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
Talbot in deep Indignation that his Advise was so little reckon'd of hasted with some few of his Friends and Attendants for England but being surprised in the way by a strong Party of the Bruceans who knew well how to make their advantage of these private Dissentions after he had lost six men of Arms and many more Foot was himself taken Prisoner and so carried to the strong Castle of Dunbriton The Lord Beaumont in as great displeasure hies him to the Castle of Dundarg in Bucquhan u Dagd 2 Vol. p. 51. of his Wifes Inheritance which having well victual'd and fortifi'd he not only by continual Excursions subjected to himself the Lands late in Controversie but all the Country round about him David Strabolgi goes to Athol with the same Discontent and there makes great Provision for his own Defence Hereupon King Bailiol too late seeing his Error and doubting not a little what all this might come to as also feating lest his only Protector the King of England might take these Proceedings in evil part by an action as weak as the other was rash revokes now his own former Sentence grants the Lord Beaumont the Lands in contest appeases the Earl of Athol with many and large Possessions belonging to the young Lord Robert Stuart who afterward was King and promised them both to ransom their Kinsman the Lord Talbot at any rate whatsoever Having thus with much adoe reconciled those great Personages to himself thô Sr. Alexander Moubray was again lost thereby he resolves if possible to be before hand with his Enemies whom he knew to make huge Preparations against him being the more animated by the late Accession of Sr. Alexander Moubray Suddenly therefore he comes before Reinfrew a City in the Province of Cunningham near the River Cluyd which he as suddenly reduces and having settled Matters there passes over into the Island of Bute where Sr. Alan Lile Sheriff of the Island presenting him with the Keys of Rothsay had the Castle and whole Isle committed to his Charge again After this he took the Castle of x Duchan l. 9. p. 291. Dunnow in Kyle whereby he terrified the greater part of his Enemies into a Compliance having seized on all the Lands belonging to the y Id. p. 292. Stuarts and lying in the Islands of Bute and Arran about Reinfrew Cunningham and Kyle besides what belonged to many others who like that Noble Family scorn'd to save their Lands by forfeiting their Loyalty Many of his own Friends he now rewards most liberally with Lands and Possessions taken from his Adversaries as well of his own Natural Bounty for he was a Prince of great Worth and Gallantry as with Design to bind them fast to his Interest At the same time he z Hector l. 19. fol. 317. c. made a narrow search after the young Lord Robert Stuart aforesaid that by his Death he might secure himself on that side as who was Nephew to the late King Robert Bruce being eldest Son to King David's eldest Sister and had even in the days of King Robert been sworn and own'd as the next Heir Apparent to his Son David For as for David who was then an Exile in France he thought himself pretty secure of him and now look'd upon this innocent young Lord who was so powerfull in Wealth and Allies and had the Right to the Crown of Scotland next after David as a most Dangerous Person But God had order'd it otherwise and the Hopefull Prince Robert being then scarce fifteen years of Age thrô the secret Goodness of Providence which destin'd mighty things for him and his Posterity with the great care and foresight of his Friends especially of Sr. William Heriot and Sr. John Gilbert was privatly by water conveyed to the impregnable Castle of Dunbritton and there earnestly recommended to the Care of that Loyal and valiant Lord Malcome Flemein who was still Governour of that Place In the mean time the Lord Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland for King David being lately redeem'd from England with a good round Summ of Money bestirs himself vigorously for his distressed Country and now at last having joyn'd Sr. Alexander Moubray who thrô displeasure had lately revolted from King Bailiol he strictly besieges the Lord Henry Beaumont in his strong Castle of Dundarg During this Siege 't is a Walsingh hypod p. 113. n. 24 said that King Edward of England himself upon news thereof with a great Power entred Scotland and relieved him The time indeed of this Siege may well enough agree with King Edwards Winter Expedition for thô upon good reason I have laid the foregoing Story together yet the whole Procedure took up more than the space of twelve Months but yet in this matter the Scotch Writers are more agreeable to Truth who say that he was forced to yield himself on certain Conditions Thô surely One was not as b Leland Câ—llect 1 Vol. p. 797. Leland says that he might have liberty to retire freely into England nor was he suffer'd as Hector says to depart upon parole only giving his Oath never to return into Scotland any more unless in King Davids Quarrel but he was fain to pay a good Ransom for his Liberty as it evidently appears from the c Pat. 9. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 22. Sr. Will. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Records which plainly shew that when about a Year after King Edward in requital of his Services acquitted him of all such Debts as were due from him to the Exchequer he especially forgave him among the rest four hundred Marks formerly lent unto him at York towards the Payment of his Ransom upon this his Imprisonment in Scotland V. The News of the foresaid Siege and of the taking of the Lord Richard Talbot was d Walsingh hist p. 116. Hypod p. 113. n. 14 brought to King Edward during the last Session of Parliament at Westminster which as we shew'd began about the 24 of September this Year Whereupon the late Resolution for the Holy Land was Suspended and his Majesty thought it necessary in Person to undertake one Expedition more into Scotland and not to desist till he had wholly subdu'd that untractable People and cut off from them all possibility of future Rebellion He was also extreamly exasperated e Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 22. at the News that David Strabolgi Earl of Athol had Revolted to the Bruceans the truth of which Business was That being as we shew'd before by large Gifts and Promises as well as by the Revocation of Judgement in the Lord Beaumont's behalf Reconciled again to King Bailiol he was f Vector fol. 318 n. 50. c. suddenly one time surprised by the Bruceans who then began to bestir themselves apace by whom thô for the present he escap'd them he was so closely Hunted and Pursued on all Hands that at last after he had with much Difficulty sustain'd himself with Roots and Water for a while he
like unto Cherries but without any Stones let who can tell the Meaning of the Prodigy says Walsingham CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward sends a fresh Embassy to the Earl of Heinalt with an account of 500 Gentlemen Voluntiers whose Captains were the Lord Walter Manny and the Lord James Audley with the success of the Ambassadors II. King Edward endeavors also to bring over the Flemings the Earl of Flanders puts to death the Lord Sigar of Courtray whereby he looses the Affections of his People who vanquish him in battle and put him to flight III. The Rise of Jacob van Arteveld in Gaunt his Popularity Power and Interest IV. The English Ambassadors make use of him to bring over the Flemings to the King their Master with their Success V. The King in Parliament creates his Son the Prince Duke of Cornwall and makes seven Earls the Prince at the same time dubbs twenty new Knights with other things relating to that Parliament and the Affairs of Ireland All the Lands of the Priors Aliens throughout England seised into the Kings Hands and by him let to farm VI. William the Good Earl of Heinalt dies an instance of his Justice and an account of a Divine Judgment upon an unnatural Sister William Son to the Good Earl succeeds the Countess Dowager goes into a Nunnery VII King Edward sends to demand the Crown of France and makes many Potent Friends in High-Germany and elsewhere King Philip seeks to draw off the Flemings to himself but in vain VIII King Philip sets a Garrison in Catsand to intercept the English Commissioners King Edward beats them out IX King Edward holds a Treaty of Peace with Philip and with his Allies for further enabling him in the War. X. The Pope intercedes The King calls a Parliament I. KING Edward the mean while not to slack his Business a 16 Decemb. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 6. Ashmole p. 646. sends a Commission to the Earl of Heinalt wherein he is stiled William Earl of Heinalt Holland and Zealand and Lord of Friseland our Father-in-Law and thereby constitutes him his Proctor to treat and agree with such Noblemen Persons of Note as he should think best touching both Alliances and Retainers He also sent Commissions with the like Power and under the same Date to William Marquis of Juliers the Kings Brother-in-Law he b Rittershusius in Tab. Com. Hollandiae Selandiae c. having married Joan Sister to Queen Philippa to Sr. John Montgomery Knight and to Doctor John Waweyn Canon of Darlington his Liegers in those Parts In April following a like Commission bearing Date the 19 of the said Month AN. DOM. 1337. An. Regni XI was issued to Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Lord Montagu and William Lord Clinton then newly made Earls and they immediately dispatch'd to the Earl of Heinalt on another Embassy far more honourable than before For it consisted of ten Great Batons and fourty other Knights c Frois c. 28. fol. 17. b. who were all fully instructed to treat further with the Earl and to article and conclude with such Lords of the Empire as by the said Earl had been nominated When they were come to Valenciennes each of them kept a great State and Port sparing for no Expence no more than if the King of England had been there in Person whereby they were highly extolled and respected by the People of those Parts In the Company of these English Knights there was a gallant Troop of young English Batchelors who had all their left Eyes hoodwink'd and clos'd up with a piece of Silk It was talk'd as if they had made a Vow to their Mistresses in England That they would never take off those Patches till they had passed into France and there performed some notable Exploit of Arms upon that Nation Some say d Lord Montaigne in his Essays l. 2. c. 25. that for all this they could never hear of any great Matter performed by any of them If not certainly 't is for want of Reading or Understanding For of this Resolute Company were no less than 500 Captains whereof were reported the young Lord Walter Manny that afterwards did Wonders in France and was the first that begun the War as we shall shew presently the young Lord Thomas Holland and also the noble Lord James Audely e Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 748. b. then not three and twenty Years of Age of whose valiant Acts and Heroick Exploits in the French Wars the Histories of both Nations make very honourable Mention In his Minority being under the Guardianship of Roger Lord Mortimer first Earl of March he was by him cheated into a Recognisance of ten thousand Marks which Debt as a Chattel became due to the King upon the Attaindure of the said Mortimer But his Majesty being soon convinced of his high Merit for thô so young he accompanied the King in all his Wars at his own Expences freely discharged him of that Summ. He bore for his Arms Gules a Fret Or and was afterwards one of that most honourable Company whom King Edward chose for his First Companions of the most Noble Order of the Garter and particularly in the Field of Poictiers he behav'd himself so eminently well that he obtain'd this Testimony of John then King of France to have best approved himself of any Knight whether French or English in Battle that day But I must not forestall the Reader by too long a Digression only this I thought necessary in order to refute the Lord Montaigne and to shew what kind of Gentlemen these were and that at least some of their Actions were not inferior to their Promises However this f Frois c. 28. f. 17. b. Vow of theirs was rumor'd as the occasion of those honourable Patches while they were at the Court of Earl William at Valenciennes thô they themselves would by no means acknowledge any such thing because the War was not yet declared These English Lords with their Company having thus for a while kept together in great splendor did notwithstanding all the while ply their Masters Business so well that by the g Ashmole p. 647. ex Rot. Aleman 11 Ed. 3. m. 9 10 11. 24 of May ensuing they had fully engaged divers of the Nobility and Others in Heinalt Gueldre and the Marquisate of Juliers to appear in the Kings Assistance against the French and withall settled the Proportion of Men and Arms wherewith each of them were to furnish the King in that Service together with the Stipends and Wages to be paid them in lieu thereof The mean time the h Frois ibid. Bishop of Lincoln taking some of the Chiefs with him rode to John Duke of Brabant who entertained them with much Honour and lighty accorded to their Motion Promising to sustain the King of Englands Quarrel to the best of his Power as well by Council as by Force of Arms That his Country should be open to his
the Lords of his z Frois c. 42. Council told him that he had not lost one jot of his Honour since he had Couragiously sought out his Enemies and Faced them boldly for several days and finally for by that time King Edward also was return'd to Antwerp had made them quit his Realm without any Great Advantage And they moreover said that the King of England must be fain to make many vast and expensive Voyages before he should be able to Conquer France unless the Frenchmen by their own heat and rashness would fling their Country away King Philip however went the next day to St. Omers and thence placed his Men of War in Garrisons especially at Tournay Lille and Douay and to other Towns bordering on the Empire Sr. Godmar du Fay a Norman Lord was now made Captain of Tournay and Sr. Edward Lord of Beaujeu was sent to Mortagne confining on Hainault near the Skell And having thus settled Affairs King Philip returns to Paris X. The mean while King Edward who knew nothing of the Departure of the French Army stood after his usual manner embattlel'd in the Fields the next Sunday on which Day the Lord of a Knighton p. 2575. n. 50. Andelys was taken by the English Then the King heard that the French Army was marched off and retired to their own homes Whereat he was extreamly amazed But on the Monday the Marquess of Brandenburgh Son to the Emperour the Marquess of Nuys his Son in Law the Duke of Brabant and the other Germans disposed themselves for home because of the sharpness of the Weather the Winter being already pretty well enter'd King Edward gave them his leave to depart and he himself went straight to Antwerp in Brabant where he had left his Queen and her young Son Prince Lionel Upon his Return to Antwerp he issued out another b Ashmole p. 650 ex Pat. inter Regem diverses Magnat German 15 Novemb 13 Ed. 3. m. 3. Commission to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Bartholomew Burwash and Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knights and John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely to treat of Peace with Philip of Valois as he is called in the Commission or with Commissioners from him and a Month after to wit on the 16 of December the said Commission was renewed upon adding Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk to the forenamed Commissioners The mean while the King kept his Christmas in great Splendour at Antwerp together with his Queen and her Ladies and many German Lords c Walsingh hist p. 132. most part of his Army remaining still about him To adorn the Solemnity the better he had sent for his Eldest Son Prince Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester for he was not yet creaated Prince of Wales whom he had left his Lieutenant or Warden of England being now a Proper Hopefull Young Gentleman of almost ten Years of Age. His great Grace and exact Shape made him as acceptable to the Ladies Eyes as his large and well-proportion'd Limbs rais'd a full Expectation of his future Manhood among the Lords both of England and Almain And here it seems by what follows in the next Year that a Match was if not fully concluded yet at least propounded and well-nigh agreed on between the said Young Prince and the Duke of Brabants Fair Daughter the Lady Margaret at that time but four Years old thô indeed the same thing had been projected the Year foregoing as appears by d Ret. Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. vid. Ashmcle p. 675. Sandford p. 184. the Rolls About the same time Prince Otho Duke of Austria stirred up with the Fame of King Edward with whom he had enter'd an e 16 Febr. Patentes inter Regem diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. Alliance this Year sent and required the Lady Isabella his Daughter in Marriage for his Young Son the Letters beginning thus f Walsingh hist p. 133. To the most Excellent and Magnificent Prince the Lord Edward the most Illustrious King of England his Sincere and most Dear Friend Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Austria Stiria Suabia and Carinthia Lord of Carniola Moravia and Portaenaon Earl of Hapsburgh and Chiburgh and Land grave of Alsatia with all Hearty and Devout Affection wishes a good Success of his Desires and a continual Encrease of Health and Felicity c. But neither g Ashmole p. 675. 676. of these Matches took effect the Pope by the King of France's underhand-dealing still refusing a Dispensation for the First they being within the Third Degree of Consanguinity and the Other being otherwise hindred as we shall see hereafter At the End of this Year there came from the Pope to King Edward this Letter following the like whereof He also at the same time sent to King Philip of France * * Walsingh hist p. 129. Censimiles Liter◠Regi Franciae directae exstant apud Odoric Rainald ad an §. 1339. 14. Benedict the Bishop Servant of the Servants of God to his most Dear Son in Christ Edward the Illustrious King of England Greeting and Apostolick Benediction While we seriously consider and deeply revolve in our Minds how great hath been the Bounty of the most High and Eternal King and the Abundance of his most mercifull Goodness that when lately your Army most Dear Son and the Army of our most Dear Son in Christ the Illustrious King of France stood so near together confronted in Battle Array furiously dispos'd to a terrible Conflict on both sides those miserable Effects did not ensue which those warlike Preparations and Force of Armed Men did threaten to him we pay the tribute of our Praise since it ought to be esteemed as the greatest Gift of Almighty God and no less than a Miracle gratiously wrought by the Goodness of the Wisdom of God which never fails in its Dispensations And surely it may be more evidently gather'd that so great an Effusion of Blood of those who had been redeem'd with the precious Blood of our Lord as must needs have followed if the said Armies had come to Battle at that time to the great loss and scandal of all Christendom and to the hazard of many Souls was by no means pleasing to the most High who maketh Wars to cease and by the Prophet threatens to scatter the Nations that delight in War. Your Royal Wisdom also may consider how deeply both You and the foresaid King must have incurr'd the Divine Anger if you had proceeded to hazard so many of those whose Souls and Bodies he hath so dearly ransomed And it is to be feared that without doubt God Almighty will most severely animadvert against him especially who of the two should be most forward in promoting such Mischief whereby such Slaughter and Confusion would follow that all Christendom would be shook thereby and a Reformation of
at the East-end of his Cathedral toward the North At whose Feet there lies his Brother Sr. Robert who was a Great Souldier in his time and also a Son of Sr. Robert's Named Bartholomew There died also this Year two Famous Old Barons of England the a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 639. One was Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire of almost 90 Years of Age who left behind him his Son and Heir of the same Name then about Thirty three Years Old. The Other was the * Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan in Scotland He left behind him John his Son and Heir then Twenty two Years of Age and a young Daughter Named Elizabeth afterwards Married to Sr. Nicolas Audley Son and Heir to the Lord James Audley of Heley Besides these two there Died about the same Time at Gaunt in the Kings Service the Lord Chief Justice of England Sr. Geoffry Scroop He had been very Loyal to King Edward the Second as appeared by the joynt Testimonies of the Prelates Earls and Barons in b Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 22. Parliament whereupon he Obtain'd much Grace with King Edward the Third whom he also Served till his Death with Indefatigable Industry Admirable Discretion and Untainted Loyalty In Consideration whereof among other Princely Favours bestow'd on him we find that the King Advanced him to the Degree of a c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. Knight Banneret with a Gift of two Hundred Marks per annum for his better Support and that but this very Year he d Stow's Survey Lond. p. 249. gave unto him the Great House call'd the Erbar by the Church of St. Mary Bothaw near Dowgate-Street in London He lest behind him together with a Good Name and a Plentifull Estate Henry his Son and Heir at that Time Twenty five Years of Age who prov'd a Valiant and Noble Knight in his Days and John a Younger Son who many Years after Married Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of David Strabolgi Son to David Earl of Athol slain in Scotland five Years before We shall conclude this Chapter with a short Relation of a most signal Victory obtain'd this Year on the 30 of October over the Saracens Moors and Africans in Spain In the foregoing Year e Câ—â—â—â—n Victorell de PP Reman p. 884. p. 887. Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon being hardly put to it by the Barbarians begg'd aid of the Pope and all the Great Princes of Christendom From France and England went but few or none because of the Wars then hot between the two Realms But from other Parts many gallant Knights and Gentlemen went against those Enemies of God being especially encouraged thereto by the Pope's Bulls wherein he granted large Indulgences to those who undertook this Expedition Alphonso therefore being now reinforced with a small but well-compacted Army and joyned with his Neighbour Alphonso the Brave King of Portugall gave Battle to the Moors in the Plains of Tartessos vulgarly called Tariffa from a Town of that Name in the Boetic Province which enclines to the River called Rio Salado near the Herculean Sea. The Forces of Alphonso were 35000 Foot and 14000 Horse but the Army of Allibohacen King of Morocco with those of Granada under their Miramolin and three other Kings of the Moors consisted of 600000 Foot and 80000 Horse And yet thrô the Divine Assistance the Christians wan the Day f Jos Teixera de Orig. Reg. Port. and with the Loss of no more than g Joh. Mariana l. 16 c. 7. 20 Men slew in the Fight and in the Chace above h Vasaus Hist Hisp Genebr l. 4 Chronog vid. Odâ—ric Raynal ad hunc annum §. 40. usque ad §. 56. 200000 of the Infidels besides an incredible number of Prisoners taken Thô Others reckon no less than 450000 to have fallen that Day among whom were two of the Sons of Allibohacen In Memory of which Miraculous Victory the said 30 of October hath ever since been kept as an high Festival in Spain being dedicated to the Honour of the Holy Cross which was at this time so successfully advanced against the Enemies of Christendom King Alphonso after this Exploit having first and chiefly return'd his Thanks to Almighty God now also in token of his Gratitude to the Pope sends him for a Present to Avignon out of the Spoils he had taken an 100 gallant Horses of Barbary in rich Trappings with an 100 Saracen Slaves to lead them an 100 Morisco Cimitars and an 100 Shields of Tann'd Leather plated Also 24 Military Ensignes and the Horse and Standard of King Allibohacen which he used in this War together with many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver and Jewels of great Price besides his own Horse on which he fought and his own Royal Standard which he follow'd in that Battle i Ita Literae Pontis gratulatoriae ad Alphonsum neminant John Martin Don Leyva and Pedro Didaci de Corduba the Spanish Ambassadors who brought all these Presents were received with extraordinary Pomp by the Cardinals and other Prelates at their entrance into Avignon And the next day his Holiness k Victorell ib. himself celebrated Mass and after that made a notable Sermon wherein with great Eloquence he magnifi'd the Kings Victory and exhorted all present to praise God therefore and to pray for the Kings Health and Perseverance in Prosperity And to enable him the better to maintain his Wars against the Moors he then granted unto him the Thirds of the Tithes of all his Subjects which the Kings of Spain enjoy to this Day From this happy Success of the two Alphonso's Kings of Spain and Portugal against Jutzeph King of Granada and Allibohacen King of Morocco the Pope took an Occasion to exhort our King Edward of England to dispose himself towards a l Odoric Raynald ad ann 1340. §. 55. Peace with his Rival of France that they might both unite their Forces against the general Enemies of Christendom These Letters bear Date from Avignon the xv of the Kalends of January i. e. 18 of December in the Close of this Year being the VI of his Pontificate The Copy of which Letter is to be seen in the Ecclesiastical History of Odoricus Raynaldus at this Year 1340. King Alphonso presently after this Victory lays Siege to the great Town of Algezira belonging to the Moors and lying upon the Streights of Morocco on the Frontiers of Granada Which after a long Siege was enforced at last thrô Famine to yield to the Christians Thô still the Saracens held Footing in that Kingdom till having lost the City of Granada to Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain they were at last finally expelled that Kingdom by Philip III. Because we may not disturb the intended Order of our Discourse which follows in the next Chapter we take leave in this place to tell the Reader that the Fruitfull Young Queen of
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
any Good Deed unrewarded nor Evil Deed unpunished Most humbly requesting him to be unto Us a true and impartial Judge of all our Controversies for his Mercies Sake even as We the mean while do repose our full Hope and Confidence in Him alone The Holy Spirit of God preserve and direct your Holiness in the Government of his Church many and happy Years c. If Odoricus Rainaldus had perused this Answer of King Edward's he would not perhaps have so dogmatically g Id. ibid. §. 24. asserted that he prefer'd his interest to Religion and was an Enemy to Christian Piety whose unhappy Death he says was answerable to his Life and that in the end he was despised of God as he had before despised God in the Person of his Vicegerent This Judgment I believe that Author would not have had if he had taken as much care to weigh King Edward's Excuses as he hath in collecting the Accusations laid unto his Charge Both which yet being equally the Duty of every one who would avoid Errour I have for the better clearing of Truth produced all along the Letters on both sides And as for the Unhappiness of King Edward's Death the Opinion thereof is taken up from light and unauthentick Conjectures as we shall shew when after a Thirty Years Reign yet longer in great Honour and Prosperity excepting some small Allays we shall find him in a good Old Age to go to the Grave in Peace full of Days and Honour being Royally interred by the Hands of his own Children Friends and Subjects not without many Wet Eyes and sorrowfull Hearts But to return whence we have digressed IV. All this while the Flemings continued firm to King Edward's side insomuch that about the time h Frois c. 140. Du Chesne p. 666. of his First Coming before Calais they raised a sufficient Army which being lead by a Valiant Knight called Sr. Edward de Renty a Native of France but lately banished thence by King Philip went and laid close Siege to Bethune a City of Artois But the Place was so well Defended by Four Worthy Knights of France Sr. Geoffry Charny Sr. Eustace Ribemont Sr. Baldwin Seclin and Sr. John Landas that after much labour to little purpose they were fain to break up their Siege and return home upon the approach of Winter Their Captain Sr. Edward Renty soon after upon his Pardon returned into France where he proved very serviceable to his Country in many Glorious hazards But now King Philip of France who earnestly desired to lop off these Friends of Flanders from his Enemy of England in hopes thereby to fasten them unto himself makes unto them these large Offers 1. To remit unto them all their former Transgressions 2. To cause i Hence it seems it was not yet revoked according to an Article of the Truce at Vannes in Bretagne or else upon their late embracing King Edward's Interest was renewed against them their Interdict or Excommunication to be taken off 3. To send unto them such Plenty of Corn that what they now paid 12 s. for should be sold for 4 s. and this to be continued for six Years 4. To store them with plenty of French Woolls to make their Cloth at a very cheap Rate the which Cloth to be sold as well in France as in Flanders he promising to forbid the Wearing or Buying of any other Cloth in his Dominions as long as any of that made of French Wooll might be found 5. To restore unto them freely the three Cities of Lille Douay and Bethune 6. To defend them from all their Adversaries and in pledge thereof to assist them with Money beforehand 7. To retain in his Service such as were able and forward Men among them and to raise them to Promotions according to their Merits But all these fair Offers as seeming rather extorted by the necessity of the Times than proceeding of any real Purpose or Good-will were stifly rejected Especially by the carefull Endeavours of King Edward's Emissaries who promised them k Frois c. 140 c. after the Winning of Calais to recover the three Cities aforesaid unto them and labour'd with better success to keep them fast to the King their Master and to undermine the whole Drift of the French King. But chiefly they established the Flemings by Proposing a Match between the Lady Isabella King Edwards Eldest Daughter who was then about l 1332. nata 14 Years of Age and their young Lord Lewis of Malines onely Son to Lewis of Crecy aliàs Nivers late Earl of Flanders who fell the last Year in the Battle of Cressy Which young Earl Lewis was as then little more than m Natus 7 Kal. Decemb. Anno 1330. Jac. Meyer Annal. Fland. l. 12. p. 155. 16 Years old The Flemings gladly approved of this Motion as doubting not by such an Alliance to be very well able to resist upon Occasion the French King whose Friendship they thought not so necessary or advantageous unto them as that of the King of England And on the other side King Edward was not less willing to consummate this Match and Alliance because hereby he assured himself that he should bind the Flemings unto him more strongly But as for the young Earl himself he having been all his Life educated in the Court of France would by no means agree to this Match but said openly How he would never take to Wife the Daughter of him who slew his Father And besides John Duke of Brabant that had all along trim'd between the two Kings and was generally suspected to be but an outward Friend to King Edward laboured now with this young Prince rather to accept of his Daughter telling him that if he would take her for his Wife he would undertake fully to resettle him in the quiet Possession of all Flanders either by fair Means or otherwise And to perswade the King of France more easily to allow of this Match he told him by his Private Agents how upon that Condition he would so order it that within a short while all Flanders should renounce the King of England's Friendship and return to his Side Whereupon having obtain'd the King of France's Approbation he began by sufficient Messengers to deal privately with the Burgesses of the Good Towns of Flanders about re-admitting their Young Lord to the Exercise Dignity and Profits of his Earldom These Men shew'd unto that giddy People such plausible Reasons that by General Advice and Consent they n Mezeray p. 28. presently deputed certain Commissioners unto King Philip to redemand their Natural Prince of him whom they would thenceforward own for their Lord. And to the young Earl they sent this Invitation that if he would return into Flanders and make use of their Counsel they would be unto him true and faithfull Subjects and restore unto him all the Rights and Jurisdiction of Flanders in as ample a Manner as ever any Earl had before him This
Edmund Earl of Arundel his Father died seised either in England or in Wales as of the said Castle As for this Earl of Arundel here spoken of his Cause as well as his Valour is sufficiently declared in the former Part of this our History but for this Earl John we shall now once for all add somewhat of him because the small Age to which he attained rendred him unable to purchase any higher Character in this Work. He was Second Son to Edmund Plantaginet Earl of Kent the Kings Uncle of whose Death f 〈…〉 3. §. 3. 〈…〉 ad p. 42. we spake in the Fourth Year Yet he made no Proof of his Age till this very g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 94. b. Year when upon his Homage he had Livery of all his Lands his Mother the Lady Margaret being then also dead And at that time he granted unto King Edward the Third and his Heirs Kings of England the Castle and whole Lordship of Lydel as well within the Precincts of England as Scotland after the Decease of Blanche Relict of Thomas Lord Waâ—e which Castle and Lordship came to him in Right of the Lady Margaret his Mother Sister and Heir to the said Lord Wake of Lydel But this hopefull young Prince having just married Elizabeth Daughter to William Marquess of Juliers departed this Life without Issue the Year next following in the Prime of his Youth leaving all his vast Possessions to his Sister and Heir the Lady Joan commonly called the Fair Maid of Kent first Espoused to William Montagu second Earl of Salisbury of that Name at this time the Wife of Thomas Lord Holland in her Right afterwards Earl of Kent But to return to the Transactions of this Parliament King Edward during this Session bestow'd several great Honours on Sundry of his Martial Nobility As particularly his Valiant Cosen Henry Plantagenet Earl of Lancaster Leicester Lincoln Darby Grosmont and Ferrers him on the a Ashmoles Garter p. 682. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 786. Stow p 251. M.S. Vet. Angan Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Sixth of March he advanced to the Title and Dignity of Duke of Lancaster Which being done by the General Consent of all the Prelates and Peers then sitting in Parliament and Confirmed unto him for his Life he was invested therewith by the Cincture of a Sword with Power to have a Chancery in the County of Lancaster and there to issue out Writs under his own Seal as well touching Pleas of the Crown as others relating to the Common Laws of this Realm As also to enjoy all other Liberties and Regalities belonging to a County-Palatine in as ample Manner as the Earl of Chester was known to have within that County the Tenths * Ashmole ibid. and Fifteenths and all other Payments granted by the Clergy or Canons and Pardons for Life and Members to the King excepted Thus the Black-Prince who was Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster being the two first Dukes in England since the Conquest by the Grandeur of their Names as well as Birth and Dignity did seem the Worthiest of all Men to be so Duke Henry was yet i 8 Martii Ret. Franc. 25. Ed. 3. m. 15. Ashmole p. 682. further about the same time constituted Admiral of the Kings whole Fleet from the River Thames Westward And two Days after the King assigned him several Lieutenants namely Reginald Ferrers on the Rivers of Thames and Medway Robert Ledred Serjeant at Arms within the Cinque-ports Philip de Wetton and Walter de Harewell Serjeant at Arms in the Port of Seaford and in every Part and Place thence by the Sea-coast to Foye Richard Lengles in the Port of Foye and thence to Bristow and there and in the Port of Chepstow and River of Severn and Ralph de Lullibrock in all Places and Ports from Chepstow to Chester and there and in all Parts and Maritime Places in Wales Mr. Stow k Stow Chron. p. 251. says that at this time Prince Lionel of Antwerp the Kings Son was made Earl of Vlster in Ireland and John of Gaunt his Younger Brother Earl of Richmond but the Former had not that Title till l Dagd 2 Vol. p. 167 c. Ten Years after at what time he took to Wife the Heiress of Vlster and the Latter had his Nine Years before as appears by the m Cart. 16 Ed. 3. n. 2. Records So Knighton n Knighton p. 26â—2 tells us that the Lord Robert Hufford was now made Earl of Suffolk whereas he had been advanced to that Dignity no less than o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 47. fourteen Years before But the Lord Ralph p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 160. ex Cart. 25 Ed. 3 m. 25. Martâ—â— 5. Stafford was at this time advanced to the Title of Earl of Stafford and for his better Support in that Dignity the King granted him a 1000 Marks per annum in Fee untill he should provide Lands of that Value to settle on Him and his Heirs In this Parliament also the Lord John Maltravers senior one who was thought to have had an hand in the Murder of King Edward the Second having as we shew'd q L. 1. c. 24. §. 4. six Years before surrendred himself with great Contrition to the King was now r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 102. by the Judgment of the Parliament acquitted and by his Majesty thereupon fully pardoned restored and admitted to take Place in that Honourable Convention In Å¿ M.S. Rot. Par. p. 72. §. 11. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgment p. 74. §. 11. c. ad hunc annam Consideration of the great Dearth of which yet the Land was not wholly freed the King releaseth one Half of his Provision appointed to be taken up by Purveyors And Remedy was likewise taken against Labourers who required Excessive Wages as we partly intimated before as also against the Pope's Reservations and those who being cast in the Kings Court seek redress from the Court of Rome to the Subversion of the Laws of the Realm Then the Commons petition'd That no Man may be put to answer in what concerns his Freehold or whatever toucheth Life Limb or Fine by his Opposite before the Council but by due Process of Law. To this the King as to what concerned the Freehold agreed but for the rest rejected it in the usual Form saying Le Royse advisera That no Man whatsoever but Merchants only for their great Necessity of Traffick should export the Good Money of the Realm The King answer'd as before that he would be advised That the Fines of Labourers may be paid to the chief Taxors of this Fifteen in Aid of the Poor The King replyed the Surplusage thereof should be employed according as Circumstances hereafter shall most require That the Steward and Marshal and their Deputies do make no other Process than was used in the Time of King Edward the Second and limited by the
they found no Enemy to oppose them and first let us speak of the Prince of Wales and of his Actions in this Expedition EDWARD the Black-Prince n Frois c. 155. being thus happily arrived in Gascogne as we shew'd before declared o Holinsh p. 951. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. to the Chief Captains and Lords of the Country the Reasons of his coming thither and fell immediately to advise with them how to proceed for the best Advantage in his Affairs After which having well refreshed his Souldiers and sufficiently augmented his small Forces on the * Lit. Dom. D. Fifth of October being a Monday he marched out of Bourdeaux in this Order In the Vanguard was the Earl of Warwick his Constable the Lord Reginald Cobham his Marshal the Lord Roger Clifford Son in Law to the Earl of Warwick the young Lord John Beauchamp of Somersetshire the Lord Richard Stafford Brother to the Earl of Stafford and Sr. John Wingfield an intimate Friend of his of the Lord Cobhams Retinue and seven stout Barons of Gascogne with 3000 Armed Men In the Main-Battail marched the Valiant Young Prince himself being now in the 25th Year of his Age with a double Ensign with him were the Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burghersh or Burwash whose Father was then newly dead the Lord John Lisle the Lord John Willoughby of Eresby the Lord Roger de la Warre the Lord Maurice Berkley the Lord John Bourchier the Lord John Rose the Elder of Bourdeaux the Lord John Greilly Captal de la Buche the Lord of Chaumont and the Lord of Monferrand the Four latter being of Gascogne and in this Battail were 7000 Men of Arms. The Reer which contained 4000 Men of Arms was led by the Earls of Suffolk and Salisbury with whom was the Lord of Nemours who conducted the Carriages The whole Army consisted of better than 60000 Men one with another and being furnished with such a General and such Valiant and Expert Leaders might well be counted very formidable Wherefore the Earl of Armagnac who was Lieutenant to the French King in Languedoc Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix James of Bourbon who was Lord of Ponthieu and Constable of France and the Lord John Clermont Marshal of France thô they had among them far p Frois c. 155. Mezeray p. 42. greater Numbers than the Prince and were more Powerfull in the Field if their Courage would have permitted a Tryal durst not either for Fear or as Mezeray softens it for jealousie of one another so much as once offer to stop his Victorious Progress Wherefore in little more than two Months time the Prince overran all the Country at his pleasure as far as Beziers and Narbonne burning the very suburbs of Narbonne or rather as will appear by and by the city it self and taking and destroying very many strong Towns and Castles all which are particularly and truly enumerated by Sr. Thomas de la More thô the Names of the Places are there most corruptly written for which reason as well as for the dryness and prolixity thereof we forbear to add the particulars here In this q Stow p. 255 c. Expedition on occasion of a Fire that happen'd one Night in a Town where he lodged he took a Resolution which he kept while he lived never to lie a Night in any Town in an Enemies Country in time of War. Being come to the strong City of Carcassone the Citizens offer'd him 25000 souses of Gold on Condition he would spare their Town from Fire but the Prince answer'd That he came not thither for Gold but to take Cities and Towns with their Inhabitants to succour and cherish his Friends and to offend his Enemies In this Expedition at several times the Prince Knighted all these Gentlemen Jenkin Barefort Giles Stratton Rowland Davis Ralph Basset the Sons of the Lord of Albret Theodorick Dale Porter of the Prince's Chamber and many others In lieu of all whom he lost only one but him a most Valiant and Noble Knight of the Order of the Garter named the Lord John Lisle who on the r Ashmole's Garter p. 673. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 739. 14 of October received a Mortal wound with a stone from a Wall of which he died the next day to the infinite regret of the Prince and all who knew his Worth and Gallantry leaving behind him his Son and Heir Robert then 22 Years of Age. IV. But because a more particular account of this Expedition cannot better be expected than from the Mouthes of those who were actually concern'd therein besides the former Reference to Sr. Thomas de la More I shall take leave to subjoyn the Words of Sr. John Wingfield a Valiant Knight whose ſ Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 952. ex Rob. Avesbury c. Ashmole p. 672. two Letters on this subject are most Worthy to be inserted that thereby the Reader may as by a Touchstone try the Truth of Authors who write of the same Matter A Copy of Sr. JOHN WINGFIELD's Letter to a certain Noble Lord then in England My Lord as touching News in these parts may it please you to understand that all the Earls Barons Bannerets Knights and Esquires were in Health at the writing hereof and my Lord the Prince hath not lost either Knight or Esquire in this Expedition except the Lord John Lisle who was slain after a strange manner with a Quarrel the third day after we were entred into our Enemies Country He died the 15 of October And please you to understand that my Lord hath rode thrô the Country of Armagnac and hath taken many enclosed Towns and burnt and destroy'd them except such as He fortified for himself After this He marched into the Vicountie of Rovergue where He took a good Town called Plaisance the Chief Place in that Country which He burnt and destroy'd with the Country round about the same This done He went into the Country of Estarrac wherein He took many Towns and wasted and ravaged all the Country Then He entred the County of Cominges and took many Towns there which He caused to be destroy'd and burnt together with all the Country round about He also took the Town of St. Bertrand the Chief in that Country being as large in compass as the City of Norwich in England After that He entred the County of t t L'Isle en Dodon Lille and took the greater part of the closed Towns therein causing several of them to be burnt and destroy'd as he passed Then going into the Lordship of Tholouse We passed the River of Garonne and another a League above Tholouse which is very great For our Enemies had burnt all the Bridges as well on the one side of Tholouse as the other except those within Tholonse for the River runneth thrô the Town And within this Town at the same time were the Constable of France the Marshal Clermont and the Earl of
20 Years of Age the young Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton but k Dugd. ibid. p. 380. two Years older together with the Lord of Mucidan and the Lord Petiton Coutras Gascogners and Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. Richard of Punchardon also was there whom some suppose a Gascogner but it is evident that he was an Englishman born and of Devonshire deriving his Name as most Ancient Names had their Original from Punchardon * Speeds Maps in Devonshire l. 1. c. 10. p. 20. a place in Branton-Hundred in that County These Ten Worthies having as we said obtained leave to ride with 200 Men of Arms before the Marshals Battail and to take a view of Romorantin went accordingly in good Order and rode thrô that difficult narrow Passage where the French Ambush lay without the least knowledge or suspicion thereof They had but just got out of the Lane when the French brake suddenly forth and passed the Streight after them and then being more at large and freshly ranged for Battle they followed hard upon the English a good round Trot and with great Ardor and Courage of mind made up to them l Frois c. 157. When the Lords of England who were well forward heard the Noise of Horses from behind and looked back and saw they were their Enemies they faced about in good Order and stood still to receive them upon their Spears Points The French came on very briskly with their Spears couched in their Rests and ran fiercely upon the English who opening suddenly to the Right and Left suffer'd them to pass thrô so that on both Sides not above five or six were overthrown at the first Meeting But then the English joyn'd together again and dashed forth their Horses after them and began a most furious Combat The Skirmish was hot and well and long maintained on both Sides many Knights and Esquires on either part being reversed to the Earth and many mutually taken and rescued with equal Bravery saving that the French were more in Number being Three to Two So that as yet it was doubtfull to which Side Victory would encline But the Matter was now fully decided by the suddain Appearance of the English Marshals Battail which when the Frenchmen beheld to come scouring along by the Wood side they immediately turned their Horses and fled every Man as fast as he might toward Romorantin the English after them without sparing their Horses in the least This was an hard case for the French many of them being now overthrown and slain or taken Prisoners But about half of them among whom were the Three Lords namely those that were best Horsed made shift to gain the Castle for the Town was taken by the English at their first Coming The Prince m Frois c. 158. fol. 78. b. of Wales heard how his Van-Currors were engaged and therefore marched more hastily toward Romorantin but being come thither he found the Town already won and his Marshals busie in devising how to take the Castle Presently he commanded the Lord John Chandos to go and talk with those of the Castle to try what their Resolution was in that juncture Sr. John made a sign at the Gate that he had a mind to parly with some body within Whereupon certain who saw him demanded his Name and who sent him thither and upon his Answer to both their Demands they gave notice to the chief Lords of the Garrison who sent the Lord Bouciquault and the Hermit of Chaumont to the Farriers Sr. John having saluted them very courteously after his manner accosted them thus Messieurs I am sent hither from my Lord the Prince of Wales who is wont to shew great Clemency to such as submit unto him as now I question not but he will do For he saith that if without putting him to farther Trouble you will deliver up this Fortress into his Hands and become his Prisoners he will receive you to his Grace and use you honourably as Companions in Arms. Sir replied the Lord Bouciquault we do not intend to fling our selves into that Condition If we should do so before we are necessitated thereto our Discretion might justly be called in question Wherefore assure your self Sir that we intend to defend our selves like Men. At this the Parley brake off and the Prince resolved to encamp therebout for that Night but early next morning every Man being Armed under his Proper Colours they began to assault the Castle on all hands The Archers being ranged along on the Dikes shot their Arrows so wholly together that the Enemy could hardly appear at their Defences the mean while Others swam over the Ditch on Planks and empty Casks joyned together with Mattocks and Pick-axes in their Hands and began to dig and mine at the Walls but the Besieged cast down upon them great stones pots of quick Lime and other offensive things wherewith many were hurt and a valiant Esquire named Raimond Derge du Lache belonging to the Lord John Greilly Captal de Busche was slain All that day this Assault continued without intermission but yet also without Success wherefore at Night the English withdrew to their Lodgings again in Displeasure The next morning by Sun-rise those who were appointed to renew the Assault were all ready at the found of the Marshals Trumpets This second Attaque was carried on with all imaginable Application because the Prince Himself being there personally present as a Spectator of every Mans Behaviour gave great Encouragement to his People While thus the Prince stood on foot near the Dike there was slain hard by him an English Esquire named Jacob. Bernard whereat the Prince was so displeased that he took his n Frois c. 280. f. 170. b. most Solemn Oath and sware by his Fathers Soul not to leave the Siege till he had the Castle and all within at his Mercy Then the Assault was renewed much hotter than ever till at last the Prince saw there was no likelihood of Prevailing that way Wherefore presently he gave Order to raise certain Engines wherewith they cast combustible Matter enflam'd after the manner of Wild-Fire into the Base Court so fast and in such Quantities that at last the whole Court seem'd to be one Huge Fire Whereupon the excessive Heat prevail'd so that it took hold of the Roof of a great Tower which was covered with Reed and so began to spread over all the Castle Now therefore when these Valiant Captains within saw that of necessity they must either submit entirely to the Prince's Courtesie or perish by the most merciless of Elements they all together came down and yielded themselves absolutely to his Grace So the Prince received both Them and their Men as his Prisoners and left the Castle wholly void and ruin'd by the Flames This was done on the 4 of September MCCCLVI being 15 days before the Battle of Poictiers There were here taken the o Knighton p. 2614. n. 50. licet ibi Broun analè pro
before the King had left England he gave command that all the French Prisoners should be separately put in divers strong Castles and that the French King himself and his Son Philip should be surely kept in the Tower of London without any such liberty as he had before And the Lord Thomas f Walsing hist p. 166. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 169. of Woodstock the Kings Youngest Son being then scarce Five Years of Age was now constituted his Fathers Lieutenant and Lord Warden of England during this his intended Absence in France several of the most Politick Prelates and Counsellours of the Realm being appointed to act under his Authority There were also ordained certain Lords Knights and Esquires with their several Retinues to look to the Defence of the Realm and to be still ready to defend the Marches Castles and Havens of the same And things being thus settled at home the King himself with his Four Sons rode forth to Sandwich in Kent where he intended to go on board with all his Army The Kings Summons at this time had been particularly severe for except such and such none were permitted to stay at home g Knighton p. 2623. n. 10. between the Age of Twenty and Threescore So that after many Thousands had been turned back for some fault or other there remain'd at least an h Mezeray Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 53. p. 539. Walsing hist p. 166. 100000 of the most chosen Men and the best Arm'd throughout the whole Isle of Brittain And to receive them and their Provision there lay ready rigged at Sandwich 1123 Sail of Ships the latter i Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 53 p. 539. 123 Sail being those very Ships which had already convey'd the Duke of Lancaster to Calais with an infinite Quantity of Provision to be laid up in Magazines against the Kings coming King Edward therefore being come to Sandwich and having seen all his Men Muster'd between Sandwich and Dover declared aloud to all his Chief Captains and caused to be proclaim'd thrô the Army k M. S. Vet. Anglan Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. â—â—teri emnes That it was his Resolution to go over into France and never to return again alive till either by War he should have ended the Controversie or else obtain a Peace both to his Honour and Advantage otherwise that he would loose his Life in the Attempt And therefore said he if there are any among You that is not very willing to partake with me in whatever God shall please to send us Honour or Dishonour Peace or War Life or Death that Man hath now my Free leave to depart But of this sort of Men there was not one found in this Army For they all answer'd They were resolved to live and die with their Warlike King. Hereupon the King took shipping at Sandwich in the Dertmouth the 28 day of October being the Festival of St. Simon and Jude and a Monday inter auroram diei ortum Solis as the Words of the Record express and landed that Evening at Calais l Circà horanâ— Vesperarum Claus 33. Ed. 3. m. 9. Dorso vid. Ashmele p. 669. about the time of Evening Prayer Being thus happily arrived order was given to empty the Ships of all the Horses Armour and Provision and the next day the King held a Council of War to consider what Course to take Some were for advising him first to invade Flanders and Revenge all the Injurious and Unfaithfull dealing of the Flemmings But He who came over with a Design to reduce France to equal terms or to waste it with Fire and Sword rejected that Counsel as not so convenient for the present and commanded that all Men should be ready within five days saying that he intended to ride after his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster So early in a Morning m Frois c. 207. Holinsh p. 964. on the Fourth of November being a Monday he left Calais with all his Men and Carriages in the best Order that ever was us'd by any Army marching out of a Town The mean while the Duke of Lancaster who according to his Orders was returning toward Calais being now within four Leagues of that Place met with such Multitudes of Souldiers that they seem'd to cover the Face of the whole Country all so richly beseen with Feathers in their Crests their Arms bright and shining and their Banners and Ensigns waving in the Air that it seem'd to him the most Delightfull thing in the World to behold them marching all in Battle Array fair and softly When the Duke and the German Lords met the King he received them very graciously and feasted them Royally But after Dinner the Lords Strangers as Almains Brabanders Hainalders and other Mercenaries came all together before the King and told him how they had spent all their Money and pawn'd and sold all their jewels and other Goods except only their Horses and Armour So that little or nothing was left them wherewithall to do him any Service according to the Design of their coming nor yet had they enough left to bear their Charges home into their own Countries if they should now go home Wherefore they humbly entreated his Majesty that of his Royal Bounty he would please to take their case into consideration The King told them how their Proposal being unexpected he could not at that present give them a full and final answer but said he Gentlemen I think you are sufficiently wearied at this time wherefore go and refresh your selves and your Beasts at Calais for three or four days and to night or to morrow when I have advised with my Privy Council I will take Care to send You such an answer as may in reason content You. With that they took their leave of the King and of the Duke who now joyn'd him and so rode forward toward Calais by that time they had ridden about half a League farther they met with a vast Number of Carriages after which came the Prince of Wales in the Head of his Great Battail Arm'd most gloriously at all Points His shield of Arms which were France and England quarter'd over all a Labell of Three points Argent was richly diapred with Gold the same being curiously embossed and depicted with Embroidery on his Surcoat and the Caparisons of his Horse and on his Crest was a Lion gorged with a Labell as afore All his Men likewise were gallantly Armed and for Multitude seem'd to overspread the whole Country Thus the Black-Prince rode fair and softly ready ranged in Battle Array as thô he had been to engage immediately being still distant a League or two after the King his Father for the Carriages took up the space between and having a Wing both of Horse and Foot on each side Which Order the Strangers were extreamly taken with But when they had view'd this gallant Appearance and Reverently saluted the Prince and his Lords and were likewise received
together toward la Haye en Touraine Chandos the Herald went on this Message and found the Young Earl at Mortaigne who had indeed already made his Musters but with intent to undertake as he was before advised an Expedition by himself so to win the more Honour Wherefore again he excus'd himself to the Herald saying how as then he could not by any means wait upon the Lord Chandos because he had engag'd himself another way The Herald return'd with this Answer to Chastelleraut where he found his Lord Sr. John Chandos and related to him the Earls excuse from point to point Sr. John was exceedingly displeased in his Mind when he heard what News his Herald had brought him For he concluded that it was an effect of ill Consequence to the Affairs of the Prince his Master and that it proceeded from Envy or Presumption both which are Enemies to the Publique Good in Matters relating to the Concern of a Common-Weal So he only said Well then in Gods Name be it so If a Man of Honour can be byass'd from his Countries Good by private Designs And therewithall he dismist the Greater part of his Troops and went with the rest to the City of Poictiers The Effects of this trespass upon Discipline We shall see immediately XXI Now d Frois c. 265. fol. 159. when the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke heard how the Lord Chandos had discharged the Major part of his Forces and was returned to the City of Poictiers then he thought it high time for him to go abroad in quest of Honour and so he marched forth of Mortagne with 300 Spears English and Poictevins and some other Knights of England Poictou and Sainctogne who had lately been with the Lord Chandos With these Troops he passed thrô Poictou taking the same way which the Lord Chandos had done before and burnt and ravaged about in the Country of Anjou taking for Prize all that was left and so he also tarried a while in the Land of Loudunois and from thence he went into the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart where he did many severe Acts of Hostility Now the French Captains who lay in Garrison on the Marches of Touraine Anjou and Poictou were well informed both of the Lord Chandos his Expedition and also of this of the Earl of Pembroke and moreover they understood how the Earl who was but a very Young Man not exceeding one and twenty Years of Age had thrô meer Presumption and Folly disdain'd to go forth in the Company of the Lord John Chandos Wherefore they endeavour'd to snap him if they might and determin'd whatever should happen to encounter with him for at best they reckon'd him much more easie to deal with than the Lord Chandos Accordingly having privately made their Musters consisting of a certain Quota from every Garrison they went secretly one Night from La Roche Pozay in Touraine just on the limits of Poictou under the Command of Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France with whom were Sr. Robert of Sancerre his Brother Sr. John de Vienne Sr. John Bull Sr. William Bourde Sr. Lewis of St. Julian and Carlonet the Breton to the Number of 700 Fighting Men. The Earl of Pembroke had by this time ended his Expedition and was returning home again having already entred Poictou after he had ravaged without Controll in the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart He had in his Company the Lord Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Sainctogne Sr. Neale Loring Sr. Thomas Spencer Sr. Thomas Piercy Sr. Dangouses Sr. John Harpedon Sr. James of Surgieres Sr. John Cousins Sr. Thomas of St. Alban Sr. Robert Twiford Sr. John Montagu Sr. Simon Ausagne Sr. John Touchet and many more Gentlemen of England and Poictou The Earl and his Men rode homeward without any suspicion having not had the least Intelligence of any Men of War stirring abroad at that time and in this Security with great Prey and Booty they enter'd the Bounds of Poictou On a e Frois c. 265. Du Chesne p. 702. day the Earl and his Men rode into a certain Village called Puirenon about High-Noon where they intended to Dine and began to mark out their Quarters and their Valets set up their Horses and others were busie in providing their Dinner when suddenly the Frenchmen who knew well enough what to do came galloping into the Town with their Spears in their Rests and crying out Our Lady of Sancerre for the Marshal of France And therewith they beat down the Englishmen on all hands in the streets and in the Houses wherefore there arose a great noise whereat the Earl of Pembroke and his Men were all amazed for they were suddenly taken When the Earl Sr. Baldwin Frevile and Sr. Thomas Piercy with the other Knights heard how the French were come and assailed their Men they drew forth of their Lodgings blew their Trumpets and unfolded their Banners hoping to bring their Troops together into Order But it was too late the French had intercepted many and slain more and disturbed all the rest so that at the first brunt there were taken and slain more than sixscore Wherefore the Earl's last shift was to withdraw as soon as he might with those Men he had left which were not above 200 beside all the Chief Officers into a place belonging to the Temple enclosed with High Stone Walls Hither they convey'd themselves and their Horses as many as they could recover and immediately prepared to defend the place with all their Power and barr'd up the Gates and gather'd together huge Stones and so set themselves in the best posture they might devise The mean while all those who were found in the Town were either taken or slain and most part of their Horses and Armour and all the Earl of Pembroke's Jewels Riches and Baggage were won Word was brought to the Frenchmen that the Earl himself and the residue of his Men were got together in a kind of a Church-yard at which News they were well pleas'd for they knew the place was not impregnable Some of them said in jest Let Us give them a little time to choose out their own Graves and after Dinner we 'll come and see how they fit them But the Chief Captains said Let Us go to 'um presently they are all our own they can no ways escape our Hands Now they shall pay dearly for all the Damages they have done Us in Touraine and Anjou And so they came in good Array to the Place and began to Assault it with great Vigour every where round about being all Men that wanted neither Skill nor Courage The Earl of Pembroke and his Men did their utmost to defend themselves so that no Men living could do better The Frenchmen had certain scaling Ladders by Chance with them upon which some of them adventur'd to mount the Wall with their Shields over their Heads for fear of shot and casting of stones But when they were up they were so hotly received
Expedition then Richard of Bourdeaux the Prince's only Son living should succeed according to Right unto the Crown of England For the Black-Prince u Churchill's Divi Britannier p. 245. whose Wisdom fell no way short of his Courage knowing how apt they are who stand nearest unto a Throne to step first into it was so carefull to prevent any Disorder of that kind which might be feared from the Ambition of his Brethren the Eldest of whom had already the Title of a King that he obliged his Father at this time to declare his Son Richard the next Heir to the Crown after the Decease of the King and of his son Edward Prince of Wales And now the Prince himself x Frois c. 305. c. shew'd in Full Parliament that if he should happen to die before the King his Father then his Son Richard as being next Heir was to succeed to the Crown of England after the Decease of the King his Grandfather And here besides the Equity of Law and Nature and the Unalterable Rule of Succession never but by Treason Usurpation and Violence transgressed in the Kingdom of England the Prelates Lords Knights and all the Commons of the Realm had such a Veneration for the Prince of Wales because of his many Heroick Vertues that with one Consent they all agreed to so Reasonable a Motion and took it upon themselves and their Posterity that they would always be true to the Right Line especially to the Lord Richard and this they desired to be enacted not without apparent Demonstrations of extraordinary joy And first the King himself then all his Sons and after that all the Lords of England Spiritual and Temporal sware to uphold and maintain the Right of the Young Prince Richard in case of the Prince his Fathers Decease And to this Ordinance the Prince of Wales caused them all to put their Hands and Seals before they went away The Commons only express'd their Concurrence by Holding up their Hands and Consenting all together Nor is this to be look'd upon as a Case not before clear enough or that it was possible for the Prince to doubt the Right of his Son but that it became the Wisdom and Tenderness of a Father by all lawfull Arts imaginable to corroborate the Title of a Presumptive Orphan against the open or secret Attacks of Ambition or Treason Accordingly to set an early Mark of Sovereignty upon the Young Prince Richard the King his Grandfather by Commission y Pat. An. 46. Ed. 3 pars 2. m. 25. Vid. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 191. bearing Date at Sandwich the 30 Day of August in the 46 Year of his Reign constituted him his Custos Regni or Lieutenant during his Absence beyond the Sea. And having given Directions that Publick Prayers should be made in all Churches for his Good Success in this Voyage that same Day being a z Claus 46. Ed. 3. m. 12. Derso Lit. Dom. DC vid. Ashmole p. 667. Monday about Nine of the Clock he went on Board at Sandwich in a Ship called the Grace de Dieu with as Great a Fleet as ever any King before had carried forth of England There was with the King at this time the Prince of Wales who had as then recover'd to a tolerable degree of Strength also the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge his Brethren the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Arundel Suffolk and Stafford with the Lord Edward Spencer then newly return'd out of Lombardy whither he went with Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence four Years before There was also in this Expedition the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the Lord John De la Ware Sr. William Nevile younger Brother to the Lord John Nevile Sr. Ralph Frescheville Baron of Cryche Ancestor to the Freschevilles now Barons of Stavely and several other Lords Knights and Esquires of England to the Number of 3000 Men of Arms and 10000 Archers on Horseback besides Footmen This Great Navy set Sail for Rochelle coasting Normandy and Bretagne but the Wind was adverse and would by no means serve them XX. The mean while the French King who had perfect knowledge of all these vast Preparations against him had made no small Assembly of Men of War from all Parts to resist so Considerable an Enemy And as it was said He himself now at last intended to have a Pull before Thoüars with the King of England all things seeming to be laid upon this last Stake On the other hand the Loyal Gascogners and others who held in those Parts for King Edward prepared now to joyn him with their utmost Forces And first the Lord Archimbald Greilly Uncle to the Captal of Busche at the instance of the Lord Thomas Felton Seneschal of Bourdeaux came to the General Rendezvous at Niort with 300 Spears among whom were the Lords of Duras of Courton of Mucidan of Rosan of Languran of Landuras and Sr. Petiton Coutras and Sr. William Ferenton an English Gentleman All these went from Bourdeaux to Niort the place of Rendezvous where they found Sr. Thomas Percy Sr. Walter Hewett Sr. John Creswell and many more to the Number of 1200 Spears and lastly Sr. Richard Ponchardon came and joyn'd them with 1200 Spears more So that all France was now alarm'd and swarm'd with Souldiers of one part or the other XXI All this while King Edward and his Sons with their great Army were on the Sea not being able by reason of Contrary Winds to take Land at Rochell or thereabouts as was design'd And that strange Fortune which before was always ready to wart that Prince over but very Difficult to convey him back was now quite otherwise disposed and became an eminent Hinderer of his Glorious Designs So that for this Success France was beholden to the most inconstant of Elements or rather to the Benign Providence of Him who governs both the Winds and the Seas King Edward having thus for a Months space struggled to no purpose against Wind and Fortune when he saw now the Feast of St. Michael come and that it was impossible for him to keep the Time appointed for the Rescue of Thoüars was obliged to break up this Expedition as he did with great Displeasure of Mind and gave leave to his Men to return home as they pleased But at his Return he had Wind at Will and immediately after the Wind was favourable for those Parts so that 200 Sail of English Merchants who traded for Wine arrived at Bourdeaux whither they were bound the very day after St. Michael King Edward for his part besides that he was thus strangely hindred from keeping his Day before Thoüars is said to have lost more than 900000 Marks or as one says Pounds in this Expedition XXII Now about a Week before Michaelmas the Barons of England and Gascogne that were beyond the Sea marched from Niort toward Thoüars in order to joyn the King of England but they were extreamly surprised when they saw the Day
Earl of Richmond The Black-Prince growing worse and worse resigns Aquitaine to his father The Death of the Earl of Stafford Sr. William Molineux and Sr. John Mandeville the Famous Traveller From p. 827. to p. 848. Chap. X. The Constable of France beats the English before Sivray and Conquers about in Poictou The War hot in Bretagne The Duke of Lancaster's Expedition and March thrô France A Treaty at Bruges A Parliament at Westminster A Prodigious Malady The Death of several Great Men. From p. 849. to p. 864. Chap. XI King Edward enquires into the Livings then in the hands of Aliens A Treaty at Bruges The Earl of Pembroke is redeem'd and dies The Death of Francis Petrarch the Italian Poet and others An account of Madam Alice Perrers said to have been King Edward's Concubine From p. 865. to p. 873. Chap. XII St. Saviour le Vicount yields to the French by Composition Edmund Earl of Cambridge and the Duke of Bretagne Conquer about in that Dukedom But are hindred by an unseasonable Truce from prosecuting their Advantage The Lord Edward Spencer dies A Treaty between King Edward and the King of Scotland Esquire Katrington being challenged of Treason for yielding St. Saviour le Vicount loses the day Some English Vessels taken by the Spaniards The Death of two Earls Two Acts of Charity From p. 873. to p. 877. Chap. XIII The Lord of Coucy's Expedition into Austria A Treaty at Bruges which begets a Truce and that another King Edward offers largely for the Redemption of the Captal of Busche but cannot obtain it The JUBILEE of King Edward's Reign A Parliament at Westminster The Black-Prince dies His Will Character Burial and Epitaph The Captal of Busche takes it to heart and dies The Black-Prince's Praise and Children The said Parliament continued A Censure thereof Who the First Speaker of the House of Commons The Death of an English Cardinal and of the Lord John Peche Pope Gregory returns the Papal Chair to Rome From p. 878. to p. 895. Chap. XIV King Edward Creates his Grandson Richard of Bourdeaux Prince of Wales The Londoners entertain the Young Prince John of Gaunt associated to the King in the Government A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ An exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine The Duke of Lancaster for his sake falls out with the Bishop of London The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke The Bishop hardly restrains the People The Princess-Mother of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their excuse to the King. They and the Duke reconciled Sr. John Menstreworth executed for Treason The Lord of Coucy falls off to the French. King Edward Creates Prince Richard Knight of the GARTER The War open Sr. Hugh Calverley Captain of Calais Outwick batter'd with Cannon yields to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley's Acts. The English Commissioners returning for England find the King on his Death-Bed He dies A Story of the Manner of his Death refuted The French King commends him His Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character From p. 895. to the End. Errata sunt sic Emendanda PAG. 22. lin 5. read fast-asleep p. 54. l. 44. r. Nobles p. 58. l. 2. r. Turne-tabard p. 76. l. 2. r. tell for call p. 89. for Innocent r. John. p. 177. dele Parag. VIII IX in the Centents p. 270. l. 17. r. neck'd p. 276. l. 35. r. Chancellor of the Church of York p. 286. l. 37. r. strange p. 295. l. penult r. Father was named p. 302. l. 2. dele and. p. 303. l. 32. dele and. p. 354. l. 31. r. 16 years c. p. 356. l. 27. r. 20 in depth c. p. 373. l. 22. for Paragraph r. Chapter p. 402. l. 22. r. Vicount of Rohan sic semper p. 439. l. 46. r. Simon de Burchester p. 466. l. 14. r. no Charms about them took horse and so began c. p. 470. l. 13. r. Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth p. 484. l. 49. r. On the second of November being All-Souls day the King began c. p. 485. l. 12. r. for he could not have been c. ibid. l. 34. r. after his setting forth according to the Records which affirm how he marched forth of Calais on All-Souls day p. 502. l. 34. r. Blew-Silk p. 531. l. 22. r. July p. 707. l. 18. r. keep it p. 721. l. 21. r. William p. 748. l. ult r. and bearing p. 750. l. 45. r. Inno. p. 751. l. penult be accounted the Off-spring p. 761. l. 45. r. having done a pious c. p. 806. l. 49. r. best word c. p. 814. l. 57. r. the Prince and Princess c. SAPIENTIA FORTUNAM EDWARDVS III DEI GRATIA REX ANGLIAE ET FRANCIAE ET DOMINUS HIBERNIA HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE EDWARD III. King of England France and Lord of Ireland He slew Two Kings in One Day routed a Third had Two Kings his Prisoners at one time Upon the Death of Lewâ— of Baitaria He had the offer of the Empire thó he declin'd it He took Calais from the French Instituted the Famous Order of the GARTER haveing Reigned in great Glory for space of 50 Yeares 4. Moneths 28. Dayes He Dyed at his Mannor of Shene in Surrey in LXV year of his 〈◊〉o. Dui MCCCLXXVII lyes Buried at Westminster ICH DIEN QUI SANâ—â—â—â—â— NOBIS HANC PATRIAM PEPERERE SUO POTENTISSIMUS EDWARDUS PRINCEPS WALLAE ET AQUI TANIAE DUX CORNUBIAE COMES CESTRIAE ET CANTIL Honoratiss Viro 〈◊〉 RICHARDO CHANDLER Armig. nuper de Cell Emanuel Aâ—M Amico plurimum Colendo Hanc Invic â—iss Hervis EDWARDI Principis Walliae cogno mento Nigro Imagine Observantiae â—â—mti Iudinis ergo D.D.D. Josua Barnes HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE HOUMONT The most Renowned Prince EDWARD sirnamed the Black-Prince Eldest Son to King EDWARD the Third Prince of WALES of AQVITAIN Duke of CORNWALL Earle of CHESTER of KENT He was in his life time the Flower of the Chivalry of the whole World. He wan the Battle of CRESSY wherein he overthrew King Philip of Valor slew the King of Bohemia also the Famous Batlle of POICTIERS wherein w th an Army of 8000. Men He overthrew the whole Power of FRANCE takeing the King IOHN de Valois Prisoner who was 4 years after Ransom'd at 3 Millions of Crowns of Gold Lastly he triumph'd in the Glorious Battle of NAJARA in Spaine where he overthrew the Bastard Henry Setled Don Pedro in his Throne He died in the 46 yeare of his Age An o Dom MCCCLXXVI lyes Buried at Canterbuâ—â— THE HISTORY OF King Edward IIId. BOOK THE FIRST CHAPTER the FIRST The CONTENTS I. The Circumstances of the Birth of King Edward the Third with his Education and Character II. He is made Prince of Wales and Duke of Aquitain beside the Titles of Earl of Chester Ponthieu and Monstroile He goes into France with the
