fall off only out of Wantonness and Desire of Change without the least provocation given either by his Son the Prince or Him Whereupon King Edward was advised to write Covert Letters sealed with his Seal to be convey'd by two or three of his Knights into Poictou and Aquitaine and there to be made publick in the Cities Castles and Good Towns thereabouts The mean while the Prince of Wales deliver'd out of the Prison in Agen Sr. John Champoneau the Knight who brought him the Letters of Summons from King Charles in exchange for a Knight of his called Sr. Thomas Banister who q Ashmole's Garter Plate 55. bare in a Field Argent a Cross Pateé Sable and had been taken a little before in a Skirmish in Perigort But the Doctor that came with him remained still in Prison at Agen till Sr. John his fellow-sufferer had upon his return into France collected his Ransom But since We spake of King Edward's Letters we shall here set down the Copy of them wherein we shall see that He prudently forbears the Title of France lest he might seem while he went about to compose Matters to give occasion of widening the Breach and also thereby to lessen King Charles his jealousie who already had too fast hold of those Gascogne Lords and be sure would never let them go while he despair'd of an accommodation himself The Tenor of his Letters ran thus viz. r Extat in Originali Frois Gall. fol. 226. Du Chesne p. 704. Anglicè Frois c. 272. III. EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and of Aquitain to all those who shall see or hear these present Letters Know you that considering and regarding the Business of the Bounds Marches and Limitations of our Seignory of Aquitain stretching from end to end We have been enformed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales in the said Countries Wherefore being obliged and desirous to withstand and remedy all things relating to evil Surmises Hates or Contentions between Us and our Loyal Friends and Subjects We do by these Presents announce and pronounce certifie and ratifie that of our meer Good Will and by great Deliberation of our Council of that purpose called We will and command that our Right Dear Son the Prince of Wales forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and do restore again to all such as have been grieved or molested by Him or by any of his Subjects or Officers in Aquitain all their Costs Expences and Dammages leavied or to be leavied in the name of the said Exactions Aids or Fouages And if any of our true Subjects and Friends as well Prelates as other Men of Holy Church Universities Colleges Bishops Earls Vicounts Barons Knights Commonalties and Inhabitants of Cities and Good Towns be turned to keep and uphold by evil Information and rash Advice the Opinion of our Adversary the French King We pardon them that their Trespass on Condition that these Letters once seen they return to Us or within a Month after And We desire all our Loyal and True Friends to continue still in the state they now are that as concerning their Faith and Homage they incurr no Reproach the which thing would greatly displease Us and we should see it very unwillingly And if against our Dear Son the Prince or against any of his Men they make any lawfull Complaint that in any thing they are grieved and oppressed or have been in time past We shall cause them to have amends so as of reason it may suffice to the intent to nourish Peace Love Concord and Unity between Us and those of the Marches and Limitations aforesaid And to the end that all Men should be satisfied of the Truth of the Premises We will that every Man take and have a Copy of these Presents the which We have solemnly sworn to keep and maintain upon the Body of our Lord JESVS CHRIST there being present our Right Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Salisbury the Earl of Warwick the Earl of Hereford Walter of Manny the Lord Percy the Lord Neville the Lord Bourchier the Lord Stafford Richard of Pemburge Roger Beauchamp Guy Brian the Lord Mohun the Lord de la Warre Allan Boxhull and Richard Sterry Knights Given at our Palace of Westminster in the Fourty Fourth Year of our Reign the fifth Day of November These Letters were sent from the King of England into the Principality and Dutchy of Aquitain and notified and published all about And Copies thereof were secretly convey'd to
had been his prime Patron and had advanced him to a considerable Command in the Army But this Ungratefull Man did all he could to blow the Coals of Contention among the Chief Leaders and especially to instigate the Young Lords against Sr. Robert Knolles by telling them how it redounded to their Discredit to be subject to a Man of so mean an Extract as he was that now the Campaine was over the Date of his Authority was expired and if still he pretended to Command his Betters he was not to be endur'd That every One of them was far from being a Novice and able enough to do his own Business without the Direction of that old Freebooter Upon these and the like insinuations tending to Discord they divided into several Bodies and every Man drew to himself as many as favour'd his Opinion Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Alan Boxhull who only held firmly to the best Counsel were at that time not far from Mans but they design'd to go streight into Bretagne and Quarter there The Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Hugh Meinil Sr. John Menstreworth and the greater part of the other Lords were in other Places about the parts of