t'high mountaine land Horse nor man scarce on their feete might stand Our armie closd in three we do deuide That one might passe whilst other two abide On munday armd like youthfull Troyilus And fresh as he in all his iolitie As stirring weldie and as cheualrous As Chaucer makes him in felicitie Past Iohn of Gaunt and with him passed I Twelue hundred pensils vnder me remaine Wrought with my armes that glisteren on the plaine On twesday past our Hector princelie Spanish Peter and Charls king of Nauare Lewis Harcourt in barons dignitie Sir Thomas Phelton well drest for war His brother William of selfe had little care King of Malorques on wensday ouer came Accompaned with Lords of peereles fame Erle Arminak Dalbreth bold Gascoynes all Pomiers Gomigines and stout Mucident And of Buiff couragious capitall Lord Clisson and sir Robert Canol went Barnerdle Sall that was to scaling bent Of Rounceuauls we haue forsake the streights Which flieng Fame to bastard Henrie beits And more how we strong Sauatar had won Placed at the entrie into Spaine When storming king all hard what we had don He sommons forst and doth such numbers gaine Entring in armes into the open plaine Which newes foreriders to the prince haue tould Who saith the bastard valiant is and bould The cherefull trumpet soundeth to addres Fresh knights furbishen armors hastelie And many squiers to stirre vp hardines The noble prince doth knight immediatelie Some made the duke and some were made by me But th'ennimie battaile doth denie before Braue Frenchmen come in number fortie score Right warlike band which bold sir Bertram led And wise sir Arnole Cleped Dandrehen With heedie toiling wairie iourney sped At Spannish campe ariuing with their men It hapt vnto king Henries brethren when They new were come to ride our hoste to vew With the attempt some haples ouerthrew Strike fierce into the Canton where I set The watch I stirring they recoile with speed Returning they with both the Pheltons met Which foorth were rid to do some valiant deed With hundreds two well Armed for their need Sir Richard Cauton sir Hugh Hastings With other knights of faire proceedings These Spaniards six thousand were no lesse And when our English once they had espide Which little mountaine t' aue had in distresse With shooting ioy amaine they toard them ride Where many a skilfull feat of war was tride But in the end they were all take but one And he too rash doth lose himselfe alone For when he saw proud Spaniards placed In leueld plaine his sharp gleiue he taketh His hard resisting sheild he soone imbraced Towards the thickest speedie hast he maketh One stroke he dead then bright sword he shaketh So vigorously in his threatning hand And stroke and foynd and lasht whilst he might stand Armed he was in red most glorious Two Ermin Lions passant crowned gold With Scottish treasure diffrence spatious His brother and his friends the fight behold And saw his ending too aduenterous bold Raging furor fair knighthood doth confound Sir William Phelton brought dead to ground Spaniards of faire aduenture ioyious The leaders were king Henries bretheren Their iourney to their brother prosperous They glad declare shew prisoners taken Great thanks he gaue and residue threaten Soft stepped foorth a soldier bold and wise Praying the king heerin to take aduise Sir saue your grace your speech I not gain say But yonder 's armed manie a prooued knight As euer rangde in battelous affray Hardie in Arms and matchles in strong might If with stout prince you do assemble fight You l find no fliers what so ere betide Twixt life and death toth vntraunce thei le abide In reuerent sort vnto your grace I speake Abstain from war let fierce enimies be Contagious aire will make their strongest weake Your countrie left behind them shall you see They pincht with want it so will chaunce that we May fight with them who present are the flower Of cheualrie of wisdom and of power Marshall replide the king I so desier The princes power with good power to meet He shall not by my fathers soule retier Till him I do in ioined battell greet Seuen thousand I haue armed head and feet Of genetors full twentie thousand more And threescore thousand which haue truly swore Me not to faile therefore sir Arnole I A basht to be may seeme to haue no cause Stout willing numbers vowd haue with me to die Yet full six daies vpon these things they pause We forward come compeld by hungers lawse The swift riuer near to the groyne we passe Where as we find a better soile for grasse At entrance first when we approched Spaine King Henrie seald letter sent our Prince Requesting knowledge and the title plaine Why so with power he sought him to conuince The Herauld was retained euer since He came till now wherein seuen weeks spent Now backe by him his answer thus he sent That his true cosen he was come to aide In rightfull cause as iustice doth desier Therefore quoth he Earle Cristmer hauing waid Your great wrong thus to the Crowne t'aspier Am come in armes but yet I faire requier You both t' accord right king to haue the crowne Your selfe rich lands but if at this you frowne Then you chiefe cause of slaughter spoile and blood Which I God knowes am passing loth to shee l I wish you would well ponder of the good We offer and not trust th' uncertaine speed Of fickle chaunce so careles in hit heed Here rest your frends if that you say not nay Dated from Groyne in March the thirtith day This Herauld gon his letters red with all Sir Bertram said now shortly shall we haue A doo therefore O noble King let call Ech officer his charge to order braue The hawtie prince doth nought but battaile craue Replide the king I little do him dreed Good hope is of a furtherance to the speed Int ' three their fights the first sir Bertram lad Aduentrous French and strangers where with him Th'erls of Dancell and sanxes second had Greatly renowmed cause they late did win The third stout King martiall passing trim A hundred thousand the one and other were Right noblie seene before vp deckt appere As busie king pricketh from ranke to ranke Neerer Naueret we a little drew Where they behold vs raised on a banke From vnder which we all the vallies vew Couerd with helms whose banners some I knew Gainst me ear this reasd had they been and borne Taken and beat and all too peeces torne Sir Bertram Glesquine thimperiall egle bare In siluer gulie baston ouer all Sixe white spur rowels Dandrahen doth reare In field of red a checkered fes doth stall Of th'on and th' other colour then I call My banner for vproled I hit bring Vnto my Prince in presence Spanish king Beloued Lord behould my banner hear Vouchsafe the pains it to vnfould for me Graunting licence this day it vp to rear Thanks good Father yours
which pertaind to him of right King Charls well nie excepting him had all The Brittons harts now so it did befall His castle siegd gaue hostage for a staie To yeeld it vp not rescude by a daie Sir Hue Brooe that this strong fortresse heild That marchet made who bare in banner red On siluer cheuron three roses of the feild Sir Robert here ariued in that sted Before the rendring day expired A herauld French Constable sent to kno Hostage whether they would redeeme or no. Sir Robert flatly held not any one In absence his his castle so should mart Thanswerd messenger backe is lightly gone Tould his Lords they make him soone depart And shew sir Robert if he so do start His hostages ech one should hedded be Herauld he said saie to thy Lords from me Three knights one squier in prison here I haue If they a hundred thousand frankes would giue And mine do die no one of these thest saue The French of life the hostages depriue Which seene sir Robert a scaffold made beliue His prisners brought in duke of Aniou sight Their harmles heds he caused off to smite The siege brake vp this execution done The castle with sir Robert doth remaine True hostage true prisners death haue won Such chaffring brought good harts their deadly paine But noble captains such rigor should refraine Lest when their frends they need in such like cace They make refusall doubting the disgrace Iustice oft from ancient custome growes Affection seldom lookes with single eie Strict iustice like iniurious dealing showes Hard law to make the innocent creature die And yet good right appeered for to be God loues not right which doth to rigor tend Neither of both their crueltie can defend I likewise heard how noble Iohn of Gaunt Ariud at Callis with puissant power Puissantly the Frenchmen doth he daunt Fearfull makes both towne and many a tower Numbers my old acquaintance in that stower As Chanoyne Robersart sir Hue Caueley Sir William Bewchamp sir Henrie Percie Sir Walter Huet sir Steuen Gousenton With many more which some did to me name Sir Lewis Clifford sir Richard Pontchardon To heare of whom to sorrow brought some game I hopt and wisht the French that they might tame But in their cheuachey a venture did befall That was at Parris talkt with ioy of all Fowrscore horse of sir Hue Caueleys band Were ridden foorth aduentures for to trie The Lord of Busiers doth it vnderstand The Lord of Chin sir Iohn Buell these three With sixscore launce against them ridden be Lord Chin was slaine through his great hardines Which to his friends was cause of heauines Thus when they were assembled in such sort Right felonous and cruell was the fray And many a deed was don of good report Chin his banner disueloped that day Which seen the English orgulous words did say Gainst Lord Cowcie which English houerd still Who was in Austrige warring at his will This Chin did raise Lord Cowcies faire deuice Which was six bars of varrey and of red This was the same or difference small so nice and slender that mongst them this error bred Which now were either taken slaine or fled All men of yoonger house that banners bear Should haue their difference glistring large and fair I likewise heard the flower of all our pride The valiant Prince of Wales departed life No earthly thing so good may alwaies bide Nor honor such preuailing ouer strife Where glories most mischaunce is euer rife Great things great fals and far abroad are blown Low things low fals their fallings are not known His falling known was fall of all my ioy His death depriuer of my comfort chiefe His losse the loder of my sad annoy His want the wanting of my freed reliefe Ah filching death thou felonous bloodie thiefe Bereauer of my sole deliueraunce Dispoiler of my worldly pleasaunce For could it be that any marshallist Such one as loud to cloth himselfe in Arms But honorable presence thine he mist And many waies thy losse did worke his harms And froward mischiefs backward on him swarms Farwell fairst flower of Plantagenets line Adiew all comfort to this life of mine Full many treaties had the English now Made with the French which came to small effect Some of my friends oftimes did tell me how In these their parleys they had of me respect Yet did no good which made me to suspect That neuer I my weldie Arms should don For griefe wherof I pine away with mone The yoong Earle Saint Pole and three other knights In exchange they offerd for me alon Which Lord Comigines tane had in faire fights by th subtill traine of sir Iohn Harleston By his coursers bountie sir Hue Chatelon Was saud or else he had full dearly paid Bicause from England he was late mistraid The matter thus after we came from Spaine And that the quarrels fresh gan to renew All things to strife and battaile woxt againe The French at first the countie of Ponthew Regaine this Lord of Chatelon named Hue Vnwares he doth sir Nicholas Loudine rest His prisner and by slight he him surprest When as the valiant duke of Lancaster At Callis riud new come from Turnehen Intending the Frenchmen proud to master He fast prepard to make a rode agen With store of squiers knights and noblemen Trauasing Fraunce vp and downe at pleasure In burning spoiling and gaining treasure If oppression to minde valiant Be offered by wisdoms warie guid It so couerneth through much discontent As if euer happie chaunce betide It shoes the fier close couered it doth hide And breaketh foorth into reuenging flame If euer good occasion mooue the same Deepe rooted malice doth not lightly die When as the duke passed by Abuile To Louaines mind repard the iniurie That Chatelon had done to him erewhile Sir Nicholas laid a bushment by a wile Neere to the towne for all the streights he knew Whole three yeers space he vsed them to vewe Sir Hue Chattelon at that instant bode Within the towne as gardant of the same Near vnto it he knew the English rode Then of the crossebowes he bare the maisters name Them to aduise he thought was for his fame Only ten and armed saue his head He came where as the tending bushment stead When valiant Louaine saw his shield of guels Three varey pales on chiffe of loued gold A martlet blacke himselfe he scarcely ruels For ioy the man quoth he I most desier would In all the world I comming do behould The ransome deere to him this yeer I paid Shall rendred be if that he may be staid And foorth he breaks the Frenchmen in that sted Do maruell much from whence doth noise proceed One cried Chatelon yeeld or thou art ded To whom said he to Louaine now with speed Replied sir Nicholas ioying at his deed Being knightly armd in red fresh to behold A siluer fes tween many billets gold And to the host in iolitie retiers Prowd of his prisner afterward
conueid To England where great ransom he desiers When Chatelon his mischaunce had weid Back in a ship in stealing wise he streid This same the cause why he so swift did pas From friends when medling with Gomigines was King Edward his death I heard reported Who gloriously in knightly dignitie Had raind first noble sonne departed Which Hector like with great triumphancie Had conquerd kings through magnanimitie Then followed father woorthie such a sonne A shining sun which still bright glorie won The founder of our high fraternitie The fortresse of a firme concordance The fauor of right noble soueraintie The perfect pledge of true assurance The constant gage of goodly ordenance The founder of the Azurd garter dide With honor Ioue so long let th' order bide The strong incursions sir Hue Caueley made Then Callis captaine were vnto me told How sir Iohn Harleston doth fierce inuade Captaine of Guins some did to me vnfold And how at Arde Gomigines did hold Exploiting well of braue attempts I hard But oh my selfe from fair atchiuements bard My closure I with great impatience tooke Perplexed thoughts oppresse me euery hower This vile restraint I heauily do brooke And bitter sighes continuall foorth I power Right safely shut within this warding tower Still in danger euery day of death Least melancholious griefe would stop my breath If thousand marchants venter into Ind Seeking forraine stroud for wished gaine And only one his ship hath left behind Through wrack which peeuish fortune did constraine How could it choose but inly breed his paine To see the rest in such a reioicing For that he hopt now greeues at the loosing For fellowes many in distressednes Is to the greeuance much releasment Far lesse by ods he thinks his wretchednes That sees with his the tears of many spent To saddest woes it is much easement When others with like griefe as ours do mone And that we are not wracked all alone All other captains my selfe excepting Of ech calling had their deliuerie Though somtimes they staid th'expecting Being not wrought to wish most speedilie Yet ear the end it chaunced still to be It was my fortune and not deseruing That thus I lay in prison staruing Past hope I make a vertue of my need With pining patience I my griefe support Desiered death comes on with wished speed I drooping passe as one stroke alemort This hard restraint was vnto me more tort Than sharpest death that tirant might deuise My swelling mind could halfe so sore agrise Thus long I liud I thought it was too long All hopeles of relinquishing my care Or relaxment from loth prison strong Vnles on booke I would full solemn swear Against the crowne of Fraunce no Arms to bear I flat refusd me leuer were to die Than to abiure my English loyaltie Heere prooud I plaine that force no harts could win Heere tride I true that proffers nought preuaile Heere was it seen loue forst not of a pin Sweet libertie the mind her greats assaile No luerments wrought my constant mind to faile No no my Gascoine bodie bare an English hart Not mooueable by fortunes ouerthwart And in my smart it oft did straine a smile To thinke how Charls my libertie did dreed He doubted least I would within a while Some broiling wars and battels newly breed For quaking fear his hart did euer feed How much the English excelled in the war So much the French in treaties past them far For by the Parley still they somewhat got I leading foorth my life all malecontent In smoking sighs which out I daily shot But for my soule I thought it pertinent Which giuen was and must be permanent Most quiet and sweet harmonie to make Of discords all and all the world forsake Fore passed life I ouer canuassing Found my great sins exceeding numberous Subiected to fraile natures trauasing Ore whelmd vnlesse by mercie wonderous We saued were in world so comberous By sweetely Lord that straied sinners sought And perisht soules through blessed torment bought And he diuers waies deuinely worketh To bring vs in the compas of his fold Out of the which what worldling dieth Perisheth as sage deuines haue told He grant vs all our selues therein to hold Which made himselfe a subiect for our sin Yet Lord of heauen earth and all therein Oh how good God vs often suffereth With worldly wit our selues to iniurie Chaffring as occasion offereth Respecting not the end till sodainely Repentaunce comes our frendly enimie And then we crie if this had not been don Then had not fates so foule against vs run If I had not perswaded Iohn of Gaunt For to make choise to Spanish marriage Which thing our buisnes French did greatly daunt For he tended as is common vsage To owne aduancement and aduantage I had not lean he me would haue redeemd How difficult so ear the matter seemd And from first time I welded glorious arms Full carefull I least murther should attaint My fame with bad and blacke reprochfull charms Of hellish rumors to ages to depaint Through murther many captains are distaint This prouerbe vsd mongst some I highly hate A hedlesse man doth seldome breed debate But often times for cruell murther don God stirreth vp our friends vnto our harme And father hath been slaughtered by his son And brother slaine with brothers blouddy arme Oft for one murther thousand men will swarme Whom greatest God doth vse as instruments For sharpe reuenge of murtherers torments Most happie knight that vseth temperance So in past life that he be not defilde With murtherers name which works anoyance Through world of ages badly be reuilde And lasting heaps of slander hath vp pilde In quarrels iust whilst foes resisting bin To slay them then in fighting is no sin No man of life I euer did depraue In my cold bloud when striuing fight was don In hottest wars I willed bloud to saue Whereby among my foes great praise I won The cheefst thing God hateth vnder sun Is murther and for mercy bloud to spill Bloud crieth for bloud the prouerbe runneth still Reuenge on hatefull murther doth attend And slie occasion doth so warely watch As bloud for bloud with earth doth fouly blend Merciles plagues this blacke reuenge doth hatch When parties selfe of plagues tasts but a smatch To generations three or fower they run Till all the brood and ofspring be vndun Oh heauenly God that long didst lend me space My former faults committed to deplore Fiue yeeres I did in lothed prison pace Which my proud nature did too much abhore That so I tamed was I thee addore I mercy loud and thou didst mercy lend Sweet mercy far more then man may offend Receaue my soule Lord to thy gouernance Most richly since from hell thou it redeemd I flat renounce all worldly pleasance Yea those vaine ioies that I so high esteemd How lothsome now that earst so likefull seemd Lord since I come thy promise is not old Receaue me where the ioies may not be told LENVOY Thus closed was his burning lampe of life That glorious shone in knightly dignitie Here was the period set of all his strife Conclusion of his fatall destinie Lanterne sometime of noble cheualrie Dreaded champion whilst the fraie did last Louely conqueror at th end of battails blast In prison dide this most valiant knight Renoumd and dred for magnanimitie His funerall king Charls causd be dight At Parris in estate most solemnly Of barrons knights and praieng clergie A nobler one could scarcely there be found Within the French or in the English ground The king of England lost a trustie hart The king of Fraunce a stout couragious fo The warlike countrie Gascoine cheefest part When thou braue knight wast reft her bowels fro Thy glistering fame about the world shall glo As bright as star set in faire welkings face The starrie skie thy fittest dwelling place For vertue good transcends the decked skie Enstalde in throne beond ech twinckling star No time day night obscures hir glorious eie Ech vading substance so she passeth far Mongst cheefest knights extold for noble war Thou houldst thy seat within sweet heauens rest In paradice prepared for the blest Almightie God that oft hast England blest With glorious triumphs ouer enimie In thy puissance victorie doth rest And not in mans weake plotting policie Giue t' our Captains in their true cheualrie Like constant vertue truth and courage bold That Chandos and the Captall true did hold FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY Act. Apost Cap. 28. Num. cap. 2. Num. ca. 31. Num. cap. 16. Iosue lib. cap. 4. Num. cap. 27. Num. cap. 26. Counter changed to Sir Walter Deuereux the elder house Arnaldin Barnardine Sir Aimon de Pommiers the Lord of Courton Sir Balwine Danekin Sir Arnole Canole brother to sir Robert Canole Yoonger brother to sir Lewis Robersart Sir Iohn Deuereux and sir Eustace Dabscote Meignill of the north Of Poiwike Edward the 3. first founder of the noble order of the Garter