is Proclaim'd which gave occasion to Succeeding Kings to grant a General Pardon at their first Coming to the Crown after the example of so great a Precedent I do not think it necessary to make any exact Narration of the Coronation of this Young Monarch because such things are so well known in general and others who delight in matters of less moment have not omitted a full Description thereof but I shall not forget to mention * Peâ—es Thom. Goldsmith ex Graii Hospitio one Medal which with many other of several devices was upon the Coronation Day flung among the People because we may thence make a guess at the ingenuity of that Age On the Pile was the Young Prince Crowned laying a Scepter on a heap of Hearts AN. DOM. 1327. An. Regni I. with this Motto POPULO DAT JURA VOLENTI And on the Reverse an Hand held forth as it were saving a Crown falling from on high with these words NON RAPIT SED RECIPIT IV. Now because of the Kings Tender Age for he was at that time but Fourteen Years two Months and eighteen Days old there were Twelve i H. Knighton p. 2556. Leland Collect. 1. vol. p. 685. Sr Rich. Baker Guardians appointed Him to wit Five Bishops Two Earls and Five Barons the Names of them were these Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury William Melton Archbishop of York John Stratford Bishop of Winchester Thomas Cobham Bishop of Worcester and Adam Orleton Bishop of Hereford the two Earls were Thomas of Brotherton Earl Marshal and Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent both the Kings Uncles the Barons were John Lord Warren Thomas Lord Wake Henry Lord Percy Oliver Lord Ingham and John Lord Ros. But k Walsing hist p. 109. over and above all in especial manner by consent of the Lords in Parliament and the Twelve Guardians themselves the Thrice Noble Henry de Torto Collo Earl of Lancaster Lincoln Leicester and Derby the Kings own Cozen was deputed to have the chief Care of the Kings Person upon l Sandford p. 109. Whom also and his Heirs as Earls of Leicester was settled at the same time the Stewardship of England Nor let it be wondred that this Earl the Kings Cozen should be prefer'd to either of his Uncles in this matter since thocirc of great Nobility and Honour they were both of less experience being young men nor was it so agreeable to Policy to give them the Greatest Power who were nearest of Blood as was afterwards sufficiently experienced in the Protectorship of Richard Duke of Glocester who made away his two Royal Nephews to obtain the Crown All these were able Men and firm to the Kings Person and Interest but little more than Shadows in this Station Roger Lord Mortimer overtopping all by his great Power derived from the influence he had with the Queen Mother By his means it was that the said Queen had so m Walsingh hist p. 108. hypod p. 110. excessive a Dowry now assigned her that the King her Son had scarce one Third part of his Crown Lands remaining to Himself of which yet Mortimer made good use to advance his Friends and establish his own Authority and Greatness The imprison'd King this while being allow'd but one hundred Marks by the Month nor was he long permitted to enjoy that neither But we shall refer the prosecution of this to its proper place V. And now immediately there arises matter to exercise the Genius of the Young King whose Inclinations tend all to Glory and we shall see how eagerly He snatches at the first opportunity to obtain it But here before we enter upon the Scotch War it will not be amiss to set down a brief Account of the State of Scotland at that time In the Year of our Lord n Buchan p. 240. see Hect. Bâ—â—t f. 291. An. Dom. 1286. 1285. King Alexander the Third dying suddenly without Issue there arose several considerable Persons who being some way allied to the Royal Family claim'd a Right to the Crown of that Kingdom But all their Pretences were swallowed up in those of the Lord John Baliol and of the Lord Robert Bruce who had by far the Clearer Title King Edward the First of England Grandfather to our Edward by right of Superiority which he claimed became Umpire of the Cause and he adjudged the Realm of Scotland to the Lord John Baliol not only because his Title was the best he claiming in Right of his Wife Dornagill eldest Daughter to the Lady Margaret eldest Daughter to David Earl of Huntington younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander the Third but also because he offer'd to hold the Crown of Scotland of King Edward as Superior Lord which Robert Bruce absolutely refused to do But the Scots were so disgusted at Baliol for this his abjectness of mind that they began to rebell against him and threatned to choose Robert Bruce for their King whereby he being terrifi'd renounced his Allegiance to Edward the First and defi'd him but he was too weak to make good his Defiance both he and his son Edward Baliol and shortly after the Lord Robert Bruce being seized on were put in custody and the Kingdom of Scotland lapsed to King Edwards hands But not long after this the Scots being miraculously excited by the extraordinary courage of the famous William Wallaâ—e and at last Robert Bruce o Dugd. 1. V. l. p. 451. Earl of Carrick escaping from London he was made King thô he prov'd unable to do any great feat but rather sculked about seeking advantages till the Days of King Edward the Second a Prince of far less Fortune and Conduct in the War than his Father Long-shanks Against him he obtained the Memorable Battle at Bannocksborn near Striveling where perished no less than 50000 English if Hector Boetius may be credited among whom fell q Fabian p. 167 42 Lords and Barons and 67 Knights and Banerets besides 22 Great men whom the Scots took prisoners Upon which success as the English of the Borders were without measure dejected so the Scots were inflamed with pride and disdain as may appear from this Rhyme which among others was sang about their streets Maidens of England sore may you mourn For your Lemans ye have lost at Bannocksborn With Heve a low What ho weneth the King of England So soon to have won all Scotland With a Rumby low From this time Scotland gather'd strength and reputation and easily obtain'd a Peace with England on very good Terms King Robert hereby was more firmly settled in his Throne being a Father of one Son named David a Prince of great hope and of two Daughters the Lady Margaret wife to the Lord Walter Stuart and by him Mother to the young Lord Robert Stuart a person of rare endowments and expectation besides that the other Lady her younger Sister had then or shortly after a Son too by her Husband the Earl of
Southerland As for the former King John Baliol he liv'd at this time a retired life in France having only two Sons the Lord Edward and Henry who as yet had no Issue and therefore their Father had on certain considerations resigned and quitted and given over to King Robert his Right and Title to the Crown of Scotland so that Robert was now quit of all fear on that part and otherwise very strong in the affections of his People who were then a great and flourishing Nation And this was the state of Scotland when King Edward the Third of England came to the Crown wherefore encouraged with their former success and despising King Edwards Youth r Rich. Sâ—uthwell on the very night of that day whereon King Edward was Crowned the Scots had intended to take the Castle of Norham Å¿ Grafton p. 173. between the Marches of England and Scotland by surprize and so well they managed their design that about t Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 225 sixteen of them had already mounted the Walls but the Captain Sr Robert Manners being warned of the Matter before-hand by one of his Garrison who was a Scotchman had so well provided to receive them that of those who had mounted he took five or six and put the rest to the sword their Companions below upon this disappointment retiring This seem'd a good Omen of King Edward's future Victories over the Scots by occasion of the Lord Edward Baliol who was himself a Scotchman Presently after King Robert Bruce supposing it now a very fit season to take some advantage against his old Enemies the English during this their Kings Minority sends about u Frois c. 15. Grafton p. 218. Easter a short and brisk Defiance to King Edward and all his Realm telling them that he would shortly with his Power invade the Realm of England with Fire and Sword and there do as he had done before in his Fathers Reign at the Battle of Bannocksborn near Striveling or Sterling where the English received that mighty Overthrow we spake of by reason of those x Sr Tho. de la More Ed. 2. p. 2. Holingshead hist Scotl. p. 217. Hector and Buchan Pits into which the Scots had intrapt them unawares I must not omit that the Scotch Writers attribute the occasion of this Defiance to some fraud or other wherewith the English had lately endeavour'd to ensnare them by foul Collusion of their Ambassadours but neither can it be imagin'd what necessity the King of England should have either by fraud or force to attempt to injure the King of Scots with whom he stood on no ill Terms before his own Affairs were in any posture of Settlement nor do any of their own Historians assign what this fraud or injury was nor indeed was ever the English Nation noted so much for fineness or subtlety as for down-right Honesty and blunt valour Nor is the consideration of King Robert's Age and sickness sufficient to conclude that of necessity there must be some great Cause given that could provoke so decrepit a Man to begin a War toward the End of his Life since thô his Person was weak his Mind was strong and vigorous and Scotland was never in better case than at that time and the Generals he intended to employ were Barons of great Fidelity Conduct and Resolution and he might reasonably hope to have at least as much advantage over this Young King as he had over his Father in his Full Age when attended with a most flourishing Army Nor is any great Captain thô never so satiate with Lawrels so unambitious after all but that in his weakest condition he would lay hold on any occasion of so probable success against a professed Enemy 'T is sweet to an old Warrior to end his days among Triumphs and Victories This is certain King Edward the Third neither did nor could send any Ambassadors to him before his Coronation yet even then we shew'd before that the Scots began to break the Peace by attempting to surprize a Castle thô no less than y Hâ—linshead hist Scot. p. 224. Ashmole p. 645. ex Claus 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 2. Dâ—rs Nine years were to come of the last Thirteen years Truce struck up between this Kings Father and King Robert of Scotland four years before And besidâ—â— we find that there had been since the Coronation of this Young King an Agreement for a further Treaty of Peace to be held in the Marches on the Sunday next before Ascension Day then ensuing But as I said before King Robert imagining to make an easie prey of the young Monarch neither much valued the old Truce not yet ended nor the new Agreement not yet perfected but resolves upon War. Hereupon soon after he invades the North Borders with an z Hector p. 307 b. n. 60. Army of Twenty five thousand Men a Bachan p. 273 all Horse that they might do mischief more speedily and retire with more expedition if by any necessity they should be so obliged VI. The mean while King Edward conceives an high indignation at this unprovoked Defiance and to secure himself for the future from the like Contempt immediately with all his Power addresses himself to defend his Reputation And first he b Frois c. 17. sends his Uncle Thomas of Brotherton Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England with a choice number of Soldiers to Newcastle upon Tine who there made his Musters as he was appointed on the c Ashmole p. 645. Monday next before the Ascension in like manner the Lord Robert Hufford and the Lord John Moubray were commanded away to the Reinforcement of the Lord Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth then d Dugd. Baron 1 Vol. 565. a. Governour of the Castle and Town of Carlile At the same time the King issued out his General summons to his own People and moreover by kind letters invited his noble Friend John Lord of Beaumont in Heinalt and brother to William Earl of Heinalt by whose aid chiefly the Queen had deposed her Husband and who was but newly return'd home again to come over to his assistance about the time of the Ascension Sr John Lord Beaumont hereupon came over to the King to the City of York the place appointed for the general Rendezvous thô Newcastle also was pitch'd upon for the assembly of other Forces a week before within three days of Whitsuntide accompanied with more than fourty Lords and Knights of Heinalt Flanders and Bohemia with other Knights from Cambray and Artois to the number of Five hundred Men of Arms all well Arm'd and gallantly Mounted Soon after Whitsuntide follow'd for the sake of this John of Heinalt the Lord William Son to the Duke of Juliers or Gulick and Sr Henry Thyrry afterwards Earl of Lewis and with them another goodly Company all expecting to purchase much honour under this hopefull Young King and no less profit as well from his Royal bounty as from the
Spoil of the Field which they accounted their own The whole number of the Strangers was about e H. Knighton p. 2551. two Thousand Men of Arms besides the great Numbers of English that came in as Voluntiers above the appointed Musters such hopes had they conceived of their Prince's Conduct and Fortune The King f Frois c. 16. Grafton p. 219. assigned the Strangers convenient lodgings in the Suburbs of York but to Sr John himself and his Servants he allotted an Abby of White Monks in the said City He himself and the Queen his Mother being lodged in the stately Building called the Fryers where each of them kept house apart This g Frois ibid. S John of Heinalt was one of the most Gallant Knights in the World and he had first undertaken to defend the Queen and her Son against the Persecutions of the two Spencers even when her own Brother the King of France had deserted her quarrel so that he was very dear to the young King and his Mother and they resolv'd to entertain him in most Royal Manner Wherefore the King held all along a Great Court to do these Strangers Honour and there was every where much Plenty of Provision Good and Cheap for the City and Country were Rich and flourish'd with abundance For full six weeks did the King lie there with more than 60000 men yet all that while the price of Provision was nothing enhanced but every thing was sold as reasonable as before the Army came thither There was plenty of Rhenish Gascoign and Anjovan Wines with Pullen and other Provision at very ordinary Rates and Hay Oats and other necessaries for Horses were daily brought to the Strangers lodgings so that they were all extreamly satisfied with their entertainment But yet even this their Prosperity had like to have proved more fatal unto them then a Rout in Battel might have done For h Knighton p. 2551. presuming much hereby on the King's favour they carried themselves too Magisterially toward his Subjects whence arose such Contention as brought forth many sad effects and was not at last stinted without much bloodshed on both sides On Trinity i Frois c. 16. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantabr c. 213. Sunday the King for the sake of these Lords Strangers held a Solemn and Magnificent Feast at the Fryers aforesaid himself being attended with 500 of his Knights to which he then added 15 more and the Queen his Mother having more than threescore Fair Ladies of the greatest Nobility and Beauty in England about her Person to pleasure the young Lord of Beaumont and his Company There was that day a most Splendid Entertainment and a truly Royal shew of whatsoever was choice and excellent And now the Ladies themselves with many Noble Virgins were meditating the various Measures their skilfull Feet were to make the pleasant Aires their sweet Voices should warble and those soft Divisions their tender Fingers should strike on the yielding strings when suddenly as soon as ever the Feast was ended a strange and hideous noise confounded the Minds of the whole Court. For the Servants and Pages of these Foreign Auxiliaries had by their k Knighton p. 2551. insolence so exasperated the minds of some English Archers who lodged among them in the Suburbs that immediately a great Fray began among them which continually rose higher new abettors successively flowing in on each side till near 3000 of the Archers being gather'd together many of the poor Heinalders were slain and the rest betaking themselves to flight were fain to enter their lodgings and there to fortifie them in the best manner they could against the Fury of their enemies Most part of the Knights their Commanders were then at Court but on the first noise of the Fray they hasted to their lodgings to defend themselves and their People Some part of the City of York in the Hurlyburly was fired many of the Heinalders slain and more hurt nor less on the English side than l Stow p. 228. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. ibid. 80 Archers most of them Lincolnshire men fell that day who were all buried in St Clement's Churchyard in Fosegate But at last by the Authority of the King with the earnest endeavours of the Queen Mother who loved the Heinalders dearly and by the ready assistance of the Great Men who charitably took the Strangers parts the Archers thirst of blood was slaked and the quarrel ceased for that time But that Night the Strangers who had suffer'd most not so m Knighton p. 2551. much thinking of sleep as revenge being now headed by Commanders rose privately and joyning all together set suddenly upon the Archers of Lincolnshire and Northampton for the Men of each County were Marshall'd and lodged together by themselves where they slew about 300 of them Nor in the Morning had they paid cheaply for that desperate action for more than n Frois c. 16. fol. 7 8. 6000 Archers had combined together to burn or kill them every man in their lodgings or without by Night or by Day when ever they should obtain an Opportunity But that the King to secure the Strangers from their Fury had set strong Guards about them displacing the Archers from their former Quarters they themselves hardly ever daring to sleep without good Watch their Horses ready saddled and their Arms always near at hand or upon their Backs so well they knew it behoved them to look to themselves after such a Provocation of the Common Soldiers of England Now had King o Frois c. 16 17. Edward lain at York with all this Great Army in and about the City for the space of three Weeks and when in about three Weeks more after this sedition no final agreement could be made between the King's Council and the Scotch Ambassadors p Caxton who came thither after Trinity Sunday to treat of a Peace the Marshals of the Host by the King's Command Proclaimed thrô all the Army that by the next Week every Man should be ready to March against the Enemy and that such to whom the Care was left should provide Carts and Wagons for Carriages and Tents and Pavilions to lie in the field with all other matters necessary for the King's journey toward Scotland All things therefore being by the said time provided accordingly the King and all his Barons began their March from the City of York in good Order and gallantly armed with Trumpets sounding and Banners waving in the wind In this Expedition besides those at Newcastle and Carlile already sent thither to defend the Frontiers we have made shift to recover the Names of these Worthies q Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 93. Edmund of Woodstock Earl of Kent the King's Uncle John r Id. 1 Vol. p. 184. Bohune Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England Roger ſ Id. ibid. p. 145. Mortimer Lord of Wigmore William
t Id. p. 633. Lord Montagu Robert u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Lord Morley John x Id. 1 Vol. p. 81. quem vid. ad singula haec nomina Lord Warren Earl of Surrey John Lord Ros younger Brother to William Lord Ros of Hamlake in Yorkshire with his other Brother Thomas Ros the Lord William Clinton afterwards Earl of Huntington the Lord Roger le Strange and Sr Ebulo le Strange his Kinsman the Lord Hugh Audeley junior and Sr James Audeley his younger Brother Thomas Lord Braose the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John St Philibert the Lord Peter de Malolacu or Mauley the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord Thomas Hastang the Lord Robert Pierpoint the Lord Thomas Furnival the Lord Robert Fitz-Walter Sr Walter Beauchamp of Alcester in Warwickshire with his Brother William Beauchamp Sr Nicolas Cantilupe and many other Barons of England Sr y Frois c. 17. John of Heinalt and all the Lords Strangers with their troops both in their March and when they took up their Lodgings were always placed immediately next the King 's own Guards as well to secure them from the Archers who still breathed after Revenge as for their greater Honour and to let the whole Army know thaâ— whoever sought their damage would at the same time highly trespass upon the King himself The first Night the Host reached sixteen mile onward of their way and there the King tarried two Days and three Nights partly to expect till the whole Army was come up but chiefly to examine by himself and his Officers whether any thing necessary for such an Expedition was wanting before they should be brought to a Pinch Early on the fourth day they began their March toward Durham which was distant in all from York about fourty eight or fifty Miles but from Topcliffe whereabout they had lodged little more than Thirty The second Night after they reach'd the City of Durham encamping thereabout till further notice of the Enemy of whom they had heard no News as yet The King had before this as we remembred to hinder their Progress in the Borders sent the Earl of Norfolk Marshal of England to Newcastle and the Lords Hufford and Mowbray to Carlile with considerable Forces They for their part slack'd nothing of their Duty for they were Persons of great Worth and Honour But the subtle Scot e're the King could reach Newcastle which was but about z Ferrar. in Orthea twelve or fourteen Miles beyond Durham had pass'd the River of Tiâ—â— so privately that they were neither perciev'd by the Garrisons of New-castle nor Carlile and so for a while they wasted and robb'd the Country wherever they came and yet could never be overtaken or found by those who sought to encounter them but only a Holinshead Hist Scotl. p. 225 once at Darlington where being met by a disorder'd number of the Country Militia who came to oppose them they soon overcame them putting many to the sword and the rest to flight Their King Robert himself was not there at that time thô he was the most Valiant and most Successfull Prince that had reign'd in Scotland of many years For being now oppressed with age and sickness he was forced to send in his stead two the most Famous and Expert of his Captains the Lord Thomas Randulph Earl of Murray and the Lord James Douglas the latter greatly in those days Renowned for Hardiness above all the Scotchmen as the former was for Wisdom and Conduct Their Forces were b Hector Bachan twenty or twenty five thousand Men all nimble and expedite for suddain Invasion or quick Retreat for they were all mounted c Frois c. 17 f. 8. the Better Sort on good strong Coursers and the Common Soldiers on little but approved Hackneys and Geldings They brought with them no Carts nor Wagons because of the inequality of the Mountainous Countries thrô which they should pass nor had they with them much purveyance of Bread or Wine for in those days the Scots were so abstemious and patient in time of War that for a good while they could endure with flesh half-boiled and drink out of the Rivers Nor yet had they any Pans or Cauldrons to dress their meat in for what Beasts they found as they always did good store in those Northern parts they would seeth them in their own skins stretch'd out bellying on stakes in the manner of Cauldrons And having thus sod their meat they would take a little Plate of Metal which they us'd to truss somewhere in or under their saddles and laying it on the fire take forth some Oatmeal which they carried in little bags behind them for that purpose and having kneaded and temper'd it with water spread that thereon This being thus baked they us'd for Bread to comfort and strengthen their stomachs a little when they eat flesh That such hard Farers should prove good Souldiers is no wonder and that sometimes they should be able to baffle a great Army more encombred than themselves may very lightly be granted And now had the English been several days in those Parts before they had any knowledge where their Enemies were thô they dayly saw the effects of their cruelty and met with many of the Borderers who fled before them to avoid it But at last they saw great smokes and fires about the Country which plainly enough declared where they were and what was their Employment Immediately hereupon d Frois c. 18. fol. 8. the Alarum is given and a March sounded every Man being commanded to dislodge and in the Order before appointed to follow the Marshals Battail There were three great Battalions on Foot and to each Battail two Wings of 500 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 20000 others well-arm'd and provided the one half on little Hackneys and the other ranged on Foot who fought for Wages to be paid by those Towns Cities and Corporations that sent them to the Kings Service The Scotch Writers make the whole number of the English Forces to be more than an Hundred Thousand Men effective and Froisard himself besides those three Battails mention'd speaks of 24000 Archers if the figures are not mistaken and Grafton and Speed reckon up 30000 Archers in All Thô I believe if there were such a Number they were distributed proportionably among the foresaid Battalions according to the Usual Method of the Captains of those days and that there was no such great Battail of Archers distinct from all the rest And this Opinion agrees better with our Historians and Froisard's own Account of the Number in another place where he reckons the Whole but to something more than e Frois c. 16 fol 7. b. 60000 Men of War Thô f R. Burtons Engl. Mâ—narchs p. 104. others whose Authority I shall not here examin make them no more than 54000 Men which were thus disposed in the Main Battail with the King were two and
this life to the infinite regret of all good and Loyal Men and particularly of the whole Clergy of England and all other Sons of Learning But the Memory of him and his vertues is again revived in his Noble Heir and Successor Thomas now Earl of Aylesbury and Elgine Who together with the Honours his Father enjoy'd is now Lord Lieutenant of Bedford and Huntington and Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the most Prudent and Heroick Monarch King James the Second His two younger Brothers Robert and James whom I have had the honour to know here in Queens College in Cambridge being most towardly Branches of that Ancient and Flourishing Family Nor is it altogether unworthy to mention the Great Ottomans Death which n Labbeâ— Chronologia Technica ad hunc annum happen'd this year being the 727th of the Turkish Hegira after he had been rearing that vast Monarchy on the ruines of Christian Princes for about 27 Years together This Man was the first Founder of the Glorious Family of the Ottomans which has ever since continued a Plague and Terrour to all Christendom Orchanes his Son succeeded him in the Turkish Empire Also this Year departed three famous Prelates of this Nation the one Dr. James Barkley descended from the Noble House of the Lord Barkley * Bp. Gâ—dn Catal â—pp p. 406. who was consecrated Bishop of Excester on the 15th of March 1326 / 7. by Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury at the Commandment of Queen Isabell being reputed a very holy and discreet Person But he enjoyed the Title not long for about the 24 of June following he deceased and was succeeded by one of equal wisdom and Nobility Dr. John Grandesson of whom as also of his Family more hereafter Dr. Thomas Cobham also Bishop of Worcester died about the 20 of August he was a very learned Man and a great Author o Pits de illust Angl. script An. 1316. Bp. Godwin Catal. p. 443. as his Works declare and by his wonderfull Meekness Bounty Sobriety and Modesty obtain'd an universall love and respect insomuch that he was commonly called the Good-Clerk When he was Canon and Subdean of Salisbury he was first upon the vacancy of that See elected Archbishop of Canterbury but King Edward the Second in favour of Dr. Walter Reginald vacating that Election he was glad in the end to accept the Bishoprick of Worcester He was now buried in the North Isle of the Body of Worcester Cathedral which Isle he had Vaulted over at his own Expence The Bloody Bishop of Hereford succeeded him of whom more in another place Another that went off this Year was p Godwin Catal. p. 129. Dr. Walter Reginald Archbishop of Canterbury of whom something must be said for the Instruction of others He had been Chaplain to King Edward the First by whom he was made Parson of Wimberton and after that Schoolmaster to his Son Edward the Second who in the first Year of his Reign Anno MCCCVII advanced him to the place q Philpot's Catal Treas and Chancel p. 24. p. 37. of Lord Treasurer of England and in the year following to the Bishoprick of Worcester and two years after he made him Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Chancellor of England After this King Edward was so good a Master to him that upon the Death of the good and learned Dr. Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury he vacated the Election of Dr. Cobham as we shew'd before and caused this Man to be prefer'd to that eminent Dignity And accordingly he was with great Pomp and Solemnity r Godwin p 129. Walsingh hist p. 78. Installed on the 19 of April Anno MCCCXIII the King himself with the Queen and many Nobles honouring him with their Presence He is indeed Å¿ Pits p. 419. by some commended for his love to Learning and Vertue I am sure he wanted these three no mean Qualities Loyalty Constancy and Gratitude For upon the Return of Queen Isabell into England in such Hostile manner as was shew'd before against her Lord and Husband this Man at that time manifested himself to be indeed a good Politician but as Bishop Godwin too mildly phrases it a very t Godw. p. 130. weak Man. For thô a while he seem'd outwardly to adhere to the King his Master yet even then privately he assisted the Queen with vast Sums of Mony as resolving to play his own Game whatever Conscience might perswade or Religion teach to the contrary But when the Kings downfall was now no longer doubtfull then he openly play'd the Traitor forsaking his Lawfull Prince his good Lord and Patron who had gradually advanced him from a mean Condition to the highest Titles of Honour For which thô he scap'd the publique censure of the Law yet did he enjoy the fruits of this double-hearted Dealing but for one Year For on the u Godw. p. 130. c. Thâ—rnes Chron. p. 2039. n. 30. 16 of November following this first Year of King Edwards Reign he died of grief and horror of mind at Mortlack after he had held that Seat 13 years and about seaven Months from his Instalment But here he shall stand mark'd out to Posterity for an Example and terror to all Traitors whom neither the Sacred Function it self nor any other either Dignity or Merit ought in my Opinion to defend from deserved Infamy Since Treason cannot proceed but from the most unworthy and ignoble Minds in the World or however it renders them so Ingratitude of it self is the basest most unjust and ungenerous thing in Nature but Ingratitude to our Natural Prince most abominable beyond all Expression since to his Service we are most strictly obliged by Laws Divine and Humane How much more then when he is unto us a Good and Gracious Lord and heapeth upon our Heads many signall and personal Favours He was succeeded by a very Worthy and Learned Doctor in Divinity x Thornes Chro. p. 2039. Walsin hist p. 109. Godwin p. 131. Pitsae p. 429. Simon Mepham an Oxford Man by Education by Birth of Kent and Canon at that time of Chichester This Year were seen y M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 214. ad fin two Moons in the Firmament the one was clear and the other dark as at times might be seen over all the World and now the Quarrel was high between Pope John XXII who kept his Court at Avignon in Provence and Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of Germany who in revenge of his being Excommunicated by the said Pope went to Rome being invited thither z Labb Chron. Techn ad hunc ann by the Faction of the Gibellines where he set up an Antipope against Pope John by whom he was crowned Emperour But this new Pope was soon laid aside thô the Dissention between the Emperour and the Pope was never sully made up And because of the foresaid Prodigy and others that happen'd about the same time it was commonly
said That the World was nigh at an End. In those days one a Sherburn en Manilius his Spher in Catal. Astron p. 35. Cichus Asculanus Dr. in Physick a Philosopher and publique Professor of Astronomy at Bologna in Italy being accused for a Necromancer was burnt alive at Florence in the Seaventieth year of his Age Whose Learning in Judicial Astrology meeting with an ignorant Age might pass for Conjuration as a little after Petrarch himself was looked on for a Wizard even by a Pope of Rome Thô b Odoric Rain Anno Chr. 1327 §. 46. Joh. Villani l. 10. c. 41. indeed it was laid among other things to his Charge that in a Treatise called de Sphaera which he set forth at Bologna he affirmed that Spirits were generated in the Superior Orbes which by Incantation could be compelled to wonderfull Operations and that the Stars had Influence upon the Wills of men and could enforce and determine them And which seems most horrible that our Saviour Christ being born under such a Position was thereby necessitated to live Meanly and to die Miserably But that Antichrist being to be born under a quite different Position should obtain immense Riches Power and Dominion But we are not here to inquire how true or untrue this Charge was wherefore we shall end this first Year and Chapter together CHAPTER the SECOND The CONTENTS I. King Edward takes to Wife the Lady Philippa Youngest Daughter to William the Good Earl of Heinalt II. The shamefull Peace struck up with the Scots at Northampton at which time all the Evidences which Recorded the Subjection of that Nation to the Crown of England are deliver'd up again III. King Edward looses hereby in the Opinion of his Neighbours especially the French and Scots IV. The Insolence and Power of Mortimer whereby he provokes certain Peers to Arms A Parliament at Salisbury the Lords reconcil'd to the King Mortimer made Earl of March. V. The Pedigree of Henry Lord Beaumont VI. Mortimer entertains the King. I. A While a Frois c. 19. after the Scotch Expedition An. Regni II. King Edward by Advice of the Queen his Mother with the Consent of his Uncles the Earl of Lancaster the Lord of Wigmore and all the Barons of the Realm sent Dr b Ashmoles Garter p. 669. ex Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 3. m. 15. Dat. 8. Octob. Roger Northborough Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield with two Knights Bannerets and two Men Learned in the Laws to the Lord John of Heinalt to request of him in way of Friendship that he would join with them to require of his Brother the Earl of Heinalt one of his Daughters in Marriage for the Young King of England their Master For the King and the Queen his Mother had such a kindness for that Family that at this time no Lady in the World could have stood in Competition with one of Sr John's Neices for King Edwards Affections That some such Motion had been formerly made I will not absolutely deny thô it should seem partly by this manner of requesting and partly by what follows that as yet no bargain or mutual affiance had been made as many suppose perhaps not mention'd since now they were fain to apply themselves to Sr John's Mediation AN. DOM. 1328. who seem'd hitherto ignorant of any such matter thô himself so lately had left England When the Ambassadors with an Honourable Equipage were come to Valenciennes the chief City of Heinalt the Earl William and his Lady Jane de Valois received them very gladly and entertain'd them during their stay with great Splendour and Magnificence 'T is reported that one day c John Harding c. 178. fol. 177. Stanza 2.3 4 c. 182. fol. 184. when the Earl brought forth all his Five Daughters to their View while the others being amazed with the Beauties and delicate Shape of them all stood in deep suspence not knowing which to prefer the piersing Eye of the Bishop observing with good heed the Lady Philippa to be the best built about the Hips and of a good Sanguine Complexion agreeing with the Kings he secretly advis'd his Colleagues that she was the Lady among them all that was most likely with her sweet Disposition to please the King their Master and also to bring forth a numerous and Hopefull Progeny This coming thus from a Bishop whose Order was not then allow'd to Marry gave occasion of much Diversion and Mirth to the Company But however the Judgement prevail'd and Madam Philippa who was the very d Sic in illius Epitaphio Gailielmi Hannonis sobeles postrema Philippa Hic reseo quondam Pulchra decore jacet Stows Survey London p. 505. youngest of the Ladies and hardly fourteen years of age was pitch'd upon to be their Queen This Story however unfit it may seem to some for the lightness of it to appear in this place I thought good to set down not only because it bears some Reason with it but because to those who consider the Event it may rather seem a Work of Providence the Bishop by Chance or by some Impulse or by his Skill in Nature happening on what prov'd really a Truth Upon this Conclusion the Earl who knew the Quality of the Ambassadors and their full Instructions in the Affair after many thanks acknowledging the great Honours done to his House by the King of England his Mother and his Council said He was ready to allow the Consummation of the Business provided his Holiness the Pope would consent to give them a Dispensation For indeed the Lady Philippa's Mother Jane de Valois was Daughter to Charles Earl of Valois which Charles was Uncle to Isabella King Edward's Mother The Ambassadors were well content with this Answer and immediately dispatch'd away the two Knights and the two Learned in the Law to Avignon where at that time and long after the Popes resided to obtain a Dispensation The Pope at that time was John XXII who having well consider'd the Equity of the Cause with the Consent of the whole College of the Cardinals granted their desire and after a Splendid Entertainment dismist them For these were fit Servants for a King They dispatch'd their Masters business with great Discretion and Expedition minding nothing but how to finish this great Affair thoroughly and speedily Upon this all the rest was concluded and agreed on between the Parties and while Preparations were making to Convey the young Lady into England according to the Dignity of the House whence she came and the weight of that Title she was going to receive the Marriage e Ashmole p. 669. was first solemnized by a sufficient Proxy sent to Valenciennes by the King of England Hereupon after some few enforced Delays of Feastings and Princely Entertainments among her Parents and Relations the Ambassadors with their new Queen her Uncle Sr. John other honourable Company in great satisfaction took the Sea at Whitsan near Calais and so came all
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
King Robert lay now on his Death-bed and almost in his Grave and his Young Son David was but little more than out of the Cradle Their General the Lord Randulph began to be very sickly and the other famous Captain the Lord James Douglas had undertaken a journey to Palestine as soon as ever his Lord King Robert should depart this Life to present his Heart in the Holy Land to the Sepulchre of his Saviour as the King had adjur'd him on his Death-bed to do On all these Reasons and because they had already sounded those who sway'd most in the Government of England lest the Young King should this year revenge the Injuries of the last the Scots with much seeming humility came to the foresaid Parliament at Northampton desiring a lasting Peace between the two Kingdoms which that they never meant in good earnest this is an undoubted Argument because their King Robert was ever of the mind and so declared on q Hector p. 309. lin 60. his Death-bed That no perpetual Peace ought ever to be made with England lest for want of use the Scots should forget their skill in Arms and that only sometimes to get an Advantage or to avoid an apparent Disadvantage they might strike up a Temporary Peace to endure but for two or three Years at the farthest But however that the Scots now required Peace in so humble a manner and by no less a Man than the Lord Douglas himself this was wonderfully pleasing to those who could not penetrate into the Design And there it was demanded by the English and with small adoe agreed unto by the Scots that they should pay unto the King of England thô it was meant to Mortimer for the Dammages done by them last year in the North r Knighton p. 2558. n. 10. in Artic. 20000 Marks thô Others say 30000 Marks and some as many Pounds Upon which pretended large Allowance the Scots cunningly proposed That for their better Security and to make the Amity more lasting their Young Prince of Scotland might have the King's Sister the Lady Joan of the Tower in Marriage Then with a pretended Zeal it was put home to the Scots that least new Quarrels should arise about Limits they would now renounce all claim to the Counties of Cumberland Northumberland or any other Place or Places which any of that Nation hath at any time held in England which was readily by the Scots granted as had before been privily agreed But then again it was humbly motion'd by them at the same time that all English Men should be prohibited from holding any Lands in Scotland unless only those who should there personally reside This was by the Contrivers acknowledged to be but just in equivalence to those Pretensions the Scots had so readily relinquished in England Only the Lord Å¿ Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. 273. Henry Piercy who was one of the Twelve appointed to advise and guide the young King was utterly against that Clause but he was born down by Mortimer's Party and so this also was granted Whereupon the Encroachment grew higher so that now his Majesty himself was humbly requested to lay down his claim to all Superiority over that Crown and Kingdom else how could they be secure his Subjects would lay by their Pretensions And also it must needs raise Heart-burnings between the two Realms so long as One could shew Evidences and Trophies of the Others slavery This without much consideration was look'd upon but as a consequence of the former and so many ancient Deeds and Evidences of the Scotch Dependance on England with all the Instruments of their former Homages and Fealties from the most Ancient Times till the Days of Edward the First this King's Grandfather to whom John t Harding fol. 232. c. 240. 241. Baliol resign'd his Right to that Kingdom as they are reckon'd up by u Walsing Hist p. 17. c. item p. 49. c. Walsingham x Grafton p. 172. c. item p. 186. c. Grafton and others are all now rendred back again to Scotland And besides this many ancient Jewels and Muniments among which the Sacred Black Cross of Scotland with the famous Evidence called the Ragman Roll containing all the Homages and Fealties of the King of Scotland and of all the Prelates Earls and Barons of that Realm with all their Seals y M. S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 217. appendant thereto and other Charters and Remembrances that King Edward the First had of his Right to the Realm of Scotland besides the Evidences of what his Barons held in that Kingdom All these were now deliver'd up again In consideration of all which Grants the King of Scotland agrees to pay to King Edward the foresaid summ of 30000 Marks of which be sure the Authors of this contrivance had their share And yet however either of the Kings reserved to himself liberty after a Truce of four Years to refuse the Peace if then he should not like the Conditions To which the Councils of both Nations were willing to agree for as much as the One expected the return of their great Commander James Douglas from the Holy Land by that time and the Other were cautious of confirming the Peace for a longer time than the King's Minority since they all perceived him very desirous already to get Honour on the Scottish Nation This is that Famous or rather Infamous Peace justly accounted so dishonourable to England that the Scots themselves afterward by way of Triumph Nick-named their Queen Joan Make-Peace as if the Realm of England had made that Match out of fear to rid their hands of the War However the Lady Joan of the Tower King Edward's Sister was accordingly on the z Joh. Tinemouth aur Hâ—st p. 229. ex aed. Lambeth Twelfth of July or as a Fabian p. 196. M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cautabr c. 217. others on the 20 being the Festival of St. Mary Magdalen taken in Marriage by David Bruce the Young King of Scotland his Father being dead but the Month before III. When these things were noised abroad King Edward began to appear Contemptible in the eyes of his Neighbours who did not at all consider what Arts were used to mislead his Youth by those who hop'd always to stand at the Helm The Scots made many insulting Rhymes in derision of our Nation one whereof is chiefly remembred viz. b Fabian p. 196. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 213. Long Beards Heartless Painted Hoods Witless Gay Coats Graceless Make England Thriftless Even Philip of Valois the French King who held that Crown but by Injustice from our King Edward is so far now from doubting to be called to any Account for it by him that he begins to meditate a Resolution of summoning him to come and render him Homage for his Lands in France held of that Crown But this matter he was forced for a
while to delay by reason of a War with the Flemmings which about this time he undertook on the behalf of the Earl of Flanders their Lord whom they had seditiously expell'd And indeed he found such c Frois c. 21. 22. Fabian p. 264 c. Success at Cassell that he slew 16000 of them and reduc'd all Flanders to his Obedience obliging them by Bond never to bear Arms against the King of France and so having restored the Earl to his former Authority being elevated with the conceit of this Success he began to look at Higher things But we are not yet called to Foreign Affairs Wherefore for a while we shall be content to speak of matters at home Inglorious truly for the most part and therefore Ungratefull but such as may bring Profit to the Observant Reader and are by no means to be omitted being necessary for the making out the Series of this Story and also very Usefull to inform Persons of High Condition how to bear themselves by the Example of others who went before them in the like Honours IV. Roger Lord Mortimer d Knighton p. 2553. now does all Influences all and Personates all He only places and displaces Great Officers and wholly Assumes the King's Authority and solely possesses his Ear. The e John Tinemouth Aur. hist ex Aed Lamb. p. 229. Earl of Lancaster himself cannot be permitted to approach his Lord and Master to inform or advise him nor any either Uncle or other Baron how Great soever unless of Mortimer's Opinion and even then whatever they said was watch'd by such as he had planted about the King for that purpose Among other instances of his Towring Spirit he presum'd to hold a f Knighton p. 2553. n. 50. Round Table at Bedford in imitation of King Arthur that Famous Breton Others confounding this Mortimer with a Former of the same Name place this Round Table at Kenelworth Castle in Warwickshire where they reckon up an hundred Knights and as many Fair Ladies besides other Guests and Spectators Many other Knights and Gentlemen repairing thither from Foreign parts for the Exercise of Arms by Tiltings and Martial Tournements While the Ladies sported themselves and delighted the Presence with the more feminine Diversion of Dancing being all richly clad in silken Mantles and other Ornaments agreeable to their Sex and Quality But here the Lord Mortimer appeared as the occasion so the Chief of all that were there both in the Ladies Eyes and the Opinion of the Knights themselves These Sports were begun on the Eve of St. Matthew the Apostle Mortimer perhaps out of a vain and cruel Pride insulting over the Ashes of the Dead King whom he had caused a year before to be murder'd on that Festival and so continued till the Morrow after St. Michael being the space of 11 days Let none conclude this last Reflection to be Malicious since not only the Day seems to warrant my Opinion but the place also of the Solemnity being that very Castle where that poor King first lost both his Crown and Liberty But in very deed this Round-Table at Kenelworth was g Monastic Ang. p. 223. a. another thing at another time and held by another Roger Lord Mortimer in the days of King Edward the First For thô a h Dugd. Warw. p. 164. b. Great Man calls that Roger Earl of March 't is done only by inadvertency for even this Roger was not yet Earl of March thô he was the * Catal. Hâ—nâ—r p. 574. First of that name ever so called But because the Round-Table is not only here mention'd but must hereafter be much more spoken of I shall here once for all observe i Cambden in Hamshire s 191 Dugd Warw. p. 154. that the Round-Table was devised to avoid Contention about Precedency and Athenaeus observes it to have been Customary among the Ancient Gauls to sit at their Round Tables their Esquires waiting behind with their Targets in their hands But to return to Mortimer this his High Carriage was so greatly stomacked by the King's Uncles and the Earl of Lancaster that they resolv'd to pull down the Pride of this Man or to die in the Undertaking But as yet there could none of them come to the private Speech of the Young King to lay before him the true State of Affairs they were so well watched by Mortimer On the Quindene k Dâ—gd 1 Vâ—l. p. 541. Catal. Hâ—â—â—â— â— p. 574. Thô the year there is said to bâ— 1327. by Mistake of St Michael a Parliament was called at Salisbury whither thô it had been Decreed that no Person whatsoever should presume to come Armed the Lord of Wigmore notwithstanding came with a great Rout of Armed Men at his Heels so that the Earl of Lancaster durst not come but for his own Defence put himself in Arms and then sent to the King his Reasons both of taking Arms and absenting from Parliament And it seems his Design was so apparently for the King's Honour that it was countenanced with the Presence of the King 's two Uncles Thomas Earl of Norfolk and Edmund Earl of Kent Stephen Gravesend Bishop of London and John Stratford Bishop of Winchester who was afterwards Arch-bishop of Canterbury Thomas Lord Wake Governour of Hertford Castle Henry Vicount Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. Hugh Audley and others several whereof were of the twelve appointed to be the King's Guardians and the rest all Persons of Worth and Nobility The first occasion of this breach besides the Insupportable Pride and Avarice of the Lord Mortimer was this The Lord l M. S Vet. Aug. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 218. Robert Holland who had in the days of King Edward the Second occasion'd the Death of Thomas Earl of Lancaster however he had thereby incurr'd the indignation of the people upon Queen Isabella's return into England was not only deliver'd from Prison but became very Gracious with the said Queen and was of her Council and of Mortimer's But for all that being about the Sessions of this Parliament taken m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 73. in a Wood near Henley-Park as he was riding to Queen Isabell then at London by Sr. Thomas Withers the said Sr. Thomas smote off his Head and sent it to his Master Henry Earl of Lancaster then at Waltham-Cross in Essex as an acceptable present This was not so well receiv'd by the said Earl of Lancaster whose Brother had been betray'd by Sr. Robert Holland as it was resented by the Queen Mother who had a great Favour for him and therefore she instantly urged the King her Son to take vengeance of his Murtherers especially of Sr. Thomas Withers But him the Earl of Lancaster had concealed till being therefore threatned by the Queen Mother and also stirr'd up by the Publick Clamours of the People who were extreamly opprest by her and Mortimer whereof the King bare all the blame thô he was but young and of tender
firm to the Young King his Nephew as the Cause for which he died shews that his Heart was never false to the Old King his Brother Yet for all this it is said that he was the less lamented r Walsin Hypod. p. 111. n. 40. Stow p. 229. b. because his Servants were very oppressive to the Commons and many great Disorders were allowed in his Family Certainly 't is not enough for a Man of High Degree to do well himself but to take Care that those who are under him do so too Since he is not only lyable to be censur'd for their Miscarriages in this World but also in some measure to answer for them in that which is to come He left behind him ſ Sandford Geneal Hist p. 212 Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 94. Catal. Honor. p. 764. inter se cellatis by his Lady Margaret Sister of Thomas Lord Wake of Lydel Four Young Children two Sons Edmund and John who were both soon after restor'd in Blood but dy'd successively without Issue and two Daughters Margaret who was afterwards married to Amaneus Eldest Son to the Lord Bernard de la Brett or Albret of Gascoigne and the other a little Female Infant scarce then two Years old named Joan who afterwards became the Paragon of her whole Sex for Exquisite Beauty Modesty and Discretion and upon the Death of both her Brothers becoming the Sole Heiress of all her Fathers Possessions was commonly called by way of Eminence the Fair Countess of Kent of whom more hereafter From the foregoing Story we may observe how early in this Kingdom Malicious Statesmen who sought the Ruine of those who faithfully interpos'd to hinder their Ambitious Designs made use of this now more-common trick of buzzing Sham-plots into their Princes Ears Which however false and improbable would yet never want Evidences to make out some plausible Circumstances IV. And thus at last happily We have past over the less Gratefull Part of this King's Reign wherein we have beheld him not as he was in himself Bright and Vigorous but as he was misrepresented by those who under his Name did but Eclipse and darken his Royal Authority Now that all things might succeed the better the Hopefull young King resolves to begin with Heaven and remembring that in his former Troubles during his Fathers Reign or in his late Danger at Amiens when he narrowly escap'd being seiz'd upon by the French King he had made t Stow p. 230. b. Polyd. Virg. l. 19. p. 362. Walsing hist p. 112. Knighton p. 2555. Joh. Tinem fol. 229. a Vow in Devotion to visit some Holy Places in France he now sets himself about performing his Vow Leaving therefore his Brother John of Eltham Earl of Cornwall Protector of the Realm on Thursday in Easter-week u G. Lit. Dom. Pascha 8 April vid Labb Chro. Techn being the 12 of April he adventur'd privately to pass the Sea in the Company of John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and his Valiant and Loyal Servant William Montagu afterwards Earl of Salisbury disguised like Merchants the whole number amounting but to Fifteen Persons It was a bold not to say a rash undertaking for a King to expose his Person so lightly if it is Lawfull to term any thing Light that proceeds from a Mind so Religiously affected especially into a Country so jealous of his Fortune and where he had before been publiquely seen more than once But the Strength of his Devotion encourag'd him to it and the Success that followed makes it in him warrantable I say in him For no exact Rules can be prescrib'd to such Mighty over-working Spirits and Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar thô they have committed many seeming-Rash and Indiscreet Actions I know not who dare blame or censure them for it Our King accordingly soon Returns safe and with his whole Company when immediately at Dertford in Kent he holds a Great and Solemn Tourneament thereby to Exercise his Nobles to delight in Arms. Thus Early did this Monarch lay his Foundation by Piety and Industry on which afterwards he Reared so many Glorious Trophies of Victory But I am well aware that there is another Account of the Reasons which induc'd the King to cross the Seas at this time which because it is very probable I shall here also deliver King Edward as we said before delaying beyond the time prefix'd to send that Declaration of his Homage for it was not yet dispatch'd away by the French Ambassadors till May in this Year King Philip caused him x Du Chesne p. 639. c. ex Monsieur du Tillet c. again to be summon'd and after some Motions and Hostility done by the English who were Rendezvous'd at Sainctes the chief City of Saintogne in Aquitain he sent his Brother the Lord Charles of Valois Earl of Alenson who laid Siege before the Town Which King Edward understanding began to talk of Peace to the obtaining whereof he sent his Ambassadors into France with whom this Agreement was made on the Ninth of March at Paris viz. I. That King Philip shall grant a full Repeal of Banishment to the Principal Authors of the Motions of Guienne named in the Treaty of the Year One thousand three Hundred Twenty and six according to the Promise made by his Predecessor Charles the Fair. II. That the Treaties preceding which import That those who were banish'd by the King of France or his Court should not be received nor concealed in Guienne should be kept inviolably That even without the approbation of King Edward the Seneschals of France should have Power notwithstanding to Banish his Officers and Ministers for Faults committed in their Precincts as by right of Soveraignty the King of France may and doth especially protest that all the Liberties of which the said Seneschals have been in Possession before this Treaty shall be conserved unto them accordingly III. That as to the Sums of sixty Thousand pounds on the one part and of fifty Thousand Marks Sterling on the other which King Edward oweth to King Philip Reason shall be done by Payment or Compensation IV. That the Quality of the Homages of the Dutchy of Guienne and of the Earldoms of Ponthieu and Monstroile shall be declared to be Liege and the Form thereof expressed which shall be Renewed on every Change and the Kings shall promise to keep the Treaties of Peace made by their y Ibi malè ut opiner par leurs Successeurs Predecessors V. That the Castles of St. Croix Madailhem Puipines and du Bourdet shall be demolish'd according to the Form prescrib'd by Robert Bertrand Marshal of France and that the other Points of the Treaties remaining to be perfected shall be respectively accomplished VI. That the Siege held by the Earl of Alenson before the Town of Sainctes shall be raised as soon as King Edward shall have Ratified the present Accord the mean while that those who are culpable in the
ever since the Battle of Sterling whatever English Archer he could lay his Hands on it was his manner to cut off his Right Hand and to pluck out his Right Eye that he might thereby be rendred Useless for the Bowe We read the like to have been done indeed by the Amazons to those Male Children which themselves brought forth before they put them away to their Fathers And surely such ungenerous Cruelty better became that fearfull and therefore less humane Sex than so Famous a Knight as this Douglas to whom it rather belonged to be fierce and cruel to those that resisted but Mercifull and Gracious to his Captives and such as he had Conquer'd At his Death however the poor Archers of the North of England rejoyced 〈◊〉 but the whole Realm of Scotland was dejected especially now she saw a Storm approaching which no humane Power was more likely to avert than this her Valiant Commander the Lord Thomas Randulph also surviving him but a little while III. But before we fall upon that Story it will not be amiss by way of Preparation to repeat the Original of the matter something whereof We remember to have spoken n p. 4. §. 5. in the first Chapter of this our History Namely how upon the Vacancy of the Crown of Scotland upon the Death of Alexander the Third the Lord John Bailiol an English Baron was by King Edward the First adjudged to have the best Right of all the Pretenders to that Realm as he that claimed from the Eldest Daughter of David Earl of Huntingdon Younger Brother to William King of Scots and Great Uncle to Alexander aforesaid And how this John Bailiol made Fealty and Homage to King Edward the First of England for the said Crown of Scotland and how afterward he withdrew his Homage thrô Counsel of the French King the Abbot of Melros and others and in the Year of our Lord MCCXCIV sent unto the Pope that thrô false suggestion he had made his Oath unto King Edward both contrary to his Dignity and against his Will and therefore beg'd to be assoyled thereof which Request the Pope granted Thus o Fabian p. 140. M. S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C. C. C. c. 223. did John Bailiol begin to Rebell against the King of England who had set him up but King Edward soon after went against him and took the Town and Castle of Barwick with the slaughter of 26700 Scots so that Bailiol was obliged to yield himself up to the Conquerour by whom he was us'd with much humanity and at last deliver'd out of the Tower of London with all the Great Lords of Scotland that were taken at Barwick and upon his Oath and theirs had a safe Conduct to go into their own Country The other Scotch Lords forgot the Oath and Assurance they had made to King Edward but the Noble King John Bailiol had rather forsake a Crown than make it heavy unto him by perjury wherefore he took his Son Edward and his Family and went over the Sea to Quimper in Bretagne and lived there a private Life upon his own Lands And voluntarily forsook his Realm of Scotland Esteeming it less than his Faith and Honour Thô the Scots in Derision called him Sr. John Turnelabard because he was so shie of offending the King of England Thus John Bailiol kept in France till he died there and Sr. Edward his Son received his Heritage doing Homage to the King of France for his Lands of Quimper This Edward had in his Service an English Esquire born in Yorkshire named John Barnby whom he loved most intirely but one day John Barnby chanced upon a quarrel to kill a certain Frenchman whereupon he fled in all hast to the Castle for safety under the Protection of his Lord and Friend The Officers follow'd and demanded him to be deliver'd up as a Felon but Sr. Edward refus'd it for that time and at Midnight sent him secretly out of the Castle and he got safe over into England But the King of France was so displeas'd with this Action of Bailiol's that he siesed on all his Lands and flung him into Prison There he lay till the Lord Henry Beaumont came into France being drove out of England by the Power of Mortimer as we shew'd before Now this Lord Henry was Earl of Buquhain in Scotland in Right of his Wife but had been forced to relinquish the said Earldom when that shamefull Peace was made between England and Scotland at Northampton wherefore he thought no better way now of Recovering his Right than by the means of Sr. Edward Bailiol whom he look'd on as the true Heir to the Realm of Scotland and so desired to get him at Liberty if by any means he might prevail so far He was very Gracious with the King of France as being of his Blood and therefore beg'd of him That he would grant him of his Grace Sr. Edward Bailiols Body until the next Parliament that he might live on his own Rents in the mean time and then stand to the judgement of his Peers This Request the King Granted and upon Sr. Edward Bailiol's delivery from Prison the Lord Beaumont privily convey'd him into England and kept him closely at the Mannor of Sandall upon Ouse in Yorkshire with his Sister Isabell of Beaumont Lady Vesci Where privately he began to retain Soldiers on all hands in order to recover his own and the Bailiol's Right And Henry Lord Beaumont having first sounded the King this Year about the beginning of August the Lord Edward p Walsing â—ypod p. 112. n. 20 Hist p. 112. 113. Bailiol being attended by some 44 Knights of Almaine Captains of a few select Bands who follow'd him for hire or at a venture to partake of his Fortune came to London to our King Edward To whom he declared How his Father had been prefer'd as the Indubitate and Right Heir to the Crown of Scotland by Edward the First of England his Grandfather That for doing Just Homage therefore to the said King Edward he had been finally deserted by his own Subjects and afterwards supplanted by Robert Bruce That if it please the King He q Hector p. 312. n. 30. also would hold the Crown of Scotland of Him as Superior Lord of that Realm that therefore he humbly requested some Assistance from his hands whereby to recover his Ancient Right and Patrimony King Edward indeed was troubled not a little at the Dishonourable Peace struck up with the Scots in his Minority but it having been made in his Name he was resolved to keep it entirely for the promised term of four Years whereof hardly three were yet fully run out In his own Person therefore he absolutely r Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 507. a. Stâ—w p. 230. n. 50. refuses to assist the Bailiol as yet or so much as to let him lead any warlike Troops into Scotland thrô his Land both having a due respect to the foresaid Peace and for
his Sisters sake whom David the present King of Scotland had married as also because the old Queen and the Lord Mortimer had at the time of making that Peace at Northampton oblig'd the King in a Å¿ Knighton p. 2560. n. 20 30 40. c. Bond of 20000l to be forfeited to the Pope in case of any Hostility or Breach made on his part till the full terme of four Years should be accomplished But as for those English Adventurers who claim'd Lands in Scotland which were now forfeited for their Non-residence according to an Article of the foresaid Peace of Northampton after King Edward t Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. a. had in vain sent to the Earl of Murray then upon the Lord u Buchan l. 9. p. 282. An. 1331. Thomas Randulph's death Guardian of that Realm by reason of King David's Minority on their behalf he gave them his leave or rather a tacit Connivance for nothing was expresly said in their own Names upon their own Titles and at their own charges to make War in the company of the Lord Edward Bailiol against the present King of Scotland till they might have their Injuries redressed Of these we find the Lord Henry x Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 51. Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhain the y Id. ibid. p. 96. young Lord David Strabolgi Earl of Athol who had been a Ward to the said Lord Beaumont the Lord Gilbert z Id. 1 Vol. p. 507. Vmphravil Earl Angus Henry a Harding c. 178. fol. 178. b Lord Perey who claimed Galloway Thomas b Dudg ibid. p. 541. Lord Wake the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine Ralph c Knighton p. 2560. Lord Stafford in the Title of William Lord Zouch d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 267. Henry Lord Ferrers of Groby John e Id. ibid. p. 127 Lord Moubray and Sr. Alexander Moubray his Kinsman the Lord f Knighton p. 2560. Richard Talbot AN. DOM. 1331. An. Regni V. a famous young Warrier Sr. Roger Swinnerton and several other Lords and Knights who raised their Friends and Tenants and as many as desired to purchase Honour or prey in the Wars All who taking the sea at g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. a. Ravenspurr in Yorkshire for the King would not allow them to pass thrô his Land they arrived at Kingcorn in Scotland not far from Dunfermlin The Scots had beforehand intelligence of this their Design and so were not unprovided of Forces to impeach their Landing They had sent forth no less than h Tinemouth fol. 229. Knigh. p. 2560. n. 40. Waisingh hist p. 113. n. 10. Stow p. 230. n. 50. M.S. praefat 10000 Men under the Command of Duncan Macduff Earl of Fife the Lord Robert Bruce Earl of Carrick King David's Bastard brother and Sr. Alexander Seton eldest Son to the Lord Alexander Seton of whom more hereafter The Lord Bailiol's Forces were very small as appears from the highest account of them some as i Buchan l. 9. p. 283. Buchanan confesses reckoning them but 600. which he rather thinks should be 6000. But another of more Honesty and therefore of more Authority says they were no more then k Knighton p. 2560. n. 66. idem Joh. Tinemouth fol. 229. M.S. ve Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 223. 2500 which small number being furnished with so many gallant Leaders must needs be pretty considerable since Discipline and Courage might very well make up their Defects as it is well known to those who either understand the Art Military or have read those many Instances of the like nature abounding in History Accordingly the Valiant Lord Bailiol thô he saw these more numerous Forces ready to impeach his Landing resolved not to loyter away the time in cruising and coasting about but forthwith to discharge his Vessels in that very place for he was not ignorant of the Worth of his Men and what high Hopes they entertain'd as those who fought with him for no less than a Kingdom Withall he discreetly consider'd how this however too great a Match as to his Numbers was the smallest Force he could expect to meet with in Scotland but that if here he prevail'd the reputation of the Victory would be of no small moment but easily procure Friends to his Quarrel and Terror to his Arms. This well-grounded Resolution was so well favour'd by Fortune that before his Men of Arms could touch the land the Scots being gall'd by the Archers a few Footmen also making upon them a brisk Impression at the same time gave back in Great confusion and were soon thereupon totally routed no less than 900 of them being slain together with an hopefull young Gentleman Sr. Alexander l Bachan l. 9. p. 283. Hector l. 15. f. 312 n. 40. c. Eldest son to the Lord Alexander Seton Upon this success the Bailiol marched directly toward the Abbey and Town of Dunfermlin wherein they found good store of Provision and other necessaries for Men of War And among other things m M.S. 〈…〉 500 Great staves of fine Oak with long Pikes of iron and steel which the Bailiol took and deliver'd to the strongest of all his Men. Soon after at a place called Gledesmore this small resolute Band of English not yet consisting of above three or four Thousand in all met with more than 40000 of the Scots to oppose them But for the present they were hindred from joyning by a Deep Water being the River of Erne that ran between both Armies For the Citizens of St. Johnston n M.S. prâ—â—f ibid. c. when they heard how the Earl of Fife was discomfited by the Bailiol were much terrified and brake down all their Bridges which they had made over the Water of Erne so that the English could not get over but stood all that day in Battle Array fronting the Enemies on the Banks of the said River But the Lord Bailiol could not dispose himself to rest the night following his Spies had brought him word of the negligence of the Enemies in their Camp and his Courage made him conceive high Hopes of success if he took his Opportunity wherefore having assembled all the Chiefs together he said Now Dear Lords ye know that we are surrounded with Enemies on all sides who if they may have an Advantage against us there is nothing to be expected but Death And I verily believe that by tarrying here the remainder of this Night we should only contribute to out own ruine For the Power of Scotland may every day wax and encrease but it will not be so with us unless we gain Reputation by our Courage althô we are but a small People in respect of them Wherefore I pray you for Godsake let us be hardy and couragious and resolve with all our might to fall upon the Scots this night and prove our selves the Aggressors whereby we shall daunt their minds especially now they are weary with their long March and all