Anjou and Touraine But when Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Alan Boxhull knew that the Constable of France and the Lord Oliver Clisson were come so near unto them they were very glad thereof and Sr. Robert said This is good News for Vs Let Vs now gather our Friends together and take our Advantage Surely Sr. Bertram of Clequin for Novelty of his Office is come hither to look upon Vs Althô We have ridden thrô all France without meeting any that dared so much before I pray God 't is not from our Dissention that they have taken Courage However I 'll send and invite hither to a participation of our Design the Valiant and Loyal Sr. Hugh Calverley who is now in Garrison at Saumur on the Loire as also to Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. Perdiccas of Albret Sr. Robert Cheney and the other Captains of the Companions our Friends that are here about Vs desiring them to come and joyn Us immediately I believe they will be glad of such an Opportunity to shew their Valour We will also send to our Dissenting Friends who have separated from Vs if so be We shall now be able to perswade them to embrace wholsome Council For says he if We may overthrow this New Constable and our inveterate Enemy the Lord Clisson it will redound exceedingly to our Honour and Advantage Now as we said before Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Alan Boxhull were always of one Mind and they agreed in this point accordingly and sent Messengers with Letters secretly to Sr. Hugh Calverley to Sr. Robert Cheney and the rest desiring them to come and joyn them by such a time at such a place to the end they might give the Frenchmen Battle They sent also to Sr. Thomas Grandison Sr. Walter Fitz-Walter and the rest of that Faction to the same effect who also prepared readily to come to them the latter party amounting to b Frâ—is ibid. 200 Spears But whether Sr. John Menstreworth did already begin to hold Correspondence with the French as shortly after he openly fell off to them or by what other means I know not this Assignation of Sr. Robert's was not so closely carried on but that Sr. Bertram of Clequin had particular notice thereof So that at the time appointed he went out of his Garrison with c Frois c. 400 Spears besides others in his Company and planted himself in a way where he knew the English must of necessity pass at le Pont Vallin in the County of Maine That very Night Sr. Thomas Grandison with his 200 Spears and about 6000 others left his Quarters and began to March toward the place appointed to joyn Sr. Robert Knolles But his journey was shortned by Sr Bertram of Clequin who meeting him early in the Morning at Pont Vallin gave him a sudden Charge with all the Vigour imaginable The Frenchmen were at least double the Number of the English and the surprise wherewith they made the Onset was no small Advantage on their side neither However the Battle was strong and well fought and lasted a good while For at the First Encounter the Englishmen alighted all on Foot and came boldly against their Enemies fighting with Spears Swords and Axes Valiantly But at last the Victory fell to the French and they obtain'd the Day almost all the English being slain or taken except the Pages and Boys and such who leap'd on their Masters Horses and so saved themselves But Sr. John Menstreworth however made shift to escape and soon after d Walsingh hist p. 180. n. 10. Hyted p. 131. n. 5â— he got back into England where he challenged Sr. Robert Knolles of Treason and accused him as the sole occasion of this Loss before the King and Council But the approved Worth of the Man was so well known that generally Sr. John was look'd on as a false Liar and Sr. Robert clearly acquitted in the Opinion of all Men. Thô this Disloyal Calumniator had so stoutly bespatter'd him that the King withdrew a Pension which before he had granted him and Sr. Robert durst not afterwards return into England till he had secur'd the King's Favour both by the Testimony of his Friends and a good round Sum of Money as We shall see presently In the foresaid Battle there were slain upon the Spot above e Du Chesne p. 707. 1200 English and almost all the rest were taken Prisoners as the chief Captain the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter Sr. Gilbert Gifford Sr. Geoffry Vrsewell Sr. Hugh Meinill Sr. Philip Courtney Sr. Hugh Spencer and many other Knights and Gentlemen all who were carried away Prisoners to the City of Mans. On the French side the famous old Warrier the Lord f Jacob Meyer l. 13. p. 190. Arnold D'Endreghan died of the Wounds he receiv'd in this Battle The News of this Loss was presently carried to Sr. Hugh Calverley at Saumur upon the Loire to Sr. Robert Cheyney and their Fellows who thereupon forbore to go to Sr. Robert Knolles as they had designed And Sr. Robert Knolles for his part together with Sr. Alan Boxhull and his Friends retired from the appointed Place of Rendezvous and wholly quitted the Design of going against the Constable Shortly after he went into Bretagne to his own Castle and Town of Derual and there he gave leave to all his Men of Arms and Archers to go where they pleased so that some of them returned into England others went to Sr. Alan Boxhull to the Town of St. Saviour the Vicount in Normandy which King Edward had committed to his Charge XXIV But Sr. Bertram of Clequin who had given the English this memorable Discomfiture at Pont Vallin finding he was not able to do any more that Year for it was now deep Winter