durs sages Combatants à bonnes certes ia pour mourir plain pie nen fuiront c. LORD CHANDOS THE GLORIOVS LIFE AND HONORABLE DEATH OF SIR IOHN CHANDOS LORD OF SAINT Saluiour le Vicount great Seneschall of Poyctow high Constable of Acquitaine Knight of the honorable order of the Garter elected by the first founder king Edward the third at his institution thereof LET none reioice too much in fortunes state Reading the storie of my tragike death But watchfull be t' attend some turning fate Which like wild whirlwind all our dooings sweath For as graue Senec in wise morals seath No mortall man with Gods gaine fauor might Of warrantice to see next mornings light No earthly one how goodly so he seeme Fine faire or perfect how so he appear Renowmed rich of excellent esteeme That firmly stands and fixed forme doth bear For wauing fortune so the ship will stear With giddie guiding to hir fond intent Nor wit nor prowesse can bad rule preuent Vncertaine more than is slow Lidian brooke Which dallieth his winding banks within Fast forward hasts then doth regardant looke Staying in doubt th' ocean t' enter in Or to reslide where first it did begin Yet suddenly quicke plungeth in amaine After much showe turnes backe to springs againe No whistling fowler hath so many gins No wading fisher halfe so many baits No nimble spider threeds so many spins No toiling hunter tenth part of deceits That fortune hath of woondrous ticing feats Training men on triumphing in their fall Shewing them honie poisning them with gall As AEacus imagind was to deale With Tantalus deluded with the pray Of hungers ease and scalding thirsts assaile Whom wearie proffers make to emptie way Yet near vncaught the luring frute doth stay So are they fed high honors seeke to gaine Shee l manies blood and purpose not obtaine When fortune shewes hir friendly countenance What mightie ones in selfe conceits we seeme Weightie affaires dispose by ordinance As what we list to bring to passe we deeme In our owne reach ech thing we do esteeme We him appoint to death and him we â—ease Welding whole world as doth our liking please Led onward with hope of long assurance We neuer thinke of fortunes frowning But high honors plant as if perdurance had promised continuall showring Fresh still to increase increased springing But long before proud honor taketh roote Wisest forecasting proued is no boote Oft when we are most busie tampering Some foes to trap within our plotted snares Not him vnlike who pit is digging Headlong into it fals himselfe vnwares So we surprised in our owne affaires For fortune that attendeth worldlie chaunce Where smooth she smild now blinketh wide askaunce For proofe marke me of hir deare darlings one That seemd to haue hir fettred fast in giues It might be thought that onely I alone Faire fauor had and thus she daily striues To haue the chiefest regement of our liues That when she list to knit the brows and frowne He standing high is quickly tumbled downe When first that woorthy golden booke began For Magistrates bright mirror cleare indeed Through which eternall praise the Authors wan Streight I beleeud as truly as my Creed My hard mishap so happely would speed As that some one of those rare learned men My blis and bale would haue vouchsaft to pen. In perfect die could they haue pictured False turncote with true shadowes in true kind Hir fained shew of truth and truest falshed Hir glosing face and hir vnconstant mind And hir continuall foe-mate still I find Since fates she driues my spent life to rehearse In lowly rimes refuse of loftie verse Outragious she slayeth without remorse Alike most woorthy and vnwoorthy wight As roling waue that needs must haue the force Tossing light things subiected to great might Respectles where or when so ere they light So careles she not caring when or how She casteth downe or maketh low to bow What time King Edward first inuaded France With good aid of th'erle of Henauld won Friend fortune then mine actes seemd to aduance So euenly my silken threed did run High enterprise what I attempt was done With shining glory and faire honors name As golden trumpe shield foorth Iohn Chandos fame Then as my King by Cambray Cittie past I armd approchd the barriers of the towne There lept I in my foes some wondred fast To see my deed a Squier of renowne Iohn de saint Ager stroue to beat me downe Right strong we coped with sterne courage bold Our mightie bufs some ioyed to behold Ecchoing stroks on eithers helmet lights With sparkling fier thundering mightilie All for glorious praises both our fights Stird with youths heat and mindfull dignitie Th'assailed strikes and both incessantly Imprinting dents do yeald so I at last Returnd with praise on with the Armie past When as the French had gathered mightie power Came to Vironfosse where treatie ended war Froisard me recounts among the flower Of English Squiers sets my fame full far In his large booke is shone how much we are In reuerence bound vnto such learned clarks As with their paine eternize broad our warks For if none should register noble deed Ther 's none would striue to shew his noblenes Or presse in vertues others to exceed If memorie none made were of valiantnes Freshlie burgening to future ages This pricking spur doth harts heroick heaue To thinke fell death faire Fame cannot bereaue Some sots there be so scrupulous that nought At all beleeue but what themselues do see These coy iudgers haue seld or nener thought Of times forepast what mightie men might be Of others deem by thimbecilitie Found in themself recall in question when Our acts memorizd are by learned men This truce expirde King Edward new prepard puissantly to passe the foming flud Which gate king Phillip strongly thought t' aue bard Decking a fleete thick seeming like a wood Whereof had charge three captaines seamen good Sir Hugh Kyriell Babuchet Barbnoire With stretched sailes the narrow seas do scower These Chieftaines fortie thousand men command Laid by French King to stop vs if they could Which when our King had spide he doth demand What masts they were so thicke he doth behould His Pylot named them and well he tould These were the foes that so his costes anoid Southamton towne and th'yle of Wight destroid Replide the king Saint George God be our guide I much desire with yonder fleete to fight A looffe to winde-ward all our Nauie wride To view the turne right goodlie was the sight Banners pensils stremers wauing bright Ladies we had whose minds these sights might daunt Going to see the Queene brought bed at Gaunt Whose presences fresh minds incouraged With double flame t'assaile the enimie For trustie seruants oft had vowed For their sweete sakes t'prooue all extremitie T'fight for his Ladie knights felicitie hot feruent loue makes coldest coward bold desirous much gaie Ladies grace to hold In front the French foorth plast a goodly
common sort With sir Reignald Cobham three Heraulds sent Searching the fields of truth to giue report For to be slaine so fully were we bent To fight when as we hard the Kings intent Some Knights yet thought he dealt but ouer hard That of his succour we were so debard This happie day by noble valiantnes We vanquished immortall fame we gaind And so the King held on his purposes To Callis where as we long time remaind That stoutest Knights garding the towne constraind Surrender make of Callis to his will All which he doth with English people fill Duke Hanniball when as graue senate sent And him home cald to aid his natiue soyle From Italy with no lesse anguish went Then did Duke Iohn from Aguillon recoyle Long hauing lean was loth to suffer foyle But his sad father wild him thence in hast Vs to resist that much his Countrie wast How turning times do trauerse humane course From ruffling war to calmest quietnes And doth allay the mightiest rage and force Appearing plesant temperat stilnes Freed of Tumult stur or buisnes For clanging trumpet and harsh armors sound Daintie blis and meriment is found For Cardnall Guy of Bullen he was sent As legate into Fraunce well doth intreat Firme peace between the kings vntill was bent Their raged minds t' endure without deceat Twixt them and theirs till two yeers out were beat Home went our king but Britton was except Where two braue Ladies cruel wars they kept The one of Mountfort intitled Countesse Whose husband dide a prisoner late in France Redoubted Lady of great valientnes Sharp wars maintaind for all hir Lords mischance Amason like would ride with sheild and Launce Defend hir selfe with battelous axe in fist Threatning blowes bestow and well resist On swelling seas puissance hath she tride In stormie fight amongst the mightiest With enimies blood the marble waters dide With braue Bundutia or Viragoes best Great Edelsleda or the woorthiest Of manly dames that wouen maile haue worne She may compare for valerous adorne Th' other possest a Lions hart in brest Little Inferiour to hir couragious foe Sir Charls of Bloys hir husband now did rest A prisoner fell fortune would it so Gainst whom she oft hir mightie power did shoe These warlike dames hard wars do still maintaine T'on for hir sonne th' other for husbands gaine The two yeers truce expierd King Phillip died And Iohn his sonne was Crowned in his sted Our Prince of Knights when he his time espied Surnamed blacke from England is he sped And into Gascoine warlike Knights he led Whose vertue good and courage did abound And for no death would flee on foote of ground To Thoulous and Carcasson led his host Late before the Riuer of Garron past Hauing burned and spoyled all the cost With pillage store and prisners fiaunct fast To Burdeux safe returned at the last Tho th' earle of Arminack and th' earle of Fois Had Countries charge with soldiers of some chois The prince fresh in the flowers of his youth So much desierd to follow martiall deeds As duly to recount of him the truth His noble thought thereon he onely feeds Right busie Lord to sow wilde otes his seeds A second rode doth into Berry make And countrie round at pleasure spoile and take King Iohn informed of our chevachaunce His sommons cald but first of all he sent Three Barons wise t' aduise our ordinaunce Lord Craon Bowciqualt and the Herment Cald of Chaumount who ordred their intent Vs to intrap abushment one they plast From which we droue them to a castle fast Cald Remorentine the prince doth me command To go persuade these foresaid knights to yeeld I salued them which done I do demand Surrender of the castle which they held Vnto my Lord that matters so would weld Of curtesie vnto his rendred foe Of custome vsed in like case to shoe This rendring mart they thought too bad to make All three men of prooued valure much In silken white that puffing blast did shake Blacke egle spred whose either head doth tuch The banners sides sir Bowcequalts was such That foorth he hoised wefting in the winde Thinking he doth himselfe in safetie finde Plaine said he would no follie such commit As to become a prisner without cause Trusting right well himselfe for to acquit But morrow morne they yeelded without pause Thereto compeld by raging fiers lawes Of well conceiued hope they were beguild Their fortresse left forsaken and exild Like sparkling lightning droue by southern blast Scorching all it findeth in hit power The valerous prince proceedeth with like waste In burning Townes in raising many a Tower Such hideous stormes he on the French doth shower Rich spoiles we gained and great booties wone Without controle of ought which we had done The valiant and renowmed king of Fraunce When as he hard our Prince in field to be Vowed to fight in armes to prooue his chaunce And carefull was by Poyicters towne least we Should there repasse or that he should vs see Woorthie king most woorthie glorious crowne Right valiant Lord though Fortune now did frowne He sommoned braue Dukes stout Earles and Lords In batteled armes before him to appeere With so much haste as hastie speed affords Encountring strength against vs foes to reare Resolud to fight as one deuoid of feare No spare of coste to furnish his intent Loftie thoughts on vengfull battaile bent When this great masse of men all mustered were The battailes three ordained out of hand Gay duke of Orleaunce first well gouernd there Where sixe and thirtie wauing banners stand Long pennons twice so many there were fand Beate with fine armes of euerie Lord and knight Most glorious vnto the gasers sight Charls duke of Normandie had second guiding The third stout king and there drest to behold Faire knights in glistering armors shining Proud stamping steeds richly trapt in gold High placed crests that hautie helme doth hold Trim flower of France in their braue araie For gallantnes here present were full gaie Ordred did mount on steed as white as snowe Of courage like the king that on him sate Knightly armd ride foorth from ranke to rowe With smiling grace his men to animate Did pleasing and right stirring words relate So Castor like with kingly resemblaunce And kindled heat his speech he did aduaunce My Lords in parle at Parris when you be Your English foes you stoutly menace Desiring that so happie day to see To find them ranged in some open place Heere is the thing apparant to your face The onely thing that you so much did craue The English plast in open field you haue And as the king was in this parlaunce Lord Ribamount who had our battels seen Sent for that cause to view our guidaunce Approcht the king saying sir as I ween Your enimies in one battell placed been Are men at arms two thousand as I gesse Fiue thousand fiue hundred archers no lesse Right sagely they and warily ordred ar With bowmen they
I spake Bloys hearing what was don By him and how he sieged strong Alroy And with sharpe war the countrie doth destroy Told king Charls who aiding cosen Bloys Sent sir Bertram Glesquine who doth intreat Knights such he knew of whom he had good choyse Him to assist in ventrous warlike feat Sir Bertrams praises now were waxen great King Charls him had in reuerence and account In praisfull vertues cause he doth surmount Yoong Earle Mountfort of their assemblie hard Seald letters into Acquitaine doth send To some good knights telling how he fard Especially he writ to me his frend Willing my presence helpfull to defend His heritage I soone agreed to go If my good prince would say it should be so I licence craue for this departaunce If that thereby I might not breake the peace The prince said no breach and releasaunce Gaue vnto me and others who not cease Him to beseech my numbers to increase Through Xanton Poyictow I passe vnto Alroy Friendly welcomd with no little ioy Of Earle Iohn and many a valiant knight Accouting all themselues in safetie now So long as me amongst them haue they might My counsaile their opinions so allow And t was not long ear some plaine told hus how Sir Charls Bloys accompaned doth aduaunce In best appoint that hath been seene in Fraunce And faste approcht which newes when so I knew I placed me where comming I behold A seemely band as eie did euer vewe And goodly dight as hart desier cold Oftlie returning vnto freends I told That I had seene of noblenes the flower For discipline in ordring of a power One cannot cast a gloue from off his hand But it on Launce will or on basnet light So properly in order plast they stand Their leader is a Lord of great insight They haue vs taught our battails soone to dight My friends then said sir you our Chieftaine are Please you command and all we will prepare Though yoong Earle were soueraine in the place To Martiall buisnesses yet I tend By princely letters from King Edwards grace To me he wild the Earldome to defend Heedy for this my time here well to spend Three battails then I ordred with good hast And in the first sir Robert Canole plast Lord of Duriuall hardie Britton borne Sir Oliuer Clisson the next doth guide Whom Lion white in red crownd doth adorne The third fresh Earle with whom my selfe abide Him well t' aduise for doute what might betide Reregard of fiue hundred men I made To sir Hugh Caueley these few words I said Sir knight this companie I appoint to you Withdraw your selfe and chuse some peece of ground From thence not buge vnlesse you plainly vewe Vs to disrout then hasting in that stound Vs reunited to place retier you round Lately left there tending like do stay More better seruice can no man do this day When stout sir Hue all hard my speeches passe Right shamefast waxt and thus in haste replide Such charge to take he neuer minded was With feruent words flatlie the same denide Halfe angrie asking what weaknes I espide In bodie his with foremost not to fight Willing the gifter to some other wight Aduisedly to him I answered Your valour sir I passing tried know Your high desiers I throughly measured Strong ablenes to fight in foremost row Bicause right sage and wise your selfe I know This charge I giue wishing you that place In which you shall acquier thankefull grace With honor and applause amongst the best And furthermore I faithfull promise giue To you sir knight to grant the first request You shall demaund if that Iohn Chandos liue My rightfull treating herein do not depriue This noble soldier too kt still in dispite He might not in the front of battaile fight Whose setled minde to see well neare I weepe Him to that passe it commen was I told He or my selfe the reregard must keepe Which better was allow his iudgement should Confusd he staid yet take the charge he would For which salt teares distill from manly eies Departs to ground that fittest he espies A Baron rich in Britton there did dwell Lord Beumanoyr a prisoner safely sworne Vs English too which thought he might do well Spending his time fell strife might out be worne To passe between of both sides was he borne By his spent trauell so much he brought to pas As one whole day and night of truce there was Gay Phoebus lodgd faire Luna prest in place Our English soldiers most requested me Largely telling the poorenes of their case With much expence that I should not agree To peace determined to win or die By battaile to whom I easely giue consent As one thereto by inclination bent Chast Cynthia gon Aurora blushed Lord Beumanoyr betime was stirring From his campe toward vs his footings sped In hope to speed I soon departing We salued at our first incountring He wild I would indeuor to accord These parties for the goodnes of our Lord. Contrarie to his iust desiering I answered good sir of Beumanoyr I counsell that you haste retiering From whence you came our companies deuoyr Is you t' inclose and slaie as destroier Of their desiers they so hate talke of peace Therefore herein your best is for to ceace And furthermore tell to sir Charls of Bloys Earle Iohn this day will Duke of Britton be Or slaine abide shunning other choise When this rich Baron hard these words of me Said Chandos Chandos as good will as yee Or your yoong Lord my Lord hath to the fray Calme peace yet offereth if you said not nay We both depart and both to friends returne I scarcely ariud Earle Mountfort asked What newes for he in longing thoughts doth burne I told him now that he was hardly tasked But fairest truth I fouliest masked Lord Beumanoyr hath sent you word by me This day your foe will Duke of Britton be Or else this day he will not breath at all Which message told he colour seemd to change Willed t' aduance and streight to battell fall T' inflame his courage I from truth did range Somwhat to make the matter seeme more strange I said aduise whether you will fight or leaue Yes by Saint George our banner forward heaue Lord Beumanoyr his answer likewise framd Saying he had the prowdest langage hard Of me that euer erst foorth to Bloys he namd What were my words but more he plain declard How that all right I said clean him debard From truest title to great dukedome quite He doth reply God knowes whose is the right The Ermine banners of the dukedome right Were placed ech gainst other orderly To see braue Lords vnder their pennons dight All beat with Arms bedecked properly So feateously both battels beautify As to the gaser well it might appeere That all the Vallewer in the world was heere As raging tides about some Ilsland meet In stredned channell forced by a prime With like incounter both our battels greet Like bustling rage was shewed at
to gard the towne at best And thither doth the Duke of Aniou mooue Enuirning close the towne in such a wise The dwellers thinke it best for their behooue To render it and do their strength despise Thunstable commons like Protheus guise Are so delighted in ech chaffring change Like fleeting tides their thoughts do euer range The captaine also was becommen French infest with loue of glittering ticing gould Too foule a swill a soldiers minde to drench That thoughts to honor euer fasten should And his giue promise permanent to hould I vnderstood how all this practise went At Bergareth and to be there I ment At this deliuerie sir Thomas Phelton and My selfe do ride what time the sun was plast Betwixt the east and west in lower land We came as French were reddie entring fast At thother gate to Batfoyle spide I hast Traitrous Batfoyle was busie t' entertaine My croching foes in hope of greedie gaine In hands I shooke my suer bright shaking sword Enflamde with courage as reason did requier I plainly shewd I came not now to bourd Traitor I said take heere deserued hier Treasons no more thou shalt from hence conspier And as I spake I lent him such a bloe That soule and bodie doth a sunder goe A iust reward for such foule treason don But when the French our wefting banners vew Their backs they turne and swift away they run Lightly clad with feare they nimbly flew The townsmen ginne their dealing false to rew Lay all the fault in him that I had slaine And so the towne did English still remaine The Duke and Glesquine went to Limoges Where the Dukes Berrie and Burbon siege do hould Which citie yeelded was by th tretrousnes Of their Bishop which matter being tould Vnto the prince he sware reuenge he would So vile despite by his deere fathers soule Which oth he kept unbroke and euer whole From Coynoc then he marcht in braue aray Twelue hundred Lords knights and hardie squiers A thousand archers so many Brigands sway That all the countrie dread their flaming iers On sharp reuenge do boile their hot desiers Sir Thomas Percie and Lord Rosse was there Who did in gules three siluer Bogets bear Sir William Mesnile a chiff of burnisht gold Three gemels finely set in Azurd shield Sir Simon Borley six bars equall told Of black and yellow in his chiff he held Of the mettaile two pales as first is speld In midst a scuchion of Rubie fairly dight In it three bars of ermins plainly pight Right fierce assault the citie so was tane Many an innocent with the nocent died Man woman childe were brought to blooddie bane Such wofull rigor did this towne betide The duke of Lancaster stoutlie here was tried In single fraie the erle of Cambrig and The erle of Penbroke fighting so are fand Which tripart combate was so noblie fought As sick prince tooke pleasure it t'behould Causing his litter neerer to be brought The French resist so long as ear they could And lasht and stroke with noble courage bould But conquerd yeeld and yeelding fauor finde As noble arms her sacred lawes assinde Deuine mercy whose lore I euer loud The soueraine good that God to man affords Most like to God man hath his likenes prooud That treasure such within sweete heauen hords And you great captains and renowmed Lords That manage arms hold mercy in your minde Bloods wilfull spiller seld doth mercie finde I was right glad from this that so I bide At Bergareth the frontier to sustaine And now through Fraunce with ventring troupe did ride Sir Robert Canole to the Frenchmens paine Welth and treasure did such abundance gaine His soldiers but siluer and gold esteemd Oystrige feathers or what was daintie deemd Not vertues selfe can lengthen mortall daies Yet fame prouides that vertue should not die Obliuion repugnes good fame alwaies True writers of braue acts doth still defie Ech wight depriud of honor shut should lie She much desiers all couered with the corse Of valiant deeds she taketh no remorse If Phrigian Poet should the praises shew Of noble Priam and his woorthie sons Their high exploits set foorth in order dew Although large fame of all their doings runs Yet but defendaunts when toth sight it cums Assailant conqueror this braue English king Triumphant victors his noble ofspring As Priam nor his sonnes left nought behind But golden praise pronounst by writers skill And none could now their names or dooings find So hugely woxt the vastie world to fill Vnlesse it had dropt from a heedie quill So Muse and Mars togither must agree The first the last makes liue eternally And since our Hector stout came out of Spaine He languished which greatly made vs grieue For stealingly ech hower increast his paine Gainst which with courage good he much did striue Wasting sicknes quite doth his strength depriue Now into England to returne he ment Of peyred helth to seeke amendement He sent for all his squiers knights and Lords That of him hold and when we present were Such princely gentle language he affords As might braue courage and allegance steare Full sweetly spake he like a noble peere In euery thing he wild vs to obay His brother Gaunt which regent heere should stay Then shipping takes the gentlest knight aliue And most renowmed for his woorthines Right pensiue I that sicknes did depriue His health that bread the Frenchmens sikernes In batteled Arms they found him matchles For so he pinde and inly grew his griefe As finall death did worke his first reliefe He newly gon fowre Britton knights aduaunce Themselues to take Mountpaon and they sped So well by practise as the matter chaunct The Lord therof French turned in that sted Which known did make Duke Iohn to shake his hed Sommons he forst and vowd it to regaine In conquering wise or die with deadlie paine It toucht him near bicause it lay him near So on a day with kindled courage stout From Bourdeux accompanied strongly faire He doth depart with his braue warlike rout Of Poyctow Xanton and Gascoine there about Of th'english Phelton Freuile and Rosse there was Sir Michael Delapole did in this iourney passe Whose cornerd shield was laid with skilfull blew A fesse between three Liberds heads of gold Sir William Bewchampe gay as bridegroome new Armed in red right stately to behold A girdle plast between six martlets told Glistering bright like Phoebus in his pride Well could he iust and comly could he ride Now when we were this castle plast before And ordred had ech thing in order dew We raisd assault but were resisted sore A whole long day then back our soldiers drew This castle was inuirond with deep stew So fast we fild with fagots vp the mot As to the wals with much adoe we got And now much worke and buisnes was begun And many a man reuerst and ouerthrowne More feller stut was none vnder the sun So that this newes was bruted wide and knowne