Archimbald Douglas on the 20 of March being the Sunday after the Annunciation had enter'd the Marches of England as we u L. 1. c 5. §. 4. p. 68. shew'd before where he continued four days in great Outrage without any encounter and after that got off safe thô with no great Booty But now King Edward had order'd Reprisals to be made upon the Enemy and soon x Knighton p. 2562. n 40. 50. after the Lord William Montague Ralph Lord Nevill the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Old Earl of Lancaster and Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel passed with King Bailiol into Scotland where they did much Damage to the Enemy and among the Rest they took a certain Fortress wherein they found the Lord Robert Colvile a Baron y Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 626. of England Prisoner whom they released with many other English Gentlemen and several great Ladies of the Country all whom they deliver'd Here also they found a vast quantity of Provision of all sorts which they kept for themselves and so ras'd the Castle to the ground From hence they March'd directly for Barwick which they began to lay Siege to both by Sea and Land. A little before to retaliate those Hostile Incursions made by the Scots upon the Marches the Lord z Knighton p. 2563. n. 10. Walsingh Hist p. 114. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 565. Anthony Lucy of Cockermouth and William of Loughmaban with only 800 Resolute Men had enter'd Scotland in Hostile manner for above twenty Leagues when they were met by the Lord William Douglas Captain of the Fortress of Loughmaban attended with a great Multitude of Men of War. However at last the Victory fell to the English the Lord Humphry Gurdon Sr. William of Carlile and more than an hundred and sixty Men of Arms being slain the Lord Douglas himself with Sr. William Ward and about an hundred others were taken Prisoners with a great deal of Booty But the Lord Anthony Lucy on the English part was very much wounded in the Fight thô not mortally and so they all return'd with their Prey and Prisoners into England About the same time another party of the English Borderers made a sudden Inroad into Scotland and coming to Haddington in the time of a great Fair they slew and took all they found there seising on all their Cattle and other Commodities that were of any Value V. But now while the Siege of Barwick was carrying on King Edward himself comes thither in Person with a well appointed Army and there resolutely invests the Town declaring he would never depart thence till he had reduced the Place or the King of Scots should come thither to give him Battle Some five Weeks before he had been before Barwick but a Frois c. 26. fol. 16. then he was advised not to spend his time in a tedious and uncertain Siege but to ride up in the Land and Destroy and Conquer as his Grandfather had done in the furthest parts of Scotland the Forces of King Bailiol being judg'd sufficient to hold a formal Siege thô not to carry the place by force Upon this reason and hoping thereby to draw King David or his Lieutenant to a Battle he follows the advice Wasting and Destroying all the plain Country of Scotland and taking in several fortified Towns and the strong Castle of Edenburgh particularly wherein he placed a Garrison Thence passing the Frith at Queens-ferry he came to Dunfermlin and destroy'd the Town but not the least harm was done to the Abbey the King giving special Command to the contrary hence he over-ran all the Country about Scone as far as Dundee and on the left hand as far as Dunbritton an impregnable Castle about five Miles from Glascow standing on the River Cluid in the Marches bordering on the wild Scots To this place King David with his Queen was now retired for safety for he had been advised by his Council not to hazard a Battle seeing that beside the common uncertainty of War he had but few good Captains remaining and himself was little more than ten Years Old the Lord William Douglas also now being Prisoner in England But wait a while say they till this Tempest is of it self blown over another time we may recover these Losses more easily Hereupon the King being thus secur'd the rest of the Scots of those parts had withdrawn themselves and the best of their Moveables into the Forest of Gedworth which was impassable but to those who were well acquainted with the Country King Edward therefore having thus ravag'd over all Scotland at his pleasure without the least proffer of Battle made to him except that some Knights and Gentlemen of Scotland would frequently Skirmish with any small detachments from his Army and finding it fruitless to expect any just Opposition from King David intends back again for Barwick But in the way thither he took the Castle of Blacknes belonging to Earl Douglas which being about 10 Leagues or 20 Scotch Miles from Edinburgh he Garrison'd also for himself as he had done divers other Castles before intending thereby to make constant War upon Scotland within its own Bowels Just as the King of England was return'd to the Siege before Barwick with a Resolution not to stir thence till he had taken the Place or that King David should raise his Siege by Battle about the same time came to Barwick the Lord b Thoroten's Notting p. 264. John Darcy Justice of Ireland with a Gallant small Body of Men to the King his Masters Assistance He had three Years c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 371. before been sent by King Edward into Aquitain to the Reinforcement of William de Burgo alias Burgh Earl of Vlster then Guardian of that Dutchy But the said Earl being this Year d Knighton p. 2563. Holinshead Chron. Ireland p. 70. ad An. 1333. desirous to pass into Scotland to wait upon the King his Lord as he was riding to Knockfergus near the Fords of Vlster and talking familiarly with his Followers about the subject matter of his present Undertaking an Irishman called Robert Fitzmartin Mandevil suddenly drew his sword and ran it into his belly so that there the young Valorous Earl was slain only because he had imprison'd one Henry Mandevil of that Family leaving behind him e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. one Daughter Elizabeth Heir of all his vast Possessions which afterwards was Married to a Son of King Edward's not yet Born. To Revenge his Death the Lord Darcy leaving Aquitain came now for Ireland with this small Army but understanding that the Men of the Country had already done that Work to his hand by putting the foresaid Mandevil and his Fellows to due Execution he set Sr. Thomas Burgh in his place as Lieutenant of Ireland and so made directly for Scotland whither he came just in time to give a Specimen both of his Loyalty and Valour For in this very juncture
then in France about renewing a Truce toward a full Establishment of Peace And indeed King Philip who knew that the Lord Robert of Artois his Mortal Enemy was harboured and protected in England did not at all question but that he would do his utmost to embroil the Affairs of France nor was he ignorant what just pretences King Edward might make to his Crown beside the ancient and inveterate Antipathy that seem'd almost Natural between the two Kingdoms He gave therefore to King David the Castle of Galliard upon the Seyne to reside in during his Necessitous condition and assign'd him a truly Royal Allowance for nothing could be got from Scotland considerable enough to maintain a Port becoming the Majesty of a King. Nor was it long e're Philip sent into Scotland to those Lords who held against the English honourable Messengers with many large Promises of great Assistance both in Men and Money provided they would engage never to strike up a Peace with the King of England but by the consent and allowance of him and David their King. This Message so encouraged the Brucean Lords that they readily accepted the Motion and sware to keep the Covenant which they sent back to the French King with their Seals thereto annexed The Contents whereof were but the same with those which their King Achaius of old had made with Charlemaine King of France and which were usually from King to King renewed between the two Crowns till at last in our Fathers Days Scotland was happily united to the Crown of England Which Covenant since the Articles are but short and few it will not I hope be amiss here once for all to record y Favin's Theatre of Hon. 2 Vol. p. 79. l. 5 c. 3 1. That a firm and perpetual Alliance and Confederacy should be maintained between the Scots and French. 2. That when the English made War upon either the Scots or French they should both give mutual Succour reciprocally one to the other 3. That if it happen'd the English should war in France the Scots should then give them Succour with Men of War to be waged and maintained at the Expences of the French They also engaging to do the like for them if it happen'd the English should make War in Scotland 4. That neither Scots nor French should for the future aid or assist the English with Men Money Victuals or Advice without the consent of the Kings of both Nations under penalty of being declared guilty of High Treason 5. That the French should make no Peace or Truce with the English except the King of Scots may be comprised named and allowed therein 6. And lastly That the Covenants and Conditions above-named should be confirmed from King to King and at each Change or Succession of them that their Pragmatical Sanctions should be sealed and confirmed reciprocally on both Sides This is the summ of that ancient League with France which was now renewed again And accordingly King Philip soon after z Frois c. 33. sent into Scotland to the assistance of the Bruceans Men of War under the Command of the Lord Arnold D'Andreghan who after became Marshal of France and a Famous Warrier and the Lord Garenciers with many other Captains Knights and Esquires Besides which he a Fabian p. 200 mann'd out ten Men of War to the Reinforcement of the Scots but these meeting with a Terrible storm at Sea were driven into Flanders and so beaten that after much loss of their Stuff and Provision they were fain to return home inglorious and without effect King Edward the mean while having so happily obtained the Victory aforesaid and settled his Affairs at Barwick and thereabouts adding Piety to his Valour b Walâ—ing hist p. 114. n. 40. goes according to the Superstition of those Times with a few Attendants to visit several Places in England which were most fam'd for Sanctity and there offer'd his Thanks to God Almighty the Blessed Virgin Mother St. Cuthbert at Durham St. Edward at Westminster St. Erkenwold at St. Pauls in London St. Thomas at Canterbury and St. George at Windsor for at that beloved Seat of his he finish'd his Pilgrimage After which in * Fabian p. 200. November he again marched toward Scotland as we shall shew in the beginning of the next Chapter and kept his * Grafton p. 229 Christmas at York being still c Frois c. 26. fol. 16. attended with the Lord Robert of Artois who never ceased day nor night to set forth before him the Great Right which he had to the Crown of France and the King took pleasure to hear him But as yet matters were not fully ripe IX And now was Scotland for a while quite out of breath her Nobility being so mightily consum'd by the continual Wars and their own too great Courage and none remaining who was any way able to encounter or impeach King Bailiol who from this time had the sirname of Conquerour attributed to him So that now with his d Hector f. 316. 40. Buchan l. 9. p. 290. Army aforesaid wherein was the Lord Richard Talbot and many young Knights and Esquires of England he took in almost all Scotland diligently viewing every Place and prudently settling his Affairs for the most part furnishing his Garrisons with English as not yet daring since the late Treacherous surprize to repose much confidence in the revolted Scots whatever Submission they now pretended Only a few Castles continued true to King David in this Alteration which as they could not then be easily taken for their strength so for their Number were they very inconsiderable If any thing may be said to be so in a War when no less than a Kingdom lies at stake Hereupon King Bailiol finding himself pretty well established in his Throne e Walsing hist p. 115. M.S. vet Angl. c. summons a Parliament to meet him at Perth alias St. Johnston to which those English Lords that claim'd Possessions in Scotland came and there did their Homage to him for the said respective Lands held under him reserving still the Allegiance they ow'd to their natural Lord and Soveraign the King of England Among these was Henry Lord Beaumont Earl of Buquhan who had to wife the Lady f John Cumin Earl of Buquhan died without Issue but Alexander Cumin his brother left three Daughters his Coheirs of which this Alice the Eldest Mills Catal. Hener p. 957. Alice one of the Sisters or rather as others say Cosins and Heirs of the Lord John Cumin Earl of Buquhan and Constable of Scotland of the Lands of whose Inheritance doing Homage therefore he had g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 50. b. Livery and Seisin in the Sixth of Edward the Second thô afterwards he was dispossessed as other English Lords were till this time This Great Lord they say did first advise King Bailiol to implore the King of England's Aid toward the recovery of his Right and till the King's
such manner as shall be by the Kings of England and Scotland devised 9. Item That the Lord Eustace de Lorrain shall have his Lands and Tenements which he ought to have within the Realm of Scotland and if any man hath trespassed against him he shall have his Recovery by Law. Dat. at St. Johnston in Scotland the 18 of August Anno Dom. 1335. Now whereas it was before remembred that these Commissioners were empowred not only from the Earl of Athol but also from the Lord Robert Stuart himself it is not so much to be admired that so great a Man as Prince Robert who was now sole Governour of Scotland for King David his Kinsman should yield so far as to admit of an Agreement so much to his Masters Detriment with the King of England I say it is not so greatly to be admired if we but consider the extream Necessity that drove him to it in that juncture he himself being very sick at Dumbriton and his late Partner in the Government the Lord John Randall Earl of Murâ—â—y being at the same time prisoner at London and likely to continue in that Condition because he had both before and now also refus'd to accept of King Edwards Peace Thô indeed no great sincerity was on the Scots Party but the wonderfull Streights they were in required a little Dissimulation and outward Compliance till a better Opportunity Nay 't is said by a very e Knighton p. 2568. n. 10. ancient and authentick Historian that the greatest part of the Scotch Nobility among whom the foresaid Lords no doubt are included being wearied out by these continual Harassings and Desolations came in voluntarily and submitted themselves entirely to the King of England on these Conditions That they should obey the Bailiol as their King during his Life the mean while King David with his Queen to live privately but honourably at London and upon the Death of King Bailiol who as yet had no Children to succeed That they would oblige King David to come to the Parliament which was to be at London the next Michaelmas and to stand to the King of Englands Awardment and Arbitration In the mean while they yielded their Homage to him as to their Superior Lord. VIII But the King of France having knowledge hereof out of Envy to King Edward's Glory or because he found it more conducible to his own Affairs to have the Interests of Scotland and England still divided dealt so assiduously with the Scots by promising himself to stand by them that all this came to Nothing nor did King David appear at all in that Parliament as they had engaged he should do The mean time King Edward thô he had great hopes that the Scots would at last stand to this their own Agreement however thought it not becoming the Wisdom of a King to repose himself too much on the Faith of others especially considering the Mutability of that People and their strong Inclinations to France Wherefore he resolves so to strengthen himself that if they should be False they should not be over Dangerous and so having already f Holinshead Scotl. p 236. Ashmole p. 646. fortified St. Johnston he now goes to Striveling where on the plat of ground on which the late Castle had stood he built a strong Fortress called the Pile thence he proceeded to Bothwill where he added much strength and a Garrison to that Castle appointing Thomas Lord Barkley to victual it from Edinburgh who was so good a Convoy to what he brought thither that he discomfited one night the Lord William Douglas who lay in Ambush for him with little or no loss to himself but with such an entire Victory that Douglas himself with only three more could hardly escape and that by the Benefit of the Night too Edinburgh also about this time is rebuilt and committed to the g Buchan p. 297 Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 143. Custody of Sr. John Striveling afterwards a Baron of this Realm And having thus provided for the Peace of Scotland the King returns in Health and Honour into England leaving a good part of his Forces behind him with King Bailiol and other his Captains for the better Security of his Affairs that way A little before which the Famous Warrier the Lord h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 327. Richard Talbot was Redeemed from his Imprisonment for 2000 Marks by the Favour of Prince Robert Stuart who highly Respected Worth thô in an Enemy IX But the Lord i Walsing Hyped p. 113. Holinshead Scot. p. 236. Buchan l. 9. p. 295 Hector Boeth l. 15. p. 319. David Strabolgi Earl of Athol having now fully obtain'd a Pardon from King Edward as we shew'd before that he might again purchase his good Opinion resolves to be in Action for him with the foremost Having therefore provided himself with competent Forces Horse Foot and other Necessaries he presently lays Siege to the Castle of Kildrummy on the River Done that held still for the Bruceans The mean while certain of the Brucean Lords as Patrick Earl of Dunbar the Lord Andrew Murray William Douglas and others prepar'd to go against him as well to punish his Revolt and Perjury as to Relieve the Besieged Of this the Earl having timely notice seemingly Raises the Siege but indeed Marches directly forth in good Order of Battle to meet the Enemy Both Armies joyned in the fields of Kilblaine where began a very fierce Encounter for generally in Civil Dissentions when mens Minds are mutually exasperated the Animosity wherewith they contend is greater than that of different Nations As the fallings out of old Friends are usually more fierce than those of Strangers But at length the Earl of Athol who was Superior in number and no way Inferior in Skill or Courage to his Enemies had carried away a Compleat Victory had not Sr. John Crab the Captain of Kildrummy Castle instructed either by secret Notice or his own Conjecture issued out of his Castle with 300 fresh Men who coming suddenly on the Backs of the Atholians in the very Instant of their Victory and falling on with great Fury Noise and Clamour so terrified them and added such Courage to the almost Conquer'd Bruceans that the Victory now presently enclin'd the other way Upon this Earl David disdaining to fly or to be taken alive to suffer a Publique Execution or perhaps not dispairing by a Vigorous Opposition to wrest back the Victory again with a Select Troop of his Best Friends makes a Desperate Impression upon the Enemy Where Fighting a while Valiantly he was notwithstanding finally slain by the Hands of Sr Alexander Gurdon There fell with him of the Nobles k Buchan p. 295 Sr. Robert Brady and Sr. Walter Cumin whose Brother Sr. Thomas being taken alive was the next day condemned to lose his Head Some few escaped into the Castle of Camoron with the Captain thereof Robert Menneth who yet were compelled to yield the next day for want
took a fifteenth of all the Commonalty of his Realm in Wooll the Price of every Stone Rated at fourteen Pound per Stone at two shillings And yet before this e Knighton p. 2570. n. 10. 20. about the Feast of all Saints he had sent the Bishop of Lincoln and the Earls of Northampton and Suffolk with ten Thousand Sacks of Wooll into Brabant to make Retainors in High Germany and there at the same time they sold all their Wooll every Sack for fourty Pounds which amounts in all to 400000 Pounds Besides all this he is said about this time to have seised on the Wealth of the Cluniacks and Cistertians Aliens of which we spake in the former Chapter and of the Lombards f Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 21. and all the Triennial Tythes which were first intended for the Holy War. Nor was the French King behind him in these Arts of Raising Money for he also laying Usury to their Charge confiscated all that the Lombards had Coyned Moneys both Gold and silver of a less Value and drain'd the Clergy Exceedingly On the First g Rot. Alman 12. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 36. vid. Pat. de â—â—d in p. 1. â— 24. of March at the Cardinals Instance the King Prorogued the foresaid Truce to Midsummer following in case the King of France should consent to it and give Security that it should be observed after which on the 21 of the said Month the Cardinals who h Knighton p. 2570. n. 20. cost the Church of England fifty Marks per diem all the time of their stay here took Sea at Dover the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London bearing them Company with intent to further the Treaty between the two Kings but because all their Endeavours brought forth no Accommodation we shall say no more of their Proceedings But hasten to the Matter in Hand King Edward when it was understood i Ashmole p. 649. that the French King refus'd to give Security for the observing the Truce inviolably being advised to revoke the latter Prorogation did so on the sixth of May and immediately set himself about a Journey into Flanders there Personally to confer with his Allies in pursuance of his Design against France But before he went upon the Cardinals further importunity a Commission was issued * 21 Jun. Râ—t Aleman 12 Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 5. to John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Robert Earl of Suffolk Sr. Geoffry Scroop Knight and Mr. John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely with Power to Treat and agree touching all things in Difference between the two Kings in Reference to a full and final Peace And by another Commission bearing the same Date of the 21 of June the Duke of Brabant the Earls of Heinalt and Gueldre the Marquess of Juliers and Sr. William Dunort Lord of Ostervandt Knight are added to them These Commissions were double and of two several Styles in the One the King calls King Philip only Philippus de Valois Consanguineus noster Franciae but in the other Excellentissimus Princeps Dominus Philippus Rex Franciae Illustris Consanguineus noster Charissimus II. But these Offers being all rejected and Jacob k Frois c. 32. van Arteveld urgently requesting his Presence in Flanders the King at last on the * Ashmole p. 649 Walsing hist 119. 16 of July took shipping at the Port of Orewell near Harwich in Suffolk with a Royal Navy of l Avesbury 300 alti 500 Sail and many great Barons of England in his Company among whom were m De his â—mnilus vid. Dugd. Bar. ad singulorum nomina hunc an Ed. 3. Henry Earl of Darby William Montague Earl of Salisbury Robert Earl of Suffolk the Lord John Fauconberg Norman Lord Darcy Hugh Lord Meinill John Lord Beaumont Son to Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buqhan in Scotland Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Sr. John Beauchamp a younger Brother of Thomas Earl of Warwick Sr. Robert Benhale of Norfolk that vanquished Turnbull the Scot Sr. Otho n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 181. vid. Bp. Godw. Catal. Bpps p. 406. Grandesson Son of Gilbert or William Grandesson who was Brother to the Great Otho Lord Grandison descended of the Ancient House of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy Sr. Walt. Manny many others of High Birth Youth and Courage for King Edward chose the most Personable of all his Nobility to accompany him in this Expedition thereby to gain the greater Reverence to the English Nation from Strangers who should see their Proportion Shape and Stature These were all with their Retinues Men of Arms besides whom the King had a great o Knighton p. 2571. n. 20. Joh. Villan l. 110. c. 83. Multitude of Archers and Welchmen with all whom he arrived at Antwerp belonging then to the Duke of Brabant on the 22 of July While he resided here People came flocking from all Parts to see him and to observe the Royal Magnificence of his Court He for his part upon his first Landing had sent out his Summons to his Cosin the Duke of Brabant to his Brother-in-Law the Earl of Gueldre to the Marquess of Juliers to the Lord John of Heinalt Uncle to the young Earl and to all others in whom he had any confidence signifying unto them that he would gladly confer with them at Antwerp They accordingly came all thither within two days after at which time King Edward p Ashmole p. 649. ex Rot. Alman fact apud Antwerp Julii 22. 12 Ed. 3. m. 7. 3. expresly revoked all the Power which he had given formerly to his several Commissioners to Treat with Philip of Valois as King of France and then he desired to know their Minds and when they would in good Earnest perform what they had undertaken in his behalf He earnestly also required them to dispatch what they intended with all possible Expedition q Frois c. 32. for to that purpose he said he was come thither with his Forces ready prepared to begin the War and that it would be an infinite damage to him to protract the Matter much longer The Lords having consulted among themselves return'd this Answer Sir our coming hither at this time was rather to give your Majesty a Visit then for any thing else we are not yet prepared to give a Determinate Answer to your Demands But by your leave we shall go back again among our Subjects Friends and Allies and return hither at what time you shall please to fix us when we shall give you so direct and positive an Answer that it will nor appear otherwise but that We shall well have done our Devoirs The King shew'd them what Charges he had been at and still was like to be with these Delays that he expected to have found all ready at his coming thither but since it was not so He for his part resolved not to return to England till he had a plain Answer from them one
on the Queen as to visit their Fathers Husbands and Brethren then with the King. King Edward soon after remov'd his Court to Antwerp as more commodious for the Queen to lay her Belly in and there he kept a most Honourable Court all that Winter and as Vicar of the Empire z Frois ibid. set up his Royal Mint at Antwerp where he coined great plenty of mony both Gold and Silver Yet all this while the Duke of Brabant who had once been so greatly humbled by King Philip as we shew'd before never ceased sending Messengers to him to excuse him and to assure his Majesty that he would undertake nothing prejudicial to the Crown of France The Chief of this Embassy was the Lord Lewis of Travemund one of his Council who was frequently sent upon this Errand and at last was made his Lords Resident in the Court of France that he might be the more ready at hand always to excuse him against whatsoever informations might be given of him or his Designs VII The mean while in England the young Prince a Knighton p. 2571. n. 30. Edward Duke of Cornwall by Commission from the King his Father held a Parliament at Northampton which began on the 26 of July wherein a Mighty Aid was granted unto the King towards the Maintenance of his Wars as may be conjectur'd by this Proportion the three Counties of Leicester Lincoln and Northampton only being taxed in 1211 Sacks of Wooll Besides which he had an Aid of the Bishops Abbots Priors Rectors Vicars and Justices who went not with him to the War of some 100 l. a piece of others two Hundred according to their Estates and Abilities And moreover at Michaelmas following a Tenth was granted of the Clergy for two Years to come About this time there were b Knighton p. 2573. n. 10. Sixty Sail of Stout Ships appointed for the defence of the Cinque-Ports beside the present Fleet and Sr. William Clinton Earl of Huntington and Constable of England was made Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk and the Lord c Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk CHAPTER the TVVELFTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward with his Allies prepares to open the Campagne not in the mean while neglecting his Endeavours to compose Matters II. He writes to the Pope and Cardinals setting forth his Right to the Crown of France the many undeserved Provocations of the French King and his own Reasonable Offers which he had often made and was yet ready to make with the Copy of the Letter at Large III. The Popes Answer at Large being an indirect expostulation wherein he shews that Lewis of Bavaria the Emperour being under the Sentence of Excommunication was not nor ought to be accounted Emperour That all his Friends and Abettors were Actually Excommunicate and so concludes partly excusing himself from abetting the French King against England and partly unless he withdraws from his Correspondence with the Emperour threatning to proceed judicially against him also I. NOW the unactive Winter was passed over AN. DOM. 1339. An. Regni XIII and the vigorous Spring began to open the Earth and the Wars together the Feast of St. John Baptist approaching when the Lords of England and Germany began to prepare themselves for the appointed time of Action King Edward had made his Recruits from England whence those Men of War he expected came over to him about the beginning of June And the Duke a Ashmole p. 649. 16. Febr. Patentes inter Regem Angl. diversos Magnates German de anno 13 Ed. 3. m. 2. 4. of Gueldre and Earl of Zutphen had done Homage unto him as Vicar of the Empire and King of France for which the King granted him a 1000 l. per annum during his Life and he had further made an Alliance with Albert and Otho Dukes of Austria Stiria and Carinthia and received their Homages But yet before he began his March at the Instance of the Cardinals Pedro and Bertrand of whose endeavours for Peace we spake before John Archbishop of Canterbury Richard Bishop of Durham Henry Bishop of Lincoln the Earls of Darby Salisbury and Suffolk with some Others were by the King b Ashmole p. 649. 1 Julii Pat. concess hominth Angl. Vasc 13 Ed. 3. m. 17. Knighton p. 2572. n. 60 impowred to Treat once more with Philip of Valois or his Deputies concerning the Dignities Honours Lands and Rights belonging to King Edward and all other Controversies whatsoever The Deputies on the other Part being the Archbishop of Roüen the Bishops of Langres and Beauvais and the Places of Treaty first Compiegne and then Arras But nothing of Peace being thereby effected the King prepares now roundly for the War. II. And yet before he began his March he wrote to the Pope and the College of Cardinals setting forth his Title to the Crown of France and the great Necessity that lay upon him as well to vindicate his Right as to preserve his Lands and Honour both which were injuriously invaded by Philip of Valois his Adversary The Tenor of which Letters from the Original c Walsingh hist p. 119. Editionis verò Francefurtianâ—e p. 136. Adam Murimouth M.S. partim apud Odoric Rainald ad an 1339. §. 17 18. M. S. Dr. Stillingfleet n. 5. a princap ad finem Latine is as followeth To the Venerable College of the Beloved Fathers in God the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitain Greeting We have written to the most Holy Father the Chief Bishop after due Recommendation of our Respects in these words The Law of Nature which is the Guide of all living Creatures hath granted to every one a Liberty of Defence against injurious Violence generally allowing that to be justly done which any one doth in his own Defence repelling of Force and Injury Truly since great and hazardous Wars and injurious Violations have been moved and done against Us which being notorious to the whole World having also by our frequent Intimation fully been made so to the Apostolick See we take it for Granted that to your Holiness they cannot be unknown Now We being Lovers of Peace God knows that we might avoid Contention and introduce Amity have freely offer'd to our Persecutor respectfully indeed and perhaps too humbly the desirable Methods of Peace not without a great Resignation of our own Rights and Interest that omitting at present a too eager Prosecution of our Personal Quarrels in this season of just Sorrow wherein the Fury of the Soldan of Babylon and other Enemies of the Cross being highly enflamed because an Expedition was sworn against them and solemnly proclaim'd in Parts beyond the Sea hath and doth daily harass and destroy many Christian Souls So that horrible despight and reproach is cast upon our Crucified Lord we might as indeed we ought and most earnestly desire joyntly
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
William of Strasburg Sr. Goswin de la Mulhausen Sr. Vauflart van Guistle and many others In all the Duke of Brabant had 12000 Men under 24 Banners and 80 Penons or Streamers The third and Greatest Battail of all was led by King Edward of England surrounded and attended by his English Captains the Chief whereof were these Henry Plantagenet Earl of Derby the Kings Cosin Henry Burwash the Noble and n Knighton p. 2577. n. 40. Warlike Bishop of Lincoln Richard Bury Bishop of Durham the Kings Tutor William Montagu Earl of Salisbury William Bohun Earl of Northampton Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Robert of Artois who was called the Earl of Richmond at that time because the Duke of Bretagne for being on the French Kings part had lately forfeited that Title the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Henry Percy the Lord William Roos the Lord John Moubray the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord John de la Ware the Lord Ralph Basset the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Nicolas Cantilupe the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine the Lord John Lisle the Lord Robert Benhale of Norfolk Sr. Otho Grandison Brother to the Lord Peter Grandison Sr. Lewis Beauchamp and Sr. John Beauchamp which latter was younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick and lastly Sr. John Chandos lately Knighted by the King of whom much Honour is to be spoken in this our History The King had with him in all besides his Royal Standard 28 Banners 80 Penons or Streamers 6000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 12000 Select Archers Besides he had set by another Choice Battail as on a Wing whereof the Earl of Warwick Thomas Beauchamp was Chief Leader and with him were Lawrence Hastings the young Earl of Pembroke the Lord Thomas Barkley the Lord John Multon of Egremont and others This Battail consisted of 5000 Men of Arms all on Horseback When thus every Lord stood under his Banner among his own Men as the Marshals had Commanded the King of England Mounted on a large White Palfrey and only attended with the Lord Robert of Artois the Lord Reginald Cobham and the Lord Walter Manny rode about before all his Battails and in the Head of each of them with a very cheerfull Countenance sweetly desired all the Lords and others that they would that day do their utmost to defend his Honour and their own and they all unanimously promised him so to do After this he returned to his own Battail and set every thing in good Order Commanding that none should presume to go before the Marshals Banners In the mean while the French o Frois c. 41. ad sin du Chesne l. 15. p. 648. Army was in like Manner disposed into Three Great Battails each whereof contained 15000 Men of Arms and 20000 on Foot in all 35000 Men the whole Three amounting to 105000 Warriers Among whom were Four Kings five Dukes Twenty six or as p Sala apud Du Chesne ibid. others say Thirty six Earls more than Four Thousand Lords and Knights and above 60000 of the Commons of France The Kings that were there were Philip himself King of France John of Luxemburg King of Bohemia Charles King of Navarre and David King of Scotland The Dukes were John Duke of Normandy King Philips Eldest Son John Dreux Duke of Bretagne Lewis the Great Duke of Bourbon Reginald Duke of Lorrain Walter de Brenne Duke of Athens The Earls Charles Earl of Alencon King Philips Brother Lewis of Cressy Earl of Flanders William Earl of Hainault Gaston Phaebus Earl of Foix John Earl of Armagnac Amè Earl of Geneva Amè Earl of Savoy Lewis Earl of Blois the Earl of Forestes the Earl of Bar the Earl Dauphin of Auvergne the Earl of Longeville the Earl of Estampes the Earl of Vendosme the Earl of Harcourt the Earl of St. Pol the Earl of Guisnes the Earl of Boulogne the Earl of Roussy the Earl of Dampmartin the Earl of Valentinois the Earl of Auxerre the Earl of Sancerre the Earl of Dreux the Earl of Gascoigne the Earl of Languedoc and many more Vicounts and others too tedious to enumerate It was a Glorious and Ravishing sight no doubt to behold these two Armies standing thus Regularly embattel'd in the Field their Banners and Standards waving in the Wind their proud Horses barbed and Kings Lords Knights and Esquires richly Armed and all shining in their Surcoats of Sattin and Embroidery IX And now it may be justly expected that a Bloody Battle should ensue upon these vast Preparations of these two Puissant Monarchs But we shall see all come to nothing upon these Reasons which now I shall more distinctly set down King Philip of Valois was no doubt a Man of singular Courage and as the Sequel shew'd rather too Rash than Timerous He had all along answer'd the English Ambassadors when they offer'd Peace upon easie Conditions q Knighton p. 2574. n. 50. 60. that the King their Master should never Rejoyce of two Foot of Ground in all the Realm of France And had often sworn by his Messengers that King Edward should not tarry one Day in his Realm without Battle let him come when ever he would The r Walsingh hist p. 128. n. 30. 40. Knighton p. 2574 n. 60. 2575. n. 1. ad n. 10. Constable of France also by Command of the King his Master had sent Letters to King Edward containing among other things that if he would choose out a Place not Fortified with Trees Ditches or Bogs the King of France without fail would afford him Battle Which same thing was also affirmed by the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lorrain in their several Letters under their Hands and Seals beside King Philips late Promise to Windsor Herald whereby he Obliged himself to come and give him Battle on this Day sufficiently shew'd his Resolution But Å¿ Frâ—â—is c. 42. all the Lords of his Council were not of the same Mind For thô some urged that it would be an indelible Stain of dishonour if now they should decline to come to the push seeing their Enemies were so near them in their own Country and had both demanded and been promised Battle Yet others of deeper Judgement replyed That it would be the most Unwarrantable Indiscretion in the World to Commit all to the Hazard of One Engagement For said they if Fortune prove adverse to Us Our King is in Jeopardy of loosing his Crown and thô he should Conquer his Enemies yet will he never be the nearer to gain the Crown of England or the Lands of any of King Edwards Allies Beside which gave the Greatest Suspicion to King Philip who knows said they whether all your Subjects are firm to You or no and that no Lords here present may Prefer King Edward or Revolt to him as the Lord of Artoic hath done already With these Debates time slipt away till Afternoon When of a
annum §. 9. extat apud Benedict Tom. 6. Epist secr 302. M.S. Dr. Stillingfleet sâ—â— incipiens Ut Sanctitati Domini nostri Summi Pontifiâ—is c. That it may be made evident to the Holiness of our Lord the Pope that our Lord the King of England doth justly by Hereditary Right claim the Kingdom of France the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the said King. The Matter whereupon the Lord Edward King of England saith He hath Right to the Crown of France is thus It is and hath been notoriously known that the Lord Charles the Younger Son of Philip King of France commonly called the Fair after the Death of the Lord Philip his Brother at which time the said Lord Charles immediately by Hereditary Right succeeded in the said Kingdom was true King of France and that unto him the said Kingdom of France was lawfully devolved by Right of Succession and that he the Lord Charles held and peaceably and quietly possessed the said Kingdom of France for the time that he Reigned as true King of France And that at last the same Lord Charles leaving no Brother then surviving deceased without any Heir Male begotten of his Body It is also certain de jure that in Hereditary Successions coming from one Intestate the next of Bloud to the Deceased being able at the time of the Decease to Succeed doth wholly exclude all the more remote of the Blood of the said deceased whether he was allied to the Deceased by the Person of a Male or Female And it is certain that at the time of the Death of the said Lord Charles King of France as aforesaid the foresaid Lord Edward King of England was his nearest Kinsman as who was Son of the Sister of the said Lord Charles namely of the Lady Isabella Queen of England being only removed from the same Lord Charles aforesaid in the Second Degree of Consanguinity But the Lord Philip of Valois who occupies the said Kingdom of France was Son of the Uncle of the said Lord Charles namely Son of the Lord Charles of Valois Brother to the foresaid Philip the Fair and so notoriously removed from the said King Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity And by Consequence in common Right the foresaid Lord Edward King of England Son of the Sister of the foresaid Lord King Charles deceased k The Original more full debait debet ought by Right of Succession to be preferr'd in the Succession of the said Kingdom to the foresaid Lord Philip of Valois who only is near to the said King. Charles in the Third Degree of Consanguinity l Hic in M.S. Dr. Stilling-sleet multa adduntur eâ— Pandect c. ad Jus Regis stabiliendâ—on allegata tum quâ—e sequuntar hic The Intention therefore of our Lord the King of England being founded on Common Right nothing remains but only to answer what may be objected And first it is objected on the part of the Lord Philip of Valois who bears himself as King of France against the King of England aforesaid that the same King of England did unto him as King of France make Homage for the Dukedom of Aquitain and for the Earldom of Pontive and did thereby recognise him the said Lord Philip to m The Original more full fore else be his Lord and King of France 2. It is also objected to the King of England that he made unto him Liege Homage and Oath and that of these things the foresaid Philip hath by him Letters sealed with the Seal of the foresaid King of England and moreover that these Letters were sealed in England 3. It is also objected to the foresaid King of England that he is not of the Blood of the House of France but by Means of a Woman namely of the Lady Isabell his Mother And that a Woman neither can nor ought an approved and lawfully prescribed Custom in the Realm hindring to be admitted to obtain the said Kingdom by Right of Succession and by Consequence by means of her her Son is not to succeed To answer these Objections the Information which follows was given in by the Ambassadors of the King aforesaid First that the Homage made ought not in effect to prejudicate the King of England because the same King of England at the time of making the said Homage was notoriously under Age nor had then compleated the 18th Year of his Age whereby he ought as other Minors when they are abused within the times provided by the Laws of Restitution to the full to be aided by a competent Judge if there had been a Competent Judge with the benefit of Restitution to the full But upon Defect of a Competent Judge the said King of England within the foresaid times of Restitution to the full used other Remedies of Law which ought to suffice him in this Part. Moreover the said King of England being under Age as aforesaid did before the making of his Homage by one of his Procurators especially constituted for that purpose protest openly and expresly that for any Homage whatsoever to be made to the Lord Philip of Valois then bearing himself as King of France by the said King of England for the Dukedom of Aquitain and the County of Pontive he did not nor would intend to renounce his Hereditary Right which he had to the Realm of France or any way from the said Right to derogate althô thereupon Letters should thereafter be signed with either of his Seals And he did protest that he made not any Homage to the said Lord Philip of his own Free Will but only he should do it for the just fear he had of Losing the said Dukedom and County and because he feared that unless he should do such Homage unto him he could not avoid other great Dangers and irreparable Losses And to the Truth of the Premises the King of England caused by his said Procurator an Oath to be taken upon his Soul by laying Hands on the Holy Gospel before many Witnesses called thereto As to the Objection concerning the Oath which the King of England in his Homage ought to have made or that he should have sworn so to have declared saving the Objectors Reverence it is not true because neither the Lord the King of England nor any of his Progenitors did ever swear in the Performance of any Homage as will evidently appear by the Inspection of the Registers containing the Forms of the said Homages nor is it contained in any Letters sealed with the King of England's Seal that such an Oath hath been made Nor can it be said that in the Homage made by the said Lord the King an Oath was tacitly implied hereby that the Letters were sealed with the King of England's Seal wherein it was contained that this Homage was Liege because the word Liege doth by its signification no way import the same And as to what is said that these Letters were sealed
in England and so without Fear it is answer'd that even so it was not without Fear when there was a fear of losing the whole Dukedom aforesaid by reason of an Army then ready to invade the King himself in the Dukedom and in England by the way of Scotland and that the said Letters were sealed while the said King was notoriously under Age as aforesaid not of the perfect Knowledge of the said King nor upon due Notice of his Right or Prejudice as neither by reason of the frailty of his Age could then be had Besides he the said King ought to be restored in full in this Case within the Times thereto limited if he had had a Competent Judge and because he had not a Competent Judge he used in due time other Remedies whereby there was taken better Provision as to his Right And the King of England would have our Lord the Pope to be more surely informed that the said King never did any thing on purpose to the Lord Philip bearing himself as King of France for which he ought to cease or desist from the Prosecution of his said Right or for which he thought or doth think his Conscience wronged in this part and that it was so He calls God to Witness As to the Objection wherein 't is said that the said Lord the King of England is not of the Blood of France but by means of a Woman who is not capable of the Right of the Hereditary Realm of France it is answerd that althô by the Custom of the Realm of France a Woman of the Royal Blood be excluded from the Hereditary Rights of the Realm of France yet hereby it doth not follow that her Son being a Male and able to Reign ought to be excluded from the Succession of his Forefathers devolved unto Lawfull Heirs because the King of England claims the Succession of his Uncle the Lord King Charles deceased according to the Prerogative of his Degree as next of Kin to the deceased King who ought not to be excluded from the Inheritance of his Uncle or his Grandfather by any Kindred more remote in Degree even althô the Mother of the said King by reason of her Sex should be excluded or put by And if it be said that some Nephews and Kindred of the Lords Lewis and Philip Brethren of the said Lord King Charles successively have been excluded from the Royal Succession upon that Account that they were only allied to the said Kings by the means of Females as also the King of England was allied to the said Lord King Charles by means of a Female only namely of his Mother it is answer'd that not upon that account were the said Nephews excluded but upon this that none of the said Nephews was in Being at the Time of the Death of the said King about whose Inheritance the Controversie was and this will evidently appear by matter of Fact underwritten For it is to be known that the Lord Philip the Fair King of France deceased leaving behind him three Brothers namely Lewis the Eldest Philip the Long the Second Born and Charles the Third and Youngest and one Daughter namely Isabell Queen of England Lewis the Elder Son succeeded his Father Philip the Fair immediately in the Kingdom of France and got one Daughter after which King Lewis died leaving the said Daughter which had no Issue during the Life of the said King Lewis and his Wife impregnate who after the Death of the said King brought forth a Male Child named John who after Nine Days wherein he was accounted King of France deceased And Philip the Long the Middle Brother of the said Three succeeded him immediately in the said Kingdom This King Philip begat three Daughters but no Male the Elder Daughter whereof was coupled in Matrimony to the Duke of Burgundy the Second to the Dauphin of Vienna the Third and Youngest to the Earl of Flanders Of the First Daughter married to the Duke of Burgundy was born a Male Child called as is said Robert during the Life of King Philip but that Robert died before King Philip his Grandfather and so was not in Being at the time of the Death of the said Lord Philip his Grandfather Of the Second Daughter married to the Dauphin there was no Issue at all during the Life of the said King Philip as neither of the Other who was married to the Earl of Flanders After the Death of the said King Philip his Third and Younger Brother namely the Lord Charles immediately succeeded who in the end leaving two Daughters unmarried deceased without Issue Male. From all which it is evident that the said Lord Charles was True and Lawfull King of France and by Consequence that the Lord the King of England who was Son of the Lady Isabella Queen of England Sister to the said Charles as aforesaid ought as his Nearest Kinsman to succeed him in the Kingdom These Instructions were given to Nicolas de Flisco and his Son Andrew who were to be follow'd by others with Letters from the King to his Holiness sealed with the Arms of England and France which New Seal was not yet made But while the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco remained at the Court of Avignon under the Pope's Protection certain wicked Persons thinking to curry Favour with the King of France about Midnight on Good Fryday Eve enter'd his House by Violence broke open his Chamber and hardly giving him time to put on one thin Garment hurried Him and his Son and one young Gentleman away and carried them down the Rhosne to a certain Tower where they kept them close till Saturday and then convey'd them into the Parts of France At which Injury his Holiness was so moved that he began to thunder out the most heavy Edicts against the Authors and Accomplices of that Crime and put France under Interdict as appears by an Expostulatory Letter of King Philips to the Pope Wherein calling God to Witness that this Violence was neither done by his Command nor Will or Knowledge and that when he heard the English Men thus taken were within his Kingdom he had given Order to make diligent Search for them and to return them to Avignon again he complains that those Processes were too sudden and too rigorous since he was wholly innocent of the matter and so to the blackning of his Honour and that for the future he would not be so hasty in acting against him without giving him Notice c. Dated at Moncell near Pont St. Maixence 21 of Maii. To which the Pope return'd That he could never think the Knowledge of that Fact did belong to him however it was so horrid that the Severity which he had used was necessary But that his Paternal Affection toward him was no way diminished thereby nay he would rather conspire with him in a mutual Agreement of Good-will and kind Offices Dated at Avignon iii Kal. Jun. Anno Pontif. vi Soon after at King Philips Command Nicolas
part of Almains and Brabanders These 3 Battails assaulted the Town at one time in three several places with much Vigour and Gallantry the Archers all the while both from within and without letting fly their Arrows and Quarrels without sparing The Earl with his Battail came up near to the chief Gate which for a while was worthily defended by the Vidame of Chalons who there and then Knighted three of his Sons and obliged his Men by words and example to do gallantly But yet at last both he and they were by the Earl beaten back again into the Town in some Confusion The Earl carrying the Barriers by fine Force and keeping them The mean while his Uncle the Lord of Beaumont was fighting with like Valour and Success at the Gate toward Chimay where after a sharp Conflict which yet was well manag'd by the Lord de la Bonne and the Lord of Bresne he forced the Enemy to retire into the Town and thereby wan both the Barriers and the Bridge also Yet what they had as it was not cheaply won was not easily maintain'd For the Besieged being beaten into the Town came now to revenge that Affront upon the Walls whence they cast down barrs of Iron Stones Timber Darts and Pots of quick Lime which did a great deal of Mischief An Esquire of Hainault had such a stroke with a stone upon his Target that it was quite cloven in sunder with the blow and his Arm so shatter'd and broken that it was long before it could perfectly be healed The next morning being Saturday the Assault was again renew'd on all sides with far more fury than before so that althô they within did their utmost to defend themselves at last all their Barriers and Defences were beaten down and the Town was carried by Force Sr. John the Earls Uncle enter'd first with great noise of shouting and Trumpets his Men of Arms beating down all before them At this dreadfull sight the Vidame of Chalons like a Noble Knight withdrew himself into a fair spacious place before the Minster where he stood with his Men in a square Battail resolved as it should seem to sell his Life dearly But as for the Lord of Bresne when he saw all was lost knowing he had so much displeased Sr. John by his late Incursion into his Lands about Chimay that if he were taken no Ransom would be accepted for his Life he determin'd to save himself by flight and presently taking a good Horse fled away without any Order upon the spur Sr. John hearing that his Capital Enemy was escaped immediately with a good Brigade of Horse sped after him but the Lord of Bresne had got the start of him so much that finding the Gate of his Town ready open to receive him he made shift to enter and close the Gates again just as Sr. John came up to the very Walls thrô eager pursuit with his Sword drawn in his hand Wherefore seeing his Enemy had escap'd him he return'd back to Aubenton but in his passage thither meeting with many of the Lord of Bresne's Men following their Master he put them all to the Sword without mercy The mean while in the Town was the young Earl and his Men hard fighting with those who were drawn up before the Minster and there the Vidame of Chalons did Wonders in Arms and so did two of his Sons and all his Company plaid this their last Stake gallantly and with honour but the Hainalders were as cunning Gamesters besides that they were more animated with Success so that at last the Vidames Party being opprest by numbers of Men no less valiant and desperate than themselves were slain upon the spot every Man not one was taken to ransom and the Vidame indeed scorn'd to be taken and his Sons were of his Mind and so they all fell with their Swords in their hands And of the whole Town not one escaped but only those who fled away with the Lord Bresne so that there died about 2000 People of the Town besides the Souldiers After this bloody Execution the Town was rifled and plunder'd and all the Goods sent away to Chimay and the residue committed to the Flames From Aubenton these incensed Warriers went to Maubert Fontaine which they presently wan and spoiled the Town and then ras'd it to the ground after that they took and burnt the Town of Aubigny and Signy the Greater and the Less and all the Hamlets thereabout to the number of above 40. And then at last the Earl of Hainalt being as the manner of War is rather overrevenged of his wrongs return'd to Mons well pleased and having satisfied his Men with Thanks and Prey gave them leave to depart for a while because the season was not yet come to keep the Field But considering that these his Actions would shortly call a War upon him from France having constituted his Uncle Sr. John Deputy Governour of Hainault Holland and Zealand he immediately shipt himself for England with design to make an Alliance Offensive and Defensive with his Brother-in-Law King Edward that so he might be the better able to withstand the Power of France But the Lord John of Hainault staid at Mons where like a good Provident Captain he took care for all Parts and retain'd Souldiers and strengthen'd all his Nephews Castles and Fortresses with Men and Ammunition And first he sent to Valenciennes the Lord of Engien the Lord of Vergny the Lord of Gomegines and Sr. Henry of Hofalize To Landrecy he sent the High-Steward of Hainalt with an hundred Spears to Bouchan in Ostervandt three Captains Brethren Knights of Almain named Courrars instead of the two Mannys who were removed to the Castle of Thine as Å¿ Huâ—us cap. §. 3. p. 164. we shew'd before To Escandure he sent Sr. Gerard van Sanckins and the Lord of Valkenburg to the Town of Avesnes the like care he took of St. Amand and of every Fortress fronting on France VI. But when King t Frois c. 46. fol. 26. Philip heard how the Hainalders had wasted the Country of Tierasche and had slain and taken his Captains and destroy'd utterly his good Town of Aubenton he presently in a great fury commanded his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to make a notable Inroad into Hainalt and there to harrass and destroy all the Country that the Memory of his severe Revenge might remain for ever And him we shall leave about his vast Preparations to execute his Fathers Command His Father the mean while to provide against the Storm which he expected from England reinforced his Navy greatly at this time and commanded his Admirals to cruise about the Coasts of Flanders and by no means to suffer the King of England upon his return to set Footing there on pain of their Heads And because he now understood for certain that the Flemings had made homage and Fealty to the King of England his Adversary he sent unto them a notable Prelate who pretended
as it were in a Net they alighted on foot and began to defend themselves like Men insomuch that for all their great Disadvantage they slew and hurt many of their Enemies But the Men of Lille were now both behind and before and they were enclosed in a narrow straight Passage beside so that on each Flank also they lay open to the Enemies shot among bushes hedges and ditches that they could neither turn backward nor forward nor yet have convenient Ground to fight it out on And however well they might behave themselves 't was impossible they should get off because perpetually fresh Men flow'd in upon them under the Conduct of the x Charles Allâ—yne in Câ—efty 〈◊〉 p. 7. Lord of Rambois so after some Resistance they were all taken of necessity and with them a young Esquire of Limosin named Raymund Rogerii Nephew to Peter Rogerii then Cardinal and shortly after Pope of Rome by the Name of Clement VI. This young Gentleman having yielded himself prisoner was afterwards slain in Cool blood by the Frenchmen for greediness of his rich Arms and costly Apparel This is the manner of the taking of the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolks y Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 48. b. eldest Son not as is commonly said of the Earl of Suffolk himself as Froisard hath deliver'd and truly it would not seem improbable neither but upon these accounts that it is hardly credible two such Great Captains as these were known to be should erre so much against the Rules of War in being so rash and careless and besides the way from Ipres to Greetsberg by Ryssel or Lille is the farthest way about by much and shews that Sr. Vauflart had rather a mind to expose them to their Enemies both of Lille and Tournay than to guide them the nearest and safest way Which had been by passing from Ipre to cross the Skell about Courtray a Garrison of their Friends to keep the left hand till they came to the place of Rendezvous which was not above 4 leagues beneath Aelst or Alost on another Arm of the Skell Wherefore having a more probable Account elsewhere of the taking of these Men I shall set that down also leaving the Reader to judge which Opinion seems most preferable Immediately after Easter the Earl of Salisbury and the Earl of Suffolks Eldest Son called Robert Vfford le Fitz went and laid Siege to the Town of Lille in Flanders z 〈…〉 4 Vol. p. 244. so called from its Scituation among Lakes which are now dri'd up that Town holding then for the French and being furnished with a good Garrison Hereupon full of Courage one Day they made a vigorous a Walsingh 〈◊〉 p. 133. Stâ—n 236 Sally upon the Besiegers but whether really overpower'd by the English or only in Policy pretending so to be they at last retir'd in great seeming Confusion much faster than they issued out The two English Lords as the Nature of Man is presuming belike on their late frequent Successes hoped by pursuing them close to enter with them Pell-mell and so to be Masters of the Place With this Design they follow'd the Townsmen close at their heels themselves being follow'd but by a few of their Troops that were then in readiness thô greater Numbers were hasting on to second them But as soon as ever the two Lords with a few about them were got within the Gates down fell the Armed Portcullis from behind them and in their Face they met with a great number of Men of Arms besides that those who lately fled from them return'd upon them now with greater vigour So that immediately they were both taken and sworn Prisoners with their Men and then clapt in Irons and laid in the Town-Hall Prison or common Goal till it might be resolv'd what to do with them At last it was determin'd that these two Illustrious Captives being fetter'd and shackled with Iron should be sent and presented to the French King as a lucky Hansel of his future Success As they were b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 64â— b. convey'd to Paris they were drawn in a Cart thrô the midst of every Town Village or Hamlet in their way with great shouts and cries of the Vulgar and scoffs and railings of the rascal sort of People Being c Stâ—â— p. 236. at last brought into the King of France's Presence he most unworthily commanded they should be put to Death but to this the most Noble King of Bohemia John of Luxemburgh oppos'd himself with words to this effect Sir if these Gentlemen your Prisoners were not Persons of as high Merit as Quality I should not take much notice of them at this time thô I should hardly allow of putting the most mean or undeserving Enemy to Death in cold blood They are indeed as Matters now stand open Enemies to your Majesty but they are Honourable Enemies however and such as never fought against you but in their Liege Masters Quarrel nor then till open Defiance had been made Nor were they taken so much by the Valour of your Subjects as thrô an excess of their own and that too by a subtle Contrivance of their Adversaries nor even then perhaps had they so tamely yielded but that they believ'd they should not fail of being used like Prisoners of War. Let not the most Christian King of France prove more severe and less just or honourable than even his Enemies suppos'd him to be Beside the Event of War is uncertain and the King of England is not only himself of great Puissance but has gained strong Allies in the Empire so that he may be suppos'd able to return like for like If these Men therefore should now die who of your Lords would willingly fight in your Quarrel since if taken they must never expect to be put to Ransom but in Revenge of these Mens Blood to inevitable Death Nor are your Enemies only like to resent this Action if you proceed severely but the better Part of your Friends also as you may guess from Me who am the First that blame this Resolution of yours against them To kill those that resist is Valour and Justice but to put those to the Sword who have laid down theirs is both cruel and ungenerous It may be any Mans fortune to be taken Prisoner but it will be an eternal Blot to that Conqueror who destroys those in cold Blood whom the Law of Arms makes only Prisoners of War. My Royal Friend and Brother let us resolve to be valiant Enemies but Mercifull Victors at least let us forbear these unreasonable Severities till we are first provoked by the example of the English to use them King Philip being convinced by these Reasons of his Old Friend the Heroick King of Bohemia revoak'd the Sentence of their Death but however d Walsingh hist p. 134. committed them to close Prison He sent also to thank the Garrison of Lille for this agreeable piece of Service and promis'd them
enclose his first Squadron in suspense as to be ready to Assist them that were weary when need should so require But since as we intimated before there were in the English Fleet a great Number of Countesses Ladies Knights-Wives and other Gentlewomen who were going thither to wait upon the Queen at Gaunt and to visit their Husbands and Friends in those Parts these Ladies the King comforted all he could and caused them to be kept far off with 300 Men of Arms and 500 Archers for their Guard. And then he gave Order to hoise up the Sails Designing to come with a Quarter Wind to t Adam Murimouth get the Advantage of the Sun and Wind at his Back and so at last they turn'd a little sideways having Wind at Will. When the French saw them do thus they wonder'd what they meant some saying They find we are too many for them and so think it best to let us alone But when they beheld the Banner Royal of England and found that the King himself was there in Person they then thought it worth their while to endeavour to take him and so began to make up to the English The French were all u Frois ibid. fol. 30. Good and Expert Men of War especially upon the Sea to which they had been long enured For whatever some Writers say who in hopes to excuse this loss assert x Da Chesne l. 15. fol. 651. how their Navy was filled with Peasants and Persons of the Meanest Condition as such who would be contented with less Pay their Admirals were certainly Men of Great Knowledge in Maritime Affairs and as to the rest we shall find by the manner of their Fight that they wanted neither Courage nor Skill but only Fortune Before the two Fleets joyn'd the Valiant y Fabian p. 211. Admiral Barbenoire sent forth four Gallies which set upon a Good English Ship called the Rich Oliver and assailed her vigorously on all sides with Stones and other Shot from Engines so that many of her Men were slain and more wounded and she her self in great Danger of being lost but at that Instant the English Navy came so near that she was Rescued and the Four Gallies Boarded and Won before the French could come up to them And now both the Fleets met fiercely together the French joyning the Battle with many Trumpets and other Instruments of Martial Musick and the English altogether giving a Mighty Shout that sounded horribly upon the Waters the Shoar being not far off And at the same Instant they sent a Flight of Deadly Arrows from their Long Bows which the French answer'd as liberally with their Cross-bow Shot But the English Arrows did the most Execution by far Then the Men of Arms approached and fought with Swords Spears and Axes hand to hand For on both sides they had certain great Hooks fasten'd to Chains called Grapling-Irons to cast from one Ship to another which catching fast on the Tackling or the Upper Deck they were both held close together That day many Noble Deeds of Arms were done on both sides with assailing and defending taking and Rescuing again but the first apparent Advantage which the English by Obstinate Valour obtain'd was that after a sharp Conflict the Christopher which the French had taken a Year before and had now in their Forefront was retaken by the English before any other for they knew the King was much displeas'd at the Loss of that Good Ship All the French within her were slain except some Three or Four taken to Mercy and now again being furnish'd with Englishmen she turns her Angry Foredeck against the Genouese Then there was great Shouting and Cries on both sides and the Battle began to be more hot than before these Encouraged with their first Success and the Presence of their King those in the Contemplation of their Numbers This Fight was Mannaged with much Cruel Obstinacy for besides the great Antipathy of both Nations and the Mutual Provocations which highly incensed them on both sides the Sea-fights are always more Dangerous and Terrible than those on the Land No man there being able to flinch or fly but to expect the Reward of his Valour or the stroak of Fortune Most certainly Sr. Hugh Quuriel Sr. Peter Bahuchet and Sr. Nicolas Barbenoire the Genoan were most Valiant and able Captains For they maintain'd the Fight from before ten of the Clock in the Morning till seven in the Evening for z Da Chesne l. 15. p. 651. b. Nine whole Hours So that the English were very much put to it for their Enemies were a Frois c. 50. f. 30. a. Four to One and all us'd to the Sea. There King Edward who bare the Admirals Flag in his Ship that day fought most Resolutely For he was in the Flower of his Youth being not full 28 Years Old and in all the World either Heathen or Christian there was no King so Brave in those Days of that Age. With him in this Hazardous Enterprise were Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick with Sr. John Beauchamp his Brother Earl Thomas being the Admiral but for that Day the King taking the Place upon himself Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby Laurence Hastings Earl of Pembroke William Clinton Earl of Huntingdon the Lord Roger b Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 70. Northwode of his Retinue Hugh Audley Earl of Gloucester Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and his Valiant Brother William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord John Chandos the Lord William Felton the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Henry Piercy the Lord John de la Warre the Lord c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 382. Ralph Basset of Sapcote Thomas d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 564. p. 569 Lucy Lord Multon the Lord Robert of Artois commonly called the Earl of Richmond Sr. Stephen de la Burkin Sr. Henry of Flanders and Nele Loring a Yaliant young Esquire of England with other Barons Knights and Esquires all who bare themselves that day with singular Courage the first Squadron of the Enemies being entirely Beaten by fine Force and the second very much shatter'd the French of that Part leaping into the Sea to avoid the stinging Arrows so that at last the Lord Morley coming in opportunely with part of the Northern Fleet and some Succour from Bruges the English obtain'd the Greatest Victory that ever was known on those Seas before Only the Night coming on about 23 or 30 French Sail fled away but one Great Ship called the e Adam Murimouth c. James of Dieppe intending to have carried away a Ship of Sandwich belonging to the Prior of Canterbury was stay'd from getting off by the Resistance and Noise of the Mariners who being thereupon Assisted by the Earl of Huntington defended themselves so stoutly that they not only saved their own Vessel from the French but also were occasion of Winning that For after a whole Nights vigorous contending for the Mastery
to an High Degree as indeed she well merited Then follow the Remembrances for the King to keep promise as to keep the Sea to purvey for the Navy and to defend the Isles of Jersey and Garnsey Sr. Anthony Bath was Order'd to see to the delivery of the Kings Jewells And Conrade Clipping and Godrick de Renley are Assign'd for the Customs of England Then there is the Copy of a Letter sent from the Lords of the Parliament to the King by Sr. William Trussel containing the Grant of the Ninths and their Policy in making present shift for ready Money by Woolls In the Postscript they direct him to buy at Sluce and other Ports of Zealand because the greatest store of Woolls had been convey'd away by stealth To which there is another secret Letter adjoyned sent as it seems from some of the Council to the same Effect And here 's the Substance of this Parliament and the Summe of all the Aid that came to the King during the Siege of Tournay thô it both fell short and came also too late and as is highly probable not till after the Treaty But We are also to remember that in this Parliament King Edward Bailiol was appointed to serve at Carlile with 40 Men of Arms being still allowed 300 l. per annum together with the Mannor of Hexlisham as in the last x I. 1. c. 16. §. 1. p. 180. Parliament And the Earl of Angos and the Lord Piercy were Order'd to set forth the Arrays of Yorkshire Nottingham and Darby to Newcastle upon the Tine and so to the Marches For about this time Scotland began to Raise up her Head again of whose Affairs it will not be amiss in this place to take some Prospect VIII About the time that King Edward Commenced his French Wars the Lord y Buchan p. 297. l. 9. Holinshead Scotl. p. 238. Hector Beeth p. 322. Andrew Murray Viceroy of Scotland Departed this Life and was buried at Rosmarkie being greatly desired by the Scots for his successfull Valour After his Death the Young Lord Robert Stuart was continued Viceroy till the Return of King David out of France This Lord Robert took up during his Viceroyship the most Successfull Arms against England that ever had been since the Death of King Robert his Uncle But in Process of time when he came to be King himself he first wholly cast off the English Yoke and maintain'd that Kingdom in Prosperity and Honour during his whole Reign as in part we shall shew hereafter But the uncertain and contradictory Reports with the false Computations of the Scotch Writers make it as impossible to give a succinct and exact Account of every Action as it is indeed unnecessary Let this suffice that Scotland being now left more at Liberty by King Edward's Absence while he was busied in the French Wars did by Degrees recover many Great and Important Places which before she had lost thô as yet she was unable to do any Notable Exploit upon the Borders of England And first by the High Valour of Sr. William Douglas all Tividale was clean Recover'd out of the English mens Hands for which piece of Service he was afterwards Rewarded with that Country He also overthrew the Lord John Striveling at Cragings Wan the Castle of Hermitage baffled Sr. Laurence Vaux and took Sr. William Abernethie Prisoner and then by the Lord Robert Stuart was sent into France to King David to Request his Counsel and Assistance in the War because a Tempest was expected from England The mean while the Lord Robert Besieges Perth alias St. Johnston which was by the English Valiantly maintain'd against him for the space of Ten Weeks When the Lord Douglas on a sudden Arrived from France bringing with him into the Tay 5 Ships well furnished with Men Arms and Ammunition the Captains whereof were two Knights belonging to Galliard Castle in France upon the Seyne which was allotted for King Davids Residence also two Valiant Esquires named Giles de la Hoy and John de Breis with a Pirate of great Renown whose Name was Hugh Handpile so that now the Captain of Perth Sr. Thomas Vghtred not being able to hold out any longer after he had z Holinshead p. 239. destroy'd the best Ship that Hugh Handpile had and perform'd all that could be expected was at last enforced to yield up the Town thô not without a Hector p. 322. Honourable Conditions Now beside the foremention'd Captains who were on the Brucean Side Patrick Earl of Dumbar Kenneth Earl of Southerland Sr. Robert Hussey Sr. Simon Frasier and Sr. Alexander Ramsey who were dispos'd about in Garrisons of those parts of Scotland which the English had not won during the space of seven Years made continual War upon the English with various Success sometimes loosing and sometimes winning as well by Open Force as by Surprise Till at last King Bailiol being wholly tired out by these their importune Hostilities retired into England as we shew'd before Thô others say he was brought hither by King Edward either for his own further Security or hoping by his Removal to keep the Scots more quiet or for suspicion of his Loyalty But now while King Edward lay at the Siege of Tournay the French King sent new Supplies of Men and Money into Scotland requesting withall the Lord Robert Stuart to make strong War upon England that by such a Diversion King Edward might be forced to quit the Siege The Scots taking heart upon this Reinforcement not only wan many Fortresses in Scotland but also adventur'd in several Bodies to enter England where they destroy'd the Country almost as far as Durham returning all safe again saving b Holinshead Sâ—ctl p. 238. that the Earls of March and Southerland being encountred by the Lord Thomas Grey of Werke Sr. Robert Manners and John Copland a valiant Esquire of Northumberland were utterly discomfited In short the Scots did so well use this Opportunity of King Edwards Absence c Frois c. 55. f. 31. b. c. that there was by this time scarce any Place of Moment left to the English in all Scotland except Barwick Striveling Roxborough and Edinborough Which last Castle stands on a Rock on an Hill so high that a Man who is no way resisted can yet hardly pass up to the Top without Resting so that it is in a manner impregnable The Captain of this Piece at that time was Sr. Richard Limesi who had so valiantly kept the Castle of Thine l'Evesque against the Duke of Normandy as we shew'd d Vid. l. 1. c. 15. §. 10. p. 174. before and was thereupon Commission'd by King Edward to undertake the Defence of this Place But althô the Strength of the Hold and the Resolution of the Captain were so notorious the Lord William Douglas invented a subtle Device wherewith to recover the Castle and which he discover'd only to three of his chief Companions and Friends Sr. Alexander Ramsey Sir
