taken by Force and every Man within put to the sword both English and Gascogners This Place with the Lands thereto belonging the Duke gave to an Esquire of Beausse called George du Milly and so repassing the Garonne came before Tonneins Which after a Siege of 4 Days yielded on Condition to have their Lives and Goods saved and to be safely convey'd to Bourdeaux So the English Garrison went away free but those of the Town submitted to the Dukes Government who tarried there till it was past * Pascha 16 April Lit. Dom. A. Easter VI. Then he came to Port St. Mary standing also on the River Garonne where he found 200 Englishmen ready to defend the Town and Passage which were well fortified But at last the Place was won by Force and every Man within put to the Sword. The Duke having Repaired what was out of Order and set a good Garrison there went now to the strong Castle of Aiguillon seated upon the Confluence of two Great Rivers the Lot and the Garonne Here they laid their Siege in the Fair Meadows along by the River which was able to bear Ships every Lord with his own Men and every Constable by himself for so the Marshals had order'd as well to raise a mutual Emulation in the Army as that Obedience and Discipline might be more readily observed when the Souldiers should find themselves still under their accustomed Leaders The Castle was well fortified besides its most advantagious scituation and very well victualled beforehand but a braver Garrison could not be found thrô the whole World then those which were now therein There was the Lord John Moubray with an 120 chosen Men set there at first by the Earl of Darby and since that as we shew'd before there were come thither the undaunted Earl of Pembroke the Invincible Lord Walter Manny the Couragious Sr. Frank van Hall and those other Knights and Esquires to the Number of 40 which the Earl of Lancaster and Darby aforesaid had lately sent thither with 300 Men of Arms and 600 Archers to Reinforce the Garrison and lastly to all these the Politick and Worthy Captain Sr. John Norwich was added with all those Valiant Men whom he had brought off so finely from Angoulesme the whole Number amounting to l Giov. Villud l. 12. c. 6â— p. 870. 400 Lords Knights and other Gentlemen Cavaliers and 800 Gascogners and English Footmen besides Carpenters Workmen and Labourers The Defendants wanted no more Provision nor Materials than they did Courage and the Assailants were neither deficient in Numbers nor Animosity nor Art nor Industry so that this Siege was the m Meâ—eray p. 24. ad 〈◊〉 most Memorable considering the Place and the few Hands to Defend it of any We find in all that Age whether We look upon the Attacks or the Defences for it lasted notwithstanding all Opposition from the latter end of April till the Feast of St. Remigius or the First of October when it was Raised as We shall shew in due Place the Fortress being entire and the Garrison in Good Condition VII The French Army consisted of an n Frois c. 12â— Du Châ—â—â—â— c. 100000 Men of War both Horse and Foot so that they could easily afford to make two or three Assaults every Day and most commonly from Morning till the Evening without any intermission For still when one Party was well wearied with Storming there came fresh Assailants in their stead whereby they held the Defendants in continual Action But first the French Lords considering that they could not come freely to the Front of the Castle at the Bridge and Gate unless they passed the River Garonne which was Large and Deep The Duke of Normandy Commanded that a Bridge should be laid over the River whatsoever it cost When the English Captains perceived the Bridge to be more then half finished then they equipp'd three Good Vessels and Manning them well with Select Men of Arms and Archers sent them forth to destroy the Enemies Works These Men came furiously upon the Workmen and chased away both them and their Defenders and presently broke all to pieces what they had been so long in making Upon this the French Lords prepared other Vessels to receive those of the Garrison and then again set their Workmen about a New Bridge which they began in Confidence of these their Protectors They had hardly been at this Work above one half of a day when the Lord Walter Manny himself with the Flour of the Garrison enter'd a Ship and came suddenly upon the Workmen and in spight of all Opposition drove them away and utterly destroyed all their Labour This Course was thus carried on for several Days together till at last the French Lords Defended their Workmen so strongly that the Bridge was brought to its Perfection thô it cost far more than it was worth Then the Lords and all the Army passed over in Battle Array and began an Assault which they continued for an whole Day together without any Intermission but all signified nothing For at Night the Frenchmen being retired to their Lodgings the Garrison mended what was broken as having Materials of all sorts and Workmen enough The next Day the French drew out four Great Detachments every One to Assault the Castle in its turn the First beginning in the Morning was to continue their Attack till Nine then immediately the Second to succeed and to hold till Noon The Third from that time till Three of the Clock and the Fourth from thence till Night came on And this Method they used for six Days together but all the while the Garrison maintain'd their Defence so Bravely that the Enemy wan nothing of them but only the Bridge without the Castle Then the Duke of Normandy was advis'd to go another way to Work He sent to Tholouse for Eight huge Engines of Battery and they themselves made four greater there And all twelve being ready they cast therewith vast Stones both Day and Night into the Fortress but the Garrison had beforehand so well secured themselves against this Device by I know not what Art that o Frois c. 120. not one Stone did them any considerable hurt except that the Coverings of some Houses were now and then a little broken Besides the English Lords within soon provided such Counter-machines as within a few Days brake six of the Assailants biggest Engines all to pieces Frequently during this Siege the Lord Walter Manny would sally out at the Postern with an 100 or an 120 Brave Companions and go on the other side of the River a Foraging and always came back again with much Corn and Cattle in the sight of the French Army One time among others the Lord Charles of Monmorency Marshal of the Duke's Host rode also forth the same way with 500 Men in his Company and was returning back with a great many Head of Cattle which he had gather'd up in the Country to serve the
who kept them before Thus at last the whole Castle was reduced into their power those in the Town knowing nothing of what had happen'd all this while In the Morning the English commanded the Workmen who came to work without the Castle to leave off their Work who thereupon perceiving the Castle to be won fled away carrying the News with them wherever they went. These new Lords however were so Civil as immediately to give the Ladies within the Castle leave to depart whither they pleased on Horseback together with their Apparel Writings and Muniments where they ought to hold their Fees. That same Day there came from Calais to their Assistance as many as they sent for by whose Aid they were now able to keep the Castle against Competent Forces About Three of the Clock the same Day there came thither two Knights from the Lord Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens and in Right q L. 2. c. 10. §. 7. p. 454. of his Wife Jane Daughter to Ralph late Earl of Eu and Guisnes Earl of Guisnes who demanding a Truce desired to know of those within the Castle who they were to whom they belonged and by whose Authority they kept the Castle so taken in the time of Truce To these Demands they within answer'd That being thus intruded they would not declare to any Man their Design till they had tried a longer Possession The Earl of Guisnes being thus sham'd off sent on St. Maurice's Day being the 22d of September Messengers into England complaining how in prejudice of the Truce the said Castle was unjustly taken and therefore by right of mutual Faith and Honour ought to be restored unto the true Owner King Edward answer'd That what was done was neither with his Knowledge nor Consent Wherefore he would send his Command that none of his Subjects presume any longer to detain the Castle of Guisnes but immediately on sight of his Letters to restore it entirely to the Lord thereof The Messengers being return'd with this Answer to the Earl of Guisnes he presently went to the Castle demanding of those within as at other times in whose Name and by whose Authority they held that Place They still affirming that they held it in the Name and Behalf of John Lancaster the Earl required to know if the said John were the King of Englands Liegeman and would obey him or no. Then John answer'd himself That as for his part he knew not what Messengers had been in England nor what Mischief might be brew'd for him wherefore while he was secure he resolved to keep himself so maugre all their subtle Devices At that the Earl offer'd unto the said John Lancaster 40000 Crowns or other Possessions in Exchange and an Indemnity from the King of France for ever To which he received this Answer That before the Taking of that Castle they were all good Subjects of England but now by this their Offence against the Truce and other their Demerits no better than banished Men and excluded from the Peace of their Lord King Edward Wherefore the Place which now they held they would willingly sell or exchange but to none sooner than to their Natural Lord the King of England to whom they would rather sell that Castle thereby to obtain a Pardon But if he should refuse to buy it then they would sell it to the French King or to Him that would offer most for it The Earl being thus mocked went away and the King of England soon after bought it indeed giving unto John Lancaster and his Fellow-Adventurers a Competent Summ which they demanded and also their Pardon for Refusing to obey his Letters so wisely to his Advantage For it was a place always much desired by King Edward as the best Neighbour to Calais if in his hands and the worst if not VII Hereupon King John charging him with Breaking the Truce he replied as we intimated before That there was no one Article in the Truce which prohibiteth Trafficking together or the Entercourse of Buying and Selling. These are the two Accounts of the Taking of this strong Fortress either of which the Reader may prefer at his Discretion thô indeed the French Writers do mostly agree that it was sold by a Frenchman the Captain thereof who afterwards received the Reward of his Treason However when King John and his Council saw r Stow p. 253. that by no means they could prevail to have it restored they advised to build another like unto it for a Bridle to that and a Defence of the Country thereabouts and accordingly they sent the Lord Geoffry Charny somewhile since redeemed out of England with Authority to build and fortifie as presently we shall declare Now as you travel from Guisnes to Calais there was then to be seen on your Left hand almost within Shot of the Town of Guisnes a Monastery called la Bastie of good strong Building but decayed with Age wherein was a Church certain Nuns residing there at that time upon which Account the English had hitherto spared it in Devotion This place might easily be made Defensible for it had very high Walls like a Castle and a large and strong Steeple for a Tower and lying in a Marish Ground might with small Labour be environ'd with a Ditch of great Depth and Breadth Wherefore about ſ Penteco to hec anno 27 Maii contigit Pascha 8 April Lit. Dom. AG. Whitsuntide Sr. Geoffry Charny aforesaid came with 20000 Men and began to lay Siege to Guisnes at the same time turning the Nuns away and making a Castle of the Church and fencing the Walls with a Ditch and Rampire For at that time of the Year the Waters being very low his Men were at liberty to work more freely in the Marish Now the English in Guisnes being thus besieged were not able to go abroad but in their Boats because the Ditches were full of Water and the Marish unpassable and all the usual Avenues stopt up by the French Neither were the Calisians as yet able to Victual them for the same Reasons and especially because of the Siege and the strong Army at la Bastie Yet often the Besieged would appear before the Town with their Arrows and Warlike Engines playing upon the Besiegers but they did no great Execution the Aim being uncertain at that distance and the Reach for the most part too short However one Day by secret Appointment the Calisians being joyn'd with those of Oye Marque and Hames on the one hand and those of the Garrison of Guisnes on the other set all together at one time upon their Enemies unawares with much Bravery and took some slew many and chased more so that the Siege being wholly raised they all together set upon la Bastie burnt it up dismantled it of its Walls and levell'd all to the Ground And thus was Guisnes secured to the English thô the French made huge Clamours thereupon how the Truce was first broken by the English VIII This same
safe with a merry Gale to Dover In their Approach to London f Knighton p. 2552. the Mayor and Aldermen went forth in their Habits well attended to meet their New Queen and to do her honour 'T was about Christmass when she came to London and the whole City enlarged their Joys and Feastings in honour of so welcome a Guest From London they all went to York where the Court then was and there g Id. Ibid. Frois c. 19. Fabian p. 195. Lit. Dom. C.B. on the twenty fourth Day of January being a Sunday and the Eve of St. Pauls Conversion the Marriage was Solemnized at which Dr. h M.S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. William Melton Archbishop of York and Dr. John Hotham Bishop of Ely sang the Mass And afterward i Sandford Geneal hist p. 159. on the first Sunday in Lent following was the Young Queen crown'd at Westminster with much Pomp and Glory Upon these happy Nuptials there was great Joy over all England but especially at Court where there was nothing but Justs and Turnaments in the Day-time Maskings Revels and Interludes with Songs and Dances in the Evenings and continual Feasting with great Magnificence for three Weeks together Soon after the Queens Coronation all except a very few of her Attendants Relations and Countrymen departed with her Uncle the Lord John of Beaumont into their own Country highly satisfied with their Entertainment and well rewarded by the King of England Among those few necessary Servants that stay'd here with her there was one a very proper and well-shap'd young Gentleman of strong Limbs and exalted Courage named Sr. Walter Manny k Frois c. 19. Lord of the Town of Manny in the Diocess of Cambray who was then Carver to the Queen but after that became for his exceeding Valour Generosity and Eminence in all Vertue One of the most Renowned and Gallant Knights in the whole World as the Sequel of this History will abundantly declare Now l Ashmole p. 669 there had been before in this King's Father's Days several other Matches proposed for him thô none of them took but this last And first his Father had design'd him for the Lady Margaret Eldest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt and Sister to this Queen Philippa who was afterwards Married to Lewis the Emperour Another time for Sibylla a Kinswoman of the said Earls and thirdly for Iolant the Daughter of James King of Aragon fourthly for the Lady Eleanora Sister to Alphonso King of Spain and while this Match was in Treaty another Alphonso King of Portugal propos'd his Daughter to the Prince but neither this nor that came to any effect because all former measures were broken by that great and sudden Alteration of Affairs in England II. And thus was King Edward a Married Man at the age of Fifteen but not fully Lord of himself being kept from the true Knowledge of Affairs by the Queen Dowager and her Minion the Lord Mortimer who by his great Power with her so Lorded it over his Betters that he began to grow insupportable to the Kings Uncles and Henry Earl of Lancaster which ill-will of their's was encreased by this Occasion In m M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 216. Whitsunday Week being the latter end of May there was a Parliament held at Northampton in which first King Edward began to stir about his Title to France For Charles the Fair King of France and Brother to his Mother Isabella Queen Dowager of England being lately dead without Issue-Male notwithstanding that King Edward acknowledged their Salic Law whereby an Infant Daughter of the said Charles was excluded wherefore neither did He claim the Crown for his Mother yet he maintain'd this Point n Mezeray ad an 1328. That the Sons of the Daughters having no such Imbecillity of Sex were not at all uncapable and that so the Peers of France ought to prefer him who was a Male and Grandchild to King Philip the Fair before Philip of Valois another Pretender to that Crown who was but a Nephew These things o Antiq. Brit. p. 228. n. 50. being discussed in Parliament it was thereupon Ordained That Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester and Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield should go into France and there in the Name of King Edward their Master claim that Kingdom and as much as in them lay hinder the Coronation of the said Philip of Valois But of this matter we shall say no more till we are called to enter upon the Wars of France which King Edward in his Riper Years undertook upon this Occasion Now we must look upon him as influenced by others counsels and so neither Formidable abroad nor Powerfull at home and one notable Instance thereof appeared in this very Parliament at Northampton where not so much the Honour and Profit of the King and his Realm was respected as the enriching security and advancement of the Lord Mortimer Here the two Spencers Father and Son Edmund late Earl of Arundel who had been executed by the Queen Mothers Party without any legal Process made against them And Walter Stapleton late Bishop of Excester whom for firmly adhering to his Master King Edward the Second against Queen Isabell's Pretensions the Commons of London had in a seditious tumult illegally beheaded together with his brother p Godw. Catal. B shops p. 405. Sr. Richard Stapleton a valiant and loyal Knight who died in the same manner at the same time all these now thô dead * Martin Ed. 3. p. 104. M. S. Record p. 12. Sr Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 8. were in this Parliament attainted of High Treason by the directions and influence of the Queen Mother and the Lord Mortimer Whether it proceeded of implacable Malice which recked not to pursue them even into their Graves or whether by this means they meant to cover their former unjustifiable Proceedings against those Persons by a subsequent countenancing of the Action in Parliament Such pittifull shifts are Men put to when once they deviate from the straight way of Justice and Vertue thô at last all disguises must fall off and Wickedness appear open in all its natural Turpitudes From the same Influence also at this time by very subtle dealing and precontrived Overtures which the Scots were underhand dealt withall to propose a base and dishonourable Peace was struck up with that Nation profitable indeed to Mortimer and the Old Queen who with Adam Orleton Bishop of Worcester were the chief contrivers of it but utterly inconsistent with the Honour of the Young King or Profit of his Realm and People The Reason that moved the Scots to part with so much Money as was given by them upon the Establishing this Peace was because they were beforehand assured that they should have a good Return made them in consideration thereof beside they were sure to loose much more by the War next Year if continued because their
Wherefore the Earl prayed heartily of his Holiness to grant him the favour that the foresaid Thomas Earl of Lancaster might be Translated Now 't is to be remembred that this Thomas who was Eldest Son to Edmund Crouch-back Second Son of King Henry the Third and Younger Brother of King Edward the First had been by King Edward the Second beheaded at Pontefract for Heading the Barons against the King But among the Common People he was look'd on as a Martyr for the Nations Liberties and meriting the name and honour of a Saint However the Pope answer'd Earl Edmund that he the said Thomas of Lancaster should not be Translated untill he should be better certified by the Clergy of England and had seen by their joynt Testimonies what thing God had done for the love of Thomas of Lancaster according to the Suggestion that the foresaid Edmund had made unto him And when Earl Edmund saw that in this request he should not succeed as to the Translation he then desired his Counsel in another matter relating to Edward of Caernarvon his Brother late King of England what he had best to do in order to his Deliverance from Captivity since it was a common Fame thrô England that he was alive whole and sound When the Pope heard him say that King Edward the Second was alive he commanded the Earl upon his Blessing to help with all the Power that he might to deliver him out of Prison and save his Body to the utmost of his Ability in order to which he assoyled him and all his Partakers ab omni poena culpa and promised to bear the charges of the whole Undertaking threatning him also with Excommunication if he did not make use of his best Endeavours to assert his Brothers Right and Liberty Soon after Earl Edmund return'd into England where he set himself about discovering as he thought the Truth more fully and then sent to Corfe Castle that Preaching-Frier of whom we spake One says x Leland Cell 1 Vol. p. 794. that he was also tempted by one of Mortimers Instruments who urging That King Edward the Second was alive and only wanted his Assistance to be deliver'd and restor'd to his former Dignity and the Earl thereupon promising his best Endeavours he was by the same Party accused of High-Treason Walsingham y Walsing hist p. 110. Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. produces an Imperfect confession of the Earl's which he made before Sr. Robert Howel Coroner of the King's Houshold and afterwards on the â—6 of March in the Fourth Year of this King's Reign own'd it for his Confession 1330. REGNI iv before the Lords assembled in Parliament at Winchester whereby we may perceive that he himself sought out to no Body but that others set on no doubt to ruine him came of their own accord to him as well to confirm in him the belief of the Old King 's being Alive as to pretend their Readiness and offering him their Service to deliver him But the whole Cheat will best appear from the Confession it self which amounts to thus much That the Pope had enjoyn'd him on penalty of being Excommunicate to use his utmost Endeavours to work the Delivery of his Brother late King of England promising himself to bear the whole charge of the Undertaking That a certain Predicant Fryer z R. Southwell's Addition to Adam Merimuth M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 213. named Thomas Dunhead in discourse with him at Kensington near London told him He had conjur'd up a Spirit which assured him that Edward his Brother late King of England was yet living That the Archbishop of York had sent him by his Chaplain Mr. Alleyn a trusty letter wherein he promised towards the delivery of his Brother five hundred Men or more William Iliffe also and William Warham Clerks and Thomas Bromfield Fryer promised him their Assistance in this Business Also that Sr. Ingelram Berenger had brought him word to London from William Lord Zouch that he was ready to lend him his help toward the Restauration of his Brother That Sr. Ingelram came to him again from the Lord John Peche proffering also his Service to the Work and saying that Henry Lord Beaumont and Sr. Thomas Rosselin who were sled the Kingdom for fear of Mortimer had at Paris in the Duke of Brabants Bed-chamber instigated them to this Attempt declaring they were ready to come into England to the furtherance of the same That Sr. Ingelram came unto him yet a third time at Arundel into his Bedchamber over the Chappel and assured him of the Bishop of Londons help That Sr. Robert Taunton brought him word from William Melton Archbishop of York that the said Archbishop had Men ready harness'd to compleat the design and that the said Sr. Robert with two Preaching Fryers Edmund and John Savage had a chief stroak in the Affair And that Sr. Fulk Fitz-Warine coming to him at Westminster told him 't would be the most honourable Action he could ever set about but to appear in the Attempt to which he had promised his best Assistance And lastly that the Letters which he had sent to Sr. Bogo of Bayonne and Sr. John Daverill were sealed with his Seal and that his Wife had wrote another Letter to the same effect and that all this was Truth so that he confesses he has offended and therefore he put himself upon the King's Mercy a M. S. Vet. Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 220. The truth of it is that by Mortimers cunning being induced to a belief that his Brother the late King was still living and in Corfe Castle he went himself to the said Castle and spake with the Constable thereof Sr. John Daverill and after many rich Presents desired secretly to know of him whether his Brother the late King was yet alive or dead and if he were alive that he might have a sight of him Now this Sr. John Daverill being Mortimers Creature answer'd that indeed his Brother was in health and under his Keeping but that he durst not shew him to any man living since he was forbid in behalf of the King that now was and also of the Queen Mother and of Mortimer to shew his Person to any One whatsoever except only unto them But the false Traitor lied unto him for the Old King was now in his Grave But Earl Edmund was so far deceiv'd by the Constables protestation that he deliver'd him a Letter desiring him to bear it unto his Brother which he promised to do but soon after carried it to Mortimer sealed with the Earls Seal It began thus To the Noble Knight Edward of Caernarvon Edmund of Woodstock worship and reverence with Brotherly Allegiance and Subjection Sr. Knight Worshipfull and Dear Brother if it please you I pray heartily that you be of good comfort for I shall so ordain for you that you shall soon come out of prison and be delivered of that Trouble which you are in And may