THE TRVE VSE OF ARMORIE Shewed by Historie and plainly proued by example the necessitie therof also discouered with the maner of differings in ancient time the lawfulnes of honorable funerals and moniments with other matters of Antiquitie incident to the aduauncing of Banners Ensignes and marks of noblenesse and cheualrie By William Wyrley Imprinted at London by I. Iackson for Gabriell Cawood 1592 TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE LORDS AND OTHERS THE professors of martiall discipline NOBLES and Gentlemen I will salute you with a sentence of mine Author sir Iohn Froysard The aduentures of armes saith he are so diuers and so far oftentimes beyond expectation as that their effects causeth great admiration which saying of his caused me with the more attention to read ouer his works and finding the same most truly prosecuted through the whole course of his historie but especially in the actions and aduentures of two famous Capitains Sage and Imaginatiue the one sir Iohn Chandos and the other sir Iohn Grayllie by name commonly called the Captall de Buz it delighted me as a louer of honor and cheualrie to note downe their seuerall fortunes with some reasons of their falles as men may gesse at the iudgements of God and hauing enterprised the publishing thereof haue dedicated these my labors such as they be to your honorable societie which doings of mine though they may seeme to some men friuolous and not woorth your regard yet doubt I not but you shall finde matter of benefit valuable to the time you shall therein bestow both by way of imitation and vertuous aemulation as being a subiect that may stir your woorthie endeuors to the honor of God your dutifull seruice of hir Maiestie the benefit of your countrie and your owne eternall glorie I haue been carefull to set downe as my maner is the Standards pennons cote armours and other marks of honor to the end it may publikely be knowen of what necessitie the vse of them is as being for that cause first ordeined how and in what maner they are to be vsed and to whom they do of right most chiefly and properly appertaine and belong And these matters being well conceiued as indeed without such tokens no martiall discipline can be exercised no armie ranged no attempt of any companie atchieued and so by consequence no conquest made nor so much as any Common-wealth whatsoeuer defended neither from outward enimies ciuill discord nor the rebellion of any plebeian rout be the same neuer so simple rude or of small esteeme it will I hope reduce into estimation a matter both of honor order and necessitie which now through the abuse thereof is so far run into contempt as that of many men it is holden for a thing of no price but thought to be a very mockerie and a matter of no other sequence than to set vp vaine and fantasticall glorious fellowes into a pride and to drawe from them some small summes to certaine persons into an office instituted which no doubt was by the wisest and best gouerned states at the first deuised and generally by all of any policie receiued to a most necessarie end yet thinke they as it is now in vse it serueth but onely for that purpose And indeed I must by the way complaine that certaine of the said officers or others pertaining to them either for want of skill or maintenance or otherwise for their gaine haue committed faults not iustifiable whereby they haue brought a matter of great honor into defame and iniured thereby the Commonwealth and brought both others that haue managed those affaires with more discretion and themselues into obloquie But these faults and errors and some others also spoken of in this dedication instituted to that purpose will in the handling of this matter more easily appeere and the thing be I hope reformed either by the good endeuors which the officers vnderstanding thereof will vse or else by the magistrate when he shall haue knowledge of such the abuses as he may be informed of And first that Guydhomes ensignes and marks of armorie be of necessitie let it be but considered whether wars be somtimes of necessitie to be taken in hand or not and surely I thinke there is none of so very meane capacitie but will yeeld vnto it that they be especially defensiue and in some cases also offensiue which as a thing granted I will ouerpasse And then I say further that wars being lawful and of necessitie it must also be granted that the same must be made by companies and bands of men ouer which some must command and the rest obey and then will it follow that for the oredring diuiding of those to the best aduantage standards and banners must be allotted to euery companie to the end they may draw togither in their strength and performe such actions as they shall be cōmanded thus may you see the necessitie And for the vse it doth also appeer that sithence some must be commanders it is of importance that they be known both by the persons ouer whom they command generally by al and that so perspicuously that vpon euery sudden occurrent the meanest simplest common soldier may thereby know euerie particular officer and captaine that hath charge for which purpose our ancestors deuise was that such men should weare some such coate of marke ouer his armor as whereby they might be easily discerned to be the same persons which indeed they were and where somtimes when occasion so offered it selfe they were forced to vse pauishes for their defence whereby a great part of the marke which was vpon their vesture was shadowed from sight it was thought necessarie that their markes should be also laide vpon their shieldes the commanders of horse-men their faces being for the most part couered they added to the crests of their helmets some further distinction to be the better also knowen by thus much for the ordinance and vse of armorie And hereby also may it appeere to whom they do properly belong and appertaine namelie to Kings Princes Archbishops Bishops Earles Barons Lords of prouinces and fees Knights officers in the Armie Nauie or peece and generallie to all that haue charge ouer bands and companies of soldiers And now sithence from hencefoorth manie of my speeches will tend to the discouerie of such things as I take to be abused erronious or faultie wherein I may peraduenture not square in opinion with some others and being my selfe no officer or of any authoritie whereby I should haue cause to deale in these affaires I will therefore first beseech your honors and all others to whom it may appertaine that if anie thing shall passe my pen which shall be offensiue that they wil conceiue no woorse of it then I meane which is but to bring these matters of armorie into question to the ende that if anie thing be amisse as I for my part thinke that manie things are that then the same may be reformed but if happelie
mannor or lands by descent albeit their ancestors married the heire of the same many hundred yeers agone and whose parents peraduenture neuer did beare any marke or if they did time hauing obscured the same it remaineth vnknowen yet shall you haue them run to an Herald or painter as busily as if the matter were of weight and there make search they know not for what and the herald or painter on the other side to draw some small peece of siluer from them will find out the badge of some one or other of the same name although many times none of the kindred and may be neuer came neare that countrey and that will they inuest them with as their owne and sometimes when no marke for any of the name will be found then deuise some conceit or other and say they find it borne by such a name and content them wonderously therewith which serues yet to no other vse but to make vp a iust number whereby their owne marks become the more confused and yet into this quartering being a very fountaine of errors many both Noble men and Gentlemen and the officers of Armes themselues do oftentimes very rashly enter It is not long sithence there died a knight in Staffordshire of good account and in his life time was a deputie Lieuetenant there to doe his obsequie came an officer of Armes who compiled for him nine seuerall marks all in one Escuchion and yet neuer a one of them as they were there set foorth to him belonging but his owne of name And as I haue giuen you this one for an instance so almost can a man come into no towne of any account nor almost into any Church or house of Noble man or Gentleman but he shall find errors so that the numbers thereof be infinite It were therefore to be wished that this matter of quartering should be reformed as well for the vntruths therein committed as for the titles that may be brought in question thereby to lands and Heritages And as being one of the chiefest things that bringeth the honor of Armory into disgrace for not long agoe heard I one speake in this maner did I not quoth he know the grandfather of this man speaking of the owner of a scuchion wherein were quartered many marks to purchase by plaine patent although he neuer were man at Armes both his coate and crest within these fortie yeers and how comes it now to passe that I see his nephew inuested in all this Armorie numbring many and diuers seuerall deuices all in one shield by way of quartering this being a very mockerie to see a man of no valure or estimation in warlike affaires and the paternall Ancestors of whom for ought that can be prooued were not in any late age welders of Armes to entrude themselues into so many badges of Armorie is not the least matter to bring into contempt an order so honorable and necessarie as the bearing of Armes is Another matter that to my vnderstanding is also to be reformed is the maner of differings which are by the yoonger brothers and their posterities laid vpon their marks being cressants mollets c. and that such little ones as that a man cannot discerne them a verie small distance from him which differences are in reason to be made faire plaine and large that they may be also as easie to be discouered as any other deuise that is in the coate shield or banner otherwise they serue not to the purpose for which marks were first ordeined And the inconuenience which ensueth of this error will the more easily appeere if I but set you downe the words of mine Author treating of an accident that happened in such a case which be these Et feist msr Robert Baileul aler sa Banniere tout deuant en escriant moriannes les Henuiers qui inestoint esthauses Aperceurent la Banniere de moriannes qui encore estoit tout Droicte si cuiderent que ce feust la leur ou ilz se deuoient radresser car mult petite y auoiâ— de difference de lune a l'autre car les Armes moriennes sount Barres contre Barres d'Argent d'Azure a deux Cheuerons de Gueules et le cheuron de msr Robert auoit vne petite crosete d'or si ne l'aduiserent mye bien les hennuiers ainsi vindrent bouter de fait dessubs la Banniere de msr Robert si furent moult fierement reboutes et tous discomfis For these henowers being led by sir William Baileul thought in the stir and busines to haue come to his banner hearing the surname of Moriens called vpon and seeing as they supposed their captains ensigne and the difference of sir Robert being the yoonger brother but a little crosse vpon the vpper cheuron they could not apperceaue so that the most of them were either slaine or taken and the elder brother the Knight their leader was glad to saue himselfe as well as he might The Lord of Cowcie sonne in law to king Edward the third suffered also reproch through the hard dealings of the Lord of Chine who raised his banner against certaine Englishmen of sir Hugh Caueleys company being either the same that Cowcies was or the difference so small as might not be discerned whereby the said Lord Cowcie though he were absent as far as Austrich had dishonor spoken of him as in the discourse of the Capitall I haue touched Thus then hauing shewed by example the harme and inconuenience that cannot but many times happen through the littlenes and nicenes of such differences I haue thought it not amisse to laie before you the differings that antiquitie vsed that by comparing them togither you may discerne the great wisedome of our ancestors and our owne imperfections in this point for want of due consideration which was done at the first by changing of the deuise borne into other colors onely but when that would not suffice for the number of leaders manie times all of one house then were they forced to varie their markes by adding of either bars bends cheurons cheefes quarters borders labels losinges or such like and verie seldome should you see in those times cressant mollet or such like small little thing borne for a difference and if anie did yet was the same made so large and faire that it might be seene as well as any other the deuise which should be in the shielde or banner And for the proofe I will giue you the example but of one house onelie for your better information though I could do the like of manie others namelie that of the Bassets who indeed in my iudgement varied their markes of honor verie finelie and that vpon good respect Thus haue I set downe vnto you though something tediouslie the vse that the antiquitie followed in a verie glorious line for Lords Knights and Gentlemen which florished diuers hundreds of yeeres sithence and you may see that these men though they were manie of them great Barons were not
ashamed of their differences but laide them foorth largely to the view neither do I esteeme it a shame wherby any man should couet to hide the same to be descended as a yoonger brother sithence that euerie brother hauing the like parents is as well descended as the eldest and therefore as good a Gentleman though not so rich as he And the more is his honor if without the helpe which by reason of his patrimonie the elder hath he can aduance himselfe into place of office or dignitie whereby he may raise an other florishing familie of the same surname And therefore you my masters that be yoonger brothers neuer hide your differences by putting foorth a little cressant or a peeping mollet but vse some faire large deuise sithence in truth your estimation is by your rising to be had in as good a regard as if you were the elder And now being in speech of yoonger brothers and their differences I haue obserued two kinds of them which the antiquitie vsed besides the aforesaid one was that such as were aduanced by Kings Princes or other great Lords did manie times beare some part of the deuise of him who aduanced them by way of addition vnto the marke of their owne familie which serued verie aptlie to distinguish them from their elder house The other was that diuers did adde vnto the marke of their owne house some part of the deuise of that familie from which their mothers descended and both these two kinds of differings are in my minde greatly to be commended not onely for that they may be made large and apparent and for that cause serue very properly to the vse for which Badges are ordained but also that the one makes manifest a gratefull minde in him that is aduanced to his prince or lord of whom he receiued benefit and by reason thereof linketh them togither in a kinde of amitie which seldome or neuer is worne out and by that meanes a great strengthening it is vnto both houses The other not onely serueth to vnite the families which haue matched togither in the foresaid loue and amitie and thereby worketh the like effect but besides it sheweth the certainty of the dessending of the said yoonger brother out of both the said houses and also giueth knowledge of the time thereof whereby if any title of inheritance be at any time cast vpon the yoonger brother either descending from ancestor of the fathers side or mothers it giues him a testimonie of his title and witnesseth vnto the world the truth of his descent by the continuall bearing of that deuise so that this kind may many times worke profit to the bearer and auoid many troubles and sutes and therefore into one of these kind of differings could I wish our yoonger brothers which from hencefoorth shal be aduanced to inuest them selues as being both honorable faire certaine and profitable But now it may be obiected that the order in vse sheweth plainly ynough the diuersitie of brothers as the cressant a second the mollet the third that by this means the matters are made certaine to this I answere that first the time is not by this means signified neither can it be known which of the Cressant bearers was the vncle or nephew And further it is a very vsuall matter for euery new Riser at this day if he can find that there is any of the like Surname that beareth marke presently to vsurpe the same with a Cressant or some such difference so that for my owne part I do seldome credit such kinde of differinges nor their bearers vnles it be by some other testimony or proofe made manifest which cannot be counterfetted so well in the other deuise except the riser should be throughly acquainted with the descent of him whose line he seeketh to intrude himselfe into and besides it may be the sooner espied by them of the true line forbidden nor the other dare for feare thereof so soone venter the committing of a falsitie But what a confusion is it when you shall see the second of a second brother and sometimes an other second from him to cluster one Cressant vpon an other many times three or foure one on horsebacke vpon an other where as by the aforesaid bearing of the difference from the Prince Lord or mothers family a man may better distinguish the brothers and set downe for a second a third and fourth c. And after from those againe in a fairer larger and more apparent manner And the more apt am I to speake against these ordinary differences as they are called knowing them to be but new inuentions and any of them as ordinaries in fashion as now they are neuer vsed before the time of King Henrie the sixt before which time men were much more warie and discreet in bearing of their marks and in foreseeing that no intruders should enter into their families nor that any should lay away or remoue their differings without speciall warrant or license of them that thereby might be preiudiced for a Labell being much in vse for the heire apparent to wear as his difference during his fathers life was seldome remooued to the second brother but when the inheritance went vnto the daughters of the elder brother and then the second was permitted to beare the same for his difference as being the heire male of his familie and as one that remained in expectancie yet might not the second brother vse to intrude himselfe into the absolute signes of his house the inheritance being in his neeces or kinswomen as appeared in the case betweene Gray of Ruthine and Hastings which was this Iohn Lord Hastings married to his first wife Izabell one of the sisters and heires of Almerie de vallence Earle of Penbrooke by whom he had issue Iohn Hastings after Earle of Penbrooke Elizabeth married to Roger Lord Gray of Ruthin and some other children which needs not to be spoken of for that as I take it al the lines of them failed before the extinguishing of the line of the said Iohn Earle of penbrooke after such issue being had the said Izabell Vallence died and the said Iohn Lord Hastings tooke to a second wife Izabell the daughter of Hugh Spenser by whom he had issue Hugh Hastings and Thomas and then died and left as heire Iohn his son by his first wife who was Earle of Penbrooke as I haue said erected by reason of his mothers inheritance which Iohn Earle of Penbrooke married and had issue an other Earle of Penbrooke who also married and had issue a third Earle of Penbrooke but in the end all the line of the said Iohn Hastings first Earle of Penbrooke of that familie fayling there arose a question betwixt the heires of Roger Gray and Elizabeth his wife being sister of the whole blood and the heires of Hugh Hastings brother of the halfe blood to the said Iohn Earle of Penbrooke for the inheritance of the Hastings But Gray recouering the same by the law