the Matter was kept very close and none but his Council knew certainly of it for he had not been above Eight or Ten Days abroad in all and the Nantois thought he had visited some other Parts of his Dominions that while VII When the Lord n Prois c. 69. Charles Castillion commonly called Sr. Charles of Blois who look'd upon himself as true Heir of Bretagne in Right of his Wife heard of all the Conquests that the Earl had made in that Country which he took for his own he addrest himself to his Uncle King Philip to complain of these Injuries The King deliberating what course to take in this Affair was in the end counselled to summon the Earl of Montford by sufficient Messengers to make his Personal Appearance at Paris by such a day there to answer to what should be objected against him in the Chamber of France Messengers were accordingly sent who found him at Nantes keeping of a Solemn Festival Here he treated them highly and then having well understood their Errand answer'd that he would punctually obey the Kings Commandment Soon after being prepared for his Journey he rode from Nantes toward Paris with a Princely Equipage of 400 Horse in his Company The next day after his Arrival he rode with this Great Attendance to the Palace Royal Where the King and the 12 Peers with other High Lords of France expected his coming with the Young Lord Charles of Blois in their Company The Earl was conducted to the Kings Chamber being highly regarded and civilly saluted in his Passage thither by all the Lords for the Fame of his great Exploits and the Grandeur of his Person When he 〈◊〉 before the King he enclin'd his Body something low and said Sir I am come hither in Obedience to your Command and Pleasure The King answer'd Earl Montford for that you have so done I give you thanks But I wonder how you durst take upon You the Dukedom of Bretagne whereunto you have no Right For there is another nearer than your Self whom you seek to disinherit And to maintain your unjust Quarrel by Violence you have been with mine Adversary the King of England to whom as I am enformed you have done Homage for the same The Duke who thought it impossible that the King should know this Conveyance of his reply'd not without some Confusion Sir I beseech your Majesty not to believe any such Matter for You are not rightly informed as to that Point But Sir as for the Right which You mention saving your Displeasure You do me wrong to question it For Sir I know of none living so near to my Brother deceased as my Self And if it can be made appear by Right Law and Judgment that there is any Person nearer than I am I am not He that should rebell against Reason or be asham'd to renounce what I had unjustly usurped Well Sir rejoyn'd the King you say well But I command you in whatever you hold of me not to stirr from this City of Paris these Fifteen days in which space the 12 Peers and Lords of my Realm shall consider impartially on the Matter And then you shall know where the Right lies And if you shall presume to do otherwise be assured we shall not be Friends The Earl having promis'd all should be at his Pleasure went from the Court home to his Lodgings to Dinner But having din'd he mus'd much with himself in his Chamber and thought he had done too rashly in coming thither where he should be oblig'd to stand to the Award of such as were byass'd another way At last being o Mezeray p. 18. disguised like a Merchant and only three in his Company he privately took horse in a clear Night and leaving the City got home into Bretagne before the King or any else knew what was become of him Being come to Nantes he shew'd unto his Countess what he had done and wherefore and then by her Advice he rode about to all the Towns and Fortresses which he had won and set over them Vallant and Loyal Captains with sufficient Numbers of Souldiers Horse and Foot and gave them large Wages before-hand VIII For some p Prois c. 70. time the Court of France thought he had been detain'd in his Lodgings by some Indisposition seeing his Servants constantly about the House and tending his Affairs as if present But they also getting off by degrees when his Departure was fully known it may be guessed how deeply King Philip resented this Affront But for all that he kept so much decorum as to tarry till the 15th Day came whereon the Peers were to give their final Judgment concerning the Dukedom of Bretagne At the time appointed the Case was adjudged clearly in behalf of Sr. Charles of Blois his Lady Jane who was Daughter and Heir to Guy Earl of Pentebria Brother German to the Duke last deceased and therefore was now declared to have more Right than John Earl of Monford q Catal. Honer p. 6â—4 who was Younger Brother to the said Ladies Father by a second Venter namely by Violanta sole Daughter and Heir of Almaric Earl of Narbon and Montford They alledged further that althô the Earl of Montford had had the Right yet now he had forfeited it on two Accounts First because he had received the Dutchy of another Lord than of the French King of whom only he ought to hold it and secondly because he had broken the Kings express Command and disobeyed his Arrest in going away Wherefore neither would they r Mezeray p. 18. admit of his Request which was to accept of his Procuration whereby he had left One as his Deputy to manage this Matter in his Behalf From which Judgment it being manifestly influenced by King Philips Authority that Prince was much Å¿ Giov. Villani l. 11. c. 142. censur'd of injustice by those who allow'd the Ancient Order and Custom of the Baronages of France and the Salique Law especially since it was contrary to that very Judgment by which He himself had been Declared and Crowned King of France Since if Charles of Blois had the Right to the Dukedom of Bretagne by his Wife Daughter to the last Dukes Brother German much more had King Edward of England the Right to the Crown of France by his Mother sole Daughter and Heiress after the Death of Lewis Hutin Philip the Long and Charles the Fair her Brethren of Philip the Fair King of France But Prejudice is so strange a thing that it byasses the Minds of the Great and the Wise Men of the World by representing Falshood and Injustice under the specious Titles of Fair and Equitable unless there be present an Awe of Religion and a Sense of Honour and Conscience to suppress those selfish Considerations IX However as soon as this Judgment was thus given King Philip called unto him the Young Lord Charles of Blois and said to him Fair Nephew you have a fair and large
Inheritance by Judgment Awarded unto you Make haste therefore and go and conquer it against him that unjustly detaineth it from you and desire all your Friends to assist you in this your Quarrel I for my part shall not fail to lend you Gold and Silver enough and I will also command my Son the Duke of Normandy to go along with you Sr. Charles enclin'd himself humbly to the King his Uncle returning him his most hearty Thanks and after that he desired his Cousin John Duke of Normandy his other Uncle Charles of Valois Earl of Alencon Eudes the Fourth of that Name Duke of Burgundy his Uncle by the Fathers Side and Brother-in-Law to King Philip Peter Duke of Burbon and the Lord James of Burbon Don Lewis of Spain Ralph Earl of Ewe and Constable of France with the young Earl of Guisnes his Son the Vicount of Rouën and the most Part of the Lords that were then at Court who all said they would gladly go along with him and their Lord the Duke of Normandy And with this they brake up for that time and fell straight upon Preparations for this Expedition In the mean while King Philip caused the Earldom of Montford to be confiscate and seised into his Hands because Earl John had made a League with the King of England his Adversary Wherefore King Edward respecting t Catal. Hener p. 608. ex Record Ed. 3.15 this his Loss and willing to gratifie him with an Equivalent gave him the Earldom of Richmond in England with the Rights belonging unto it in like manner as John Duke of Bretagne and Earl of Richmond his Brother had held it untill such time as he should recover his Earldom of Montford Teste Rege apud Westminst 24 Septemb. 1341. So that we may well doubt the Authority of those who say this Title was given to the Lord Robert of Artois Thô it may indeed be supposed that John Dreux late Duke of Bretagne might for adhering to France against England be deprived of that Title which if our Historians must be in the right was thereupon given as they say to the foresaid Lord Robert thô he is not found in the Catalogue of the Earls of Richmond but upon this Occasion upon an Equivalent consideration might be taken from him again For as yet the Lord Robert of Artcis was not deceased as will appear hereafter X. And now u Frois c. 71. all the forementioned French Lords who had abetted the Quarrel of Charles of Blois being ready with their Forces began to march from Paris and other Parts to the place of their general Rendezvous which was the City of Anger 's on the Loire Being all joyn'd together they marched thence to Ancenis wherewith France is bounded on that side toward Bretagne and here having refreshed themselves for three Days they began to enter the Country of Bretagne As soon as they came into the Campaign they muster'd and found that they amounted to 5000 Men of Arms besides the Genouese which were 3000 and led by three Valiant Knights of Genoa Sr. Otho de Rue Sr. Charles Germaulx and Sr. Galeas de la Baulme who was Captain of the Crossbows The Army first went to a strong Castle standing on an high Mountain called Chantoceaux at the very Entry of Bretagne on the Loire which was pretty well furnished with Men of War under the Command of two Knights of Lorrain Sr. Giles and Sr. Valeran This Castle they thought best to reduce because 't was not safe to leave so strong a Fortress behind them Wherefore they invested it round and made many vigorous Assaults especially the Genouese who strove mightily to gain Honour in this their first Service with the Frenchmen But their great Courage was more hurtfull to themselves than to their Enemies for the Besieged defended themselves so well that of a long while they had no harm But at last the Assailants resolving to try all ways rather than hazard their Reputation in this their first Enterprise carried thither so much Timber Grass-plats and Faggots that they filled the Ditches therewith whereby they were able to approach close to the Walls The Besieged spared not to welcome them with plentifull Showers of Burning Pitch Quick-lime Stones Chalk and Iron-bars But the Frenchmen had brought with them a strong Engine in manner of a Penthouse like the old Roman Testudo under which the Pioneers might safely mine the Walls At the very sight whereof especially when they found they could not break or fire it the Besieged began to capitulate and at last yielded up the Castle on condition to have their Lives and Goods saved Then the Duke of Normandy who was General in this Expedition deliver'd the Fortress to Sr. Charles of Blois as his own who presently put therein a good Garrison to keep open an Entrance for him into Bretagne Thence they marched along by the Loire directly towards Nantes where they heard their Enemy the Earl of Monford was at that time The Marshalls and Vancurrours of the Army found in their way within 5 Leagues of Nantes a good Town called Carquesie environ'd with Ditches but there were not many People in the Town and those but indifferently armed so that after a fierce Assault the Town was taken robbed and half burnt and all within put to the Sword. Thereabout the French Lords lay all that Night and the next Morning marched for Nantes where they laid their Siege and pitch'd up their Tents and Pavilions for they expected no short Work of it And yet the Weather was pretty favourable for it was about the middle of October The Earl of Monford was not at all discouraged that he was thus besieged for he doubted not but to make the Place good till Winter when they would be obliged to raise their Siege and by the next Spring he question'd not but to be well provided with Succours from England by whose Aid he might give Battle unto the Enemy But he forgat all this while to consider the wavering Minds of his People and besides Himself committed one grand Oversight in Disobliging at such a juncture the very Chief of his Captains At the beginning of the Siege the Men x Frois c. 71. of War within the Town and the Inhabitants went all in Arms to their appointed Defences A Detachment from the Army came presently to the Barriers to skirmish against whom some Souldiers and young Men of the Town went forth and that time many were slain and hurt on both parts but the Barriers were maintained And in this manner the Town and the Army had several skirmishes not without many Wounds and much Bloodshed on both sides One Morning about 200 of the Besieged went forth of the City very early at a Venture and they changed to meet with 15 Wagons laden with Provision under the Convoy of sixty Souldiers who were going therewith to the Army The Townsmen set upon them and easily master'd them slew several and took others but some few
not undertake their Defence Upon all which Accounts they resolv'd by any means to divert the War for this time and so sent to King Edward a Bishop an Abbot and two Knights to desire a Truce of him for such a time on such and such Conditions These Messengers found the King in the beginning of December at Newcastle where they declared to him and his Council their business which was to require a Truce for six Moneths on these Conditions That the Scots should the mean while send into France to King David to protest unto him that unless He would return home by the Moneth of May next following with Power able to meet his Enemies of England in the Field and to defend his Realm then all Scotland would admit of King Edwards Government and never after own either David or any of his Posterity for their King and that thus to do upon King Davids failure all the Lords of Scotland had agreed Upon good security given these reasonable Conditions in so bad a juncture were accepted the Scotch Messengers return'd with a Ratification of the Truce into Scotland and King Edward having settled Affairs in those Parts towards London XVI Soon after the Scots agreed to send into France Sr. Robert Vescy Sr. Simon Fraiser and two other Knights to shew their King what they had resolv'd upon in case he should absent himself any longer from them 1342. An. Regni Angliae XVI Franciae III. They accordingly about the beginning of March by reason of the Truce took shipping at Dover in order to sail into France The mean while King David who had now been in that Kingdom upward of seven Years hearing daily unwelcome News of the Miseries and Ruines of his Country at last understood how his Captains at home had raised up some Light and Life in his Realm had recover'd almost all Scotland from his Enemies and had now extorted an half-Years Truce from the King of England althô as yet the Conditions thereof had not reach'd his Ears Whereupon being now about 21 Years of Age and fired with a generous Indignation against England as well as a due sense of Honour toward himself and an hearty Commiseration of his poor Subjects he determinately resolves the Redemption of his People thô with the hazard of his Life and Crown This his Resolution he communicates to his Friend King Philip of France who highly approving thereof furnishes him with Men Money and Vessels and vehemently inflames him to a cruel and perpetual Enmity with England Whereupon King David having taken his leave of the French King went on board with his Queen Joan King Edwards Sister and such Company as he had for Scotland His Admiral was the Loyal and brave Malcom Flemin of Cummirnald who had formerly with great Care and Conduct convey'd him into France and above a Year before had resign'd his strong Castle of Dumbriton to the Custody of the Lord Robert Stuart Viceroy of Scotland only to enjoy the Honour of waiting upon his Exil'd Prince in France King David landed at the Haven of Murray before any of his Subjects heard any thing of his Arrival For neither did he himself know of the Deputies about that time sent unto him into France nor did they know any thing that their King was then upon his Return home again When n Frois c. 74. the Arrival of King David was nois'd abroad in Scotland his glad Subjects flock'd unto him as if He had been sent from Heaven to work their Deliverance At first they brought him with great joy and solemnity to St. John's Town whither his loving Subjects came unto him from all Parts of the Kingdom to see and welcome him home Especially his Deputy the Lord Robert Stuart Sr. William Douglas Sr. Alexander Ramsey and other his Great Captains the Prime of his Nobility all whom he highly thanked for their constant Valour and Fidelity unto Him. These Lords declared then to their Master what terrible Devastation had been made in his Kingdom by the English to whose Complaints the young King only answer'd shaking his Head Well well my Lords by the Grace of God I will be sufficiently revenged for all or else it shall cost me both my Realm and Life in the Quarrel Then he straight sent forth his Summons to all his Subjects Friends and Allies to come unto Him to St. Johnston by such a day to aid Him against his Adversary of England At the time appointed there came thither the Potent Prince of Orkney who had married one of King Davids Aunts with a prodigious Number of Men of War in his Company and divers Lords and Knights of Sweeden Norway and Denmark some for Love and some for Wages So that in all He number'd in his Army no less than 60000 Foot and 13000 Horse armed after their Manner The time o Buchan says K. David return'd not till July thô he makes the time limiting the Truce to be May And yet that he came before the Deputies had been with him Preposterous of Cessation being therefore now expired hoping after all his troubles to have as good Success against England as his Father Robert had he began to march from St. Johnston with this terrible Army That day he reach'd Dumfermlin the next crossing a little Arm of the Sea and passing forth beyond Edenburgh He went over the Tweed leaving both Roxborough and Barwick both which held then for England unattempted For he thought to do a greater Feat before his Return So thrô the Marches he descended into Northumberland exercising all manner of Hostility and wasting and ravaging all before him for about 40 Miles in length till he came to Newcastle upon Tine which he resolved to besiege and so sat down with all his Forces before it The Captain p Frois c. 74. f. 39. of the Castle was the Lord John Nevill of Horneby a Person of great Conduct and Bravery who resolving to give the young King of Scotland a taste of the English Valour as soon as might be commanded 200 Lances to make a Sally very early the next Morning These dashing suddenly with great Fury into the Scotch Host on that Part where the Earl of Murray was who as they say was chief General for the time the King himself keeping private took the Earl himself in Bed drag'd him away naked out of his Tent and so having slain several of his Men and wan much Booty they return'd all safe into the Town with great joy and deliver'd the Earl of Murray Prisoner to Sr. John Nevill their Captain This Earl was a chief Prince of the blood in Scotland next of Quality to Prince Robert Stuart and the Earl of Southerland but for Valour and Conduct he yielded to none Froisard says his Arms were Argent three Oreills gules This daring enterprise having alarum'd the whole Camp the Scots ran like Madmen to the Barriers of the Town and began a fierce Assault which they continued a great while with much
to this Earls Son a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. ex libro Islip dicto f. 178 thô by reason of a Precontract with the Lord Thomas Holland upon his complaint to the Pope she was adjudged unto the latter The former as it seems acquiescing therein by his after-marriage with another young Lady namely b Catal. Honor. p. 1044. Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of John Lord Mohun of Dunstor Castle Whereby it is evident that this Lady Joan Plantagenet could never be rightly called Countess of Salisbury Nor yet was she Countess of Kent at this time nor till ten years after when her Brother John Earl of Kent dying without Issue left her then Husband the foresaid Lord Holland Earl of Kent in her Right After whose Death she was upon the account of her extraordinary Endowments and Perfections both of Body and Mind taken to Wife by Edward Prince of Wales commonly called the Black-Prince Whereupon Historians either mistaking the young Earl for his Father and so consequently Joan Plantagenet his intended Wife for the Lady Katherine his Mother or not apprehending that the Order of the Garter of which we shall speak in its proper Place could have any other than an amorous Original thô we shall shew the contrary or resolving by right or by wrong to celebrate the Countess of Kent's Beauty and Vertues have thus confounded Matters that without this long Digression we could not perfectly clear the Truth which now we have sincerely and unanswerably done However near this Castle of Werk wherein at that time was the Countess of Salisbury and her Lords Brother the Scotch Army c Frois c. 76. lodged that night but thought not to spend any time in Assaulting the Place because they were now so laden with Booty and the Fortress it self seem'd too inconsiderable to employ so great an Army Wherefore early next morning they began their March for Scotland Prince Robert Stuart Heir Apparent of that Crown being in the Van the King himself with most of the Booty and Carriages in the Middle and the Lord William Douglas bringing up the Rear Sr. Edward Montague d Frois ibid. Du Ch sâ—e p. 655. B. who well saw from the Battlements of the Tower that the Scots were resolved to leave him in quiet and that they were so charged with heavy Carriages with the Plate and what else they brought from Durham that their Horses could hardly sustain the burthen presently mounts fourty Spears and he himself in the Head of them sallies out of the Castle and covertly following the Reer of the Scots overtook them as they were just entring into a Wood and set on them with such vigour that he presently slew and hurt of the Scots more than e Frois ibid. Du Chisue p. 655. B. two hundred and took away from them above sixscore Horses laden with Spoil which they drove back toward their Castle The cry and noise that follow'd this Action came to the hearing of Sr. William Douglas who had the charge of the Rereguard and was already passed the Forest But when upon this Alarm he looked back and saw his Men come flying over Mountains and Dales he was mightily surprized at first but being quickly informed of the Matter he commanded his Men to face about and having sent word thereof to the King and Prince Robert Stuart who led the other two Battalia's himself without any stop pursued the English even to the foot of the Castle and mounted the Hill after them with his Sword drawn But before he came to the Barriers the English were all entred together with the Spoil they had recovered and had closed the Barriers again However the enraged Douglas falls immediately to the Assault with great Fury and was received with as much Bravery This Action continued till the whole Army and King David himself were return'd before the Castle at which time when the King saw what Massacre they had made of his Men along in the Field and how weary and wounded they had already rendred the Assailants without any apparent advantage on his Side he caused the Assault to cease for that time but however gave command to encamp about the Castle Then all men were busied in taking up their Quarters as the Camp-masters had appointed and to gather their Dead together for Burial and to dress their Wounded Thus they were employ'd the remaining part of that Day till time of rest came Next morning King David gave command for a fresh and general Assault and the Besieged stood ready at their Defences The Countess of Salisbury for her part even beyond her Sex shew'd such a Masculine Spirit that instead of receiving Courage from others she added heart to all her Men She distributed her Gold and Silver largely among her Souldiers and promised more and told them King Edward their Lord would soon come to her Aid and spake so sweetly that every Man became as good as two Wherefore the Assault was sore and cruel being on both sides maintain'd with great Ardour and Animosity But the Assailants were exposed to infinite hazards the Presence of their King making them venture on any thing while the Besieged fought with all possible Care and Discretion as well as Courage as being Guardians of Beauty and Vertue besides the charge of their own Lives and the Honour of their King and Country which they were to maintain against a cruel and numerous Enemy The Scots carried thither Timber Faggots and other Stuff intending to fill up the Ditches whereby their Engines might the better approach the Walls But the English shot so fiercely that after a long and bloody Contest the Assailants were obliged to retire back weary and well-beaten and leaving great Numbers of their Companions behind Then * Frois c. 76. King David gave Order to guard well the Engines for that Night being fully resolved the next day to renew the Attack So all men retired to their Lodgings but those who were to stand upon Duty There some lamented the loss of their Friends others their own Wounds and Languishing Condition the whole Camp was out of humor either griev'd or vext or ashamed XX. On the other hand f Frois ibid. Du Chesne Sr. Edward Montagu Governour of the Castle called a Council of War Where having consider'd that if the Scots gave them many such Assaults it was impossible to hold out long They resolved that some body must adventure to pass thorough the Scotch Camp and ride Post to King Edward who as they heard from their Prisoners had been for some time at York gathering his Forces together to tell him their Condition Hereupon Sr. Edward Montagu threw down a Purse of Gold offering it as a Reward to Him that would adventure to do so signal a Piece of Service and withall his best Gelding to carry him But it seem'd so desperate an undertaking that every man look'd about upon his Neighbour but none durst engage in the
all the French Lords who had the Year before assisted the Lord Charles of Blois returned unto him to the City of Nantes with a great Power of Armed Men. Among them it was in a Council of War agreed that the City of Rennes upon the River of Vilaine should be first attempted as being a place of great Importance and the Seat of Parliament for the whole Province The Countess of Montford who foresaw no less had already well provided for that City having made a most loyal and couragious Gentleman of Bretagne named Sr. William Cadudal Captain thereof However the Lords of France laid their Siege to Rennes but were so well received by the Captain that they lost much more than they could win Yet still they continued there resolving one way or other to be Masters of the Place II. Upon the first News of their Return into Bretagne the Countess of Montford sent the Lord Emery Clysson into England to desire Succour of King Edward proffering her only Son and Heir in Marriage with one of the Kings Daughters who thereupon should be Dutchess of Bretagne King Edward upon this Lords Arrival was at London holding a great Feast for it was Easter whereupon most of his Chief Barons and Knights were about him When the Lord Clysson had punctually related his whole Errand the King granted his Request in contemplation of the Alliance already made and to be made between England and Bretagne Whereupon he commanded the Noble Lord Walter Manny to take with him as many Men of War as Sr. Emery thought necessary besides 5000 Select Archers at least and with all speed to cross the Seas for Bretagne in order to aid the Countess Sr. Walter Manny prepared with all Expedition and when all things were ready took the Sea with these Lords of England and of Bretagne in his company the Lords of Bretagne were Sr. Emery of Clysson the two Brethren of Lyndale Sr. Lewis and Sr. John Sr. Alan Sirefond Sr. John Hayes of Brabant and of England the Lord John b Didg 1 Vol. p. 682. Bardolph the Lord Miles Stapleton the Lord John Darcy senior Sr. John Butler and Sr. Matthew Trelauny being in all c Knighton p. 1581. n. 10. 620 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers with others For we find d Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 751. that Hugh Audley Earl of Glocester was also there as a Volunteer under the Lord Manny with a Troop of an 100 Men of Arms himself accounted for one whereof there were befides one Banneret twenty Knights and seventy eight Esquires and these were joyned with another Troop of an 100 Archers on Horseback Here was also the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton who e Id. ibid. p. 185. had Commission to receive Fealty and Homage from the Bretons on the behalf of King Edward as King of France But thô these Succours took the Sea early enough it was almost too late before they came to the Countess for they were detained at Sea more than fourty Days by Tempests and bad Weather III. The mean while the Lord Charles of Blois who had layn some while before Rennes gave such Trouble to them within that the Citizens would gladly have Articled but Sr. William Cadudal their Captain would by no means hear of any Agreement The Besieged however when they saw that all this while there came no Succour from England nor from the Countess as they had been promised and that they had already endured much Trouble urged the Captain again more importunately to think of yielding while there was time of Mercy but he absolutely refused saying he was strong enough to hold out but if not had rather die than turn Traytor When they saw his Resolution they kept their own counsel secret and being resolved to save themselves thô without doing him any harm for they lov'd his Person for his valour Bounty and Loyalty they once by a wile train'd him from his Attendants and seising his Person cast him into Prison Then they presently agreed with Sr. Charles of Blois to yield up the Town the next Day on condition that the Captain and all those who would still hold on the Countesses side might have free leave with their Horse and Arms to depart whither they would and the rest should make Homage unto him Accordingly in the beginning of May the City was yielded up and the Lord Charles received there as Duke of Bretagne to whom all the Burgesses made their Homage and sware Fealty But Sr. William Cadudal could not be wrought upon to own him or his cause wherefore according to the Articles he had leave to depart which he did with all those of his Mind and went straight to the strong Town of Hennebond where he found the Countess who as yet had heard no News of Sr. Emery Clisson and his Fellows IV. Rennes being thus taken the Lord Charles of Blois was ſ Frois c. 80. fol. 41. l. advised to go and lay his Siege to Hennebond where the Head of the War the Countess and her Son were For said the Lords his Friends now the Earl himself your Adversary is in Prison if We might get the Countess and her Son into Our Hands the whole War would be at an end This Advice if it had been taken before they went to Rennes had in all likelihood succeeded as they wish'd For even now We shall find the Place to be almost reduc'd by that time the slow Succours came from England When the Countess understood that the French were come to Besiege her she immediately commanded an Alarum to be given with the Watch-Bell for all Men to go to their Defences And she had now with her in the Town a Competent Garrison well furnish'd with Provision Ammunition and Good Captains as the Bishop of Leon Uncle to the Lord Henry du Leon who was Revolted Sr. Pierce of Triguier the Lord of Landernear Sr. William Cadndal Sr. Henry Pennefort and Sr. Oliver his Brother the Governour of Guingand and many other Valiant Gentlemen When Sr. Charles came thither with his Army he encamped within a quarter of a Mile of the Town But some of his lusty young Knights and Esquires would not rest till they had try'd what Defence their Enemies could make So to the Barriers to skirmish they went and others as bold went forth to meet them The Dispute was continued very hot between them for a while but at last the Frenchmen and Genouese being overpower'd were forced to retire with considerable loss The next day Sr. Charles perfected his Siege round both the Town and Castle except where the Castle opens to the Sea for he had no Navy and then took Advice to give a fierce Assault at the Barriers which continued till Noon At which time the Assailants were compelled to draw back themselves all weary and having lost many of their Men. When the Lords of France saw their people retire thus they were no less ashamed than displeased insomuch that they all
Scots before they came And soon after the King as we shew'd coming to Barwick with all his Forces the foresaid Truce for two Years was taken IV. The mean l Frois c. 90. 91. f. 46. a b. while the Lord Robert of Artois busied himself in Preparations for his Expedition into Bretagne But however he was not able to take the Sea till about the beginning of May in the middle of which Moneth the Truce taken between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Countess of Montford was to expire The Lord Charles was not ignorant of the Assistance which the King of England had promised to send into Bretagne along with the Countess and therefore against their coming he had set forth under the Command of Don Lewis of Spain and the Captains of Genoa a Fleet of 32 Sail with a 1000 Men of Arms and 3000 Genouese besides others who hover'd about the Isle of Garnsey to intercept the English The Lord Robert of Artois was now upon the Sea with the Countess of Montford who had left her young Son John for his better security in England and these Persons of Quality namely William Montague King of Man and Earl of Salisbury John Vere Earl of Oxford Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Lawrence Hastings Earl of Pembroke the Lord Ralph Stafford the Lord Hugh Spencer Grandchild to the unfortunate Hugh le Despencer the Elder who was Earl of Winchester in the Days of King Edward the Second the Lord Robert Bourchier the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot the Lord Roger Northwood and others All whom Don Lewis of Spain met with before the Isle of Garnsey When first the English Mariners espi'd the Fleet of Don Lewis consisting of Spaniards Genouese French and Bretons they warn'd all the Lords and Captains of their Danger They all commanded their Trumpets immediately to be sounded and reared up their Banners and Standards with their several Arms and Devices together with St. George's Banner the Red Cross of England and so betook themselves to their Arms in their appointed Order the Archers being planted on the Decks and then as the Wind served they went forward Couragiously The English consisted of 46 vessels Great and Small the Spaniards making but 32 as we said before but among the latter were nine Spanish Carricks high-built and greater than any one of the English besides three huge Galeons wherein were the three Admirals Don Lewis of Spain the Lord Charles of Germaulx and Sr. Otho de Rue At the joyning of the two Fleets there was a fierce Medly between the Crossbows of Genoua and the English Archers But when the Men of Arms began to board one another then the Face of the Battle look'd terrible indeed m Frois ibid. The Countess of Montford her self was that day inferiour to none of the Lords of either side she had the Heart of a Lion and in her Hand a sharp Sword wherewith she laid about her to the pleasure of her Friends the terrour of her Enemies and the Wonder of all The Spaniards and Genouese from their great Carricks cast down bars of Iron Timber and the like which much offended the English Archers but however they stood with their Arrows ready nook'd to take off what ever Head appear'd This Engagement must of necessity have been very bloody to either side for it was carried on with much Fury and Bravery of both Parts but the God of Battles order'd it otherwise For the Fight having begun about Evensong a Night came upon them so dark and dismal that they were all forced as it were by Consent to give over for they could discern nothing to any purpose Hereupon they withdrew from each other and cast Anchor at some distance but still kept to their Arms for they thought to renew the Fight again early the next Morning But about Midnight there arose such a Storm as seem'd to threaten a Mixture of Heaven and Earth together and the Elements fought with as great animosity as lately the two Fleets had joyn'd At this horrible Tempest all their warlike Ardour was quash'd and the boldest Heart among them wish'd for nothing more than Land For the Ships dashed so roughly together they feared that they would split in ten thousand Pieces The Lords of England enquired of the Mariners what course they had best to take in this Extremity and they advis'd to make up to Land because their vessels were not able to ride out so great a Tempest and there was no danger that their small Ships should be struck upon the Shoar wherefore they drew up their Anchors and bare but a quarter Sail and so at last without much loss they came safe to Land. But the Spaniards and Genouese on the other side hal'd up their Anchors and took the main Sea for their Ships were better able to ride out but they could not hope to touch the Land without inevitable Ruine Upon their Departure they met with four English Vessels which being laden with Provision had been scatter'd from the Fleet these they took and tow'd after them But still the Storm encreased so outragiously that in less than a Day they were driven more than an 100 Leagues from the Place where the Battle was fought All that Night and the next Day till Noon the Storm lasted without ceasing one jot to their great danger and no little dammage for they lost two good Ships with the Men and all that was therein The third Day about Prime the Sea was calm and then upon enquiry of the Mariners Don Lewis was informed how the next landing place was in the Kingdom of Navarre and that they had been carried from Bretagne more than sixcore Leagues There then they cast Anchor and when the Tide came the Wind stood fair for Rochell So they coasted Bayonne but would not come near it because the English were Lords there In their way toward Rochell they met with 4 Ships of Bayonne coming from Flanders these they boarded took them presently slew all they found therein and held on their course towards the Garonne and Rochel in order to recover Bretagne Thus strangely was the Decision of this Engagement prevented by a Tempest so that it could not be known which Side had the better For they both were parted against their Wills. V. The English when the Storm was over landed in Bretagne near the City of Vannes whereupon having unladed all their Horse Armour and Provision they concluded to send away their Navy to Hennebond and presently to go and lay Siege to Vannes The Captains who were there for the Lord Charles of Blois were the Lord Henry du Leon the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord of Tumine and the Lord Guy of Loheaire Who upon the Approach of the English like Men of Honour seriously appli'd themselves to make good the Place and at every Gate they set a Knight with ten Men of Arms and 20 Crossbows and for all the other Defences both in the Town and Castle they provided
came with all his Host to Nantes where he was extreamly welcom to the Lord Charles of Blois and Himself with his Lords and chief Captains lodged in the City but their Men were quartered about in the Country for both the City and Suburbs were unable to hold them and besides the Suburbs had been lately burnt by the English While the Duke of Normandy lay thus at Nantes The Earl of Salisbury and the other Lords of England who were still before Rennes made one Day above the rest a fierce and terrible Assault upon the City which endured with all possible Animosity for all that Day and yet thô they had also dives Engines and Instruments to batter and shake the Walls they gain'd no Advantage but lost many Men in the Assault Those that so well defended this Place were besides the Bishop of Rennes the Lord of Ancenis the Lord of Pontrieux Sr. John de Malestroit Sr. Owen Charnells and a young Breton named Bertram de Clequin who afterwards became the most considerable Captain of his Days and was in time Constable of France of whose notable Exploits this Work will not be silent Nor let any Man wonder that these Cities of Vannes Rennes and Nantes should hold out so stifly now against the Forces of King Edward when as we shall find them all to have changed their Lord more than once within the space of two Years For when Bretagne only fought against Bretagne the People were divided some enclining to one side and some to the other and easily altering their Minds again But now they look'd upon the English as a common Enemy and beside the Lord Charles was better provided at this time than formerly However the Earl of Salisbury continued his Siege before Rennes for all this and daily wasted and ravaged the Country round about Now when the Duke of Normandy who had well consider'd of the Business he had in hand was certainly informed how Rennes was in little or no danger but that Vannes was in much hazard of being lost it was so mightily prest by the King of England thither he resolv'd first to bend his Course and either by Battle or otherwise to raise the Siege The two Marshals of the Host the Lord Charles of Monmorency and the Lord of St. Venant led the Van the Duke himself was in the Main Body and the Lord Geoffry Charny with the Earl of Guisnes brought up the Reer In this Order they came before Vannes and lay over against the King of England in a fair Meadow between the Rivers of Claye and Vilaine and made a great and deep Ditch round about their Host but the Marshals and Van-currours of each Army met often and skirmished together XVII King Edward upon the news of their Approach had sent for the Earls of Salisbury and Pembroke to break up their Siege from before Rennes and come strait to the Camp to him which they did for he expected to have Battle with the Frenchmen at this time without fail His Forces both English and Bretons made up but about b Frois c. 98. 2500 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers and about 6000 Others on Foot beside those who were left to keep the Navy and Others in Garrisons and with the Countess at Hennebond But these few were all select Men under good Leaders strongly entrench'd in their Camp So that the French could not without Disadvantage to themselves oblige them to a Battle thô they on the other hand were four times their Number at least together with the Reinforcement of the Lord Charles of Blois from Nantes and all well appointed for the War. Thus these two Armies lay fronting one another for several Days without any Action further than some light Skirmishes For the French as was shew'd could not force the English to a Battle nor durst they attempt them in their Camp and King Edward thought it not Wisdom to leave his Defences and attack the Enemy at such odds to so great a Disadvantage as he knew the Aggressor must needs submit himself unto especially since he must then leave so strong a City at his back to second the Enemy Nor yet did he give any more Assaults to the Place because of keeping his Men fresh and entire against the time a Battle should be offer'd which then he resolv'd to accept Wherefore different Considerations deterring both Armies from Engaging the Winter began to incommode them not a little when it pleased God to incline the Heart of Pope Clement the VI. to labour earnestly for a Peace between them He had now sent thither two Cardinals c Rot. Parl. 17. Ed. 3. n. 8. vid. Claus de ced an p. 1.25 Dersc Victorell p. 892. Oderâ—c Rainald ad hunc 〈◊〉 §. 24. Peter of Palestrina or Praeneste and Annibald of Tusculum who rode daily between both Parties But as yet neither of them would accept of any equal Conditions For the French thought to keep the King there in manner of a Siege till he should even be forced to come forth and give them Battle to his great Disadvantage and the King expected that at last they must adventure to force him considering he was inferiour in Number and more conveniently encamp'd for the Weather than they Yet to say Truth both Armies endur'd their Inconveniences the French found much vexation with Wet and Cold for it rain'd upon them Night and Day whereby many of their Horses died and at last they were obliged to dislodge and remove into the plain Fields their Tents were so full of Water in the Meadow And the English thô they were more dry and warm durst not go a Foraging but in very considerable Bodies for fear of the French who infested the Country and Don Lewis of Spain so narrowly watched the Sea-coasts with his Fleet that little Provision could be brought to the Kings Army but with great Danger These difficulties prepared the Minds of both Princes and rendred them more susceptible of the Cardinals Offers Wherefore they were at last both brought to allow of a Peace for Bretagne and because the Cardinals urged that Point also to appoint a Time for a Treaty of a final Accommodation between England and France But only here the King protested that he would never allow the Pope any Power to determin of his Quarrel but added That unless a Treaty might be had both honourable to Himself and profitable for his Allies he would never consent to have the same brought before the Pope nor then neither but only as before d M. S. p. 48. §. 8 Sr. Rcb. Cotten p. 37. §. 8. Ashmele p. 653. an indifferent Friend and no Judge otherwise he would pursue his Quarrel However at last these Holy Men labour'd so effectually that they obtain'd a Truce between England and France and their Allies to hold for three Years during which time the whole Controversie then depending should be weigh'd and impartially consider'd and some equal Method of Peace
and Seisin as they have at this Day in all those Goods Lands and Possessions which they hold or have any way acquired 10. Item That they shall go from one Country to another as well Merchants with their Merchandise as any other Subjects either by Land or by Water only paying their usual Customs freely and securely as they were wont to go and come in the time of the Predecessors of the said Kings Except such as are banished the said Realms for other causes than for the Wars of the said Kings But the Barons of Gascoign and others banished out of the said Dukedom are contained in the said Truce and may come and go during the Truce so often remembred Only the Banished and Fugitives of the Country of Flanders who have been on the part of the King of France shall not during the Truce return into Flanders 11. Item The said Truce shall contain and comprise Spain Catalaunia Genoua Provence the Bishop and Chapter of Cambray the Castles of Cambresis the Lord of Albret the Vicount of Fronsac the Lord of Tricouleon the Lord John de Vernon and the Lord of Roye 12. To all which Articles and Agreements the Lord Otho Duke of Burgundy the Lord Peter Duke of Bourbon with the Earls of Boulogne Auxerre Sancerre Joigny and Porcien the Lords Milo de Nogheres and Ingelram de Coucy upon the Soul of the Lord Philip King of France and the Lord Henry de Lancaster Earl of Darby the Lord William Bohun Earl of Northampton the Lord William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Ralph Lord Stafford Bartholomew Lord Burwash Nicolas Lord Cantilupe Reginald Lord Cobham Walter Lord Manny Maurice Lord Barkley and Doctor John Hufford Archdeacon of Ely on the Soul of the Lord Edward King of England according to a Commission by the said Kings to them made have taken their Corporal Oath by laying their Hands upon the Holy Gospel Given in the Priory of St. Mary Magdalene in Malestroit of the Order of St. Benedict in the Dioecese of Nates 19 January 1343. Thus the Articles of the Truce being solemnly confirmed by the Oaths of the Lords abovemention'd the Cardinals caused a Charter thereof to be drawn up in the form aforesaid to which all the said Persons set to their Hands and Seals on the Day and Year above written in the presence of the Cardinals themselves and many great Lords Knights and Gentlemen of either Nation And thus We end the Transactions of this Year relating to the Wars of Bretagne and shall therewith conclude this Chapter also when We have after our usual Custom added two or three Occurrences which could not be properly ranged in any other place or method This Truce thus taken i Hecsemius in Alphonso c. 28. many great Lords and valiant Knights of England France and Bretagne took their journey with all haste into Spain to help King Alphonso against the Saracens of Granada among whom are reckon'd the Noble Lord k Knighton p. 2583. n. 20. Hocsem ibid. ubi pro Darby legit Arbidi pro Salisbury Soluz beri satis imperitè Henry Earl of Darby William Earl of Salisbury Sr. Maurice Son to the Lord Thomas Berkley with a goodly Band of young Gentlemen Voluntiers They found King Alphonso at the Siege of Algezira before which he had now layn a long time and here among others the Earl of Darby and his English Troops who had fought twice with the Pagans who came to relieve the place to their great Honour behav'd themselves so well together with the other Christian Worthies that now at length after a Siege of three Years the City was yielded up to the King of Spain and Jutzeph King of Granada who had held the place against him became l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. thenceforth his Vassal and paid him a Yearly Tribute of 12000 Florens The Pope l 1 Walsing hist p. 154. n. 20. Odoric Rainâ—ld ad an 1344. §. 51. ad §. 53. hearing of the taking of this City made it an Episcopal Seat and subjected the Bishop thereof as a Suffragan to the Metropolitan Church of Hispalis or Sevil. But the two English Earls went not only this tiem in Quality of Champions of Christ but also of m Râ—t Fran. 17. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Dudg 1 Vol. p. 784. Ambassadors from the King their Master to treat with Alphonso King of Castille for the composing of certain differences betwixt the Subjects of that King and the Subjects of King Edward especially Mariners and Citizens of Bayonne All which Matters both of War and Peace being happily by them performed they shortly after return'd home with great Glory On the n Mezeray p. 21. 28 or as others say on the * Scipio Mazzella's Hist of Naples p. 157. 20 of January this Year 1343 that most Noble and Learned Prince Robert King of Sicily Naples and Jerusalem departed this Life after he had Reigned 33 Years 4 Moneths and 24 Days He was as Mazzella Collenutius and other Neopolitan Writers testifie a Wise and Learned King and much Renowned for his Skill in Astrology as We have more then once intimated He made Honourable Wars with Henry the VII Emperour of Germany and Father to John of Luxemburgh King of Bohemia also with Frederick King of Sicily and lastly in Tuscany in behalf of the Florentines where in the Famous overthrow of Montacatino in a Battle fought between the Guelphs and the Gibellines he lost Philip Prince of Tarentum and Peter Earl of Gravina his Brothers He sent his Son Charles firnamed Sans-Terre against Frederick King of Sicily and went himself against Castruccio Castricani the Head of the Gibellines at what time the Dominion of Florence was given unto Charles Sans-Terre He was a Religious Prince and a Lover of Learned Men as who could best judge of them whereof We shall produce but two instances the One That Marvellous stately Church and other things which he builded in Naples and the Second may be the Great Familiarity which he constantly held with those bright Lights of Tuscany Petrarch and Boccace Our Stories do mention a Son of his slain at Southampton when that Town was fired by the French but I find no other Son that he had except Charles Sans-Terre whom being Famous for his Prowess and Valour I dare not avouch to have died then However he left his Kingdom to Joan the sole Daughter of his Son Charles aforesaid who o Giovanni Villani l. 12. c. 50. 51. being enslaved with the Love of her own Cousin Lewis Prince of Tarentum and not satisfied with the cold embraces of her Husband Andrew Son to the King of Hungary caused him to be hanged in a silken Sash out of her Chamber Window But his Father Charles Humbert in Revenge hereof did so much interrupt her unlawfull Pleasures that ever after she lived in no less disquiet than Disgrace till
at last she also was caused to be hanged by Charles of Durazzo who succeeeded her in the Kingdom As may be seen at large in the Histories of Italy and Naples On the 16 of September this same Year p Mezeray p. 21. Philip King of Navarre Deceased whose Son Charles by the French firnamed the Wicked succeeded to the Crown being then under Age and in the Tuition of his Mother Queen Joan of France He was a Prince of extraordinary parrs of Mind and of Body of exquisite Beauty Courage and Address but his Inconstant Nature his unseasonable Ambition and his inveterate Envy to the House of France to which he was so nearly ally'd rendred him low and vile in the Eyes of all Men. Walsingham q Hist p. 153. n. 30. c. reports a strange and almost but that it is attested with such Circumstances incredible Story of an Accident that happen'd about this time in the North-parts of England to a certain Young Man of the Lord t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 741. William Baron of Greystokes Family As this Young Man says my Author was riding thrô Corn-fields and beheld the Corn waving like the Sea growing thereby perhaps giddy he thought he saw a certain Ruddy-complexion'd little Pygmy-fellow to raise his Head by degrees above the Corn till the more he consider'd him still the more he seem'd to encrease in Stature who coming towards the Young Man took hold of his Bridle and whether he would or no led him into the corn to a place where it seem'd to him there sat a most Beautifull Lacy among many young Damsels like her self This Lady commanded him presently to be taken from off his Horse and to be torn and mangled over all his Body and after all to be slead Whereupon she her self as he thought having dissected his Scull in the middle took out his Brains and then clos'd up the empty Scull again This done she order'd him to be set again upon his Horse and so let him go Immediately upon which being wholly void and destitute of understanding he began to fall mad and to make furious gestures as it appeared when he came to the next Town Hereupon a certain young Damsel who also belonged to his Lords Family and had loved him most tenderly came to him with some Assistants and took care of him and lest he should do any Mischief to himself or those who tended him caused him to be lock'd in Fetters This Maid carried him to many Holy places beyond Sea for the recovery of his Wits but having found no Remedy there she at last returned with him into England and still he complain'd of being haunted by the little Red fellow who at first appeared unto him At whose presence thô bound with three or four Chains he would always break them Having remain'd in this condition for six Years he was then at the Shrine of St. John of Beverley in Yorkshire made whole again in this manner Being fallen into a gentle slumber it seem'd to him that another most Beautifull Lady did again open his Scull and restore his Brains which had been taken away by the former Lady to their right place Accordingly upon his waking being perfectly recover'd of his senses he Married the foresaid Damsel who had so lovingly taken Care of him in his Madness of whom in time he begat 15 Sons After which his Wife dying he went into Holy Orders and was made Priest and promoted to the Church of Thorp-Basset in Yorkshire But while one day he was celebrating Mass with Great Devotion and as the Custom was elevated the Host for the People to behold the foresaid Red Fellow appear'd unto him again saying From henceforth let him whom You hold in your Hand be your Keeper For he knows better how to keep you than I do As I give no credit so neither do I desire to gain any to this Story But I must needs Remark that with a strong Consonancy thereto Ariosto the Italian Poet. acccording to the Tradition of the Church hath made St. John the President and Healer of Mad-men And ſ Adan 1373. Mezeray tells us of a certain Plague of Frenzy which was called St. John's Dance This Year died t Walsingh hist p. 154. n. 10. Dr. Anthony Beck Bishop of Norwich being as was supposed poison'd by his own servants for his boisterous and turbulent Humour for his severity to the Monks of his Church and for his Appealing to the Court of Rome in opposition to John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury Who by a strange mistake in Godwin u Catal. Bps p. 425. is called Robert Winchelsey when he himself in the Title of Canterbury acknowledges John Stratford Archbishop of that See and no where mentions the other after the sixth Year of Edward the Second In his stead William Bateman x Godw. Catal. Bps p. 426. Doctor of the Civil Law and a Cambridge Man of Corpus Christi College Born at Norwich and Archdeacon of the same Church was now elected Bishop by the general Consent of the whole Convent He is acknowledged the Founder of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge and to have given certain Lands to the Maintenance thereof Which College is now Worthily Governed by the Worshipfull Sr. Thomas Exton Knight Doctor of the Laws a Man in our Days Renowned for his Loyalty Wisdom and Generosity He also Founded the Hall of the Annunciation of our Lady and gave one of the University Chests Nor content to have done good himself he perswaded one Gonwell or Gonvill to Found another Hall in the same University which many Years after being much enlarged at the Cost and Charges of a Learned Physician named John Key or Caius is now called Gonvill and Caius's College in Respect of both the Founders And the Master hereof at this time is the Learned and Worshipfull Robert Brady Dr. in Physick and a stout Asserter of the Rights of English Monarchy in the worst of times Wherefore together with the foremention'd Sr. Thomas Exton our Loyal University hath more than once chose him for her Burgess in Parliament This Year also the Lady Mary de Valence Daughter of Guy de Chastillon Earl of St. Paul Kinswoman to King Edward and Third Wife of Emery de Valence Earl of Pembroke being y Mill's Catal. of Nobility p. 1096 desirous to advance Learning Founded a College in Cambridge called by her Title Pembroke-Hall Endowing it with Large Possessions From which Princely Seminary many notable Lights of Learning and Piety have continually been brought forth and many more are daily expected it being at present under the Care and Custody of the Reverend Nathaniel Coga Doctor in Divinity a Person of great Loyalty Judgement and Candour CHAPTER the TWENTY SECOND The CONTENTS I. Vpon the Popes pressing the two Kings to hasten the Treaty of Peace they send their several Agents to Avignon Some Heads of their several Pleas but nothing done II. King Edwards Resolute Answer to a Nip of the Popes
And we find remaining upon this Registry of True Glory no less than Eight Emperours of Germany Five French Kings Five Kings of Denmark Three Kings of Spain Two Kings of Scotland before the Realms were happily United Five Kings of Portugal Two Kings of Sweedland One King of Poland One King of Bohemia One King of Aragon Two Kings of Castille Two Kings of Naples Two Arch-Dukes One Duke of Guelderland One Duke of Holland Two Dukes of Burgundy Two Dukes of Brunswicke One Duke of Milain Two Dukes of Vrbin One Duke of Ferrara One Duke of Savoy Two Dukes of Holstein One Duke of Saxony and One Duke of Wertemberg Seven Count Palatines of the Rhyne Four Princes of Orange One Marquess of Brandenberg all Strangers besides many other Worthies and Persons of the Highest Rank and Vertue both at home and abroad to the Number of well near 500 since the First Institution All whose Names together with the Escutcheons of their Arms are still remaining Engraven on Square Plates of Mettal affixed to their several Stalls in the most Beautifull Chappel of St. George and every Knights Banner is set up over his Head during his Natural Life So that We may justly conclude with our Learned Selden that it exceeds in Majesty Honour and Fanie all Chevalrous Orders in the World. VIII No less Designs than these busied the Active Mind of this Illustrious Monarch when he met with any Respit from War which now is hasting on apace For while by the Device of his Round Table He was thus laying a Foundation for this Royal and Heroick Institution King Philip of France who already had begun to countermine him with another Table of his Erecting at Paris and was extreamly offended with whatever King Edward went about began to be jealous of certain of his Lords and others who hitherto had served him faithfully as if they secretly for all that favour'd King Edwards cause Whether that was True or no whereof they were suspected is no where made appear but however King t Frois c 99. Mezerâ—y p. 21. Philip under pretence of a Solemn Tourneament which he then held at Paris in imitation of King Edwards at Windsor as we shew'd train'd thither the Lord Oliver Clisson with ten or twelve other Lords of Bretagne in company of the Lord Charles of Blois and there the most Loyal and Valiant Lord Clisson was suddenly by the jealous Kings Order apprehended and clapt up in Prison no Man being able to imagine for what reason unless that because King Edward had chose rather to release him by Exchange for the Lord Stafford he was therefore suspected to be a secret Friend to the English And notwithstanding that he had so gallantly recover'd Vannes from the English and at the same time had rid King Philip of the Lord Robert of Artois one of his most mortal Enemies nowwithout any Process or hearing he was adjudged to be drawn thrô the City to the Place of Execution where u Fabian p. 272. he lost his Head and after that his Body was hanged in Chains upon a Gibbet and his Head sent to Nantes in Bretagne where it was advanced upon a Pole over the Gates of the City To the great x Mezeray p. 21. Astonishment of all Men and the infinite Regret and Indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till now was not used to be shed but in Battle for that Cruel Princes quarrel This Lord Clisson left behind him a young Son named Oliver as his Father was him his Relations upon this Disaster took up presently and carry'd unto the Countess of Montford where he was bred up with her young Son John who was just about the same Age with him Soon after there died in the same manner and for as little matter Sr. John and Sr. Godfry de Malestroit the Father and Son two Valiant and Worthy Bretons also Sr. John de Montauban Sr. William Bruce Sr. John Cablet and Sr. John du Plessis Knights and John Malestroit Nephew to the foresaid Sr. John the Elder Esquire as also Robert Bruce John and David de Sennes Esquires Shortly after there were also Executed in Paris or as some say y Frois c. 99. starved to Death three Valiant Knights of Normandy Sr. William Bacon Sr. Richard Percy and Sr. Rouland de la Rochetessone all whose Heads were sent to Carentan a Chief City in Normandy which afterwards proved the utter Ruine of that Place as we shall shew Sr. Godfry of Harecourt himself who was Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother of the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had been served in no better manner but that he wisely kept aloof nor would he by any means obey King Philips Summons but at last despairing of any tolerable security in those parts he came over into England to King Edward who received him gladly and made good use both of his Valour and Counsel in the following War whereof he became a second Firebrand as the Lord Robert of Artois had been before him And King Philip after his old manner to enflame the business the more proceeded against him with an High Hand and openly proscribed him as a Traytor and Enemy to the Crown of France but King Edward on the other hand being then again at Enmity with Philip called him Cousin allowed him an Honourable Maintenance and made him one of the Marshals of his Host But this happen'd after the Death of the Lord Clisson z Frois c. 114. almost a Year Thus King Philip when he should rather have endeavoured of Enemies to make Friends by his rash severity and want of Princely connivence and temporizing a little rendred even many of his own Subjects Enemies unto him IX Of the first part of this Tragedy King Edward had News immediately for while a Frois c. 101. at Windsor he was busied in preparing his Round-Table of which we have spoken Mr. Henry b Fabian p. 273. Malestroit a Deacon in Holy Orders Master of the Requests to King Philip and younger Brother to Sr. Godfry of Malestroit whom the said King had unjustly put to Death came over to England in deep displeasure and told the King complaining unto him most lamentably of the Death of his Father Brother and Cousin and how cruelly and without all Reason King Philip had Executed several other Lords Knights and Esquires and especially the noble Lord Clisson who had so faithfully and valiantly served against the English only because he had a jealousie that they were secretly King Edwards Friends Wherefore he exhorted him earnestly that since the French King had thereby broken the Truce he would renew the War against him and Revenge the Blood of those his Innocent Friends How King Edward resented this News We shall shew when we have first dispatch'd what concerns this Messengeâ— Mr. Henry Malestroit To him the King presently assigned a place of good Authority in the City of Vannes in Bretagne which was then held of England
Castle but rather offend them to the best of their Power till they were reduced After this the Earl having proclaim'd that none should presume to do any the least harm to the Town or Inhabitants of Reole made his entry into the Place and immediately began to invest the Castle round about as much as he might and then raised his Engines which cast against the Walls Day and Night but to little purpose they were so thick and strongly cemented of most hard stone molten-lead and morter It is thought that this Castle of old time had been wrought by the hands of the Saracens who made their Works so strong that the later Buildings were no way comparable to them Wherefore the Earl seeing that with his Engines he could do no good called unto him the Captains of his Pioneers and gave them Command to make a great Mine under the Walls which yet was not expected to be done under many Days VI. Now q Frois c. 110. fol. 54. during this Siege and while the Mine was carrying on the Lord Walter Manny remembred that his Father who had been heretofore Assassined in his Return from a Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella was buried as he had heard in his Youth in Reole or thereabout Wherefore now being desirous to find where his Bones lay he enquired about the Town offering an 100 Crowns to any Man that could shew him his Tomb. Within a while there came an old Man of the Town to Sr. Walter who said Sir I believe I can bring You to the very Place where my Lord your Father was buried Sr. Walter told him if his Words proved true he would keep his Promise with him and something more The Lord Manny's Father is reported to have been slain upon this Occasion Almost 24 Years before this there was a Gascogner of the House of Mirepoix Bishop of Cambray in whose Days happen'd a Solemn Tournament before the City of Gambray in which on both Sides there were no less than 500 Knights It was the Fortune of the Lord of Manny an Hainalder Sr. Walter 's Father to just with a certain Knight of Gascogne who was near of Kin to the said Bishop But the young Gascogner was so roughly handled by him that he lived but a few Days after Wherefore the Lord Manny incurr'd the heavy Indignation of the Bishop and all his Kindred But two or three Years after some Pious Men by their great Diligence labour'd to compose Matters and to make a Reconciliation between the Lord Manny and his Enemies So that the Bishop and his Relations either did or at least pretended to pardon all and a Friendship was made only the Lord of Manny was enjoyned by way of Penance to go on Pilgrimage to St. James of Compostella In his going thither he passed by Reole where he then found Charles of Valois Father to King Philip that now reigned laying his Siege to that Town which then together with all Guien and Gascogne belonged to King Edward II of England Having ended his Pilgrimage and returning the same way he gave a Visit to the said Earl Charles in the Town of Reole which by that time r Giovan. Villan l. 9. c. 169. was upon Composition yielded up to him by Edmund Earl of Kent He was entertain'd at Supper that Night by the said Charles Earl of Valois but going home late to his Lodgings he was set upon as was thought by some of the Kindred of that Gascogner whose Death he had occasion'd and there barbarously murder'd The Authors of the Murther could no ways be clearly proved thô the said Bishops Kindred were generally suspected But they were as then so high and the Truth was so dark especially the Lord of Manny having no Friend there to pursue his Quarrel that the matter was hush'd and by degrees quite put up However the Earl of Valois caused him to be decently interred within a little Chappel in the Field then without the Town but afterwards the Lord Charles having won the Place enlarged the Walls and so took in that Chappel also into its Compass Thus was Sr. Walter 's Father slain and the Old Man remembred all very well as one who then belonged to Charles of Valois and was at his Burial Sr. Walter therefore followed this old Man and went with him into the Chappel aforesaid where he shew'd him a little plain Stone of Marble which his Servants had laid over him and said Sir most certainly my Lord your Father lies buried under this Stone Then the Lord Manny drew near to view the Tomb and there he found a Latin Inscription which imported that the Lord of Manny's Body lay there He could not forbear Weeping to find this poor Remembrance of his Dear Father whom he could scarce remember to have seen alive for he was but young at his Death The old Man he rewarded as he had promised and two Days after took up his Fathers Bones and putting them in a rich Coffer sent them to Valenciennes in his native Country of Harnalt and there caused them to be deposited in the Church of the Fryars and his Obsequies to be kept Annually with great Solemnity which for many Years after were commemorated VII All this ſ Frois c. 111. while the Earl of Darby held his Siege before the strong Castle of Reole and now when it had held out near 11 Weeks the Miners were at last come under the Base Court but under the Dungeon they could not get by any means for it stood on an hard Rock Sr. Agoust de les Baux the Captain of the Castle perceived how he was undermined and told his Officers their Danger Then they said Sir the Peril is common to us all and we fear now inevitable unless you in your great Wisdom contrive a Remedy You are our Chief whom as hitherto we have obey'd so now will we follow your Determination But surely we have so long and so worthily held out already that if we could now come to any good Composition no man could blame us for Yielding at last Try if you can get the Earl of Darby to grant us our Lives and Goods and so to accept the Castle Upon this the Captain went down from the High Tower and looking out at a little Window made a sign that he desired to speak with some Body Being demanded what he would have he answer'd how he would gladly speak with the Earl of Darby or the Lord Walter Manny The Earl hearing hereof took along with him the Lord Manny and the Lord Stafford saying Come let us go to the Fortress and know what the Captain has to say now So they all rode to the Castle and when Sr. Agoust de les Baux saw them he took off his Cap and saluting them all three in their Order said My Lord of Darby I must confess the French King sent me hither to defend and keep this Town and Castle to my Power And you know very well how I have
at his Funeral Where his Son afterwards erected to his Memory a Fair Tomb on the Northside of the High Altar in the Collegiate Church of our Lady called the New-Warke But there is no Coronet on his Head. II. About this time there happen'd a memorable Revolution in Flanders which may teach us how uncertain Popular Favour is and how suddain the Fall of those Great Ones proves who are not fixed on a sure Foundation We have frequently had occasion to speak of Jacob van Arteveld of Gaunt who had long govern'd all Flanders with a more absolute Sway than ever the Earls themselves had done This Man whether thrô hopes of raising his Family to future Time or whether out of Inclination or of meer Policy to secure his own Greatness by the Aid of England was all along a fast Friend to King Edward and had again as much respect and favour from that Prince as his Heart could desire He now d Frois c. 115. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 46. p. 854. in Confidence of his boundless Authority among the Commons of the Country grew so presumptuous as some while before this to entertain a Resolution of Disinheriting his Natural Lord Lewis Earl of Flanders and to put the Government thereof into the Hands of King Edward of England On Condition that He the said King should endow his Eldest Son the Prince of Wales therewith and make a Dukedom of the Earldom of Flanders These things being thus privately agreed on beforehand about the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward having e Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. left his Son Prince Lionel of Antwerp his Lieutenant at Home during his Absence took Shipping at Sandwich and came before Scluse with a great Navy the Young Prince Edward his eldest Son being with him and Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Thomas Lord Vghtred John Lord Seagrave John Lord Leiburn and many Others attending Him. The King lay at Anchor in the Haven of Scluse and there kept House on Board whither his Friends the Chief Men of Flanders came to visit him One Day the Flemish Burgesses being invited into the Kings Ship called the Catherine after a f Mezeray p. 23 ad hunc ann most Magnificent Collation bestowed on them by the King Jacob van Arteveld rose up and made a most plausible Oration extolling the King of England's great Power either to protect his Friends or to punish his Enemies he set forth also the notable Good-will which he had all along bore to his Allies and Subjects of Lower Germany That the Young Prince of Wales his Son did no way come short of his Fathers Steps but rather promised if God gave life to reach the very Height of all his Vertues That their own Lord Lewis unmindfull of the Welfare of his People had confederated with King Philip their Mortal Enemy and had himself made War against them and done unto them many great Inconveniences and Dammages Wherefore if they judged it fit to requite their Haters with Neglect and to pay unto their Lovers and Protectors Friendship and Service He must needs advise them either to make the Earl of Flanders pay his Homage unto King Edward to whom as to the Rightfull King of France it was only due or if thrô his Stubborn Obstinacy they could not prevail with him herein then wholly to cast off the hatefull Yoke of a Tyrannous and an Unkind Lord and submit to the pleasant and honourable Government of King Edward and his Son who would advance the Earldom of Flanders into a Dukedom and make them flourish above all other People in Trade and Prosperity III. When the Burgesses had all heard what secret Poison lurked in the Breast of this subtle Orator in their Hearts they utterly abominated his Perfidious Treason and firmly resolved never to be Guilty of so black and base a Deed as to disinherit and depose their own Natural Lord and his Young Son Lewis from their proper Right and Title But however to get off handsomly and make fair weather for the present after a little private Conference they gave this Answer to the King. Sir said they there is proposed unto us a Matter of no small Importance which may some Ages after very nearly concern the whole Country of Flanders and our Heirs for ever as well as our Selves And thô surely we know no Person in the World at this time whose Promotion and encrease of Wealth and Honour We so heartily desire as We do your Majesties Yet this Business we dare not of our selves determine unless the Commonalty of Flanders yield their Consent thereto Wherefore Sir for the present we crave leave to return every Man to his own City and there we shall confer with the Generality of every Town and Corporation and as the Major Part shall agree we shall act most willingly Within a Month at farthest we will all return hither again and bring your Majesty we doubt not such an Answer as shall be agreeable IV. The King and Jacob van Arteveld urged them much to make a more speedy Return but they could obtain no other Reply at that time wherefore they were all dismist to their own several Homes But Jacob tarried still with the King bearing him all along in hand that he would not fail to bring this Purpose to good Effect But King Edward who was not apt to be blinded with Prosperity and had a more piercing Judgment in publick Affairs doubted much not only lest this Business should miscarry but his Friend also incurr some Danger thereby Wherefore at parting he gave him great Caution in the Management of that Affair and allow'd him g Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 926. also for a Guard 500 Welchmen under the Command of Sr. John Maltravers senior and Sr. William Sturry Sr. John Maltravers was indeed a Baron of the Realm and the same Person we mention'd to have been concerned together with Sr. Thomas Gournay in the barbirous Murther of King Edward the Second wherefore also as we shew'd he fled upon that Act and was three Years after condemned in Parliament to be put to Death wherever he should be found with the price of 500 Marks for his Head or a 1000 for any one that should bring him in alive For fifteen Years after he had lived in great Penitence and very privately in and about Flanders and either finding some hopes from the Kings Mercy or being not so guilty as he was represented or in Confidence of having merited something by his late Services for he had lost h Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 101. 102. all his Goods and suffer'd much hardship upon the Kings Account in Flanders he came now voluntarily to the King and rendred himself into his Hands Whereupon especially since he had never undergone a legal Trial he was respited now and by the King set over these Welchmen and six years after fully pardoned But to return This Guard some i Holinshead ibid. p. 926. say that