Skill diverts that deadly Matter that is hastening to those Parts of the Body where the Receptacle of Life is to other Parts where that very Poyson which was design'd for present Destruction cannot be suspected At this Our Care he Storms Holy Father he Storms is uneasie and complains he who sought by his subtle Devices to find Us unadvised and unprepared But without doubt it was more Discreet for Us according to the Theory of War which teaches that he more avoids the Inconvenience of War who carries it further off from his own Country to go forth into another Realm to fight against our Notorious Enemy with the joynt Power of our Allies than alone to expect him at Our own Doors Let not therefore the Envious Information of Our Detractors find Place in the meek Mind of Your Holiness or create any sinister Opinion of a Son who after the Manner of his Predecessors shall always firmly persist in Amity and Obedience to the Apostolick Seat. Nay if any such Evil suggestion concerning your Son should knock for entrance at your Holinesses Ears let no Belief be allow'd it till the Son who is concerned be heard who trusts and always intends both to say and to prove that each of his Actions is just before the Tribunal of Your Holiness presiding over every Creature which to deny is to maintain Heresie And further this we say adjoyning it as a further Evidence of our Intention and greater Devotion that if there be any One either of our Kindred or Allies who walks not as he ought in the way of Obedience towards the Apostolick See We intend to bestow Our Diligence and We trust to no little purpose that leaving his Wandring Course he may return into the Path of Duty and walk Regularly for the future Again there is One thing which by Your Holinesses leave having heard of many We must declare thô the more We think of it the more cruelly it stings Our Mind and that is that the Hand of Our Adversary who notoriously Labours now as formerly for Our Destruction when no Body made War against him nor he against any Body but Us was even at that time armed out of the very Patrimony of Christ Which unkindness that the Kings of England Our Predecessors those Illustrious Champions of Christ those g g Fidei Athletas DEFENDORS of the FAITH those zealous Assertors of the Right of the Holy Roman Church and Devout Observors of her Commands that either They or We should deserve this Unkindness We neither know nor believe And thô for this very Reason many do say We say not so that this Aiding of Our Enemy against Us seems neither an Act of a Father nor a Mother towards Us but of a Step-Mother yet notwithstanding We constantly avow that We are and shall continue to Your Holiness and Your Seat a Devout and Humble Son and not a Step-Son Hence We hope not without Reason that Our Humility being made Greater and Firmer by this that it deserved not any Ill-turn from Your Fatherly Charity will receive a more exuberant Encrease of Favour that what it laid upon Us who were Innocent Your tender Compassion which at first was wanting will now endeavour to Recompense unto Us with Goodness And this Account of Our Right and of the Injuries thus multiply'd against Us We intimate to the Preheminence of Your Sacred Dignity that Your Holiness who best know the Measure of Good and Just and in whose Hands are the Keys to open and to shut the Gates of Heaven upon Earth as the fulness of Your Power and Excellence of Your Judicature requires if there shall appear Reason may favour Our Right We being ready not only from Your Sacred Tribunal which is over all but from any Body else Humbly to receive Information of the Truth thô contrary to Us if any one knows it And We who freely submit to Reason will embrace any other Truth which shall be given to Us to understand with Full and Humble acknowledgements But because You ô Fathers are superscribed in these Our Letters who are for Your condign Merits called to partake in the Cares and Counsels of our Lord the Chief Bishop and assist by his side to give the Knowledge of Salvation to the People of Christ We are willing to open these things also to Your Knowledge that knowing the Justice of Our Cause You may pay that Duty unto Truth which You owe and to which with urgent Requests We excite Your circumspect Wisdome which is wont equally to weigh the Rights of every Man without accepting of Persons And if in any thing that we have done there shall be found any flaw We Request herein better Advice from You and desire to be profitably informed being ready in all our Actions to yield to Reason Given at Antwerp the 16 of July An. Dom. 1339. III. This Letter of the Kings was shortly after thus Answer'd by the Pope whose Name was Benedict the XII BENEDICT the Bishop h h Haec Epistola extat etiam apud Rainald ad An. 1338. §. 59. ex Tom. 4. Epist Secr. 380. tisdem verbis quibus apud Walsingh Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward King of England Greeting and Apostolical Benediction Being long since Desirous that You should follow the Commendable Footsteps of Your Progenitors Kings of England who were Famous for the Fulness of their Devotion and Faith towards God and the Holy Roman Church and have shew'd forth the Splendour of their Nobility untainted And wishing that these Qualities might shine more Eminently in You thrô that Fatherly Love and Charity wherewith We affect both You and Your Realm We remember how We directed Our Letters to Your Highness among other things recounting unto You that those Excesses which had been wickedly perpetrated with a complication of manifold and heinous Offences by the Noble Lord Lewis of Bavaria long since as was told You thrô Discord Elected King of the Romans against God and the said Roman Church and against Pope John the XXII Our Predecessor of Happy Memory could not escape Your Notice which as being Notorious to the whole World We took Care to recite in Our Letters not all since the Repetition thereof would have been too long and tedious but some of them as follows For the same Lewis contrary to the Processes of our said Predecessor and his Inhibitions made and had by the Advice of his Brethren the Cardinals of the same Roman Church containing divers Spiritual and Temporal Penalties and Sentences enter'd Italy and openly admitted into his Familiarity several Hereticks Publiquely and Notoriously condemn'd of Heresie himself also Asserting manifest Heresies and upholding and maintaining Hereticks who openly taught the detestable and horrid Errors of the foresaid Heresies and knowingly or rather madly approving Heretical Opinions sent an Evidence of that his Approbation by divers Letters Sealed with his own known Seal to the Peril of other Nations And afterwards
all in one instant set Spurs to their Horses and dashed in with great Fury among the sleepy Frenchmen crying out Valkenberg and cutting down Tents and Pavilions and slaying and wounding whomsoever they met with The Alarm waken'd the whole Host so that they began to Rise and Arm apace and so flock'd to their Banners moving as they were ranged to that Part whence the noise came Of the French there were already slain the Lord of Picquegny and the Lord Anthony Condom desperately wounded the Viscount of Quesnes and the Bourge of Rouvres were taken Prisoners besides the Mischief done among the Common sort But now when the Lord of Faulquemont which is Valkenburg saw by the Lights in the Host and the Banners approaching that it was time for him to be gone he went off in an instant with all his Company and repassed the River of Selle without any Damage in the World for he was not followed because the French were unskill'd in the Country and feared an Ambush By Sunrise that Morning he got to Quesnoy where he was let in by the Captain Sr. Thierry of Valcourt who knew him for a Friend About the same time also the Duke of Normandy went over the River after him his Vanguard being enforced with 200 Spears more under the Lord of Norsiers besides the Footmen arm'd with Brigandines all who appear'd before Quesnoy and made a shew as if the Army was coming up to besiege the Place or at least attempt it by Assault But the Town was so well provided with Ammunition and Valiant Souldiers that they would but have lost their Labour which also the Enemy partly knew but however they were resolv'd not to leave them unsaluted and so came to the Barriers to skirmish Thô they came on fast enough they were soon obliged to withdraw much faster for they were entertain'd by the Town with many pieces of Artillery from whence were discharged huge quarrels of Stone and mighty Weights of Lead and Iron which kill'd whereever they fell but especially made the Frenchmen unwilling to approach for fear their Horses should be slain now they were in a strange Country Wherefore they turn'd off thence and in their way set on fire Verchin the Great and the Less Fresne Samners Artes Semeriens Sariten Turgyes Estines Aulnoy and so many Towns and Villages that way that the smoak was seen at Valenciennes After this the Frenchmen order'd their Battails on the Mountain Casteres near Valenciennes to see if by any means they could entice the Enemy to come forth against them The mean while a Detachment of 200 Spears under the Leading of the Lord Craon the Lord Mauliverer the Lord of Mathelor and the Lord of Dunoy rode towards Montigny and went and Assaulted a great Tower belonging to Sr. John Vernier of Valenciennes which afterwards came to Sr. John Nevill The Assault was fierce and continued long even well-nigh an whole day so that several of the French were slain and wounded before they left off But they within behav'd themselves so well that they receiv'd no loss at all About the same time another Party of Frenchmen went to Tryche thinking at their Pleasure to pass the Bridge and so to approach the Town But the Townsmen had already broke down the Bridge and stood there to Defend the Passage So that they could not hope for any Advantage that way However having Guides among them and such as knew the Country they made shift to Convey over at Denain two Hundred Men on Foot who came suddenly upon the Men of Tryche They therefore being but few in number and not very Expert in Military Affairs could not endure against the French in plain fight and so they fled to the Town as fast as they could leaving several of their Friends behind both dead and wounded Upon this Success of the French another Body both Horse and Foot passed over who joyning with the others set themselves all together to Assault the Town That day the Seneschal of Hainault went secretly from Valenciennes with an Hundred Men of Arms to succour the Men of Tryche and in the way a little beyond St. Waast he met with 25 Forerunners of the French Army whose Captains were the Lord Bouciquaut afterwards Marshal of France the Lord Surgieres and Sr. William Blandeau who had passed the Bridge by Valenciennes called de la Rouelle When the Seneschal of Hainault espied these Men he rode forth like a Valiant Captain in the Head of his Troop against them and at the first shock bore down to the Earth with his Spear the Lord Bouciquaut whom he took Prisoner and sent to Valenciennes as one who was ordain'd to a Nobler Destiny The Lord of Surgieres escaped away by the Goodness of his Horse but Sr. William Blandeau was also taken alive by Sr. Henry de Hofalize and the rest either all taken or slain Then the Seneschal proceeded on toward Tryche but he had almost come too late for the French had just taken the Town before he came and were now beating down the Mills and a little Castle that was hard by When upon the Seneschals approach being suddenly taken they had hardly the leisure to mount their Horses so they were easily discomfited and put to flight and pursued so narrowly that many leapt into the River of Skell and some were drown'd especially the Footmen of whom very few escaped Thus was Tryche sav'd out of the fire and most of the spoils recover'd again After which the Seneschal repassed the River at Denain and rode to his Castle of Verchin to defend it if need should be All this while the Duke of Normandy was upon the Mount of Casteres near upon all day expecting that the Men of Valenciennes would have issued out to have fought with him And so they would gladly have done but that Sr. Henry Dantoing their Governour and the Provost of the Town according to the Seneschals Order stood at the Gate which looks towards Cambray and by fair Words and good Arguments us'd all their endeavour to stop them from sallying out For it was too Great Populous and rich a City to be hazarded at one cast of Fortune But while the Men of War remain'd within both they and the Town were safe being a mutual security to one another When therefore the Duke of Normandy saw plainly that they would not come forth against him he sent the Duke of Athens and the Marshals of his Host the Earl of Auxerre and the Lord of Chastillon with 300 Spears to go and skirmish with them at the Barriers All these rode forth accordingly in good Order and came to the Barriers on the side de la Rouelle but they durst not tarry there long for fear of the shot from the Walls which slew their Horses the Lord of Chastillon notwithstanding rode so near that his Horse fell dead under him so that he was fain to leap upon another in great Danger of his Own Person Then they return'd by the
Your Selves herein that We may have cause to commend Your Care and Diligence Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twelfth day of February in the Year of Our Reign over England the 15 and over France the 2d. In Answer to this the Archbishop return'd the same Defence he had made in the Pulpit at Canterbury only mutatis mutandis with this Preface directed to the King viz. IX b Antiqu. Brit. p. 227. c. To his Dread Lord EDWARD by the Grace of God of France and England the most Illustrious King John by Divine Permission his humble Minister of the Church of Canterbury once Temporally but now more in the Lord wisheth Health both of Soul and Body and evermore to persevere in Good and Manfully to Resist envious and wicked Suggestions which easily corrupt Good Manners There are two Things whereby the World is principally governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Power Of which the Burthen incumbent upon Priests is so much more weighty and sublime by how much at the Divine Scrutiny they are to give an Account even concerning Kings themselves And therefore your Majesty ought to know that You depend on their Judgment not that they can be directed by your Will. For who doubts but that the Priests of Christ ought to be accounted both Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the Faithfull Is it not look'd on as a sign of a deplorable Madness for a Son to endeavour to bring under his Father or a Scholar his Master And that many Prelates have Excommunicated some of them Kings others Emperours the Canonical Authority of the Scriptures testifies And if you enquire for any thing particular of the Persons of Princes the blessed c c Innocent l. Papa Rom. flâ—ruit circa An. Chr. 404. Innocent smote the Emperour Arcadius with the edge of Excommunication because he consented that St. John Chrysostom should be violently expelled from his Seat. And the Holy Ambrose Archbishop of Milain for a fault which to other Priests seem'd not so very enormous bound the Emperour Theodosius the Great in the Bond of Excommunication who afterward having first given convenient Satisfaction obtain'd Absolution And in more convenient time and place many more Examples of the like nature may be produced Whatsoever Priests therefore offend by Error meerly humane which doth no way trespass upon the Faith of Religion it seems that they neither can nor ought to be punished by the Secular Power For it is the part of a good and religious Prince to restore broken and bruised Churches to build new ones to honour and with all respect imaginable to defend the Priests of God like unto Constantine that pious Prince of most Happy Memory who when the Complaints of Clergymen were brought unto him said You can be judged of None that is none of the Secular Judges who are reserved to the judgment of God alone according to the Assertion of the Apostle saying d d 1 Cor. c. 2. v. 15. The spiritual Man is judged of no man. Let your Majesty therefore consider what and how great the Punishment of that Son ought to be who uncovers the nakedness of his Father and wickedly defames his innocent Parent to whom as is premised he ought to yield all reverence and honour For the Pagan Princes after their manner yielded and do yield no small Honour to the Prelates of their Temples and Idols whom they termed Flamins How much more ought Christian Princes Worshippers of the True God and of the Christian Faith to reverence the Ministers and Prelates of Christ But alas in a preposterous and unnatural way the Honour which on Occasion of the Dignity wherein we thô unworthy preside ought unto us as unto your Father to be yielded is turned into Reproach the Respect into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt While You sent your Royal Letters Patents sealed with your Royal Seal or rather notorious Libels spitefully dictated and written by our Enviers and Enemies containing various crimes and many enormous Matters and false-invented Reproaches against us to our infamy as plainly by the reading thereof may appear to all the Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall Persons to be published to the great Affront of us I hope and not of God himself That so the Devotion of our Flock toward us might wax cold and their Obedience be turned into Contempt From which unexpected not to say detestable Deed it evidently appears to all that behold it how the Royal Power which proceedeth from the Lord according to the saying of the wise King Solomon e e Wisd of Solomon c. 6. v. 1. 3. Hear ô ye Kings and understand Learn ô ye Judges of the ends of the Earth For Power is given unto you from the Lord and Soveraignty from the most High doth now presume to judge even the Lord God himself in the Persons of his Ministers and Priests not only to the violation of the Divine Law but against the Ordinance of God of humane Law and natural Reason and doth condemn its Spiritual Father and the chief Peer of the Land being not called not convicted and by your Record to use the vulgar word unheard to the hazard of your Soul to the exceeding prejudice of all us Peers and of all the People of the Land. Nor let any one maliciously accuse us that being conscious of our own Guilt we seek to hide our selves lest we should be obliged to bear the brunt of your Objections For the most High knoweth that we heartily desire to see you above all mortal Men that all Flattery remov'd we may intimate unto your Highness the dangers both of You and of your Kingdom and the Affection and loving Hearts of your Subjects and advise You that your Actions I wish they were all Praise-worthy might be as a Light to others according to that of the * * Claudian Regis ad exemplum tâ—tus componitur â—rbis Wise Man The World is by a King's Example sway'd And also that upon beholding our Face You might call to mind those Services which lately we have performed in your Employs carefully and Faithfully according to the Conscience of our Soul so God help us in the last Trial when all Men shall f f 2 Corin. c. 5. v. 10. stand before his Tribunal to receive the things done in their Bodies according to that they have done whether it be good or evil And especially that before You the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Realm we might set forth our Reputation which by your Letters and Libels aforesaid is basely torn and bespatter'd purged true and pure as I call God to Witness it is to Publique Knowledge But upon notice that certain of your principal Counsellors near your Person have given forth menaces of Death against us who are in this Land not as Joseph was in Egypt but like Tyrants now adays domineer in the Throne after
made shift to escape to the Camp where they related the whole Matter At this such as were most ready rose up to Rescue the Prey which they overtook near the Barriers of the Town And here began a fierce skirmish the Nantois being hard put to it by reason of the Numbers that flow'd in upon them from the Camp but however some of them took the Horses out of the Wagons upon the first approach of the Enemy and drove them in at the Gate that the Frenchmen might not easily drive back the Provision Hereupon Fresh Men came out of the City to relieve their Companions so the Fray multiplied and many were slain and hurt on both sides for Recruits continually came both from the Camp and City Wherefore the Lord Henry du Leon the Earl of Monford's Chief Captain perceiving that by continuing the Fight in this Manner he might by Degrees engage the whole City with the whole Army without any Advantage of his Walls and other Works thought best to sound a Retreat now before it grew worse But then the pursuit was so close upon their heels that more than 200 of the Burgesses were taken and slain Wherefore the Earl Monford when the business was over blamed Sr. Henry du Leon very severely for Retreating so soon At which unseasonable Reproof Sr. Henry who had hitherto been his Main Support was infinitely disgusted and for the future came not to any Council of War as his Manner was Which made many to wonder what his Design should be Soon * Frois c. 72. after this Mischance 't is said that some of the Chief Burgesses considering how their substance went daily to wreck both without and within the City and that already several of their Friends and Children were Prisoners if no worse and that themselves were in no less Danger privately agreed together to hold a Treaty with the Lords of France This Plot was carried on so closely by the connivance at least of Sr. Henry du Leon that it was concluded all the Prisoners should be deliver'd they in Lieu thereof engaging to set open their Gates that the French Lords might enter and take the Earl of Monford's Person in the Castle without doing any harm to the City the Inhabitants or their Goods Some lay all this Contrivance and the Menagement thereof to Sr. Henry du Leon's Charge who had been One of the Earls Privy-Counsellors his Friend and Chief Captain till that unhappy Accident whereby the Earl was provok'd to take him up so roundly However according to this Device so one Morning early it was effected The French Lords found easie entrance went straight to the Castle brake open the Gates and there took the Unhappy Earl Prisoner and led him clear out of the City into their Field without doing any further harm in the World This happen'd about the Feast of All-Saints in the Year of our Lord MCCCXLI After this the Lords of France and Sr. Charles of Blois enter'd the City again with great Triumph and there all the Burgesses and others did Fealty and Homage to the Lord Charles of Blois as to their Right Sovereign and True Duke of Bretagne For three Days they all continued here in great Jollity and Feasting because of this their unexpected Success After which the Lord Charles was advised to tarry thereabout till the next Summer and to set Captains in the places he had won But most of the other Lords return'd to Paris with the Earl of Monford their Prisoner XI Now Margaret the Countess of Monford who had the Courage of a man and the heart of a Lion was in the City of Rennes at what time her Lord was taken and althô she had a due sense of this great Misfortune yet she bore a good Countenance Recomforted her Friends and Souldiers and shewing them her little Son John said Gentlemen be not overmuch dismay'd at this mischance of my Lord the Earl whom We have unhappily lost He was but a Mortal Man and so all our hope ought not to rest on him But behold this my little Son who by the Grace of God shall be his Restorer and your Benefactor I have Riches enough so that you shall want for Nothing and I doubt not but to purchase such a Captain to be your Leader who shall be Wise Valiant and Noble When she had thus animated her Men in Rennes then she went about to all the Fortresses and good Towns that held of her side and still she carried along with her the little Lord John her Son and fortify'd all her Garrisons and spake to them as she had done to those at Rennes and paid largely and gave great Gifts where she thought it Convenient After all things were settled she went to the strong Town of Hennebond where she and her Son tarried all that Winter and frequently she sent to visit her Garrisons and paid all Men well and truly their Wages The mean while her Lord was a close Prisoner in the Louvre in Paris without hopes of Escape or Redemption Thô it will appear that about 3 years after upon certain Conditions which he kept not he got his Liberty but he died so soon after that it is hardly worth taking notice of and that I take to be the Reason why many Historians say nothing of it but rather think he died in Prison Thus much thô great part thereof seems a Digression was necessary to be said in order to clear what follows next Year of the Wars of Bretagne wherein England was concern'd I shall now take leave to speak something of the Scotch Affairs relating to the end of this and the beginning of the following Year Which after a small Digression we shall pursue more closely XII The last Year We show'd briefly how the Scots succeeded during King Edwards absence he lying at that time before Tournay So that having at last taken Edenburgh by Stratagem they had left nothing of Scotland in the English Hands but Striveling Barwick and Roxborough Now at King Edwards Return into England nothing was yet done against them because they were comprehended in the first Years Truce with France y Knighton p. 2580. But the King went about St. Andrews toward Scotland and kept his Christmas at Melros-Abbey Henry the Noble Earl of Darby keeping the same Festival at Roxborough hard by To Roxborough came the Lord William Douglas with Three Scotch Knights to Just with the Earl of Darby and his Knights which Martial Sport being honourably maintain'd on both sides the Scots departed for that time but shortly after the said Earl of Darby being then at Barwick twelve Knights of Scotland came thither also for the same purpose who were presently Match'd by as many English Of the Scotch Knights two by chance were slain and one Sr. John Twyford of the English Earls Retinue all the Rest came off with safety and Honour on each side King Edward presently after Christmas Return'd to Langley in Hertfordshire z Stow p. 238.