ancestors by correcting the destroiers thereof and therein to imitate the laudable actions of William Fleetwood Serieant at the Law and Recorder of the Citie of London who being commissioner amongst others for the visitation of causes Ecclesiasticall by the Princes authoritie by vertue thereof imprisoned certaine wilfull persons that had defaced the moniment of Queene Katherine Dowyger at Peterborough vntil such time as they had reformed the same which thing was through his good endeuor reedified and perfected againe and so remaineth to this daie for although some happily see standing those of their own parents yet it were good they should foresee that no others be pulled downe for that there is not to be looked for but that suffering such iniuries to rest vnpunished the dooers thereof wil in time growe more insolent and haue a cast to ouerthrowe theirs also And now being in speech of moniments I cannot but remember their ignorance who make small account of anie ancestour except before the Conquest weening that all that lie crosse-legged so were and that all ancient euidence without date is the like whereas the one was not had in vse vntil after the Palestine wars and the other such as be sealed be also since the Conquest for I could neuer see nor heare of any that had seene sealed deed but the same was made sithence the Conquest of this Land when the vse as I take it of sealing with waxe first began in England But these men will not stoupe one iote vnder the Conquest telling manie fables of their ancestors then preseruing their houses Honors Armories forgetting quite that it is much more glorious and honorable to be descended from a most famous nation conquering then such people by plaine feate of Armes subiuged for as the Poet saith quis enim sua praelia victus Commemorare velit referam tamen ordine nec tam Turpe fuit vinci quà m contendisse decorum est Magnaque dat nobis tantus solatia victor So that if they haue any thing praise woorthie left to brag of it is that they well contended with so puissant conquerors which were then in their time as wise glorious and famous a nation as were in the whole world to be found Another sort there be not much more skilfull who if they see any Armorie straight enter into the comparison of the fairenes thereof and foule and false is it if mettall lie vpon mettall alone or colour vpon colour And yet I could wish we should neuer haue more dishonorable men nor woorse soldiers than haue so borne their Armorie for to omit that woorthie Godfrey and that Mack Morise king of Lymster in Ireland whose onely daughter and heire was married to Richard Strongbowe Earle of Penbroke and bare in a blacke shield a red ramping Leon of our owne sir Richard Sanbach of Sanbach in Chesshire sir William Wakbirge of Wakbirge in Darbyshire two valiant Knights yet both bare colour vpon color Passing the number of examples I will onely recite the words of mine Author speaking of the aduentures of a braue Knight in the companie of sir Robert Canole resting by Parris this Knight hauing vowed to strike with his launce on the barriers of the citie performed it and then the words be these Celluy cheualier ie ne sca comment il auoit nom ne de quel pays il estoit mais s'armoit a gueulles a deux fousses noyeres et vne bordure noyre non endente And although I grant they be not so well to be discerned as when mettal and colour be varied the one with the other yet sithence the number be great of most woorthie men that haue borne their armes in such maner I will esteeme their marks as honorable as the rest and neuer impute any falsitie to them And this kinde of men also commonly descant vpon the proportion nature and qualitie of the deuise as if the name of Richard were better than Robert and Ralph better than Roger and in their conceits the Eagle or Faulcon are the fairest birds to be borne of all fethered foules and so of other the like when indeed except for the reuerence due to the bearers who do honor their bearings by their renowme vertue and valure otherwise there is no difference in the fairenes of marks but that those onely are to be preferred which be easiest to be perceiued discerned and knowen to be the same things they be marked out for And therefore the Capitale of Beusz blacke Midas head with his faire long Asse eares was as good a crest as sir Iohn Chandos chiftains head proper in a white scarffe goodly enuellopped and as faire a cote is Hopwells being three red hares playing on bagpipes in a siluer shield as Newinton which bare d'Azure three eglets d'Argent displaid And now me thinks I heare some that esteeme me to mend and become more fine skilfull and Herauld like in my emblazons as vsing the French phrases of d'azyer d'argent who thinke I doubt not but that I haue committed a great error for want of vsing the said French phrases in my emblazons notwithstanding I will ioine in opinion with such as esteeme it to be more proper to speake and vse English termes and phrases in an English booke dedicated to Englishmen than French or Latine otherwise than cited authoritie leadeth And now my good Lords and you braue Soldiers and Gentlemen I haue little else to trouble you with at this time but to wish you had no woorse a writer to eternize your fame then mine Author sir Iohn Froissart was to the Knights and Captains of England your predecessors and to craue your patience in that I haue been so vnaduised to molest you this long with these tedious and simple trauels of mine caused through the great zeale and affection I beare to your praiseable profession and that you would pardon my boldnes in the writing and dedicating thereof to your Honors neuerthelesse I beseech you again sithence they entreat of matter tending to the aduancement of your glories that you would vouchsafe to accept of them in good part and with the shields of your woorthie fauors to protect them from the outrage of such as enuie your memorable vertues praieng to God that all your noble atchiuements may be with no lesse praise remembred then our knights of that time were spoken of by sir Arnold Dandrehen martiall of France there enemie to King Henrie of Castile the valiant bastard a little before the battaile of Naueret and because at my first entrance into this matter I saluted you with a sentence of mine authour I haue thought it no bad Decorum with his report of those speeches being as followeth to take my leaue Sire sire saulue soit vostre Grace saith he vos dy q̄ quāt par battaille vous assembleres au Prince vous trouueres la gens d'armes tels comme il les fault trouuer car la est la fleur de tout Cheualrie du monde la trouueres
ship The Christopher from ours but latelie tane Fraught full of those which we compeld to skip mid washing waues vnto their dismall bane Thus may we note how Fortunes fuls do wane Blith this ship of Clarions now doth sound And euen now with horror doth abound Our foes whose number fower for one did pas Like men at armes they Fortune striue to trie Hideous broyle monsterous noise there was Enuffe t' haue made a fainting hart to die On surging seas more fell fierce battails be Then on firme land ech one must bide the fray And fight it out there is no other way From dashing ships the pointed arrow flie Like stones of haile forst by an esterne winde Wherewith great numbers Frenchmen stout do die And now to boord then linked chaines do binde Bigge ships so fast they cannot soone vntwinde Fierce strong incounters and huge deadly blowes From forced arme that many ouerthrowes From morne till noone indurd tempesteous broile With mightie rage vpon the raging floud We English soldiers tooke no little toile Stout enimies aduentrous tride and good Yet voiding scoppers voided out their bloud Neere vnto Sluce they were all take and slaine Victorious we do home returne againe About this time the Duke of Britton died Wanting issue for so right noble place A brother one he had by fathers side Iohn Earle Mountfort sprong of ancient race Another brother had he in like case Begot of father one and mother same Dead left issue a noble vertuous dame Married well vnto sir Charles of Bloys Extract from race right honorable faire Germaine cosen to Phillip of Valoys Strife great begon for the Duke of Brittons chaire For either of these claimed to be heir Braue King of France Bloys his part maintaind Stout English King the Mountforts he sustaind To Britton did send backe thrise noble knight Sir Robert D'artois Earle of Richmount made Whose banner blew with golden lillies dight A Castile labell faire for difference laid And by his skill in valiant warlike trade He conquerd Vaus and countrie proching neer But conquered towne did cost him very deer For in defence of it he knightly died His too soone losse displeasd king Edward so Enraged sware he would not long abied Till well he were reuenged of his fo Strongly prepard to Britton doth he go Soone brake we holds and tore wald castles strong Foure mightie towns besiegd at once ere long The Normain Duke like right valiant prince Came with foure thousand proper men at armes And thirtie thousand of others to conuince Our English troups that dreadles were of harms By skilfull means of two wise Cardnals charms Calme peace was made three whole yeers to endure And valiant kings both sware to keepe it sure Thus he that in eternall heauens rayns And harts of kings hath in his gouernance Their frowning storms vnto faire smiling gleams Doth change vnto his heauenly pleasance Rules oft their thoughts so to his ordinance They may deuise but he will whole dispose What long they build he soonest ouerthrowes Thyer a thousand three hundred fortie more Saint George his day king Edward did prepare A royall feast proclaiming it before In Fraunce Flaunders in Henault and Almaine All knights that would vouchsafe to take the paine Should safetie haue for to returne in peace When as the iusts and knightly sports did cease And there the king selected prooued knights In martiall feats and battelous stoure That had their shields shone to their en'mies sights And forcement made with strong redoubted power Due praises gaind and durable honour And made vs sweare that feasts continuance Which was maintaind through noble chevachance Thus as the king triumphant sports did hold Newes him was brought did much his mind displease How Lord Clisson had lost his head they told And maletrait the French kings ire t'apease Conceiud bicause some did false rumor raise Vntrue they were vnto the crowne of Fraunce Ten Lords there died such still is fortunes chaunce Which knowne report caused king Edwards frowns And fierce maintaind the French had broke the peace Sir Henrie Leon set at ten thousand crowns For ransome when he promisd not to cease For to defie his king in open presse Th'erle of Darbie he into Gascoyn sends To vengefull war his mind he all intends Which valiant Earle Plantagenet namde At Hampton barkt at Burdeux doth ariue His banner England with French label famde He thought to shew vnto his foes beliue Staid at Burdeux but euen daies thrise fiue Bergarath Angolesme and Aguilon With thirtie holds and towns he tooke anon Toth court of Fraunce this voiage well was knowne How this stout Earle so many towns had wone The spoile his soldiers got far wide was blowne The king pondering of this mischiefe done He sommons made and sent Duke Iohn his sonne Attended with a hundred thousand men His late lost towns for to obtaine agen This mightie host did Angolesme inclose Which braue Iohn Norwich an Englishsquire held Hardly constraind wisely doth dispose His buisnes and this mightie armie weld Thanks his good wit that so his lesson speld An honest shift to find at time of need Deserueth praise vpon the happie speed It was the eue before our Ladie day He saw the towne began to mutonie Vnto the wals he tooke the readie way Made none acquainted with his priuitie His cap toth host he waued speedily They are aduisd demanding what he ment He said to speake with Duke was his intent The courteous Lord him quickly satisfied Then being come demanded if he would Yeeld he said I am not so aduised Most noble Duke the towne I well may hold I doe intreat your grace we may be bold The morrow next without yours disturbance To doe vnto our Ladie reuerence In honor of whom I your grace requier Of one daies truce for me and all my band The Norman Duke agreed to his desier With thanks Iohn bowed like a pliant wand The morrow morne faire armed he doth stand Streight parted downe in blew and fierie red With ermine Lyon sterne ramping decked Then issuing the French to Armor stirred He stepped foorth and willed them to stay Sirs he said your Duke vs peace hath granted Which I must vse to mine owne best assay On suddenly some went without delay Vnto the Duke declard what had been said And how as yet the Armie had him staid When this good duke his wise excuse had hard Commandment gaue that he should safe depart His promise giue he wild should not be bard For kept he would tho woorser were his mart A vertue fitting well his Princely hart The Captaine gone then Angolesme doth yeeld With seauen Townes more the Frenchmen hold the field Right strong before Aguillon be they come Plast in the meddowes faire about the hould A hundred thousand men a goodly sume on foote and horsebacke well and truely tould Before they part this Castle haue they would The Duke so vowd vnlesse for him the king His Father sent and for no other
thing Full seauen months the armie held their ground Within which time so many braue assaies For to defend so many practise found In forraging so many goodly fraies Such skirmiges and that such sundrie waies To win the same as Greekes had neuer more When they strong Ilion planted were before This Castle strongly seated is betweene Two sliding streames that vessels well may beare Enuironed with gawdie meddow greene Vpon the which right bitter bickering are Oft on the riuers fight they without feare Sir Gualter Mannie chiefe of the English band Full expert knight on water or on land This courteous knight sage imagenatiue Found to his foes much warlike buisnes Right warilie affaires doth he contriue For sure defence of honor spotles Couragious knight and valiant doubtles Yellow banner he shewd three Cheurons blacke An English Lion on the highmost stake Whilst thus thassailaunt and defendaunt striue Euery day some practise new to doe The King of England maks hast to ariue Hearing declard his friends besiged so Conueniently he hasts himselfe to go To rease the Duke from Hamton port he saild Contrary wind made that his purpose faild For where he thought in Gascoine to take land Sir Godfrey Harcourt causd him change his mind Whose reasons being by grauest counsell scand And likte bicause contrary was the wind A faire large bay in Constantine we find Cald Hogg saint vast from shipping well ariud In Battails three our Armie is contriud Toward wealthfull Cane we onward hold our way And all the Countrie wast with sword and fier The Earle of Tankervile made with vs a fray Fast to the towne we forst him to retier After taken by his owne desier Within the towne of which we Masters were And Countrie round all trembled fast with feare Our soueraine determinde in his mind To passe through France to Callis if he could The Castle of Poys we in the way do find Rease assault and easly gaine the hould Nothing so strong might dure our forcement bould Absent the owner of the fort away Spoild was the towne bicause they false did play Two damesels faire were in this Castle found Of bewtie rare and of fine tender age Who rudely Rauisht had been in that stound Saue that Lord Basset and my selfe in rage Did them defend and by aduisement sage Safely protect and brought before the King Which them receiud and thankt vs for the thing Right princely he and sweetly intertaind These Virgins causing them to be conuaid To Corby towne high praise hereby we gaind Ech armed Knight who Knighthood true hath waid Will suffer no foule act done silly maid A souerain praise it is to armed Knight Outragious acts to hinder by his might What wight vile sin forbids not if he may Consents and giltie is to wicked ill The King doth march to Callis seeking way The riuer of some we are attaind vntill Where Godmare say a Knight of warlike skill Hauing in charge from soueraigne to keepe The passages where water was not deepe The Knight obeyd and Knightly did his best Due woorthie praise ech man doth well deserue That to his power fulfils his Princes hest Tho tickle fortune seeme oft times to swerue As vnto him who leader like did serue Strong Archer shot so whely all togither From kept defence the Frenchmen they deseuer When this Baron I meane sir Godmare say Sawe this huge mischiefe light amongst his men What he can helpe when fortune sayeth nay Fairly withdrew the best he could as then Its wisedome good for ech commander when Things crosse fall out to gouerne so his will That he the more for lesser do not spill Into the water brauely did we mount Which at that time passed with channell loe Where ouerthrowne Knights were of good account The passage won dame fortune fauored so To be admierd how she can ouerthroe Thus we Blanchtaque by noble courage gaine Gladded with ioy in lew of passed paine Thus when we had acquierd the further banke The gratious King as duety doth requier To mightie God yeeldeth most humble thanke Highly inflamed King Philips boyling yer In streete to close vs was his chiefe desier Angerly vexed with Lord Godmare fay Till sir Iohn Henault doth his rage allay Foorth hould we martch to Cressie in Ponthew The King his mind the Campe should there be staid Well informed the Frenchmen him pursew A space pondring lastly to vs said This Land my mothers dower should haue staid It giuen was therefore here make I choice To challenge it from Philip of Valoys And for that we were scarcely one gainst eight We warely batteled at aduantage Th'assayling tempter by fine skilfull sleight Of warlike heed for to indammage Three battailes ordred for knightly vsage i th first the Prince and Earle of Warwicke were In guls a fes six croslets gold did beare Sir Reignald Cobham strongly armd in red Three sable stars plast on a Cheuron gold Sir Barthelmew Burwash in like colour sped Gold ramping Lion queue doth forked hold Amongst these first my name is also told Sir Richard Stafford in gold shield did beare A gulie Cheuron and blew Labell faire With vs there were eight hundred men at Armes Two thousand Archers Brigands a thousand Purposely bent to worke fell enimies harms i th second did th' earle of Northanton stand With men at Armes iust numbred to our band Twelue hundred Bowes in gold Lord Basset dight Three Rubie piles a quarter ermins bright Faire clad in Armes seuen hundred the king With bowmen thousands two for gard abide Well pointed and directed euerie thing Our second battell moude somwhat aside Vs first to second as the time espide The king withdrew him to a windmill hill Where he and his all day they stooden still When as the French thus heard of our addresse They forward came bedect right sightly It pleasure was taview their noblenesse Their gilded armors glistering brightly To fight with them stird vs more lightly High valerous mind where enterprise is braue Would conquer honor and due praises craue Too long to tell the fierce incounters made The puissant strength or courage of the foe How euerie prince in order doth inuade Or how the arrowes flew like flakes of snowe Or how the horse their masters ouerthrow Or how we were oppressed so with might As that we sent vnto the king a knight Requesting him with his fresh power to aid His tender sonne so fiercely fought withall What slaine or wounded is my sonne he said That thus they send and for my succour call Neither the knight then tell him that he shall Replide the king his first worne spurs obtaine To him and his the honor shall remaine When as we heard this answer vs resent As lions fell with fasting mawes near pinde Amongst the herds new come do fellie rent The sillie flocke such like our vs finde For many liues from bodies we vntwinde Fourscore banners deiected to the ground And sixscore knights were there prostrated found And thirtie thousand of the
haue all the hedges lind None can approch the streights the watching bar We hard aduenture and perilous find If we assaile the king requiers his mind Which way were best for he ment to inuade Then presently all things were readie made As thus the king prepared was to fights The cardnall of Perigourt came in hast Full lowly on his knees toth king resits How dangerously he might deere subiects wast Pondring if it pleasd his grace to cast With him all his peers his enimies wear A desperate remnant waying what was thear Willing the King to giue him leaue to prooue Whether the Prince so to him would agree Peace might be had the Prince thereto did mooue If with his honor it might concluded be Faire offers made king Iohn would none but he Himselfe and more a hundred in his field Of his owne choice as prisners all should yeeld Whilst busie cardnall spent this day in vaine It being truce some speciall knights did ride Their foes to view and maner of their traine I riden foorth returning me espide Lord Cleremount who quicklie to me hied Chandos quoth he how long thus haue you borne My sole deuise and for your owne it worne We both were clad in vestments wrought as one A Ladie blew in glistering Phoebus raies I then replid its onely mine alone And none of yours whereto the Frenchman saies You English ianglers vse such speech alwaies Of your grosse wits can nothing new deuise What others weare is pleasing to your eies But if the truce withheld not I would prooue It whole were mine and that you did me wroong Why sir I said to morrow I le not remooue From of the field I will be in the throng But if it chance I meete you them among I le make it good for all your fluent tong That properly to me it doth belong Contrarie vnto sacred vsage I was not in my armes inuested Ware strange deuise too great abusage And an others which he not disgested No knightly minde should be infested With error such his owne armes not to weare But found conceits and others toys to beare Too cruell I causd this braue noble kild The morrow when hydeous was the fray For checking me I made his blood be spild His murther I commanded that same day Prouiding that no ransome he should pay For which God would the like to hap to me In my discourse as you shall plainly see What greater burden to a noble mind Then to be clogged with murtherous thought What mightier harme can braue captains find Then when their noble doings are foorth sought That they vnto their fame such blame haue brought This cholerike action oft I did repent When God on me threw equall punishment When labring Cardnall could no truce obtaine He did depart but we that day had spent Right busily did ech deuise ordaine That best was thought or Art could best inuent Eight thousand we that in this iourney went Threescore our foes mongst which two thousand knights Full goodly Armd t' aue seene these gorgeous sights The morrow day when blushing sunne did rise Great pleasure t was thus to behold vs dight One of the things that most delights mans eies Is for to see a glistering Armie bright Faire drest in Armes in order duely pight Prepard to ioine euen so both parties were And euer I about the Prince was nere Who Hector like in battelous Armes was clad Enuirnd as he intending to haue burnd The Greekish fleets said noble harts be glad High victorie almightie God hath turnd To fewest folkes and greatest number spurnd If we be slaine we all haue valiant friends To venge our deaths on those that worke our ends Therefore I pray ech Lord in presence now To prooue his best and haue regard to see His honor kept I heer my Lords do vow A Knight most good and resolute to be And that no chaunce shall make me yeeld or flee Most mightie Prince thy words did so inflame Our setled minds to die was but a game And as the battailes now approchen near Sir Iames Audley clad in glorious red Faire fretted gold doth to the Prince appear Requesting that for former seruice led T' is father and to him in loyall sted To giue him leaue the foremost man to be For to assaile the ventrous enimie Sweetly accords the prince to his desier Gaue him his hand and wisht him well to speed Such speciall grace that he might there acquier All present knights in vertue to exceed He chose a place to make his vow a deed And by the helpe of four right trustie squiers He woon th'achieument of his high desiers Sir Eustace Dabrigcourt fearing t' be behind Did baisse his gleaue and well imbrace his shield And as the arrow from the bow doth twind He flieth towards the enimies field An Almain knight his comming well behield In siluer targ that bare fiue roses red They strongly meet and both downe tumbled Dabscote no harme receiued by his fall But lightly vp himselfe againe doth rease Fiue Almains streight they light vpon him all At once and beare him downe with mightie feas So mongst his foes tide to a chear he staies Vntill that we that ground recouered had Losd he fard like tiger raging mad Heere lustie knights were and aduenturous As euer foming courser carried At good vertue most brauely aemulous Euer thinking too long they tarried Vntill that enimies stout they harried The venturous hart doth oft aduenture chieue That manie hearers scarcely will beleeue So hideous waxt the stur so strong the broyle So fell the fight so cruell was the shot And men at armes they stroue with forced toyle Nor shields nor armors gay defended not The bodies from the shafts who paid the scot Where right they hit and thus discomfit was Their martiall host that foremost on did pas I waited time and spake vnto the prince Sir sir passe foorth the iourneys yours I see Set on the king good fight must him conuince He valerous is I know he will not flee This day you vowd a knight most good to bee He quickly said Iohn forward le ts aduaunce We so performe we tooke the king of Fraunce With as much toile as Phillips sonne did take Darius we the French kings person wan No need there is large prosses for to make Or slaughter shew how it befell as than Or prisoners name but seuenteen earls we wan With many Lords and knights which we did gaine And near six thousand one and other slaine In this strong medle taken was a knight The Chattelon of Dampost neer alide Toth Cardnall th'inflamed prince had sight Of him humblie had I not denide Distressed Chattelon suddenly had dide The noble prince tooke in high dispite That 's maister would against him let him fight This battaile to the French maulpartuis Two leagues from Poycters cruell and furious Enduring with horrible noise and huis From prime till noone the prince desirous Like stoutest lion t' be victorious With princelike