order'd his Lodgings to be set up without the Town for in War time he would never endure to lodge in any Town for fear of Fire having already sent a strong Detachment before him who presently took the Town and plunder'd it sending their Burgesses Prisoners to the Ships From hence the King having burnt Torigny Cormolin Fontenay and Chesne marched directly toward the great City of Caen. in Normandy about eleven French Miles Eastward of St. Lo which likewise abounded with Mercers Ware and other Merchandise and was inhabited with Rich Burgesses Noble Ladies and Fair Virgins and adorned with goodly Churches and other Buildings among which there were two stately Abbeys the one of the Trinity and the other of St. Stephen which latter was built by William Duke of Normandy who was in time King of England sirnamed the Conquerour and lay then buried before the a Sandford Geneal hist p. 6. High Altar in the said Church of St. Stephen under a most stately Mausoleum erected there for him by his Son King William sinamed Rufus On the one side of this City b Frois c. 123. Du Chesne p. 664. Gaguin p. 140. Fabian p. 221. stood the Castle being the very fairest of all Normandy wherein was Captain Sr. Robert Wergny with 300 Genouese Arbalistes besides Men of Arms And in the Town there was William Bertrand Bishop of Bayeux Ralph Earl of Eu and of Guisnes and Constable of France and John Melun Earl of Tancarville and High Chamberlain with a sufficient Number of Men of War. King Edward c M.S. vet Lat. c. being desirous to save the Effusion of Christian Blood sent unto them first Geoffry de Maldon Fryer of the Order of the Hermits of St. Austen and Professor of Divinity with his Letters wherein he exhorted them to deliver up unto him the Town and Castle and he promised to receive them into his Grace and Protection and to let them enjoy their Properties securely But him the Bishop of Baieux caused to be clapt in Irons and detained in the Dungeon of the Castle tearing the Kings Letters in pieces and urging the Captains to stand boldly to their Defence For that day the King of England took up his Lodging early in the Afternoon by a little Port-Town called Estrehan near the River Orne whither his Admiral came to him with his Navy The Constable and the other French Lords in Caen kept good Watch that Night and the next Morning betimes were all in Arms together with the Inhabitants ready to serve their Country with the hazard of their Lives The Constable's Resolution at first was only to stand on the Defensive Part and therefore he gave Order that none should sally forth by any means but stand in their allotted Stations upon the Walls Gates Bridge and Rivers As for the Suburbs he gave over all care of them because they were not tenable For he thought it sufficient if he might make good the City it self because it was only enclosed with the River But when the Burgesses and chief Inhabitants heard of this Order they said that for their Part they would march out against the King of England for they were both able and willing to give him Battle for all his Puissance The Constable seeing their Alacrity said Be it so then in the Name of God and St. Dennis You shall not want my Company Then they set open their Gates and marched out all in good Order making Countenance as if they were resolved to Conquer or to sell their Lives Dearly That Morning being the 20 of d Fabian p 220 July King * Frois c. 123. Edward rose early and having heard Mass before Sun-rise set his Men in order to go against the City of Caen And so took horse with the Prince his Son and the Lord Godfry of Harcourt one of his Marshals whose Word the King much rely'd on and approached the Town in three well-order'd Battalia's But when the e Frois ibid. Du Chesne Mezeray p. 25. Burgesses of the City who had hitherto stood ready to receive him in the Field saw the Dreadfull Appearance of Standards and Banners waving in the Wind and the Tall Archers shooting fiercely from their long Bows presently their Hearts began to fail them and having scarce endured the first Brunt of the Battle for all that the Constable could say or do they ignobly abandon'd both Him and their Honour and fled precipitantly toward the Town the English eagerly following them at the Heels Here it was that the Archers finding some faint Resistance at the Bridge King Edward lest they should suffer by the French Men of Arms sent the Earl of Warwick to succour them who by his wonderous Valour thô he found the Archers out of all Danger and fighting with some Advantage on their Side so signaliz'd himself that together with Seven Men of Arms more if he did not as f Walsingh Hypod p. 148. Walsingham reports slay an Hundred Normans yet he won the Bridge and enter'd the Town pell-mell with the Enemy When the Constable and the Earl of Tancarville saw how things went cursing the Cowardise of the Townsmen and their own Credulity they took a little Tower at the Bridge Foot which they enter'd with certain Knights in their Company The Bishop g Fabian p. 221. of Bayeux with some other Captains Knights and Esquires of France such as knew the ready way to the Castle hasted all thither where they were received by the Captain Sr. Robert Wergny for the Place was large enough All this while the English were chasing and slaying such as they found for as yet they gave no Quarter And it happen'd so ill for the Town that the River which at other times could bear Ships of Burthen was now so low that Men might without Danger pass and repass it both on Horseback and on Foot. Wherefore the City was presently full of Enemies and the French were on all hands beaten down without Mercy so that what within the Town and in the Chace there fell above h Giov. Villan l. 12. p. 872. 5000 of the Enemy The Constable and the Earl of Tancarville beholding this Slaughter and considering that they were not able to make good the Place wherein they were wherefore they were like to be slain as they saw their Men were without Mercy began to think of saving their Lives by yielding So looking down along the Street at last they espied an English Lord Sr. Thomas Holland who with his Brother Sr. Robert and Others were of the Retinue of Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Froisard says he had but one Eye which because he also reports of William Montagu late Earl of Salisbury of the Lord John Chandos and other English Knights I am apt to think that he was one of those 500 young Gentlemen who in the Beginning of these French Wars clapt Patches on their Left Eyes with a solemn Vow never to take them off till they had
done Exploits worthy of the Voice of Fame However these French Lords knew him by Name for they had seen and known him in the Holy Wars in Prussia Granada and other Places and called out unto Him and his Company saying they would yield themselves his Prisoners Then Sr. Thomas Holland went thither with his Men and took the two Lords and 25. French Knights more who all yielded themselves to Sr. Thomas and those with him among whom we find one Thomas Leigh a valiant Esquire of the Lord Holland's who took the Earl of Tancarville i Holinshead Eng. Chron. p. 931. for which and other his worthy Services done in this and other Expeditions King Edward gave him the Lordship of Hanley in Broxton-Hundred in the County Palatine of Chester which still remains in that Ancient Family But to the Lord Holland besides the great Honours he arrived to afterwards the King k Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. gave 4000 Florens of Gold and in lieu thereof took the Earl of Eu for his own Prisoner This done and the Prisoners committed to safe Custody the Lord Holland remounted his Horse hastily and rode into the Streets where by his Authority he interposed and saved many Lives and preserved many Ladies young Damsels and Nuns from violation For now the Common Souldiers rag'd exceedingly because many of the Town being got on the tops of Houses had flung down Tiles Stones Timber and Iron wherewith they did much harm to their Enemies and not only provoked the Souldiers but also the King himself Insomuch that having heard at night how near upon 500 of his Men were in this manner either grievously hurt or killed out right by the Citizens he gave Command that the next day they should put all to the Sword and reduce the City to Ashes But then the Lord Godfry of Harcourt either in a pious Commiseration of his own Country or that he really saw of what ill Consequences such severe Beginnings might prove to the English stept out before the King and said Sir for God's Sake refrain your Passion a little and let what You have already done suffice for this time For You have still much Labour to go thrô before You can arrive at Calais whither You are designed And Sir in this Place there are many People who if driven to Despair will not fail so obstinately to defend their Houses and to sell their Lives so dearly as it may cost You many of your Men unless You resolve to destroy the City and the Spoil together Whereby peradventure You will not be able to accomplish your Design upon Calais which must needs redound to your no small Vexation Wherefore I pray Sir save the Lives of your Men for before a Month come to an end You will have occasion for them even thô You had as many more For besides the many Difficult Passages and Rencounters You will every day meet with I believe in my Conscience your Adversary King Philip will present You with Battle But if it shall please Your Majesty to proclaim a Pardon for all that shall submit I 'll engage that without any more Bloodshed You shall be Lord of this City and all that is therein The King having well weigh'd the Reason of these Words answer'd Sr. Godfry You are our Marshal order all things at your own Discretion So next Morning the Lord Godfry Harcourt rode early from Street to Street with his Banner displayed before him and commanded aloud by an Herald in the Kings Name l M.S. vet Lat. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab at ante that no Man should presume to set fire to any House to murder any Person or to violate any Woman whatsoever The Townsmen hearing this Proclamation freely admitted the English into their Houses and gave them good Entertainment and many opened their Closets and bad them take what they pleased so they might be secure of their Lives And yet for all that there were many Rapes Murders and Robberies committed in the Town Thus the English were Lords of Caen where they tarried three Days gathering of the Spoil because they made Resistance and were taken by Force among other Riches of Gold and Silver and the like there were found as One m Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 62. p. 872. reckons no less than 40000 Pieces of Fine Cloath Silks and Linnen beside other Wares proportionable All which the King sent down the River Orne to Estrehan where the Navy lay to be carried to St. Saviour the Vicount from whence soon after by the Kings Command the Earl of Huntington conveyed all into England as well Cloth and other Stuff for Garments Vessels of Gold and Silver Jewels and other Riches as all the Prisoners whereof in this Bout at Caen there were no less than n Giov. Villani ibid. 86 Great Lords Barons and Knights and above 300 Rich Citizens IX King o Frois c. 125. Edward having now done his Pleasure at Caen after three Days without Firing the Place departed thence having also taken in Bayeux in the same Order he used before and continued his March thrô the Bishopricks of p Mezeray p. 25. Lisieux and Eureux having among others taken and sacked a good Town called Louviers where he found a vast quantity of Riches Drapery and other Merchandise He took also q Ashmole p. 654. Lisieux it self a chief City in Normandy and abounding with Wealth and Merchandise which his Souldiers plunder'd And hence r Rot. Norman 20 Ed. 3. m. 21. vid. Odoric Rainald ad hunc ann §. 39. He gave Letters of Protection and safe Conduct to Annibald Cardinal of Tusculan and Stephen Cardinal of St. John and St. Paul sent from the Pope to mediate Peace These Men hereupon soon after came to the King he being then at ſ Ashmole p. 654. Gaillon between Pont de l'Arche and Vernon which Place he had newly taken and burnt And here they represented unto him t Giov. Villar l. 12. c. 63. p. 873. vid Epist Papae ad Edvard Regem dat Avin iii Non. August Anno Pentif 5. apud Oder Raynald ad hanc an §. 40. how they were sent from his Holiness to endeavour an Accord between Him and the King of France willing him to remit the whole Matter to the Pious Decision of the Pope But King Edward who could put no Trust in the Pope would not hear of any Accord but presently brake off all Treaty with the said Legates because it appeared to him that the Pope was much more favourable to the King of France than to Him or his Cause Yet forasmuch as some of them had been rifled of what they had by some English Souldiers King Edward not only caused their own to be restored unto them but gave them something over and above of his own to make them amends and so they returned towards Paris The mean time King Edward with his Detachments overran the Country far and near and all the way he went on
Bill-men the whole Battalia amounting to 12000 Men and all Three to 30000 compleat As for the Names of other Lords and Knights who were present in this Action I have recovered these thô here placed out of Order because no certain Rank is any where assigned Sr. Peter Grandison Banneret Robert Lord Morley the Lord William Felton the Lord Adam Eâ—â—ringham Robert Lord Ferrers the Lord Hugh Meinill the Lord Maurice Berkâ—â— Thomas Lord Furnival the Lord William Kerdeston the Lord Michael Poynings the Lord Robert Vghtred the Lord Thomas West the Lord John Engaine Banneret the Lord John Striveling the Lord John Montgomery and Sr. Giles Erdinton of his Retinue Sr. Fouk c Dugd. Warw. p. 658. Bermingham Peter Lord Mauley Sr. William Swinnerton Sr. Richard e Id. p. 750. Whitacre Sr. John f Id. p. 434. Murdaâ— Sr. Gerard g Id. p. 623. Burdel besides many Others whose Names it is both difficult to collect and tedious to recite Over and above all which the King to encourage his Men the better to pursue Honour created this Day no less than h Asâ—mole p. 655. 50 New Knights the Chief whereof were Sr. Guy Brian a young Baron Sr. Robert Mauley Brother to Peter Lord Mauley Sr. John Ravensholm Sr. Peter Brewis Sr. Thomas Lancaster Sr. Henry d' Engaine and Sr. John Beauchamp younger Brother to the Earl of Warwick to which i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 231. Vbi tamen militari cing de dâ—natum brennic antebâ—â— memerat Aâ—t verò in hoc errat aut haec in Campo Equitum Creatio differt ab alià Hìc Ashmolaeum sequer last was committed that Day the Honour of Bearing the Kings Standard All things being thus order'd every Lord and Captain under his own Banner and Pennon and the Ranks duly settled the Valorous Young King mounted on a lusty White Hobby and with a white Wand in his Hand rode between his two Marshals from Rank to Rank and from one Battalia into another exhorting and encouraging every Man that Day to defend and maintain his Right and Honour And this He did with k Frois c. 128. so cheerfull a Countenance and with such sweet and obliging Words that even the most Faint-hearted of the Army were sufficiently assured thereby By that time the English were thus prepared it was Nine a Clock in the Morning and then the King commanded them all to take their Refreshment of Meat and Drink which being done with small Disturbance they all repaired to their Colours again and then laid themselves in their Order on the dry and warm Grass with their Bows and Helmets by their side to be more fresh and vigorous upon the Approach of the Enemy II. That l Frois c. 129. same Day King Philip on the other side rose early in the Morning and heard Mass at Abbeville in the Abbey of St. Peter where he had lodged and exactly at Sun-rise began to March out of the City against the English with more than an m Frois ibid. Mezeray p. 26. Hundred Thousand Men. Abbeville is between three and four Leagues from Cressy whereof when King Philip had passed about two Leagues some of his Lords said to him Sir it is now High time to set your Battails in good Order and let your Infantry pass on forward while You range your Cavalry here This Advice the King follow'd and moreover sent out four Knights of great Experience viz. the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg in Bohemia the Lord of Nogheres the Lord of Beaujeu and the Lord of Aubigny to ride forward and discover the Face of the Enemy These Lords rode so near that they took notice of much part of their Order and Behaviour and yet the English made no offer to hinder them but lay still and let them alone thô they saw their Business and knew who it was that sent them So these four Lords return'd to their Master who presently demanded of them what tidings They look'd about upon One another as being every Man loath to speak since they had no good News to declare Then the King Commanded the Lord Moyne of Bastelberg to tell him what discovery they had made and freely to utter his opinion Now this Moyne Lord of Bastelberg in Bohemia was an Ancient Gentleman a Native of that Country who in his Youth had been an Esquire to John of Luxemburgh the Valiant Old King of that Realm and had behav'd himself in all his Masters Wars with so much Gallantry that he gain'd the Reputation of being One of the Bravest and most Expert Knights in the World Thô now Age had rendred him more fit for Counsel than Action This Man thus Answer'd the King Sir since it is your Pleasure I shall speak under Correction of my Fellows if they should chance to think otherwise Sir We have ridden forth and at our Leisure view'd the Countenance of Your Enemies and know for certain they are ready ranged in three Fair Battalla's as resolved to wait Your coming being in all by Estimation little more or less than 30000 Men. Sir as for my part bateing Your Majesties Displeasure I would Advise that for this Day You go no further for before Your Reer is fully come up and all Your Forces ranged in good Order of Battle it will be late Not to say that Your Footmen are weary with this long March in their Armour and their Ranks much disorder'd whereas the Enemy is Fresh and Lusty and ready to receive You. Thô by to morrow Morning as their Vigour will be more languid and pall'd so Your now-tired Troops will then be more Vigorous And hereby also Your Majesty may with more Deliberation and greater Exactness both Order Your Men and view the whole Posture of the Enemy as well as consider after what Manner to assail them For doubtless Sir they will not flinch from You. This Counsel the King Commanded to be put in Execution but the Evil Genius of France would not suffer that Command to take any Effect Althô the Kings two Marshals rode forth One to the Front and the Other toward the Reer saying to all the Captains and Ensigns Stand and tarry here in this place in the Name of God and St. Dennis They that were foremost stood still according to Command but the Hindmost would hear nothing of Obedience or Order but with Words of great Bravery rode forward saying they would make no stop till they were as forward as the Foremost So that by their pressing on the First were again forced to March to make room for them that thus followed by which means neither the King nor his Marshals could make them stand till they came in sight of the English And then the Front recoyled back very disorderly to the great Wonder of those behind who thought the First Troops were now engaged with the Enemy And then they might have had Leisure and room enough to have gone forward but they were content to make an Halt Yet some went with
were Barons John Lord of Beaumont in Hainalt the Lord Charles Monmorency the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord of Aubigny and the Lord of Monfort l'Amaury besides the Archbishop of Rheimes the Bishop of Amiens and the Chancellor of France's Son all under the Standard of the Young Prince James Son of Humbert Dauphin of Vienna who was himself slain in the Battle The French Nation so well at that time allowed of this Flight of King Philips that as the Roman Senate approved of Terentius Varro who escaping from the Battle of Cannae did not yet despair of the Common-Wealth as his Collegue Aemylius had done by way of Commendation it hath been called to this Day m Walsingh Hyiâ—d Neusâ—r p. 119. Beau elim Masc Fâ—m Bel tunc Masc ut Philip le Bel. Nâ—nc le Beau la Belle. la Beau Retracte Thus slightly now attended this Unhappy Prince rode out of the Field till he came to the Castle of Broye on the Authie about two Leagues Northward from the Place of Battle The Castle was now shut up for it was by this time dark wherefore he called out for the Captain in haste who coming to the Walls demanded who it was that expected to be let in there at Dark Night The King reply'd Open your Gates quickly For I am the Fortune of France Perhaps secretly thereby taxing those Flatterers who had firnamed him le Bien-Fortunè or the Fortunate King which Title he holds to this Day thô as Mezeray observes at this time he was the Vnfortunate The Captain understanding by his Voice that it was the King made haste and open'd the Gate and let down the Bridge where he was Dutifully received but not without many sad Cries and condoling Lamentations of his sorrowfull Subjects who like poor frighted Children came flocking about the Distressed Father of their Country The Unhappy Prince could not long endure so pittifull a Spectacle and perhaps neither did he think himself secure so near the Enemy Wherefore having drank and taken some refreshment he departed thence about Midnight and by the help of his Guides which knew the Country came to Amiens the next Morning where having tarried a few Days he went to Paris But during his stay at Amiens instead of looking up to the Hand of God and Humbling himself under his Judgements the Passionate n Frois c. 134. King began to rail against several of his Captains but especially he was so Highly incensed at the Lord Gondemar du Fay that if he could have got him in his Fury it had cost him his Head for he said and believed that he did not do his Devoir truly in Defending the Passage at Blanchetteaque where the English went over the Somme Nor did the King only say thus but many of his Council also were of the Mind that he ought to die saying that he was a Traytor and the Chief Occasion of that Great Loss at Cressy But then John Lord of Beaumont began wisely to excuse him and to qualifie the Kings unjust Displeasure by putting in these few words only How could it lye in Gondemar's Power to Resist the whole Puissance of the King of England when a Royal Army it self and all the Flower of the Realm of France could not prevail against him This apt saying pacified the Kings Displeasure and soon after he return'd to Paris to consider of his Weighty Affairs in so sad a juncture XIII All that Saturday being the Day of Battle the English never broke their Ranks for taking of any Prisoners whatsoever but knowing how Numerous the Enemy was and that there were two or three Fresh Armies near those Parts they never offer'd to follow the Chace but stood ready upon their Defence And if o Knighton p. 2588. One says True they had need to do so for the French rallied upon them several times that Night thô they were still repulsed with Loss Certainly this Day King Edward shewed himself a most Accomplish'd Captain and all the Night too the greater Part of the Army especially all the Fresh Men who had not fought kept the Field standing to their Arms But I can no ways believe that the Frenchmen after so absolute a Discomfiture the Flight of their King and the Death of so many of their Prime Leaders could have the Courage to assault their Enemies Especially in the Night when all things are doubtfull even to a Conquerour Yet indeed the Earl of St. Paul had drawn off several entire Troops and had done more if in his last Attempt he had not been slain and more than Half the French Army escaped away thô in small scatter'd Parties that singly were no way formidable and some whereof by the errour of the Night fell among the English where they found no better Usage than they would have done in Battle Now p Frois c. 131. Edward the Young Prince of Wales whom from this time the French began to call Le Neoir or the q In the Records of 2 Riâ— 2. n. 12. he is called the 〈…〉 vid. M.S. Râ—t Parl. ad â—n praedict p. 171. Sr Rob. Câ—tton p. 168. Black-Prince when he heard no more of his Enemies for it was now so dark he could make no further Discovery began to repute the Victory his own and that all the French Host was totally discomfited Then he gave order for huge Fires to be made and Links Torches and Flambeaus to be lighted up all about At which time the King his Father being come down from the little Hill where he had stood with his Helmet on his Head which never came off till now all the time of the Battle drew near in the Head of all his Men and ran up to the Young Prince and embraced him in his Arms and kissed him and said My Fair Son God Almighty give you Grace to persevere as you have begun Now are you my Good Son and have acquitted your self right Nobly You are well worthy of a large Kingdom The Prince reply'd only by humbly enclining himself to the Earth honouring the King his Father That Night r Frois c. 131. the whole Army return'd their publique Thanks to God for their good Success and made no manner of Boasting for it was the express Command of the King that none should insult or make any Brags in Songs or otherwise but all humbly to give Thanks to God Almighty And Å¿ Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 66. p. 878. so the High Mass of the Holy Spirit was solemnly sung and the Victory acknowledged to the Author thereof Moreover the next Day for the sake of the Dead the Pious King * Id. ibid. caused the Place of Battle to be Consecrated for the decent Sepulture both of his Enemies and Friends and that the Wounded being removed from among the Dead should be dressed to the meaner sort of whom he afterward gave Money and sent them away That Morning being a Sunday t Frois ibid. there was such a
Arms for that was try'd in vain but by the Faith he reposed in Your Princely Honour which all Kings should take the utmost Care to keep inviolate My Lord and Father let it not be said that the Heir of France after a Fruitless Siege of many Months was fain to falsifie his Word confirmed with his nay with Your Royal Seal to trepan a Generous Enemy into an Ignoble Death For thô all this proceeded of Your Majesties Pleasure alone yet there is no Man but will believe that it was I who betray'd him and so they justly may unless they shall see him set free again by my Endeavours Set Free again reply'd the incensed Prince let me see who dare pretend to dispose of my Prisoners otherwise than I shall think Convenient Be this your satisfaction that your Father and your King is resolved He shall die For I look upon him as One of my most Deadly Enemies and so would You if You knew how he aims to ravish away for another that Crown which You may one Day Wear Father said the Duke if this be Your final Determination surely I shall never bear Arms on Your behalf against the King of England nor shall any of those on whom I have any Influence For I am not greatly Ambitious to Wear a Crown that is upheld by any Unjust Action and then going out of the Presence in Great Displeasure he repeated his former Words Vowing on that Condition never more to bear Arms for the King his Father again Thus the Matter stood a while King Philip in doubt whether to appease his Son or rid himself of an Enemy the Prince in deep Sorrow Shame and Displeasure and the Lord Manny in great Danger of Death But there was at Court a Worthy Knight of Hainalt named Sr. Mansart de Sue who made it his sole Endeavour to deliver the Lord Manny he held about this Matter several private Conferences with the Duke of Normandy and by his means with the greatest Peers and Barons of France whereupon at last King Philip was so importun'd by their joynt Prayers and Remonstrances that he was content to let him go out of Prison with all his Men their Horses Goods and Armour and all their Costs paid And because now the King himself was ashamed of what he had done he sent for the Lord Manny to his Palace of Nesle in Paris and made him sit down with him at Dinner at his own Table All which time the King spake so familiarly with him and shew'd him so good a Countenance as might become the most Gracious King in Europe to use with his most Loyal Friend and Favourite After all he presented him with great Gifts and Jewels to the Value of a 1000 Florens of Gold. But Sr. Walter would not receive this Present saving on this Condition that if his Master the King of England upon his Arrival before Calais should allow thereof then he would keep them as Tokens of his Princely Bounty but otherwise he must crave Pardon thô he send them all back again to the Royal Donor The King said how he spake like a Man of Honour and so the Lord Manny took his leave and rode Northward till he came into Hainalt where he had his Birth and having only tarried three Days at Valenciennes he proceeded till he came to Calais where he and all his Men were welcome to the King of England But when he had shew'd the King the Particulars of all his Journey and the Danger he was in at first as also how afterwards on certain Conditions he had accepted of Gifts from the French King Edward took him aside and said Sr. Walter You have hitherto served Us with much Loyalty and We doubt not but You will continue so to do Send again to Philip of Valois his Presents You have no need of them We thank God We have enough for our selves and for You too And surely We design for You both great Honour and other Rewards according to the Good and Laudable Service You have done Us. Upon these Words of the King the Lord Manny took immediately all the foresaid Jewels and delivering them to a Cousin of his named Sr. Mansel a young Gentleman of Gallant Shape Deportment and Courage thô at that time of no considerable Office because of his Youth he said Cousin Mansel ride into France to the King there and recommend me to him and tell him that I thank his Majesty a Thousand times for the Favours he was pleased to shew me and the Gifts he gave me But let him know that it is not the Pleasure of the King my Master that I should keep them Wherefore I now send them again unto him This young Knight rode to Paris accordingly and deliver'd his Message with the Jewels to the King But he thought it agreed not with his Honour to take them back again wherefore as Sr. Walter had imagin'd He bad Sr. Mansel take them to himself He for his part as one whose Place laid no such Obligation upon him as the Lord Manny's did thanked his Majesty heartily and made no scruple to bring them along with him to Calais XI Now as soon g Frois c. 136. Ashuncle p. 681. Du Chesne p. 665. Holinshead p. 938. Meâ—â—crâ—y p. 28. Grev. Villan l. 12. c. 76. p. 887. as the Duke of Normandy had Raised his Siege from before Aiguillon and was returned to Paris Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby who during the Siege had kept at Bourdeaux or la Reole and thereabout when he heard of the Duke's Departure sent his Summons throughout Gaseogne to all the Lords Knights and Esquires of England besides such Gascogners as held for King Edward Among whom were the Lord of Albret the Lord de Le Sparre the Lord of Rosam the Lord of Mucidan the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Tourton the Lord of Bouqueton Sr. Emery of Traston and others so that the Earls Forces amounted in all to 1200 Men of Arms 2000 Archers and 3000 Foot. With this small but well compacted Army he passed the Garonne between Bourdeaux and Blaye and marching up the way toward Saintogne came to Mirembeau which he took by Storm both Town and Castle and set therein a Garrison of English Then he turned to Mortagne by the Sea-side in Poicton which he took by Assault and Garrison'd also From hence he rode to Taillebourg and wan the Bridge Town and Castle putting all whom he found to the Sword in Revenge of the Death of a Knight of his who was slain in the Assault After this he advanced to Aunay Surgieres and Benon all which he took but the Castle of Marans beyond Rochelle he could not prevail upon by any means Then he went and laid Siege to the Fair Town of St. John the Evangelist called in French St. Jean D'Angely and gave there a great Assault which lasted till almost Night There were no very Expert Captains at that time in the Place wherefore Sr. William de
Invitation the young Earl accepted of and returned forthwith into Flanders where he was received in most splendid manner and presented with Gifts of great Value But as soon as King Edward heard of this Change of Affairs in those Parts he sent thither William Bohun Earl of Northampton Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel and Reginald Lord Cobham who prevail'd so far with the Demagogues and Leading Men of Flanders that all the Country was quickly of the mind that their Lord should rather take to Wife a Daughter of England than the Daughter of the Duke of Brabant or of any other Prince whatsoever And so they effectuously desired their Lord and shew'd him what Reasons he had so to do nor durst those few Burgesses who were for a Match with Brabant speak the least syllable to oppose them But the young Earl boldly declared his Resolution saying That by the Grace of God never while he lived would he Marry her whose Father had slain his thô he should have half the Realm of England for her Dowry When the Flemings heard this peremptory Answer they as boldly but with little Care of their Duty told him that he was too much sway'd by French Counvels and sought the Interest of their Enemies more than it became him And that he must expect no good from them if he would not rather believe the Counsel which they should give him and which was for the common Advantage both of him and them But the Young Prince not being at all shaken with this they proceeded further and took and put him in the Prison of Courtray swearing That he should never come forth thence while he lived unless he would govern himself after their Advice and Counsel And they told him moreover that the Earl his Father believed and loved the French Nation in like Manner to his utter Ruine whereas had he follow'd their Advice and been a Friend to their Friends he might have been as Great a Lord as any in Christendom and have recover'd again Lille Douay and Bethune and still on this side Heaven Thus Matters rested for a while and the Earl was kept short nor without some inconvenience in no little fear being emprisoned by his own Subjects V. King Edward the mean while was still before Calais and had kept all that Winter especially during the Christmas Holy-days a most Magnificent Court in the Camp but as soon as the Spring began to open the Year for Action he set himself earnestly to establish his Affairs On the o Ashmele p. 704. ex Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 17. 2 April second of April therefore being Easter-Monday he sent the Lord James Audeley from the Siege before Calais into England with Command to raise what Forces he could and to bring them down to Sandwich by Ascension-day well-arm'd in Order to pass over to Calais in regard the French King was drawing together a Vast Army with a purpose to raise the Siege About a p Ashmele p. 681. 14 Maii. Ret. Franc. 21. Ed. 3 p. 1. m. 10. Month after hearing the French King intended to be at Calais about Whitsuntide he sent also into England to his Cousin Henry Earl of Lancaster and Darby commanding him speedily to repair to his Assistance with the Forces he had raised In reference to whose Passage Command was given q 19 Maii Rot. Franc. 21. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 6. five Days after to the Lord John Mongomery Admiral of the Fleet Westward to provide Ships in readiness at Sandwich and Dover with all speed for the transportation of those Forces Accordingly the Earl arrived at Calais before the end of May immediately upon whose coming thither King Edward among other Gracious Tokens of Favour wherewith he welcomed this High-born Subject taking into consideration his many great Services and Victorious Successes in Aquitain and elsewhere r 1 Junii Ret. fact apud Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 13. granted unto him and his Heirs-Male for ever by Charter the Castle Town and Place of Bergerac on the Dordonne in the Diocese of Perigort with the whole Chastellany and all Jurisdiction High and Low Royal Authority Absolute and Mixt as also the Coynage of Money there To which he afterwards added a Grant of the Examination of the Assay with both the Criminal and Civil Punishment of all Offendors for Coyning of Money And ſ 17 Jun. Ret. Cales 21. Ed. 3. m. 16. because this Town and Castle stood upon the Frontiers of the Enemy the King granted that during the War there should remain in that Garrison an 100 Men of Arms and 200 Foot at the Kings pay subject nevertheless to the Command of the Kings Seneschal of Gascogne and to be by him drawn out upon occasion he leaving sufficient strength to Defend the same And further because this Noble Earl had taken divers Prisoners at the Town of St. Jean d' Angely when he reduced that Place as we have shewn the King therefore toward the latter end of this Year granted unto him all the Lands Tenements Vines and other Goods of those Prisoners till their Ransom was fully paid And a little after he granted unto him and his Heirs for ever the Houses Lands and other Goods and Possessions of Bernard Barrham Burgess of that Town to hold by the service of rendring to the King and his Heirs One Rose annually at Midsummer And besides all this he t Extract Donat 21. Ed. 3. m. 10. Novemb 10. granted unto him the Castle of Horeston in the County of Darby with the appurtenances and 40 pounds per annum out of the Farm of the Town of Darby to him and his Heirs-Male and for default of such the same to revert to the King and his Heirs All these Grants and more were made to him by that Munificent Monarch upon the Account of his many good and acceptable Services by him performed VI. While King u Frois c. 140. Edward was thus busied in reinforcing the Siege at Calais and King Philip was on the other hand preparing to rescue the Town Lewis the young Earl of Flanders whom We lately left confin'd at Courtray having by loss of Liberty and some hardship learn'd a little Experience resolved now to work his own Will but therein to use more caution and to procure his escape by Dissimulation Since he found it impossible to avoid ruine if he should still openly avow what he could not but harbour in his heart He often therefore said to those who were about him that he would for the future believe the Counsel of his good Subjects of Flanders for he knew well he said that he should live in more splendour there and in a Higher Condition than in any other Country For in France he was subject to the pleasure of other Men and could not do as he would These Words being noised abroad were greedily swallowed by the plain-dealing Flemings who could not penetrate into the forced Dissimulation of the Willfull young Lord.
Wherefore they took him out of Prison and suffer'd him to go an Hawking a Sport which he loved well on the other side the River Lys or Leye But still there were Persons appointed to watch him who were charged upon their Lives to look carefully to his Motions that he should not by any means steal away from them And besides his Keepers themselves were such as chiefly prefer'd the King of England's service so that he could not do the least occasions of Nature without their knowledge This new way of Imprisonment obliged the Earl to another Device he said at last as it were from his heart and of his own accord that he desired extreamly to Marry the Daughter of so Renowned a Prince as King Edward was but none of his Friends would endeavour to procure him that happy Promotion Of this immediately the Flemings sent word to the King and Queen then before Calais and appointed a Day whereon they should come with their Daughter the Lady Isabella to Bruges and they would at the same time bring thither their Lord the Young Earl and so the Nuptials should be solemnized between them in the Abbey The King and Queen x Frois ibid. Giov. Villant l. 12. c. 86. p. 894. who were well pleased with this Overture said how the Flemings had now done like true and honest Men and so prepared for the intended Meeting At the time appointed the most Discreet and Wealthy Burgesses of the Towns of Flanders came unto Bruges a Chief City of Flanders between Ostend and Sluys and brought with them the young Earl their Lord in great Pomp and State Here they found the King of England and his Queen who received them graciously The Young Earl enclin'd himself with great Demonstrations of Respect to the King and Queen and then King Edward took him by the Right Hand very courteously and lead him forward saying unto him As for the Death of the Earl your Father as God shall help me I am Innocent For I knew nothing of his being in the Field at the Battle of Cressy neither on the Day of Battle nor till the Evening of the next Day when the Heralds brought me an Account of the slain The Earl seem'd to believe this Protestation and to acquiesce in so just an excuse And thereupon other Communication succeeded and at last the Marriage was agreed and a Bond of Ensurance made certain Articles of perpetual Amity being on both sides sworn to and agreed on between Edward King of England and Lewis Earl of Flanders And then and there the Young Earl affianced the Lady Isabella King Edwards Daughter and promised on such a Day to Wed her So for that time they all brake up the Earl returning to Courtray and the King and Queen going back to the Camp before Calais where they made great Preparations against the Marriage for Jewels and costly Apparel and Presents to give away according to their Estate The mean y Frois ibid. while the Earl of Flanders pass'd away his time very pleasantly about the River Leye and seem'd so extreamly satisfied with the Person of the English Lady that the Flemings verily believing him to be in earnest took no such great heed to him as before But they did not understand the deep Dissimulation of their Lord for whatever appearance He made outwardly his Heart was wholly addicted to the French Interest and he resolved in his mind never to admit unto his Bed the Daughter of him who had sent his Father to his Grave A just Resolution had it been rightly grounded For indeed his Fathers Death ought not to have been imputed to King Edward but to his own Misfortune for taking part with King Edwards Enemies in that Battle where he was slain by chance of War and without any knowledge of the Kings as himself protested However the Earl having now obtain'd a little more liberty by reason of his fine conveyance for he made huge Preparations against the Marriage he never intended found at last an Opportunity to escape away which was done in this Manner In the Easter-week z Fibian p. 274. being that very Week that the Daughter of England was to be brought into Flanders and the Espousals to be solemnized he rode forth with an Hawk on his Fist by the River side after his Manner At last his Faulconer cast off a Faulcon at a Heron and the Earl presently cast off his Thus these two Faulcons were in chace of the Heron and the Earl followed as after his Faulcon But when he found himself to have got the start of all his Attendants with the Advantage of the Open Fields he then clap'd Spurs to his Horse and gallop'd right on till his Keepers had wholly lost him The Earl continued hard on the Spur till he came into Artois the next Province to Flanders and there he was safe Thence he rode at his Leisure into France and came to King Philip to whom he shew'd the Reasons and Manner of his Escape the King commended him and said he had done Worthily and Wisely But the Englishmen said He had falfifi'd his Oath and with the loss of his Honour and Interest betrayed and deceived them But for all this King Edward did not break with the Flemings For he saw plainly that they were extreamly offended with this Rash Action of their Lords and that they knew as little of this Cheat as himself And indeed they made their Excuse so well that either the King did really believe it or however thought best to admit of it for that time VII We must not omit a Gaguin l. 8. p. 142. Fabian p. 274. c. one memorable Matter which happen'd about this time concerning an Advocate of the Spiritual Court named Dr. Gawin de Bellomont an Inhabitant of Laon in Picardy Who intended as it was laid to his Charge to have betrayed the City of Laon to the English Which City of Laon being seated on a Mountain not far from Vermand stands very commodiously to make War upon all its Neighbours round about Now there was at that time a poor Man named Colin Tomelin who formerly had lived in good Fashion but some while before being fled from Laon for Debt had gone to Metz on the Borders of Lorrain where he made shift to live a miserable Life To this Man Dr. Gawin de Bellomont aforesaid resorted frequently and as it were in pity of his Condition relieved him considerably till at last when he thought he had him fast enough he began something to break his Mind unto him But only then told him in General that if he would be ruled by him he would not only restore him to his former Ease and Sufficiency but raise him to an Eminent Degree of Wealth and Prosperity Colin readily embraced the Offer and sware unto him Secrecy and Fidelity Whereupon Gawin shew'd him a Letter sealed up and gave it him to carry to the King of England lying as then before Calais
Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. the Twelfth of February the valiant English Lord Maurice Berkley younger Son to Maurice Lord Berkley and Brother to the Lord Thomas Berkley in the Camp before Calais to the extream Regret of his Master King Edward who set an high value upon his Services of which an Estimate may be from the Retinue he had at the time of his Death Which consisted of six Knights among whom p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 89. was Sr. Nicolas de St. Maure aliàs Seymour and 32 Esquires with 30 Archers on Horseback and 200 Archers on Foot. Three q Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 356. days after his Death the King in contemplation of his singular Merits gave unto Thomas his Son and Heir a Grant of the Profits of his own Wardship as to his Lands and Marriage This Noble Family of the Berkleys is derived from Maurice the Son of Robert Fitz-Harding who was the Son of Harding one of the Royal Blood or as some say r Vetus M.S. in Castro de Berkley Leland Coll. 1 Vol. p 912. Youngest Son to the King of Denmark who came into England with William the Conquetour The foresaid Maurice Son to Robert Fitz-Harding had in Marriage the Lady Alice Daughter and at last ſ Dudg 1 Vol. p. 352. Godwins Catal. Bishops p. 500. sole Heir to Roger Lord Berkley so called from his Castle of Berkley in Gloucestershire and thereupon changing his Name became Ancestour to this Illustrious Family which since that Time hath flourished and still continues in great Honour to this Day X. I do not meet with any more Persons of Rank that died during this Siege in the English Camp but 't is certain that not a few of the Common Sort were wasted away as we said before The Loss of whom was notwithstanding easily made up by succeeding Recruits from England and other Places For many great Lords of Flanders Hainalt Brabant and Almain came thither to the Camp some indeed onely to pay their Respects to the King and Queen others to joyn with the English Forces And of all the Visitors none departed home again without an agreeable Gratuity from the King. Among all those Lords that won by the Kings Fame or otherwise came now to embrace his Service the Lord t Frois c. 141. Robert of Namur was not the least Considerable This worthy young Lord had lately received the Order of Knighthood at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem by the hands of that Renowned Christian Souldier the Lord Lespentine and had thereupon continued for some time in the Holy Wars but was now newly returned into the Country of Namur and Liege He was as then in the first flower and vigour of his Age of good Discretion Courage and Conduct and had not since his Return been engaged by either of the two Kings of England or France but now of his own Accord he came gallantly attended and richly provided to the Siege before Calais and there offer'd himself to the Service of King Edward By him he was received very graciously as also he was highly welcome to the Queen and the English Lords but especially he won upon the Kings Affections on the Account of the Lord Robert of Artois his Uncle whose Name he bare and whose Person and Vertues seemed again to be revived in him Nor shall it be forgot that this Martial Knight was a great Friend to the Muses as we may learn from u Frois l. 1 a. 1. f. 1. ad finem Sr. John Froisard For whose laborious and noble History which for the most part contains the Heroick Acts of King Edward and his Children we are not a little beholding to this Sr. Robert of Namur Lord of Beaufort who requested him to set about that Laudable Work and both encouraged and assisted him in it Sr. Robert of Namur bare for his Arms x Ashmoles Garter p. 79. Plate 85. Or a Lion Rampant Sable Crowned Gules and in process of time became Knight of the Garter For from this time forward he became Liegeman to the King of England who thereupon gave him for the first Hansel of his Favour 300 l. per annum to be paid by Yearly Return at Bruges in Flanders and now he continued with his Troops amounting to 300 Men of Arms before Calais till the Place was taken About y Knighton p. 2592. Whitsuntide King Edward sent to all the Abbeys and Priories throughout England for an Aid of their Woolls and for a proportionable Support from all other Religious Houses as lately had been granted unto him in Parliament One z Odoric Rainald ad hanc an §. 24. ex Archivis Vaticani says that he seized on all the Ecclesiastick Wealth under the specious pretence of Borrowing it to maintain him in his Wars against France By whose Example King Philip to defend his own laid hands on the Revenues of all Priests except Cardinals not residing in his Kingdom and of other Benefices he took the Tenths Whereupon the Pope sent unto him Pastor Archbishop of Ambrun and William Bishop of Chartres to restrain him and the Gallican Clergy he exhorted to maintain the Liberties of the Church Threatning a Tem. 5. ep secret 1160. Clem. VI. PPae moreover to use his Pontifical Authority against him unless he would restore the Ecclesiastick Right to its pristine Splendour But we do not find that King Philip alter'd his Course of Proceeding for all this the Necessity of his Affairs calling for extraordinary Supplies XI Before we come to the Winning of Calais it is fit we should take notice of other Matters that happen'd elsewhere the mean while no whit less Worthy of Memory And first we shall enquire after the Condition of Scotland at this time We shew'd before how the preceding Year immediately after the Battle of Durham the English pursuing their Victory recover'd the Castle b Hector l. 15. f. 325. Buchan l. 9. p. 303. of Hermitage with all Anandale Marches Tweedale Tividale and Ethrick Forest besides regaining what the Scots had won in England enlarging their Limits as far as Cockburne's pit and Solway And all this was obtained in a manner with little or no Resistance for the Scots were now brought c Buchan ibid. so low since that blow they received near Durham that for a long while after they were unable to bring any considerable Army into the Field But now early this Year King Edward Bailiol in hopes to recover his Inheritance during this weak Estate of Scotland d Knighton p. 2592. Hector Buchan Holinshead Scotl. enters that Kingdom by Carlile with an Army of 20000 Men and the Lord Piercy with as many more by Barwick made a Road into Louthian and Cliddisdale whence he brought great Booty of Goods and Cattle while the Bailiol raged alike in Galloway Niddisdale and Carrick so that the Scots were at last compelled to yield unto him and accept him for their King. From hence when both the Armies
Moneys Goods and Houses and he said He would share in the Fortunes of his two Cousins and the same did his Brother Peter to whom two others presently joyn'd themselves with great Alacrity and so the whole Number of Six was compleat When therefore these Worthy Burgesses had put themselves in that suppliant Condition which King Edward had Commanded bare-headed and bare-legg'd in their Shirts and Halters about their Necks they offer'd themselves unto the Captain who went along with them to the Gate where the whole Town took their last leave of them with great Lamentation The Gate being opened the Captain went forth with these Six Burgesses and being between the Gate and the Barriers spake to Sr. Walter Manny saying Sir I John de Vienna as Captain of Calais deliver here unto You by Consent of all the Inhabitants of the Town these Six Burgesses and I swear unto You faithfully that they are and were this day the most Honourable and Wealthy Burgesses of all the Town of Calais Wherefore most Generous Sir I desire You to Intercede with the King to have Mercy on them that they may not be put to Death Sir reply'd the Lord Manny what the King will do I cannot tell but I shall do for them to the best of my Power Then the Barriers being open'd the Six Burgesses went with the Lord Manny toward the King and the Captain as Froisard says return'd back again into the Town But here I must crave leave to differ a little from that great Historian for I cannot see why the Captain should go back again into the City now that he had sent away by these Burgesses both the Keys of the Town and Castle to the King of England Nor what greater security he could have than the Kings Word to which We see he trusted the Lives of those Six Men. I shall therefore in this point choose to sollow another Author of unquestionable Credit who was then present with King Edward at the Siege and says x Sr Tho. de la Mâ—re apud Stow p. 244. that the Captain also came out of the Town together with these miserable Worthies y Par. din ibid. p. 335. riding on a little old Nag for he was lame having received a Wound in the Thigh from the Lord Thomas Holland upon a Sally as We shew'd before The Captain therefore having presented the Six Burgesses up unto the Kings Will He then offer'd him a Warlike Sword as unto the Chiefest Prince of Arms among all Christian Kings and as unto One that had taken that Fortress from the Mightiest King in Christendom by Noble Chivalry Then he deliver'd unto him the Keys of the Town and Castle as being now solely at his Dispose and lastly requesting Pity and Pardon for himself and the rest of the Souldiers and Inhabitants of Calais he deliver'd unto him the Sword of Peace wherewith he should Administer Right Judgement Pardon and forbear the Humble and Lowly and Punish the Obstinate and Proud-hearted The King having received these things turned himself then to the Six Burgesses who had been kneeling all the while and now held up their hands and said O most Gracious Prince behold here Six Poor Wretches who were lately considerable Merchants and the most Substantial Citizens of Calais and now together with the Keys both of Town and Castle do all entirely submit our Bodies to Your Will and Pleasure thereby to save the Lives of the rest of the People of Calais who poor Souls have already suffer'd incredible Miseries Only We beseech Your Royal Majesty of your great Clemency to have Compassion upon Us. At this Ruefull Spectacle all the Lords Earls and Barons of England then present wept for Pity Only the King look'd furiously upon them with Eyes flaming for Anger and Resentment as He that was irreconcileably incensed against the Calisians because of the great Damages and Displeasures they had frequently done to him and his People on the Sea before and also for their extream Obstinacy in holding out now thus long against him Wherefore he Commanded that their Heads should be stricken off immediately Then all the Lords and the Young Prince of Wales began to Intercede with the King for Mercy but he would hearken to no Man as to that Point However Sr. Waiter Manny being mindfull of his Promise to the Captain kneeled down before him now and said Ah! Gracious Prince for Gods sake refrain your Anger and consider with Your Self more calmly You have hitherto kept the Name of Sovereign and untainted Honour and Generosity do not therefore I beseech You my Lord commit any thing now that may blemish Your Renown or give cause to Your Enemies to speak dishonourably of Your Person For every Man will say it is great Cruelty to put to Death such Honest Men who of their own accord put themselves thus into Your Power by a Voluntary Resignation of their Lives to preserve the Rest of their Company These Words grated upon the Kings Ears but as yet He was inexorable and as if not venturing to hear any more for fear of being perswaded wrung himself away from the Lord Manny and called aloud for the Executioner saying the Men of Calais have been occasion of the Death of many of my Good Subjects wherefore now these Fellows shall die also thô too small a Sacrifice to the Ghosts of so many At this all the Lords held their Peace and the Prince himself durst not speak any further But then the Queen z Freis ibid. Dâ— Cheâ—ne Mezeray c. her self who sat ruefully looking on all this while could hold no longer but rose hastily from her Seat thô she was very big with Child and kneeled down before the King and with many Tears flowing from her Fair Eyes said unto him Oh! my Gracious Lord and Husband since I have passed the Sea in great Danger to visit You I have not yet made any Request unto You But now I humbly and heartily require You in Honour of the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the Love of Me that You would be Mercifull to these Poor Men. The King look'd relentingly upon her and raising her from the ground said Ah! Madam I would You had been some where else at this time For You have so tenderly conjur'd me by the Honour I ought to bear to my Redeemer and by the Love I must always have for You that I am not able to deny Your Request Wherefore now Lady I resign them to Your Hands to do with them as You shall think best Then the Queen caused them to be brought into a private Apartment in her Tent where the Halters were taken from their Necks and they were handsomely clad in New Cloaths Which being done the Queen order'd them their Dinner and six Nobles a piece and so caused them to be safely convey'd to the Castle of Guisnes and wholly set at Liberty XX. Thus was the a Freis c. 147. strong City of Calais yielded
up to King Edward of England after it had endured a Siege of Eleven Moneths within three days viz. from the b Knighten p. 2595. n. 2â— seventh of September 1346 to the 4 of August MCCCXLVII which was a Saturday and the Day that King Edward received the Keys Then the King spake to the Lord Walter Manny and the two Marshals of his Host the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Stafford afterwards Earl of Stafford saying Here Sirs take you the Keys of the Town and Castle and go and take Possession thereof in my Name and lay all the Knights and Esquires that be there in Prison but as for the Common Souldiers that came thither only for hire turn them all out of the Town as also after they are well refreshed all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children For I intend to Repeople the Town only with Englishmen So these three Lords with an 100 Men of Arms went and took Possession of Calais and secured in Prison the Bodies of Sr. John of Vienna the chief Captain Sr. John Surry Sr. Barton de Belborn and other Officers of the Garrison after which they commanded all the Souldiers to bring together their Harness into the Town-Hall where they laid it all together on an heap for they were not permitted to bear any Armour away Now the King of his wonted Goodness had already c Knighton p. 2595 〈◊〉 10. sent store of Victuals into the Town to refresh the poor Commons therewith But they were so hungry and afflicted and wasted with Famine that either thrô too much Greediness they surfeited or thrô too much Weakness were unable to digest so that by the next day at night there died of them more than 300 Persons As for the rest the King commanded them d Stow p. 244. ex Tho. de la Mere c. to be safely conveyed to the Castle of Guisnes within the French Pale when they had been refreshed with the Kings Alms and were grown strong enough to endure Travail But the most part of them thought themselves not secure e Frois c. 147. till they were got to St. Omers Thus all manner of People were turned out of the Town f Frois ibid. except one Priest and two other ancient Men who understood the Customs Laws and Ordinances of the Place and how to point out and assign the Lands that lay about the Town and the several Inheritances as they had been divided before And when all things were duely prepared for the Kings Reception he mounted his Great Horse and rode into Calais with a Triumphant noise of Trumpets Clarions and Tabours He took up his Lodgings in the Castle where he lay more than a Month all the while Fortifying and setling Affairs both there and in the Town untill g Frois ibid. his Queen was deliver'd of a Fair Daughter called Margaret of Calais who was afterwards married to the Lord John Hastings Earl of Pembroke who was Son of Laurence Hastings now living but she died before the said John her Husband without Issue both he and she being at that time but very young Speeds h Speed p. 580. §. 105. Mistake is here to be corrected who makes Queen Philippa to be big with Child of this Infant at the Battle of Durham and Walsingham i Walsing bist p. 15â— n. 3. also who fixes the time too forward by several Days making the Child to be born on the III of the Kalends of August when as the Town of Calais wherein she was born was not won till the iv of August Nor is Mr. k Sandford's Geneal Hâ—st c. p. 179. Sandford to be omitted who makes the Place of her Birth to be Windsor without any Authority but Conjecture While the King of England tarried thus at Calais he gave many fair Houses in that Town to the Lord Walter Manny to the Earl of Warwick to the Lord Ralph Stafford and the Lord Bartholomew Burwash who l Dugd. 2 Vâ—l. p. 35. also obtain'd of the King in consideration of his Services a Grant of the Marriage of one of the Sisters and Heirs of Edward St. John Son and Heir of Hugh St. John deceased and his Son Sr. Bartholomew the Younger among other things obtain'd in recompence of his Services in the Wars a Grant of the Lands of John Louvaine deceased till his Heir Nicolas Louvaine then the Kings Ward should be of full Age. And besides we find that the King gave to all his great Lords vast Allowances for their several Retinues during this Siege as particularly to the Earl of Warwick for three m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Bannerets 61 Knights 106 Esquires and 154 Archers on Horseback the Summ of 1366 l. 11 s. and 8 d. And yet Others had far greater Retinues as Henry Earl of Darby n Knighton p. 2596. n. 10. who had 30 Bannerets 800 Men of Arms and 2000 Archers and kept such Hospitality in the Camp that he expended dayly an 100 l. and 8 or 9 Marks So that after the Truce it appeared by Computation that he had spent above 17000 l. Sterling out of his own Purse beside the Wages allow'd him by the King. All which Services were graciously consider'd by the King his Master who bestowed now on him and other Lords a competent Portion of Houses they never built and of Lands they never purchased that so they might be obliged to People and defend the Town Besides all which he design'd upon his return into England to send out of London 36 Substantial Citizens with their Wives and Families to dwell in Calais as he afterwards did but the greater part of the Inhabitants came out of Kent And thus from that time Calais became a perfect Colony of Englishmen Now on the Day o 9 Aâ—gâ—lli before St. Laurence while Order was taking to preserve the Town of Calais in the English Hands there p Knighton p. 2595. n. 60. happened in the English Camp before the Town a sad and grievous Mischance of sudden Fire which devoured the Tents and Pavilions without Remedy they being for the most part made of strong Timber But this was remarkable that as the fire came near the Kings Tent as if not willing or not daring to do any harm there it flew over among other Tents consuming and destroying Victuals Wine Gold and Silver things of pleasure and necessity Bows and Arrows and other Warlike Ammunition So that the King was fain to send into England for a fresh Supply Besides there came thither about the same time an Army of q Knighton ibid. n. 10. c. 60000 Flemings to assist King Edward supposing that the King of France was still there and that a Battle would ensue between the two Kings He for his part tho now he had no need of them having already taken the Town yet by the great Gifts he bestow'd among the Captains and other Officers and the liberal Donations he gave to the Souldiers
which was u Dugd. 2 Vol. Bar. p. 151. ex Clâ—â—s 23. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. â— born in this Adventure by a Noble and Valiant Young Baron of England called Sr. Guy Brian Besides which Lord Mâ—â—ny there were present divers other English Lords who had their Banners in the Fold as Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Ralph Lord Stafford the Lord John Montagu Brother to William Earl of Salisbury the Lord John Beauchamp Brother to Thomas Earl of Warwick the young Lord Roger de la Ware the Lord Thomas Berkley the Lord William x Dugd. Bar. 1 Vol. p. 550. ex Bet. Franc. 23 Ed. 3. m 4. Rous the Younger and there were no more Lords that bore Banners in this Exploit All these being come on Horseback in great silence to the Gate that respects Boulogne the Gates were presently set open and they all issued forth in good Order of Battle When the Frenchmen saw them come forth against them and heard them cry a Manny a Manny to the Rescue they saw well the Lombard had betray'd them and began to be in some Confusion But then the Lord Geoffry Charny like a wise and hardy Captain said aloud Messieurs if we turn our Backs we are all lost without Remedy 'T is more safe to expect our Enemies with a good Courage and then we shall obtain the Day The Front of the English hearing these Words said By Saint George You say well A shame on them that turn their Backs first And then the Frenchmen began to light off their Horses and order'd themselves for a standing Fight Whereupon King Edward spake to the Lord Manny Let us also get on Foot for the Enemy I see will expect us And at the same time he order'd a Detachment to go to Newland Bridge For he had heard that a good Body of Frenchmon were just sent thither to make good the Retreat besides a Considerable Party left there at first by St. Geoffry Charny Accordingly there went thither six Banners of England and 300 Archers on Horseback and there they found the Lord Moreaux de Frennes and the Lord of Crequy and others ready to keep the Bridge and before them between the Bidge and Calais stood ready ranged a Brigade of Arbalisters and Cross-bows Here began a terrible Medley the Archers of England piercing and breaking their Ranks thro and thro with their thick Flights of deadly Arrows so that presently there were more than six hundred Frenchmen slain or drown'd and stisted for they were easily beaten away by the Archers slain discomfited and chaced into the Water on each hand This was early in the Morning before Day-break when all things being rendred-undertain those who are set upon are usually the most fearfull However the French Men of Arms kept their Ground and for a while fought gallantly enough and did many proper Feats of Arms but the Englishmen from Calais perpetually flow'd in upon them and the French decreased as fast wherefore the rest seeing they could no longer maintain the Bridge such as had Horses by mounted and shew'd their Backs the English following after them on the Spurr while others were gleaning the Reliques of the Field at the Bridge and slaying and taking those Frenchmen who could not recover their Horses There the Lord of Fiennes the Lord of Crequy the Lord Dâ—deauville and Others that were well horsed saved themselves But far more were beaten and overthrown and many were taken thrô their own indiscreet Hardiness that might else have saved themselves not dishonourably But when at last it was Day light and the Frenchmen could plainly see all about them they began to look back and beheld that the Pursuers was far inferiour to them in Number wherefore they boldly faced about and began to order themselves for Battle and to call upon their fellows to come back and joyn them And here as some y Walsing hist p. 159. Stow p. 249. will have it was the King of England in this Party among the Pursuers eager of Honour thô to the great hazard of his Person and that being at first because unknown follow'd but by a Few namely 16 Men of Arms and about an 100 Archers on Horseback when he saw the Resolution of his Enemies who perceiving his small Numbers turned back upon him he as resolutely dismounted and put away his Horse from him cast away the scabbard of his Sword and set his Men in the best Order he might placing the Archers on the dry hills encompassed with Quagmires and Marshes to preserve them from the fury of the Enemies Horse at which instant lifting up the Visor of his Helmet a little to shew himself unto his Men he exhorted them aloud to play the Game of Honour lustily telling them that he was Edward of Windsor and would bear a part with them in this adventure So that the Hearts of the English were wonderfully exalted beyond their usual height of Courage being as well animated by the Example and Presence of their King as also by Honour and Necessity it self The Archers especially stripping up their sleeves to the shoulder to have the more liberty for Action stood ready to bestow their home-drawn Arrows with such judgement and concernedness that not one of them might fail of due Execution Then the Armed Men on both sides met furiously and the King in the Head of his Men did Marvels taging as z Walsing ibid. M. S. Vet. Angl. in â—â—bl C.C.C. c. 228. One says like a Wild Boar and crying out for Indignation as his usual Manner was Ha! St. Edward Ha! St. George the Archers all this while doing great Execution on the Enemies flank till at last the English being well-nigh opprest by the too unequal Numbers of the Enemy the Young Prince of Wales came opportunely to the Rescue But let who will be of this Opinion I cannot cordially embrace it my self not only because it makes so Great a Captain against decorum too inconsiderate and rash for that Character but also because it seems utterly improbable that the Prince of Wales the Lord Manny and those other Lords who knew of the Kings being there should suffer him to be so lightly attended in so hazardous a juncture or that thô disguised to the rest he was not yet remarkable enough to them Not to say that it is scarce credible the King who had such a zeal for the safety of Calais should leave the Head of the Enemy fighting at the Gates and run forth after Matters of far less Moment leaving the Place in danger of being taken From all which we are enclin'd to believe that when the Causey and Bridge was clear'd by that Detachment which the King had sent thither one Moiety might remain there still to clear the field of the French who could not recover their Horses or who sled not so fast and the other in the mean time follow'd the Chace upon the Spur And perhaps here and there did meet with some resistance till
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
in Popular Mortifications of the Body as in Whippings Fastings and the like but in secret and firm Resolutions against sin and a steady and discreet Curbing of the unruly Concupiscence IV. In the r Odor Rainal ad 〈…〉 §. 4◠〈…〉 231. M.S. Vet. Anâ—â—â— in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 224. beginning of this Summer some Variance happening between the Fleets of England and Spain which was fomented by French Arts the Spaniards under the Conduct of Don Carlos de la Cerda their Admiral beset the Brittish Sea with a Fleet of fourty four Tall Men of War and particularly encountring with ten English Merchants laden with Wine from Gascogne they boarded wan rifled and sank them and so took the Haven of Scluse in Flanders And many more Evils they did about the Coasts of England and Aquitain as firing of Ships which they found at Anchor Robbing and Killing our Merchants and what other Englishmen fell into their hands Hereupon King Edward sent first into Flanders that they should not presume to allow any Harbour or Assistance unto these his Enemies And he the mean while prepared to set out against them in Person Accordingly being soon furnish'd with a Fleet of Fifty good Ships and Pinnaces and taking along with him his Eldest Son Edward Prince of Wales then in the Twentieth Year of his Age together with the Earls of Lancaster Northampton Warwick Salisbury Arundel Huntington Gloucester and other Lords and Knights with their several Retinues and a good Number of stout Archers he went on board at Sandwich with design to meet the Spanish Armada at their return with Wares from Flanders and at last on Å¿ Lit. Dom. C. a Monday the IV of the Kalends of September being the 29 of August and the Feast of the Decollation of St. John Baptist he met with them upon the Coasts of Winchelsea and about Rye near the hour of Mattins There arose immediately a fierce Engagement between the two Fleets the Spanish huge Carracks easily overlooking the English Vessels and almost overwhelming them with a storm of Crossbow-shot Stones Timber and Bars of iron that slew incessantly from their high built Castles But the Archers of England pierced their Arbalisters with a further Reach than they could strike again and so compelled them to appear more rarely on the Decks obliging also at the same time those that fought on the Hatches to cover themselves with Planks and Tables and fetching likewise down with their winged Messengers such as threw Stones from the tops of their Ships And then after a long and doubtfull Fight the English Men of Arms began boldly to board the Spanish Vessels with Swords Lances Halberds and Battle-Axes in their hands cruelly slaying and tumbling over-board all they met with to make room for new Guests which King Edward had brought with him for that purpose And now Seventeen of the Enemies Ships were thus wholly in the English power when all out of season envious Night came on to befriend the poor Spaniards but to deprive the English of an absolute and entire Victory For hereby they were fain to cast Anchor and to desist from pursuing their good Beginnings being forced to attend a further Trial till the next Day And therefore as supposing nothing done to purpose while any thing remained undone they fell to dressing their own Wounded but flang the miserable Spaniards into that Sea whereon they had so lately trespassed And then having taken their repast and set the Watch they all waited for the Morning The next Day being freshly apparel'd for fight they look'd about all over the Seas but saw no sign of any thing to resist them For 27 Spaniards Ships had fled away during the Night-season leaving thô against their wills no less than 17 thô u Fabian p. 228. Martin p. 125. Others say 22 and Some b Speed p. 581. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 946. Sed M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 224. Naves XXIV captas refert 26 to the discretion of King Edward who was thus again adorned with a Naval Crown But this Honour the King thought too dearly bought with the Life of St. John Goldesborough a young Knight of great Valour of comely Shape and noble Deportment who died in this Engagement and was much lamented by the King and his Son the Prince of Wales to whom he was always very Dear upon the account of his extraordinary Qualities and almost equal Age and Conformity of Will and Inclination His Loss King Edward having endeavour'd to repair by Advancing no less than fourscore young Gentlemen y Odor Rainal ad hanc an §. 40 41 c. who performed best in the Fight to the Honour of Knighthood return'd again with Victory and Triumph for England This Defeat happen'd to the Spaniard just upon the beginning of Don Pedro's Reign his Father Alphonso XI being z Matth. Villani l. 1. c. 41. Joh. Mariana l. 16. c. 15. in the Month of March preceding taken away by the Plague as he lay at the Siege of Heraclea now called Gibraltar Viejo V. A Week before this Battle was fought namely a Labbe Chron. Techu ad hunc an Mezeray Frois c. on the 22d of August or as some say the 28 being a Sunday Philip of Valois King of France departed this Life at Nogent le Roy in Chartrain in the Fifty Seventh Year of his Age and the Twenty Third of his Reign He was a Prince surely of very great Accomplishments Pious Brave and Liberal But either by the more powerfull Genius of King Edward his Adversary or the Injustice of his Cause or both all his Gallantry and Courage were rendred ineffectual or rather of dangerous effect to himself He b Mezeray ad hunc an was more happy in Negotiations than in Battles very severe and strict to his Subjects suspicious vindicative and apt to be immoderately transported by the impetuosity of his Choler c Frois c. 153. From Nogent his Body was honourably conveyed to our Lady's Church in Paris and on the Thursday following he was Royally interred at St. Dennis on the Left side the High Altar his d Lanquets Chr. ad hunc an Bowels being left among the Jacobins in Paris and his Heart as himself had desired at e an Fâ—untainbleau Bourefountain in Valois His Eldest Son and Heir John Duke of Normandy succeeded him in his Troublesome Throne and on the 26 of September following being a Sunday was solemnly Anointed and Crowned King of France together with his Queen Joan f Vid. l. 2. c. 7. §. 13. p. 428. late Widow of the Lord Philip of Burgundy in the City of Rheims At which time he made several Knights g Frois ibid. Mezeray c. as his Eldest Son Charles the Dauphin his Second Son Lewis Earl of Alenson the young Earl of Estampes the Lord John of Artois Son to the late Famous Robert of Artois also Philip Duke of Orleanâ— the