vatumque in Sede sedere Optatásque diu lauros titulúmque Poetae Te precor oblatum tranquillo pectore munus Hospitio dignare tuo c. Petrarch Africae l. 1. whose Hand Sicania's Scepter sways Hesperia's Pride and th' Glory of our Days By whose Award I hold a Poets Name And wish'd-for Bayes and Bayes-attending Fame Don't Mighty Prince I humbly pray refuse To ' accept this candid Offering of a Muse c. But as to the Kings Gracious Proffer to Crown him there at Naples he modestly declared that it was his Resolution not to accept the Laurel but in the Imperial City of Rome Whereupon that Noble Prince gave him his Letters Testimonial to the Senate of that City wherein he largely set forth the Merits of the Man and from his own Experience declared that he was well worthy to be publiquely in the most honourable manner presented with a Crown of Laurel These Letters being produced in the Senate by Vrsus Earl of Anguillara and Jordanus his Colleague one of the Sons of Vrsus Knight Senators of Rome Petrarch was called in and there openly challenged the Laurel His Claim was allowed and the Day of his solemn Inauguration appointed which was Easter-day k G. Lit. Dom. Pasch 8 April or the VI of the Ides of April in the Year MCCCXLI And on the same day l Victorellus p. 886. ad hunc ann in Vitt. Pentif Squarzafic by the General Consent of the whole City of Rome he received this Honour in the Capitol by the Hands of Earl Vrsus in the Name of King Robert and of the City and Senate of Rome with the loud Acclamations of a frequent Multitude at which time Earl Vrsus declared him a Great Poet Historian and Philosopher and Master in each Faculty After which being carried with a Pompous Attendance to St. Peter's Church he there consecrated his Laurel Wreath hanging it up on the Top of the Temple as a Memorial to Posterity Certainly whatever that Man may seem in the Opinion of our more polite and refined Age whoever considers him in relation to those dark Times must readily acknowledge this Honour was no way beyond his Merits and also that the Ignorance of those Days may be in some measure excused when we consider how ready they were to honour Learning where they found it In our Age a Skill in Letters is not so highly regarded either because it is more common or because Princes are less bountifull or the Learned themselves take not the best way to please them or Envy precludes them a fair Access to the notice of the Government XV. But to return to our Discourse of the Scottish Affairs When the Feast of St. John Baptist drew near which was the Time limited for the expiration of the Truce between England and Scotland Sr. William Douglas secretly gather'd together his Troops as well of Scots as of the French Auxiliaries and the very Day after the Truce was expired lay down with a competent Army before Striveling And because he well knew that King Edward being now at home it was not probable he could lie long there without some powerfull Diversion he used the more Vigour and Fury in all his Attacks and made his Approaches more resolutely hoping thereby to carry the Place before any succour should come King Edward about the beginning of September being alarm'd at the news of these Motions of Scotland came to York having before issued out his Commands to his Lords and Captains to meet him with their several Retinues by such a time at Barwick And the Commissioners of Array for the North did so well bestir themselves that shortly after the King was provided with sufficient Forces both Horse and Foot and his Army encreased daily The Lord Douglas knew well to what all these Preparations tended and therefore being one of the most daring Captains in the World and also considering that now was the best time to stir when so many Frenchmen his Friends were by to help him and the Enemy as yet was far off and unprovided renewed his Assault ten times more fiercely than before So that dividing his Army into Four Parts and keeping one of those four Divisions by turns perpetually upon the Assault he allowed the Besieged not one moment to rest whereby they were at last compell'd to Capitulate and because Douglas would allow them no better to yield on these Conditions to go away at their Liberty with Life and Limb one Suit of Apparel and their Swords only The Captain of the Castle was that valiant worthy Sr. Richard Limesi who the Year before had so well defended the Castle of Thine l'Evesque against the Duke of Normandy but now the incredible Fury of the Scots and the great Engines of battery which Douglas brought thither enforced him to accept of these necessary Conditions King Edward was at m Frois c. 73. Du Chesne p. 654. Barwick when the News of this Loss came to him whereupon he immediately rode back to Newcastle upon Tine where he lodged and was fain to tarry more than a Month still expecting the Provision for his Army which was to come by Sea. But his Fleet had been so shatter'd with a furious and lasting Tempest that a very small Part of it was able to come thither in any time and that not till November the rest being dispersed abroad some into Holland others upon the Coasts of Friseland and not a few quite lost Whereby the English Army suffer'd great want of Victuals and all things became excessive Dear and Winter was pretty well enter'd It was no doubt impossible for any time to hold together so great Forces which consisted of 40000 Foot and six thousand Horse in those Parts especially since the Scots had put as well all their Corn and Forage as their other Moveables into strong Holds And yet however King Edward was not wholly left by his good Fortune For Prince Robert Stuart Sr. William Douglas and the other Scotch Lords after the taking of Striveling had retired into the Forest of Gedeours not at all ignorant of King Edwards Forces and intent but wholly unwitting of his Misfortune for lack of Provision Wherefore they took counsel how to avoid so dreadfull a storm of War as they saw now ready to fall upon them Not at all presuming with their small Forces to meet with a Royal Army of so fam'd a Conquerour and being satisfied in themselves that they had already performed the Duty of good Subjects to their King and Country in having for more than seven Years without a King to lead or protect them not only maintained what was left but recover'd most of what was lost which yet they must expect to lose again as oft as King Edward should come thus strongly against them Wherefore they were ready to mutiny against their Lord King David who for all this kept private in France as if he either thought them not worth his Care or thô now of Age durst
ran thitherward with the remainder of their Forces and made the others turn their Faces again and together with them renew the Assault This was a most vigorous and general Onset and Honourably performed but the Besieged still defended themselves most resolutely The Virago Countess was her self Armed Cap à pied and rode about on a large strong Courser from street to street desiring and commanding all Men to make good their Defence The very Women and Maidens she order'd to cut their Garments shorter and to carry Stones and Pots of quick Lime to the Walls to throw down upon the Enemy And she her self to set an Example of Hardiness to her Sex perform'd that day such an Exploit as few Ages can equal but all Writers joyntly attest g Frois c. 80. Du Chesne p. 6 6. Mezeray 2. part tom 3. p. 19. c. When she had thus set all hands to Work she mounted the Highest Tower to see how the Frenchmen were disposed without And there she saw how all the Army was engaged at the Assault and had left the Camp unguarded Hereupon she descended took again her Courser all Armed as she had been and Selecting 300 Horsemen went with them to another Gate which was not Assaulted Here she issued forth with all her Company and taking a Course dashed into the French Camp cutting down and setting fire to their Tents and Pavilions There was no resistance made against her for she met with no body in the Camp but Boys and Pages who ran all away with great outcries When the Lords of France looked back and heard this confusion and saw their Tents on fire they left the Assault and return'd to the Field crying Treason When the Countess saw them Returning she gather'd her Men together and perceiving that without great Danger she could not recover the Town again took another way and made toward the Castle of Brest which was above 22 French Miles from thence But soon after the Lord Lewis of Spain who being Marshal of the Host was returning that way toward the Camp when he beheld such a Company of his Enemies marching off followed after them with a competent Number of his best Horse and pursued the Countess so close that he slew and hurt several of her Men who could not keep up with her But however she and the greater part of her People rode so well that they gained Brest where they were all received with great joy V. The next day the Lords of France having thus lost most of their Tents and Provisions resolved to lodge nearer the Town in Bowers made of Trees But they were mightily surprised when they heard how the Countess her self had headed that daring Exploit However the Besieged were extreamly concern'd for their Lady for of five days together they heard no tidings of Her nor could any way tell what was become of Her. The mean while the Countess took such Care of her Affairs that she had gather'd together no less than 500 Men of Arms besides those whom she brought with her to Brest And having so done on the Fifth day from her coming thither she left the Town with all this Warlike Company and rode forward without noise till about Sunrise she came along by one side of the Enemies Camp to the very Gate whence she had before made that daring Sally which immediately upon knowledge of her Person was opened unto her And so both She and all her Company enter'd Triumphantly with a great noise of Trumpets and Clarious whereby the French Army was roused They admired much at this Rejoycing of the Besieged and made haste to give them a fresh Alarum as those within did to defend themselves For this seasonable Return of the Countess with so good a Succour brought such mighty assurance to the Town that now they made a most notable defence thô their Enemies held them hard at Work all that Morning At Noon the Assault ceased the French having by far the Worst of it as well now as at other times Hereupon it was determin'd in a Council of War that the Lord Charles of Blois and Guy Earl of Blois his Father the Duke of Bourbon and the Marshall of France Sr. Robert Bertrand should go with most of their Troops and lay Siege to the strong Castle of Auray upon the Morbihan which is said to have been built by the Famous Breton King Arthur And that the Lord Henry du Leon Don Lewis of Spain and the Vicount of Roue◠with all the Spaniards and part of the Genouese should tarry still before Hennebond and block it up for they despaired of taking it by Assault But however they sent to Rennes for 12 great Engines wherewith they might cast huge Stones into the Town and Castle Night and Day Thus the French Host was divided the One part lying before Hennebond and the Other before Auray This Fortress of Auray was now well fortified and supply'd with 200 choice Souldiers and Provision sufficient and the Countess of Monford had lately sent them from Hennebond two Valiant and Loyal Captains Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver his Brother About four Leagues from this Castle was the strong City of Vannes which still held for the Countess by whom the Lord Geoffry of Malestroit was made Captain of the Place Not very far off was the good Town of Guingand the Governour whereof the Lord of Dinant was now in Hennebond with the Countess but he had left the Town well provided both of a Captain and what else was necessary his Wife and Children being in the Town of Dinant whereof Sr. Reynald of Dinant his Son was Captain Between Guingand and Vannes stood a strong Castle belonging to Sr. Charles of Blois called Rosternan well Garrison'd with Souldiers of Burgundy whose Captains were Sr. Gerard of Morlaix and Sr. Peter de Portbeufe These two wasted all the Country about them and prov'd a great Nuisance to both the foresaid Towns so that neither Merchandise nor Provision could be sent to either of them without Danger of being intercepted and lost For one day they would ride toward Vannes and another toward Guingand and still when one Captain went forth the other kept the Castle One day among the rest it happen'd that Sr. Reynald of Dinant had laid an Ambush for these Prolers at which very time Sr. Gerard of Morlaix their Chief Captain being ridden forth had taken 15 Merchants with all their Goods and Commodities and was now driving them to his Castle of Rosternan But in the way he fell into Sr. Reynald's Ambuscade who took Sr. Gerard and Twenty five of his Men Prisoners rescued the Merchants and all their Goods and return'd safe to Dinant Whereby the Young Man deservedly got much Commendation VI. All this while h Frois c. 80. fol. 42. Sr. Charles of Blois gain'd no great Advantage at Auray But Don i Hecame from Prince Ferdinande Eldest Son to Alphonso X King of Castille and Leen and from
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
always Prelate of the Order and then he proceeded to give the same Habit to the other 25 Knights Companions as in Order they follow 2. His Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales now but in the 14 then in the 19 Year of his Age. 3. His Noble and Valiant Cousin Henry at that time Earl of Lancaster and afterwards Duke of the same Title 4. Thomas Beauchamp the thrice Noble and Valiant Earl of Warwick 5. John q Here Mr. Ashmole is stagger'd because 〈◊〉 he finds it on Record that John de Greilty Son. of Peter was Captal of Buch from the 5 to the 29 of King Edward the III as indeed he was from the 5 to the 50. Yet notwithstanding upon the Original Plate of his Name set up in the Chappel at Wâ—ndsor it is engraven Piers Capitow de la Bâ—uch as if his Name also was Peter When as it is evident that these Plates were not set up at the Foundation but many Years after perhaps after King Edward's Death as may be made manifest to any strict enquirer And his Fâ—ther being of the Name of Peter might cause a mistake at least in the Engraver From whence afterward Authority grew also even to other writings Nay I shall hereafter prove that as great a Mistake as this was engraven upon Queen Philippa's Tomb thô done in King Edwards Life de Greilly Captal of Buch which is a great Lordship in Aquitain the Governour whereof is stiled Captal and the Country it self is called le Captalat de Buch or Busch the chief Town whereof called la Teste de Buch is about seven Leagues Westward of Bourdeaux This Gentleman was a Mighty Man of Valour and most firm of all others to the English side so that after many Renowned Exploits whereof this History will not be silent being at last taken Prisoner by the French he chose rather to die in Prison than to swear never more to bear Arms for England 6. The next Knight in Order was Ralph Lord Stafford Earl of Stafford 7. William Montagu the hopefull young Earl of Salisbury 8. Roger Lord Mortimer Grandson to Roger Earl of March who five Years after obtain'd a Revocation of the Judgement against his Grandfather and thereupon was restored in Blood and to the Earldom of March and to all his said Grandfathers Lands Honours and Possessions Being for his Valour and Worth highly meriting to be inserted into this most Noble Order 9. After him was invested the Couragious Knight John Lord Lisle 10. Then Bartholomew Lord Burghersh alias Burwash Junior at that time but twenty Years old but every way Worthy of this Honour 11. John Lord Beauchamp younger Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick a Noble Martialist of that Age. 12. John Lord Mohun of Dunstor a Constant Attendant of the Black-Prince in all his Wars 13. Hugh Lord Courtney Son to Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire 14. Thomas Lord Holland of Holland in Lancashire who about the time of this his Creation or the 23d. of King Edward was Married to the Beauty of England Joan Sister to the Earl of Kent 15. John Lord Grey of Codonore in Derbyshire 16. Sr. Richard Fitz-Simon whose Services in War rais'd him to this Honourable Title 17. Sr. Miles Stapleton a Man of Great Nobility and Integrity and Expert in Martial Affairs 18. Sr. Thomas Wale a Knight of great Vertue and Worthiness but one who thô by his early Valour he merited so High a Rank yet by his too early Death which happen'd within three Years after the Institution left his Stall void the First of all these Founders 19. Sr. Hugh Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the County of Stafford Knight from whom in a direct Line is Sr. Walter Wrottesly of Wrottesly in the foresaid County Baronet now r Ashmole ità Ano. Domini 1672. living descended 20. Sr. Nele Loring a Knight of great Valour and Nobility and whom we have shewn to have been first Knighted for his signal Courage in the Naval Fight at Sluce 21. The Lord John Chandos a most Illustrious Hero of whose Generosity and Valour to write sufficiently would require a large Volume 22. The Lord James Audley a most Adventurous and Fortunate Commander and Cousin to Nicolas Audley Earl of Gloucester 23. Sr. Otho Holland Brother to the Lord Thomas Holland aforesaid 24. Sr. Henry Eam of Brabant commonly by Historians called Sr. Henry of Flanders a Valiant and Loyal Servant to King Edward 25. Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt a Valiant Knight of Heinalt now Naturaliz'd in England 26. Sr. Walter Pavely who was Famous for his Exploits in several Warlike Expeditions These were the Names and this the Order of the First Knights of the Garter whom the thrice Noble King Edward chose to be his Companions and Fellows in this Honourable Society All Men of most signal Valour and Conduct of High Birth and untainted Loyalty So Generous and Heroick that they might all seem Worthy to be Kings and their Perseverance in Vertue to the last as it partly declares the sharp Judgement the King used in their Election so it shews of what Power and Efficacy that Honourable Tye was and what Obligations to Vertuous Behaviour it laid upon them But methinks it may justly be Wonder'd how it came to pass that this Great Honour being confer'd on so few those other Worthy Barons who deserv'd it no less being laid aside should notwithstanding never shew the least disgust at the Matter For certainly the Noble and Heroick Lord Walter Manny the Valiant and Daring Lord Reginald Cobham Richard Fitz-Alan the Great Earl of Arundel Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Warlike Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Ralph Basset of Sapcote the Lord Roger Delaware and many more for Birth Wisdom Loyalty Wealth Vertue or Valour were well Worthy of the Highest Honours But this Prudent Prince would not make his Institution cheap by communicating it to many nor have any of his Successors to this Day exceeded the Number of 26. The mean while 't is highly probable that the other Lords thought it more Noble to grow emulous who of them should be most Worthy to ascend the first vacant Place and we find by Degrees that most of them did as the Stalls fell void attain to that Dignity as the two Earls of Essex and Northampton the Earls of Arundel and Suffolk the Lord Walter Manny and Reginald Lord Cobham and others but the Rest either died or were decrepit and past Action almost before their turns came and so found no Room at all VII The Order being thus well-stockt at the beginning has since that obtain'd such an High Esteem thrô all the Christian World that divers Å¿ Ashmole p. 189. Emperours Kings and Sovereign Princes have reputed it among their greatest Honours to be chosen and admitted thereunto insomuch as some of them have with Impatience Courted the Honour of Election
went in a Body to speak with their Captain as it were by way of asking Advice to learn what his Resolution might be He answer'd them in a few words bravely Gentlemen look to your Defences in your several Stations as I shall in mine I tell you we are able to keep this Town half a Year if there be occasion Hereupon they went away very well content as to outward appearance but at Night when he little thought of it they seised him suddenly and clap'd him in Prison vowing never to let him out unless he would consent to yield and make their Peace with the Earl of Darby Whereupon he swearing to do his endeavour they let him out and so he went to the Town Barrs and made a sign to speak with some body whereat the Lord Manny coming up to him he said Sr. Walter Manny You need not think it strange that at your first coming We shut our Gates against You for We have all sworn Allegiance to the Frenâ—â— King Thô I see well there is no sufficient Captain in his behalf that comes forth to stop You in your Career So that I doubt You are like to proceed further But Sir as for my self and those of this Garrison I desire of You that We may be permitted to remain as We are upon this Composition that neither of Us offer or do any the least hurt to other for the space of one Moneth that if within that time the French King or the Duke of Normandy come in Person into this Country so strong as to fight with You then We to be quit of our Covenant but if neither the One nor the Other appear on our behalf then We all to put our selves entirely under the Obedience of the King of England Sr. Walter Manny went straight to the Earl of Darby to know his Pleasure in this Matter the Earl because he would not linger there was content on Condition that those within should make no new Repairs or Fortifications during the term and also that if any of his Men wanted Victuals or ought else they might have it of them for Money This was all agreed and 12 of their Richest Burgesses sent as Hostages to Bordeaux they also refreshed the English with Victuals but would not let a Man enter Matters thus settled here the Earl proceeded wasting and spoiling all the Country which was Pleasant and Fruitfull and so at last came and sat down before the strong Castle of Aiguillon Where he had scarce appeared but the Captain of the Castle came and yielded all up unto him only conditioning for Life and Goods All the Country thereabouts was amazed at this easie Bargain for it was reputed One of the strongest Castles in all the World and it stood most Advantagiously scituated between the Lot and the Garonne two great Rivers able to bear Ships of Burthen The Earl of Darby newly Repair'd what was out of Order in the Castle and left within it the Lord John Moubray with an 120 lusty Souldiers to defend it But the Captain who had thus basely yielded so Noble a Fortress without one stroke giving or taking failed not of the Reward his Cowardise deserved For being come to Tholouse about 20 common French Miles from Aiguillon they apprehended him condemned him of Treason and hung him up immediately The Earl of Darby the mean while went and lay before Segart which having taken by Assault and put all within to the Sword he marched thence to the Town of Reole standing on the Garonne This was p Pros c. 109. a great and strong Place wherefore the Earl of Darby invested it quite Round and made Bastions near the High-ways and other Avenues to hinder Provision from coming into the Town and almost every Day he alarum'd them with his Attacks But still the Besieged held out so that while the Earl lay here the Moneth being now expired wherein they of Monsegur had Covenanted unless they were Defended by a Royal Army to yield themselves and embrace the Service of the King of England he sent thither requiring them according to Composition to make Performance They all readily agreed and that Hardy Loyal Captain Sr. Hugh Batefoile himself not thinking Him fit to Reign over France who in all that while either durst not or would not or could not Protect his Subjects own'd Edward of England for his Sovereign and he and all his Men enter'd into his Service on certain Wages Now the Earl of Darby had layn before Reole more than 9 Weeks in which time he had made two vast Belfroys or Bastilles of Massy timber with three Stages or Floors each of the Belfroys running on four huge Wheels bound about with thick Hoops of Iron and the sides and other parts that any way respected the Town were cover'd with Raw Hides thick laid to defend the Engines from fire and shot In every one of these Stages were placed an 100 Archers and between the two Bastilles there were two Hundred Men with Pick-Axes and Mattocks From these six Stages six Hundred Archers shot so fiercely all together that no Man could appear at his Defence without a sufficient Punishment So that the Belfroys being brought upon Wheels by the strength of Men over a part of the Ditch which was purposely made plain and level by the Faggots Earth and Stones cast upon them the 200 Pioneers ply'd their Work so well under the Protection of these Engines that they made a considerable Breach thrô the Walls of the Town Hereupon the Burgesses came to one of the Gates and desired parly The Earl of Darby sent thither the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord Ralph Stafford to hear their Proposals which were that they would accept the King of England for their Lord so they might suffer no harm either in their Bodies or Goods Sr. Agoust de les Baux a Native of Provence who was Chief Commander within when he saw they were resolv'd to yield up the Town retired into the Castle with all his Men and while the Townsmen were busie about the Treaty he convey'd into the Castle great quantities of Wine and other Provisions and then closing the Gates said he was not minded to yield as yet This mean while the two English Lords aforesaid went back and told the Earl of Darby that the Town would yield upon security of Life and Goods Then the Earl sent to know if the Castle would do the like but word was brought they intended the Contrary After a little musing said the Earl Well go take them of the Town to Mercy for by the Town We shall win the Castle Then the said Lords took the Town to Mercy on Condition they should all go forth into the Field and present the Keys of the Town to the Earl of Darby saying Sir from this time forward We acknowledge our selves Subjects and will ever be obedient to the King of England This they did and sware further that they would never give any Assistance to those within the