courage foes pursues apace And many knights beares he downe in chase No heed tooke I good prisoner rich to gaine But had regard the prince so well to guide Hot fresh and yoong wherfore I ply my paine As dutie would lest harme should him betide His owne desier was I should abide His person near in thickest of the fraies He credits what I speake to my great praise All as we would glad prince did franke bestow A stately supper t'prisoner king and praid His good content though buisnes gainst him goe For your owne selfe renowmed king he said Your prowes past all those to you obaid by th true censure of our best skilled knights The soueraigne praise you wan in all the fights What triumphing in England knowne these newes At Burdeux what great reioicing seene In forren courts how honored all our crewes Where they became my seruice as I weene That heere I did was highly in esteeme About a prince men thought me meet to be As well for counsell as for cheualrie King Iohn int'England gladly was conueid On trampling steed through London doth he ride Note fortunes change a king that scepter sweid With large command through noble Fraunce doth bide In forren land there pricking him beside His conquerer on cole black hobbie plast On whom the woondring vulgars praises blast No Romain in his triumphs glorious Through citie passing with trumpets sounding More apparant appeered victorious Than our braue prince by modest riding At peoples plause with ioy abounding Remembring those high words he earst did say Neuer shall England ransome for me pay Betwixt the kings there grew agreement And if performd then backe Iohn should retier The peeres of Fraunce denide their kings intent Wherat king Edward stormd with furious yer And vowd their plague with wastfull sword and fier Vntill they grant the thing which he thought good Strongly prepard he past the swelling flud Lands at Callis thence marcheth in aray With brauerie such and shew of martiall might In goodly armors dect so fine and gay All beat with Arms fine banners tossing light On vs dan Phoebus ioyd to haue a sight With fauning face he seemd on vs to smile We fresh be seen reflexion cast the while Vndoubtedly in all the world was not More noble band than heer were present now What knight was he that honor had not got In some strange land well shone his vertue how For leader good a man might him allow Most happie realme thrise happie is that king Whose subiects fame in forren regions ring First if the prince of Wales I should recite Or Henrie Duke late Darbie Earle before Or Reignald Cobham that much renowmed knight Lord Mowbray Manny Basset with great store Lord Audley Willoughby and many more Than now I shew what if I tell my name And say that Chandos was not lest in fame Fame our names imblasoned not so far For tennise plaie or handling of a lute Nor dauncing fine or glistering as a star As women drest in most vnseemly sute Our chiefest musicke trumpe and checking flute Our daunce our march our tennise oft to feele Thundring blowes our clothing tried steele Through Picardie and Artoys spoyld we passe Int fertile Cambray making there some stay In former places found we little grasse Toward Thyriach we martch anone away Till foulding siege to Cittie Reames we lay Which countrie was so wasted and so foild That all our horse for want wel ny wer spoyld Sir Barthelmew Burwash whilst siege doth hold My selfe Lord Audley and Lord Mucedent Sir Richard Pontchardon a prudent knight and bold agreed all fowr and with our troups we went To Chalous in Campayne for ventures bent We approcht strong Cragney a castle hey Whereas two knights couragious captaines be Ton Caples cald who bare in golden sheild An ancred crosse of sables we asseild Rudely the hold from whence some one did weild A mightie stone that head a peeces peild Of Lord Mucedent but it was not feild For to reuenge his hard mischance againe Tooke the hould and all the soldiers slaine Seauen weeks at Reames the king made his abode and forrage faild and men began to want For still we knights the countrie ouer rode Whereby ech thing waxed exceeding scant Then to remooue the king and nobles mant Chalous Troys and countries neere we wast Passing the riuer Muson at the last So foorth we marcht keeping same ordinance At first ordaind to Aguyllon we came Did hauke and hunt passing in pleasaunce Oft tride our horse and vsed warlike game Which still among much did the Frenchmen tame Nothing vnlesse too hot for vs could staie T'heauie or cold but we did beare away Sweeping from hence to Paris ward apace The countie of Neuers and Gastenoys we waste Raunge at our wils continuing foorth our race Vntill that we at Burge le royne were plast Two leagues fro Paris and so the towne we facst Well famed Fraunce might waile for nought but flame Was to be found in bowels of the same Where Meroue puissant warrier raind Whom fierce Attila ouerthrew in fight Where Charls le main that many kingdomes gaind In all Europa feared for his might Vnconstant fortune taking so far flight Sometimes the yoke on others shoulders laid With biting snaffle now are strongly staid From Burg le royne to Mont le herri we In sightly wise our battailes all do draw Our constant dealing when the french Lords see Perseuering still in Fraunce to make a flawe Consuming all as fier doth the strawe Vnto a peace to mooue our king they ment Their Chaunclor and their learned counsaile sent They vnderstood our king would not depart Till pleasing peace he conquerd as he voud Which thing neere toucht duke Charls his tender hart And nobles for owne harmes too hawtie proud Faire conditions twixt them were aloud By thundring storme which God from heauen sent And knotted haile our king doth first relent A written deed at Charters there was framd Betwixt the kings their heires allies and friends In which faire townes strong castles all were namd toth king and his were giuen for amends For passed paine and so the strife it ends More Castles Townes more Cities and more ground Were giuen then in England could be found Some speeches were braue dukedome to inclose Of Britton in the charter of this peace Yet do they not of it so well dispose So as fresh wars in that place did not cease How track of time hard bound doth of release Charls thoughts vpbound within his stubborne brest Them foorth to loose supposed now his best Home went his grace soone I repasse the seas As regent and lieuetenant for my king Taking the othes possessions and the keas Of Lords Cities Castles which did wringe Some Frenchmens harts like percing adders sting Great griefe it was subiuged to be bound To strangers most vncurteous they had found I stewards bailifes and captaines do ordaine As liked me and this when I had done Came to Nyort there purposd to
remaine Keeping estate whereby mens harts I won Largely I spent most like a Princes son In plentious fare bountifull and much King Edwards loue and lowance to me such His royall loue to me was passing rare Numbers thought I did deserue no lesse Courteous I aduisd and would not spare But liberall be fraught with temperatenesse Faire points of honor would I not disgresse Amongst braue Lords faire Ladies I esteemd Of great estates in gentle fauor deemd Foorth of the charter was except the land Saint Saluiour sir Godfrey Harecourts late Who Pollux like at Constantine did stand To his defence when slaine was euerie mate With weldie axe his stroke so heauie sate Not prowdest enemie durst sad blowes abide Till at the length two horsemen at him ride Inragd beare downe a knight most cheualrous Which stradling set his legs to stand more suer On surest leg and there dispiteous They beare him downe who fights whilst he may duer Liue still his praise and glory fresh in vre For wisdome and prooude skill in martiall facts No liuing knight one iote exceeds his acts With plainest difference of Earle Harcourts race In glorious red two golden bars did beare Daring gainst foe toth vtterance shew his face Which tride he was well woorthie armes to weare Amongst his foes that durst them noblie reare The home made knight that neuer ward in field Small title hath vnto a noble sheild In his past life his land he did behest To my good king and he to me it gaue Toth valiant Iohn of Fraunce he made request For his consent that I the same might haue He gently seald to what the king doth craue I it enioid well woorth in yeerely rent Of hundred franks fifteene which free I spent Most bountifully amongst soldiers bould To gallant men my purse was neuer closd Which caused that as often as I would I had companions valiants lads disposd To warlike feats that strongest holds haue posd Sweet behauiour ioind to liberall hand Reasons I was with manly soldiers mand Braue Duke of Lancaster mars his Henrie dide Whilst I at Nyort kept so high estate Faire cosen Germaine to the king allide Good gentle Duke lamented was thy fate Mongst valiant knights thou nobly ledst of late When as thou didst with Darbie title raine As after when the Dukedome thou didst gaine In battelous Arms before the king of Fraunce Like Pallas knight thou entredst roiall list Gainst Brownswick Duke full bent to prooue the chaunce Of doubtfull combat the king cause why it mist Staid the euent great eithers losse he wist This Brownswick Duke tride strong champion bold Bare faire in red two lions passant gold True golden fame blacke death cannot defile Glistering honor buds from dustie graue Ech noble Lord that beareth glorious stile Spend must his life eternall praise to haue As thou high Duke didst honor euer saue Most mightie God let England neuer want Such noble Lords true honor seeke to plant In England cause the prince kept princely port Most like himselfe the counsell thoughten best Int ' Acquitaine that he should make resort Partly for that the Gascoins do request His presence and reuenewes largely rest His noblenes right noble to vphold And Gascoin Lords desier that he would Repasse the seas he answereth their desiers Once landed carefull I to meet him well Accompaned with knights and youthfull squiers On coursers mounted decked euerie sell And receiuing him at warlike Rochell We thence attended vnto Poycters towne As reason wild and dutie had vs bowne Of Acquitaine I Cunstable was ordaind High honors giuen and feastings to me made Continually his fauor more I gaind Through enterprises of account I wade Noble exploits I end by skilfull trade Which plaisd him so as he loude me euer Bicause in honor still I do perseuer Peter of Lusignon King of Cypresse I le Made means to all the Kings of Christendome From iarring discord to abstaine a while Helpe to repulse the miscreants late come Their borders neere and much of neighbors wone Had been in Italie France and Almaine In Flaunders England came to Acquitaine Not when swift fame had pierced hautie skies Admetus praise which made Apollo bowe Downe from estate to view with leeuing eies His bountifulnes which seen made him alowe So well of it and further did avowe Fame sparing was yet suer my Prince exceeds The praises of Admetus lib'rall deeds For when he hard of this strange kings ariue He sent me foorth with knights accompaned In gentlenes could with right courteous striue At kings first entrance he saw well placed Fortie knights so many squiers faced All for the honor of Lady Princes Faire was the iusts ech prooued blamles More signe of loue more shew of princelie power Rare welcoms giuen fine curtesies withall Of curtesie sweete prince a pearles flower Nor wandring king did neuer see nor shall More store of knights in earthly regents hall The prince me will to take him to my guide Him plesaunce shew in his dominions wide A vermile crosse the Cyprian king still wore For holy voyage he had vndertake Against the Turke his soueraign to adore In glorious Arms a partie prince to make He wild and found to no good seruice slake Our loued prince departed well content Great intercourse of loues betwixt them blent Thus hauing been most kindly intertaind By me and stout sir Thomas Phelton much Sir Neal Loring sir Simon Basset daind Him well to treat sir Baldwine Frâ—uile such His kindnes shewd as spite could not but gruch To see the like he safely went his way The principalitie through I him conuay King Iohn of Fraunce into England past Braue king faire queen gay nobles for to see Through true firme loue which doth eternall last Wher 's fained loue small iars remembred be No vertues more in phear of high degree Than were resiant in this soueraine Whose woorthie praises euer may remaine Bloodie parcas what meanest thou to sheare His vitall twine so woorthie longer life Canst thou pale malice such priuly vertues beare Than bluntest coulter duller be thy knife Amongst best things thou mischiefe euer rife But mightie God oft takes away the best For our bad sins or for to ease his blest Whilst this good king in England made his stay Him sicknes tooke with sharpe incresment sore And strong oppresment at Sauoy where he lay Death doth approch then flesh can breath no more His losse king Edward greatly doth deplore From England Parris to stately tombe conueid And Charls his sonne the Regall scepter sweid Oh vading flower why flatterest thou thy selfe In pompeous seat of mightie maiestie Fraile honors titles or foule wasting pelfe Forgetting great eternall dignitie Scorneth mightiest earthly Imperie What low inferior fears of you amisse That high superior threts againe ywis Sir Iohn Montfort in th'aprill of his youth Gay Arms gan weld and with successe begon In Britton to sir Charls of Bloys his ruth This faire new knight was that braue Countesse sonne Of whom
this time Red sprinkling bloud our weapons doth begrime A brauer battell better fought by skill Was neuer seene our present age vntill Our enimies more than we in number were And opened vs by strength of fighting well Sir Hugh Caueley quickly succord there Beat backe fierce foes eger stout and fell Four times that the very truth to tell His siluer banner with gulie fes in sight Between three calues of sables set vs right Like armed Mars with weldie axe in hand Complet formd and full of valiantnes In hammered steele strongly do I stand Full fraught with strength as well as hardines Few durst abide me in my furiousnes The Earl I wild to do now this or that He me beleeud wherby much fame he gat On th'erle of Aucer and fierce French I set With courage such as they discomfit were To say the truth right valiant knights we met As by prooud vertue plaine they made appere Which nought auaild by strength was taken there Th'erle of Aucer Iognie and Lord of Preer Rich Norman baron ransome cost him deer Their banners torne and cast down to the ground Their companie in maruels mischiefe then In battell if that one to flee be found He causeth three if three there flieth ten If ten twentie and then a hundred men When giuen them was this stronge ouerthro On Glesquine I and sturdie Brittons go Where many a mightie feat of Arms was doon Where many heauie sounding blow was giuen Where many a prisoner rescude was and woon Where many a basnet was a sunder riuen Where many a man dead to the earth was driuen Hote Earle of Raix who maruels wrought that day I prisoner tooke and swore with me to stay Vnder my pennon was brauely taken heer Sir Bertram Glesquine then all fled that might Excepting some that held their Lord full deer Which strong vnite and sharply gan to fight But thither streight my selfe and power I dight Then was atchieued many a feat of Arms Slaine were our foes and beaten downe by swarms Heer murthered was Right noble gentle knight Sir Charls of Bloys his face towards his foes For so it was determind ouer night Ton of these Earls vnto his ending goes Our enimies the selfesame thing dispose Both parts resolud this day should be the last Betwixt these Earls and so the dice were cast No man of honor almost doth escape For when they forced were to fearfull flight Much mischiefe fell for many knights mishape For cruell slaughter happened in this fight The scambling chace eight leags endurd right Ending almost at the gate of Reans And som our friends in it good booties geans This battell finisht was neer to Alroy Whilst Phoebus in the ballance wandred The present yeer of mans eternall ioy A thousand threescore and three hundred And single four as some haue numbred Earle Montforts banner on high bush was pight Returning friends of it might haue a sight As ech commander foes left to pursue From weary chase he thither might him get Long time it was or all togither drew Much ioy was made when as we all were met My Guydhome next vnto th'earls Ermins set Sir Eustace Dabscote sir Mathew Gorney Bare palie gold and Azure euenley Sir Robert Canole sir Iohn Bouchier came Sir Walter Huet sir Hue Caueley stout For this daies seruice woorthie lasting fame Who ordred vs we ginning to disrout From mongst his friends strong foes he beateth out I wild the Earl to ioy at his good hap Since he was placed in dame Fortunes lap He said your prowes it sir knight atchiud all knights so thinke that here with vs remaine Deserued honor ought not to be depriud Next vnto God by you I battaile gaine And drinking recht a flagon glad and faine To me and said drinke now to our good speed And thus on conquest gladed thoughts do feed As ioyfull meriment was in making nowe All chaffed from the chase like wounded bore Sir Oliuer Clisson with eie beate from his browe Comes bringing with him prisners noble store Though his great wound did greeue him very sore Approching yet light from his courser downe Et fut receue cōme cheualier asses boune Now to Duke Iohn by Heraulds word was brought His late riuall dead they saw to lie Then said the Duke he shall of me be sought I rather would in such estate him spie Then for the Dukedome striuing armd to bee When slaine he sawe him couered with his shield He wept but soone I tooke him from the field More needfull cause had I to weepe alas Then he because I caused so his death And from that place I willed him to pas For sir quoth I euen thus the matter swaieth By this mans end the Dukedome with you staieth On these great Lordships fie vpon them all That are possest by others deadly fall To Guingant Towne good Earle of Bloys was borne In reuerent sort he there entombed lies Whose name the Clargie do so much adorne With martiers crowne for truths defence that dies A heauie clog might on my conscience pries That would no peace vntill this Earle were ded Almightie God causd me with like be sped For measure such as we to other meat Is oft vnlookt remeasured againe By iustest God from his tribunall seat Wherefore great Lords that now in world do raine Warelie heed what harme to selues you gaine And all your dooings peasd with temperaunce Brings quiet end freed from anoyaunce This valerous hap soone blasted was abroad How by my counsaile had Lord Mountfort don Which caused many me with praise to load When knowne how knightly we the battaile won Displeasd king Charls fraile Fortune so did run Much sorrow he for cosen Bloys doth make And much for Glesquine and for others sake Duke Mountfort letters writ of credence Vnto king Edward ioifully he sent By a Poursuuant performing diligence Found the king and shewd how buisnes went For which good newes he so his fauor bent As for a Herauld true he him allowd Surnamed Windsore fairely him indowd We hold the fields win Townes and Castles strong Wasting spoiling conquering as we go Colde king of Fraunce tooke counsaile ear too long Wise message sent Earle Mountforts minde to kno The Dukedome whether he would hold or no Of him but then Lord Latimear was sent Int ' England for to know the kings intent Which vnderstood these parties do accord That our yoong Earl should Duke of Britton be But lowly homage now he must afford Vnto king Charls and so they all agree Without heirs mals if that he hap to die It shall descend vnto the Bloys his son Still quiet now and brawling wars are done Our Irish seas do neuer rage so rough When northern windes doth on their billows smite As though they would the threatning rocks so tough Make leuell with their calmnes for dispite And ouldest pilote from passage doth affright Yet brething Zephirus can their raging slake As gentle as the meanest standing lake How soone great God can