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
Whitsuntide King Edward kept in great Splendor at Westminster being accompanied with the Chief of his Nobility and those of France and Scotland that were Prisoners During which t Catal. Nobil by Tho. Mills p. 649. Solemnity the Lord Edmund younger Brother to Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel was Knighted by the King together with 300 more young Gentlemen At which time u Knighton p. 2607. n. 27. Mezeray p. 39. Tom. 3. par 2. also the Lord Charles of Blois who had been Prisoner in England above four Years by means of Queen Philippa whose Kinsman he was obtained leave to go into France to procure his Ransom his two Sons Sr. John and Sr. Guy remaining still behind as Hostages for the Payment he being by Oath obliged not to bear Arms against England till he had paid the Money Thô one x Knighton p. 2607. says that having obtain'd Leave upon Security given to divert himself in the Island of Jarsey when by walking about frequently he had sufficiently observed the Weakness of the Country he came some Months afterwards suddenly upon them with 300 Men of Arms and put all he found to the Sword like a perfidious and Disloyal Knight and so took possession of the Place himself IX The Lord Guy de Nesle Marshal of France being now at Liberty again to repair the Loss he suffer'd in April raises a considerable Army in Bretagne where about the Middle of August viz. on the 15 Day 1352 y Frois c. 153. Gaguin p. 143. Walsingh hist p. 161. Fabian p. 229. Stow p. 253. he was again valiantly encountred by Sr. Walter Bentley Sr. Robert Knolles and other English Captains near Mauron between Rennes and Ploermel Where after a long and doubtfull Fight the English being but 300 Men of Arms and 600 Archers the Frenchmen thô above Four times their Number were utterly discomfited slain and taken For there fell Guy of Nesle himself who was Lord of Oysemont and Marshal of France together with the Lord of St. Quintin the Lord of Briquebec the Lord of Courtenay the Chastellain of Beauvais the Lord of Rugemont the Lord of Montauban the Lord de l'Aunay the Lord of Mont de Bayeux the Lord de L'Aigle the Lord de Villebon the Lord de la Marche the Lord de le Chastelet Thirteen Lords in all besides an 140 Knights and of Batchelours 500 whose Coat Armours were brought away But the Common-Souldiers were not numbred There were also taken Prisoners the Lord of Brusebeque Son of the Lord Bertram Sr. Tristram de Morlaix the Lord of Malestroit the Viscount of Cominges Sr. Geoffry de Gray Sr. William de la Val Sr. Charles Darcheville Sr. John de Brou and other Lords and Knights Batchelours to the number of 130. This Army of the French and Bretons under the Conduct of the said Marshal had been so order'd by him that having a steep Mountain behind at their Backs they might be enforced to stand to it resolutely by despairing to fly One z Stow ibid. says that no less than 45 Knights of the Star were slain in this Battle but the Number of those Knights who were created the last Year being but 18 't is hardly credible that already the Order should be so mightily overstockt wherefore we pass this by as an Errour However there were many Valiant and Noble Leaders on the French Part and their Array was so dreadfull that it dismayed the Hearts of several Englishmen so that they began to flee But the Couragious Sr. Walter Bentley Lieutenant of Bretagne at that time for the King of England would not flinch a Foot but oppos'd good Conduct and indefatigable Resolution to the fury of his Enemies till after a bloody Fight wherein hardly one of the English escaped unhurt and Sr. Walter himself was grievously thô not mortally wounded by the Grace of God he obtain'd a famous Victory After which in a Court Martial he condemned thirty Archers to be hang'd because they forsook him and fled in the Heat of Battle to the hazard of all his Company This was a considerable Blow to France and a Loss not in many Years to be repaired althô in the room of Guy de Nesle there succeeded the Lord of Beaujeu a most Worthy Captain in the Office of Marshal of France X. As for the Affairs of Gascogne King Edward at this time a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 1â—0 ex Record constituted the Lord Ralph Earl of Stafford his Lieutenant and Captain General in those parts with special Commission to Treat with any persons of what Nation soever upon terms of yielding aid to the King and receiving mutual assistance from him In which service of the Lieutenancy of Aquitain he was now retained by Indenture bearing Date 3 tio Martii 1352 to continue with an 100 Men of Arms and an 100 Archers on Horseback all of his own proper Retinue till Michaelmas next ensuing And from that time forwards to have an additional Number of 100 Men at Arms and 200 Archers on Horseback provided at the Kings Charge during his stay in those parts The King likewise indenting further with him to send by way of supply under the Conduct of the Duke of Lancaster or one of the Earls either of Northampton Arundel Warwick or Huntington 300 Men of Arms more and 700 Archers At which time the said Earl of Stafford constituted Sr. James Pipe then Seneschal of Aquitain Governour of Blaye scituate in the Enemies Quarters on the other side the Garonne But the mean while in respect of this his necessitated Absence from England he obtained of the King a special Precept to the Judges of the Kings Bench that they should not in any of their Sessions within the County of Essex intermeddle with his Liberties And while he was preparing for this Expedition he had an Assignation of the Town of Hackney in the County of Middlesex for the quartering of his Men and Horses Sixty Men with Lances being among others impressed for that service out of his Lordships of Newport and Netherwent in the Marches of Wales And being in the beginning of May almost b Ashmele p. 690. ex Ret. Frane 26. Ed 3. m. 11. Maii 14. Lit. Dom. A.G. ready to take his journey into Gascogne a Writ bearing Date 14 of May was issued to Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Admiral towards the West to arrest all Ships of 50 Tuns and upwards for this Earl's passage thither and to bring them to Sandwich by the c Pâ—scha 8. April Fâ—st Trin. 3 Junii Quindene of Trinity or the 17 of June following Being arrived safe in Gascogne he presently after encountred a Great Body of Frenchmen who came forth of their strong hold to meet him of whom he had an entire Victory slaying the greater part of them and taking Prisoner that most valiant Gentleman d Stow p. 253. Sr. Gaudee who afterwards being naturalized made his seat in Suffolk and seven Knights of the Star if
this latter is not a mistake of kin to the former About this time there e Ashmole p. 700. Stow ibid. Sr Thc. de la Mere. died in the parts of Gascogne on the Tuesday next after the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel Sr. Thomas Wale Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter being a Person of great Worth and Vertue So that of all the Stalls of the first Founders his first became void into which succeeded Reginald Lord Cobham of Sterborough Sr. Thomas Wale bare for his Arms Argent a Cross Sable and Sr. Reginald Cobham Gules Three Mullets Sable on a Cheveron Or. XI King f Stow p. 253 Edward understanding at this time that the Brittish Seas were infested with Pirates order'd seven Men of War to be fitted out with certain Pinnaces to attend them Of which Fleet Sr. Thomas Cook and Sr. Richard Tottlesham were Admirals who scoured the Seas about the Coasts of Picardy and Normandy and at last return'd with safety and Honour This Year g Knighton p. 2603. n. 20. William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the late Emperour of Germany and in his Mothers Right Earl of Hainalt Holland and Zealand came into England and Married by the Kings leave the Lady Mathilda Eldest Daughter to Henry Duke of Lancaster and Relict of Ralph Eldest Son of Ralph Earl of Stafford who dying three Years before left her a Fair young Widow This William was Duke of Bavaria and Count Palatine of the Rhine and lately upon his Mother the Lady Margaret her Death Earl of Hainalt c. But about six Years after upon what occasion is not known h Tune 's store-house p. 721. he fell distracted and slew a Knight with a blow of his Fist Whereupon he was shut up under a good Guard in hopes of Recovery his Brother Albert managing the Government in his stead till about 19 Years after he died in that sad Condition leaving no Issue by his Wife who continued in a manner a Widow during that long time of his Distraction XII This mean while Henry the Great Duke of Lancaster Father to the said Lady Mathilda when he saw the Truce taken between the two Realms the last Year being desirous to bestow what time was his own to the Honour of God and the propagation of Religion l Dudg 1 Vol p. 786. ex Pat. 25. Ed. 3. m. 6. obtained the Kings Licence to take a journey into Prussia there to fight against the Infidels In which Licence the King granted that in case he should depart this Life before his Return his Executors should retain all his Castles Lands and Mannors in their Hands till his Debts were discharged Together with this Noble Prince went at the same time k Monast Angl. 1 Vol. p. 728. b. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 550. William Lord Ros of Hamlake and several other Persons of Quality but the said Lord Ros died this Year before his Return in the 26 Year of his Age without Issue leaving Thomas his Brother Heir to his Great Inheritance then but 14 Years of Age. The Duke of Lancaster passing thus towards the Holy Land with a gallant attendance of Valiant Knights and Gentlemen was l Knighton p. 2603. n. 10. suddenly in High-Germany together with several of his Company arrested and obliged to lay down 300 Scutes of Gold for his Liberty Which affront we shall shortly find how ill he resented But however for the present he proceeded on his journey being honourably attended and convey'd from Country to Country by the special Command of those Christian Princes thrô whose Dominions he passed But before he came into Prussia he heard that a Truce for several Years had been already taken by the Christians and Pagans whereat being much displeased he returned back again the same way In his return m Knighton p. 2603. n. 30. c. Dudg 1 Vol. p. 786. b. c. Frois c. 153. Stow p. 253. Fabian p. 230. Grafton p. 292. Walsingh Hist p. 162. n. 14. being then at Cologne a certain German Knight informed him how the Duke of Brunswick was He who had caused him to be so arrested intending in favour of the King of France to have him secured and sent back unto the said King. Wherefore now he declared openly in the Cathedral of Cologne in presence of the Marquess of Juliers and many other Nobles how basely Otho Duke of Brunswick had caused him to be arrested with design to hinder his Pious Pilgrimage thô he had never given him any the least occasion of Offence as he knew having no acquaintance with him or knowledge of his Person And he affirmed that it did not become a Gentleman of Quality to deal so rudely with a Knight Stranger who had never offended him and that in case he had a mind to meddle he should find him ready to perform the part of a Souldier at any time Now when the Duke of Lancaster was safely return'd into England as he did before Ascension-day this Year these his Words were related in Order to the said Duke of Brunswick who thereupon presently sent a Challenge to the Duke of Lancaster in this form Otho by the Grace of God Duke of Brunswick Lord of Thuringen and Son to the Great Duke of Brunswick unto the Excellent Prince and Noble Duke of Lancaster Know You that the Words which You spake personally with your own proper Mouth in the Chief Church of Cologne by Name St. Peters on the Friday next after Easter last past before the Noble Prince the Marquess of Juliers and many other Worshipfull Knights and Esquires in the presence of the Citizens of the said City unadvisedly rashly and shamefully were false and by no means true Which things We will maintain by our own Body against your Body as a true and Loyal Lord is bound and obliged to demonstrate against a rash and false and wicked Man. And this We will perform between the Castle of Guisnes and St. Omers or where else the King of France our Lord shall assign a place For thither shall be brought a safe Conduct from the said King lest We should prolong the Matter Dated c. This Challenge being brought into England to the Duke unsealed n Stow ibid. lest he might expose himself to scorn by giving too much Credit to such unauthentick Letters he presently sent back unto Otho two Knights to learn the truth of the Matter and to demand thereupon his Letters Patents sealed with his Seal of Arms. Upon the return of these Knights with his Letters sealed he obtained leave of the King his Master and wrote back that by such a day he would not fail to meet him and by the Grace of God to maintain his Words in his own proper Person as Truth and Honour required Accordingly having with much adoe obtained a safe Conduct from France he furnished himself after his Quality and went strait over to Calais with 50 Knights in his Company
in case it were not given there should be injury done unto him I wrote likewise that God should do him injury and approved it This I now revoke as false Heretical and Blasphemous CHAPTER the THIRTEENTH AN. DOM. 1355. An. Regni Angliae XXIX Franciae XVI The CONTENTS I. The King of Navarre murders the Constable of France and invites the Duke of Lancaster to his Assistance The Duke sets forth in order thereto but hearing how the Kings of France and Navarre were agreed returns home again II. The manner how that Reconcilement was made III. The War breaks out again between England and France Prince Edward goes over into Gascogne with his Exploits there The Lord John Lisle slain IV. Two Letters of Sr. John Wingfield's setting forth the Particulars of the Prince's Expedition V. King Edward goes into France obtains a Truce and returns into England VI. Barwick taken by the Scots VII A Parliament at Westminster VIII A Parliament at Paris IX The Birth of Prince Thomas of Woodstock The City of Nantes in Bretagne taken and recover'd A strange Malady of Aversion from Company The Death of Peter Lord Mauley the Fifth of that Name I. WHen we spake of the Combat that was to have been perform'd between the Dukes of Lancaster and Brunswick we mention'd among other things how extraordinary kind his young Kinsman Charles King of Navarre was then unto him Now the Occasion of this Prince's Coming to Paris at that time was to marry the Lady Jane one of the Daughters of King John de Valois But surely whatever Alliance or Affinity he had or might seek to have with France he became an Occasion of many great Calamities to that Kingdom For a Mezeray ad avn 1353. as he was the most winning and obliging in his Address of any Man living being adorn'd with Vigour Beauty Eloquence Courage Affability and Liberality beyond all Men so he made the worst use of these natural Excellencies and rendred them pernicious by his Ambitious Temper and the secret Delight he had in all kind of Mischief From the time of his Marriage he never ceased to pursue his Pretensions to the Countries of Brie and Champagne but especially to that of Angoulesme But Charles de la Cerda of Spain Constable of France to whom the King had given the latter disswaded him from proffering any Equivalent by way of satisfaction in that Point Whereupon the Navarrois retires discontented into his Earldom of Eureux in Normandy and b Gaguin Frois c. 154. Meâ—eray Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Du Chesne p. 673. there understanding that the Constable was then in his Castle in the Town de L'Aigle he enterprised a design as bold as execrable For on the Sixth of January taking unto him certain armed Knights he caused them to scale the Castle early about break of Day and there by them the Constable was murder'd in his Bed. This done he avowed the Fact by justifying himself in his Letters to King John and his Council and in the mean time thô being the Kings Son-in-Law he endeavour'd to reconcile himself to his Favour yet either to secure himself against the worst or by making himself formidable to extort a Pardon he was very busie in making Musters in fortifying his Castles and inviting several Neighbour Princes to a League against France And althô a Treaty of Reconcilement had been begun and to all seeming appearance established by that time between the French King and him as we shall shew by and by yet when he heard how the Duke of Lancaster was as we shew'd in the preceding Year at the Court of Avignon c Frois c. 154. fol. 76. a. he also made shift to get thither where secretly he d M.S. Ret Par. p. 85. n. 6. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 90 confer'd with his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster at which time he complain'd to the said Duke of several Dammages done unto him by the French King and gave him his Oath that he would most willingly enter into League with the King of England and for Assurance of the same would endeavour when the Truce was once ended to joyn him at Jersey with all the Power he should be able to raise And in the beginning of this Year he e Stâ—â— p. 255. sent among Others his Uncle Giles of Champagne to the Duke of Lancaster with Letters heartily beseeching him to come into Normandy with all speed to his Aid and Defence and to receive his Oath of Fidelity to serve King Edward against all Men. The Duke accordingly with the Kings leave f 〈◊〉 p. â—â—9 gather'd a great Navy together which was rigged and made ready at Rutherhive alià s Radriffe being furnished with Provision of Victuals for one Quarter of a Year and the whole Fleet consisting of fourty Sail had all their chief Streamers beaten with the Arms of the said Duke of Lancaster who was appointed with a great Power of chosen Men of Arms and Archers Lord Admiral of the Navy But few or none of his Men knew whither he was bound The Tenth of July he sailed to Greenwich between which and Sandwich he was held till the 15 of August the Wind for the most part all that while continuing at West and South-west which was contrary to this intended Course At length with much Difficulty he came to Winchelsea and thence to the Isle of Wight And it was generally concluded that he design'd for Normandy to support the King of Navarre in his Quarrel against the French King But hearing now certain News of that Kings Reconciliation with France he returned home again to the King his Master II. Now to set forth the Inconstancy of this Navarrois Prince we shall here remember what we promised a little before the manner of his first Reconcilement which was this When King John saw by his Levying of Men and otherwise that Despair of Pardon might drive him to desperate Courses prejudicial to Him and his Realm especially in this doubtfull Juncture he thought to dissemble the Matter and by Flattery to bring him within his Power But g Frois c. 154. f. 75. c. Mezeray p. 40. ad an 1354. this jealous Prince could by no means be allured to come to Paris till he had made most secure and advantageous Conditions for himself As that King John should render him Lands equivalent to Brie and Champagne and an Independency of his Earldom of Eureux from all Others but the King only also he demanded a full and absolute Pardon for all those who had an hand in the Constable's Murther and besides all this a good round Summ of Mony and several other Lands and Advantages and moreover the Lord Lewis Duke of Anjou the Kings Second Son in Hostage for his Security All which King John was fain to grant him being thereto perswaded as well by the Navarrois his Friends as by the Necessity of his own Affairs Whereupon in March following he came to Paris and appeared
a John bìc lego pro Baldwin ex Dug Bar. 2 Vol. p. 46. John Botetourt with his Company and my Lord Reginald Cobham took the foresaid Town of Chastel Sacrat by Assault and the Bastard of Lisle who was Captain of the said Town was slain in the Assault being stricken thrô the Head with an Arrow Now my Lord Reginald is returned back toward Languedoc and my Lord Botetourt toward Brassac with their Troops But the Lords John Chandos and James Audley remain still with their Troops in Chastel Sacrat and have plenty of Victuals of all sorts to serve them between this and Midsummer except only fresh Fish and Cabages as they have by Letters advertised Us Wherefore You need not concern your self about your Men For there are in that Town more than three Hundred Spears 300 Commons and an 150 Archers And they have rid before Agen and burnt and destroy'd all their Mills and fired or broken down all their Bridges that lie over the Garonne and have taken a Castle without the same Town and have fortified it And Monsieur John D'Armagnac and the Seneschal of Agenois who were then in the Town of Agen would not once put forth their Heads nor any of their People and yet have they been twice before that Town And Monsieur Bouciquault and Monsieur Arnold D'Endreghan and Grimston Campbell with 300 Spears and 300 Souldiers of Lombardy came and entred the Town of Moissac which is in Quercy where now they are that place being but a Mile from Chastel Sacrat and but a League from Brassac and You may well suppose there will be good company to give each other a taste of their Valour And further please to know that my Lord Bartholomew Burwash is at Cognac with sixscore Men of Arms of my Lords House and sixscore Archers and the Captal de Buche the Lord Monferrand and the Lord of b b An Partenay Crotony who have with them 300 Spears sixscore Archers and 200 other Souldiers besides those in Taillebourg in Tonnay and Rochefoucaut so that all together they may well amount to 600 Spears and at the Writing hereof they were undertaking a journey towards Anjou and Poictou And the Earls of Suffolk Oxford and Salisbury with the Lord Mucidan Monsieur Ellis de Pamiers and other Gascogners which are more than 500 Spears effective 200 Souldiers and 300 Archers were at the Writing hereof gone forth against the parts of Nostre Dame de Rochemade and have been abroad now these 12 days nor are yet return'd at the sending of these Presents My Lord John Chandos my Lord James Audley and my Lord John Botetourt with their Troops are set forth upon a journey on their side And my Lord Reginald Cobham and those of his Retinue with the Gascogners of his Company are also upon a journey on their side The Earl of Warwick hath been at Tonneins and at Clerac which Towns he took and at the writing hereof was gone towards Marmand to destroy their Vines and what else he can of theirs My Lord the Prince is now at Libourne and Monsieur de Pamiers at Fronsac which is but a quarter of a League from Libourne and Monsieur Bernard de la Bret is there with him And my Lord looks for News which he should have and according to what He hears He will behave himself for as it seems He stands strictly upon his Honour At the Writing hereof the Earl of Armagnac was at Avignon and the King of Aragon is there also But of other Discourses which you know have been in divers places I cannot now certifie you Right Dear Sir I can recommend nothing to you more earnestly than that you remember to send News your self to my Lord the Prince as soon as by any means you can and so the Lord grant you a long and a good Life Dated at Libourne 21 January 1355 / 6. V. Now before this while the Prince of Wales was yet about his Expedition in Gascogne the King his Father according to an Agreement made between the Duke of Lancaster and the King of Navarre of which we spake before prepared with a great Navy and Army of Men to meet the said King about the Island of Jersey and now all things being ready he took his Course c M.S. Rot. Par. p. 86. 29. Ed. 3. n. 7. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgment p. 90. from the Water of Thames but in his passage thitherward he was so strongly encountred by contrary Winds that he was in great danger driven back till he arrived at Portsmouth Here he lay with his whole Fleet till he heard certain News how the King of Navarre had changed his former Resolution and was reconciled to the French King again For when King John d Knighton p. 2609. n. 10. ad n. 20. heard and knew that Despair of obtaining a full Pardon for the Constables Death had drove that Prince to combine with England against him he sent unto him the Queen of France and Others to assure him in his Name of absolute Indemnity and full Grace and Favour and a quiet Possession of all the Lands in Controversie whereupon soon after the Reconciliation was made for the present of which King Edward at this time received Advice However the King was not disturbed at this Matter but hearing also at the same time e M.S. Râ—t Par. Sr. Rob. Cotton ibid. Knighton p. 2608. n. 60. ad p. 2610. n. 60. M.S. vet Anglic in Biblioth C C.C. Cantabr c. 229. that his Adversary King John of France made himself strong towards Calais and had with him a great Army in the field thereabouts he entertain'd hopes of speedily obtaining a Decisive Battle with him now and therefore addressed himself thitherward and at Calais was joyned with some Additional Forces lead by two Valiant Lords his Allies who met him there namely Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders and Sr. Frank van Hall and many other Germains and Brabanders to the number of a 1000 Men of Arms So that in all the Kings Forces amounted to f Stow p. 255. n. 40. confer cum Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 951. 7000 Men of Arms 2000 Archers on Horseback besides Archers on Foot in great Number with Welchmen and other choice Infantry There being among the rest 25 Men of Arms and 500 Archers on Horseback all in one Suit of Livery at the Charges of the City of London The King took with him in this Expedition two of his Sons Prince Lionel of Antwerp and Prince John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond the former in the Seventeenth Year of his Age and the other in the Fifteenth together with Henry Duke of Lancaster William Earl of Northampton the Earls of Stafford and March and the Lord Walter Manny and many young Gentlemen Sons to Barons of the Realm of whom g Knighton p. 2609. he had upon the Downs Knighted 27 the Chief whereof were his own Sons Lionel and John Guy and Thomas Sons to
that when the Scots within the Town heard how King Edward himself was coming to its Relief they dismantled the Walls set fire on the Town and so fled away with all the Spoil they had gotten However King d Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Edward being now repossessed of the Place leaves behind him sufficient Hands both for the Defence thereof and to repair what was wanting in the Fortifications and himself in e Knighton p. 2611. three Great Battails marches forth into Scotland resolving f Buchan l. 9. p. 304. now to bring that Realm to terms of Agreement or to reduce them so low that He should never after stand in doubt of their Rebellion While he was at Roxborough Edward Bailiol King of Scotland considering g M. S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c 230. how God Almighty wrought graciously and miraculously for King Edward and being also wearied with so long contending for little more than the Empty name of a King which of himself he was not able to maintain reflecting likewise that himself was now well gone in Years and had no Child to leave the Kingdom to upon these thoughts he concluded it wholly vain to labour any longer and therefore coming unto Roxborough by his Charter of Resignation he submitted the Crown of Scotland and all the Right Title and Interest that ever he had or might have thereto unto King Edward of England and his Heirs for ever only out of this Grant h Speed p. 581. he reserved to himself an annual Pension of 2050 pounds to be paid unto him during his Natural Life And he earnestly beg'd that he would now pursue his own quarrel to the utmost and i Buchan l 9. p. 304. not forget those manifold Injuries which the Scots had done unto them both This Solemn k Hâ—lâ—â—sh Engl. Chron. p. 955. Resignation King Bailiol confirmed by his Letters Patents made and given under his Hand and Seal and bearing Date 25 Januarii Ano. Domini 1356 which he deliver'd with his own hands to King Edward of England in sight of all the Lords both of England and Scotland there present Thô King Edward bearing a particular Love for his Third Son born but Second living Prince Lionel l Knighton p. 2611. n. 22. according to some accepted the Kingdom for him he to hold it by Homage now of Him and hereafter of his Elder Brother the BLACK-PRINCE and his Heirs For so says Knighton that King Bailiol resign'd all the Right which He claim'd to the Crown of Scotland to the Lord Lionel Son to the King of England Thô others say that King Edward not only received the Realm of Scotland to his own behoof but also soon after took upon him the Royalties thereof being at Scone in Presence of all the Prelates Lords and other great Men of both Nations m M. S. Vâ—t Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Crowned King of Scotland But We dare not averr so much our selves because We never find him to use the Title or any other way to signifie such a Matter II. However while King Edward and the Bailiol tarried at Roxborough Earl Douglas and many n Knighton p. 2611. n. 27. ad n. 50. of the Chief Nobles of Scotland came to him and treated with him as if they design'd to submit to his Peace and a Day was appointed for a full and final Agreement In order to which the King allow'd them 8 days Respite But the mean while these perfidious People convey'd the best of their Moveables beyond the Scottish Sea and then William Douglas sent word to the King That he would never submit himself to his Peace while he lived King Edward being thus again deluded marched forth with his Army divided into three Great Battails burning and destroying the Country on each side round about him as he passed till he came to Haddington But the Scots had removed out of the way all sorts of Provision so that for 15 days together the English could get no Drink but fresh Water wherefore they were obliged to return But the Scots were always ready both on their flank and Reer to cut off whosoever went forth from the main Host to forage While King Edward tarried at Haddington waiting for his Navy wherein the Provisions for his Army were his Men of War were not idle but ravaged about in the Country at their Pleasure doing much mischief to the Enemy but little good to themselves For there was neither Spoil to be met with of any Worth nor Victuals in any Quantity and Drink as We said before none but Water All that was good for any thing being carried away or consumed by the Scots The mean while the Northern Navy under the Command of the Lord o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 26. Robert Morley their Admiral suffer'd great Damage at Sea for whether it was because they had spoil'd a Church of our Lady near Haddington called White-Kirk p Hector l. 15. fol. 326. n 6. Buchan l. 9. p. 304. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 955. as was said or for any other cause or by chance there arose such a Tempest and Vehement North-wind that many of their Vessels rushing together and beating rudely against the Banks and Sands were cast away with most of the Men and Provisions within them and the whole Fleet received much Damage being scatter'd so that hardly three Ships came into one Haven together For Displeasure whereof say the Scotch Writers King Edward fell to ravaging again and abundantly powred out his Anger upon Edinburgh Haddington and other Towns of Louthian Nor will I dissemble that he is here also said to have made terrible havock of Holy Places sparing it seems neither Church Abbey nor any other Religious House as if says Hector he was minded to make War against God and all his Saints But for this I must beg Hector's pardon if I do not so readily believe it partly because his Credit is not very great as We have frequently seen and partly because Buchanan says no such thing as also because that humour was contrary to King Edwards disposition who as Hector says thô falsly in one point slew his own Brother John of Eltham for the same sacrilegious humour and we have instanced more than once in this our History that he hath hanged several of his own Men for setting fire to Churches or Monasteries and lastly not to take Notice of Hector's superstitious humour I believe it not because of that notable Success which followed his Arms this Year in France and elsewhere as we shall shew presently However this is certain the King of England left at this time such Marks of his Resentments in those parts that because this Desolution happen'd about the Feast of the Purification of our Lady and so many Towns and Villages were fired by the English The Scots ever after q Hector ibid. sed ibi bruit malè pro brunt brunt pro burnt called it
Blaisois and Touraine to the intent to fight the English And lest he should make any Delay in a matter of such Consequence he forthwith rode from Paris to Chartres onward of his way to have the surer Intelligence of the Prince's Actions And there dayly flocked to him thither and to the parts about Blois and Tours Men of War from every Province in and about the Kingdom of France as from Hainalt Lorraine La Franche Comté Picardy Normandy Bretagne Vermandois Berry Burgundy and still as they came in they were set forward train'd and enrolled having Quarters assign'd them about in the Country by the two Marshals the Lord John of Clermont and the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan King John the mean while sent huge Quantities of Provision of all sorts to all the Fortresses and Garrisons in Anjou Poictou Le Maine and Touraine and elsewhere where He thought the English might pass designing thereby to foreclose the Avenues of the Country and so to cut off all Provision from them that neither they nor their Horses might get any forage or subsistence But for all that as yet Prince Edward and his Forces found no Impeachment or want but passed on at their ease thrô the plentifull Countries of Auvergne Quercy Limousin Perigort Saintogne la Marche and Berry as now we shall shew II. EDWARD b Stow p. 259. Prince of Wales sirnamed the Black-Prince having employ'd the Winter-season in repairing and fortifying the City of Bourdeaux and other Castles and Towns in Gascogne and caused great Quantities of Gold and Silver to be coined according to a Commission from the King his Father for the Wages of his Souldiers began his March from Bourdeaux on the c Walsing hist p. 163. M.S. Vet. Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 230. sixth of July with an Army of d Mezeray ad hunc annum 12000 Men as one says whereof 3000 were Natural English But most Writers agree that his Forces amounted to little more at this time than 8000 which was for certain the utmost number he had at the Battle of Poictiers unless we should believe that before he came thither he lost one Third of his whole Army without any opposition or remarkable Action at all Wherefore we rather follow Froisard who assigns the Number to be â—000 Men of Arms and 6000 Archers With which gallant little Army of Chosen Men having left the Lord e Stow p. 259. Bernard de la Bret his Lieutenant in Gascoigne with sufficient Power for the Defence thereof against the Earl of Armagnac who threatned to invade it he rode thrô Quercy f Frois c. 157. and Auvergne where he found plenty of all things burning plundering and destroying all before him in Hostile manner When he enter'd any Good Town well replenished with all things there he usually tarried two or three days to refresh his Men and then upon departure the Residue was all destroy'd the Heads of the Wine-Vessels stricken out Wheat Barley Oats Flesh and all other Provision but what they could bear away consumed lest the Enemy might be the better for them This Course the English held till they came to the strong City of Bourges which is the Principal place in Berry Here they made an attempt by giving a brisk Assault to One of the Gates In the Action many proper Feats of Arms were done but nothing of Advantage could be won here the place was so well Defended by the Lord of Conserans and the Lord Hutin de Memers who were Captains of the City Thence they wheel'd off to Issoudun a Castle of great strength to which they gave a very fierce Assault and thither came the whole Army but the Gentlemen within behaved themselves so well that they sav'd the place and wan Honour from the Prince by the Opinion they created in him of their Courages From hence they took their way to Virzon a large Town defended by a good Castle but the Town it self was not well fortified and the Hands within too few to make good the Defences so that it was taken by force And here the Prince finding great Plenty of Good Wines and other Provision of all sorts was pleased to tarry three days to refresh his People While he tarried here tidings came to him that the French King was at Chartres on the other side the Loire with a great Assembly of Men of War about him and that all the Towns and Passages upon the said River were foreclosed and guarded strongly So that he could not expect to pass over to get into Anjou Vendosmois or Le Maine Wherefore he was advised by his Council to pass thrô the parts of Touraine and so to wheel off on the Left Hand into Poictou and by that way to return thrô Saintogne and so to Bourdeaux This Course the Prince resolved to follow and having done as he pleas'd in the Town of Virzon and taken the Castle by force and slain most of them within he proceeded something on the left hand and rode toward Romorantin which lies almost equidistant between Blois and Bourges sending before him his two Marshals the Lord John Chandos and the Lord James Audley both Knights of the Garter accompanied with Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Frank Van Hall together with their Men to try out the state of the Country and to see there lay no Ambush King John also at the same time sent forth his spies to view the Condition of the English and to learn of what force they were Among whom g Stow p. 259. one Griffith Micco Captain of 200 Horse came upon the English spies to his Cost For there 30 of his Men together with himself being taken all the rest were slain to a Man not so much as one being left to carry back word what was become of his Fellows Now among others whom the French King had sent into those parts to look to the Defence of the Country there were h Frois c. 157. Stow ibid. three great Barons appointed to keep the Frontiers namely the Lord of Craon the Lord of Bouciquaut and the Hermit of Chaumont who with 300 Spears had for some time rode about the Country coasting at a distance the English Host whom having now followed for six days together they could yet never find any Advantage to set upon them the Army rode so carefully and in such close Order At last perceiving the Prince to take the way of Romorantin they began to fetch a wide compass about and so getting before him planted themselves in Ambush near to Romorantin at the middle of a wonderfull straight Passage by which the English must needs go That same Day by chance there went with the leave of the Marshals before the Prince's Battail the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Sr. Walter Pavely Sr. Nele Loring and Sr. Sanchio Dambreticourt all Four Knights of the Garter with the Lord Roger de la Warre the young Lord Edward Spencer then about i Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 395.
Craon Briciusgauth pro Bouciquaut prâ—pter 〈◊〉 M. SS Codicum leg tur Three Lords aforesaid namely the Lord of Craon the Lord of Bouciquaut and the Hermit of Chaumont besides the Captain of the Garrison who was there before and 240 Men of Arms the common Souldiers being let go and in this whole Expedition before the Battle of Poictiers there are p M.S. vet-An giiâ—in Biblieth C.C.C. Cantabr c. 23â— reckon'd to have been taken in all more than 6000 Men of Arms about in the Country as the Prince journey'd all whom he sent away Prisoners to Bourdeaux to be ransomed After the Taking of Romorantin the Prince marched on as before thrô the Parts of Touraine and Anjou on this side the Loire destroying the Country all before him till he came to the Place which was ordain'd to be remarkable to all Posterity for a Victory of his III. The French King q Fro s c. 159. f. 79. c. having already compleated his Musters at Chartres began his March about this time and went thence to Blois upon the Loire in quest of the Prince Where having tarried two Days he passed the River with all his Host a great Part whereof went over at the Bridge of Orleans Mehun Tours and Saumur or where else they might for all the other Bridges but those of the Good Towns were broken down by the French to hinder the Prince's Passage From Blois King John marched to Amboise and the day following to Loches where he heard how the Prince of Wales was on the Borders of Touraine and designed to return by Poictou to Bourdeaux For he had perpetual Information sent him in dayly by several expert Knights of France who continually coasted the English to observe their Countenance and Behaviour Hereupon King John marched from Loches to la Haye en Touraine resolving to give the Prince of Wales Battle with an Army consisting of 20000 Men of Arms Lords Knights and Esquires all muster'd and past for Men of Arms among whom were twenty six Dukes and Earls and more than 120 Banners with the Kings Four Sons who were all but Young as Charles Duke of Normandy and Dauphin of Vienna Lewis Duke of Anjou John Duke of Berry and Philip who shortly after purchased the Sirname of Hardy and became in time Duke of Burgundy At that instant Pope Innocent VI sent the Lord Talayrand Cardinal of Perigort and Nicolas Cardinal r Haec nomina tituli ecrum v. Victerell 1 Vol. p. 911. ad p. 923 Odâ—r Rainal Titulo Sancti Vitalis into France to treat of Peace between the French King and all his Enemies First between him and the King of Navarre for whose Delivery they had often before laboured hard with King John when he lay before Bretevil but all in vain and then to use their utmost Endeavours to compose Matters between England and France When these Cardinals came to Tours they heard how the French King was in eager Pursuit of the English wherefore they both made haste to the City of Poictiers for that way they understood both the Armies were bound The mean while the King hearing that the Prince made haste to get home and doubting lest he should escape his hands departed with all his Host from la Haye en Touraine and rode to Chauvigny on the River of Vienne where he tarried that Thursday with his Men in and about the Town between the two Rivers of Creuse and Vienne The next Day he passed the Vienne at the Bridge thinking to find the English before him on the other side but he was mistaken for they were encamped by a little Village higher on the Right hand of Poictiers But for all that King John pursued after with great heat and confidence and with him there passed the Bridge more than 60 Thousand Horse besides those that passed over higher at Chastelleraut who also took their way directly to Poictiers On the other hand Prince Edward had no certain knowledge where his Enemies were thô he concluded they were not far off because his Men could find no more Forage Whereby he began to be in great Want and then the English Souldiers repented much that they had made such Havock and Destruction as they had done before in Berry Anjou and Touraine and yet had laid up but small Provision for themselves against â—n evil Day IV. All that Friday being the day that the King passed the Vienne at Chauvigny Å¿ Frois ibid. censer cum Knighten p. 2614. n. 50. there tarried still behind in the Town three Great Lords of France the Lord Ralph de Coucy the Earl of Joigny and the Lord of Chauvigny Marshal of Burgundy with part of their Troops to the number of 240 Men of Arms. These early on the Saturday morning also passed the Bridge after the King who was then about three Leagues before and they took their way among Bushes by the side of a Wood which leadeth to Poictiers That same Morning Prince Edward had dislodged from about a little Village hard by called Bonmatour at which time he sent before him certain Currours to try if they could meet with any Adventure and to get Intelligence whereabout the French Army was These were in number sixty Men of Arms all excellently well mounted under the Leading of Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt a young Gentleman Son to the Lord Sanchio Dambreticourt who was Knight of the Garter with whom was joyned the Lord John de St. Guislain another Native of Hainalt and soon after their setting forth they met by chance with the Three French Lords aforesaid as they rode along by the side of the said Wood. The Frenchmen presently knew them for their Enemies wherefore they strait clap'd on their Helmets display'd their Banners and came a good round Trot toward the Englishmen But they seeing their Design and withall how far they exceeded them in Number determin'd to fly and suffer the French to pursue as knowing the Prince with his Horse was not far behind So they turned their Horses and took down by a Corner of the Wood with the Frenchmen at their Heels upon the Spurr crying out their Martial Cries with great Clamour But as they pursued thus eagarly unawares they came where the Prince was with his Battail expecting some News from those whom he had sent forth for that Purpose The Lord Ralph de Coucy rode so forward that he was suddenly under the Princes Banner where after a couragious Resistance he was taken Prisoner together with the Earl of Joigny and the Lord of Chauvigny and an t M.S. vel Ang. in Bibl. C. C C. Cantab. c. 230. Hundred Men of Arms as many more being slain only about Fourty escaped away by reason of the Covert of the Wood. This was the first lucky praeludium to that Famous Victory which was already destin'd for the English From these Prisoners Prince Edward fully understood the Condition of his Enemies and how they followed him so near that he could not
other Knights and Esquires of their Company few or none in that hurry being taken to Ransom And here the Lord Eustace D'Ambreticourt was found tied fast to a Chair and unbound rescued and remounted by his own Men and he being thoroughly vext that he had so long stood idle did now many Worthy Feats of Arms and took good Prisoners When the Duke of Normandy's Battail which was already hardly matched and had the Captal of Busche upon the Reer beheld also the Victorious Prince of Wales approaching they thought it best not to abide him but to save themselves as soon as they might And so the Duke and two other of the Kings Sons who were but young lightly believed their Tutors and departed out of the Field with more than 800 Spears in their Company who had not struck one stroak that day But however the Lord Guischard Dangle and the Lord John de Santerre by some called Ceintre accounted one of the best Men of Arms in France would not fly on any pretence whatsoever but rush'd into the thickest preass of the Battle The Kings Three Sons took the way to Chauvigny but the Lord John of Landas and the Lord Theobald of Bodenay who were appointed to wait on the Dauphâ—n of Vienna when they had conducted the Three Princes a long League from the place of Battle having charged the Lord of St. Venant not to leave them till they were in safeguard whereby he would better please the King than if he aboad in Battle took their leave of the Dauphin intending to return to the Field again In their way thither they met with the Duke of Orleans and with him a great Company who had also left the Field with clear hands and yet there were among them many good Knights and Esquires who thô they were constrained to accompany their Masters had rather have died than have done a thing themselves so worthy of Reproach Upon the Dauphin's Departure there came b Stow p. 262. one to the French King and said My Lord the Field is fallen to the English and your Eldest Son is withdrawn out of the Battle At which the King said with an Oath that he for his part would not forsake the Field that day without a notable Revenge unless that he were either taken or slain Then the Standard-Bearers were Commanded to move forward and presently there appeared to the Prince of Wales two great Battalions of Armed Men marching towards his small Company At the sight whereof an old Counsellour who stood near the Prince was so extreamly discouraged that he could not forbear crying out Alas Poor Wretches now are we utterly undone But the Prince who was full of Courage and Faith in Christ check'd his Cowardise with these Words Thou liest like a Dastardly Fellow as thou art for We cannot be overcome as long as I am alive And with that the Kings Battail came fiercely on the English consisting of no less than 8000 Men of Arms besides footmen but now the rest of the French being clear'd the English Marshals and the Earls of Warwick Salisbury and Suffolk with their wearied Battails joyned the Prince having first supply'd the exhausted Quivers of their Archers with Arrows drawn from the Bodies of Dead and Dying Enemies And thus Armed with Necessity and Hope from their Prosperous Beginnings a Few weary and wounded Men went on boldly to engage with a Numerous and Fresh Army The Fight was Desperate and for a while well maintain'd on both sides for here were good Men of War and the Kings Presence Armed them with deeper Resolution The King and his Son Philip happen'd to oppose the English Marshals the Earls of Warwick Salisbury and Suffolk and with them were now joyned all the Gascogne Lords as the Captal of Busche the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Mucidan and the rest aforenamed To the French Kings Battail there came back time enough the Lord John of Landas and the Lord of Bodenay who with their Men alighted on foot and like Valiant Gentlemen enter'd into the thickest of the Battle On one hand of the King there fought the Noble Duke of Bourbon who had with him many Valiant Knights of Bourbonnois and Picardy Hard by were the Poictevins with the Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Dampmartin the Lord of Montalboto the Lord of Surgeres the Lord John de Santerre the Lord Guischard D'Angle the Lord of Argenton the Lord of Lymiers the Lord of Montendre the Lord James of Beaujeu and the Lord de Chastell Vilaine In another quarter fought the Earl of Ventadour the Earl of Monpenser the Lord James of Bourbon the Lord John of Artois and the Lord James his Brother the Lord Arnold de Cervoles commonly called the Arch-Priest who was clad in the Armour of the young Earl of Alenson there tarried also still in the Field the Lord de la Torre the Lord of Chalenton the Lord of Montagre the Lord of Rochefort the Lord de la Charre the Lord Dachone the Lord Delmal the Lord Norvel the Lord Piers Buffiers the Lord William Nesle the Lord Arnold Reuel the Lord Geoffry de St. Dizier the Lord Guyventon de Chambley the Lord Eustace de Ribemont the Lord of Holey the Lord of Monsalt and many more too tedious to Name and some place here with more probability the Earl Douglas and his Scots who yet suffer'd as before We have related On the English Part the Prince c Walfingh Hypod p. 124. of Wales was no less Remarkable for his Valour than for his Place and Quality performing both the Part of a Prudent and Carefull General and also of an Approved and Experienced Souldier adventering trying and performing whatever might be expected from a perfect and exalted Courage All his Captains did their Parts with much Bravery and Resolution Among whom the Lord John Chandos merited no small Praise both for his discreet Conduct and unwearied Valour 'T is impossible to recount the Particulars of those Noble Exploits that were this Day performed by the Nobility of England But this is certain that as the Earls of Salisbury and Suffolk Oxford and Others were exceedingly remarkable in this Hot Service so particularly the Noble Earl of Warwick fought so long and with such Fury that his Hand was d Dudg Warwickshire p. 317. M.S. in Bibl. Bodleian Cantuar K. 84 123 vid. Dudg Bar. 1 Vol. p. 233. galled with the exercise of his Sword and Poleax Among others he himself took William de Melun Archbishop of Sens Prisoner for whose Ransom alone he had afterwards no less than e Pat. 37. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 25. 8000 Pounds But all this Courage had been thrown away to no purpose had it not been seconded by the extraordinary Gallantry of the English Archers who behaved themselves that Day with wonderfull Constancy Alacrity and Resolution So that by their means in a manner all the French Battails received their first Foil being by the barbed Arrows so
galled and terrified that they were easily opened to the Men of Arms. The Lord James Audely being still followed by his Four Esquires fought all Day among the thickest Ranks of his Enemies not without receiving many Wounds both in the Body and Visage as long as his Strength and Breath would hold but when toward the end of the Battle his Esquires perceived that for loss of Blood he began to faint they carried him by main force out of the Field and laid him under an Hedge hard by where they unarmed him and refreshed him binding up his Wounds as well as they could King John of France for his part is allowed on all Hands to have performed the Office both of a Good Captain and of a Valiant Knight insomuch that it is said how if the Fourth Part of his Men had followed his Example in all Probability the Victory had been his There was f Frois c. 164. He on foot defending himself and offending his Enemies with a weighty Ax of Steel in his Hands which he used with much Praise It is said g Paul. Aemyl p. 287. that Prince Philip his youngest Son also fought at this time so well by his Fathers side and in his Defence like another young Scipio that thô he was taken at last Prisoner yet for his forward Courage in War he obtain'd the Sirname of HARDY Thô surely he must needs be now but of tender Age being the Youngest of four Sons of a Father who was but then h Ano 1364. Ano Aetat 52. ergo hoc an 44. Mezeray p. 66. in the Forty fourth Year of his Age and Prince Charles his Eldest Brother was then but i Natus Anno 1336. Twenty But it might be that his Resolution gave such hopes even now as to obtain the Title of HARDY from that Complementing Age which called Philip of Valois the FORTVNATE and this King John the GOOD and his Son Charles whom no Truce nor Oaths could bind the WISE Yet I have seen another Account much more probable indeed thô not so generally attested how this Prince came by the Sirname of HARDY 'T is said k James Meyer apud Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 976. that while he was Prisoner in England together with his Father King John being at King Edwards Table with him at Dinner this young Prince Philip among Others of the Nobility of either Nation was appointed to wait And that when a certain young Nobleman of England who attended also served King Edward first and then King John this Philip up with his Fist and gave him a Wherret on the Ear saying What dare you serve the King of England first when the King of France sits at the Table The Nobleman offended therewith drew his Dagger offering to strike the young Prince but King Edward loudly forbad him and commending the Courage of the Royal Youth said to him in French Vous estes Phillippe le HARDI i. e. thou art Philip the HARDY from which that became his Sirname But to return whence we have digressed All this while the Prince of Wales and the Lords about raged like Lions and the Archers so well bestowed their Shot that the Frenchmen were at last broken here also and a miserable Slaughter ensued all the best Men being either taken or slain thô not a few chose to save themselves by Flight among the slain were reckon'd l Frois c. 162. Knighton p. 2614. n. 20. Mezeray c. Peter Duke of Bourbon the Duke of Athens Constable of France the Vicount of Châlons the Marshal Clermont the Vicount of Beause the Lord Geoffry Charny who bore the Royal Standard this Day the Lord Eustace Ribemont whom King Edward had so generously treated at Calais some Years before the Lord Guischard de Beaujeu the Lord m Du Serres p. 22. Fabian Speed. Reginald de Carrian the Lord William Nesle the Lord de la Torre Sr. Guyventon of Chambley or Chably the Lord of Castle Gaillon the Lord of Argenton and Others of the Highest Quality to the Number of n Mezeray ibid. Fifty besides the two Earls of Germany and Others whom we have shewn to be slain before But yet this Battail was not wholly discomfited it was so numerous and the King and some Lords about him fought so couragiously thô several of their Men fled away Among the various Rencounters Chaces and Pursuits made that Day in the Field o Frois c. 163. it happen'd that Sr. Edward Renty a Valiant Knight of Artois who yet had left the Fight when he saw Things desperate was pursued as he fled a private way all alone by a certain Knight of England whose Name we cannot recover The Englishman as he gave the Chace still cried out after him Return again Sir Knight it is a shame to fly away so from a single Man. At last the Frenchman turned indeed seeing it was so that no Body else pursued him and the Englishman thought to have stricken him in the Target with his Spear but he failed For Sr. Edward swerved aside from the stroke on purpose and as he passed on in full Career lent him such a full Blow on the Helmet with his Sword that he was astonished and fell from his Horse in a Swoon Sr. Edward presently hereupon alighting came to him with his Sword drawn before he was fully recovered and said Yield your self Sir and promise to be my Prisoner whether you be rescued or no or you are but a Dead Man. When the English Knight being come to himself saw Death before him and heard these Words he accepted the Conditions and yielded to go along with him and sware himself Prisoner and was afterwards released on payment of his Ransom That same Day another French Gentleman of Picardy an Esquire named John de Helenes having forsaken the Field met with his Page who deliver'd him his Horse whereon he rode away all alone Now there was in the Fight on the English Side the Lord Thomas Barkley Son of Sr. Maurice Barkley who died before Calais for this Story cannot belong to the old Lord Thomas nor to his Son Maurice as we have intimated before tho Sr. William p Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 358. Dugdale thrô inadvertency makes him both young and old and to have won many Prisoners wherewith he built Beverstone Castle and to be a Prisoner himself at the same time this Lord Barkley I say q Frois c. 163. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 358. being at that time a young lusty Knight who had first reared his Banner that Day pursued the said John de Helenes all alone till having followed him the space of a League the French Esquire turned back upon him laying his Sword in his Rest instead of a Spear and so came running toward the Lord Barkley who the mean while stood ready with his Arm raised to have smote him but the Esquire seeing the stroke coming turned from it and as he passed reached him such a Blow
his Company On the Third Day he rode to Canterbury where also he stayed for some time and here the French King and the Prince of Wales made their Offerings at the famous Shrine of St. Thomas Becket The mean while King Edward being informed of the Arrival of his Son with the French King in his Company d Speed p. 582. gave Command to Sr. Henry Picard then Lord Mayor of London to make ready the City Pageants and to prepare for the Reception of King John with all their Formalities in the most honourable Manner that might be And now Prince Edward rode from Canterbury to Rochester from thence the next day to Dartford and the day after to London whither he came on the 24 of May being the Wednesday before Whitsunday and was met in Southwark by more than a Thousand of the Chief Citizens on Horseback King John being clothed in Royal Apparel was mounted on a large White e Ita Meâ—erâ—y ad aâ—n 1378. where Charles King of France had an Enterview with Charles the Emperour He entertained him says he with all the magnificence imaginable paid him all manner of Respects but such as denote Sâ—veraignty c. And at his Entrance into Paris the King affected to be mounted on a white Hâ—rse and order'd a â—â—â—k one for the Emperour Courser in token of Soveraignty and to be the more Remarkable the Generous Prince of Wales riding by his side on a little black Hobby as one that industriously avoided all suspicion of a Triumph They took their way over London Bridge and rode directly for Westminster and in all the Streets as they passed the Citizens of London set to publick View all their Riches as Plate Tapestry and the like in honour of the French King but especially they f Knighton p. 2615. n. 19. boasted of their Warlike Furniture and exposed that Day in their Shops Windows and Belconies such an incredible Quancity of Bows and Arrows Shields Helmets Corslets Breast and Back-Pieces Coats of Mail Gauntlets Vambraces Swords Spears Battle-axes Harness for Horses and other Armour both Offensive and Defensive that the like had never been seen in Memory of Man before The g Walsingh hist p. 164. Hyâ— p. 124. Speed p. 182. Concourse of People that came from all parts to behold this rare Spectacle was so great that the Solemnity of the Cavalcade held from Three of the Clock in the Morning till High-noon about which time the Prince got to Westminster-Hall where he presented unto the King his Father then sitting in Great Majesty on a Royal Throne the Person of King John his Prisoner King Edward could not long retain the Severe Majesty of a Conquerour for when the French King had humbled himself with such a serious thô Manly Submission as became his present Fortune he was immediately touch'd with a due Consideration of the Instability of his own Affairs by the instance of so great a Prince whom now he beheld in so low a Condition and so rising hastily from his Throne he h Mezeray p. 49 ad 〈◊〉 ann Caressed him with as much Honour and Respect as if he had only come to give him a Visit And the Father and the Son did so exactly resemble each other as well in Generosity as Valour that King Edward being now fully acquainted with the Particulars of his Sons humble Deportment after the Battle of Poictiers declared that he was more sincerely satisfied therewith than at the Victory it self Nor did that Great King make use of this solemn Entrance of his Royal Captive as a Matter of his own Triumph but rather of a devout Procession For i Polyd. Virg. l. 19 p. 381. n. 42. by his Order that very Day the Clergy of London came forth with their Crosses and singing Anthems to meet the Prince and after that for two Days together publick Supplications and Prayers with Thanksgivings were celebrated thrô the Cities of London and Westminster That Day King Edward treated the French King his Son Philip and the rest of the Noble Captives at a Princely Rate and order'd for the King an Apartment of his own Court to lodge in for the Present till the Savoy should be prepared for him being at that time a most splendid and magnificent Structure belonging to Henry Duke of Lancaster and so called k Pol. Virg. p. â—82 n. 3. Speed l. 539. from its first Founder Peter Earl of Savoy Father to Boniface Archbishop of Canterbury who was Uncle to Eleanor King Henry the Third his Queen To this Palace soon after he was convey'd and there Honourably attended King Edward himself his Queen and the Prince giving him frequent Visits and devising all the ways they might both to Honour and Comfort him But nothing is perfectly agreeable while Liberty is wanting and therefore thô King John could not expect either more Diversion or more Respectfull Behaviour in the Court of his Brother in Law the Emperour yet something hung upon his mind which was not possible for him to shake wholly off till he should find himself at his own dispose 'T is said l Pol. Virgil. l. 19. p. 382. that when the King of England and his Son having often observed such a cloud of sorrow to obscure much of that serenity which was expected from him at those Princely Diversions wherewith they entertain'd him asked him thereupon to lay aside all Melancholy Care and sorrowfull thoughts he made this Answer with a smile m Psalm 137. v. 5. Quomodo Cantabimus Canticum in Terrâ alienâ i. e. How shall we sing a Song in a strange Land Thus was King John and his Son and the Chief of the Captive Nobles of France entertain'd in England n Pol. Virg. ibid. of the other Prisoners some were presently released upon King John's security in their behalf and the rest were severally bestow'd in safe Custody II. While things went thus in England Henry Duke of Lancaster lay at the Siege before Rennes in Bretagne which he had begun on the o Mezeray ad hunc annam Third of December in the preceding Year and had made many Assaults but to little purpose as yet the Place was so well defended For within was a good Garrison set there by the Lord Charles of Blois under the Viscount of Rouën the Lord de Laval Sr. Charles du Digne and others There p Frois c. 175. sol 87. was also in Rennes at this time a Valiant young Batchelour a Knight of Bretagne called Sr. Bertram du Clequin who soon after became a most Renowned Captain and was at length sirnamed the Restorer of France During this Siege there passed a Challenge between this Sr. Bertram and a young Baron of England named Sr. Nicolas Dagworth a Valiant Son of that Valiant Lord Thomas Dagworth of whose Actions and Life and Death we have already spoken The manner of the Combat was to run Three Courses with a Spear to strike Three Blows
Battle of Durham among whom the Lord Robert Stuart Prince of Scotland was especially numbred Thô both before that and since he had given sufficient Testimonies of his Courage and Conduct and had also by his Government during his Masters Imprisonment and his Care and at last Success in working his Delivery as plainly demonstrated his Loyalty But however King David rather than acknowledge his own Rashness in occasioning that Overthrow laid it so vehemently upon his Nephew Roberts Leaving the Field o Holinsh Chron. Scotl. p. 243. Hector l. 15. that now at last that Act whereby the Crown of Scotland for want of Lawfull Issue begotten of Davids Body was for ever entailed on the said Prince Robert and his Heirs was by his Procurement repealed disanulled and wholly made void and his other Nephew the young Lord p Odor Rainal vecat Alexand. alii Johann sed Rainaldi fides prastantior Alexander Son and Heir to the Earl of Southerland by his youngest Sister Jane was declared Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in the Room of Prince Robert who was Eldest Son of the Lady Margaret King David's Eldest Sister Which Act all the Lords of Scotland were sworn to observe and maintain Whereupon the old Earl of Southerland Father to this Prince Alexander verily believing that his said Son could not now miss of the Crown of Scotland gave away the most part of his Lands dividing them among his Friends and Relations especially to the Noble Families of the Hayes the Sinclares the Ogilbies and the Gourdons thereby to bind them the faster unto his Sons Interest But all this Precaution fail'd for shortly after the Lord Alexander his Son being one of the Pledges then remaining in England for the Security of King David's Ransom together with most of the other Hostages died of the Plague which then again raged in this Kingdom as we shall see shortly Whereupon Prince Robert Stuart being then again easily reconciled to the King was once more acknowledged and by Act of Parliament established Rightfully the Heir Apparent to the Crown of Scotland in as full manner as he had been before The mean while especially at the Instance of the Pope the Clergy of Scotland agreed to contribute the Tenth Penny of all their Fruits and Revenues towards the payment of their Kings Ransom And at the same time the said King nothing unmindfull of his Promise made to King Edward before his Deliverance moved his Lords and Barons in a Matter which yet himself was not willing to succeed in thô being bound by Oath so to do he urged it notwithstanding with all the Application he could Namely q Odor Rainal ad ann 1358. §. 4. Scotici Scriptures Holinsh c. That provided he himself should decease without Issue they would agree that the Crown of Scotland and all the Rights thereof should be entirely transferred to the King of England's Eldest Son and to his Lawfull Heirs for ever But to this unexpected Proposal the Lords answer'd all with one Voice That as long as any of them were able to hold a Sword in their Hands they would never yield to be subject to England King David was well pleased with this their Resolution and look'd upon himself now as discharged from attempting any thing further that way Because he had only engaged to King Edward That if the Scotch Nobility would consent he would Entail the Crown upon his Eldest Son. IV. But we have too long left the Duke of Lancaster at the Siege of Rennes in Bretagne from whence as we shew'd r Vid. Lib. 3. c. 2. §. 2. p. 527. before King Edward at the Cardinals Remonstrance had sent him a peremptory Command to rise forthwith upon sight of his Letters Now the mean while the Duke by a strict and long Siege for it began on the 3d of December in the Year foregoing and ended not till the latter end of July in this Year had mightily straitned the Place having moreover ravaged and eaten up the Country all about to supply his Army but I dare not say with Å¿ Leland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 824. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788. Leland that by a Detachment sent from the Siege he wan Autry and Semay lying on the River Aysne on the Marches of Lorraine for to any one that considers the Distance of those Parts from Bretagne it will seem ridiculous to imagin it I had rather in that Place read Vitray on the Vilaine on which River the City of Rennes also stands However t Knighton p. 2616. once Charles of Blois came thither with 10000 Men to raise the Siege but when he saw the English Duke ready to receive him in the Field and yet at the same time to make good the Siege with another Part of his Army holding it not likely to succeed as then he retired Whereupon the Besieged beginning to doubt of their Affairs sought for an occasion to parly with the Duke but they design'd to do it as it were by Chance that so they might obtain the better Conditions First therefore they request a safe Conduct for a Bishop and six Knights whom they sent to re-consecrate a Church without the Walls which being polluted by a Murther committed therein had been shut up for some time These seven having obtained a safe Conduct and the Work for which they went being done upon their return thrô the Camp were invited by the Duke to Dine with him and there at Table in Discourse it was question'd what might be the Meaning that the Defendants delay'd to yield up the Town since there was no Body able to succour them or to raise the Siege The Bishop having received Instructions before-hand said they should not refuse to yield upon good Conditions the Duke said they could not expect any better Conditions as things were now than to submit Themselves and Goods to his Clemency However after much Altercation Matters were brought at last to this Issue That the Inhabitants should give to the Duke an u Fab. say but 60000. a Scute 6 s. 8 d. i. e. a Noble English hundred thousand Scutes of Gold toward the Charges he had been at so that they should be otherwise free both in their Body and Goods and further that they should give Security that upon the Duke's Demanding the Town for the Use and Behoof of the King of England they would deliver it unto him to set what Captain he should please over them These things were established and agreed to on both sides and thereupon the Duke named them a Captain but because he would not expose the City to Plunder he appointed only certain Troops to go and take Possession of it in his Name he himself tarrying without the Town with the Gross of his Army One x Meâ—eray ad hunc annum says how he had sworn not to rise from before Rennes untill he had entred in Person and should see his Banners planted upon the Rampiers