Blanchetteaque by b Fabian p. 222. Sâ—â—sâ—n's Map. Saigneville a Place below Abbeville between c D'Avila p. 10â—9 St. Valery and Crotoy where the Somme spreading it self more largely in Breadth proves less rapid and more shallow in Depth than elsewhere thô even here it is not passable but at Low Sea. XIV At their first coming thither they found the Flood up wherefore they tarried waiting for the Fall of the Water till Prime in which time Sr. Godmar du Fay came thither from Crotoy and ranged his Men in Order upon the Banks and at the Ascent of the River to defend the Passage against the English But King Edward no way discouraged at this daring Appearance when the Ebbe came commanded his Marshals to enter the Water d Da Serres c. and himself looking back on his Men said aloud They that Love me let them Follow me plunged in after them the whole Army following in good Order Upon this the French Men of Arms on the other side being attended with the Crossbows descended also into the Water and there the Gentlemen of Artois and Picardy behav'd themselves with much Resolution and being back'd by the Genouese Crossbows gave the English no small trouble But King Edwards Archers shot with such Advantage against them that they were forced to retire from the Men of Arms who after an obstinate Dispute were also beaten back by the English Men of Arms and so the English took land and still as they came up began to order themselves in the Field When the Lord Gondemar du Fay saw how strangely his Men gave back and that the Landing of the Enemy could no further be impeached he presently fled away and left the Field with the Chief of his Horsemen some whereof recover'd Abbeville others St. Ricquier But most of the Foot were slain for the Chace endured for above three Miles So that there were slain more than e Holinshead p. 932. Stow p. 242. 2000 f Knighton p. 2587. n. 40. Men of Arms besides Footmen and those that were taken Prisoners Nor did the English escape wholly without Loss for before their Reer could get quite over the g Frois c. 127. Van-Currours of the King of Bohemia and the Lord John of Hainalt came upon them and slew some of them before they could gain the Ford and took some Horses and a few Carriages When now the King of England with his Army had thus escaped the great Danger they were lately in he h Frois ibid. first return'd his Thanks to God and then called Gâ—bin Agace before him and gave both him and all his Company their liberty and an 100 Nobles and a good Horse to Gobin as he had promised And having so done i Frois ibid. Du Chesne p. 664. he rode forth in his former Order designing to take up his Quarters at a great Town called Noyelle sur la Mer but being informed that it belonged to the Countess of Aumale who was Sister to his late Friend the Lord Robert of Artois for the Sake and in Memory of that Lord he forbore to do the least harm either to the Town or the Lands belonging thereto and so went forward But his Marshals rode up to Crotoy by the Sea-side which after some Opposition they took and burnt having slain above 300 Germans whom they found therein Here in the Haven they found many Ships and other Vessels laden with Wines of Ponthieu which were taken up by the Merchants of Xaintogne and Rochelle but now the Marshals seised thereon and brought the best to the King the rest they disposed of as they thought fitting Then one of the Marshals rode up even to the Gates of Abbeville and thence to St. Ricquier and the other unto the Town of Rue St. Esprit attempting if they could find any of those Places at any Disadvantage All this was done that Morning on which the King passed the Ford at Blanchetteaque and the Marshals return'd to the King early after Noon XV. That same Morning which was a Fryday and the 25 of August the Frence King marched from Airaynes in pursuit of King Edward whom he expected to find enclosed between the River of Somme and his Army But when he heard how the Passage was won and that the Lord Gondemar du Fay was defeated he complain'd aloud k â—agum p. 141. that he was betray'd For he thought it impossible that 12000 Men so well posted should not be able to defend so narrow a Passage against all the World if they had done their Duties However he immediatly followed the English by the Banks of the River on the other side whereof King Edward and his Army lay and thô he had in his Company an Army of above an Hundred Thousand Men yet King Edward l Sr. Tho. de la Mâ—re apud Stow p. 242. offer'd him free Passage over the Ford provided he would come over the next Tide and choose a Place apt for Battle King Philip demanded of his Marshals what Course he should take in this Case they said Sir You cannot pass this River but at the Bridge of Abbeville for now 't is high Tide and if it was not thô your Adversary would let you pass freely over yet he would then have you at Disadvantage your Men being not duely order'd and beside that wet and weary But if your Majesty returning to Abbeville will take the benefit of this following Night for the Refreshment of your Men we shall pass the Bridge time enough to Morrow and fight with our Enemies without any Disadvantage Upon this Advice King Philip returned to Abbeville and King Edward marched up further into Ponthieu about 3 Leagues till he came to the Forest of Cressy near to the Town of Cressy which stands on the River Maye exactly between Abbeville and Hesdin When the King saw here that there was convenient Ground for two Armies to meet conjecturing rightly that now his Adversary of France was resolved to give him Battle he said to his Lords We will now go no further till we have look'd our Enemies in the Face for I have good reason to expect them here all this Land of Ponthieu being the Right Heritage of the Queen my Mother which was given her for her Dowry by her Father Philip thô since it hath been unjustly taken away by mine Adversary Philip of Valois Of whom now I will challenge this Country of Mine and God defend the Right And because he had not the m Frois c. 127. Says not an 8th part Fourth Part of that Number which King Philip brought into the Field he commanded his Marshals to choose out a Plat of Ground something for his Advantage This was all done accordingly and at the same time the King sent out his Van-Currours towards Abbeville to observe if they could see any Tokens of King Philip's Coming forward that Day These Men upon their return brought word to the Contrary and
presenting him therewith said Sr. Eustace I give you this Chaplet for the best Doer in Arms at this last Battle of either Party whether French or English and I desire you to wear it this Year at Festivals for my sake I know well you are a Personable Gentleman Young and Amorous and well accepted of among the Ladies wherefore if you will wear it in all Publique Balls and declare unto them that the King of England gave you this as a Testimony of your Valour I will also now release you from Prison quitting you wholly of your Ransom and you shall depart to morrow if you please The Knight who by this time had been fully informed of all things was so abundantly satisfied that it had been his Fortune to fight hand to hand with so great a King and to receive such an Honourable Acknowledgement from him that he not only wore the said Chaplet accordingly while he lived but in Memory of so Gracious a Gift from so Mighty a Prince did f Ferne's Blazon of Gentry l. 1. p. 211. bear ever after in his Arms Three Chaplets garnished with Pearls XII Thus was this Treason of the French attempted in the time of Truce by another Treason of the Lombard Captain justly thrown upon their own Heads Thô the perfidious Knight escaped not long himself For g Mezercy ad an 1350. c. Stow p. 249. being the next Year taken by some Frenchmen about St. Omers he was first degraded of the Order of Knighthood by having his Spurs hew'd from his Heels then branded with a burning hot Iron for a Rogue and then his Tongue being cut out in token of his Perjury he was Hanged by the Neck and lastly Beheaded Quarter'd and Dismembred as a Traytor And surely however cunningly he had carried himself in this matter either there remain'd still so much Suspicion on him or however the Action appeared so detestable that King Edward never after had any Kindness for him or Confidence in his Loyalty For we find h Ashmele p. 657. ex Ret. Franc. 22. Ed. 3. m. 1. how on that very Day whereon the Rescue of Calais had been made namely on the First of January the King appointed the Noble Valiant and Loyal Baron Sr. John Beauchamp for Captain of Calais Nor was the King unmindfull of those his Gallant Subjects who had accompanied him in the Rescue of this important Place Among whom the Lord Walter Manny under whose Banner he had fought i Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 149. ex Pat. 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 26. obtain'd of him a Pardon for all such Escapes as any Felons or Fugitives had made out of the Prison of the Marshalsey he being this Year Marshall thereof and the next k Dugd. ibid. ex Ret. Vasc 24 Ed. 3. m. 6. Year had a Grant of those Houses and Wharfs in the Town of Libourne within the Dutchy of Aquitain which Edmund Marcell a Pattaker with the Kings Enemies had formerly possessed as also a l Id. ibid. ex Rot. Vasc 24 Ed. 3. m. 3. Grant of the Mannor of Ospettlington in the County of Barwick which Thomas Byset a Scot in Arms against the King had formerly held And as for the Lord Guy Bryan who was Standard-Bearer to the King in this Action m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 151. ex Pat. 23 Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. he behav'd himself with such great Courage and Valour at that time that in Recompence thereof he obtained of the King a Grant of 200 Marks per annum out of the Exchequer during Life which was afterwards augmented n Id. ibid. ex Autegr penes Clera pell with 200 l. more per annum ut priùs besides several other Charters Grants and Emoluments at sundry times confer'd upon him and the great Honour of being made first a Banneret and afterwards upon a Vacancy Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter He o Ashmtle's Garter p. 709. Plate 57. bore for his Arms Or Three Piles Azure And thus the Noble King of England having happily atchieved his Enterprize and lest the Castle of Calais under the Command of the Lord Beauchamp aforesaid and the Town as it was before under the Lord John Mongomery returned Triumphant homeward with the Chief of the French Prisoners and arrived safe in England But the Lord Mongomery and his Lady presently after died at Calais of a Plague which by and by will furnish us with much matter of Discourse Not long before this p Fabian p. 278. Mezeray ad an 1349. Odor Rainal ad an 1350. n. 40. Charles Eldest Son of John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son took Possession of the Dauphinate of Vienna which the Old Dauphin Prince Humbert having lost the Lord James his onely Son and Heir in the Battle of Cressy had sold a good Penniworth to the French King He himself retiring from the World into a Convent of Jacobins where he took their Habit. From that Prince the Kings of France's Eldest Sons have been called Dauphins of Vienna as the Kings of England's Eldest Sons are stiled Princes of Wales XIII In the q Frois c. 152. Fabian p. 278. Mezerdy ad han◠annum Month of August of this last Year died the Mother of the said Dauphin commonly called the Good Dutchess of Normandy who was Daughter to John the Old King of Bohemia that was slain also in the Battle of Cressy And r Ex Vitâ Caroli Imperatoris per se scriptâ ab initio yet the same King of Bohemia's Son Charles the Emperour was married to the Lady Blanch Sister of King Philip of Valois Father to the said John Duke of Normandy And in December following died Jane Queen of France Daughter to Robert once Duke of Burgundy and Sister to Eudes then Duke of Burgundy so that the French King and his eldest Son John were both Widowers at one time But as for King Philip he had lately sent for a fresh Young Lady designing to give her unto his Son John but now being a Widower himself he thought good to serve his own Turn first and so on the Ninth of January took her for his Second Queen Her Name was Blanch Daughter to Philip late King of Navarre by his Queen who was Sister to the Earl of Foix but the Espousals were kept secretly at the Mannor of Robert Earl of Braye she being then scarce 18 Years of Age and the Bridegroom already a Grandfather but he enjoy'd her little more than a Year and an half as we shall see hereafter On the Ninth of February his Son John also married his Second Wife which was the Lady Joan Countess of Boulogne Relict of the young Lord Philip of Burgundy Son of Eudes Duke of Burgundr who died at the Siege of Aiguillon about three Years before as we have ſ L. 2. c. 4. §. 6. p. 369. shewn She was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne by his Lady the Daughter of
Chron. ad an 1348. 14000 and so proceeded to Paris where as if it had been yet fasting it made a more Plentifull Banquet of no less than 50000. At Lubeck a City of Germany in one Year it swept away no less than l Cluverii Epit. Hist p. 573. Lampad Pezelan Sleidan par 3. p. 365. 90000 whereof 1500 are reported to have died within the space of Four Hours And thrô all Germany there are reckoned 1244434 to have died of the Plague only It would be both incredible to hear and almost impossible to declare the Wonderfull havock it made in other Foreign Parts even as we have said throughout the whole world Insomuch m Giov. Villani l. 12. c 83. p. 893 that many Towns and Cities nay whole Provinces were in a manner left desolate of Inhabitants Wherefore we shall have done with this Tragical Truth when we have shewn how our own Country fared thereby For at last this fiery scourge of God came over the Seas to afflict our World also VI. About the n Fox Acts Mon. Stow p. 245. c. First of August 1348 it began in the Sea-port Towns on the Coasts of Dorsetshire Devonshire and Somersetshire whence it ran up to Bristow So that the Glocestershire-men forbad all entercourse with the Bristolians But this Familiar Fury wanted no Medium to introduce it For as the Scripture says of the Pestilence that it walketh in Darkness or invisibly its Progress not being to be found out so unexpectedly and contrary to humane Precaution this Plague also walked or rather flew among the Glocestershire men whence it went o Anton-Wood Antiq. Oxon. l. 1. p. 171. 172. â—ox Acts Men. ibid. Stow p. 246. to Oxford and about the First of November it reached London and finally spread it self all over England scattering every where such Ruine and Desolation that of all sorts hardly the Tenth Person was left alive In the p Annal. Ecclesiae Prior. Yarmouth apud Stow ibid. Church and Church-yard of Yarmouth were buried in one Year no less than 7052 Persons all of the Plague So that the Parsonage which before was worth 700 Marks per annum was hardly afterwards worth 40 pounds as it was certified to King Henry VII in the 22 Year of his Reign and was written upon the Gates of the Church of that Town In the City q Stow ibid. ex Registro Nâ—rvicensi Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 166. sed male ibi London pro Norwich Daniel's Hist p. 241. Godwin's Catal. Bps p. 427. Blome's Britan. p. 169. of Norwich from the First of January to the First of July which is but half a Years Space there died no less than 57104 or as others have it 57374. In the City r Knighton p. 2599. of Leicester out of the small Parish of St. Leonard there fell no less than 380 In the Parish of Holy-Rood 400 more then in St. Margarets 700 and so proportionably in other Parishes In the City Å¿ Tho. Stubbs apud Decem Angl. Hist Scriptores p. 1732. of York it raged most furiously from about the Ascension to the Feast of St. James the Apostle But in the Famous City of London Death was so outragiously Cruel that every day at least 20 sometimes 40 sometimes 60 or more dead Corpses were flung together into one Pit and yet the Church-yards not sufficing for the Dead they were fain to set apart certain Fields for additional places of Burial And yet even so those Offices were not performed with any usual Decency or Honesty for the Numbers of the Dead being so great they were fain to t M. S.Vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 228. make deep Ditches and Pits very broad wherein they lay'd a range of Carcasses and a range of Earth upon them and then another range of Dead Bodies which were all together cover'd and after this manner were all People buried at that time except those of the better sort Among those who charitably took care of the Dead in this manner we find u Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London p. 477. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bps p. 198. Monast Angl. Vol. 1. p. 961. that the Noble and Valiant Lord Walter Manny so often mention'd in this our History having a Pious Regard to Gods Judgements and the common Frailty of Humane Nature purchas'd a piece of ground adjoyning to a place called No Mans Land and lying in a place called Spittle-Croft because it belonged to St. Bartholomews Spittle or Hospital in Smithfield since that called the New-Church x Haw apud Veteres Yard sonat Haw containing 13 Acres of Land and a Rod and caused the same to be inclosed and consecrated by Ralph Stafford Bishop of London In which one place besides those buried in other Church-yards Churches and Monasteries in and about London there were buried within one Year more than y Fabâ—an p. 227. Stow Chron. p. 246. and Survey of London 478. 50000 Persons as I have read says Mr. Stow in the Charters of Edward III. The same Author affirms also that he had seen and read an Inscription fixed on a Stone-Cross sometime standing in the same Church-yard in these Words ANNO DOMINI MCCCXLIX REGNANTE MAGNA PESTILENTIA CONSECRATUM FUIT HOC COEMITERIUM IN QUO ET INFRA SEPTA PRAESENTIS MONASTERII SEPULTA FUERUNT MORTUORUM CORPORA PLUS QUAM LM PRAETER ALIA MULTA ABHINC US QUE AD PRAESENS QUORUM ANIMABUS PROPITIETUR DEUS AMEN But especially between Candlemas and Easter this Year there were buried in the place aforesaid about z Fâ—x Acts Mâ—n p. 507. Holinsh p. 945. ex Reb. Avesbury 200 Corpses per diem every day Wherefore the said Noble Lord Walter Manny in memory of the vast Numbers of Christian People there buried and in Pious Charity as he thought to their Souls caused afterwards on the same ground a Chappel to be builded of rare Workmanship with Design to make it Collegiate for 12 Priests and a Provost and to endow it amply a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 150. eâ— Mcnasi Ang. 1 Vol. p 961. And there for about twenty two Years Offerings were made in which time it is to be noted that above an 100000 Bodies of Christian People had been buried in that Church-yard For the said Sr. Walter Manny had purchased the Place for the Burial of Poor People Travailers and others to remain for ever and order was taken to avoid contention thereupon between That House and Parsons of Churches But in the Year 1371 the said Lord Manny changing his Mind in stead thereof obtained b Dugd. ibid. ex Monast Ang. ibid. a Licence to found a Monastery of Carthusian Monks to pray for the good Estate of himself and of Margaret his Wife during their Lives in this World and afterwards for their Souls As also for the Souls of Alice of Hainalt Michael Northburgh sometime Bishop of
River Garonne and by his Heralds demanded of them in the Name of his Master the King of England to yield or to come forth and give him Battle To which the Captains within returned Answer that if he would tarry five Days they would then come out and fight him Hereupon he granted them a Truce for Four days but on the Fifth when he saw they would not fight according to their Promise he set fire on the Suburbs and so returned having spoiled the Country all about to the great terrour of the Inhabitants There accompanied the Earl of Lancaster in this his Expedition d Stow p. 247 Ralph Lord Stafford the Lord Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Bartholomew his Son the Eldest Sons of the Lords Nevill and Piercy Sr. e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 70. Miles Stapleton Knight of the Garter and Thomas Lord Furnival Which latter f Stow p. 249. 250. within a while after too rashly engaging with his Enemies was by them taken Prisoner Soon after King Edward himself prepared to make a Voyage into France but the Earl of Lancaster returning the mean while out of Gascogne signified unto him that according to the Extent of his Commission he had agreed unto a further Truce wherefore that Design was no further pursued at that time VIII Now during these Wars in Bretagne and Gascogne there were many single Combats and sometimes Battles at utterance between certain Numbers of French and English as sometimes 10 20 or 30 on each Side All which were fought with extream Animosity and Obstinacy as wherein the Honour of their several Countries was so nearly concerned One particularly at one time was occasion'd in this Manner Twenty g Knighton p. 2607. n. 20. French Knights challenged Twenty Others either of England or Gascogne to fight them in a certain place assigned them in the Marches between Gascogne and France which Challenge being accepted each Party gave Security to the other not to forsake the Field upon any Account so long as one was left ready and willing to engage him in Combat Accordingly the time being come they all performed their Parts so valiantly and stood to it so long that of the French but Three were left alive and of the other Part only the Noble Lord of Pamiers being slain almost all the rest were grievously wounded Another Combat in like manner was agreed to be fought between h Mezeray p. 39. ad ann 1351. Sr. Walter Raleigh Hist of the World p. 954. Thirty English and Thirty Bretons Sr. Richard Bembre being Captain of the former and the Lord of Beaumanoir of the latter In which Number there was a Valiant Young English Gentleman named Sr. Hugh Calverlee Of whose Martial Acts we shall speak hereafter Froisard names i Frois c. 149. one young Esquire Croquart who being at this time chosen on the English Part wan the Prize above all of either side However Mezeray says the Advantage remain'd here with the Bretons and the chief Honour of that Side with the Captain the Lord of Beaumanoir and it is added in the Margin that afterwards Sr. Bertram of Clequin fighting hand to hand with the said Sr. Richard Brembre in close Field vanquished and slew him IX By reason of these hot Wars many poor and mean Fellows arrived to great Riches as Fortune favour'd that side they served So that in time several such kind of Persons set up for themselves and grew Captains of Robbers and retain'd Assistants whereby they wan Towns and Castles took Prisoners and by their Ransoms and otherwise got incredible Pillage and Booty some of their Captains being worth above 40000 Crowns of Gold. These Men would often by their Spies seek out where there was any considerable Town or Village within a Days journey or so from them and being informed as to that point they would assemble Thirty or Fourty of them together and take by ways travelling night and day and so unknown enter into the Place designed before it was Light and straight set fire to some House or Barn Whereupon the poor Inhabitants thinking some Men of War near would fly away with all speed imaginable the mean while these Robbers would break up their Houses and Coffers and having thence taken what they pleased march off as they came Among others there was one of these graceless Captains in Languedoc named Bacon who having by his Spies privaly found out the manner of the strong Castle of Colbourne in Limosin rode by Night with 30 Chosen Men in his Company and presently surprized the Castle and the Lord thereof who was called by the Castles Name the Lord Colbourne whom he imprison'd and held there in his own Castle under restraint so long till at last he made him pay 24000 Crowns for his Ransom And yet for all that he kept the Castle still and thence made war upon the Country Till at last the French King was fain to buy him off and to purchase his Service and the Castle For the latter whereof he gave him 20000 Crowns more and made him Usher of Arms about his own Person And thus was thô Bacon of a Robber made a Gentleman and Servant to a King and he went always well Horsed and Armed as if he had been an Earl during his life Nor was the Dutchy of Bretagne free from this Sort of People who now in time of Truce made War where they listed and wan and surprized Towns and Castles and lived on Plunder holding of no Man For what they got they kept themselves or sold back to the Country at their own Rates The most considerable among those who reign'd thus in Bretagne was one Captain Croquart a valiant and expert Man of Arms who had formerly been a Page and waited on the Lord Barkley in Holland but when he began to be a Man his Master gave him leave to follow the Wars in Bretagne There he fell into service with an English Man of Arms and behav'd himself so well that when afterwards his Master was slain in a Skirmish his Fellow-Souldiers chose him for their Captain and Master Whereupon teaching his Men this sweet way of Free-booty he arrived to such Wealth that he was accounted worth above 40000 Crowns besides his Horses and Warlike Furniture and he had always at least twenty or thirty good Barbed Horses menaged for the War And himself bare the Reputation of being one of the most expert Men of Arms in all that Country for he had been chosen in the Combat whereof we spake to be one of the Thirty on the English Side and there he wan the Prize beyond all of either Party The French King attempted to bring him also over to his Side offering him if he would turn against the English to make him a Knight and marry him to a great Fortune and likewise to allow him out of his Exchequer 2000 l. of yearly Revenues during his Life But either he loved the English or at least this licentious way of Robbing