rage of wars alaie For where but late the trembling mother cride Dreading hir babe in safetie doth she plaie None carefull now their treasures close to hide None watcheth now for doubt what may betide Britton but now with bluddie wars did rage And now faire concord doth all furie swage Now doth weare the great Castilian Crowne Dan Peter whose extremest rage was such As on him all his chiefest nobles frowne And vulgar commons at his doing gruch Some said his deeds whole Christendome did tuch The Pope the French and Arragon agree Him to depose and Henrie plast to be And for that cause the foresaid states do pay Sir Bertram Glesquins ransome vnto me For hundred thousand franks I said not nay From his gagd fiaunce cleere I set him free These states request me into their iorney As one to rule and speciall roume to beare I flat refusd my liking was not there Yet certaine of my princes knights did go When these troups assembled were in Spaine They thirtie thousand soldiers were and mo When ech considered the euill raine Of Peter and the nobles he had slaine They him depose and Henrie do adorne As king although Alphonsus bastard borne Thus he possest bestoweth right largelie And soldiers bountifull him account To Siuile citie first in haste doth flie Forsaken king thence to high sea doth mount Accompaned with Dan Casters in count Faithfull knight to Galitia ward amaine Making saile there of one castle faine Called Coulone on craggie cliffe strong plast Distressed selfe welth children and treasure There doubting staid sent trustie knight in haste T'acquitain with letters shewing the seasure Of bastard Henries wrongfull displeasure Vnto my Prince who thought too hard euent Was falne on him and too sharpe punishment Spitefull Fortune great enimie to those Of high degree what pastime canst thou take Through turning times thy selfe so to dispose Of mightie king meane fugitiue to make But peeuish selfe thou all men wilt forsake To highest things peasd leuell dost thou ame At sharpest fals thou makest sporting game A king but late vnto whose onely becke Whole Castile bowd liues like a prisner pend Dares not appeere for feare of too great checke And stateliest troupes of nobles with attend Remayns one knight like sad AEneas frend Large countries late obeid his bending will And now possest but barren basest hill The Prince cald me these letters in his hand And braue sir Thomas Phelton speedilie In most princely fauor we highly stand Sir Knights quoth he strange news is come to me Which vnto you shall soone imparted be Which don he wild as was his vsage Our opinions to so great voyage Then presently a parlement was cald To which repaird the noble Gascoine knights Arminack Gomigines Dalbreth stald In highest rooms from hence four woorthie Wights T'england sent as reason wils of rights King Edward he our iourney doth allow Fresh Iohn of Gaunt to go with vs doth vow Without delay into Nauar were wild Sir Thomas Phelton and my selfe to fleet We so exploit with iourney labring hild As with the king at Pampelune we meet From loued prince him do we nobly greet He promisd be at Bayon by a day With courteous leaue we home returne our way Our prince dan Peter both do meet him there With parle much at last he condescends Hard passages to ope that straightest were For which dan Peter promisd for amends The Groine and countrie shoring that extends To Sauater and more a hundred thousand franks Thus he an aid toth prince and all his ranks The prince two heraulds doth dispatch with speed To Castile ward giuing his knights to kno The purposd war and what he had decreed His pleasure knowne they came king Henrie fro But why they part they little to him sho Then Caueley Dabscote and bold Huet was Gay sir Iohn Deuereux all thence do passe Companions some hard not so soone this newes Safe to returne much toiling they endure King Henrie closely vp all passage mewes In dangerous state remaine the most vnsure The prince doubted his enimies might allure Them to their wils which well twelue hundred were Of pyked men in welding shield or spere At th' entrie of Foix inclosd they stay And may not pas th'erle doth flat forbid Them t' enter in his countrie any way Most noble prince of message send me did Toth Earle of Foix and shew him he would rid Him of these men and that what harme they should His countrie do that he remend it would The Erle accords to their safe passage I chaffer so as them I wholie hier Mongst whom in wars full many a trustie gage All which one word would worke to my desier To busie prince I hastelie retier These waged soldiers do themselues deuide By companies toard Acquitaine they ride Toward Tholouse some their rediest iourney take At Mountabon the riuer seeke to passe Sir Guy Dazay and Earle of Narbone make Quick sommons and of soldiers gether a masse Sir Iohn Comes Mountabons captaine was The French toth towne sent courrors riding T' see if companions would be stirring Sir Iohn demaunds why thus in armors drest They came t' inuade the principalitie They chaffing said our enimies with you rest Whom we will rouse for their iniquitie Sir Iohn sir Iohn you know not curtesie If thus you harbour the pillers of the land Here be their foes will wake them out of hand Lords he replide heer be some men of war Into Montaubon lately entered That with my Lord the prince retained ar And him must serue as is indented Better vndoon than soon repented Aduise you well ere forward you proceed My princes frowns you haue good cause to dreed But when our men tride and aduenterous Threatning enimies plast before them see To hazard battell hard and dangerous They ment ordaining ech thing feateouslie Though pressing enimies far more numbers be Sir Iohn Comes his soldiers all armed Then to assist great need required Sir Perducas Dalbreth sir Robert Cheney Passe all before requesting safe they might Go by in peace the Frenchmen fierce denie Then suddenly terrible was the fight Back to the towne our men were beaten right Nandon of Begerant and Burg of Bertvell Had rid all night and came in time so well Vnto their aid as foes were take or slaine Rich prisoners were woon and fienced Vpon their faiths which lost our men there gaine For with their othes the Pope dispenced Wherof our captains to me complained And wild redresse in this they thoughten wrong To me of Arms the iudgement did belong To cipher plainly how braue Lords did cum gaily beseen with valiant numbers How Lord Dalbreth was countermand his sum Of thousand spears wherat he woonders Or else what lets peect buisnes sunders Or all winter t'shew the princes charge Where things past count asking recitall large With buisnes much we pearse into Nauare With toiling more some streights we got beand Which asperous foule and stiepâ—e doubtles are Mantled with snow was all
Now blooddie broil and now the battails ceace To Acquitaine returned noble prince And into England fresh valerous Iohn Sir Bertram Glesquine prisoner euer since Our fights to me remaining once alon In chamber with the prince who askt anon How he fard and what most people said That he so long as prisoner with him staid Well most gratious prince he answered For though prisoner sworne I do abide It is with knight most nobliest vertued I know and diuers people talke beside Vnto my praise you doubt to let me ride Be God not so the Prince replied pay A hundred thousand franks and go your way He tooke the word and soone the monie paid Against my minde yet do I not denie The deed but sure he should haue staid Till Dan Peter sent vs safe the monie He promisd by him impeached suer t' be Wanting which a fowage was desierd To pay the soldiers for this iourney hierd This taxe displeasd our Gascoyns maruels much Who flat refusd at all to pay the same In open words at princes doings gruch In counsaile chamber at Paris him they blame With ticing words cold Charls his minde they flame He venters t'send the prince a sommoning At Paris court to make appeering Sterne looking Lion hauing run his race Safe home retierd still resting in his den The prickeard foxe should send t is noble grace Bidding him come and make account as then Of wrongs he wrought or threaten him to pen In bower fierce Lion fell couragious Would storme at bringer sender meruelous Tossing his head this answer to the fox Poore hartles wight thy father haue I had In grasping pawes giuing his kindred knox For lended life thy sier fauor had What desperate furie vexed thee so mad My onely name me thinks should cause thee quaile Beware I plucke not off thy bushing taile For head thou lt saue within some peeuish hole Neere like to this the princes speaking The same his case with words he doth controle King Charls and saith his to Parris comming Shalbe with helmet his head inclosing Armd threescore thousand waiting him vpon Letters in haste he writ to me anon Int Constantine first when this speech was had Of taxe I went for much I hit disleeke I knew the Gascoyns would account it bad Being great commanders furthermore would seeke Redresse and here we lost more in a weeke Then was recouered the remnant of my life And thus againe began new cause of strife His pleasure knowen right reddie speed I make Attained streight faire Angolesme in hast Smooth sea but late more still then standing lake So roreth as the world it would all wast For Charls defide King Edward at the last So flaming wars were open on ech side To Mountabon commanded I do ride Vnto the French to hold war frontier The Captall Beuff sir Lewes Harcourt went Sir Richard Pontchardon for mars a soldier Whose sables shield siluer plats ysprent We issues make of most knightly euent Two Gascoin Lords warie bushment make Tooke a Seneshall namd sir Thomas Wake Armd in siluer two fair bars of red Three rundels in the lostie chiefe do stand In sable bordure deepely ingreled This venture hap betwixt Lusiguen and Meribell great error soone was fand In so weake riding we closer trouping kept Toward our enimies well appointed stept Vnto Terriers and siege about it laid Raised assaults the which auailed nought Fearing least too long a time we staid Good myners got that so their buisnes wrought The strong foundations of the wals out sought Spoyld was the Towne and greatest numbers slaine We heaped welth and treasure in it gaine Atchiued to Mountabon we retier Sir Eustace Dabscote new come from Nauar Vnto the prince foorth sent by his desier Vs to assist in this braue fronting war In Ermins sheild three hamets red he bare We him receud as fresh as Aprils flower Faire Marques Iuliers onely paramour In true amors liud this knight valerous And Ladies forme in brest close shrined Absent thoughts vewd Ladie glorious With Iulie thinking stout hart it pined And mightie goodly things it shrined For to attempt knight of amorous trade Lou'd Ladies fauor hath more valiant made Sir Robert Canole in Britton rested Where he large lands and heritage possest From thenglish his hart he neuer wrested Euer most true and loyall to vs prest Knowing how the French themselues addrest On vs to win with threescore men at armes Like nomber archers dreadles of their harmes Left Britton and ariud at Rochell Towne Where sir Iohn Deuereux captaine doth remaine Whose gulie armor with faire fes was bowne In cheefe three plats of siluer standen plaine He noblie doth sir Robert intertaine Staid not long doth Angolesme attaine Where of his knights th'prince maks him soueraine And sent him now asscotiat passing well With stirring knights towards vs forth the launce Came to Agen from whence not far doth dwell Sir Perducas Dalbreth that ward for Fraunce Speaking with him preached so by chaunce As English he for euer doth abide Commanding well three hundred by his side So marching they to Darmell siege do lay Strong fortresse and most able to endure Besides in it fiue warlike captains stay Skild in defence and warie garding suer The onely practise cheefe they put in vre I hard of this and those which were with me Thither to wend we shortly all agree But in our way to Mountsac neere we came Strong towne and kept we thought to passe it bie Foure vittaild sommers going vnto the same We met asking they do not ought denie How stood the towne and then we backward wrie Take it and leaue sir Robert Mutton there In siluer shield a cinquefoile blue doth beare Hauing sped we to the siege approched Where sir Robert doth highly vs receaue Well pondring here how little we incroched Of these stout fiue we it and them do leaue Marched to Doume and there assault do heaue Strongly seated by nature and by art But long we staid not ear we thence depart We resting here Chandos my Herauld goes Vnto sike prince from vs of credence sent Declaring t' him the order of our foes And other affairs great and importent Willing herein his gratious plaisment He gone Gauaches Foyns and Rochmadore We gaind and make them English subiects swore Toward Villa frank we swingd and countrie spoile Faire townes strong castles by treatie or by force We take with flame doth champion countrie broile In Thoulasine we prosecute like course And Villa frank was take with some remorse The Duke of Aniow fell angrie in his mind At vs but yet no remedie durst find My Herauld come in quercy doth vs find Tribulation greatly we had brought The countrie in to learne the princes mind We readie his pleasure hauing sought Desiering all his mind should whole be wrought Accordingly to Angolesme we goe Prest to depart we let our Captains knoe What towne strong fortresse so from French they take For keeping it to haue at all no dout We
thanks with no they farwels take Some English knights with them a partie make The latest night of all forepassed yeare My valiant friends and I disceuered Aduenterous harts well worthy arms to beare Come to my house from saddle alighted Sir Thomas Percy me kindly asked If I determind here to make my staie Till morrow morne that it were perfect daie Why gentle knight quoth I do you inquier Replieng said departing I request Him wished I remount at s owne desier In melancholious troubled thoughts I rest Which to remooue attendants gan to iest With iangling words and chatting meriment A stranger entreth with fast approchment Saieng my Lord I speedy newes haue brought I what he told sir Lewis and Carnet were Both ridden foorth and so aduentures sought Of small account I hould the thing I heare Perhaps say thel ' buy their ventring deare Our armed friends to ride that had a minde Are strong inuffe if that they may them finde I foorth inquier which way French captains hould To Poicters ward he said with speedie race Most carefull I lest seeking enimies should Do some dispite sounding t'my disgrace Deepe pondering vpon that thing a space Called to ride but little hauing gon We caught the track of Frenchmens horse anon Fast galloping strong brig for to attaine Vnder which Vingenna doth swiftly slide Percy them spieng strikes with spurs amaine It first to gaine being on the other side With so quicke and valiant speed he hide There ariuing to stop fierce foe doth light With companie few like valerous knight A foote lights the foe it apperceiuing Egerly bent him stoutly to assaile Who noblie trusted to good defending As manly he their bouldnes could not quaile French horses giuen vnto their boys i th taile Of them came I with floting banner spred Which seene they knew and fast away they fled Leauing their masters horses in the place To whom I riding briefely gan to say With taunting words intend you French a space That armed raunge this countrie night and day Rich prisoners take and ransoms beare away Castles townes and other things you gaine In stealing sort where seneschall I remaine Asking of me no leaue at pleasure Riding you two so mightie maisters be From of this soile springs all your treasure We now must reckon how so we shall agree For iniuries so great you offer me And know this thing doth please me passing well We fit are met that I these words may tell More than a yeer and halfe haue I desierd Conueniently to incounter you Told haue I been how greatly you requierd In open plaine my personage to vew I am Iohn Chandos aduise me this is trew Your feat of Arms from which your praise doth grow We mean to prooue and lessen much I trow Still stood the French holding themselues all coy Seeme not dismaid but whilst to them I speake A hardie Britton thinking not to toy Vnto one Dodale my seruant gaue a beake Downe from his horse he tumbled all too weake Which busling buisnes when I had espide Chaffing a fresh I to the rescue hide I hastly turning of my men demaund Why suffer you your fellow to be slaine A foote a foote with speed I do commaund feard Dodale rescude was with little paine And to sharp battell ech one doth him straine Ech one prepard for fending and defence And on all parts the battell doth commence Foorth I proceed in knightly order clad In weldie armes and in right faire addresse Side vesture wide of glistring white I had Which two large piles full goodly do impresse Of glorious red that wrongs seeke to redresse Downe to the ground doth sweeping vestment flake One pile before and one plast on my backe In my right hand strong thretning instrument Prepared for to worken wrathfulnes Targ on my left in which faire mark imprent Of rightfull arms true signes of noblenes High crest on helme gay note of woorthines Big chiftains hed white wreath inueloped In proper colours featly dressed With kindled courage as I forward rusht Purposing my enimies ouerthro My foot did slide and all proud brauerie crusht Flundring almost flat on earth I go But Iaques Marten sent at me a blo Whilst thus I staggered which doth attaine Near to my eie and entred to my braine The mischief double my visor was not downe Besides the stroke at all I did not see For that i th lands that long to Burdenx towne In chasing of a hart I lost my eie Most foolish sport great harme thou bredst to me Fiue yeere before the dolor that I feele By this same stroke I to the earth do reele Twise wallowing ore as wounded vnto death Striuing Frenchmen would win me to their side But Edward Clifford my vnkle bout him laith So mightily none durst fell blowes abide Betwixt his legs me wounded doth bestride Where friendship and true kindred are conbind There neuer doth knit true loues band vntwind Vnhappie wight that gaue my deadly wound Heeded by a valiant English squier Vpon him running purposd to confound The striker with inraged furious ier Striuing for reuenge with hot desier Sir Iohn Cambo sir Bertram Case do fare Like men through rage depriud of wisdom are Though maruels well my valiant seruants fought Against their foes and for reuenge do striue Yet being too few their striuing was for nought Ah how they mist their maister now aliue That wonted was prooud courage to reuiue Aliue alas I lay in pitious plight With deadly wound right dolefull to their sight Lusac brig built high is in the middest Where Percie Frenchmens comming doth abide The foes and I met in the valley lowest Wherfore of him bad buisnes was not spide The foe recoyld he thought doth t'Poyicters ride Knowing lest of sorrowfullest mischaunce How groueling I prostrate on ground in traunce The French though winners angerly complaine Bicause of horse they thus frustrated be Our garcons void seeing my mischaunce amaine Theirs fled so soon as they my banner see The place they said by vertuous cheualrie Remains with vs yet we sore traueled Laden with armor must needs be staied By enimies since in countrie wandred Of theirs we be six leags from any friend Our hurt people and many sore wounded T'whom reasons laws wilds vs to attend Two foorth they sent thus staying at wits end Three warlike captains fast toward them praunce Hauing them sought with armd two hundred launce Sir Richard Dangle sir Lewis Harcourt Sir Baldwine Freuile with wasting banners light Which when the French see in so stronge effort With glistering Arms for sought battell dight Vnto my men these words they vtter right We you acquite from othes and promise free Desiering in faire Arms good companie You losse haue had we rather you should gaine Then yonder foes that come gainst vs so fast Sad were my friends for me their maister slaine Yet condescend vnto their wils at last Mischieuous fortune thus to and fro doth cast These conquerors now are prisoners to their thrall
From one to thother thus she hurls the ball A goodly custome of our passed wars That passing faire and Christian like did seeme For euer at the end of hottest iars The conquests selfe so much we did esteeme That ransom better than spilt blood we deeme On solem oth we oft great prisoners trust That would redeem their gaged promise iust For curtesie at end of battels rage We Englishmen and French are greatly famde For cruell handling and slauish vsage Rough Almains and sterne Spaniards greatly blamde Vnciuill rude and beastly were they namde Vndoutedly braue knight most valerous Vnarmed is most sweet and courteous With baissed launce the knights approch amaine Foorth stept the French willing them to hold For as tane prisoners they do all remaine My heauie seruants that same thing haue told When coummen knights saw me lie on the mold In wounded state they greatly do bemone My luckles death that heer was slaine alone Sharpe brinish teares trickle from their eies Some wring their hands making full pitious griefe Some fill the eare with their resounding cries My speciall seruants such whose sole reliefe Stay comfort aid and succor was I chiefe I heard one waile my hard and luckles chaunce And in his mone my praises high aduaunce Sweete gentle knight he said faire peerles flower Of Mars his traine good valiant champion stout What wicked wight to forge bad gleaue had power Whereby bright lampe of life was striken out Blacke colie smith when first thou wents about This toole to forge I would thou hadst ben mad Dan Vulcans luck or woorse mischaunce hadst had Braue England neuer bred a brauer knight Puissant Fraunce hath felt no fierceser foe Fairer conditionde neuer liuing wight More curtesies no earthly man did knoe More finer wit more iudgement none did shoe In his attempts more honors none hath gaind By high exployts then those thou hast attaind From out our bunch our Orients pearle is gon From treasure ours our rarest iewell lost From iuorie ours stolne is our whitest bon Reft from our welth rich thing of greatest cost Of all our pillars falne is most surest post Good Chandos slaine I saie no more but this Best English knights thy presence much will mis Companions bold adiutors of thy acts Captains stout whose harts with thee did dwell Soldiers true the furtherers of thy facts For thy mischaunce their pleasures will expell As onely he they loued deerely well This speech I hard but could not speake againe Oppressed I so much with dolefull paine Right pensiuely resorteth to my minde Lord Cleremount slaine at Poycters feild Not far from hence sir Charls of Bloys I finde My conscience neere whom I from peace withheild Now I as he lay tumbled by my sheild Ech captaine that doth slaie when he may saue Some blooddie end must euer looke to haue More praisefull vertue in a conquerer Then mansuetie is none to be found More famous neuer any victorer Then those whose acts do breath good gentle sound Loth tyrant hatefuls name vpon the ground As thundring storme suffers smooth calme at last Well intreating should be when battails past Vertuous clemencie spareth life from death When gastly Mors attacheth with sharpe dart The onely thing dasht mind in quiet sleath From crueltie is free to haue the hart Sweete soule it makes most ioyfully depart A princely thing the yeeldeds life to spare Most manly minde in victor doth declare On sheilds and pauish laied warely Borne to Mortimer plast on softned bed My wounded hed vnarmed charely And salues applied to that which freshly bled In dolerous plight I laie thus sore bested But in the space of fowr and twentie howers Foorth flew my soule to faire Elisian bowers The English they lament my sodaine losse Some Frenchmen ioyed much at my mischaunce Because I woonted was with them to tosse In warlike wise to their anoyaunce My fortunes fauors they thought abundaunce Frends English loud because in me they found Bountie valure and vertue to abound Foes French feared from hence growed their hate Vile giddie fortune laugh vntill thou burst Triumph and ioy that thus thou gaues a mate To me shewing hatefull spite at woorst Who trusts thy fauns is senceles mad and curst Toling me on vnto my sharpe decay Setting my sun and closing vp my day At prosperous things thy leuell dost thou ame Proud though thou hast thus foild me in the feild No fretting time shall yet decay my name Thou strengthles art bright glory to ore weild But vertuous fame thy spite obscureth seild All mortall men be subiect to mishap But cheefely those that sit in fortunes lap I Chandos felt the force of fortunes power How fickle she how soone she doth decay In greatest brauery me lesse then in an hower She did confound as here perceaue you may At Chauigney if I had made my stay What I desirde had come vnto my hand For Frenchmen had been taken and their band Or being come if that I had not slid And so receud my fatall deadly blo Or that my vysore closed downe had bid Or Percy had of my aduenture kno What do I here of ifs fond resons sho My dismall day my latest time was doon My oyle all spent and hastie course out run My death bewaild mongst Lords and noble dames For that in me much noblenes they found Full many a knight my great misfortune blames To whom my curtesie often did abound For my large fame about the world did sownd A batchelers life pursuing armes I liud In countries cause that hastie death depriud What glorious praise deserues that woorthy wight Whose armd bodie as bulwark gainst the foe Dispising life in throngs of foes doth fight For cuntries cause and sweetest sweet bestow Though bodies die wide do their praises gro Seld well got honor sufferd is to die But memorized liues perpetually I count not my past death vnfortunate Because I was in my kings quarrell slaine But that when least I thought of fortunes mate Alone I was brought to my finall baine Why God so would the reasons shewed I plaine Though like offence on earth God pardoneth Great dangers is of that still lasting death For though vile murtherer florish as a palme Fast planted in faire Iordans meddows flore And goodlike daies passe foorth in pleasant calme And bended peoples knee him doth adore Great kingdome rules from one toth other shore Yet douted is it that eternally He is condemnd to hels perplexitie Wherefore good captains sprong of English race That faire atchiue makes Lords of life or death To yealded foe shew woonted English grace Before you kill do as olde prouerbe saith Talke eate drinke sleepe and often take your breath Ear you execute thing of importaunce Then seldome will ensue repentaunce Rare is the vertue hurt not to reharme Great fortitude offences to remit Shining glorie to strong conquering arme To sheath his sword when ended fighting fit Which happie fames doth so togither knit As wering age can neuer waste