of those licentious Souldiers saying that they were Murtherers and Felons and out of his Protection and such as he would by no means justifie as we remember to have observed before Althô afterward indeed when the War was open again between the two Realms the King in consideration of their Valour and Abilities for his service gave them his Pardon All this while the Duke of Normandy and his Brethren were at Paris unable to steer the Vessel of Government in such an unruly Tempest as might even discourage the most Expert Pilot. The r Frois c. 191. fol. 103. Merchants and Traders durst not go forth of the City about their business for whoever did so was surely taken or slain the Realm was so full of Navarrois who were Masters of all the plain Country and of the Rivers and of divers Cities and good Towns so that the Lands were left Fallow and uncultivated by reason of these troubles and whatever Fruits prosper'd and came to Maturity were taken up by the Souldiers whereupon so great a Dearth fell in France that a barrel of Herrings was sold for 30 Crowns of Gold and other Provision both of Corn and Flesh at a proportionable Rate and this scarcity endured in that Kingdom more or less for almost four Years so that the poorer sort of People died for Hunger But salt especially was very Dear for there was none to be had but of the Duke of Normandy's Officers and they sold it at their own Rates thereby to heap up Mony to pay the Souldiers To say the Truth whoever considers how the Frenchmen themselves were the first occasion of all these Calamities by not complying with those just Proposals made unto them by the Regent for the Defence of the Realm and their Kings Redemption will either be apt not much to pity these their sufferings oâ— to curse the undutifull Proceedings of that Parliament for their sakes X. Now the Constable of France Å¿ Frois c. ibid. namely the Lord Moreau de Fiennes and the Young Earl of St. Paul who had in the midst of so many Misfortunes happily succeeded in Relieving Amiens from the Navarrois obtained general Thanks and Praise over all Picardy So that all the Knights and Esquires thereabouts resorted to their Banners desiring to be employ'd by them about the Restoration of their Abused Country The Constable encouraged hereby resolv'd to lay Siege to St. Valery and therefore sent for a supply of Men to all the Good Towns of Picardy Artois and Flanders as to Tournay Arras Lille Douay Bethune St. Omers St. Quentin Perone Amiens Corbie and Abbeville each whereof sent him their several Quota's accordingly Many other Knights and Esquires drew thither upon the Fame of the Constables good Beginning especially from Hainalt because of such Lands as they held in France as the young Lord Verchin Seneschal of Hainalt and Sr. Hugh Dantoing his Cousin with a goodly Troop along with them When thus the Constable was furnished with an Army consisting of 2000 Men of Arms and 12000 others he went and sat down before St. Valery on the Mouth of the Soame But the Place was not easie to be taken for there were two valiant and expert Captains Governors of the Place namely Sr. William de Bonmare and Sr. John Segar with 500 tall Fellows in their Company and they were well furnished with Artillery to offend their Enemies And the Besiegers sent to Abbeville and Amiens for several Engines of Battery wherewith they cast huge Stones into the Town to the great trouble and vexation of the Navarrois During this Siege there arrived at Cherbourg in Normandy the Noble Lord John Greilly Captal de la Busche and Cousin to the King of Navarre under whose Pay he had been newly retain'd Soon after his coming he rode to Mante upon the Seyne where he found the Lord Philip of Navarre Having tarried a few days with him he departed thence secretly with all his Men and rode in one Night thrô Vexin and Beauvoisin till he came to Clermont a great Town in those Parts but easily by him taken because without either Ditch or Fence Early the next Morning he assaulted the Castle and thô it seem'd impregnable by the help of his English Archers he took it by Scalado Sr. Bernard de la Salle being the first that enter'd it For he having sharp Spikes in his Greaves and Gantlets would readily clamber up the highest Walls like a Cat and had after that manner scaled several Fortresses before Here the Captal kept Garrison a long while after and by help of the Navarrois in the Neighbouring Castles as Creil Herelle and Mauconsell kept all the Country at his Devotion none being able to oppose him XI Thus was the Realm of France warred upon on all sides in the Title and Name of the King of Navarre and many other Cities Towns and Castles were taken in Brie Valois and the Bishoprick of Noyon about Soissons and Laon and Pont sur Seyne About Provins also in Brie and Troye in Champaigne Auxerre and Tonnerre in Burgundy there was such Havock made that none durst shew their Heads out of any of the Good Towns between Châlons and Troye and between Troye and Challon sur Saone Now the Castle of Beaufort en Champaigne had been of a long time the just Inheritance of Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster t Dâ—gd 2 Vol. p. 121. in Right of the Lady Blanch of Artois Wife to Edmund Crouch-back Younger Brother to King Edward the First and Grandfather to the said Duke Henry In this Castle Sr. Peter Audely Brother to the Lord James Audely was Governour at the same time and he also in favour of the King of Navarre to whom the said Duke his Lord was nearly related overran all the Country thereabout And at Pont sur Seyne and sometimes at Nogent upon the same River was the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt with 500 Men who ravaged all the Country about him and in another Fortress of Champaigne there was a Valiant and Hardy Esquire of Germany who did the same in his Station These three last mentioned namely the Captal Sr. Peter Audely and Sr. Eustace held in their Hands more than fourty Castles and strong Houses and when they had a Mind to take the Field together amounted to 2000 Men of Arms and upward The whole Country was entirely subjected to them and they robb'd plunder'd and ransomed where they pleased as they did to the Good Towns of Damery and Espernay to Vertus and all the Towns along the River Marne and all round the City Rheims Moreover they took the Good Town of Rosnay and the strong Castle of Hans in Champaigne and all other considerable Places thereabout as far as to St. Anthonies in Pertois Yet beside these in Burgundy and Pertois there lay Theobald of Chanfore and his Brother John Chaâ—fâ—re who in the King of Navarre's Quarrel had taken a strong Castle in the Bishoprick of Langres called Monsaugeon where they
Famine since they could not succeed any other way So all the Streights and Avenues were well watched that nothing could be conveyed to the Besieged either by Land or by Water Hereupon by Lent their Provision being in a manner wholly wasted when they found no hope of Subsistance from within or of Succour from abroad they advised to treat with the Constable that upon yielding up the Fortress they might have their Lives and Goods saved and liberty to march whither they pleased All this was granted them saving that they were not permitted to bear away any Armour or Weapons thô the Earl of St. Paul was very loath they should have such easie Conditions for he knew that shortly they must of necessity have yielded up simply But he little thought that at that very instant the Lord Philip of Eureux the King of Navarre's Brother was upon his March to raise the Siege which he was resolved to attempt at least if the Castle had not been thus yielded up before whereat he was infinitely displeased When the d Frois c. 194. French Lords had trussed up Bag and Baggage and were upon the point of Departing from St. Valery which they had now Garrison'd for themselves they heard news of the approach of the Lord Philip of Navarre Now this Lord Philip was Governour of all his Brothers Lands especially in the Country of Eureux and had at his Command all the Men of War which were Enemies to the Crown of France The Lord John of Picquigny had privately informed him that the Garrison of St. Valery would infallibly be lost unless he attempted a Rescue Wherefore he resolved to go and raise the Siege And so he secretly gather'd together about Mante and Meulan 3000 Men among whom were the young Earl of Harcourt the Lord William Granville Sr. Robert Knolles of England the Lord John of Picquigny and several other Knights and Esquires Prince Philip was within three Leagues of St. Valery with this Army when he met with Sr. William de Bonmare and Sr. John Segar of whom he had the whole Account of the Siege and Yielding up of St. Valery whereat he was extreamly displeased The French Lords had news likewise of Prince Philips Approach and resolved to meet him and give him Battle But he hearing that the Enemy was at least 30000 Strong had no mind to expect them but with all speed turn'd off to the Right hand and passing the River of Somme entred the Fortress of Long in Ponthieu with all their Carriages and what else they had They were scarce well entred when the French Army who followed them came thither also about the time of Evening-Prayer and still their Number encreased the Foot coming by degrees after the Men of Arms who rode on before in hopes to overtake the Navarrois Wherefore the French Captains determin'd to rest for that Night before the Fortress till their Men might come up and then all together to attack the Place the next Morning The Navarrou who were within finding they had little or no Provision for a Siege left the Place about the hour of Midnight and went away at a Back Gate and marched as fast as they could toward Vermandois having reached above two Leagues of their way before the French knew of their Escape Then they presently went to Arms and began to follow the Navarrois by the Track of their Horses The Navarrois in the mean time passed on a great way before till they came to Thorigny a little Village standing on an Hill in the middle way betwixt St. Quentin and Perone in Vermandois So that from thence one might view the whole Country round about Here they resolved to rest a while and refresh themselves and their Horses and if they must needs fight there they had the best Advantage of Ground to deal with their Enemies They had not been long here devising about their present Condition when they might behold all the Country beneath them cover'd with the French who were in Number more than 30000 Men. Whereupon they came forth of their Quarters and ranged themselves in Three Battails on the Hill ready to receive them The first Battalia was committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Prince Philip himself had the Second and the Third was lead by the young Earl of Harcourt each of them consisting of 700 Choice Men besides 300 Archers Then they were all commanded to cut their Spears to a five Foot length and in the hanging of the Hill they caused their Valets to set all their Spurs in the Earth with the Rowels upward to make the Enemies Ascent the more difficult At which time Prince Philip made several Knights the Chief whereof were the Earl of Harcourt and the young Lord of Granville The Frenchmen being come up to the Navarrois made an Halt and alighted on Foot as indifferent for the present whether to give or take Battle Some were for going up the Hill immediately and so to have fought them But those who had more Judgment said Our Men are almost tired with Travel and many of them not yet come up and it will be late presently so that considering all things we had best tarry here this Night and having the Day before us to set upon them to morrow fresh and with all our Forces This Resolution prevailing there they encamped for that Night setting all their Carriages round them for their better Defence which when the Navarrois perceived and that they should not be fought with as then in the Evening they returned into the Town again Where they kindled huge Fires and made great Smoke thereby to persuade their Enemies that they design'd to lodge there that Night But being before-hand resolved what to do when it was dark night they all mounted their Horses and left the Town in great silence riding toward the River of Somme which with the help of a Guide they passed at a little Village near Bethencourt Then they rode toward the Wood of Bouhain which they coasted and went that night above seven Leagues thô of those that had bad Horses or had lost their Way not being able to recover the Track of this silent Army in a Dark Night some were taken Prisoners by those of the Garrison of Bouhain and others were knockt on the head by the Bores of the Country The Frenchmen knew not of their Escape till it was near Day-light at which time they hasted as fast as they might to St. Quentins in order to pass the Somme at the Bridge there so to make a nearer Cut to intercept the Navarrois whom they expected to meet coming back in their Return toward Normandy So they rode toward St. Quentin which was but two Leagues off and came thither by that time it was Day the Constable and the Earl of St. Paul riding foremost The Watchmen on the Gates of St. Quentin hearing a noise of Horses and Men approaching were in some doubt of themselves because they knew the Enemy to
justly provoked sent his Defiance to the Duke and to the whole Realm of France and presently enter'd a good Town called Bar sur Seyne containing above 900 Houses all which having plunder'd and burnt because he could not take the Castle he carried off all his Prey and Prisoners to his own Garrison And besides this he left not till he had done more Mischief in Champaigne than either the English or the Navarrois had done And after all that the Duke was fain to agree with him and pay him much more than he had at first demanded Whereupon he went into his Country of Lorrain leaving behind him a severe Memento for Princes to be just to their Mercenaries and not to provoke them when they have no power to restrain them X. In these days a Frois c. 203. Waising hâ—st p. 166. Sr. Robert Knolles of England who by his great Valour and Fortune in the Wars arose from a small beginning to vast Wealth and Power made an Expedition from the Marches of Bretagne with a small Army of 3000 Men and rode along by the River Loire till he came into Berry where he passed on burning destroying and ravaging the Country Of his Acts in Bretagne together with the Lord James Pipe Sr. Otho Holland and Sr. Thomas Fowkes we shall here forbear to say any thing because such a Discourse would be now unseasonable wherefore we refer the Reader to the b Fab an p. 236. Knighton p. 2619. Authors in the Margin and only for this time shall shew how he proceeded in this his Expedition It is thought c Frois c. 203. he design'd to march thrô Auvergne and so to visit the Pope and his Cardinals at Avignon and to finger some of their Florens as Arnold Cervoles the Arch-Priest had already done And surely he made great Havock whereever he went destroying Towns Castles and Cities in such manner and number that long d Weevers Fun. Mâ—num p. 436. Lâ—â—b Peram after in Memory of him the sharp points and gable ends of overthrown Houses Chappels and Minsters were called Knolles his Miters Before his Passage into Berry e Knighton p. 2619. c. he burnt and plunder'd the Suburbs of Orleans on the Loire none daring to come forth of the City against him his Name was so dreadfull at that time And before that when he took the Town of Ancenis in the Marches of Bretagne the Inhabitants were so surprised at the terrour of his Name that many of them leaped into the Loire and were drown'd and not a few brake their Necks from the Walls for fear so that being at last come within 12 Leagues of Avignon the Pope and the Cardinals were in a wonderfull Consternation for doubt of him and some Clergy-men made these Rhymes of him Sr. Robert Knolls Roberte Knellis per te fit Francus mollis Ipsâ—â— tollis praedas dans vulnera Collis All France controls He takes their Prey And them doth slay But as he was approaching towards the Court of Rome he heard that the French Lords were making themselves strong to encounter him about Clermont in Basse Auvergne wherefore he alter'd his Resolution of Visiting Avignon and turn'd back with a Design to look upon his Enemies till being within one Days journey of them he f Frois c. 204. took the Advantage of an Hill and fortified himself there while his Spies rode forth to discover the French Army In the Evening they brought back Word that their Numbers were more than Treble to those of Sr. Robert's and that they were all well Armed and seem'd to be order'd discreetly The next Day the French Army came and encamâ—ed on a Mountain near the English so that each might see the others Fires And the Morning after they began to draw nearer till about Noon they came to another Mountain right over against Sr. Robert there being only a low Meadow of about 12 Acres of Land between them Upon this appearance of the Enemy the English presently made ready their Battails to fight and set their Archers in the hanging of the Hill before them Against them the French disposed themselves in two great Battalia's each of them containing 5000 Men the First was lead by Berault or Beroaldus the young Earl of Clermont Dauphin of Auvergne who having just then received the Order of Knighthood from his Uncle the Lord Robert Dauphin first that Day reared his Banner which was Auvergne and Martegues Quarter'd Besides this young Earl and his Uncle there was in this Battail the Lord of Montaign en Combraille the Lord of Tarascon the Lord of Rochesort the Lord of Sorigniac the Lord Godfrey of Boulogne and divers other Knights and Esquires of Limosin Quercy Auvergne and Rovergne The second Battail had these Prime Leaders the Earl of Forestes the Lord John of Boulogne Earl of Auvergne the Lord D'Archy and his Sons the Lord Dachon the Lord Duzes and Sr. Reginald de Foresles Brother to the Earl with many other Gentlemen all who were very desirous to come to a Battle As on the other side Sr. Robert Knolles and his Men seem'd no less willing to receive them thô the French amounted to 3000 Men of Arms besides 7000 Others and Sr. Roberts Company made not up full 3000 Men in all In this Order both Armies stood facing each other till 't was almost Night without any Proffer on either hand to come nearer saving that certain young Gentlemen descended down on each side to skirmish in the Meadow and to break a Lance or so for Love of their Ladies and whosoever wan his Antagonist had him for his Prisoner In the close of the Evening they both drew to their Lodgings having set a good Watch for fear of Surprise But the French Lords held a Council of War where 't was resolved that at the hour of Midnight they should all march down the Mountain on that side which was farthest from the English and fetching a course of two Leagues come up at the back of the Mountain where the Enemy lay and so give them a Camisade For on that side the Hill was much more easie of Ascent and they supposed to come upon them so early as to find them unready and out of order However this Device was not carried on so privately but that Sr. Robert had knowledge thereof by an English Prisoner who stole out of their Camp and brought him word of it Then Sr. Robert advis'd with his most experienced Captains who thought all things consider'd that it was not best to abide the Power of the Frenchmen at that time especially because they were so far outnumbred and in an Enemies Country So immediately they trussed up their Baggage and by help of Guides marched away with great silence At Midnight the French pursuant to their late Order ranged themselves in Battle Array and so fetch'd a Course about to come upon the Backs of the English and by that time it was Day light they
were at the Mountain where contrary to their expectation they found no Body With that they sent certain Horsemen to go up to the top and look about and see if they could view any thing of them and after a while these Men came down and told them how they saw them marching towards Esgurande and Milvaches and believ'd they design'd for Limoges The French Lords at this News being out of hopes to overtake them brake up their Expedition for that time and disbanded their Men Soon after which there was a Match made up between the young Lord Beroald Dauphin of Avergne and the Earl of Forestes his Daughter which he had by the Duke of Bourbons Sister After this Expedition Sr. Robert Knolles who by these unlawfull Wars in time of Truce was g Walsingh hist p. 166. risen to the Wealth of an Earl began to reflect upon himself how heinously he had offended the King his Master and thereby was become outlaw'd and now that the Wars were open again between England and France being very desirous to recover his Royal Favour that so he might be admitted to bear Arms upon a more just Account he began to make Friends in the Court of England and sent great Presents to the Prince of Wales and other the Kings Sons earnestly entreating them to move the King in his Behalf and unto the King himself he h Knighton p. 2619. n. 65. c. absolutely offer'd whatsoever he had any way acquired in France whether Castles Towns Goods or Chattels or any other thing he willingly submitted them all to his Liege Lord to dispose of at his Pleasure only desiring his full and gracious Pardon and if it should please his Majesty to permit him to hold any of his Acquests as a Royal Demesne and only Durante Bene placito he should think himself happy in being thereby somewhat enabled to serve his Majesty according to his Hearts Desire This handsome and humble Submission extreamly pleased the King and his Sons and so he not only obtain'd a full Pardon but also a Grant of many Castles and Lordships in Consideration of his Abilities for the War and because he had so entirely put himself upon the Kings Goodness Yet that same Year he fell into the hands of his Enemies about Michaelmas but as they were leading him away he had the good Fortune to be rescued by his old Friend Hanekin Francois who by chance rode that way and not only saved his Friend so opportunely but overcame his Enemies of whom he took Fourty good Prisoners XI This mean i Knighton p. 2620. n. 56. while the Commons of Flanders being wrought upon by the French King and their own Earl Lewis rebelled against King Edward whom before they had acknowledged for their Supream Lord and drove away the Merchants of England into Brabant and refused to admit the Easterlings to traffick within their Precincts and all those Citizens of Bruges whom they found firm to the English they either banish'd or imprison'd not a few of them being beheaded at the Command of the Earl of Flanders Whereupon King Edward issued out his Royal Proclamation commanding that all Flemmings of what Condition soever except only the Kings Farmers should be ready to take the Sea so as to void the Realm by the Feast of k 20 July St. Margaret then next ensuing on pain of Death without any more Delay And because the War was now open between England and France the Frenchmen were also envolved in the same Penalty with the Flemmings at the same time XII Now was King Edward busie in providing for the War which he design'd in his own Person to carry beyond the Seas and had already sent his peremptory Command over all the Realm to his Commissioners of Array in all Counties toward the Equipping of a Royal Army worthy to attend him who resolved now wholly to reduce France to his Devotion or to die in the undertaking Nor yet was this Magnificent Prince so absolutely taken up with this grand Affair but that his Active Soul was as much at liberty as in the most Halcyon Days of Peace For in the l Pascha 21 April Lit. Dom. F. Rogation Week being the latter end of May a solemn Just was proclaimed to be held at London for m M. S vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 230. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p 963. Walsingh hist p. 165. c. The Names of the Mayor and Sheriffs vid. apud Fabian p. 236. Stows Survey of London p. 553. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 147. three Days together in which Proclamation John n Alâ—as Loufkin Luffin Mayor John Barnes and John o Al as Baris Bury the Sheriffs with their Brethren the other one and twenty Aldermen as Challengers undertook to hold the Field against all Comets But at the time appointed in their Name and in their Stead came the King privily with his four Sons Edward the Black-Prince Lionel John and Edmund which latter was then in the 18 Year of his Age together with 19 other Great Barons of England The King represented the Mayor the Black-Prince bore the Person of the Senior Sheriff John Barnes Prince Lionel acted the Part of John Bury the other Sheriff and so the whole Corporation of London was personated by the Royal Family and Nobility of England in Presence of the Kings of France and of Scotland and an infinite number of Spectators They were not now armed as Princes or Barons but the King and his Sons and the rest of the Challengers bare the City Arms both on their Shields and Surcoats and held the Field the whole three Days with great Honour especially to the satisfaction of the Citizens while they took them really for what they seem'd but they were extreamly ravish'd with joy when they understood that the King himself and his Children had done them the Honour to fight so gallantly under their Cognisance XIII The Sunday before Rogation-Sunday being the p Walsing hist p. 166. M.S. vet Ang. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. c. 14 of the Kalends of June that is after our Account the 19 of May the Lord John Plantagenet from the Place of his Birth sirnamed also of Gaunt who was the Kings Third Son and Earl of Richmond being now in the 19 Year of his Age took to Wife by Vertue of a special Dispensation from the Court of Rome the Lady Blanch his Cousin Second Daughter to Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster The Solemnity of the Marriage being kept at Reading in Barkshire about 16 Miles from Windsor a Week before the Tourneament which we have just now mentioned XIV About this time King Edward and the Prince his Son in great Devotion visited most of the Shrines and other Holy Places in England offering up their Prayers every where for a Blessing upon their Arms or for an happy lasting and honourable Peace And one day among the rest while the King was in the famous Abbey
graciously of the Prince just upon their taking leave they declared also unto him their great necessity to which their long stay in those parts had reduced them Desiring that his Highness would please to consider their Condition And he promised to do them what kindness he could Whereupon they all rode on to Calais-ward and the Prince marched after his Father Within two days the King sent three Knights to the Strangers then at Calais with this Message That he had not brought with him Treasure enough to fulfill their Desires and to answer his own Designs too But if they would bear him Company and partake with him in what should happen at a venture then if good Fortune should fall they should have their proportion on condition they demanded no Wages nor Reparation for any loss or damage For said the Messengers you know your selves that more than Three Parts in Four of you came hither of your own heads only and the King our Master hath brought with him enough of his own Subjects to serve for this Expedition This answer was not over-pleasing to the Strangers who had taken much pains and spent their Money and some had engag'd to leave their Horse and Arms for satisfaction in their Quarters But more than this they could not now obtain of the King except that he sent them indeed as much Money as might suffice to carry them home into their own Countries Yet for all this some of those Lords went again to the King to serve him on his Conditions for they thought it dishonourable to turn home again after such Preparations without doing any thing III. Thus King Edward marched forward with this great Army consisting of above an 120000 Men in all his Constable Roger Lord Mortimer Earl of March the second of that Name riding on before him with 500 Men of Arms and 2000 tall Archers Then followed the King with 3000 Men of Arms and 5000 Archers on Horseback besides Welchmen and others on Foot after him were 500 lusty Pioneers with Mattocks and Pick-axes to level the ways and make them fit for the Carriages Then came all the Carriages consisting of n Frois c. 2â—â— Holâ—â—h p. 965. 6000 Chariots Carts and Waggons every Cart having to it at least Four good Horses brought out of England to carry Provision for the Army and many other usefull things some such as had been seldom seen before in any Camp such as Hand-mills to grind their Corn Moveable Ovens and Forges the one to bake their Victuals and the other to make shoes for Horses and the like After all the Carriages came the Prince of Wales with his Three Brethren and their several Retinues of whom were 2000 Spears and 4000 Archers on Horseback besides the Infantry Bill-men and Bow-men all ready ranged for Fight But they marched not above Four Leagues a day because of their Footmen and Carriages In this manner it was that they were met by the Duke of Lancaster and the Lords Strangers in a fair Plain between Calais and the Abbey of Liques and immediately as I said joyn'd by the Duke and those Germans and other Strangers whom the King of England had retain'd And here I shall take leave to present unto the Reader the Names of the most eminent Leaders in this Army than which a Fairer never passed the Sea out of England either before or since that time as well such as came over with the King as those who went with the Duke of Lancaster before him First the most Magnificent and Invincible Monarch EDWARD the Third King of England and France and Lord of Ireland Then his Four Sons Edward of Woodstock Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Sirnamed the BLACK-PRINCE Lionel of Antwerp Earl of Vlster and afterwards Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond and Edmund of Langley afterwards Earl of Cambridge and Duke of York these were the Kings Four Sons the Fifth being a Child was left in England There was also Henry Plantagenet Duke of Lancaster the Kings Cousin-German Roger Lord Morttmer Earl of March Constable of England Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick and Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk Marshals of the Host Ralph Stafford Earl of Stafford William Montagu Earl of Salisbury and King of Man Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and William Bohun his Brother Earl of Northampton and John Vere Earl of Oxford o Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 193. vid. â—and ad 〈…〉 fro Barenrgio who indeed went not over with the King by reason he had not made his Will but that being done he followed him soon after Besides these Princes Dukes and Earls there were these Lords that follow Dr. John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln and Dr. Thomas Hatfield Bishop of Durham the Lord Henry Piercy and his Eldest Son Sr. Henry who was afterwards the first Earl of Northumberland of that Name the Lord Ralph Nevill of Raby the Lord Edward Spencer Nephew to the late Lord Hugh le Despencer the Grandchild a most Noble and Warlike young Gentleman the Lord John Chandos the Lord Walter Manny the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord John Grey of Codonore the Lord John Moubray the Lord Roger de la Ware the Lord Thomas Felton the Lord John Willoughby the Lord James Audley the Lord Ralph Basset of Drayton the Lord John Charleton the Kings Chamberlain the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord John Fitz-Walter the Lord Edmund Pierpoint the Lord John Botetourt St. Richard Pemburge Sr. Nele Loring Sr. Stephen Cossington Sr. Hugh Hastings Sr. William p Dugd. Warw. p. 538. Trussel and many others too Long to Name besides the Lords and Gentlemen Strangers among whom were Sr. Henry Eam of Flanders with 200 Spears in his Retinue Sr. Frank van Hall with as many more Sr. Reginald Boulant with 60 Spears besides 500 Germans under the Marquess of Nuys and others whose Names I had rather omit than set them down as I find them unorthographically The Army rode thrô Artois passing by the City of Arras and took the same way which the Duke of Lancaster had gone before But they found nothing to live on in the plain Country for what had been left undestroy'd was gather'd into strong Towns. Tho besides the Continual Depredations made about in the Country by the Men of War the Earth had lain in a manner untill'd for three Years together So that if Oats and Wheat had not been brought out of Hainalt and Cambresis to supply those parts the People of Artois Vermandois Laonnois and Rhemois had died for Hunger Nor was King Edward ignorant of all this before he came out of England wherefore he made such wonderfull Provision of all things necessary except only of Oats Hay and Straw for which he made as good shift as he could But that which made the want of Litter more grievous was that soon after his coming the Weather was very Rainy and the Ways began to be deep which prov'd a great trouble both
with certain Knights and Esquires of Gascogne and of England in his Company intending from thence to repair to King Edwards Camp before Rheims These Men the young Lord of Gomegines being inflam'd with a desire to advance his Reputation in War encreased to the Number of 300 Men of Arms and then set forth in the Head of them from Maubeuge and went to Avesnes in Hainalt whence he proceeded to Terlon Now the Lord of Roye who lay in Garrison at Roye in Picardy with a sufficient Number of Knights and Esquires heard of these Preparations of the Lord of Gomegines and that he was going to serve King Edward in the Siege before Rheims and must of necessity as he also knew pass through Tierasche and being exactly inform'd at what time he was to set forward sent word thereof to certain Captains his Friends of the French party But especially to the Lord Canon Robsart an Experienced and Valiant Gentleman who then menaged the young Earl of Coucy's Lands and lay at the Castle of Marle in Tierasche The Lord Robsart at the time appointed joyn'd the Earl of Roye with 40 Spears But the Earl was Commander in Chief of the whole Enterprise not only in consideration of his Quality but because he had been the first Deviser thereof So he led forth in all 300 Men of Arms and went and laid an Ambush where he knew the Lord of Gomegines musts needs pass who suspecting nothing of this Matter was already enter'd Tierasche taking his way toward Rheims where King Edward lay On a morning he came to a certain Village called Hercigny where he thought to refresh his Men a while and so to proceed But as his Men were setting up their Horses he himself being young lusty and desirous of Honourable hazards said that for his part he would ride a little way out of Town to see if he could meet with any forage and thereupon selecting out 50 Men he marched out of the Village a Valiant Esquire of England named Christopher Moor bearing his Banner before him Now the Frenchmen who knew all their Motions were not far off from the said Village in a close Ambush thinking because the other equall'd them in Number not to stir till Night and then by surprising the Town make their Advantage For they were fully informed of their being there But it seems the Lord of Gomegines thrust himself now into their hands before they had hoped for such fortune themselves When the Frenchmen saw him at first with so small a Company they wonder'd who it should be and sent out a couple of light Horse to view them who returning brought word that they were a party of those they had expected At this they all brake out of their Ambush crying Roye in the Name of the Lord of Roye who rode foremost with his Banner displayed before him and the Lord Flamone of Roye his Cousin was with him together with Sr. Lewis of Robsart and the Lord Canon Robsart his Brother Sr. Tristram of Bonroy and others When the Lord of Gomegines saw what a case he was in like a resolute Gentleman he stood still to receive them and scorn'd to flinch a Foot. But at the very first brunt he was overthrown Horse and Man and finally there taken Prisoner and with him two Esquires of Gascogne who had fought with singular Valour as did also Christopher Moor Esquire who bare the Standard but at last together with that fell into the Frenchmens hands To be brief all on that side were either slain or taken except the Valets who escaped by running away the Enemy slighting to pursue them especially seeing they took not the way to the Town where the rest of their Men lay to discover unto them what had been done But the Field being f Frois c. 209. c. now clear'd the Conquerours took their Horses and rode into the Village upon the spur crying Roye in the Name of the Lord Roye whereat those in the Town were extreamly surprized to see their Enemies so near them they not knowing what was become of their Captain and beside most of them were unarmed and scatter'd abroad in the Town Wherefore being out of hope to make any tolerable Defence they began to yield themselves and the Frenchmen bestow'd them about in their Lodgings The Lord Canon Robsart had a great many Prisoners because he was best known to the English and Gascogners by his Banner with which they had been acquainted But some fled into a little House of Defence at the end of the Town which was moated about and might perhaps have proved a Refuge at that time had they been all of one mind but some said it was best to make good the place because it was strong enough to secure them till they might send word to the Army before Rheims from whence they should doubtless have a speedy Succour Others said 't was difficult to send now the Enemy was there and impossible to defend it till the return of an answer While thus they were concerting of Reasons the Lord of Roye with one decisive peremptory threat commanded them to yield up immediately For if they put him to the trouble of taking them by force they were all no better than dead Men. At these Words the stoutest of them all began to misdoubt the Event and so they presently agreed to yield only on security of their Lives After this all the Prisoners were sent to the Castle of Coucy and other French Garrisons to be kept till their Ransoms should be paid But when King Edward heard of the Matter he was greatly displeased but was obliged to digest it as well as he could For the only cure for irreparable Afflictions is Patience And this Adventure happen'd in the latter end of December in the Year of our Lord MCCCLIX the Siege then enduring before Rheims VIII On the 20 g Frois c. 209. Knighton p. 2622. Lord Montagne's Essays c. 5. l. 1. p. 11. of the said Month the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter went with a Detachment from before Rheims and laid Siege to the Town and Castle of Cormicy which was near unto his Quarters for all the Great Lords were disposed about in strong Bodies abroad in the Country as well for Conveniency of Quarters as to stop up all the Avenues that no Provision should enter the City This Fortress belonged to the Archbishop of Rheims and was now by him so well furnish'd that it seem'd far enough out of all Danger For therein was a square stone Tower with Walls of a Wonderfull thickness and at all Points sufficiently provided for a Siege and moreover the Town it self was fenced with a Double Ditch and High Walls But against this Place came the Lord Burwash together with the Lord John Botetourt and other Knights as well of his own Retinue as belonging to the Prince of Wales to the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Richmond These Men
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
Easter-Day Whereas Easter-Day that Year tell on the 5 of April and on the 1â— of April which was the Monday after Faster K. Edward left Paris Thô Mr. Ashmole thrô haste pastâ—r over this Fault of Stows Day being very dark and misty together with a great quantity of Hail there happen'd so bitter a Cold that several Men died as they sat on their Horses wherefore unto this time says my Author that Day is called the Black-Monday But this no doubt is a mistaken Relation of that horrible Storm and Cold which the King met withall afterwards as we shall shew in due Place These Actions being over the Lord Walter Manny returned to the Army which tarried still in those Fields all that Day and the Night following But the next Morning being a Monday and the 13 of April seeing no Provocations could bring the Dauphin to a Battle and that it was morally impossible to force otherwise than by Famine so great a City which was not only now well fortified but l Fabâ—an p. 239. ex Chron. â—â—anc furnished with great plenty of Souldiers besides the vast Numbers of Inhabitants the King therefore resolved to rise from thence till a more favourable season and the mean while to go forth with Fire and Sword through Beauce and le Maine till he came into Bretagne where having refreshed his Army he intended to return to the Siege of Paris in July or August at the furthest and so to famish them by a long Siege For as we shew'd before He had made a Vow never to return into England till he had brought France to his Terms either by Fair means or by Force Accordingly on the Monday after Easter m Frois c. 211. fol. 1â—4 he raised his Camp and began to march towards Mont-lehery VII The mean while certain Knights of England and of Gascogne having found a convenient place determin'd with themselves to lie in Ambush For they expected that among so many Valiant Lords and Gentlemen then in Paris some of them would not fail to follow the Army thô only to cut off straglers and such as lag'd behind Accordingly by the Kings Order the Ambush was laid in an empty old house about 3 Leagues from Paris consisting of 200 chosen Men of Arms English and Gascogners under these Captains the Lord Nevill the Lord Moubray Sr. Richard Pontchardon the Captal de Busche Sr. Edmund de Pamiers and the Lord of Courton the Three first of England and the other of Gascogne Now when the Frenchmen within Paris had seen the Decamping of the English Army it was thus discoursed among certain young Knights and Gentlemen there Surely it would be well worth our while to make a sally as secretly as we may and to follow the English Army at a distance for it s more than probable we may happen to win some notable Advantage Hereupon the Design was embrac'd by the Lord Ralph de Coucy Sr. Ralph de Ravenal the Lord of Monsault the Lord of Helay the Chastelan of Beauvais the Begue of Vilaine the Lord of Beaujeu the Lord Flamone du Roye Sr. Peter of Savoy and others to the Number of an n Vid. Frois c. 211. fol. 104. l. â—or 22. 150 Spears in their Company They fallied out in good order all very well Horsed taking the way of Bourg la Reine till they had passed beyond the English Ambush With that the Ambush brake forth from behind them and follow'd after them crying St. George England The Frenchmen look'd back in great surprize to be so taken tardy but when they saw there was no flinching they stood their ground with a ready Courage setting themselves in the best Order to receive them on the points of their Spears The Rencountre was very rough and many on both sides were reversed on the Earth for they were all well Horsed Such as could mounted again and after this brunt with Spears they drew their Swords and fell in among one another giving and receiving several rude stroaks so that the Action deserved more Spectators For many Noble Deeds of Arms were performed at this time and the Battle lasted for a while doubtfull On the English part the Captal of Busche is said to have approved himself most eminently that day as also on the French side the Lord of Ravenal fought like a truly Valiant Knight for he gave many gallant proofs of his Skill and Courage under his own Banner till his Standard-Bearer being slain he himself was taken Prisoner For now the English and Gascogners prevail'd so that the Victory was clearly theirs Thô indeed they exceeded the French in Number about one Fourth Part. The other seeing the Scales turn against them fled away directly toward Paris thô continually they were fain to face about and fight as they fled they were so closely pursu'd And if the English had not doubted a Rescue from Paris now that their Horses began to be weary every Man of them had been either taken or slain But upon that account they were content to follow the Chace no farther than Bourg la Reine where they took Nine Knights and Esquires more and having by this Success a little secur'd the Reer of the Army from the French Pursuers they return'd with what they had got to Mont-lehery where the King lay that Night and then very courteously set their Prisoners to their Ransom permitting them to go that same Night whither they pleased only engaging their Faith to pay them by such a time at the utmost On the English part o Dadg Bar. 2 Vol. p. 16. ad an 34. Ed. 3. m. 12. ex Aâ—tâ—gr penes Cler. Pâ—il we find about this time that the Lord Roger de la Warre was taken Prisoner by Monsieur John Haubert but that it was in this Action I have no warrant to affirm Thô this was the very last that we hear of till the Gates of Janus were shut in that Kingdom Now King Edward's p Frois c. 211. c. Design as we have already intimated was to march for the present into Beauce and so keeping along by the River of Loire to go into Bretagne q Pâ—l Virgâ— 19. p. 383 n. 4â— to the end he might subdue it wholly on the behalf of the young Earl of Montford his Son in Law for him to hold it of the Crown of England and the mean while to refresh his Army for now that Country had enjoy'd a long respite from the Wars Which done he thought to return about August at the time of Vintage and lay a formal Siege to Paris because of the Oath which he had made before his Departure out of England namely that he would never return alive till he had reduced France to terms agreeable to his Honour VIII And over and above the great Army he led along with him r Frois c. 211. fol. 104. he had sundry Garrisons in Champaigne and Brie in Picardy Normandy and almost over all the Realm of France besides
Pope and the Emperour And moreover they made a solemn Renuntiation to all Wars against each Other their Heirs and Successors Realms and Subjects to both which League and Renuntiation their Eldest and other Sons signed and divers of the Nobility on both Sides were sworn And then also a Proclamation issued forth from King Edward to Thomas Holland Earl of Kent and to all other Captains of Towns Castles Forts c. held for the King in France for them to give Notice to all Places within their Command of this Peace and final Accord thus made between the two Kings After h Frois c. 213. all these Articles Letters and Commissions were made devised finished and deliver'd by the Advice and Consent of the Councils of England and France so that as to that Point both the Kings were well contented then they fell into a close Communication concerning the Lord Charles of Blois and the Lord John of Montford and their several Claims to the Dutchy of Bretagne for each pretended the whole and sole Right to that Heritage Some have been so bold in venting their Opinions as to say that King Edward and his Council were not over-warm in this Matter and surely in meer Policy he might well enough be supposed something cool For if now the Wars of Bretagne should be shut too there had been no Vent left for those many boistrous Troops which as yet lay in several Garrisons and upon their resigning those Fortresses must needs otherwise have filled England with Theeves and Robbers But certainly whoever impartially observes the honourable and sincere Practices of King Edward upon all Occasions and duly compares them with what relates to this Matter in the Articles and Letters foregoing will not so rashly attribute the ill Success of the Treaty of Bretagne to King Edwards Insincerity but rather to the Impracticableness of the Affair it self Since two such Valorous Young Princes had so fair a Pretence to so Noble a Dukedome that there could hardly remain any Prospect of deciding the Controversie without the Sword or the Death of one of the Parties But however it was when now upon Conference this New Treaty seem'd so hard to be brought to any good Issue Henry Duke of Lancaster who was a most valiant and expert Souldier but chiefly favour'd the Earl of Montford and wish'd his Advancement spake these words to the King of France in Presence of the King of England and the greater Part of both the Kings Councils Sir said he the Truce that was taken before Rennes between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Earl of Montford is not yet expired but is still to hold to the first Day of May next coming The King of England my Master here present by Advice of his Council and with Consent of my Lord the Prince his Son shall before that time send the Young Duke the Lord John of Montford with certain of his Council into France to your Majesty with full Power and Authority to confer and determine about the Right which the said Lord John ought to have as succeeding his Father in the Dutchy of Bretagne So then by You and your Council and by Ours together some agreeable Way may be taken between them for the better Security of which Affair I think it would be well to prolong the said Truce yet farther till the Feast of St. John Baptist next following According to this Device of the Dukes so it was done and concluded and the Truce relating to Bretagne prolonged to the Feast of St. John Baptist and then they fell to other Matters XX. And i Frois c. 213. f. 108. now that the Peace between England and France was fully confirmed King John was so elevated with the Assurance of Returning into his Country that he then first seem'd sincerely to rejoyce since his being taken Prisoner He shew'd unto King Edward such an hearty Good-Will that it appear'd plainly to have no mixture of Dissimulation and to his Nephew the Prince of Wales he declared all the endearing Signs of Royal Love and Affection that might be As also King Edward and his Son the Prince were exceeding Frank Generous and obligingly Open unto him These two Illustrious Monarchs who from this time till Death parted called themselves Brethren as a mutual remembrance of their Brotherly Amity gave now unto Four Knights of either Party such as chiefly in their stations had promoted this Peace 8000 Franks of Yearly Revenues for them and their Heirs for ever King John giving the said Summ to Four Knights of England and King Edward a like Revenue to Four Knights of France And at the same time because the Lands of St. Saviour le Vicount in Coutantine in Normandy were the King of Englands Right by a Deed of Gift and Sale from the Lord Godfry Harcourt deceased which Lands were not comprised in the Ordinance of the Treaty of Peace so that whoever held those Lands must do Homage therefore to the French King King Edward k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 503. now in respect of the many Laudable and Heroick Services of that Valiant and Renowned Knight the Lord John Chandos gave unto him and his Heirs for ever a Grant of the Baronies of St. Saviour le Vicount aforesaid of Daunvers and Dongeville as also of the Lands and Knights Fees of St. Mary de Montefarsellis and Romilly and of all other the Lands and Possessions of the said Godfry of Harcourt Which Princely Gift King John at the Request of King Edward confirmed now unto the said Lord John Chandos he doing Homage therefore unto him bating that Allegiance which he owed unto his Master the King of England And now when all the foresaid Agreements were as well made and devised and as firmly established as Human Wit could contrive so that it seem'd by reason of the sundry strict and solemn Engagements Counter-bonds and mutual Obligations between the two Kings and their Sons that the Peace would prove everlasting and when the Hostages were all come to Calais and the 400000 Crowns of Gold were paid down to the King of England and the remaining 200000 secured which was the First Payment then King Edward made a most Royal and Magnificent Supper for the French King within the Castle of Calais at which the Black-Prince and his Three Brethren Lionel John and Edmund with the Greatest Lords and Barons of England served the two Kings bare-headed After Supper the two Kings bad each other Good Night in the most Obliging Manner imaginable King Edward remaining still in the Castle and King John going to his Lodgings in the Town which had been prepared for him upon his being set at Liberty The next Morning l Fabian p. 243. being the 25 of October and a Sunday King John and all those who were to go with him took his leave of Calais and rode forth of the Town in the Forenoon King Edward himself conveying him a Mile onward of his Way and then the two Kings took
their Last Leave of each other with Kissings and Embracings King Edward return'd to Calais but John from that time left his Horse and would go by way of Pilgrimage on Foot to our Lady of Boulogne to pay his Vows for his Delivery the Prince of Wales and two of his Brethren Lionel and Edmund bearing him Company At Boulogne they were all received with great Joy by the Duke of Normandy who tarried there for them and after Dinner the French King and all the Great Princes and Lords of England and France there present went on Foot to the Church of our Lady where with great Devotion they made their Offerings and then returned to the Great Abby which was furnished to receive the French King and the Lords of England The next Day the King of France m Dr. Spencers M.S. Dr. Stillingfleets M.S. ubi C. piae Latt ita Dat. set forth sundry Commissions Proclamations Copies of the Peace and Renunciations all bearing Date at Boulogne 26 of October being of the same Nature with the Letters and Papers afore-mentioned and on that same Day the Prince of Wales and his Brethren with all their Company took leave of King John and return'd to Calais to the King their Father XXI As for King Edward now that he had so happily effected his Designs on the last of October he went on Board and set Sail for England with the Princes his Sons and the Hostages of France in his Company being Thirty of those Fourty mention'd in the XV Article only Lewis King Johns Son who then had but the Name of Earl was now lately by his Father made Duke of Anjou and Maine and John his Brother at that time Earl of Poictiers was now made Duke of Auvergne and Berry because the Earldom of Poictiers by Vertue of the Peace belonged to King Edward On the First of November early in the Morning the King of England landed safely at Dover and two Days after went to Canterbury where he made his Offerings at the Shrine of St. Thomas and return'd his Thanks to God for bringing his Wars to so happy a Conclusion He came not to London till the Ninth of November at what time he gave Command * Frois c. 113. ad fineâ—â— to all his Officers on certain Penalties that they should bear themselves kind and favourable to the Lords of France his Hostages and to the Burgesses of the Good Towns and all their Company and upon occasion to take their Part and defend them from all Affronts Injuries and Abuses whatsoever Which Command of the Kings was punctually observed so that the Frenchmen took their Preasure about the City and used Hunting and Hawking and rode into the Country to take the Air and went to Masks and Balls and visited the Ladies and Gentlewomen without any Controul they found the King so Courteous and Free unto them On the 27 of November the Pope directed his Letters Gratulatory to the King or France wherein he sets forth his own great Joy at the News of his happy Delivery advises him to cherish and observe the Peace with King Edward to respect the Clergy to follow Justice to defend the Poor to admit Sage and Prudent Persons to his Council to repress Pillagers and those who robbed both Church and State. The Copy of which Letter is to be seen n Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 4 in Odoricus Rainaldus bearing Date Aven V. Kal. Decemb Anno Pontificatús VIII XXII And now we have ended the most Remarkable Matters of this Great Year but we must not forget to shew how God Almighty usually tempers the Felicities of this Life with Losses and Afflictions as thô so happy and honourable a Peace was established with England several High and Noble Personages to her great Loss went now unto their latest Homes besides all those of the Nobility and Others who died by that strange Tempest before Chartres and besides the Lord Roger Earl of March whom we have already shewn to have departed this Life on the 26 of February at Rouvray in Burgundy On the o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Escu 34 Ed. 3. n. 84. Leit Catal. Hen. p. 686. ubi tanen per errcrem dicâ—tur chiâ—sse ano. 1358. 24 of January there deceased in the English Army before Rheims the Noble and Valiant Lord John Vere Earl of Oxford Lord of Bolebec Lord and Baron of Samford and Lord High-Chamberlain of England in the 47 Year of his Age being succeeded in his Lands and Dignities by the Lord Thomas Vere his Eldest Son and Heir at that time 23 Years old So that 't is a Mistake in Walsingham and in Stow who for want of Judgment follows implicitly others Errors where Thomas Earl of Oxford is said to have died at this time whereas it should be John who was Father to Earl Thomas On the p Dugd. 1. Vol. p. 186. 16 of September there also died the High-born and Noble Lord William Bohun that Martial Earl of Northampton Lord High-Constable of England and Knight of the Garter who was younger Brother to Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex Knight also of the same Glorious Order and Son to Elisabeth the q Catal. Honor. p. 1071. Speed p. 552. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 183. Seventh Daughter of King Edward the First of England whose two Sisters by the same Daughter of King Edward were married the Eldest to James Butler the Fast Earl of Ormond of that Name from whom is descended the present Thrice-Noble Duke of Ormond and the Second Sister was married to Hugh Courtney First Earl of Devonshire Shortly r 15 Octobr. an 1361. vid. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. Catal. Honor. p. 1074. after his Brother Humphry Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex departed also this Life without Issue so that his Titles were added to Humfry Bohun Son and Heir of this William Earl of Northampton but he dying some thirteen Years after left only two Daughters so that the Male Line of this Noble Family became thereby extinct On the Å¿ Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 231. Ashmole p. 695. Stow p. 264. Second of December there died that Valiant Warrier Sr. John Beauchamp Younger Son to the Earl of Warwick Constable of Dover Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and one of the Founders of the most Noble Order of the Garter He was buried betwixt two Pillars on the South-side of the Middle Isle in the Body of St. Pauls Cathedral in London where he had a Noble Monument vulgarly by Mistake called Duke Humphry's Tomb the Sculp whereof is yet preserved t Dugd. Hist Paul. p. 52. in Sr. William Dugdale's History of St. Pauls In his Life-time u Stow's Survey Lond. p. 408. he had built the fair House in the Parish of St. Andrew near Baynards Castle where he usually resided But this being after his Decease sold to King Edward III was made use of for the Kings Great Wardrobe and the Parson of the Parish
rightly consider'd according to the best of our Judgment they exceed not five or six Thousand nor are they very well arm'd neither Look you there now said the Lord of Bourbon speaking to Sr. Arnold of Cervoles the Arch-Priest Sir you told me before this that they were to the Number of 16000 Fighting Men and now you all hear to the Contrary Sir said the Arch-Priest I never believed them to be under that Number I 'll assure you But if they be God be thanked it is so much the better for us Therefore now consider what you will do In the Name of God said the Lord of Bourbon we will go and be the Aggressors and with that he order'd his Battails and set them in good Array for now he might see his Enemies before him Then he made certain New Knights as the Lord Peter his Eldest Son whose Banner was raised that Day also his Nephew the young Earl of Forestes the Lord of Tournon the Lord of Malinier and the Lord Groslee of Dauphiné besides whom there were present at this time the Earl of Vzes Sr. Reginald of Forestes the Lord Lewis of Beaujeu and Sr. Robert of Beaujeu his Brother Sr. Lewis of Challon sur Saone Sr. Hugh de Vienne and divers other Good Knights and Esquires to the Number m Frois c. 215. f. 111. b. of 2000 Men of Arms all desirous to advance their Honours and to overthrow these Companions that thus ravaged the Country without any pretence or reason The Arch-Priest and divers of the most expert Knights that were present said plainly how it would be best to wait till their Enemies had left that Mountain and so they should have more Advantage over them But this Counsel being overrul'd Sr. Arnold Cervoles the Arch-Priest had order to begin with his Battail for he was a good Commander and had with him 1600 Chosen Men. Now the Companions on the Mountain saw well all the French Order but the French could discover nothing of them but only those who being evil arm'd were set there to amuse and deceive them And yet even those Men were very advantagiously posted for the Ascent of the Hill was difficult and they had among them a 1000 Cart-load of great Stones which did them that Day extraordinary good Service The Frenchmen who are naturally soon wrought into Security and a confidence of Success were very eager to set upon their Enemies But for all that they could do they could not ascend the Mountain directly to come to them it was so steep wherefore of necessity they were obliged to coast about till they came almost unto them But then this worst-arm'd Battail of the Companions who had by them a vast provision of sharp and heavy Stones began to cast them down on them that approached with such Violence that they beat down slew hurt and maimed a great Number Insomuch that they neither could nor durst approach any nearer Wherefore presently the first Battail of Frenchmen was so sore beaten bruised disorder'd and trampled on that all the Day after they were able to do but little Good. To their succour therefore came now the Lord James of Bourbon his Son and his Nephews with their Banners bringing up the other two Battails who all went forward with great Courage only to be flung away as we shall shortly see so that 't is a great pitty they had not taken the Arch-Priests Advice and order'd their Affairs more discreetly Now as the Lord James and the other Lords with their Banners and Penons before them approached valiantly coasting the Mountain the worst-armed Battail of the Companions entertain'd them with their old Trade of flinging Stones so fiercely that the boldest of them was glad to stand at a Bay. And while the French were thus attempting to get forward and their Enemies to keep them off the great fresh and well-armed Battail of the Companions consisting of 10000 chosen Men which had not yet been seen found a way and came about the Mountain well ranged and having cut their Spears to six Foot length came on with a great Shout and fell in among the Frenchmen of whom at the first Meeting they overthrew Hundreds to the Earth Truly for such a Surprise the French did their Devoir and fought valiantly but the Companions had the Advantage by the suddenness of their Attack and were in a manner equal to them in Number but above all they fought with such Ardour and Courage that it was wonderfull And still the Stones came thundring on the Frenchmens Helmets and Shields riveing of Bucklers and striking down bruising and maiming of Men So that the Victory presently enclined to the Worse Side and a Righteous Cause miscarried for want of Discretion The Arch-Priest did all that a good Captain and a Valiant Gentleman was capable of doing but at last he was there taken Prisoner having first received many grievous Wounds and with him several Knights and Esquires of the first Battail The Lord James of Bourbon Earl of la Marche and his Son Sr. Peter were both very much wounded the young Earl of Forestes his Uncle Sr. Reginald the Earl of Vzes Sr. Robert of Beaujeu Sr. Lewis of Challon and above an 100 Knights more were taken Those that fled from the Battle escaped to Lyon whither also thô not without much labour and difficulty the Lord James of Bourbon and his Eldest Son Sr. Peter were brought on Shields by their trusty Servants For their Hurts all the City was very sorry and the Ladies and Gentlewomen of the Town went themselves to visit them and to dress their Wounds but within three Days the Lord James of Bourâ—on died and Sr. Peter his Son followed him a little after to the general Regret of all Mankind especially of the King of France Yet neither he nor any else had any other Remedy but Patience and a Resolution to revenge their Death This Battle was thus fought at Brignais near Lyon on the * C. Lit. Dom. Pasch 28 Mart. 26 of March being a Good-Friday in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXI VII At this Disaster all the Country was struck with horrour and it was generally feared that the Companions would be rendred invincible by these Successes and would also grow more numerous thereupon unless it should please God to put a speedy stop to their mad Career But as for them they grew more insolent and wicked than ever being now strong and formidable and rich also with the Booty of the Field and the Ransoms they were to have for Prisoners And immediately after this Victory having surmounted all Opposition they overspread the whole Land of Forestes and rob'd and ravag'd and did what they pleased wherever they came For now they were so strong that hardly here and there a few of the most Desensible Fortresses were able to resist them Wherefore within a while after that the Desolation which they carried along with them had render'd the Country unable to bear them any longer they
the Eve of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin or as some say z Dugd. Warw. p. 165. ex Esc 35. Ed. 3. p. 1. n. 122. on the Tuesday after the said Feast which that Year fell on the 30th of March. England had less wanted him now that the War was ended if he had not been as Eminent for Counsel in Peace as he was remarkable for Military performances He was only Son to Henry de Torto-Collo who was younger Brother and next Heir to Thomas Earl of Lancaster who was Eldest Son to Edmund Sirnamed Crouchback Second Son to King Henry III of England and Brother to King Edward the First Grandfather to King Edward the Third This Illustrious Person in his life time did nothing degenerate from the Blood Royal of England of which he so largely partook as may be seen in those many foregoing Passages of this History which speak of his Warlike Actions His many Heroick Vertues obtain'd him the Glorious Sirname of Good he being generally called the Good Duke of Lancaster Wherefore his Death was universally Lamented especially by the Poor by the Clergy and by Scholars to whom he was a Constant Friend and Patron Nor was King Edward a Frois c. 216. less concerned for the loss of so Renowned a Kinsman and Captain as were also all the Barons of England Lords Knights and Esquires For he was in his Days an Ornament to the Nobility a Patron to the Church a Prop to Learning a Glory to the Souldiery and a shield unto his Prince He was b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 789. buried on the South-side of the High-Altar in the Collegiate Church of Leicester which c Knighton p. 2625. Speed's Maps in Leicester himself had founded and set over it one Dean Twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars and others all sufficiently provided with Revenues Besides he consummated the Hospital there which his Father had begun wherein were maintain'd an 100 Infirm and Poor people d Stow p. 265. 50 Men and 50 Women together with 10 lusty and able Women to serve the said Infirm Ones with Meat and Drink and other bodily Necessaries day and night Both which Hospital and College of Canons he sufficiently endowed for ever and indeed they were the Greatest Ornament of that City until the heavy Hand of King Henry VIII among other the like Foundations laid their Ruines at his own Feet At which time the College Lands d Stow p. 265. were valued at 595 pounds 7 shillings and 6 pence per annum He left behind him two Daughters his Heirs the Lady Mathilda the Eldest then 22 Years of Age at that time Married to William of Bavaria Son to Lewis the Emperour and Duke of Zealand Holland Hainalt and Friseland the other Daughter named Blanch then 19 Years of Age and the Wife of John of Gaunt Earl of Richmond but upon the Death of her Eldest Sister which happen'd shortly after without Issue in her Right Duke of Lancaster Earl of Darby Lincoln and Leicester Steward of England and also Lord of Brigerac Beaufort and Nogent Who had by her Henry Sirnamed of Bolingbroke who afterwards traiterously deposing King Richard the Second became King of England by the Name of Henry IV. Soon after his Death the Lady f Knighton p. 2625. Mathilda his Eldest Daughter came into England to claim her Purparty of the Inheritance where she died presently being g Id. p. 2626. n. 31. as was thought poison'd that the Inheritance might not be divided among Foreigners but go entirely as thereupon it did to her Younger Sister who was Married in England Besides this Great Prince there h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 127. died this Year of the same Plague the Lord John Moubray a most Valiant and Noble Knight of England who was styled Lord of the Isle of Haxiholme and of the Honours of Gower and Brembre He died at York on the 4th of October leaving behind him John his Son and Heir a Valiant Young Gentleman then of full Age whom he had by his Wife the Lady Joan of Lancaster Sister to the Duke of Lancaster aforesaid But this Young Lord John Moubray brought more i Dudg ibid. p. 128. Honour and Possessions to his House and Name by taking unto him for Wife the Lady Elisabeth Daughter and Heir to John Lord Seagrave by Margaret his Wife Daughter and sole Heir to Thomas of Brotherton k Fifth Son but Second surviving Second Son to King Edward the First Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England From which Marriage l Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 110. are Descended all the Dukes of Norfolk and Earls of Nottingham of the Sirname of Moubray and Howard the Earls of Suffolk and Barkshire and particularly the Thrice Noble Henry Lord Mordant the present Earl of Peterborough m Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p. 279. p. 312. Son of John Earl of Peterborough by his Lady Elisabeth sole Daughter and Heir of William Howard Lord Effingham Eldest Son to Charles Earl of Nottingham Nor ought We to forget the Death of the Valiant Lord n Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 653. Mills Catal. Honer p. 531. Edward Montague Brother to William the first Earl of Salisbury of that Name which happen'd in this Year he leaving behind him only one Daughter at that time XII Years of Age then Wife to the Lord William Hufford Eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk Besides this o Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 68. there died the Lord Reginald Cobham a Baron of great Renown in those days leaving behind him a Son of his own Name and Character Also William p Id. 1 Vol. p. 447. Lord Fitz-Warine of the House of the Lord Fulk Fitz-Warine and Sr. Nicolas q Id. 2 Vol. p. 89. St. Maure alià s Seymor a considerable Baron of the Realm Besides whom there were now taken away six Bishops r Walsing hist p. 171. Gedw Catal. Bps Stow p. 265. as Michael Northborough alià s Northbrook Bishop of London who was succeeded by Simon Sudbury Reginald Brian Bishop of Worcester whose Chair was supply'd by John Barnet Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely a good Benefactor to Peter-House College in Cambridge whose loss was repaired by the Succession of Simon Langham also Robert Stratford Bishop of Chichester into whose place came William Lenne alià s Lenlimere and John Synwell Bishop of Lincoln whose Successor was John Buckingham Lord Privy Seal but these two latter died in the beginning of the next Year There died also at this time that Famous Scholar Richard Fitz-Ralph Archbishop of Armagh Primate of Ireland and Chancellour of the University of Oxford of whom we Å¿ Huius hist l. 3. c. 3. §. 15. p. 552. have spoken more largely elsewhere Only it is here to be added that this Archbishop t Vid. Odâ—r Rainal ad ann 1358. § 6. Wad in Annal. Minor. Tem. 4. ad cund ann had such a Reputation for Holiness and Integrity of Life that he is said to
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
would not grant However King John tarried still in England disporting himself and taking his Pleasure in and about London and Westminster his chief Residence being at the Savoy at that time k Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. one of the Faitest Mansions in England belonging to the Duke of Lancaster And the late Duke Henry had bestowed no less than 52000 Marks thereon King David of Scotland came also to pay some part of his Ransome and hoped to prevail with King Edward to acquit him of the Remainder but he could not obtain that Point The King of Cyprus having purchased a Choice Band of English Gentlemen Volunteers and received many large Presents from King Edward l Frois c. 218. repassed the Seas with King Waldemar of Denmark in his Company and went to Boulogne and thence to Amiens where he found the Duke of Normandy and his Council by whom he was hugely caressed and related unto them his Success in England and how he had left King John in Health whereat they were all pleased Having been here a while he said That for all this he thought he had neither done nor seen any thing of Moment untill he should have seen the Prince of Wales adding that by the Grace of God he would go and visit him and the Lords of Poictou and of Aquitain The Regent approved of his Resolution but desired him at his Return to come thrô France and visit his Father whom by that time they expected from England King Peter promised to do thus much and so took his leave and rode toward Beauvais and passed the River of Seyne and so thrô Perche and Tourain over the Loire till he came to Poictiers where he was informed how the Black-Prince was at his City of Angoulesme The Prince was then busie in providing a Solemn Feast Justs and Tourneaments which he design'd to hold with Fourty Knights and as many Esquires for the Love of his Beautifull Princess who was just then brought to Bed of an Hopefull Son called Edward after his Fathers Name When Prince Edward heard how the King of Cyprus was coming to visit him he sent forth the Lord John Chandos with a great Number of Knights and Esquires of his Court to meet and conduct him forward which they did accordingly And so King Peter was honourably convey'd to Angoulesme where he was received by the Prince with all the Demonstrations of Joy and Respect imaginable He found himself also extream Welcome to all the Lords of England and of Poictou and Sainctogne such as were then at the Princes Court namely to Sr. John Chandos to Sr. Thomas Felton and his Brother Sr. William Felton Sr. Thomas Beauchamp Sr. Simon Burley Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Roger Delaware Sr. Richard Pountchardon Sr. Baldwin Frevile Seneschal of Saintogne and many more besides the Lords of Aquitain as the Vicount of Thoüars the young Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay Sr. Guischard D'Angle and Others The King of Cyprus was highly feasted and caressed by the Prince and the Lords of his Court and when he had tarried there about a Month the Lord John Chandos rode with him thrô the Country to divert his Mind and shew him what was Curious and worth Observation He was Nobly entertain'd at Rochelle and other Places by the English Governors there and having visited the Country all about in the most Remarkable Places he returned again to Angoulesme at what time the Prince held the foresaid Solemnity in Honour of his Princess with great Pomp and Splendour and a Glorious Retinue of Men of Arms. The sight of these Mens valiant Justings made the King desire to have some of their Company along with him against the Infidels And so after the Solemnity of the Feast was over he accosted the Prince and the Lords of his Court shewing unto them distinctly the Principal Reason of his Coming thither namely How he had taken upon him the Red Cross which he wore and how the Pope had by his Authority confirmed it and what Honour and Privileges remain'd for those who should joyn with him in this Expedition and how the French King and the Lord Talayrand the Cardinal and divers other Great Lords and Princes had devoutly sworn to embarque in the same Enterprise Then the Prince and his Knights answer'd him kindly and said How truly it was an Expedition well worthy the Consideration of all Men of Honour and that by the Grace of God when once the Matter was enter'd upon and the Passage laid open he should not be alone but should find among them those that would be glad at any Rate together with Religion to advance their Honours With these Words the King of Cyprus was well pleased and so being laden with Gifts from the Prince and Princess he took his leave the Lord Chandos at the Princes Command waiting upon him to the Bounds of the Principality But the Lord m Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 232. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick the Lord Thomas n Iâ—â—reton Nâ—ttingh p. 116 ubi John male pro Thoâ—â—as Roos and divers o Walsing hist p. 174. other Stout Barons of England and Gascogne went quite thrô with design to aid him in the Wars in the Holy Land Being no less than 300 Select Horse Knights and Esquires besides Archers and others their Friends and Servants who at the request of the Pope hand Letters of Safe-conduct from the Governour of Dauphiné and le Viennois to pass without any molestation or interruption through those Parts Sr. James de Arteville being appointed with Ten Officers in his Company to guide and conduct them to the Limits of Piedmont V. The mean while King Peter having sent them before returned to Paris where he thought to have found the French King but he mist of his Expectation For that Prince was not returned out of England but lay dangerously sick at his Lodgings in the Savoy at London and every day grew worse and worse to the infinite Regret of King Edward and his Queen For all the Physicians agreed that his sickness was Mortal All this was not unknown to the Duke of Normandy who was at Paris being Regent in his Fathers Absence for the Lord Bouciquault was return'd from England to inform the Dauphin in what a Desperate Condition the King lay The King of Navarre also was fully acquainted with the News but was very little concerned at it for he hoped to make War more easily in France if King John should die and it is to be noted that this unquiet Prince p Mezeray p. 62 pretended a Right to the Dutchy of Burgundy which King John had already seised into his Hands but because the Inhabitants so earnestly desired a Duke of their own he designed to give it to his youngest Son Philip at his return out of England for he lov'd him the best of all his Children because he stuck so close to him at the Battle of Poictiers Being therefore desirous to take hold of the
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