his Blood should yield to try a Combat before a King his Enemy was mortally displeased at him and thô he had gain'd such Honour both in the Holy Wars and in the late Duel absolutely deny'd to admit him into his Presence But after a few days having with much adoe and earnest Intercession obtain'd admittance the said Lord Thomas as one that was desirous to shew himself a true Subject and so to recover his Brothers favour besides his declaring the necessity which the Christian Lords had put upon him to go into England began among his excuses highly to extoll the Generosity of King Edward and to shew how justly his Fame was spread throughout the whole World Nor did he forget to commend his Equity which he had shewn in his cause not at all accepting the Person of the Cypriote althô it was well known what a Friend he was to the King of Cyprus himself but Prefer'd and Honoured and Rewarded me said he thô I am a Frenchman and Brother and Servant to you my Lord the King of France These Words the Noble Earl of Ewe and of Guisnes and Constable of France then Present not knowing how distastfull they were to King John confirmed by his own experience and rose up and shew'd among other instances n Knighton p. 2607. n. 1. c. how far that Noble King had banish'd all envy and hatred from his Bâ—east insomuch that lately in a solemn Tourneament at Windsor he had not only admitted him being a Prisoner to that Honourable Exercise but gave him an allowance of all necessary accoutrements and at last rewarded him with a Rich Pâ—ize and new had sent him home upon his Parole in trust of a small Ransom and other as Negotiator for the Redemption of others than a Prisoner himself whereby said he I am put in a Capacity to serve your Majesty as I served your Father or blessed Memory These true Praises of King Edwards Princely Disposition enflam'd the envious heart of lâ—ing John with Madness so that immediately without any in thâ—â— consideration or process of Law he caused them both to be apprehended and sâ—ung in Prison and the third day after o Frois c. 159. Me. 〈◊〉 ad 〈◊〉 namely on the 19 of November to be beheâ—ded by night in the Presence of the Duke of Bourbon and seven or eight other Lords of Note before whom the Earl of Ewe is said to have confessed certain points of Treason whereof he stood guilty But however all the Treason that Envy it self could lay to the Bastards Charge was only that as he was bound by Oath to 〈◊〉 the Christian Princes in the Holy War he had accordingly committed his cause to the Arbitration of the King of England And as for the Earl of â—â—we whatever at that time was devis'd to blacken him he was notoriously a Person of such Gallantry and had already so eminently signaliz'd his Loyalty that to this day it could never be believed that he could be really guilty of any manner of Treason tho some rather by way of conjecture than proof pretend to colour the Matter that his require passing too and fro between England and France which he did in order to hasten the Redemption of his Fellow-Prisoners was with Designs in favour of the 〈◊〉 Others say p Stâ—w p. 251. that he was suspected of being over Familiar with the French Queen and that therefore King John after the fall of these two Great but Unfortunate Gentlemen famished his Queen to Death thô she was Daughter to John of Luxemburgh that Noble King of Bohemia who lost his Life at the Battle of Creâ—â— in the cause of France But this is a most false and irrational Story for King Jâ—hus first Wife q L. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 427. who indeed was Daughter to the said King of Bohemia died as we shew'd two Years before And his second Wife his Queen at this time who was Daughter to William Earl of Boulogne lived in his Favour and died not till many Years after However the Earl of Ewe's Lands and Honours r Frois c. 153. Mezeray ibid. Mâ—rtâ—â— p. 125. Knight n ibid. c. were parcell'd out to otheâ—s his Office of Constable of France in January following was by the King confer'd on the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain whom already he had made Earl of Argulesme his Earldom of Eu he gave to the Lord John of Artois Eldest Son to Sr. Robert of Artois of whose Revolt from France and Friendship to King Edward we have spoken in the first part of this our History Only the Earldom of Guisnes he left with the Lady Jane sole Daughter of the Defunct Earl of Ewe who was then Married to Walter Duke of Athens and after his Decease to Lewis Earl of Estampes of the house of Eureux from whom are derived the present Earls of Eu Princes of the Blood. VIII About this time the Scots not yet agreeing to redeem their King David who was still a Prisoner here nor admitting of any just offers of Composition but rather provoking the King of England farther by their Insolencies Cruelties and Depredations He for his part considering that the Truce with France would either be soon ended by violation or of its own course sent his Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. p. 275 p. 294. Commissioners viz. Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Henry Piercy and the Lord Ralph Nevill to treat with the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland and other Nobles of that Realm then met at York about a firm and final Peace between the two Nations And this Treaty was held on with good hopes of Success even till the end of the next Year for we find that it was at last between them agreed t Rot. Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmole p. 657. that upon the coming into England of the young Lord John Eldest Son and Heir of Robert Stuart and several other young Noblemen Hostages for the said King he himself should be permitted to go into Scotland and upon his return back the Hostages should be deliver'd The Kings Letters of safe Conduct to the Hostages and of Power to certain Commissioners to receive them and to take King Davids Oath for his Return and the Command for his safe Custody at Newcastle till the Hostages were all come bear date the 5 of September an 25. Ed. 3. to continue in force till the Quindena of the Purification next following and on the 3 of November after they were renewed with a further term even to the Feast of St. Philip and James ensuing According to this agreement the Hostages being come and disposed into the Castles of York and Nottingham King Edward sent his Command u Râ—s Sectiae 25. Ed. 3. m. 3. bearing date the 5 of October to Sr. John Copland High-Sheriff of Northumberland the same who first took the King of Scotland
with unspeakable Boldness presently upon their coming assaulted the Town passed the Ditch mounted the Walls and took it the first Night When immediately the Lord Bartholomew who commanded in Chief knowing the strength of the Castle set a good Number of Pioneers at Work promising them Large Wages if they hasted to finish their Task effectually These Men encouraged thus by their Lord began to Work night and day till at last with much obstinate labour they had gone far under the Great Square Tower still setting up huge Props of Oak as they went along and canying the Earth out in the night So that the Besieged knew nothing of their being undermin'd In about sixteen days the Miners having done their Work so that the Tower was ready to fall when they pleased their Captains went to Sr. Bartholomew and assured him of their Success whereat he was well content but commanded them to proceed no farther till they heard from him For he was resolv'd in his Mind to try all fair means to reduce the Place before he would fire the Mine as thinking it more Honourable for a Christian Captain to overcome his Enemies than to destroy them Wherefore taking along with him the Lord John Botetourt he went toward the Castle and made offer to speak with some of those within The Chief Captain there at that time was one Sr. Henry de Vaulx a Knight of Champaigne who came to the Battlements of the Castle and demanded what they would have Sr. Bartholomew answer'd Captain I would that You forthwith yield your selves and all You have into my Hands for else You are no better than Dead Men upon my Word Pray how said Sr. Henry That 's a pleasant Matter indeed And therewith he began to smile We are proof against the hardest Siege and You ask us to yield up simply But surely Sir We are not so low either in Wit or Courage as You take us to be Well said Sr. Bartholomew then your Blood must lie upon your own Heads For if You knew in what Danger You are at this time You would yield up simply without any more adoe But if You have no Faith You cannot be saved Why Quoth Sr. Henry what Danger are We in I see none Unless it be that We are like to lose your good Company because You despair to take us Sir said the English Captain that You may then understand your Condition come forth your self with so many more as You please and I 'll shew You how I have You all at my mercy And after that if You shall be minded to hold the Castle upon my Honour You shall have liberty to return back unhurt and there to take your Fortune Sr. Henry with three more of his Captains came forth in confidence of the English Knight's Word and went to him and there he shew'd them all the Mine and how their great Tower stood only on Stages and Props of Timber When Sr. Henry saw this most imminent Danger in which both He and all his Men were he said with much Submission Honourable Sir it is true We were all at your Dispose when we thought our selves most secure Surely this Favour of yours extended to us proceeds from a Noble and Generous Spirit We therefore henceforth yield our selves and all We have to your pleasure Then Sr. Bartholomew took them as his Prisoners and all the Rest within the Castle and sent in Men to take all the Goods and what was of any Value and that done he caused Fire to be put into the Mine to burn the Props and at last the Tower clave insunder with an hideous Noise and fell suddenly into Ruines Look You now said Sr. Bartholomew to Sr. Henry and mark if I did not tell You the Truth Sir reply'd He We thank You for this great Courtesie For if some other had such an Advantage over us We should not have fared so well Thus was the strong Castle of Cormicy taken and overthrown and the Prisoners brought to the Camp before Rheims CHAPTER the SIXTH AN. DOM. 1360. An. Regni Angliae XXXIV Franciae XXI The CONTENTS I. The Duke of Normandy's Method to resist King Edward the French take land at Winchelsea and after doing much harm are beaten away II. The Kings Lieutenant in England takes Order against the like Mischief for the Future III. The King of England rises from before Rheims and marches in Hostile manner thrô Champaigne The Lord Roger Mortimer Earl of March dies IV. The great Pomp and Order of the English Army V. King Edward is bought off from destroying Burgundy and turns toward Paris VI. He sits down before Paris two Treaties offer'd at in vain Whereupon the King challenges the Dauphin forth to Battle the Lord Walter Manny skirmishes at the Barriers a remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne and to renew the Siege before Paris at a better season VII A Party from Paris worsted by an English Ambush VIII The great Miseries of France with the Predictions of a certain Fryar concerning the same IX The Dauphin finding a necessity for Peace sends overtures after King Edward who being moved by a Remarkable Tempest enclines to accept them A Treaty had thereupon X. A True and Authentick Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny near Chartres XI The two Eldest Sons of England and France solemnly sworn to uphold the Articles of the said Peace with the Manner thereof The Parisians not staying till the Conclusion of the Peace buy certain Fortresses of the English XII King Edward returns for England shews King John the Copy of the Agreement and sends him over to Calais XIII The Pope quickens King Edward to finish the Peace King John's difficulties for want of Money XIV King Edward goes over to Calais and consummates the Peace XV. The Copy of King Edward's Letters of Renuntiation wherein he lays down his Title to France XVI The Copy of King John's Renuntiation of certain Lands and Territories in lieu thereof XVII The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides XVIII The Copy of King Edward's Orders to all his Captains enjoyning them to deliver up their Respective Places to the French King. XIX Other things relating to the said Peace and also a step to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne XX. King John's joy at his Freedom and the mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John takes his leave of King Edward and goes to Boulogne XXI King Edward returns with the Hostages for England where he gives Order for their favourable usage The Pope congratulates the French King his Liberty XXII The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of Thomas Holland Earl of Kent Also of the King of Cyprus I. IF any Man should ask me what the Duke of Normandy what the Lords and the Captains of France and what the Three Estates of that Kingdom did at this time now that
p. 59. Country also compounded with the King as Burgundy had done But he laid waste all the Country in Gastinois and Brie thrô which he marched toward Paris with an high Hand In this y Fabâ—an p. 238. March the Prince of Wales passed with his Battalia by a little Town on the Loing in Gastinois called Moret till he came to a strong Fortress named le Plessis aux Tournelles near the Forest of Provins which was then an English Garrison but had been beleaguered by the French for some time who having fortified their Camp with a strong Tower fenced with Ditches gave many fierce Alarms to the Englishmen And thô now they heard for certain that the Prince of Wales approached that way they had such Confidence in their Works that they would not stirr from the Place But yet they were deceived for the fifth day after the Princes Coming their Tower was won and most of them within put to the Sword no more than 47 who were the Chief among them being taken alive of whom were the Lord of Bonneville the Lord of Angreville Sr. John de Barrois and Sr. William du Plessis VI. Thus at length King Edward succeeded so in his Victorious Progress that on the last z ED. Lit. Dom. Pascha 5. April Day of March being the Tuesday before Easter he a Vid. Frois c. 210. Fabian p. 238. Mat. Villani l. 9. c. 85. 86. p. 759. c. came with his Army before the City of Paris and took up his Quarters at Bourg la Reine within two little Leagues of Paris the Army being encamped all along at Longemeau between Mont-lehery and Chastres and in the Towns thereabout even to Corbeil At sight of this Formidable Army Charles Duke of Normandy and Regent of France began to think of some Offers towards a Treaty especially because King Edward b Knighton p. 2623. n. 40. in reverence of the approaching Festival of our Lords Resurrection forbare all Hostilities intending not formally to lay his Siege till after Easter Hereupon c Fabâ—an Hoâ—â—st c. by the especial Intercession of Father Simon de Langres Provincial of the Jacobin Fryars and Legat from Pope Innocent VI King Edward yielded to admit of a Treaty to be seriously held at the Maladerie or Spittle of Longemeau on the Good-Friday following the Solemnity of the Day being look'd on as an Enforcement of so Christianlike an Undertaking At the Time and Place there appeared for King Edward Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord John Chandos the Lord Walter Manny and Sr. William Cheney and for the Regent of France there appeared the Lord Moreau de Fiennes Constable of France the Lord Bouciquault Marshal the Lord of Garenciers the Lord of Vignay en Vienne Sr. Simon Bucy and Sr. Guischard D'Angle But we pass by the Debates of this Treaty because they came to no good Effect Wherefore King Edward the rather to quicken the French to a sincere desire after Peace on d 7 April Easter-Tuesday removed something nearer to the City of Paris Whereupon on the Fryday following being the Tenth of April at the earnest Importunity of the foresaid Simon de Langres and of Androine de la Roche Abbot of Cluigny who was then newly come from the Pope for that Purpose another Treaty was appointed to be held but neither yet could Matters be brought to any good issue So that again they parted leaving the Breach as wide as ever Wherefore on the Sunday following King Edward drew down his whole Army before Paris and embattail'd them in a Field by St. Marcels in three Great Battalia's each Battalia being divided into Three Bodies and then he forthwith sent the Duke of Lancaster with his Heralds to the Regent of France who was within the City with a great Army to demand Battle of him assuring him e Walsing hist p. 167. n. 10. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. that if now King Edward should lose the Day He would never after claim or assume any Right or Title to the Crown of France But for all this the Cauteous Regent declin'd to answer his Desire While the Messengers were about this Demand the King honoured no less than f Speed p. 583. M.S. id ibid. 400 Esquires and Young Gentlemen with the Order of Knighthood among whom g Frois c. 211. were John Lord Fitz-Walter Robert Lord Vavasour Thomas Spencer John Nevil and William Torceaux but Collart Dambreticourt younger Son to Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt and Esquire of the Kings Body declin'd the Honour at that time by saying that he could not find his Headpiece and Corslet For he had made an Oath to do some notable piece of Service before he would accept the Order of Knighthood But when upon the Return of the Duke of Lancaster and the Heralds the King heard how he should not have Battle he was wonderfully displeased and upon the Lord Manny's Request sent him forth with all the new-made Knights and such others as were thereto appointed to skirmish at the Barriers and to burn what they could of the Suburbs so to h Meâ—eray ad hunc an p. 59. provoke the Frenchmen to come forth or at least to offer more ample Conditions The Assault was vigorous and lasted from Morning till Noon and the French defended their Post at the Gate and Barriers with Valour becoming their Circumstances nor would they have been content to have stood so long on the Defensive Part only for there were many Noble and Resolute Knights and Gentlemen within the City at that time but it was the Duke of Normandy's peremptory Command that no man on pain of his Head should presume to issue out of the Barriers without his Order So well had that Prince afterward sirnamed the Wise learn'd how to deal with this English Hannibal not only by the Example of the old Roman Fabius but of two nearer Relations even of his own Father and Grandfather whose frequent and great Losses proceeding from their too forward Courage taught him now to oppose a Shield to this Conquering Sword and not easily to put his last Stake to the Fortune of a Battle But however one i Knighton p. 2623. n. 60. says that after Noon when the Lord Walter Manny's Skirmish was over about 30 of these new-dubbed Knights went to the Barriers requiring a few Courses on Horseback according to the Law of Arms in those Days Against whom says he came forth 60 Frenchmen if the Number is not mistaken for Thirty as I rather believe and between these there arose an hot Skirmish But in the end the English by the Grace of God had the better having slain some grievously wounded others and obliged the rest to retire It is said that while the King stood before Paris the k Stow p. 264. Where he says this happen'd on the 14 of April and the Morrow after
he would have them order their Men. All the Carriages and Pages he sent into the Wood for their Security and so ranged his Troops into three Battalions all on Foot in most decent Order In the Front stood Sr. John Jones with his 300 Men of Arms and Archers of England and his Friend d Trâ—â— Use of Armory p. 120 Sr. James Planchine with 200 more both Archers and Men of Arms and these were all Chosen and Resolute Men. The Second Battail he led himself with 600 Fighting Men and with him was the Lord of Salses a lusty young Knight of Navarre the Lord William of Granville and the Lord Peter of Samville The Third he committed to the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon the Lord Bertram de la Franque and Sr. Bascels of Mareville and that Battail also consisted of 600 Men. Being thus order'd he took the Advantage of a little Hill hard by on the Right hand between the place where he order'd his Men and the Wood. And on the Brow of the Hill he stood in Battle Array directly before his Enemies with his Banner raised high on a Bush of Thorn about which stood sixty Chosen Men of Arms for its safeguard To the intent that if his Men should be scatter'd they might repair thither and rally again and so he determin'd not to descend from the Mountain for any Cause whatsoever but to let his Enemies come to him if they intended to fight him The Captals Banner war Or Five Escalopes Argent on a Cross Sable which Arms were richly depicted on his Shield and on the Crest of his Helmet was a dreadfull e True Use of Armory p. 110 p. 147. uâ—â— tamen maâ—â— legitur Midas Head Vid. Ashmoles Garter Plate 5. Medusa's Head Sable the Snakes Argent By this time were the Frenchmen also orderly ranged in three Battalia's besides a Rereguard or strong Body for a Reserve The f Frois c. 221. f. 117. First was lead by Sr. Bertram of Clequin and all his Bretons and he was design'd to oppose the Captal The Second was govern'd by the Earl of Auxerre with whom were the Vicount Beaumont and the Lord Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows and several other Knights of France Picardy and Normandy as Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and Others The Third was commanded by the Lord Arnold of Cervoles commonly called the Archpriest with whom were the Lord of Châlons the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord John de Vienne and Others and in the Rereward were all the other Gascogners as the Lord of Pamiers the Lord Soldiche of Estarrac Sr. Perdiccas of Albret with the Lord of Albrets Troops but he himself was not there together with the Lord Petition of Courton and several Others These Gascogners observed particularly the Behaviour of the Captal and how his Standard was raised high on a Bush and the Guard that was set to defend it Whereupon they agreed that when the Armies were hotly joyn'd in Battle they should themselves endeavour to conquer the Captals Banner believing if they might gain that Point to be soon Masters of the Field And besides they had another Device which proved that Day very serviceable to the Lords of France For while in a Council of War they held a long Debate how to behave themselves so as morally to secure the Victory a certain Gascogner Lord let fall a Word which was very seasonable and well accepted Gentlemen says he We all know well that the Captal is as Worthy a Knight as can be found in any Land and that as long as he is able to endure he will be very terrible to Us both by reason of his extraordinary Valour and Conduct Let us therefore set apart Thirty Chosen Men of Arms on Horseback and let these Thirty mind nothing else this Day but to set upon the Captal at the same time that our Rereguard attempts to win his Standard and so by the strength of their Horses to break the stress till they can get to him to take him immediately upon which to bear him out of the Field For otherwise I cannot bode any good end of this Battle the Person of the Captal is that whereon all his Men do wholly depend If he is safe they win all if we win him the Victory comes to us of Course The Knights of France and Bretagne approved hugely of this Project and resolved to put it in Execution so they selected accordingly Thirty of the most Valiant Men of Arms and mounted them on Thirty of the best Horses in all the Company and drew them out on one side of the Field well informed before-hand what to do and all the rest of the Army remained on Foot in Battle Array as they had been ranged Now as yet there was no one that pretended to have the Chief Command over all in the French Army because there were several Persons of far higher Quality than Sr. Bertram of Clequin Wherefore in this Council of War they consulted what should be their Word that Day and to whose Banner they should all repair At last they all agreed to cry our Lady of Auxerre and to make the noble young Earl of Auxerre their Captain But he began with great Modesty to excuse himself saying Gentlemen I most heartily thank you all for the great Honour you are pleased to confer upon me but certainly as for my Part I shall by no means at this time accept thereof No I am too Young and Unexpert to sustain so great a Charge for this is the First Expedition that ever I was concern'd in Here are many good Captains as Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold of Gervoles the Master of the Crossbows the Lord Lewis of Chalons the Lord Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Edward of Renty and the like These have all been in many great Hazards and also have held considerable Employs in the Wars and I am sure understand Military Conduct far better than as yet I do Wherefore Lords I desire your Pardon at this time Then the Lords and Captains began to look on one another and at last said O Noble Earl of Auxerre you are the most Eminent among us all and therefore it is all the Reason in the World You should now be our Head For Nobility reconciles Authority to a Captain Certainly Gentlemen replied the Earl You say after your Pleasure But this Day I am resolved to be but as one of your Companions and till I shall be able to rule will learn to obey Come Life come Death I promise to share with you in this Adventure but as to the Chief Rule You shall never perswade me to that Then again the Captains beheld each other and at last unanimously agreed that since Sr. Bertram of Clequin was the most practised in War among them all they would for that Day obey him and the Word should be our Lady of Clequin And thus the Tuesday was spent and both Armies prepared to fight