the same Pleasant musicke to sound mild victors name Armed knight true staie of commonwealth Selfe gouerning in goodly temperaunce Conseruer of her cheefest states in health Good winner of her peacefull plesaunce For lawyer none could plead his ordinaunce Vnles thy armed bodie did defend Him and the thing whereto his speech doth tend Departed life the Prince my heire remaind Vnto my goods which great esteemed were Foure hundred thousand Franks which I had gaind In wars pursuit of body I had no heire On expert knight King Edward loued deare Sir Allain Bocquesels who bare in shield of gold A Lion blew that siluer fret did fold Saint Saluiours lands sir Godfrey Harcourts Late he bestowd and sir Thomas Percie My office had and thus coy fortune sourts Some now aloft and then cast downe we see Thus gasing stages euer filled bee He was he is he is vp and now he is downe He liues he dies here is here was the towne Ah throughfare full of balefull miseries Hard passage couerd with sharp thretning rocks Vile toilsome life subiect to destinies Mad fools on stage whom flouting fortunes mocks Poore silly sheepe to slaughter led by flocks Drunke peeuish men whom safties thought confound Dreaming they neuer shall consume in ground As silent night brings quiet pawse at last To painfull trauels of forepassed day So closing death doth rest to labors cast Making of our toilfull worke a stay Thoughts griefes sad cares are bandon then away In pomp and glory though braue daies we spend Yet happie none vntill be knowen his end FINIS WILLIAM WYRLEY CAPITALL DE BVZ THE HONORABLE LIFE AND LANGVISHING DEATH OF SIR IOHN DE GRALHY CAPITALL DE BVZ one of the Knights elected by the first founder of the Garter into that noble order And somtime one of the principall Gouernors of Guyen Ancestor to the French King that now is LOVE is a thing that cannot be compeld Nor further wrested then his liking growes Not mines of wealth nor honors glory weld Nor blandisment with hir faire pleasing shoes Not gastfull death from which great horror growes Not lothd imprisonment nor loue of libertie Nor sad conceits plungd in perplexitie The more you striue the more you vainely striue Thinking to mooue a constant setled mind Such one as seeks not after gainfull thriue But firmely doth his thoughts to honor bind And troubles makes him faster for to twind Fast gaged band of loue and scornes to liue More rather then the same he will vnriue Rather then that one iot of plighted truth Good valiant hart will swerue from voud behest It suffer will much woe and pining ruth With endles griefes and torments ouer prest For true loue dwels but in a valiant brest Harboreth but in high Heroique thought For cowards loue is fickle light and nought Record my selfe a knight in Gascoine borne And to the house of Foix by wife allide Germaine Remond from him fame did adorne With Phoebus surname for his wittie guide His honor wealth estate were bruted wide For errant knights such as braue Arms professe Right welcome these strange knights his chiefest gesse And vnder him I first gan Arms to wear Learnd faire to ride and tame the raging steed To don my helme and couch my thretning spear To brandish sword to serue his maisters need That daring foe by these his end might reed To weld resisting shield with gold bedight On sables crosse fiue siluer scallops bright The English partie strongly I maintaind And euer armd against the crowne of Fraunce Much honor praise and noblenes I gaind Most highly me king Edward did aduaunce Deckt in his knightly Garter gay I praunce Mongst first elected is my name enrold And euer went my valure vncontrold At Poicters field in battelous aray I raunged was among the hardie knights My shining pennon wefting I display Amid the throngs in thickest of the fights On whom soeuer my sad axe it lights Is either feld or slaine or prisoner bound So dealt I death and many a dolefull wound Sir Charls D'artoys and many knights were tane By me and mine that ransoms rich we gaine For through the presse I pressing made a lane Of ventring Arms delighted with the paine No trifling heere nor leasure was to faine But fight or die or yeeld with foule reproofe Defend assaile for honor and behoofe The battaile wone our furie all was laid In such triumphant iolitie we groe That ech one thinks him selfe so well apaid As numbers of our captiues we let goe On their gagd faiths we trust them euen soe Word and deed deare Christian blood is saude The conquest ours the thing we onely craud The noble mind nought but the conquest seeks And where the quarrels but for titles cause Faire wars should be not like reuenging Greeks Whom scattered blood and fier made to pawse For as our God is iust in all his lawes Plagues the murtherous and bloodthirstie mind With blood for blood as those fell Greeks did find I ouer passe the taking of King Iohn His yoongest son and many a great estate The numbers slaine of Erles and Lords ech one But fortune here did yoong Lord Barckeley mate Pursuing foe with swift and speedie gate With courage stout through too much courage lost His iorney did a Barons ransom cost A squier he spide to void the field in hast Well mounted braue he after him doth hie The French lookt backe and was not much agast Though fine in Armes the Lord he dight espie In field of gneuls ten formed croslets bee Of siluer bright a cheuron them betweene Full knightly Lord one might him easly deeme This skilfull squier a warie man at Armes Practisde in fight and heedy in his deed The Lord venterous dreadles of all harms Fast spurring coms as he that thought to speed But fortune him a little faild at need Right poysent bloe he stroke and haples mist For th 'others checke hit right vpon his wrist Th'incountring stroke did force his sword to fall Into the field the Lord dismounted streight As he no misaduenture could apall But as he stoupt the squier by cunning sleight Picketh his sword and pearst his thies with weight Iohn Helens light the Lord his prisoner swore Drew out his sword and from the field him bore Such doth of wars the rare aduentures fall Most sonst to loose when least we do mistrust Now was blacke prince so buissie t'order all His great affairs abstaine a space he must From Armes but I lest that mine Armour rust With cosen Foix to war in Pruce do wend Where Sarisines soules full fast to hell we send Like Christian knights on miscreants we war High honor gaine and home we ment returne But now in France was falne so foule a iar To heare the same ech honest eare would burne The pesant French did at the gentle spurne No Scythian nor lothd Parthian act So monstrous euer both for forme and fact This clownish rabble by troups assembled Vntill that they six thousand were
good he gate Sir Walter Mannie toth barriers went Conducting fresh yoong knights new made before Full of proud courage through new aduancement Fierce was the fraie and many wounded sore In Parris were of prooued knights good store When time he spide faire backe his fighters drue Full soberlike rash perils to eschue Like aged Pylote tride in many a flawe High towering fleet hath in charge to guide Leads foorth by counsaile and sad sober sawe Aduising turne of winde and change of tide Sholes sands and rocks that vnder water bide Performes his voyage by his warie heed Such at Parris prooued Lord Mannies deed The king remooud most surely I thought And counsaile tooke with sixe of my accord That gaie yoong knights such as aduentures sought Whereof in Parris numbers great there hord Some issue after vs they would afford This thought of mine did come to good effect The French do sallie as I did suspect A valiant troupe that prowesse tride professe On stamping coursers properlie prepard Careles come on some hoping to conuince That scatter should from out their battaild ward Or whom t' incounter nought at all they card They past the busment we had closely laid They past we glad and little time we staid Three Gascoins we three English were the rest Lord Moubrey armed in desierous red A siluer Lion ramping reddie prest To raise his foe Lord Neuill forward sped In glistering Armes most goodly clothed In guelie shield he siluer saltier bare Stout Pounchardon we six the Christains were Of this attempt two hundred we command In ruinous house sequestred from the way We ambuscade where one might well haue paund His life no foes would there haue made astay With bustling noise we bustle to the fray Like furious tempest foorth we rushen fast The French lookt backe amased at our hast With wonderment from whence we issue could Turning their reains our fury to withstand Strongly our points ariue with courage bould Ech against foe direct with leueld hand That from their seats some tumbled to the land Some horse and man reuersed ouer quite So fell enragd so strongly some do smite When as we had our course with courage run Ech drew his sword where many a proper feat And practise of faire Armes was brauely dun Sometimes it seemd the Frenchmen had the bet And straight againe it seemd that we did get Of all our coast I wan the soueraine praise With Lord Compreney on the French it staies Who noblie fought vnder his banner faire A Beucle red in siluer plast betweene Six martlets blacke slaine he that did it beare The Lord himselfe was taken on the greene And all these troups are now disparted cleene The most there dide some into Parris ran Or else they had been taken euery man Valiant harts whose thoughts to honor bend Sleepe not in rest but daily do deuise New matters and strange accidents to send Their praises foorth in golden sounding wise Whilst sluggish knight in sloth and slumber lies Vnwoorthie arms who doth not vse the same Foule wight that brings fair honors marks to shame What booteth it of Gentries brag to boast What vaileth it old ensignes foorth to show To tell how grandsiers whon in many a coast When we our selues no warlike practise trow But rest our selues with this old idle know Our shields the signes of Antique moniments We maken babish lothly instruments Well when we had our buisnes brought to passe And in good couenant all our prisoners bound We marcht where as the king of England was Our welcoms do with hartie praise abound Prisoners vs their maisters courteous found Foorth on we hold vntill that peace was toke At Charters and our Armie vp it broke Our king this Charter in October gaue At Callis on the fowr and twentith day After the virgins sonne was come to saue All mankind lost and wandred far astray One thousand three hundred threescore I reckon may Now on the king in t ' England I attend Where good intreatie much I might commend Yet staid not long but into Bearne I sped To Ortoys where I found the Earle of Foys Letters I receiud and speedily red From Naueroys king who gladly did reioise For wide it bruted was by common voice That Iohn of Fraunce was now in England ded And he thought long till Fraunce he harrowed Sendeth for me as chiefetaine to attend His wars by guidment of my prooued skill To his intreatie soone I condescend Requesting other knights vnto my will Imbarkt and wind so well our sailes doth fill As safe at Cherbroke we descend to shore Men at arms and soldiers twentie score Breathing life toth melancolious thought Of this sad king because he late had lost Maunt and Meulanc both by th treason sought Of Bouciquall and Glesquins brittish host T' haue sweete reuenge he spare would for no cost Right glad was I that th'youthfull Regent Should haue some newes against his corwnment At Eureux then I made my chiefe amasse And found I had full seauen hundred speares Three hundred archers fiue hundred there was Of brigands to hus most willingly appeares Captaines companions not dreading future feares But he that brought greats numbers to our aide Of armed heds for enterprise araide Was sir Iohn Ionel a valiant English knight And sir Iames Planchine with him did resort Against our foes we strong and freshlie dight For our delights consist in warlike sport With courage good we march foorth in effort T' incounter foe is plast our whole intent Much wishing triall of his hardiment To Passie ward and to the brig of Tharch We drew casting the warie Frenchmen would The riuer of Sene ore passe at that same arch Pretended iorney if they onward hould Transierd they were as it was to me tould For as we rode the twesday in Whitson weeke I met a Herauld who well for me did seeke Surnamed Faulcon I knew him passing well For he toth king of England doth pertaine In haste I asked if he could foorth tell Newes of the French faire I him entertaine He answere framd in reuerent sort againe I came my Lord from where they do abide Expecting your approching at this tide What haue they past the riuer yea or no On this same side they rest he doth replie Neere vnto Passie they do abide I tro What numbers and what captains to discrie I will him and then plainly sheweth he Fifteene hundred of fighting men they were That Bertram Glesquine cheefest rule did beare Lord Aucer was and Vicount Beumont there Maister ofth crosbowes Lord Chalon and Beweu Tharchpriest and sir Edward Remie were These French and Brittons there my selfe did vewe Of your owne countrie some knights I also knewe There is the Lord Dalbreth his companie Properly armd a valiant meanie Sir Aymone of Pomiers the soldich Lord of Lestrayt then gan I angerly To waxen red and much in minde I wish Reuenge to those I hard so busely Though frends to seeke me as an enimy
For Dalbreth selfe I aske and he replide With Charls the Regent now he doth abide Who sunday next to Reams t' be crownd is led And after that I studied had a space I laid my hand vpon my buissie hed Be there quoth I such Gascoyne Lords in place Yes suer he said I tooke it in disgrace Gascoyne thus gainst Gascoyne then I swore By that same cap that saint Anthony wore My Lord said Faulcon a herauld by doth stay From tharchpriest sent of message vnto you That herauld French let pack him hence away For not at all my person shall he vewe Tharchpriest his master is a knight vntrew Then sir Iohn Ionell wild he should be brought But I said no his message is for nought His master faine our dealing would descrie And for no other would he hither come Iangle and prate he would so many a lie That paine it were to heare him part or some When Faulcon thus had hard my settled dome He went whereas the herauld French doth staie Faire answer gaue the other went his waie For otherwise then I in choler spake This modest herauld smoothly me excusd In peacefull maner he the best did make As one that strife and discord flat refusd Peace meeknes loue his ciuill hart had vsd For rancor malice pale enuie and wrong Vnto no heraulds office doth belong Throughly waieng euery thing at large Being buisnes of so great a substance As valiant foes as welden sheild or targe Were named and of as good approuance That thus gainst me were come in ordnance To praise the foes doth honors owne aduance What seuer is theuent of battailes chaunce If one reproch his foe of cowardise And with base words him greatly doth defame Afterwards doth of hoped purpose misse Being ouerthrowne much to his owne shame Hath he foorth told foes honorable name Doth conquest make right great and glorious And abiect triumphs more lesser famous Who can assure himselfe of victorie That is but flesh and blood as others are Then foule is it and too great infamie The basenes of the foe for to declare Which often hurts owne selfe at vnaware Mean conquest is it base rascolds to subdue Vnto the foe giue then faire praises due Thus both we parties of ech other hard By both these heraulds presently I sent To Eureux shewing the captain how I fard Willing him all such to fight that ment To send them foorth to me incontinent Which if performd I then do vow to fight With these French troupes attain them if I might Directed by this heraulds warie guide It hapned that the four and twentith day In pleasants month of all faire Vernas pride To Chocherell ward we light into the way Where we behold foemats provd display So many banners wefting in the aire They seemed twise the number that they were Whose glistering marks when as I do behold And many knew whom faithfull friends I thought I thought gainst me they neuer raise them would As great a matter percing coine hath wrought My countrimen should no such gaine haue sought And leagmen to one king and soueraine But kingly rule no louing harts doth gaine They made three battels and a reregard The first had Glesquine and his Brittons bold The Earle of Aucer ruld the second ward Th'archpriest did their tertian battell hold The Gascoins held the rergard that I told Led by Pomiers the souldish and Curtone Perducas Dalbreth my neighbors euerie one When as they busie were in marshalling Themselues to fight within the meddowes faire On Itons banks which doth neere Couches spring Shoring a hill we plainly do appeer By a little wood and to our enimies neere Into the which our boies and carriage went Lest in the fight they suffer detriment We egal battails gainst our foes ordaine Except a reregard and with his English crew Sir Iohn Ionell our first did well deraine The second rightly plast in order dew I ruld my selfe the third as faire to vew The Marnel held my banner high was pight Vpon a bush appeering plaine in sight That if our men were scattered in the fray Thither they might as time would serue retier Twice twentie men about mine ensigne stay It to defend and honor to acquier Thus how to win I plast my whole desier And vantage tooke ofth ' hill for more auaile Purposd to let my enimies me assaile Which they perceiuing drew to counsaile all Many of them that day had eate no meat Thinking betimes to fight which I did stall Some thirstie were nigh sweltred with the heat Some scorcht almost and choked with their sweate Some presently would fight without delay The wiser some that thing would flat denay Of weightie affairs as thus they hould debate And counsailes hard and verdits too and fro The Gascoyns who perused well my state Taught by triall my dealing for to kno Said Lords aduise ear forward that yee go A better knight found is there in no land Then is the Captall for to lead a band First do ordaine some men of armes t'assaile Those that his banner haue in charge to gard Much heedie care in this for to preuaile Then thirtie of the best that may be spard Mounted well and so to take regard For nothing else but suerly to aduise To take the Captall prisoner for a prise And carrie him straight from out the field amaine For otherwise so long as he may bide To win the same it will be passing paine The Captall is a knight so nobly tride But of his men when his surprise is spide They sodenly will so discomfort be As ours you shall the iorney present see Beshrew his hart that there did praise me so For by his counsaile was I ouertane And for that I mine enimies wise do kno And heedy were to bring me to my bane I held the hill which made them nothing faine For by no art or policie they could Me there assaild vnlesse be lost they would When they perceiud me plast in such a strength New counsaile then these gallants new deuise Ech thing well waid they all accord at length That me t' attempt they might be thought vnwise High mounting Phoebus blasing hotly fries Some of them faint and neither bread nor wine Nor no auitaile had they for to dine Good policie it oft is to refuse And warie deale when foes strong numbers beene Sir Bertram slie our doings doth peruse Which smally pleasing were to him I weene And then he said Lords I do suerlie deeme If we make shoe back ore the brig t'retier Our foes will soone descend in great desier And thinke we le flie then round vpon the plaine We may returne in order duly pight With wishing courage set on them amaine Obseruing former constitutions right This counsell liked was of euery knight They execute which when I do espie Fine cunning working easly I descrie But sir Iohn Ionel hastily to me said Sir see you not how yonder Frenchmen flee Yes sure quoth I their doings I