Chief Justice Sr. Henry Green and Sr. William Skipworth another of his Justices to be arrested and imprison'd on the account of many notorious Enormities which he understood they had committed against Law and Justice Nor could they redeem themselves from Prison without refunding to the King many large Sums of Money which by Injustice they had got from others But for ever after they were secluded both their Places and his Favour XI We have frequently heretofore mention'd the great Diligence which Peter King of Cyprus us'd in travelling to most Courts in Europe in Order to raise a Power sufficient to stem the furious Tide of Pagan Insolence which threatned a Bloody Inundation to all Christendom Now therefore being pretty well furnish'd with Valiant Souldiers of several Nations after that by the Pope's means he had made a Peace with Genoa which had some resentments against him u Philippus è Mazeriis c. 15. c. in Vità Becti Petri Thomx â—pud Bâ—llâ—nd Tâ—n 2. XXIX Januar. he went from Venice to Rhodes where he was Magnificently received by the Master of the Hospital and whither he had sent before many Ships laden with Armed Men and about 500 good Horses for the War. He had some Months before wrote to his own Brother the Prince of Antioch his Lieutenant in the Kingdom of Cyprus that having left a sufficient strength at home he would by such a time send an Army of his Realm of Cyprus to meet him at Rhodes which was done For the King had been but a little while in that Island when an Army of Cyprus came thither namely sixty sail one with another laden with Men of Arms Arrows Crossbows and other Weapons in good quantity to which the Master of the Hospital added an hundred chosen Knights of his Order and commanded his Gallies to be fitted up And all the while St. Peter Thomas Patriarch of Constantinople the Pope's Legate who had an extraordinary Zeal for the Work encouraged the King and his Souldiers and blessed them and pray'd and preach'd and signed them with the Cross and heard Confessions and absolved and reconciled Sinners one while labouring in the Kings Council another while among the Mariners and poor People now among the Lords and Knights and the Master of Rhodes and now again with the Common Souldiers in great humility Now he visited the sick and presently he fell to pacifying of Rumors sometimes he conversed with the English sometimes with the Cypriotes Venetians French Spaniards and Germans but always he exhorted to Unity and Charity to Faith and Courage and to the War of God And every Christian Soul in this small Army was by this Holy Legate a few days before they left Rhodes admitted to the Sacrament of Gods Body and strengthned with Divine Power by feeding on their Redeemer whose Cross they were going to advance At the time of their Departure from Rhodes the King in secret Council proposed to invade the Soldan of Babylon who usurped the Holy City of Jerusalem and his Inheritance not in the Tail but in the Head and to Steer his Course towards Alexandria and so taking leave of the Grand Master he went on board his Galley with a Fleet consisting of more than an 100 Vessels of all sorts above 10000 good Souldiers and about 1400 Nobles and Men of Arms with their Horses besides Mariners Being come to the Haven of Alexandria after about an hours resistance made by the Saracens they gain'd Land and soon after put all their Enemies to flight and made them retire into the City in great Confusion and shut their Gates But their Hearts were so lost that upon the Christians approach to the Walls and setting fire to their Gates they fled away towards Grand Cairo or New-Babylon Wherefore the City of Alexandria was taken by the Christians on the Fourth of October 1365 about Nine of the Clock in the Morning and all the Pagans found therein put to the Sword. But many of these Christians being now satiated with spoil began forthwith to cool in their Devotion and so were for leaving the City now it was rifled nor could the King of Cyprus nor the Zealous Legate with all their Endeavours prevail with them to the Contrary wherefore upon News of the Soldan's Arrival with the Prince of Assyria and a Mighty Army who were coming to relieve the City on the Fourth or Fifth day after he had won it he was forced to leave it to his great Grief The occasion of which dishonourable Departure is by the Legate in his x Eâ—tant apud Odor Rainal ad hâ—nc an § 20 Letters attributed to the English and to their Leader and by y Petrarch l. 8. Senil Fp. 8. l. 13. â—p 2. Petrarch to the Transalpine Auxiliaries in General who he says being always better at Enterprising than at Compleating forsook the King in the midst of a most Glorious Work and because they follow'd him not for Devotion but for Gain when they had laden themselves with spoils went away and being rendred Masters of their Greedy desire made him fail of his Godly Design The Prosecution of this Matter may be seen at large in the foremention'd Philip è Mazeriis who was himself present in this Expedition and also in z Odor Rainal ad 〈◊〉 §. 18. ad §. 22. Vid. Pan 〈◊〉 1. V 3. Odoricus Rainaldus We shall only add that the Englishmen and Gascogners who had been at the taking of Alexandria upon a Walsing â—â—st p. 174. n 30. Speed p. 584. §. 129. their return into England and Aquitaine brought many rich pieces of Cloth of Gold Velvets and Precious Stones as witnesses of their Success in those parts XII It is said by some b Therton's Nottinghamshire p. 116. that John Lord Roos after this Expedition died at Paphos in the Island of Cyprus leaving no Issue behind him by his Wife the Lady Mary de Orrebe So that his Brother William succeeded in his Honours Thô to say the Truth this Lord John was not Born till this Year For Sr. William Dugdale shews c Dugd. 1 Vol. Baren p. 551. that his Death happen'd about 28 Years after this viz. in the Seventeenth of Richard the Second at which time he was but d For 18 years old Ano. 7. Rich. 2. id Dugd. ibid. p. 550. ex Esc 7. R. 2. n. 68. 28 Years of Age. Notwithstanding I grant that about this time as e Thoroton Nottingh p. 455. Thoroton says there died the Lord Thomas Furnival Sirnamed the Hasty leaving no Issue behind him whereupon he was succeeded by his Brother William Lord Furnival Who about 17 Years after died also leaving behind only One Daughter Joan. Her Sr. Thomas Nevile Brother to Ralph Earl of Westmorland and Treasurer of England taking to Wife became in her Right Lord Furnival But here again I am fain to correct Thorton's many mistakes by comparing him f Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 727. with a more accurate and
whom you call your Enemies and where are they In the Name of God said the Earl of Narbonne they are those Villanous Companions Robbers and Destroyers of the Country such as have ravaged about and wasted the Fair Realm of France without Law or Reason and they are now with you in Montauban And as for your part Sr. John if you were Courteous to your Friends and Neighbours you would not interest your self for such a sort of Rascals who spoil poor People without a Cause For such things oftentimes cause great and lasting Quarrels between many High Lords and Princes Therefore I pray thrust them out of your Fortress or else we cannot look upon you as a True Friend to the King of France or to his People My Lords answer'd the English Captain it is true there are some New-comers Men of War now in my Garrison but they were order'd to come thither by my Lord the Prince and are at this time by him retained for his Service Wherefore I shall not be so hasty to thrust them out of my Garrison And suppose heretofore these very Men have done you any displeasure yet I see not with what Justice you can come upon them now For they are Men of War and must live only as formerly they lived on the Realm of France now they are to be maintained by the Prince Then the Earl of Narbonne and Sr. Guy Dazay said hastily Yes yes we know they are Men of War and such as cannot live any where without Pillage and Robbery and such as have heretofore most barbarously ravaged our Country All which they shall dearly pay for if we can once meet with them in the Field for they have now lately since they have been retained by the Prince plunder'd rob'd burnt and done many bad Actions in the Marches of Tholouse whereof the grievous Complaints are come to our Ears So that if we should now wink at them we should be no better than false Traitors to the King our Sovereign Lord who hath placed us in these Parts to keep and defend this his Country from such Prollers as these are And pray tell them from Us that since we know where to find them we expect shortly to see them for if ever they stir out of your Garrison we will meet with them and then we shall oblige them to make us some amends or it shall cost us a little more This was all the Answer the Captain of Montauban could obtain wherefore he went back again to his Fortress extreamly displeased in his Mind and resolving for all their Threats not to alter his resolution of defending these Men as long as they would tarry with him And at his return he told unto them all the Words of their Enemies the Frenchmen When the Companions heard this News they began somewhat to doubt their Safety for being so few as they were they could not make Head against these Frenchmen however they were always ready and kept good Watch continually Now it chanced that five days after Sr. Perdiccas of Albret being to pass the way of Montauban with another considerable Body of the Companions for that was the best way to enter into the Principality sent word thereof to the Captain of the Town with whom he was well acquainted But when Sr. Robert Cheney and the Companions under him who were thus besieged by the Frenchmen heard these seasonable Tidings they were very glad and sent word privately to Sr. Perdiccas and his Men how the Frenchmen besieged them and had threatned them grievously and they also informed him who were their Captains and what Number they were When Perdiccas had received this particular account of his Enemies and Friends Condition he was not at all abashed but gather'd all his Men together and came and entred Montauban in the Night and was received with much joy by his Fellows and Sr. John Combes Then they all together took Counsel how to behave themselves and so 't was agreed that the next morning all the Companions only for the Captain of the City would by no means break the Peace should march out of the Town armed and go up to the Frenchmen and desire their leave to pass quietly but if they were denied then to put their Lives in their hands and endeavour to force their way This Resolution they put in practice for the next Morning they armed themselves sounded their Trumpets mounted their Horses and so began to march forth of Montauban The Frenchmen fell to Ranging themselves in the Field when first they heard the sounding of the Trumpets and the great noise made about Montauban so that these Companions had no way to pass forward but thrô the midst of them Therefore Sr. Perdiccas of Albret and Sr. Robert Cheney rode on before their Men and having obtained an Assurance went and spake with the Chief of their Leaders desiring That they would permit them being the Prince's Souldiers to pass by quietly as Friends But the French Lords answer'd How they desired not to hold any friendly Commerce or Communication with such Men as were Enemies to all Mankind protesting that they should never pass that way but with the Points of their Spears or Swords At this the two Captains retired unto their Men and the Frenchmen presently began their Cries and the Lords said aloud Advance Banners toward yonder Robbers and Pillagers who plunder all the World and live on the Sweat and Blood of other Men without all Law or Reason When the Companions saw that now it behoved them either to fight valiantly or to die with shame they alighted boldly from their Horses and ranged themselves on Foot before the Town of Montauban ready to receive their Enemies who also being ranged on Foot came now upon them Then the Archers began their Play and after that they all closed together and a strong and cruel Battle began and many a Feat of Arms was there performed and many a Knight laid along on the earth and the Fight was well maintain'd on both sides but the Frenchmen were at least Two to One. So that within a while they drove the Companions back into the Barriers which were held open for their Refuge by the Captains special Command And surely the Companions had been in no very good Case had it not been for the Captain of the Town for when he saw the Frenchmen presume to follow the Companions into his Town then he commanded all that could bear Arms to come forth and every Man to his Power to assist the Companions who were retained in the Service of their Lord the Prince Then the Townsmen and those of the Garrison armed and put themselves in Array and began to enter the Battle while the Women went into their Houses and ran up to the Battlements and Windows from whence they flang down upon the Frenchmen stones and pots of quick Lime so thick that they had enough to do to defend themselves with their Targets from Braining and some were slain
deliver them to whom they ought to be deliver'd And of this there should be made Obligations and Bonds as sure and perfect as can be devised as well by the Bishop of Rome and the College of Cardinals as by others There was also another Article in the same Treaty which ran thus Item In token and perfect Assurance that We desire and intend to have and to nourish perpetual Peace and Love between Us and our Brother of France We shall renounce and by these Presents do renounce all Graces and other Process of Deed against our said Brother his Heirs and Successors of the Realm of France and Subjects thereof and do promise swear and have sworn on the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ for Us and for our Heirs and Successors not to do nor suffer to be done either by Word or Deed any thing against this Renuntiation or against any thing contained in the foresaid Articles And if We do or suffer to be done the Contrary any manner of way which God forbid then We will that We be reputed for false and forsworn and incurr such blame and infamy as a King Sacred ought to incurr in such a Case And We positively Renounce all Dispensations and Absolutions of the Pope and if any be obtained We will that they stand for nought be of no force nor avail Us in any manner of case And the more firmly to uphold the said Articles We herein submit our selves our Heirs and Successors to the Jurisdiction and Correction of the Church of Rome and Will and Consent that the Bishop of Rome confirm all the said Treaty and ordain Monitions and General Commands against Us our Heirs and Successors and against our Subjects Commons Universities Colleges or any other Bodies Politick or single Persons whatsoever they be in giving Sentence General of Excommunication Suspension or Interdiction to run upon Us or any of them as soon as We or They shall do or attempt any thing against the said Treaty in occupying or withholding any Towns Castles or Fortresses or any other thing doing Ratifying or giving Counsel Comfort Favour or Aid privily or apertly against any of the said Articles And further We have caused our Most Dear Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales to swear unto the same and also our Younger Sons Lionel Earl of Ulster John Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley together with our Right Dear Cousin Philip of Navarre and the Dukes of Lancaster and of Bretagne the Earls of Stafford and Salisbury the Captal of Busche the Lord of Monferrant Walter Manny James Audley Roger Beauchamp John Chandos Ralph Ferrers Edward Spencer Thomas Felton William Felton Eustace Dambreticourt Frank van Hall John Mowbray Bartholomew Burwash Henry Piercy and divers others and also as soon as We can conveniently We shall cause to swear all our other Children and the Major part of the great Prelates Earls Barons and other Nobles of our Realm of England In Witness whereof We have put our Seal to these Presents Given at our Town of Calais the 24 day of October in the Year of Grace MCCCLX Among many other Writings that had been made as well at Bretigny near Chartres as at Calais when King John was there this said Chapter being one was chiefly now insisted on and was well read and examin'd by King Charles in presence of his Council and after they had spent their Thoughts thereon then the Prelates and Barons of France said unto him Sir it is most evident that the King of England and his Son the Prince have not duly kept the said Peace but have taken Towns and Castles and do still hold them to the infinite Dammage of this your Realm and they Ransom and Pillage your People because the Money for the King your Fathers Redemption is yet in part unpaid Wherefore Sir You and your Subjects have good Right and just Cause to break the Peace and to make War against England and to endeavour to take out of their hands all that they hold on this side the Water Also certain of his Council advised him secretly upon mature Deliberation Sir boldly undertake this War for there is good Reason You should so do For as soon as ever You have once open'd the War you shall see and find that all the Dutchy of Aquitain will turn to your side as well Prelates Barons Earls Knights and Esquires as the Burgesses of the Good Towns. You may see Sir how the Prince would have proceeded in raising of his Foüage but he cannot bring his purpose about and yet thereby he hath lost the Hearts of all Men for those of Poictou Rochellois Sainctogne Quercy Limosin and Rouvergue are of such a Nature that they can by no means love the Englishmen nor the Englishmen them they are so proud and presumptuous nor never did And besides all this the Princes Officers commit such Extortion among the People of Sainctogne Poictou and Rochellois for they take all at Random and raise so much in the Prince's Name that no Man is sure of any thing that is his own And further the Gentry and Chief Men of the Country are disgusted because they can attain to no Office of Dignity or Profit For the Englishmen and the Prince's Servants run away with all By such Words as these was the French King encouraged to begin the War and especially he was instigated and moved thereto by his Brother the Duke of Anjou who lay at Tholouse wishing nothing more than to see the War open For he could never endure the Englishmen because of such Displeasures as they had done Him and His formerly And frequently the Gascogne Lords would say to the King Most Dear Sir We are obliged to have our Resort in your Court wherefore we all humbly require that you would please to do us Right and Law and as you are the most Just Prince in the World let us have Justice against the great Extortions Grievances and Oppressions that the Prince of Wales and his Men have and would put upon us For Sir if you refuse to do thus much for us we must then seek some other Remedy elsewhere and shall be obliged to yield and submit our selves to the Jurisdiction of such a Lord as shall see We have Reason done us Whereby you will lose your Sovereignty over us for ever The French King who was extream loath to let them part as also he was doubtfull of embracing their Interest knowing that by them his Realm would receive much Strength and Advantage answer'd these Complainants very courteously Surely Gentlemen says he for want of Love and good Counsel you shall not need to make your Resort to any other Court but only to Ours But yet in a matter of this Consequence we ought to move with much Caution and Deliberation And thus the King drove them off for the space of well-nigh a Year but kept them still with him at Paris and paid for all their Expences and gave them many Rich Gifts and Jewels
Garrison resolv'd to die every Man rather than to yield up the Place thô the Townsmen would gladly have received the French if they durst Wherefore the Captains of France sent to Tholouse for Four great Engines which they made ready and reared up against the Walls casting therewith both Night and Day massie Stones and huge pieces of Timber against the Fortress besides which they set their Pioneers a Mining But the Englishmen with great Courage comforted each other and slighted all their Art and Fury thô at last for want of Succour We shall find them to be taken only by reason of the Mines But for the present We shall leave them V. While these French Captains d Frois c. 252. f. 152. were thus busie in Quercy the Duke of Berry was in Anvergne with a great Power of Men of War the chief Leaders whereof were the Lord John of Armagnac his Uncle the Lord John de Villemur the Lord Roger Beaufort the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Villiers the Lord of Semur the Lord of Tarascon Sr. Hugh Dauphin and many more who ravaged about the Marches of Rovergue Quercy and Limosin where they did much Harm and at first found no great Opposition And besides this application of Force there were not wanting other Arts not then so frequent in the World but since those Days very common which made use of the help of the Church to blow up a Fire of Combustion in the State. For the subtle Dukes of Anjou and Berry prevailed with the Archbishop of Tholouse who was a Politick and Learned Prelate to go to the City of Cahors of which place his Brother was then Bishop and here together these two Brothers so elegantly preached and set forth the Right of King Charles against King Edward's Pretensions that the whole City turned French and sware unto the French King Faith and Homage from that time And with these Arts the Archbishop rode about thrô the Country and every where took care to set forth the Equity of his Masters Quarrel with such advantage of popular Arguments and the Reputation which he added thereto from Religion and Scripture Proofs that together with the Terror of the Duke of Berry's Arms and those of the Duke of Anjou who hover'd thereabout he obliged no less than sixty Towns Cities Castles and Fortresses to submit to the Obedience of the French King who had indeed the cheif place in their Hearts before And as this Archbishop went abroad abetting and maintaining the King his Masters Cause in and about the Marches and Limitations of Languedoc So also in Picardy divers other Prelates and Clergymen brought the Right of the Two Kings into their Pulpits where they discussed the Matter so plausibly that King Edward was ever concluded in the wrong And the Common People who in those Days readily swallowed more Course Morsels than these were fully satisfied with all that was said thô in my Opinion it is not only below the Dignity of Princes to make use of such abject Devices but also no way corresponding to the same of Learning and Religion to appeal so fawningly to the Vulgar whom as they please they may easily cheat with false Colours But in France Dr. William Dorman was especially remarkable for these Tongue Victories for he rode about from Town to Town and from City to City and spake with such power and force of Rhetorical Insinuations and handled his Points so cleverly that all who heard him believed in a manner every Word he said and the Controversie between the two Kings was so artificially represented by him that the French King had apparently the Advantage on his side Besides all this King Charles himself was so moved with Devotion e Frois ibid. Mezeray c. that he not only caused Fastings and Processions to be used throughout his Realm by the Clergy but Himself also and his Queen would often attend them going barefoot and in all Churches there were put up continual Prayers to God devoutly requiring and imploring of his Majesty to assist and maintain the Right of the Realm of France which had suffer'd so great Tribulation for so many Years Nor was King Edward less Pious or less honourably Politick For he also used the same Method thrô his Kingdom the rather that his Subjects might be the more ready to venture their Lives and Fortunes in a Cause which they first understood to be Just and Right There was at that time one Dr. Simon Tibuld alià s Sudbury Bishop of London a Man very well seen in the Canon Law and the Scriptures and of great Eloquence who made many Sermons in the most publick places of the City declaring and proving unto the People that the French King had renew'd the War not only against his Oath but also against all Right and Reason with manifest Injustice Fraud and Perjury all which together with King Edward's Title to France he demonstrated with great force of Argument and Rhetorick to the ample satisfaction of all his Auditors And I must confess that it might not seem unnecessary for both the Kings to provide that their Subjects should be generally informed of the particulars of their Quarrel that so they might more teadily and with a good Conscience assist their several Masters in this War at which both the Nations were sufficiently alarum'd already And King Edward himself who was as well furnish'd with Wisdom as Valour nothing doubted but that this War would prove as great and as momentous as ever any he had been engaged in because of the Advantage which the French King had gain'd by surprising him thus as chiefly because of the new Method of this his politick Enemy and also of the Mutability of his French Friends Wherefore he thought it fit for his behoof to stirr up all his Assistants and Allies that might any ways lie opportunely to divert the impending Mischief And so he sent into Brabant and Hainalt to learn whether they would own his Quarrel or no and especially he desired Duke Albert of Bavaria who at that time govern'd the Country of Hainalt instead of his Elder Brother Duke William who had been for some time before Distracted and continued so to the day of his Death to open his Country upon Occasion and to let him go and come into France or tarry there if need should be with an Army Duke Albert at the Request of the King of England his Uncle especially because Queen Philippa his Dear Aunt urged him also thereto readily granted to have his Country open for the use of King Edward being not â—â—tle perswaded to this Matter by Edward Duke of Gueldres who was Son to King Edward's Sister Eleanor and had lately married Duke Alberts Daughter and with him concurred the Duke of Juliers who was Cosen German to the said Albert of Bavaria These two Lords were strictly bound to King Edward the one being as we said before his Nephew and the other the Cosen German to King Edward's Children and to
the said Duke of Hainalt and yet by many other Ties were they obliged to the English Interest and each of them was by Covenant retain'd to serve King Edward with a 1000 Spears apiece at their own Charges And therefore they not only advised the King now to bring over Duke Albert but they also Themselves joyn'd their Perswasions so that what by their Means and the English Gold he was at first won to declare himself for England But when the Lord of Cominges who was then in the Court of France heard thereof he hasted into Hainalt where he menaged Matters so cunningly with the Lord John Verchin Seneschal of Hainalt by whose Advice all the Dukes Matters were chiefly order'd and who in his Heart lov'd the Interest of France beyond that of England that by the Concurrence of the Earl of Blois and the Lord John of Blois his Brother together with the Lord of Ligny and the Lord of Brabanson who were all well belov'd with the Duke and Dutchess of Hainalt King Edward's Design was wholly quash'd and the labour of his Ambassadors overthrown Thô even they could obtain no more of the Duke than this that both He and his Country would stand Neuter in the Affair and the same Answer was also return'd by the Lady Jane Dutchess of Brabant For at that time her Husband was absent being in France where he contracted secretly a League with that King. VI. And surely King Charles of France who was a notable Politician had secretly prepared himself many Friends both in Hainalt and Brabant almost two years before and had brought over to his Interest the greater part of the Chief Counsellors and Friends of all the Great Lords of both Dukedoms And now to put the better Gloss upon his renewing the War and to make his Cause more plausible in the Eyes of the World he copied out divers Extracts of the Letters relating to the Peace made at Bretigny and ratified at Calais and therein he set forth the Substance of what he according to his Obligation had done and of what the King of England and his Children had not done thô by Oath and Honour bound thereto All along producing such Articles and Points as made for Himself and against King Edward but cunningly concealing smothering or colouring what made to a contrary purpose So that his Cause seem'd only just and the English bare all the Blame And also he privately caused certain Learned in the Laws to be Feed to set forth their Opinions at large concerning the Right of the French King against the King of England both as to the Matter of the Crown and also to the Superiority and Resort of Aquitain and there are yet f M.S. Reverendi Dr. Joh. Spencer S.T.P. C.C.C. apud Cantab Magistri Decani Ecclesiae Cathed Eliensis Extant two Discourses on that Point written by two Famous Doctors of those Days belonging to the University of Bononia in Italy whose Names were John de Lyana and Richard de Salicete Many of which Papers and others of the like Nature together with his own Letters the French King procured to be published in the Courts of all the Princes and Great Lords his Neighbours the better to prepare them to allow of his Quarrel So that King Edward to save his Credit was obliged also to use his Pen against this New sort of Enemy and to justifie and defend his Claim and to prove the Breach of the Peace to lie wholly at the French Kings Doors which he performed notably by his Letters sent into Germany and other Places where he valued his Reputation or thought to have any Friends From which Humour of both the Kings g Paul. Aemyl p. 294. c. Paulus Aemylius rather ambitious to shew his Rhetorick than Historical Fidelity has invented two notable Declamations which he ingeniously enough fancies to have been said before Charles the Emperour and his Son Wenceslaus the one by an English Orator in Behalf of his Masters Cause and the other by a Frenchman who holds the contrary opinion Whereas if that Author had consulted Decorum he would have remembred that King Edward often protested to acknowledge no Mortal whether Pope or Emperour as Judge of his Controversie and that he had but little Reason to expect to find the Emperour any thing favourable to him since he slew his Father at the Battle of Cressy and could not be ignorant how mightily he was addicted as well as more nearly allied to King Charles and the House of France Wherefore we who religiously endeavour to avoid these Gaudy Vanities thô we have Matter enough of Authentick Arguments to fill up a Speech or two yet preferring the venerable simplicity of Truth to all the Fucoes of Vain-Glory shall here set down the Arguments on both Hands as they were then really stated by the Best Lawyers of both Kingdoms in which doing 〈◊〉 where our Authorities cannot be seen our Faith be called in question We declare not only that our selves are wholly ignorant in this as well as many other Sorts of Learning but that the Ancient Copies are to be seen in Latine in a M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet Dean of St. Pauls and in English in another M.S. of the Reverend Dr. Spencer Dean of Ely and Master of Corpus Christi College in Cambridge which English Copy appears to have been with much Care translated from the other by some Person of Quality for the Use of that Most Noble Prince of Wales Henry Eldest Son to King James the First And to omit the several Preambles touching Succession of Women and Succession by Representation as also touching Distance of Degrees and Collateral Succession I shall the readiest way come to the Matter but first thô in some measure we have more than once stated the Case before it is necessary for Evidence sake here again to set down the Matter of Fact as it happen'd in the Realm of France Videlicet That King Philip Son of St Lewis King of France had two Sons lawfully begotten Philip the Fair and Charles of Valois And that the said Philip being Eldest after the Death of his Father obtain'd the Kingdom and that Charles deceased leaving behind him Philip of Valois his Son lawfully begotten That afterwards Philip the Fair begat Three Lawfull Sons Lewis Philip and Charles and also One Daughter named Isabel who was married to the King of England and brought forth Edward the Third whilst the foresaid Philip Grandfather to the said Edward remain'd alive That at last Lewis and Philip Brothers to Isabell being Dead without Issue Male King h This to be favourably taken for Philip died first and then his Three Sons in order succeeded Arguments for the French Kings Right Philip their Father also died That after him reigned the foresaid Charles his only Son surviving who likewise died without Issue Now according to the State of the Fact the Question doth rise in Law to be this The Lady Isabell next
signified nothing Sr. Lewis of St. Julian who kept it had ever such a strict eye over it that he frustrated all his Designs intended against it For he knew that the Loss of that Place vext the Lord Chandos at the Heart and he defired by keeping it carefully to vex him if possible yet more It happen'd at last that Sr. John Chandos sent secretly his Summons to several Barons Knights and Esquires of England and Poicton to come as closely as they might to the City of Poictiers unto him as on the last Day of December or the Night before the First of January enjoyning them by no means to fail but to come ready provided at the time appointed with all the secresie imaginable for he designed to ride out some whither None of those to whom he sent fail'd him in the least for besides the Service they ow'd unto him as Seneschal they all lov'd him entirely and so came in secret manner to the City of Poictiers that they were there all ready at the limited time The Chief of these Lords were Sr. Guischard Dangle Sr. Lewis of Harcourt the Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Pinant the Lord of Taniboton Sr. Moubron de Linieres Sr. Baldwin Frevile Sr. Thomas Percy Sr. Richard Pontchardon and others who made up in all 300 Spears With these the Lord Chandos began when it was dark to march from Poictiers whither no Man living knew except certain of his Council who had provided scaling Ladders Being come to St. Salvin about Midnight they alighted gave their Horses to their Valets and so entred the Dike which was then hard frozen But at that instant they heard the Watch-Horn blow the Occasion whereof was that Carlonet the Breton being come from his Garrison at la Roche Pozay with 40 Spears in his Company called just then at St. Salvin to speak with the Captain Sr. Lewis of St. Julian with Design to get him to ride out along with him into Poictou to seek some Adventure And therefore he now raised the Watchman which made him sound the Horn. But the Englishmen who were on the other side of the Fortress ready to scale the Walls hearing the Watch blow and a great Noise in the Place presently concluded they were discover'd For not knowing the true Reason they believed the Horn blew upon their Account Thus by a small Mistake the Lord Chandos lost the fittest Opportunity in the World of accomplishing his Design and shortly after Himself too as we shall see by and by Hereupon the English drew back again out of the Dike saying Let us go hence for this Night for our Design is discover'd and therewithall they remounted their Horses and returned altogether to Chauvigny on the River Vienne about three leagues from St. Salvin Here the Poictevins demanded of the Lord John Chandos whether he had any further Service to command them or no He answer'd Gentlemen since the Design I came about is dash'd You may e'n go home again in the Name of God when you please But as for the Remainder of this Day here I think to tarry in this Town Upon this there left him what with Knights of Poictou and of England about 200 Men of Arms but the Lord Chandos went into an House and called for a Good fire having Sr. Thomas Percy in his Company When Sr. Thomas saw my Lords Humour he said unto him Sir are you resolv'd to tarry here all this Day Yes truly said he why do you ask Because Sir said he my desire is if you think not to stir abroad your Self that you would give me leave and I will ride some way or other with my Company to see if I can find any Adventure Go your way Sir in the Name of God said the Lord Chandos here I intend to tarry So Sr. Thomas went away with 30 Spears more in his Company and refusing to pass the Bridge at Chauvigny took the great Road that lead to Lussac in order to leave a larger scope for Adventures But the Lord John Chandos tarried still behind full of Displeasure that he had fail'd of his Design and all the while he stood in a Kitchen with his Hands behind him warming himself at the Fire his Servants jesting and rallying upon one another in his Presence thereby to bring him out of that fit of Melancholy Presently some of his Servants who had made ready a Pallat for him to lie upon came unto him asking if he would please to lie down a little He demanded of them if it was Day yet At which instant there came in One who told him he had brought News What is that said Sr. John let us know Sir said he for certain the Frenchmen are now abroad How know you that Sir I came from St. Salvin with them Which way are they ridden Sir they took the way down toward Lussac What Frenchmen are they can you tell me Sir their Captains are Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton Well said Sr. John I care not I am not minded to stir this Morning they may perhaps be encountred althô I am not there Hitherto he seem'd to contend with and to have the upper hand too of his Destiny which was now hasting on apace and laid all these Temptations in his way to draw him out against the Fatal Hour Thus for a while he tarried still in the Kitchen deeply musing with himself at last his Evil Genius prevailing when he thought he had well advised he pitched upon the most pernicious Resolution and said Gentlemen whatever I told you before I now think it best to ride abroad For I must return to Poictiers and anon it will be day The Knights about him said that was true and then he commanded them all to make ready for he was now resolved to ride abroad So they mounted their Horses and left Chauvigny coasting the River so to return to Poictiers by the Bridge of Lussac At that same time the Frenchmen were not past a league before them in the same way designing to pass the River of Vienne at the same Bridge and so to march further into Poictou The Lord Chandos knew he was in the Track of the Frenchmen for the French Horses neighed because of the English Horses which went before them with Sr. Thomas Percy And in the open Fields so early in a Morning by help of the Wind the Noise of Horses may well be heard a League It was presently fair Day light for in the beginning of January the Mornings soon break wherefore the Frenchmen who knew nothing of the Lord Chandos his being in their Reer when they were now within less than a league of the Bridge espied Sr. Thomas Percy and his Men on the other side the Bridge and he also perceived how they came after him apace With that he rode back again as fast as he could to get the advantage of the Bridge because he saw the Frenchmen outnumbred him When Sr. Lewis of
Licence From whence he obtain'd Obedience from the Souldiery Good-will from the Country People and Love from his Prince by whom he was Honour'd with the Seneschalsy of Poictou While he bare that Office the Commons were not opprest with unjust exactions nor vexed with the Rapines or frequent Incursions of the Enemy to all which they were abundantly exposed after his Death In the Battles of Since of Cressy of Poictiers of Auray of Najara and others he gain'd much Renown as will appear by several Passages of this History however at last by Mischance he received his Fatal Wound at Lussac He was Honourably interred in the Fortress of Mortimer where he died leaving no Issue of his Body behind him for he was never Married Whereupon i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503 ex Rot. Fin. 50. Ed. 3. m. 21. Ashmole p. 704. ex Commun Term. Mich. an 3. H. 5. Elizabeth and Eleanor two of his Sisters the Latter being then the Wife of Sr. Roger Collings and Isabell Daughter to Margaret the Third Sister at that time Married to Sr. John Annesley were found to be his next Heirs Thus Rest Immortal Heroe for thy Name Shall last till Heaven and Earth's devour'd by Flame And thô Base Envy at these Works repine Yet even they shall if Mortals can Divine Live for the Great Black-Prince's Sake and Thine II. Upon the Death k Frois c. 271. fol. 166. of the Renowned Lord John Chandos who left his Dear Lord the Prince of Wales Heir to all that he had in Normandy which amounted to the Yearly Revenue of 40000 Franks or 4000 l. Sterling the Lands of St. Saviour the Vicount fell into the King of England's Hands to bestow as he should think fit Wherefore he gave the Charge and Government thereof to a Knight of his House a Valiant and Expert Leader called Sr. Alan Boxhull who l True Use of Armory in the Life of the Lord Chandos p. 108. Ashmole Plate 52. bare for his Arms in a Shield Or a Lion Rampant Azure cover'd with a Fret Argent he to defend the Place and to menage the Revenues thereof for the Profit of the King and of the Prince To him shortly after succeeded William Lord Latimer who bare * Ashmole Plate 42. Gules a Cross Pateé Or and being Steward of the King's Houshold was before the end of this Year m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 32. made Lieutenant Captain and Governour of the Castle Town and Vicountie of St. Saviour And the Office of High Seneschal of Poictou being void also by the Death of the Lord Chandos the Prince of Wales gave it to Sr. Thomas Piercy a Gentleman of Great Valour and Experience n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 285. who was Younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy and afterwards was created Earl of Worcester Soon after the Frenchmen who were taken Prisoners at the Bridge of Lussac having by the Assistance of the French King in whose Service they were taken paid the several Ransoms which were set upon them returned all back again to their several Garrisons as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton Sr. William Bourde and others of whom we shall say more anon At this same time there were several Barons and good Knights of France who became very much concerned when they saw the War of the two Crowns grow hotter and hotter every day especially the Lord Ingelram Coucy whom it affected deeply for he had a Fair Inheritance in England as well upon his own account for his Fathers had been Barons of that Realm ever since the days of King John of England as by the Lady Isabell his Wife who was Daughter to King Edward Which Lands he must not only Renounce but prove ungratefull to his Friend and Father-in-Law if he should serve the King of France and yet on the other hand he would seem no better than unnatural and a Traytor if he should bear Arms for England against the King of France to whom he was both an Ally and Subject And yet he thought to stand Neuter would be to befriend neither but rather to disoblige both Wherefore he took a Fourth Course resolving for a time to bid Farewell to France and to go and Travel abroad to inform his mind and to seek Adventures So having discreetly taken his leave of the French King he set forth with a small Retinue and went into Savoy where he was Honourably received by the Earl and by the Barons and Knights of his Court. Having spent some time there he rode forward into Lombardy and went to the Lords of Milain Galeas and Bernabo to whom he was welcome In the same Manner thô upon another occasion the Lord Edmund of Pamiers one of the most Loyal Knights in the World went away from the Prince's Service the reason was this In those days when there were so many Lords of Gascogne and others who daily revolted from the Prince to the French King's side it could be no otherwise but that the Prince and his Officers should be very jealous of the Faith of those who gave but the least umbrage of Discontent But however it was in this case whether only Suspicion or something more solid the Lord Thomas Felton o Frois Vol. 2. c. 1. Gallice c. 318. fol. 199. B. Angl. who was Seneschal of Bourdeaux for the Prince of Wales and so consequently Lieutenant for the King of England caused the Lord William of Pamiers and a Lawyer his Secretary and one of his Council named John Coulon a Native of Bourdeaux to be apprehended and flung into Prison Being brought to their Tryal it was proved home upon them as was then affirmed that the said Lord of Pamiers had covenanted to yield himself and all his Castles to the Protection of the French King and had actually deliver'd his Castle of Fronsac into the French Hands of all which the said Lawyer and Counsellour were conscious and accessary thereto wherefore neither the Lord of Pamiers nor his Clerk nor the other having any thing to say why sentence of Death should not proceed against them they were all three condemned by the Judgement of the Lord of L'Esparre and other Loyal Gascogners and openly beheaded in the City of Bourdeaux before an infinite concourse of People to the astonishment of many But especially those of the Lord of Pamiers his Kindred took this Execution hainously and upon this occasion it was that the most Gallant and Noble Knight in the World Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Uncle to the foresaid Lord William of Pamiers left Bourdeaux and Bourdelois resolving however in his Mind neither for that nor any other Provocation on Earth to turn Traytor to his Lord the Prince of Aquitaine but with all he took the Death of his Nephew so ill that he sware never from that time to bear Arms for the King of England or his Son the Prince while he lived And so he went on divers Pilgrimages to Cyprus to the Holy sepulchre
his Study to Physick as being an Art most Worthy of a Gentleman and a Candid Nature whereby he should be enabled to do good to the afflicted Bodies of his Fellow-Creatures But above all his Inclination prompted him to Travel especially into Asia and Africa two vast Portions of the World which together with Europe made up the whole Terrestrial Habitation for in those days the New-found World of America was not known Being therefore well provided with Necessaries and having taken Care for Bills that would pass among Merchants of most Nations he set forward resolving with Vlysses to discover the Government and Manners of many Nations Thus having with much labour carefully survey'd the Greater and the Lesser Scythia Armenia Tartaria both the Countries of Libya Arabia Syria Persia Media Mesopotamia Illyria India Graecia Egypt and other Kingdoms and not only informed his Mind with many Curious and notable Observations but also with the Knowledge of several Languages lest all this inestimable Treasure should perish together with his Life he wrote exactly in the Latine French and English Tongues his Itinerary of Thirty Three Years a Book of the Wonders of the World and a Description of the several Countries he had seen And at his Return into England as he seriously noted the Abuses of the times the Pious Gentleman would say In these our days We may say more truly than ever That Vertue is neglected the Church is trampled on the Clergy is led away with Errour the Devil reigneth Simony beareth sway Greatness is abus'd by Flattery Diligence Learning and Vertue are despised Vice and Impudence are exalted c. At last he departed this Life at Liege a City in the Bishoprick of Liege in Germany and lies buried in St. William's Convent without the Gate of the said City with this m Crtelius in Itiner Pitsaus p. 511. 512. Latine Inscription Here lies the Noble Gentleman Sr. John Mandevil otherwise sirnamed Knight of the Beard Lord of Kempten born in England a Professor of Physick very Devout in Prayer a most Bountifull Bestower of his Goods to the Poor who after he had travelled almost over the whole known World ended his Life at Liege in the Year of our Lord 1372 the 17 of November Besides which Inscription there was engraven on the Stone the Image of an Armed Man with a Forked Beard a Lion at his Feet and at his Head an Hand blessing with these Words in French Vos Ki passeis for mi Pour l'Amour Deix Proiez por mi. All you that pass by Pray for me of Charity The shield of his Arms thô void of late days is said to have been cover'd with a Plate whereon his Arms were depicted being Azure with a Bordure indented Or a Lion Rampant Argent with a Crescent Gules on his Breast Formerly there were to be seen the Knives Spurs and the Horse-Furniture which he us'd in his Travels thrô the World. It seems he was a Person of much more Credit with the Germans and French who have many Years perus'd his Writings in their own Languages than here in England among his Countrymen 'T is said of him n Engl. Atl◠3 Vol. p. 302. that after he had seen most of the Cities in the World he prefer'd Liege to whatever he had before met with and resolv'd as he did to spend the Residue of his Life in that Place But surely thô vulgarly the Books that go under his Name are reckon'd full of Incredible Stories either We must look on them as greatly falsified and differing from the Original or if once convinced of their Authority ought to be carefull in censuring rashly For this Man had the Reputation of being as Eminent for Piety and Integrity as for Knowledge CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1373. An. Regni Anbliae XLVII Franciae XXXIV The CONTENTS I. The Constable of France lays Siege to Sivray An Army of English comes to raise it but are beaten II. Hereupon the Constable takes Sivray and after that Niort and Lusignan But Chastellacher obtains a Respite at the Request of the Lady thereof after that taking in Mortimer and Didonne he returns to Paris and is highly caressed by the King. III. Becherel in Bretagne and St. Saviour le Vicount in Normandy besieged by the French. IV. King Edward sets forth a Fleet which burns a part of the Spanish Fleet. V. King Charles confiscates the Dutchy of Bretagne because the Duke adher'd to England and sends the Constable to take Seisin thereof VI. The Duke of Bretagne thró distrust of his People retires for England leaving Sr. Robert Knolles behind as his Lieutenant VII The Constables Conquests in Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles puts himself into Brest VIII The Constable comes before Brest and the Lord Clisson lays Siege to la Roche sur You in Poictou a Detachment at the same time being sent to take in Derual which was the Inheritance of Sr. Robert Knolles IX La Roche sur You yielded Derual compounds and gives Hostages Nantes recieves the Constable on certain Conditions X. Sr. Robert Knolles compounds for Brest that it shall be rescued in 40 Days or yielded XI The Earl of Salisbury being reinforced resolves to succour Brest by the Day appointed and to give the Constable battle but the Constable deceives him XII Sr. Robert Knolles goes to Derual XIII The Duke of Lancasters Expedition and March thrô France XIV Sr. Robert Knolles refusing to hold the Agreement made by his Men about yielding up Derual the Duke of Anjou strikes off the Heads of the English Hostages in revenge whereof Sr. Robert Knolles strikes off the Heads of 4 French Prisoners in sight of the Duke XV. Pope Gregory XI having obtain'd a Treaty to be held at Bruges writes unto the Commissioners of both Kings to prepare them and sends two Legates to compose Matters between the Duke of Lancaster and the French King. XVI The Difficulties of the English Army the Duke arrives at Bourdeaux XVII A Parliament at Westminster XVIII A Prodigious Malady call'd St. John's Dance XIX The Death of sundry Great Personages I. NO a Frois c. 306. f. 186. b. sed Gallice f. 255. sooner was the unactive season of Winter past but Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France began to take the Field marching from the City of Poictiers with 14000 fighting Men whose Chief Captains besides the Constable were Sr. Alan de Beaumont Sr. John de Beaumanoir Sr. Arnold of Limosin Sr. Geoffry of Ricon Sr. John du Lanconet Sr. Geoffry of Carnuel and others With this Army the Constable went and laid Siege to b Sireth Frois Tizeth Du Chesne c. Sivray enclosing his Camp with Pales and a Ditch to avoid being troubled by Excursions in the Night During this Siege Sr. Robert Mico and Sr. Robert Scot who were Captains of the Place and had defended themselves with great Valour against the Attacks of the Frenchmen sent secret Word of their Condition to Sr. John Vbrues and to