haue waid They thinke to vs no good I easly see But tole vs from the strength wherin we bee Suddenly back vnto his men he hide And fight he would whatseuer should betide And boldly spake such as my person loue Rest not behind with battelous glaue in fist He forward floong but when I saw him moue Of great presumption that deed I tooke and wist The knight too far the enimies meaning mist I frowning said he fights not without me Our foes in order swiftly turned be This English knight right brauely dealt his blowes Amongst the Brittons with couragious stower With mightie force he many ouerthrowes In haste I came to aid him with my power At first our foes do find their turning sower Saint George we cride our Ladie Glesquine they So fell and bitter gan this mortall frey Now when the battel 's strong assembled were Th'arch priest streight departed from the field Willing his men his banner on to bere And crie his cries as if his place he held Gainst me himselfe his Arms would neuer weld He promise kept well made to me before For which of treasons some accusd him sore Sir Iohn Ionel who first this fray began Payed for rashnes at too high a rate Mad furie that confoundest euery man Who wisdome wants thy raging to abate Doth oft too soone his error find too late When strength and blood and life and all is lost Purchast too deare the wit that so much cost Who wars doth vse must nought at all be greeud To haue the worse or conquerd be in field For he that triumphs most of all atcheeud Hath eftsoons lost his strong resisting shield Vnconstant fortune is constant very sield Losse is no shame nor to be lesse then foe As selfe esteemes ech man is euen soe This hardy knight sore wounded was and dide Who had before delt thundring strokes amaine Lord Beumont French among the dead doth bide Sir Baldwine Danekine here likewise slaine They bought it deare before the place they gaine My ventrous men stroue with commended pride Presuming victory would with them abide Th'instructed thirtie found me where I deale So huge and mightie bloes as that no plate No hardned steele no quilt nor warped meale Could make resist but yeelded open gate To my sharpe axe my bloes so heuie sate But here these thirtie sease me in the fray And by fine force they bear me thence away Fast to the rescue crie my friends apace When they perceud me rauisht in this wise Much broyling there much foyning for a space Forth ' rescue some and some to saue their prise But foes preuaile as earst they did deuise To Vernon then I was transport in hast And there in saftie strong and suerly plast As much respect they tooke to win the field Such heedie care was had lest I were slaine The noble mind with murther very seld His fame and estimation will distaine His foe may liue and ransome yeeld againe To saue when one may slay an enimie Is chiefest vertue praisd in cheualrie From Vernon t'Parris with ioy I was conueid Where tharchpriest of the king is fouly blamde For his depart but all the matter weid Although the Lords of Fraunce him much defamde Yet holpe I much t' excuse him badly namde The matter furthered for that he lately had In Burgoyne slaine foure hundred robbers bad What harme tooke I through much mistrustfulnes Toward him that did my faithfull friend remaine Calling his truth in question questionles That faire my fauor sought to entertaine His carefull message flatly I disdaine Preiudicating his intendiment Was for to worke me some foule bad euent Yet time discouered his fidelitie And my outragious rash mistrusting Great mischiefe bred through wicked ielousie Of frendly honest thoughts often working The minde from truth by bad misdeeming The friend suspected without giuing cause Is breach sometime of truest trueloues lause Tharchpriest he sent vnto me for my good But I refused to heare his message Being distempered in my cholericke moode Which bare the rule then vnto my dommage Reason I taste the follie of my rage Yet now we talked at Parris being And good leasure had of cold agreeing For by the meanes of Lord Dalbreth I went About the citie where I pleased best The coward Charls so cruellie was bent Against Lord Saqueuile with me distrest As he cut off his noble cheefest crest Lord Ganuile at that present time had dide But that his sonne a meane did well prouide Who notice gaue vnto this king of Fraunce That if he vsd t' is father any tort Or that he died reprocht with sad mischaunce The Lord Lauall a man of great resort His prisoner now would vse in equall sort By this braue deed this noble sonne did saue His fathers life they sought for to depraue Renowmed act well woorthie woorthie sonne For parents life to hazard life and all Careles striuing owne selfe to be vndon Rather then suffer so his fathers fall No danger strange he danger ought to call That sonne or friend desireth to be namd Suffering father friend by death defamd I well haue seene a master guide his barke When blustring winds and tumbling waues did rage Sauing himselfe and friends with care and carke Vntill the swelling surges did aswage This skyphier haue I seene through dotage To sand his ship in calme and quiet floud When neither blasts nor tides his course withstood More harder much in compas good to liue When careles heed our minde hath whole possest And sense to daintie pleasure quite is giue Then when we are with anguishment distrest In troublous times we hide our guidment best For hundred vice the thoughts doth conquerd make When bathing hart doth floting pleasure take As by my selfe a patterne of reproofe Who well did saile when fretting tide did thret From sholes and flats I warie lay aloofe No gaping fish no hoped praie could get My leueld course by carde and compas set Yet did I ground when least was winde and tide Strike on the cliues in danger to haue dide For whilst at Parris prisoner I remaine In banding pleasure void of warines The king and nobles me sweetly entertaine So that I furthered much their buisnes Holpe to perswade a band of sikernes And peace betwixt the Kings Nauare and Fraunce So was I quite of ransome and finaunce The Lord Dalbreth full often for me spoke And greatly holpe the battaile of Alroy Which was performd with manie a blooddie stroke Which to king Charls brought little cause of ioy Yet treaties had and faire exchanges coy Which all fell out to further my desier I was redeemd as prisoner could requier Subtile Charls shewed me great signes of loue Castle Denemoux with thappurtnance gaue Willing my seruice for his more behoue His pension rich far more then I did craue I homage yeeld for these rewards I haue Into Acquitaine to the prince I came Who hearing this full sharpely doth me blame And said I was too woondrous couetous Lands to
take in Fraunce where nothing loud Nor honored and thus dispiteous Spake he by reason none it could be prooud That I two Lords might serue thus Iulie moud A squier I resent vnto the king Surrendring castle and ech other thing Making abodement with the loued Prince Whose wisdome seeing me bashed in such sort And how his words so much did me conuince He all forgot turnd all to pleasant sport Endewd me rich for to maintaine my port Doubtles I loude his fauor so entier Than Croesus coine I did it more desier Let him that stands heed well he do not slide For he that in a Princes fauor dwels Must wary watch lest blame to him betide And carefull be when meaner sences swels It to surpresse when seuer it rebels And not to yeeld to ought that may displease His soueraines mind and breed his owne disease Heed and temperance are the things whereby Men must them rule that liue in Princes grace Far out stretched recheth his persaunt eie Vewing ech person time and secret place Much beond his rule and dreded mace Therefore disseuerd from thy soueraines sight Doe as his eie vpon thy act were pight I with my Prince and in my Countrie staid Till that Don Peter was come out of Spaine Bastard Henrie of crueltie he vpbraid In crueltie deposing him of raine The Prince resolud to place him there againe Sending for me and many a Gascoine Lord That vnto him our legence due afford Him I attend and highly was esteemd Amongst the noblest held I euer place For highly was my knightly seruice deemd As well for Mars as prudent Pallas grace With Lord Clisson sprong of Brittish race This Spanish iourney did I companie hould An expert knight in ventring arms right bould And when the prince this king restored had To former height inuest in Royall state Full like him selfe he dealt with vs but bad His peruersnes too long were to relate His breach of promise wrought the great debate That hapt between the Gascoins and my Lord The prince fell cause of war and much discord Though many Gascoin Lords my kinsmen near The English left and French themselues out shoe Yet I gainst them did still my banner rear In fronting war my time I did bestoe With Chandos to Mountaboune armd I goe That soon I trust we made our foes to feele Our Axes sharpned were with caruing steele Now when the French the English had defide And noise of strifes were bruted openly Sport was to see the captains them diuide As their affections led them stirringly Without requests to yeeld them willingly Those that were French did English streight become Contrariwise there changed other some Lord Chanoyne Robersart he English turnd Whose hautie seruice welcomed our king Sir Perducas Dalbreth toth French returnd Who gulie shield about his neck did fling Wrapt with dented bordure siluer shining Do what one can affection will be free Spite of desert or highest dignitie Bold sir Hue Caueley now in Arragon This thundring newes of wars had plainly hard With all his soldiers he arriud anon At Angolesme a partie for to ward The prince him had in reuerent regard And presently him noble chiftaine made Of thousands two and sent him to inuade The lands of Lord Dalbreth and Arminacke The greatest two of all our Gascoyne Lords Where many a tower and towne he fiercely bracke And fier and bloud vnto his foes affords Thus all we captains growing of accords Seeke to defend and to offend our foes Which likewise so themselues towards vs dispose When Canole Chandos and sir Thomas Phelton Who did in red two ermine lions beare Passant crowned gold my selfe for one Go to the prince who held vs all full deare Such companions as behinde vs weare We promised new fortresse if they gaine And then besiegd we rescue will amaine Which of our friends did three encourage so As they Belperch do win and there they kept About this time did fortune ouerthro Lord Chandos for whose losse great numbers wept The Duke of Burbon little space he slept For that our captains held his mother fast Within Belperch where they perforce were plast Duke Burbon hauing purueied iollie store Of warlike knights strong siege did bout them lay With battering engins he constraind them sore His power still increasing day by day To sir Iohn Deuereux they sent without delay Which Seneschall of Limson was and he Toth former promise was a partie This gentle knight toth prince in haste he came And did their case with such effect declare In shewing that to vs it would be blame If that we should not succour them that bare Themselues so well good words he did not spare For their behoofe and so it was agreed The captains should be rescude with some speed Th erle of Cambrige faire brother to the prince Th erle of Penbroke prest for deeds of arms Sir Iohn Montague who Batfoyles did conuince Sir Thomas Phelton dreadles of his harms Sir Robert Canole that oft the Frenchmen charms My selfe we met a noble knightly crew As of so many eie did euer vew At Lymoges the erls their musters tooke Fifteene hundred launce our selues we found Three thousand others bent on their foes to looke And ioyne with them though numbers do abound This hard the French trencht in a peece of ground With strong inclosure like a castle wall That from the fight their ventring foes should stall But when we were in opposition plast Against the French a herauld soone was sent Toth Duke who closed lay more halfe agast The herauld told him through bould hardiment We there were riude with vigerous entent With him to fight the Duke this answere drest That fight he would not so at our request And looke how he was dard at Turnehen So was he now our herauld morrow morne To him rewent who safe himselfe doth pen He said sir Duke euen she that hath you borne Before your face shall led be to your scorne Way with my Lords lesse her you rescue will We tooke her thence cold Duke he sate him still Shirle trumpets sound fresh courage to inflame We all are raungd in battelous aray Launte Wiske and Sale these ventrous three I name That from the castle issued at noone day And Burbons mother brought with them away Two noble knightly soldiers did receaue Led her thence and askt the Duke no leaue When Thaniou Duke his armie mightie made And Glesquines power to his he had vnite They forward came the Princes land tinuade Tooke Aguillon by th' thretning siege they pight Which made me woonder when I knew it right The selfe captaine did once so well it hould That hundred thousand men ne take it could On Dordon riuer a towne is planted faire Cald Lind a league from Bergareth no more Which Phelton and my selfe did well repaire With vittails and artilleries fencing store Well puruied now with that it had before Sir Touius Batfoyle captaine there doth rest And promise voud
At saint Maquere all our striuing showne Where Iohn Maltrait Siluester Buds did hold Two hardie Brittons couragious tride and bold These two could not agree which he should part To sucker sieged frends then by accords They cuts would draw so fortune and not art Should chuse and chance the longest cut affords To Buds whereat they laugh with pleasant words Foorth he comes with twelue right hardie men Got in where we his frends full close do pen Loue of frend despiseth dangerous feare We one whole quarter of the wall downe breake Then marshalling our selues to enter there A lowly herauld they sent in haste to speake Vnto our Duke finding themselues too weake Enraged he so much in angrie minde Small was the grace that they were like to finde But then sir Richard Dangle sought for me As one to mercie greatly bent he knoeth This noble Duke toth reasons doth agree That we pronounce for deer he loude hus both So we appeased his conceaued wroth Buds his cutting a raunsome deere him cost And thus againe the French the fortresse lost Mountcounter castle in the marches stands Of Aniou and of Poictow very strong Foure leagues from Thouars two captains with bands Of men it kept offering neighbors wrong The peece toth Duke of Aniow did belong Sir Thomas Percie Poictow seneshall To come to him doth good commanders call Assembled soone three thousand armors bright From citties frends doth mightie engins bring And fiercely it assailed day and night Incessantly they battring engins fling Here were companions courage stirring Whose harts eirned ought should them resist Still toth assault they forward do persist Sir Walter Huet and sir Iohn Carswell heare Daui of Hulgreue in ermins finely clad A scuchion gules these three them well do beare And cheefest praise at this assailment had Companions three the Frenchmen greatly drad By heedy force and skilfull warie paine Won was Mountcounter neere alth'warders slaine And to these three was this faire castle giuen Strong frontier war against the French t' maintaine Booties rich from them they often driuen And patised the countrie for their gaine Idle to rest for busie wits is paine Braue captaines and good soldiers at assaies Deserue rewards as well as pleasing praies Faire Ladie Blanch the noble Henries heir Duke of Lancaster and of Darbie erle Whose titles Iohn of Gaunt did rightly beare But death his percing dart too soone did therle Bereft her life the worlds sweete orient perle In widdowers state this hautie duke did bide When he thaffairs of Gascoyne had in guide Don Peter king of Castile and of Spaine Slaine he left two daughters heirs behinde Which Ladies yoong in great distresse remaine Lest froward bastard vnkle should them finde Sir Guiscard Dangle had this thing in minde Imparts to me these Ladies titles faire Then to the duke both we the same declare Perswading him to comfort their distresse He speciall knights of good account foorth sends Declaring how for their behoofulnes It was he so himselfe to them commends And for their safetie all his thoughts attends They come he likes the eldest doth he wed Thus of a wife and kingly title sped Till September with vs he made his staie Then into England purposd he to saile My selfe Mucident and Lespaire the swaie He left of Gascoyne hoping to preuaile So with the king as that we should not faile Of succors when the spring time did returne He gon in Gascoine made I my soiorne The sommer prochaine truely to record Was to vs sent much succors and reliefe By th'erle of Penbroke and many a noble Lord Which all was lost vnto our heauie griefe No worser dispite or blinder mischiefe Could haue befalne the erle two daies did fight In Rochell hauen in the townsmen sight Yet could not sir Iohn Arden Seneshall There at that time perswade the paultrie maire With any of his the erle to helpe at all But like a broking varlet dasht with feare Or traitrousnes no reasons foorth could steare In daintie ermins armed was this knight Gold and azure in fes faire chekered right I hard of this and thither hide amaine And many knights of England willing bent The Lords of Gascoyne with their gallant traine Of noble harts fraught with hardiment We come too late our enimies tooke Le vent Which made me storme and fret with anger sad That they and we so hard mischaunce had had The Constable French assembled mightie power With him the dukes Berrie and Burbon both Gay erls and Lords drest for warlike stower In gaining forts his time he whole bestoth Besieged one made sir Iohn Deuereux wroth Saint Seuer namde at Poicters he did bide When as the siege Saint Seuer doth betide Sir Thomas Percie he earnest doth desier To further that his men may rescude be Who condescends to that most iust requier So foorth they come and both encounter me Shewing the state of friends extremitie The ground and strength that French foemates hield We purposed to seeke them in the field So foorth to friends we letters sent in haste good numbers gaine and for the rescue pace Our enimies receiue these newes at last Which mightily their courage doth abace No will they had t'meete vs in open place Our friends ignorant of our present post Yeelded and our desiers were wholie lost When sir Iohn Deuereux of this yeelding hard He chaft and stampt for his the castle was And thus with vs our Poyctaine buisnes fard Thus wauering fortune too and fro doth pas Worldly triumphs are like to flowering gras Whose fragrant smels and hewe at suns vprise With liked fauor vades ere night and dies No knight that cloths himselfe for wars affaires That alwaies can atchiue his harts request All are alike to fortune none she spares Her coiest darlings oft she makes distrest Now is she sloe and then too forward prest She dandles him and then on him she frowns Here spades she giues and there she deales her crowns Oftenest times when least we do mistrust With some od toy are soonest ouertane Euerie hower ech daring captaine must Be well resolud for to attend her wane Often she sports to bring vs to our bane Yet noble minds must still despise her might Braue honor liues maulgree so wicked wight It is a world to marke the iollitie Of seamen floting in the Liquid sea His careles thought of dredles ioperdy His buisie prattle his so plesant lay Full merrie mate like gladsome bird in may Fairely forward with spredded canuas flies Like him that would attaine the hautie skies Of all the liues led vnder Phaetons wheele He thinkes none can compare in blisfulnes With his such tickling ioy his hart doth feele And laughing pride at present happines Right cherefully whistles to their buisnes His company not any helliers end Hawser booling but soone he will amend Scarce little chip shall lie vpon the hatch But for the swabber hastely doth call Cleane and fine ech buisnes to dispatch Then to his ioy a fresh
increast They still increast outragious waxed Neuer meaning from mischiefe to haue ceast But practised who should be likst a beast Of their bad horrible acts one I le recite To shew the substance of their vile delight Within his house they tooke a woorthy knight And on a broch they thrust his murthered corse Then rosted him in wife and childrens sight Now after twelue had rauisht hir perforse To eate the scorched flesh without remorse Of hir deare Lord they did compell then slew Hir piteous selfe that lothed life to vewe What cruell Atreus might the like deuise What bloodie Progne like torture could inuent Nor he nor she nor Diuell I surmise Might haue bethought more dierfull bad euent Or worken thing of more astonishment Most villanous doer of wicked thing Their hellish voice make him their beastly king At Chalons occasion offered stay In our returne from Pruce to enter Fraunce Of these helhounds we heard the people say How diuers Ladies like were to mischaunce In Meulx for these dogbolt crewes aduaunce Thither enragd with spoile and rauishment Sad murther cause of wofull pale lament Which newes foorth told the Earle and I accord To rescue them or do our best deuoyre There once ariud vs welcoms they afford Most glad the Ladies of their present power Ioy makes their tears distill like siluer shower Faire Duches of Normandie and Orleance With more three hundred all in like mischance Though I were English yet tender pitie mooud My melting hart to fauor their distresse Twixt both the kings peace for a space was prooud If not what armed knight could haue done lesse Than to comfort chast Ladies comfortlesse Against such feends sterne bent to rude vprore Nine thousand thought yea som did number more And to the gates of Meulx inragd they came Which opened were by th villains of the towne Full were the streets with catiues void of shame With chilling fear the Ladies swapped downe In deadly sownd to heare ech rakehell clowne Yeall showting threts which made our house to shiuer Compasd part with Marne the gentle riuer Against their rage our gates we open wide Wherin there stood in glorious arms so bright The Earle of Foix and goodly armd beside Him stands the Duke of Orleance warly dight Their noble banners before them both they pight Foix bare gold three pales of streaming blood Thother Fraunce with faire large difference good With thretning Axe in hand I was at hand And my disuelopt pennon me before Thus when these clowns perceiud vs fearles stand Purposely Armd their filthie corps to gore As cewting Curs trudge when the lions rore So hartlesse clowns fled from our tried might Base clowns base thoughts and basely take their flight We slew the beas till wearie conquering tooles Were foule distaind with filthie rascald blood This dunghill broode these brainsicke fuming fooles That furies rage incensed raging wood Of their wild gore we make a gushing flood Of these base slaues we seuen thousand slew Fetherd with fear the rest fast nimbly flew Lothing the slaughter of this rascald rout Cause chaffering townsmen taken had their part Bright flaming fier we cast the towne about To teach them learne more ciuill kind of art The Ladies court vs with freed willing hart High praises ring of this that we had wrought Clownish practise soon are to ending brought A speciall time for valure to be shone A rare aduenture for heroique spirits Heer was that boyling valure might be shone We ours extend and giue vs but our rights The clowns nine thousand gatherd in our sights My cosen Foix and selfe had threescore launce With them we did atchiue this happie chaunce In such a cause for noble knight to die And sacrifice himselfe for iust defence Of Ladies truth beleeue it suer will I Of mightie God he shall haue recompence And in some sort for other sins dispence Braue knight chast Ladie bound is to defend Chast dame braue knight in honor to attend Ech knight that clothes himselfe in burnisht steele For Ladies truth and noble damsels right Least that reproch and bashfull shame he feele Must hazard life and enter dangerous fight As heer did we Ioue abled much our might These rascald peasants like to mad dogs slaine With thanks rewards remercied was our paine About this time from Parris safe was fled By cunning sleight king Charls king of Nauare His buisnes slie so craftily he sped Or that the busie regent were aware Spitefull defiance to him he doth declare And to the mightie realme in generall The like and then he ward vnto them all His part I tooke with those of my retaine He frankly paid and we did freshly serue Stoutest Frenchmen we mightily constraine For hunger many readie were to sterue The earth vntild none did the vineyard carue We patisd all the countrie to and fro That no man durst without our pasport go Thus of the fields and of the riuers Lords Faire castles towns we daily wan and tooke Vntill the Legate Cardnals set accords Between the Regent and the king who tooke His oth to be bon Francoys on a booke Before Melune his brother Philip was All malecontent from thence he soon did pas Int Normandie he and I to Cleremount For iarring wars were thundred openly To Fraunce for that they held not of account The treatise made in England sincerely In Beauesine I warred right fiercely Till Edward king safe past the raging streames Fully resolude to place his siege to Reames For me he sent I speedily obeyed Hauing wadge war to all the countrie round And came in time when as his siege he leayd To th' intended towne and all the prochaine ground We rifled and toth siege brought what we found The countries neere were growne so passing pore With thriftie hand the creasing yearth none store From thence the king remoud to Aguylon Staid there the lent for that an English squier Had tane Flauigni cald Iohn Dalison Wherein prouision was of great acquier With as good wine as need would well desier The squier was armed all in trustie blew A shining siluer scuchion faire to vew From thence toward Parris with consuming waste No costly building from our wrathfulnes Ech thing almost we turne vnto degaste Proud Frenchmens ioy we bring to balefulnes Their arbors spoile and vineyards pittiles That fairest buildings make we fowlest place And goodliest worke we batter breake and race Neere to the citie when the king was plast Commands a Herauld to him speedilie Toth regent Charls he said depart in hast And shew him here is staid his enimie That much desiers him and his knights to see In warding arms as noble knighthood should Defend his countrie by his courage bould This messenger performs commanded charge But Charls in battaile so to trie ne ment Some noble Lords hearing this message large To issue out for fight were fully bent But th'regent staid them dreading detriment For by experience had he learned late In pitched feilds that little