own English Forces were but small and he had not many of the Great Men of that Country that would obey him However he took what Care he could and had made all his Garrisons as Defensible as he might and particularly having well furnish'd his own Castle of Derval and committed it to the Custody of Sr. Hugh Bright his Cousin he himself went to Brest setting all his Fortune upon the strength of that Place About the same time the Constable who had by his Detachments taken in most part of the small Towns as Crodon and Callac and the like came in Person and laid his Siege to Hennebond the Captain whereof under the Duke was an Esquire of England named Thomas Wiche to whose assistance Sr. Robert Knolles had lately sent a Valiant Knight called Sr. Thomas Prior so that they made Fourscore Men of Arms besides others As soon as ever the French Army was come thither they began to assail the Castle having brought with them certain Engines and Great Guns wherewith chiefly they had won divers Castles and Fortresses especially that of Quimperlay When these Engines were ready planted against the Town and Castle the Constable sware aloud that he would sup that Night in the Castle and so the Assault was began on all sides But the Townsmen Defended themselves Valiantly so that there was yet no likelihood that the French would prevail Then the Constable commanded that these Words should be loudly proclaim'd in his Name to the Inhabitants of the Town Hear you Bretons that are Townsmen thus saith our Lord the Constable of France it is certain that We shall Conquer You for We have made an Oath to sup this Night within Your Walls Know You therefore for a truth that if any one of You shall henceforth cast but a stone or a Quarrel whereby the least of our Company may be hurt I make a Vow to God You shall all loose your Lives therefore At this Proclamation the Townsmen were so disheartned that they all shrunk away from their Walls into their Houses and left the English Garrison to make good the Place by themselves Which notwithstanding they did with great Courage as long as they were able to hold But the Town was so large that it was impossible for so few Hands to suffice for all Places wherefore after a brisk Assault the Frenchmen entred the Town by Scalado and put all the Englishmen to the Sword except the two Captains who only were taken to Mercy But as for the Townsmen because they had so carefully obey'd the Constable's Command he now gave an especial Charge that none should be so bold as to do the least injury to any one of them Here the Constable tarried 15 days to strengthen the Town and Castle and to set things in Order the mean while he sent a great part of the Army to le Conquet a Port-Town which he resolved also to reduce This Place after a stout Resistance was taken likewise by Assault and every soul within put to the sword except only the Captain Sr. John Langley an English Knight who was received to Mercy VIII Le Conquet being thus won the Constable took Care to repair it and set it in good Order and then resolved to go before the strong Fortress of Brest The Earl of Salisbury had lately been there and when he had very well supply'd the Place with Men of Arms Archers Artillery and Victuals he took shipping again and coasted about the Country if he might happily find the Frenchmen for as yet he knew not where they were nor whither they would go Soon after his Departure the Constable came and sat down before Brest wherein at that time was Sr. Robert Knolles himself and Sr. William Nevil with an 100 Men of Arms and as many Archers beside the Inhabitants who were all Loyal to their Lord the Duke and well provided of all things However here the Constable laid his Siege with more than 6000 Fighting Men for as soon as ever he had perfected his Siege there he sent Sr. Oliver Clisson with the rest of the Army to go and in the Duke of Anjou's Name lay Siege to la Roche Sur Yon on t'other side the Loire in Poictou which was then in English Hands But now the Lord Clisson invested it Round about and raised up Engines against the Town which were brought thither from Angiers and Poictiers and here the Lord Clisson was joyn'd by several Noblemen and Knights from Anjou and Poictou who all vow'd not to rise till they should have the Place at their Devotion And all the while they lay there the Duke of Anjou sent them store of Victuals and other Necessaries for carrying on the Siege And still the Constable lay with his Men before Brest the Duke of Bourbon the Earls of Alenson and Perigort the Dauphin of Auvergne and divers other Great Lords being in his Company But here they wan little or nothing for Brest was one of the strongest Castles in the World and Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. William Nevil were no Children in Matters of War. However the Constable who was subtle in hopes to divert or distract Sr. Robert Knolles his Mind order'd another Detachment of 400 Fighting Meh with several Lords of Bretagne and Touraine to go now and lay Siege to the Castle of Derval which was Sr. Robert's own being given unto Him by the Duke for him and his Heirs for ever IX Thus n Frois c. 309. fol. 189. sed Gallicè f. 258. at one time the French Lords laid Siege to Five several Places the One before Becherel the other before Brest in base Bretagne a Third before Derval in Bretagne also a Fourth before St. Saviour in Normandy and the last before Roche Sur Yon in Poictou which belonged to the Duke of Lancaster And to each of them were given many shrewd Assaults But those of Roche Sur Yon who were farthest off from any Succour were first obliged to come to a Composition Which was that unless they should be relieved within the space of a Month they would leave the Place to be disposed of at the French Kings Pleasure At the end of the time limited the Lord Oliver Clisson return'd thither with his Troops and no Rescue being come or likely to come the Castle was given up according to Covenant and the Englishmen were safely convey'd to Bourdeaux by the Lord of Pons After this Success the Lord Clisson went to reinforce the Siege before Derual carrying along with him his Great Engines and thither also shortly after came the Constable himself with the Dukes of Bourbon the Earl of Alenson and Perche and a great many other Barons and Knights of France For they found by this that they did but lose their time in lying before Brest however they had left behind them 2000 Men who were strongly encamped in places which commanded the Avenues so that none could go in or out at Brest without their Leave When Sr. Hugh Bright and the
Manny at the same time resigning his Lands also had the Earl of Pembroke and all the other Prisoners rendred back For whom they were now to make their Bargain as well as they could For the Ransom of the Lord Thomas Percy the strong Castle of Liziniac was yielded up to the French But the manner of the Lord Gutschard D'Angoulesme's Redemption was thus It may be remembred how we shew'd before that the Lord of Roy was still a Prisoner in England and likely enough to continue so because King Edward loved him not Now this Lord who was of High Birth and Estate had no Children but only one Daughter a Fair young Lady his Sole Heiress During his Imprisonment at this time his Friends proffer'd this Lady in Marriage to Sr. Oliver Manny a Knight of Bretagne Sr. Bertram of Clequin's Nephew on Condition he could obtain the Delivery of the Lord of Roye by Exchange for any one or more of his Prisoners Whereupon Sr. Oliver Manny sent to King Edward of England to know what Knight next the Earl of Pembroke he would have deliver'd in Exchange for the Lord of Roye The King hereupon intimating his particular Esteem for Sr. Guischard Dangle the Exchange was made and Sr. Oliver Manny married the Lord of Roye's Daughter with which Fortune he was so well pleased that he procured the other English Lords and Knights with all the rest of the Prisoners to be deliver'd for very easie Ransoms But as for the Earl of Pembroke p Frois ibid. no less than 6000 Florens of Florence were set on his Head for which certain Merchants of Flanders engag'd being to pay the Money at Bruges upon News of his safe Delivery at Calais 'T is q Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 20. thought the Spaniards upon his leaving them had given him a Dose For soon after this Bargain for his Redemption he began to be so extream sick that the Constable of France fearing the loss of his Money by his Death made hast to convey him by easie journeys from Paris in an Horse-litter But a Feaver came so violently upon him that he died by the way at Arras and so the Constable lost his Money He departed this Life on the r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. ex Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 70. sixteenth Day of April in the Year of our Lord 1375 being the following Year till the beginning whereof this business of the Prisoners was not settled He left behind him Å¿ Dugd. ibid. p. 578. one Son his Heir named after his Name John then but two Years old and an half and not born when his Father was taken Prisoner Which young Child proving of a very forward Vertue exceeding Hopefull and Towardly was afterwards in the Flower of his Youth being but seventeen Years of Age slain in a Tilt by an unlucky slip of Sr. John St. John's Lance to the great Regret of the King and of the whole Court because he was a Person of so Noble a Disposition as well as Extract and in Courage Bounty and Courtesie exceeded most of his Age and Dâ—gree I do not love to trample upon the Dead and to kill them again in their Reputation But for Example sake we must not conceal what some have observed to have been the occasion of these Judgments upon this Noble Earl and his Family It is first said t M.S. in Bibl. Bodlei K. 8. Cant. 186. b. that ever since Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke and Ancestor of this Hastings sat among those who gave Sentence of Death against Thomas Earl of Lancaster in the Days of King Edward the Second none of the succeeding Earls of Pembroke ever saw his Father so as to be sensible of him nor any Father of them saw his Child or but an Infant But as for this Earl John whom we observe to have been taken Prisoner on the Eve of St. John Baptist which it seems is the Festival of St. Ethelred the Virgin many in those Days took occasion thence to censure that he was thus pursued by God's Judgments for the injury he had done to the Church of that Holy Virgin at Ely in a Cause depending betwixt the Church of St. Edmundsbury and that before his last Departure out of England And that the Money so lost did no more good forasmuch as it had been extorted from Religious Houses and the Clergy Thô surely u Walsing ibid. n. 26. Walsingham is too precise in fixing his Death also on the Day of the same Virgin Saint since it appears by Record to the contrary as we have shewn But x Walsing hist p. 182. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 577. others attributed this ill Success to his having lead an Adulterous Life being a Married Man also because he had in Parliament attempted an Infringement of the Churches Liberties and persuaded the King to lay heavier Taxes upon the Clergy than on the Laiety for the support of his Wars Which practice of Pilling and Polling the Church however the Temporal Lords were pleased therewith yet what Success ensued thereupon saith y Walsingh hist p. 182. Walsingham not only England but the whole World doth know I dare not accuse the Earl of these Crimes because 't is evident how the Monks in those Days were apt to attribute every Mischance that a Man met with to the Hand of God stretch'd out for their sakes wherefore I leave the Discussion of this Matter to the judgment of the Reader However the Earl of Pembroke dying thus in the Flower of his Age having then seen but twenty seven Years His Body was brought over into England and buried first in the Choir of the Fryers-Preachers at Hereford but afterwards for the Summ of an 100 l. Translated to the Grey-Fryers near Newgate in London now called Christ-Church This Earl John z Pat. 51. Ed. 3 m. 29 per Inspeâ—imus Esc 49. Ed. 3. n. 10. Claus 49. Ed. 3. in Dorso in the Fourty Third Year of King Edward having obtained Licence for that purpose of the King made a Feoffment to Walter Amias and others of all his Castles Lordships Lands and Mannors in England and in Wales to certain Uses Which Feoffment being left seal'd up in the Hands of his Feoffees to be kept till his Return from beyond the Seas was now upon his Death deliver'd up to the Kings Council who thereupon opening it found that in case he died without Issue of his Body the Town and Castle of Pembroke should come to the King his Heirs and Successors and the Castle and Lordship of Bergavenny and other his Lands in England and Wales to his Cousin William Beauchamp his Mothers Sister's Son in Fee provided he would bear his Arms and endeavour to obtain the Title of Earl of Pembroke But in case he should decline so to do then his Kinsman William Clinton to have them on the same Conditions IX There died a Jacob Meyer Annal. Flandr l. 13. p. 193. c. this Year the Famous
Mortimer Earl of March the Earls of Warwick Stafford and Kent the Lord Edward Spencer and the other English Captains returned also for England But the Lord Spencer presently upon his return fell grievously Ill wherefore he began to dispose himself for another World and among other things i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 396. ex libro Sudbury dicto fol. 89. made his Testament which bears Date at Lanblethian a Castle of his in the Marches of Wales upon the Sixth of November Anno 1375. Wherein he bequeathed his Body to be buried in the Abbey of Tewksbury in Glocestershire near his Ancestors on the South part and gave to the Lady Elizabeth his Wife who was Daughter to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash his Great Bed of Camaka-Blew with Griffons as also another Bed of Camaka striped with White and Black and all the Furniture belonging thereto Moreover to the Abbot and Covent of that House of Tewksbury he gave an whole Suit of his best Vestments as also two Gilt Chalices and an Hanap or Bason Gilt likewise an Ewer wherein to put the Body of Christ on Corpus Christi Day which Ewer was given him by the King of France I shall mention no more Particulars but that he died shortly after viz. on Martinmass-Day in the same Month at his Castle at Kaerdiff leaving behind him Thomas his Son and Heir then but Two years of Age and four Daughters Cecily who died young Elizabeth first married to Sr. John Arundel and afterwards to the Lord de la Zouch Anne who became Wife to Sr. Hugh Hastings and after his Death to the Lord Morley and Margaret the Wife of Sr. Robert Ferrers This Lord Edward Speucer was a Mighty Baron of the Realm and so Valiant that his Death was look'd on as a National Loss and a great Empairment of the Strength of England He died too soon being but in the 39 Year of his Age and was descended from those Delespencers Earls of Glocester who were such Favourites to King Edward the Second the Greatness of whose Condition may be estimated from this Inventory which was found to have belonged to Hugh Delespenser the Younger k Rot. Parl. 21 Ric. 2. n. 58. vid. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridg. p. 372. Sr. W. Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 396. sed Sr. Rob. Cotton his térve corrigendus ex Dug as Ten Good Castles in Wales and Twenty Three Mannors besides the Countries of Lantrissan Glamorgan and Wenceland with the County of Galesy and it appear'd that Hugh the Elder had at the time of his Fall no less than Fifty Nine Lordships in sundry Counties Twenty Eight Thousand Sheep One Thousand Oxen and Steers One Thousand two Hundred Kine with their Calves and Fourty Mares with their Colts of two Years one Hundred and Sixty Draught Horses two Thousand Hogs three Thousand Bullocks Fourty Tuns of Wine six Hundred Bacons Fourscore Carcasses of Martinmas Beef six Hundred Muttons in his Larder Ten Tuns of Cider Armour Plate Jewels and ready Money better than ten Thousand Pounds Thirty six Sacks of Wooll and a Library of Books VI. About this time there were sent into Scotland by Commission from King Edward the Lord l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 236. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Guy de Brian and the Lord Henry Scroop of Masham to treat with William Earl of Douglas and Others appointed by Robert Stuart King of Scotland touching the Restitution of those Lands which by Vertue of the Truce formerly made did belong to England and m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. for Settling all things amiss which had fell out contrary to the Truce and Agreement made between the Kings of England and Scotland VII Now when the Truce of which we spake was thus made at Bruges being to continue for one whole Year unto the First of April 1376. between the Kings of England and France and their Allies the Duke of Lancaster on the one Part and the Duke of Burgundy on the other sware to uphold the same and that at the Feast of All-Saints next coming they would return again to Bruges in order to treat further about Prolonging the Truce or Compleating a Peace Each Party being permitted to hold and enjoy every thing which at that time they had in Possession untill the said First of April From this latter Clause the English concluded that St. Saviour le Vicount would be secure but the Frenchmen who always got the Advantage of them by Treaties resolved that the First Covenant should take place of the Latter At Whitsuntide therefore which was the Time appointed that the Garrison of St. Saviour was to yield unless rescued by their Friends the French King sent thither no less than 6000 Spears Knights and Esquires besides Others but none appear'd on the Behalf of the Garrison either to raise the Siege or hold the Field against them When therefore the appointed time was come and expired the English much against their Wills yielded up to the French the Captain Thomas Katrington Sr. Thomas Cornet and Sr. John Burroughs with the Three Brethren Mauliverers and the rest of the Garrison being convey'd to Carentan whence they all took shipping for England VIII And thô during King Edward's Reign this Esquire Katrington was never question'd in the least for this Matter yet a few Years after in the Days of King Richard the Second a Noble Knight named Sr. John Annesley n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. who had married the late Lord John Chandos his Niece o Sr. Rich. Baker p. 150. ad ann 1381. accused him of flat Treason in thus Delivering up that Fortress and thereupon challenged him to a Combat which the Esquire accepted and the King granted resolving to be himself a Spectator as He was with all the Court the Lists being made in the Palace Yard of Westminster This Esquire Katrington was a mighty Man of Valour of a large stature and far overtop'd the Knight being also of greater Expectation in such Matters But however whether Justice or Chance or Valour only decided the Business the Knight prevail'd and Katrington the day after the Combat died of his Wounds as some say thô considering the Laws attending the Duello in such Cases I rather here encline p Fabian p. 324. to Fabian who affirms that he was drawn to Tiburn and there hanged for the Treason whereof by being vanquished he was proved Guilty IX But to return besides this Encroachment on the Truce made by the French in taking St. Saviour le Vicount after that Manner q Rot. Par. 50 Ed. 3. n. 127. certain Ships of England which had lately carried over into Aquitain the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. William Elman Governour of Bayonne whom they had landed at Bourdeaux being now return'd thence to le Baye in Bretagne were Boarded by certain Spanish Gallies and taken on the Tenth of August thô the late Truce extended unto the Spaniards also as being Allies of France Of which we
moi na si Veritie non Et st ore me veissez Ie me quide pas qe vous deissez Ne je eusse onques home este Si su je ore de tant changee Pour Dieu priez au Celestien Roy Ne Mercie ait de l'alme de Moy Touz ceulx qe pur Moy prietont Du a Ditu m' accorderont Dieu les mette en son Paradis Du nul ne poet estre chetiss Thou who silent passest by Where this Corse interr'd doth lie Hear what to thee I now shall show Words that from Experience flow As thou art once the World saw Me As I am so thou once shalt be I little could my Death divine When Life's bright Lamp did sweetly shine Vast Wealth did o'r my Coffers flow Which I as freely did bestow Great store of Mansions I did hold Land Wardrobes Horses Silver Gold. But now I am of all bereft And deep in Ground alone am left My once admired Beauty 's gone My Flesh is wasted to the Bone. A Narrow House doth me contain All that I speak is True and Plain And if you should behold Me here You ' ld hardly think I justly fear That e'r the World to me did bow I am so chang'd and alter'd now For God's sake pray to Heaven's High King To shade my Soul with Mercy 's Wing All those that try on bended Knee To reconcile my God and Me God place them in his Paradise Where neither Death can be nor Vice. The Judicious Reader will attribute the Weakness of these Lines to the Age wherein they were made but surely this Hero's Victories at CRESSEY POICTIERS and NAJARA in Spain shall prove both a more Elegant Epitaph and a more Durable Monument to his Name V. When his Dear Friend the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche who was still a Prisoner at Paris heard of his Death he began to neglect himself and at last abandon'd all Care of the World or hopes of Life or Liberty insomuch that it is said he abstain'd from Sustenance and gradually pin'd away thrô Excess of Grief for the loss of so Brave a Commander VI. Thus his Friends both at home and abroad took the Death of this Gallant Worthy for indeed he was of so Obliging a Character that he won the Hearts of all Mankind especially of those who delighted in Martial Performances and in General He was a Prince of such Excellent Demeanour r Mill's Catal. Honor. p. 315. so Valiant Wise and Politick in his Doings that the very perfect Image of Knighthood appear'd most lively in his Person And such was his Towardliness or rather Perfection in Princely Government that every Man judg'd if he had lived to attain the Crown he would surely have exceeded the Glorious Renown of all his Ancestors He left behind him one onely Son Richard sirnamed of Bourdeaux then in the Tenth Year of his Age and after the Death of his Grandfather King of England by the Name of Richard the Second But in all Probability he had left a more Numerous Issue but for the Spanish Expedition for from that time that he left Spain where first he was infected with that fatal Malady he never had any more Children thô before that he had two Sons within the Compass of two Years But it is reported that he had also Å¿ Sr. Rich. Baker's Chron. p. 143. Mr. Ashmole p. 676. Sandford's Gen. Hist p. 189. ex l. 10. s 39. lib. in Collegio Armâ—rum two Natural Sons Sr. John Sounder of whom we read nothing and Sr. Roger Clarendon to the latter whereof he gave by his Will a Silk Bed with all the Furniture thereunto belonging He became afterwards one of the Knights of the Chamber to his Half-Brother King Richard the Second and bare for his Arms Or on a Bend Sable Three Ostrich Feathers Argent the Quills transfixed thrô as many Scroles of the first being as is thought Ancestor to the Family of the Smiths in Essex VII On Wednesday t M.S. Râ—t Par. p. 120. § 40. St. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 123. n. 41. §. 42. which was the Day after St. John Baptist or the 25 of June at the earnest request of the Commons there came into open Parliament before the Lords the Young Lord Richard of Bourdeaux Son and Heir of Edward late Prince of Wales and so consequently Heir Apparent of the Realm of whom after the Archbishop of Canterbury had spoken Words of Commendation the Commons with one Voice prayed that the Lords would make him Prince of Wales as his Father was But the Lords with more Discretion answer'd that it lay not in them but in the King only so to do to whom however they promised to be Mediators for that purpose But because the King was sick at Eltham the Lords and Commons went thither about the Premises and to have a Confirmation and Answer to these Petitions which follow Petitions of the Commons with the King's Answer That the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest may be kept in all points The King granteth thereto That the Sheriffs in all their Returns of any Inquest do return the most Honest and Nighest Neighbours and that in every weighty Cause the Sheriff be sworn to view the Panel before he return the same The Statute therefore made shall be executed and withall adjoyned to the Oath of every Vnder-Sheriff that He in his own Person shall survey the Panel before he return the same A Motion was made that all Liberties granted to any Mystery or Occupation in any City or Town be revoked and no more granted so as the Mayor and Bayliffs of every City and Town may see things amended But this was quash'd before it came to the King. That divers Commissions for Extortions or such like granted heretofore to sundry Persons of Evil Name may be Repealed and no such granted hereafter but to Lords and others of best Reputation in their Countries The King granteth thereunto and that no such Commissions be hereafter made but to the Justices Serjeants and others Learned in the Law. For the saving of Salmons and other Fry of Fish in the Thames almost destroy'd by certain Engines as the King himself hath often found that therefore all Trunks between London and the Sea may be overthrown and that no Salmon be taken between Gravesend and Henley upon Thames in the u i.e. Spawning time à Belgico Kippen pullos edere ova ezcladere Kipper-time viz. between the x Inventio Crucis 3 Maii Epiphania 6 Januarii Invention of the Cross and the Epiphany and that no Nets be laid in the Thames unless the same be of large Mash of Assize The Statutes therefore made shall be kept and Commission given out for enquiring after the same That the Wears upon the River Brent in the County of Middlesex a parcel of the Thames be taken away The Statutes therefore made shall be executed That all those Lombards called Broakers who only maintain Usury