carried out of the Field in a condition almost as hopeless as the Vicount Beaumonts The Lord Baldwin Danekin Master of the Cross-bows of France was slain together with Sr. Lewis of Pequescourt and divers others On the part of the Navarrois Sr. John Jones who began the Fight did that day all that was possible for a good Knight to perform but at last after he had received many grievous Hurts he was taken Prisoner by an Esquire of Breton of Sr. Bertram of Clequins Retinue and by him born out of the Field but he died of his Wounds before next Morning With him was slain the Lord of Salses and most of his Men and as we have shewn the Lord Bascels of Mareville there were taken the Lord William of Granville the Lord Peter of Samville the Lord Geoffry of Roussillon Sr. Bertram de la Franque and many Others and in short few or none of the Navarrois escaped being now ranked either among the Prisoners or the Dead This Battle was fought in Normandy h Mezeray Chr. Abridg. Tâ—m 3. Part. 2. p. 70. near to a Place named Cocherel and la Croix St. Leoffroy almost exactly between Eureux and Vernon on the Wednesday before Trinity-Sunday being the 15 of May in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV XII After this Discomfiture when all the Dead were spoiled and the Wounded dressed and the most part of the French Army had repassed the Bridge to draw to their Quarters to rest and refresh themselves after this hard Service there appeared in the Field another Body of Men marching up against them The Captain of this Company was Sr. Guy of Granville Son to the Lord William of Granville who had that morning left his Garrison of Conches and with fifty Spears rode with all convenient speed to the Captals aid if by any means he might come time enough to the Battle When the Frenchmen saw him they call'd out to their Fellows that had passed the River and sent several over to acquaint the whole Army saying Gentlemen turn hither again for here is a Fresh Body of our Enemies coming hitherward Now Sr. Bertram of Clequin and his Troops were still on this side but every of them extream weary However when Sr. Bertram saw this appearance of more Navarrois he raised his Standard on high upon a Bush that his Men might all draw thitherward and sounded his Trumpets and faced about toward the Enemy setting his Men in order with great Diligence But when Sr. Guy of Granville heard them cry our Lady of Clequin and saw neither the Captal nor any other of his Friends there but many Dead Men lying on the Ground he concluded that his Party had lost the day and so return'd back without doing any thing And surely this Valiant young Gentleman thô he came not time enough to save his Father from being a Prisoner did yet make a shift both to save his Life when he was in Danger of losing his Head and also to redeem him from Prison afterward For Charles the King of France i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 129. who not being of that Honourable Disposition with his Father John was rather enclin'd to subtlety and unprince-like Cruelty shortly after caused the Lord Peter of Samville to lose his Head and had done the like to the Lord William of Granville the same who by stratagem won the strong Castle of Eureux in Normandy thô Prisoners of War and none of his Subjects But Sr. Guy of Granville sent word to the French King that if he put his Dear Father to Death or to any Bodily loss or pain he would serve the Lord De la Val a considerable French Nobleman then his Prisoner in the same manner and also all other Frenchmen that should ever after fall into his Hands By this means the Valiant young Gentleman commendably sav'd his Fathers Life and shortly after he was deliver'd in Exchange for the foresaid Lord of Bretagne The k Frois c. 222. Night ensuing the Battle the Frenchmen lodged in their own Camp on the other side the River and took good Care of their Prisoners and then there was much speaking and enquiring after the Archpriest it being now known that he was not present at the Fight but his Men excused him as he had directed them However they could not presently clear him from all suspicion of Treachery for his Courage no Man there could doubt in the least The next day the Frenchmen dislodged and went to Rouën where they left the greater Part of their Prisoners but the Captal was convey'd from Vernon to Paris XIII This was an auspicious Hansel to King Charles now upon the entrance of his Reign and we shall find him hereafter to have frequently such Successes against his Enemies thô mostly by Fineness and Stratagem and altogether without his Presence as this happen'd On the l Frois c. 223. Labbe Chron. Techn ad hunc ann Mezeray p. 69. Trinity-Sunday following this Success being the 19 of May Charles Duke of Normandy Eldest Son and Heir to John late King of France was Crowned and anointed King of the said Realm in the Cathedral Church of our Lady at Rheims and together with him his Beautifull Consort Queen m Mezer. p. 106 Jane Daughter to Peter Duke of Bourbon and the Lady Isabella de Valois The Ceremony was performed by the hands of the Archbishop of the said Place And it is n Mezeray p. 69 remarkable that the Emperours Son Wenceslaus of Bohemia Duke of Luxemburgh and Brabant John Duke of Lorraine and Robert Duke of Bar notwithstanding they were Strangers and Vassals of the Empire thô indeed related to the King did at that time perform the Office of Peers of France the first representing the Duke of Normandy the Second personating the Earl of Champagne and the Third the Earl of Tholouse The Duke of Burgundy which Philip his Brother was now in Title and Designation and Lewis Earl of Flanders held their usual Places and Lewis Duke of Anjou represented the Duke of Aquitaine Besides these Great Personages there were present at this Solemnity o Frois c. 223. Peter King of Cyprus Waldemar King of Denmark the Earls of Eu and of Dampmartin of Tancarville and of Vaudemont with the Chief Prelates of that Kingdom and many other Lords all who were Feasted for five days together On the Fryday following the New King return'd in great Pomp to Paris where he was received with infinite expressions of Publick Joy and satisfaction And then he put his younger Brother Philip into Possession of the Dutchy of Burgundy p Paradin Annal de Bâ—urgegne l. 3 p. 3â—2 who shortly after rode into those Parts with a great and splendid Retinue and took Livery and Seisin of the Country and received Homage of all the Barons Knights Cities Castles and good Towns of the said Dutchy and having settled all things there return'd to
Paris to the King his Brother At that time it was that the Archpriest found himself obliged to make use of all his Friends to excuse him to the King who was much offended at him because he was not present in the Battle of Cocherel but now being admitted into the Presence he made it appear that he was bound by Oath not to be armed in Person against his Friend the Captal who himself at the request and instance of the Lord of Albret had been a little before released of his Imprisonment only upon his Parole and being by this time sufficiently convinced that he had unjustly suspected the Archpriest's Faith was now very serviceable in helping to make his excuse to the King and to those Lords of the Council that held him in suspicion Besides all which the Archpriest himself not to mention the many great Services he had formerly rendred to the Crown of France had lately near Dijon in Burgundy overthrown 300 Companions robbers of the Country whose Captains were Guyot du Pyn Taillebert of Talleboton and John de Chafour About this time the said King Charles of France caused the Lord Peter of Samville who had been taken in the Battle of Cocherel to lose his Head in the City of Rouën and had served the Lord William of Granville in the same manner had not his Son Sr. Guy of Granville threatned the Lord Beaumont de la Val then his Prisoner with the like severity Whereupon that Lords Kindred and Friends made such earnest suit to the King that he was content to deliver the Lord Granville in Exchange for the Lord de la Val as we said before XIV Soon after the foresaid Battle of Cocherel Sr. Bertram of Clequin bought the strong Castle of Rolebois for the Sum of 3000 Franks which he paid to Sr. Vantaire Austard the Captain thereof whereupon he return'd quietly into Brabant from whence he came Yet there were other Troops of Companions that held still together in Fortresses in Normandy le Caulx Perche Beausse and other places which prov'd very incommodious to the Realm of France some of them making War in the Name of the King of Navarre others on their own account only to get spoil and to rob without Law or Reason Wherefore King Charles q Frois c. 223. Guil. Paradin Annal. de Bâ—urgâ—gne l. 3 p. 252 sent his Brother the Duke of Burgundy against these Pillagers commanding him to root them out of the Land in order whereto the said Duke made his Rendezvous in the City of Chartres Soon after he took the Field his Forces consisting of 5000 Men of Arms besides Footmen and others among whom were Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Bouciquault Marshal of France the Earl of Auxerre the Lord of Beaujeu Sr. Lewis of Châlons Sr. Edmund of Pamiers Sr. Lewis of Ravenal the Lord of Beague of Vilaine Sr. Nicolas du Line New-made Master of the Crossbows Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin and many other Eminent Captains When they found themselves so strong they thought to divide into Three Bodies One whereof consisting of a 1000 Men of Arms Sr. Bertram of Clequin led into Coutantine even to the Marches of Cherburgh to keep the Frontiers there that the Navarrois should not pass to endamage the Country of Normandy and with Sr. Bertram were the Earl of Auxerre and the Earl of Joigny the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and many Knights and Esquires both of Bretagne and Normandy The Second Body was committed to the Lord de la Riviere with whom were many good Knights and Esquires of France and Picardy as Sr. Hugh de Chastillon the Lord of Samny Sr. Matthew of Roye the Lord of St. Eloy the Lord of Crespy the Lord of Campy Sr. Edward of Renty Sr. Ingelram of Hesdin Sr. Monsange and others to the Number of 2000 Men of Arms and these were sent into the Earldom of Eureux but the Duke himself with the remaining 2000 Men of Arms and a vast Number of others went and laid Siege to Marcheville in Chartraine a strong Castle held by the Navarrois against which he carried many Engines from Chartres which perpetually play'd upon the Castle with huge stones to the infinite trouble of those within XV. While these Three Armies were thus in Beausse and in Normandy making War against the Navarrois the King of Navarre was not asleep as to his own Defence The Lord Philip of Eureux his Brother was dead indeed a little before this but he had another younger Brother called Lewis of Navarre of no less towardliness for the War nor less addicted to his Interest This Lord Lewis had likewise defy'd King Charles of France because the War which the King his Brother undertook did also concern a good part of his Inheritance After the Battle of Cocherel he made his Musters on all hands and wan certain notable Captains of the Companions to enter his pay so that by this he was at least 1200 Spears strong The Chief Captains of which Troops were Sr. Robert Knolles and Sr. Robert Cheiny Knights of England and Sr. Robert Briquet of Larsuel but as yet Sr. Robert Knolles had not joyn'd him However his Forces encreased daily his Head Quarters being between the Rivers of Loire and Allier so that he overran a great part of the Country of Bourbonnois as about Moulins St. Pierre le Moutier and St. Pourcain One day 300 of his Men having Sr. Bernard de la Salle and Ortingo for their Captains went and passed the Loire hard by les Marches and rode till they came to la Charité on the River Loire a Town large and well-enclosed which they immediately enter'd by Scalado but stood still together in one place till the Morning for doubt of some Ambush laid to entrap them by the Townsmen whom they heard to be in a perpetual hurry The mean while the Townsmen giving up the Place for lost only took care to convey all their best Moveables into Boats which were ready in good Number on the Loire and so before Morning got off with them their Wives and Children and went to Nivers which was not above six Leagues from thence When it was day the Navarrois English and Gascogners that had thus scaled the Town marched thrô the Streets where they found all the Houses void However they determin'd to keep a Garrison there and make it more defensible because it stood so opportunely to command the Country on both sides the Loire Wherefore presently they sent word to Prince Lewis of Navarre who was then in the Marches of Auvergne for a Reinforcement and he furnish'd them with 300 Spears who were led by Sr. Robert Briquet and passing thrô the Country without the least Opposition went over the stone Bridge and entred la Charité And now being all together they thought themselves strong enough to make good the Place and so began to fortifie apace and to ravage about to let the Country know who they were XVI All this
Swords Daggers and Axes Helmets Habergeons Shields and all manner of Weapons and Armour For they expected to use them very shortly But the Chief Captains especially drew together in Council being thereto called by the Lord John Chandos to whose Conduct all the rest submitted themselves not only on the account of his Quality but also of his known Wisdom and Experience in the Wars besides which he had a secret Commission from the King of England to be the Chief Captain in this action With him was the Lord John Nereford an English Baron William Lord Latimer the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Valiant Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt all who were of the Opinion that the Earl of Monford should rise from the Siege and take the Field early next Morning and so expect his Adversary and if he came forward give him Battle This being resolved on in Council all the Captains of the Army were acquainted therewith who told it to their respective Officers by whom the whole Army was informed that the next Morning they were to be all ready to take the Field to fight the Enemy Before six the next Morning being a Saturday and the Eve of St. Michael the Englishmen and Bretons left their Trenches and marched forth in Battle-Array the Lord John Chandos leading them to a convenient plat of ground behind the Castle of Auray And soon there came toward the same place the Lord Charles of Blois who had left Vannes the Evening before with all his Army which was disposed in the best manner imaginable For 't is said they rode in such good Close Order that if any thing had been cast among them it must have rested on their Spears points so that the f Frois c. 225. fol. 121. Englishmen were extreamly delighted to behold them The Frenchmen being come in sight of their Enemies made an halt as they were in Battle-Array before them choosing their Field among the Bushes and the Marshals gave Command that no man should stir forward without Order Wherefore both Armies stood still confronting each other being ready ranged for Fight which they all eagerly desired IV. The Lord Charles of Blois with the advice of Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was an experienc'd Captain and well belov'd by the Barons of Bretagne made Three Battails and a Rereguard The first was led by Sr. Bertram himself who had with him more than a 1000 Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires of Bretagne The Second was headed by the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and the Lord of Prye with the French Auxiliaries consisting of 1500 Spears and upwards The Third was brought up by the Lord Charles of Blois himself with whom were the Chief Barons of Bretagne that held of his side as the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Leon the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit and divers others as aforenamed In the Rereguard or Fourth Battail stood John the Bastard of Blois a most Valiant Young Gentleman with Eight or Ten stout Barons of Normandy and many other Knights and Esquires and in every g Frois c. 225. fol. 121. b. Battail there were at least a 1000 Men of Arms besides others And the Lord Charles of Blois rode about to every Battail earnestly desiring them all to do their utmost that day and for their better assurance he took it on his Soul and on his part in Paradise that they were to Fight in a Righteous Quarrel and moreover he promised to reward every Man liberally according to his Performances V. Now on the other part the Lord Chandos who because of his Abilities in the War was the Principal Captain thô the Earl of Monford was head of the Cause began wisely to consider how he might with a lesser Number overthrow a greater in plain Field where no advantage of ground might be had Especially his concern was now encreased because the King of England his Master had given him such a Charge to look most carefully to the Business of his Son in Law for the Earl of Monford had h Speed p. 590. Sandford's Geneal hist p. 179. Ashmole's Garter p. 669. Married the Lady Mary his Daughter Wherefore like a Loyal Gentleman he fully determin'd with his utmost diligence to advance the Affairs of the Earl of Monford and to stick close to him that day He had perfectly noted the exact order and discipline of the Frenchmen upon their approach and hugely applauded to himself the great Conduct and Discretion that appeared among them and therewithall said aloud to his Friends the Lords and Captains about him Gentlemen it is high time for Us to order our Battails For our Enemies are giving Us an example Those who heard him answer'd Sir You are in the Right But this is your Province You are our Chief Master and best Counsellour therefore order Us at Your pleasure for no Soul here shall contradict You since we know the King has committed this Charge to You and surely You have the most experience in these Affairs of any among Us. Thereupon the Lord Chandos began also to form Three Battails and a Rereguard The First he committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet and Sr. Richard Burley with whom was the Lord John Nereford the Second was led by the Lord Oliver Clisson who i True Use of Armory in Chandes his Life p. 62. bare Gules a Lion Rampant Argent Crown'd Or with him were the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt and Sr. Matthew Gournay whose Arms were k Id. p. 67. Or Three Pales Azure The Third was govern'd by the Earl of Monford who himself was governed by the Lord Chandos and here was William Lord Latimer and in each of these Battails were 500 Men of Arms and 400 Archers But when Sr. John came to the ordering the Rereguard he called unto him Sr. Hugh Calverley and said Sr. Hugh You must be Governour of the Rereguard with 500 Men of Arms in your Company But you are to stand on a Wing and by no means to quit your Station for any thing that may happen unless you see an absolute necessity As when any of our Battails are disorder'd or broke by the force of our Enemies if you think there is Danger then come you on with your Battail and entertain the Enemy till our Men are rallied again And when you have done thus much draw off and keep your former Post till such another occasion calls to a like assistance For surely this will be the best piece of Service You can do Us this day When Sr. Hugh Calverley had fully heard the Lord Chandos his Words he was asham'd and displeasâ—d in his Mâ—nd and said My Lord pray commend this Rereguard to some other Man besides me For I have no desire to meddle with it And Sir I admire in my heart what You have
Guischard Dangle and Sr. Stephen Cossington with Sr. William Beauchamp and Others were trying out the matter with Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Arnold D'Endreghan and the rest of the Frenchmen and Aragonians who made a gallant and a long Resistance So that the Knights of England endured much pain before they could open them each Party with Spear in Hand foining and pressing against each other and when their Spears were broke they fought with short Battle-Axes or Swords and Daggers That Day the Lord John Chandos proved himself a Noble and Hardy Knight doing under his Banner many a notable Feat of Arms and he still pressed on so far that at last he was encompassed among his Enemies where he was so hardly handled that he was fell'd to the Ground but at the same time drew after him a great and big-bon'd Knight of Castille named Sr. Martin Farcant who was much renowned for Hardiness among the Spaniards This Man did his endeavour to have slain Sr. John Chandos who now lay under him in extream danger But at that instant Sr. John remembred himself of a Knife or short Dagger which he had in his Bosom under his Mail and presently drew it out and stretching forth his right Hand strack this Sr. Martin Farcant so in the Back and Sides that he slew him as thus he lay upon him And then the Lord Chandos heaving him over on one side arose quickly on his feet and by that time his Men were broke in unto him having long labour'd to come up to him where they saw him fell'd And now the Lord Chandos being follow'd by his Men and they being headed by their General began to prevail against their Enemies and to get apparent Advantage over them thô they had fought long and doubtfully before they obtain'd this Point Under the Ensign of St. George and the Banner of the Lord Chandos were all the Companions to the Number of 1200 Penons and their Captains were all hardy and valiant Knights as Sr. Robert Cheney Sr. Perdiccas de la Brett Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. Garses du Chastel Sr. Galiard Vignior Sr. John Charnels Nandon of Bergerac Edmund Ortingo Humphry Perot of Savoy the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg de l'Esparre Lanny the Little Mechlin and divers Others besides the Knights and Esquires of England lead by the Duke of Lancaster as the Lord William Beauchamp Sr. Ralph Camois Sr. Walter Vrsewick Sr. Robert Someri Sr. John Grandesson Sr. John Draper and above 200 Knights more On the French Part there fought valiantly Sr. Bertram of Clequin with the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan the Lord William Garils a Spaniard the Beague of Villaine the Lord Dantoign or D'Intoigne in Hainalt the Lord of Brusnel the Lord Guy Bailleul Sr. John of Bergues the Beague of Villiers the Almain of St. Venant and many other Good Knights of France Hainalt Bretagne Spain Aragon Provence and the Marches thereabout who behav'd themselves all like Men however they got no Advantage for they were match'd with Knights hardy and strong and such as were expert and well-practised in Arms. Yet they held out a while with exceeding Courage so that if the Spaniards had done their part as well as the Frenchmen in all likelihood the English and Gascogners would have been much more hardly put to it and have paid at least dearer for their Victory Neither was it any fault of the Bastard Henry's that they did no better for he had well and often admonished and desired them before they came to it to do their utmost and so they had promised him to do and now he set them an Example himself and gave infinite demonstrations of his exceeding Valour and did Wonders in Arms and with a present Courage comforted his Men and when he saw any ready to fly or quit their station and so open the Ranks then he rode in among them and said My Lords I am your King You your selves have made me so and have sworn and promised not to fail me thô you die for 't For Godsake be mindfull now of your Oath and Promise and acquit your selves loyally unto Me For certainly I will not flinch one Foot as long as I can see you do your Devoir And another time he would say Where are the Courages of those Noble Spaniards who under my Father King Alphonso have given such wonderfull Overthrows to the Moors Do not now disgrace your former Glories by turning your backs at this Time. A little Perseverance will set the Garland on your Heads By these and the like Words being full of Comfort King Henry rallied his Men together three several times that Day and with his own Hands he fought valiantly So that by all means as to that Point he ought to have an honourable Report Indeed this Fight proved marvellously Dangerous and therein many Men were slain and grievously wounded and at the beginning the Commons of Spain with their Slings cast stones so violently that it was a mighty trouble to the English at first but when they also felt the sharp Arrows of England light among them they could no longer keep their Array so exactly There were however with King Henry many Noble Men of Arms as well of Spain as of Portugal and Aragon who behaved themselves with much Honour and would not give up the Day so lightly For they fought obstinately with Spears Axes Javelins and Swords And on a Wing of that Battail there were certain Troops of Cuirassiers well mounted on Gennets who always kept them in good Order For when they broke or open'd their Array in any part thither immediately flew these Troops always ready to help and bring them again into Order Which Device Sr. Bertram had taught King Henry having to his Cost learn'd it of the Lord Chandos in the Battle of Auray in Bretagne Upon all which accounts it must be acknowledged how the English and Gascogners before they had any great Advantage bought it dearly and were fain to win it by noble Chevalry and true Prowess of Arms. And to say the Truth the z Frois ibid. Black-Prince himself was the chief Flower of Chevalry in all the World and he had with him many right Valiant Knights and Esquires as well of England as of Aquitain as the Lord Edward Spencer a Frois f. 197. a. a mighty Man of Valour the young Lord Thomas Holland Eldest Son to the Princess of Wales the Lord Baldwin Frevil Seneschal of Sainctogne Sr. Thomas Wake of Blyseworth in Northamptonshire Seneschal of Rovergue together with the Seneschals of Bourdeaux of Rochelle of Poictou of Limosin and of Perigort Sr. Nele Loring Knight of the Garter Sr. Richard Pontchardon a most valiant Knight of Devonshire Sr. William Molineux Sr. Nicolas Bond. Sr. Hugh Courtney and Sr. Philip Courtney Brethren Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. John Combes and Sr. Thomas Combes Brethren besides the Gascogners as Sr. Lewis of Marville Sr. Raimund Danduel and Others And in the other Battails there were as Choice
Men as the World could afford namely John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster the Lord John Chandos Sr. Gaischard Dangle Sr. Stephen Cossington the Lord John Greilly Captal of Busche the Lord Oliver Clisson the Lord William Beauchamp the Lord of Raix Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. John Tyrrel Sr. William Clayton also the Lord Lewis of Harcourt the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Pons the Lord of Partenay the Lord of Albret the Lord of Pamiers and his two Brethren the Lord of Mucidan the Lord of Rozan the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Earl of Carmain the Lord of Coudon the Lord de L'Esparre the Lord of Chaumont Sr. Bartholomew du Cande the Lord of Pincornet Sr. Bertram de la Brett the Soldiche de l'Estarrac Sr. Petiton of Coutras and Others aforenamed who all deserve Immortal Memory A little beside the Prince was James the young King of Majorica and his Company nothing inferior to the Rest he fought with as much Animosity here as if the success of the Battle had been to restore his own Kingdom unto him but the Lord Martin Carre who represented the King of Navarre's Person was with the Prince doing Actions nothing unworthy of his Character There was none that time of all the Princes Army that did not his Best as indeed they had all need enough so to do for there were of Spaniards and Castillians and Others more than an 100000 in Harness and yet the Battle was fought in Plain Field without the benefit of any stratagem on either Side So that by reason of the vast Numbers of the Enemy and the Courage of their Captains which often obliged them to renew the Fight it was long before the Victory could be won King Don Pedro especially rag'd about like a wild Boar being much chafed by the stiff Opposition he met withall and extreamly desirous to meet his Brother the Bastard saying Where is this Son of a Whore that calls himself King of Castille Let me see his Face now if he dare And yet at the same time Don Henry fought nothing worse in the parts where he was thô his Lords would not let him cope with Don Pedro and yet besides he had much ado that Day to hold his Men together so long as he did Ah! Ye good People would he often say You have Crowned me your King therefore help me now to keep what your selves have given me and swore to preserve unto me And by these and other such Words as he spake he inspired many with an unusual Courage and made them stay and die in the Field because they could not for shame leave the place in his Sight Sr. Bertram b Frois â— 238. f. 139. b. of Clequins Battail fought the best and held the longest together entire for there were many noble and expert Knights and Gentlemen who behaved themselves with all the Courage imaginable And on the English side especially the Lord John Chandos gave pregnant Instances of his Personal Valour and Conduct for that Day he guided and menag'd the young Duke of Lancaster as he had done the Prince at the Battle of Poictiers and the Duke of Bretagne lately at the Fight before Auray in all which Cases he ought to be highly renowned And all that Day he had no care of taking any Prisoners with his own hands but he still sought and pressed forward toward the main Point And yet by his Men and under his Banner were taken many good Lords Knights and Esquires both of Aragon and France especially Sr. Bertram of Clequin himself with whom fell the Hope of that Battail and the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan Marshal of France the Beague of Villaine and above Threescore more Prisoners of note Among others the Earl of Denia in Valencia c Vid. Walshist in Ricard 2 p. 216. Weevers Fâ—n Mâ—num p. 438. M.S. Rot. Parl. 160. Sr. Rob. Cotton's Abridgm p. 157. was taken by the hands of Robert Hawley and John Shakel two Esquires of the Lord Chandos his Retinue the Story whereof with the ill Consequences ensuing thereupon and the Murther of Esquire Hawley and the Earl of Denia's Son 's wonderfull Fidelity to his Master Esquire Shakel with whom he was then left a Pledge for his Fathers Ransome All this is well worth the Relating but because those Tragical Matters happen'd not till after King Edwards Death and also is something over-long to tell it cannot by the Rules of History be properly inserted in this Place wherefore now We return again to the Matter in hand So then at last this strong Battail of Sr. Bertram of Clequin was by fine Force open'd and discomfited and all that were therein taken and slain as well the Frenchmen as Aragonians and Others There was slain the Beague of Villiers and many Hundreds with him and taken beside those aforemention'd the Lord Dantoign of Hainalt the Lord of Brusnel Sr. Guy Bailleul Sr. John of Bergues Sr. Almain of St. Venant and divers Others of Prime Note And this Battail being thus utterly overthrown the Duke of Lancaster the Lord John Chandos and the two Marshals rally'd their Men together under the Banner of St. George and then went freshly to succour the Prince of Wales and fell in on one side upon the Battail of Henry crying out all together with an High and terrible Voice St. George Guienne Then the Spaniards and their Associates who even before contended but faintly could no longer endure but began to give ground and open apace But We must say something of what was done in this Battail before the coming of the Duke of Lancaster and the Marshals The Captal of Busche and the Lord Clysson fought on their part with excessive Fury the same did the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt Sr. John Devereux the Soldiche of Estarrac and others But the Prince of Wales especially behav'd himself Worthy of his Name and Character encouraging and directing his Men and performing the Office both of a good Souldier and of an Accomplisht Captain He was always in the heat of Action and whereever the greatest stress of the Matter lay thither he constantly moved carrying along with him Assurance to his Friends and Terror to his Enemies King Henry for his part acquitted himself with much Honour and rallied and brought back his Men as we observ'd three times that day For upon the first flight of the Earl of Sancelloni with 3000 Horse who followed him the other Spaniards were so disheartned that it required all the Care in the World to keep them firm together wherefore King Henry was always ready now here and now there saying My Lords what is it You intend to do Why will You thus forsake and betray me whom You have made your King and set the Crown on my Head and put the Inheritance of Castille into the Hands of me and my Heirs Return back with Courage and help vigorously to defend me but a while and do but stand still by me and by
him to revoke his Promise But the Prince who was a Person of much Honour and Equity said positively Gentlemen since We have agreed thereto We will by no means break our Word And truly it would be a great Shame and Reproach to Vs if We should any longer refuse to deliver him since he is content to pay so considerable a Ransom So after this Sr. Bertram had nothing to do but to contrive how to raise the Money and he minded his Business so well that by the Assistance of the French King of the Bastard of Spain of the Duke of Anjou who loved him entirely and of some other Friends he made a Purse of an 100000 Franks or 10000 l. Sterling all which he paid in less than a Months time and so was quit of his Imprisonment and went straight with 2000 Fighting Men of Provence to serve the Duke of Anjou who then held Siege before the City of Tarascon which at that time held of the King of Majorica and Naples in Right of his Wise Queen Joan. VII We have before declared at large the whole Manner of the Prince of Wales his Expedition into Spain t Frois c. 240. and how at last he left that Country not well contended with King Don Pedro and returned home again into his Principality of Aquitaine After him returned all manner of Men of War who had attended him for they saw it in vain to tarry any longer in Castille because Don Pedro did but shuffle with them and on the other hand they had a firm Confidence in the Prince's Word But when they were come back the Prince had not wherewithall to pay them so readily as he expected For the Business of Spain had wonderfully exhausted his Treasures even to a Miracle However all the rest went home relying on the Prince's Promise but the Companions tarried still being quarter'd in Aquitaine where for their Lives they could not forbear robbing and plundering being to the Number of 6000 Fighting Men For the Prince had left the other 6000 in Spain under Sr. Hugh Calverley When therefore the Prince heard the Complaints of his People concerning these Companions he sent unto them desiring and commanding them to avoid his Dominions for the Country was not able to bear them Now their Captains and Leaders were all either Englishmen or Gascogners as Sr. Robert Briquet Sr. John Frevile Sr. Robert Cheney Sr. Galiard of Viguier the Bourg of Bartuel the Bourg of L'Esparre Nandon of Bergerac Bernard de la Salle and many others who neither durst nor would displease the Prince for they did not a little fear to provoke him but they much more lov'd to oblige him And therefore they took the first opportunity to leave Aquitaine and passed forth into the Realm of France which they had us'd to call Their Chamber going over the River of Loire into Champaigne and to the Bishoprick of Rheims and still their Numbers encreased And these Men sought Adventures every where as they went in France and gat great store of Plunder and did much mischief complaints whereof came in daily to the French King and his Council who were as yet unable to apply a Remedy but the Commons of France wonder'd extreamly that the Prince of Wales should send Men to make War among them However King Charles of France sent presently for the Lord Oliver Clisson whom he made Chief Captain against these Companions because he was a Valiant Knight and of good Conduct wherefore also that Wise Prince held him in High Esteem and Favour About this time there was a Marriage struck up between the Young Earl of Albret and the Lady Isabell of Bourbon whereat the Prince of Wales was nothing pleased for he had rather that he had taken a Wife out of England Wherefore he spake many High Words against him till some of his Council began to appease his Displeasure by saying that it was Natural for every Man to seek to raise his Fortune as well as he might and that a Loyal Knight ought not to be blamed for exalting his own Honour and Profit by Marriage or otherwise if at the same time he did not forsake to serve his Prince or Master as far as in Duty bound These and the like Words somewhat allay'd the Prince's Passion But whatever appearance he made he was not fully satisfy'd for he verily believed that his Marriage would occasion some Revolting from him as indeed it fell out shortly after VIII While these Companions were thus troubling the Realm of France u Frois c. 251. the Prince of Wales was advised by some of his Council especially the Bishop of Rodez who was at that time Chancellor of Aquitaine to raise a Foüage or Tax upon Chimneys throughout all his Principality thereby to enable himself to pay the Debts he had contracted by his late Expedition and beside the State which the Prince and Princess kept was so great that in all Christendom there was not the like again So there was held a Parliament for raising this Foüage at Niort to which were summon'd all the Barons of Gascogne of Poictou of Saintogne and of divers other parts even from all the Cities and Good Towns of Aquitaine Before all whom the Bishop of Rodez declared in Presence of the Prince how this Foüage was to be raised and that the Design of Raising it was chiefly to enable the Prince their Lord to pay such summs of Money as he ow'd upon the account of his Spanish Expedition and that however it was the Prince's Mind not to continue the said Foüage any longer than for the space of Five Years to come All which time supposing x Du Châ—sne p. 699. One Frank for every Chimney the Prince would have a supply of 1200000 Franks per annum if the Matter had been effectually put in Execution But althô to this Ordinance the Porctevrns readily agreed as also did the Representatives of Sainctogne Limosin Rouvergue and Rochelle yet divers others of the Marches of Gascogne refused to concurr with them as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret his Nephew the Lord of Conde the Lord of Pincornet the Lord of Cominges the Vicount of Carmaine the Lord de la Barde and divers other Barons who said how heretofore when they served the French King they were not then grieved nor oppressed with any Subsidies or Innovations and no more would they now if they could help it for they said their Lands and Seignories were free and exempt from all such Duties and so the Prince had sworn to keep and maintain them But however the better to make fair Weather for the time and to get off with more ease from this Parliament they then only answer'd how they would take further Advice and so return again by such a day as well Prelates Bishops and Abbots as Barons Knights and others This was all the Answer that the Prince and his Council could have at that time and so they brake up and left
his Hands durst ever presume to defie him who had obtain'd so many Victories against him and his Ancestors and he also believed that the late Peace had been so solemnly confirmed as to be inviolable with all those who had not quite abandon'd all sense both of Honour and Religion But especially he was perswaded by many of his Council that the Prince only spake these things of Prejudice as Young Bold and greedy of Arms and impatient of Peace and therefore had too freely taxed the French Kings Honour because he desired nothing more than War and an opportunity of entring into Action Upon these accounts King Edward gave but small Credit to his Sons Letters especially because King Charles all the while with design nourished Security in him by making frequent Remonstrances and Overtures how to continue for ever their present good Correspondence and to cut off all occasions of Complaints Jealousies and Misconstructions for the future For it was his Design to use these Cautious Methods till by his Verbal Negotiations his Enemies being rock'd asleep and his own Affairs grown ripe he might by Degrees get the rest of the Prisoners and Hostages at liberty and then of a sudden be ready to Bite as soon as he should threaten And first o Frois c. 244. John Duke of Berry one of the Principal Hostages made shift as we intimated before to depart as lightly as his Brother the Duke of Anjou had done before him For having the last Year obtained leave of King Edward to visit his Friends in France for one whole Year when once he saw the War open he look'd upon himself as excus'd notwithstanding his Oath from ever returning again An Opinion directly contrary to that of the Generous Roman Attilius Regulus who voluntarily return'd himself into his Captivity even when he knew Death and Torments were prepared for him and thô in a time of War because his Ransome was not paid Earl John of Harcourt also found means to get out of England about the same time King Edward granting him leave for certain Months at the instant Request of his Uncle the Lord Lewis of Harcourt who was then at liberty in Ponthieu and was a Friend to the Prince And this Earl Harcourt intended to keep Word with the King of England but upon his Return he fell sick and fortunately continued Ill till the War was begun so that He never rendred himself back again The Lord Guy of Blois who was then but a young Esquire and Brother to John Earl of Blois had a more Honourable free and easie way whereby he gat off For when he saw the French King for whom he was an Hostage not at all to mind his Deliverance he fell in Treaty with the Lord Ingleram de Concy Earl of Bedford who having Married the Lady Isabella King Edward's Daughter had upon that account an Annual Allowance out of England And this Treaty was so menag'd between King Edward and his said Son-in-Law on the One part and the Lord John of Blois and his Brother Guy on the Other part with the Consent also of the French King that the Earldom of Soissons was deliver'd up into the King of England's Hands for him to give the said Earldom to his Son-in-Law the Lord of Coucy in consideration of which Gift the Lord of Coucy should acquit King Edward of 4000 l. Annual Pension which hitherto he had allow'd him And when all these Covenants were made engrossed and interchangeably deliver'd the Young Lord Guy of Blois was wholly acquitted for ever And as for the Earl of Alenson he also obtain'd Licence of King Edward to return into France for a certain time But he made so many excuses that at last the War was begun and so he never return'd into England thô some are of Opinion that at last he paid 30000 Franks to be wholly acquitted Some two Years before Lewis Duke of Bourbon who was also one of the Hostages gain'd such Favour in the Eyes of King Edward that he obtain'd his good leave to go and see his Friends in France for a while Now it happen'd that during his stay at Paris with the French King William Edington Bishop of Winchester deceased whereupon King Edward designing to advance William of Wickham who was then his Chaplain as also his Principal Secretary and Keeper of the Privy Seal unto that Dignity wrote into France to this Duke of Bourbon desiring him for his sake to intercede with Pope Vrban to allow that this his Chaplain who had been already elected by the Prior and Convent might be admitted Bishop of Winchester promising withall unto the Duke to use him favourably as to the Business of his Ransome if he would stir effectually in this Matter The Duke of Bourbon was overjoyed at the sight of these Letters and shew'd them to the French King who advis'd him to apply himself immediately to the Pope about that Affair Accordingly he went to Avignon and obtain'd a Bull with a Grant of the Bishoprick of Winchester for the said Candidate with which he return'd into France and soon after into England where he first treated with the King and his Council about his own Deliverance before he would produce the Pope's Bull unto them In short for the sake of this Priest the Duke of Bourbon was wholly set free paying only 20000 Franks and William of Wickham was made Bishop of Winchester and soon after Lord Chancellor of England This Great p De eo Vid. in Vitá Gâ—lielmi Wickhâ—uni à Tho. Marten Edit Lond. 1597. Chandler de Vitâ ejusd Trussel's Continuat ad Daniel's hist in Henr. IV. p. 77. ad An. 1404. Anton Wood Antiqu Oxon. l. 2. p. 126. Weevers Fun. Mon. Godwin's Catal. Bish in Winchester c. Prelate new built the Body of Winchester Church Founded New-College in Oxford and that Glorious Seminary of Winchester-College He also built a Chappel at Tichfield and left many other Monuments of Piety behind him being by his own Vertue and the King's Favour not meanly advanced for besides his being Lord Chancellor and Bishop of Winchester he is said to have held in Commendum the Archdeacomy of Lincoln the Proyostship of Wells the Parsonage of Manyhant in Devonshire and no less than 12 Prebends Having sued the Executors of his Predecessor for Dilapidations he recover'd of them 1662 l. 10 s. besides a 1556 Head of Great Cattle 3876 Weathers 4717 Ewes 2521 Lambs and 127 Swine all which stock it seems belong'd to the Bishoprick of Winchester at that time But of his Family and Name of his Rise and Offices of his Eminence and Buildings and other Great Marks of his Munificence and Liberality I am forbid in this place to speak more largely by the Laws of History and therefore shall refer the Curious Reader to the several Authors above quoted and to our Common English Chronicles Where they will find in this Man a most Notable Instance of Providence and a strong
also unworthy to be related The Earl of Flanders b Frois c. 253. fol. 153. himself was not unwilling and had also enter'd Solemn Engagements by Covenant to promote and effect the Nuptials But the Lady Margaret her Grandmother a Frenchwoman both in Blood and Affection opposed her self against this Alliance with all her Power being rather minded to fortifie the House of France Wherefore she prest her Son with all the Vehemence imaginable even so far as to threaten c Mezeray ibid. to cut off those Breasts of hers wherewith she had given him suck because they had nourished up such an ungratefull and unnatural Son. These Words of hers touch'd him to the Quick so that he resolved in his Mind to bestow his Daughter elsewhere As he had opportunity enough to do for many great Princes Courted the Young Lady with assiduous application but especially he was call'd upon by the French King to bestow his Daughter upon his Brother Philip the Hardy Duke of Burgundy And this Politick King had secretly so tamper'd with Pope Urban that he could by no means be prevail'd with to allow a Dispensation for the King of England's Son to Marry her for they were within the Degrees forbidden The Earl of Flanders therefore d Frois ibid. being thus press'd upon by his Mother as well as by the French King and finding by the Pope's obstinacy that the Marriage would not presently take with England especially considering that it was high time for his Daughter to be Married because he had no more Children and also believing that the Young Duke of Burgundy would be no improper Match for his Daughter who before had been Married to that Title upon these and the like accounts he sent certain Messengers into England desiring the King to acquit him from his Obligations since a Dispensation for a Marriage with his Son could not be obtain'd by any means King Edward who was not apt to suspect any fraud in Princes and Men of Honour considering withall that the Young Lady was not to lose her time since he could not hope for any timely Dispensation freely releas'd him of all Covenants to that purpose of which he gave his Letters wherewith the said Messengers return'd to Bruges and shew'd their Lord the Earl how they had succeeded which pleas'd him wondrous well And soon after the Marriage was fully agreed on between Philip Duke of Burgundy and the Earl's Daughter these being the Conditions That the Earl of Flanders in consideration of this Match should have 50000 Franks that the Towns of Lisle and Doway should be deliver'd up unto him in gage for certain Sums of Money which the French King hereupon undertook to pay to the Earl of Flanders Who accordingly had present Possession thereof and placed his own Subjects therein This Composition being made and Ratified they proceeded to the Marriage which was held and consummated in the City of Gaunt with great Pomp and Solemnity many High Lords Barons and Knights being present especially the accomplish'd Young Lord Ingleram de Coucy Earl of Bedford who was sent thither by the French King to add Grace to their Dancing Justs and Triumphs But when King Edward of England saw that the Earl of Flanders was by means of his Daughter allied thus to the House of France he knew not what to think whether or no the Earl would take Part against him for the sake of the Duke of Burgundy his Son-in-Law and Presumptive Heir For he doubted much what kind of Covenants might have passed on that Occasion between the French King and the Earl to his Prejudice Wherefore he became now more severe with the Flemings and vexed them more than heretofore both by Land and by Sea as they were about their Merchandise And at this the French King was not at all displeased but rather laughed in his sleeve for he hoped that thereupon a War would ensue between the English and the Flemings But however the Wise Men of Flanders and the most Wealthy Burgesses of the Good Towns had no mind to break with England not only because of their loss of Trade consequent thereupon but because in a manner all the Commons of Flanders were absolutely enclin'd to King Edward's Side and generally believed his Title to the Crown of France to be much fairer than that of the French Kings II. The mean while King Edward who was as busie to procure himself Friends as the French King was on the other hand to ballance this Loss of the Earl of Flanders sent to his Cosen Charles King of Navarre whom he knew to be at no good Terms with the French King Because he claimed a Right of Inheritance to certain Lands which he held concerning which both their Councils had often treated But still the King of France denied that he ought to inherit them and so Matters rested at this time both the Kings being not yet come to Daggers drawing but exceeding Jealous of each other Particularly the King of Navarre who was then in Base Normandy began seriously to fortifie his Towns and Castles in Coutantine and the Earldom of Eureux and other Parts of Normandy which came unto Him by his Mother the Countess of Eureux or otherwise He himself making his chief Residence at Cherburgh with Men of War ready in that as well as all other his Garrisons Among others at this time in his Service there was that Eminent Warrier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt who as then govern'd Carentan a City beyond the Passage of St. Clement in the Limits of Coutantine which belonged to the King of Navarre's Inheritance This Sr. Eustace was one of the King of Navarre's Principal Councellors but a Subject and Liegeman to the King of England wherefore King Edward sent now to him to sift the King of Navarre throughly and he so far prevail'd with him that at last the King of Navarre with a private Company went on Board an English Vessel called the Lynne and set sail for England where he was heartily welcome to King Edward And here at last it was agreed that the King of Navarre immediatly upon his return to Cherburgh should admit English Troops into all his Garrisons and also send and defie the French King. After which he returned with a strong Convoy of English Knights and Archers into Normandy where he dispos'd of most of the Men in Garrisons but those few who returned home with the Ships had but ill Fortune For they met with certain Pirats Normans and others who being far stronger set upon them fiercely and within a while took and slew them every Man they would not receive one to Mercy Which was a great Trouble as well as Loss to King Edward but the matter was past all Recovery III. Soon after the King of Navarre was return'd safe to Cherbourgh Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being sent for by the Prince of Wales took leave of him to go and serve the Prince according to his Duty thô the King was at
Duke of Burgundy came thither with his great Army and sat down over against the English between St. Omers and Tournehan in very good Order But he took up a large extent of ground for it was said how he had in his Army more than y Frois ibid. 4000 Knights whereby the Number of the rest may be conjectur'd And in this manner the two Armies lay facing each other without any offer to come to a decisive Battle For thô the Duke of Burgundy did so far outnumber the English that he was z Frois ibid. fol. 169. Seven to their One yet he durst not come to a pitch'd Battle because the King his Brother had commanded expresly to the contrary And no doubt that Circumspect Prince considering that in spite of such disadvantages the English had oftentimes conquer'd in the Days of his Predecessors particularly when they took his Father Prisoner in the Battle of Poictiers thought it best now like Fabius the Cunctator to oppose delay to their Fury which indeed as Matters then went prov'd the best Council As for the English thô being so inferior in Number they thought not good to attaque the Enemy in his Trenches a Fro. s ibid. yet they would not have refus'd him had he come forward for every day they ranged themselves in good Order of Battle to receive him all Men being appointed what to do in their several Offices and Stations However most of the time was entertain'd with Skirmishes between the two Armies now this fide gaining the better and now that as the chance of War is And Lewis Earl of Flanders who very much studied the Welfare of his Son-in-Law the Duke of Burgundy and now lay at a fair Palace of his which he had newly built near Gaunt hearing an account of the State of both Armies by Messengers going too and fro between the Duke and Him would always advise him by his Letters that he should not by any means break the Command of his Brother the French King to present the English with Battle XX. While b Frois c. 264. fol. 169. these two Armies of France and England lay thus idly confronting one another there fell many memorable adventures in Poictou of which we shall now say somewhat For it is not agreeable that any of the Exploits of that Gallant Hero Sr. John Chandos should be forgotten We remembred before how upon the Lord James Audley's not Death but only Retirement into England he was by the Prince of Wales made Grand Seneschal of Poictou and as he yielded in Conduct or Courage to no man living so now especially he desired to adorn his Province and to do some memorable Act upon the Frenchmen Wherefore he soon assembled a considerable Body of Men of Arms in the City of Poictiers saying he design'd to make an Inroad into Anjou and to come back again by Touraine and look upon the Frenchmen in the Marches and Frontiers there Notice of this his Design he sent forthwith to the Earl of Pembroke who lay then in Garrison at Mortagne a Fortress of Poictou lying on the River la Sevre and confining on the Borders of Anjou and had at least two Hundred Spears in his Company The Young Earl was huge glad of this News and very much desired to go along with the Lord Chandos but some Green Heads among his Followers diverted him by saying Sir You are but as yet in the Flower of your Youth Your Honour is yet to come whereof from those early Seeds of Vertue within You We may expect a plentifull harvest But if You put your self in Company of the Lord Chandos his Ripe and High-grown Reputation will choak yours in its very growth So that whatsoever Noble Exploit You shall now perform the Glory thereof will be only his because He is the Sovereign and most noted Captain in these parts Wherefore since You are so great a Lord and nothing Inferior to him either in Birth Alliance or Courage 't is fitter that what You do You build on your own Foundation And e'en let the Lord Chandos do what he pleases upon his own account c Frois ibid. since in comparison to You he is but a Knight Batchelour A Lecture of Ambition is easily received by most Men but especially by Young Persons who apparently hazard their Lives for Honour So that the Earls Eagerness to accompany the Lord Chandos was upon this occasion very much abated whereupon he made his Excuse for that time and declin'd to joyn Issue in the Enterprise Envy is surely the Stepmother of all Brave Undertakings and the Laudable Course of Vertue is never stopt but by the Rubs she flings in her way However the Just God has made her a Plague to her self and in the End all the Mischief she design'd falls redoubled upon her own Head. The Earl of Pembroke will find a time to repent this folly of his and we shall shortly see him to owe his Life to the Assistance of this General under whom He now despis'd to learn the Rudiments of War. Notwithstanding the Lord Chandos would not break his Purpose but made his Rendezvous at Poictiers and then began his March with 300 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 1100 Archers in his Company The Chief Noblemen and Captains under him were the Lord Thomas Piercy the Lord Thomas Spencer Sr. Neal Loring Sr. Dangouses Sr. Thomas Banister Sr. John Trivet Sr. Geoffry Argentine Sr. William Montendre Sr. Moubron Linieres Sr. Richard Taunton and many more all who rode forth with their several Retinues and the Archers in good Array and passed thô Poictou into the parts of Anjou their Van-Currours who rode before them ravaging all the Country as they went. At this rate they proceeded and did what they pleas'd in the fruitfull Land of Anjou none offering to oppose them thô they tarried in those parts for 15 days especially in Loudunois After which they return'd again with much Booty taking the way between Anjou and Touraine along by the River Creuse whence they descended into the Lands of the Vicount of Rochechoüart and put all to fire and sword leaving nothing untouch'd except perhaps what was secur'd in strong Fortresses So at last they passed the Vienne at St. Junien and shew'd themselves before the strong Town of Rochechoüart which they attempted but in vain For the Vicount had beforehand well fortify'd the Place and set therein two good Captains Sr. Tibault du Pont and Sr. Helion de Talay whereupon the Lord Chandos would spend no more time there Just then he had notice how the Lord Lewis of Sancerre Marshal of France was at la Haye en Touraine with a considerable Body of Men wherefore being desirous to go thither and yet thinking himself not strong enough he sent once more to the Earl of Pembroke kindly entreating him now that an Advantage was offer'd against the Enemy to come and joyn him with all his Power at Chastelleraut in order to march
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
taken therein having a like Fate with St. Augustin whom he had translated for he also died as he had desired before he saw the Ruines of Hippo his dearest City CHAPTER the EIGHTH The CONTENTS I. AN. DOM. 1371. An. Regni Angliae XLV Franciae XXXII The Surprisal Redemption and Death of the Lord Eustace Dambreticourt II. The Danger and Escape of the Lord Raimond of Marvejols III. The Death of Edward Plantagenet Eldest Son to the Black-Prince The said Prince◠having appointed his Brother of Lancaster his Lieutenant in Aquitain returns with his Family for England IV. The Castle of Monpaon being betrayed to the French is recover'd by the Duke of Lancaster V. The Lord of Pons revolts from England and Poictou divided VI. The Castle of Moncoutour won by the English VII Sr. Bertram of Clequin prevails in other Parts VIII A Parliament at Westminster IX Pope Gregory endeavours a Peace between the Two Crowns X. The English obtain a Naval Victory over the Flemings XI The Flemings submit to a Peace XII James King of Majorica dies XIII The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge marry the two Daughters of Don Pedro King of Spain whereby Don Henry being alarum'd enters a Confederation with the French King. XIV The Pope endeavours to make Peace between England and France the Copy of his Letters to the Captal of Busche XV. The Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge return with their Ladies into England I. THIS Winter the Valiant and Generous Captain a Frois c. 286. Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt was in great danger of being utterly lost thrô his own too free Confidence in an old Acquaintance For he rode one Evening to pay a Visit to the Lord of Pierre Buffierre whom he look'd upon as his special Friend and Lover and also of the English Interest For as we b Vid l. 4. c. 7. § 2 p. 789. shew'd before the French King himself could not persuade him to renounce the Homage which he had made to the Prince of Wales In the Christmas Holydays Sr. Eustace rode to his Castle designing to make merry with him but his Entertainment was much otherwise than he expected For his unkind Host admitted Sr. Tibauld du Pont a Knight of Breton and an Enemy to England into his Castle whom he suffer'd to seize upon Sr. Eustace while he suspected no harm and to lead him away Prisoner And now he had certainly been put to a shamefull Death because he had been a Captain of the Companions and so great an Enemy to the Realm of France But then the Duke of Bourbon was pleas'd to remember the good Turns he had done him in releasing his Mother who was taken at Bellepeche and so to requite him interceeded effectually for his Life at this time and compounded for a Ransom of 12000 Franks 4000 whereof Sr. Eustace paid down leaving his Son Francis Dambreticourt in Hostage for the Remainder with the Duke of Bourbon who thereupon repledged him engaging his own Word for the Residue to Sr. Tibauld Sr. Eustace being thus acquitted went and lay at Carentan beyond the Marches of St. Clement in Base Normandy a Town which the King of Navarre had given him And there he shortly after died having been in his Days a most Valiant Knight and a sworn Servant to the Ladies II. About the same time there fell another Adventure which I presume worth the Relating because therein will appear the ill Consequences that attend Treason with the great Power of natural Sympathy and Commiseration and the agreeable Prospect of an unexpected Turn of Fortune We shew'd before how the Lord Lewis of Maleval and his Nephew the young Lord Raimund of Marvejols had without any Constraint or Provocation revolted from the Service of the King of England and began to make War against the Prince of Wales Now the Lord Raimund of Marvejols hearing at this time that all his own Country had followed his Example and were turned French took his leave of the Court at Paris intending to go home But by the way he was suddenly met by two or three Troops of Sr. Hugh Calverley's Men who were led by Sr. Geoffry Argentine Captain of a Castle in Poictou He fell so unluckily within their Power that he could not possibly avoid them so he was forthwith taken Prisoner and carried into Poictou unto the said English Knights Castle When it was known in England that the Lord Raimund of Marvejols was taken and in sure Custody King Edward wrote his Letters to Sr. Geoffry Argentine who had him in his Keeping commanding him with all speed to send over unto him his Enemy that false Traytor Sr. Raimund of Marvejols saying how he would take such Vengeance on him that all others should take Example by him and further he promised the Knight for his acceptable Service in taking him 6000 Franks Sr. Geoffry Argentine resolv'd by all means to obey the King his Masters Commands and said he would surely fulfill his Pleasure as soon as he could meet with an opportunity of Transporting him with Security and began presently to seek out for a Vessel and Company to have him convey'd into England Of all this Sr. Raimund had knowledge wherefore he was much more nearly concern'd than ever For before he hoped to get off by Ransom but now he saw there was no other Remedy but inevitable Death and that in all likelihood to be as full of Torment as Ignomy for he knew how Traytors were usually punish'd as well in England as elsewhere He was then in the Flower of his Age a Proper Young Handsom Valiant Gentleman of a fair Estate and Fortune in the World and perhaps not so fit to die as those who have not met with the Temptations which attend so high a Condition No wonder then if he was very much affected with these Apprehensions of Death He began to make the most dolefull Lamentations imaginable and always when his Keeper came near he heard him bewail his untimely End and complain of his Misfortunes so pathetically that it was impossible for Flesh and Blood not to sympathise therewith The Keeper who was an Englishman had the Curiosity to ask him the occasion of so great Sorrow and while he declared it in the softest Terms that could be devised wept along with him for pitty and afterwards gave him all the Consolation that might be telling him how King Edward was a very Mercifull Prince and thô terrible to those that resisted him yet always Gratious to those whom he had in his Power and much more he said with great Tenderness out of a Pious Consideration of his Prisoners dejected and forlorn Condition Sr. Raimund who knew his Life lay at stake saw little or no Comfort in all these Words but only observing how wonderfully concerned his Keeper was for him he began to repeat his Moans thereby to raise his Compassion and at last said unto him Ah! my dearest Friend Next unto God it is in
Peace was now done we shall proceed orderly to the War. All this Winter l Frois c. 296. c. Gallicè f. 244. there were held in England by the King many Consultations how to carry on the War the Summer following for he design'd to send two Powerfull Armies the One to act about the Parts of Aquitaine and the other from Calais to March thrô Picardy into France And all the while he neglected not to Establish himself with Friends on every side as well in Almaine as the Marches of the Empire where he purchas'd many good Knights and Esquires to his Service And befides all this in England he made such Wonderfull Preparations that the like had hardly been seen before But it seems that God Almighty was willing to prepare this Glorious Monarch by some sensible Affliction for his final Dissolution and that He might by observing his own Weakness fall to a due Consideration of Gods Power and learn to despise the salse Grandeur and Painted Glories of the World he was pleased from this time to blast both his maturest Counsels and his strongest Preparations whereby as a Father doth his Child he weaned him from the Delights and Allurements of this Life and directed him to seek after a better For to say the Truth We cannot till this time Date the Full Birth of King Edward's Misfortunes But from henceforward We shall see his Great Web of Victories continually to unravel and the strong spring of his Success to run backwards with much more speed than ever it was wound up King Charles m Frois ibid. of France was perfectly informed of all King Edward's most secret Resolutions whereupon he provided in all Places accordingly And first he mightily fortified all his Towns Cities and Castles in Picardy and the Marches towards Flanders supplying all his Garrisons with good Captains and Souldiers and other necessaries Nor did he forget his Concerns in Guienne but besides the Armies on that side in Garrison which were able to resist any Encounter after his usual way of Artifice he tamper'd secretly with the Chief Burgesses of Rochelle and other Places and sent also to his New Confederate the King of Spain desiring him effectually to assist him with a strong Fleet the next Summer III. On the other hand King Edward when the Spring was enter'd and he had magnificently solemnised the Feast of St. George as was his constant Custom at Windsor having created Sr. Guischard Dangle Knight of the Garter in the Room of Sr. Walter Manny deceased return'd to London and at his Royal Palace at Westminster held a Great Council about the Affairs of his Realm Here he ordain'd the Duke of Lancaster as his Lieutenant to invade France with a great Army by the Plains of Picardy the Earl of Cambridge being to attend him Then at the instant request of the Lord Guischard Dangle and all the Poictevin Lords whom he and his fellows represented he order'd the Earl of Pembroke n Rot. Vasc 46. Ed. 3. m. 4. as his Lieutenant in Aquitaine to go into Poictou to preserve that Country and to make Powerfull War against the French on that side For the Gascogners and Poictevins had earnestly requested of the King both by their Letters and the Mouth of Sr. Guischard Dangle that if he could not spare some One of the Princes his Sons yet at least he would send the Earl of Pembroke unto them whom next to those they lov'd and honour'd most as having had good Experience of his Extraordinary Courage and Conduct Hereupon King Edward before all his Barons and Knights then assembled in Council said unto the Earl of Pembroke who thô now Husband to the Lord Manny's Daughter had for his first Wise a Daughter of the Kings My Fair Son John I here appoint You as my Lieutenant and Commander in Chief over all Aquitaine to go into Poictou along with my Lord Guischard of Angoulesme and there to be Captain of all my Forces as well of those whom I shall send with You as of such whom You shall find there ready to joyn You who are no small Number as I am credibly informed The young Earl kneeling down said Sir I heartily thank your Majesty for the great Honour You are pleased to confer upon me thô I should be glad to be employ'd in your Majesties Service either there or elsewhere as One of the meanest Officers of your Army IV. These Orders being thus settled and due Care taken for all things to be ready against the time appointed the Council brake up and the King return'd to his Beloved Seat of Windsor He took along with him among others the Noble Poictevin Lord Sr. Guischard Dangle with whom he frequently spake of the Affairs of Poictou and Guienne Sr. Guischard advis'd the King by no means to doubt the Loyalty of his Good Subjects there For Sir said he as soon as my Lord of Pembroke shall but once appear he shall find a Considerable Army in the Field to joyn him For We shall make up to the Number of Four or Five Hundred Spears at least with their several Retinues all at Your Majesties Service to live and die for You so they may have their Wages duly paid them Sr. Guischard Sr. Guischard reply'd the King take You no Care for Gold and Silver to maintain the War when You are once come thither For I thank God I have enough and I am well content to bestow it on such a Commodity as the Glory and Advantage of Me and my Kingdom In such o Frois c. 297. sed Gallicè fol. 244. b. Discourse the King past the time with Sr. Guischard Dangle whom he entirely respected and credited no less as indeed he deserved till the Fleet was ready and the Earl of Pembroke came thither to take his leave of the King in order to his going on Board The Captains that accompanied him were the Lord Thomas Grandison the Lord John Tuchet Sr. Thomas of St. Albans Sr. John Lawton Sr. Simon Whitaker Sr. John Curson Sr. Robert Beaufort Sr. John Grimston all Knights of England besides the Poictovins as the Lord Guischard Dangle the Lord of Pinan the Lord John of Mortagne Sr. Emery of Tarse and others but they had no great Company with them because Sr. Guischard Dangle had advis'd the King not to exhaust England of her Best Men at that time when there were enough ready to fight for him in Poictou provided he sent over sufficient for their Wages All the Captains and their Men were order'd to repair to Southampton where they were fain to tarry no less than fifteen days in expectance of a Wind and then they went on Board with a good merry Gale and set sail for Poictou as they said in the Name of God and St. George but most certainly in an unlucky Hour For King Charles of France being either inform'd of all this or thrô his great Insight into Matters guessing how things would fall or thrô doubt
out our Lady of Ribemont return'd again upon them and then there began a fierce Medley many being overthrown on both sides The Lord of Chinon had in his hand an heavy Plummet of lead wherewith he batter'd Helmets and fell'd to the Earth such as he could light on For he was a big and strong Knight and well-form'd of his Limbs But at last he himself receiv'd such a stroke on the Helmet that he had fallen to the ground had he not been held up by an Esquire next unto him But the Blow grieved him while he liv'd which was not long after Several English Men wondred to see the Lord of Chinon's Banner For it was t True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Buschâ— p. 151. Vid. Ashmole's Garter Plate 39. Mill's Catal. Honâ—r p. 440. of six Barrs Varry and Gules so that it seem'd the same with the Lord of Coucy's Earl of Bedford for he bare Barry of Viverry and Gules which made the English say to one another How is this that the Lord of Coucy hath sent Men hither against us since he ought to be our Friend This was an hard Rencounter and fiercely fought on both sides but at last the English had the worst most of them being taken or slain but a few escaped back again The Lord of Bossut took two Brethren a Knight and an Esquire named Pennenorts Prisoners and Sr. John Bull had two more with whom they returned Presently after the whole English Army marched by Ribemont without any Assault or Skirmish And by the Duke of Lancaster's Order they forbare to commit any Hostility in the Lands of the Lord of Coucy because he was then in Lombardy fighting for the Church against Duke Bernabo of Milain and concern'd himself nothing with the Wars of France Thence the English Army went and encamped in the Valleys of Laon and thereabouts between Bruyeres and Crespy having done much harm in the Lands of Laonnois Thô indeed the French King had beforehand caused all the Moveables and Provision in the Plain Country to be withdrawn into strong Fortresses most whereof were so well defended that the English could expect but little Advantage in Assaulting them Nor did the Duke of Lancaster much care to busie himself and lose his time in Attacking of Paltry Towns which would revolt as soon as ever they were won He rather desired that the French King would send out an Army against him that so the Fate of the two Kingdoms might be fairly decided in open Field But that Politick Prince ne'r intended any such matter but gave strict Command to the Constable and all his other great Captains that they should not upon any account adventure to engage with the whole Power of the English but only follow them close at the Heels and to keep them as short as might be And thus it was done the Frenchmen lying in strong Fortresses at nights and ever in the Day-time following the English Army aloof but they knowing how narrowly they were watched on all Hands rode close together the Constable of the Host with a good Number of Chosen Men securing the Reer One Morning the English Army having pass'd Soissons a City between Picardy and Champaigne there were sixscore English Spears forerunners of the Army that in ravaging about the Country fell suddenly within the Danger of an Ambush of Burgundians and Frenchmen the Captains whereof were Sr. John de Vien the Younger Sr. John Bull Sr. William Bourdes Sr. Hugh Porcien Sr. John of Coucy the Vicount of Meaulx the Lords of Ravenal and Bonne and others who with 300 Spears had all along coasted the English watching to find some Advantage against them And that Night they lay in the Field where they made an Ambush in a little Wood hard by Soissons near which the sixscore Englishmen aforesaid pass'd early next Morning to seek for Prey and Plunder the Main Army being lodged a little behind them As soon as they were pass'd this Wood the Frenchmen came forth of their Ambush and display'd their Banners and Penons preparing to engage them When the English saw so considerable a Body of the Enemy so near unto them they faced about and stood still to consider what course to take but first of all they sent Advice to the Army which was not far behind Now there was a very considerable Captain among the English whose Name in Froisard is corruptly written Sr. Walter Manny whereas by n Vid. Lib. 4. c. 9. §. 1. p. 827. c. his own Confession that Noble Lord died at London the Year before This Gentleman whatever his true Name was being not far thence as soon as he heard of the Matter leap'd suddenly on his Horse with Spear in Hand but thrô haste without either Helmet or Visor and so rode thither rashly and without consideration his Men following as fast as they could but there in the heat of the Fray this Knight was stricken thrô the Neck and fell down Dead the other English fought Valiantly but they were overpower'd and all taken or slain except a few that very hardly escaped These English Knights were there taken Prisoners Sr. Matthew Redmayne Sr. Thomas Fowkes Sr. Hugh Brudnel Sr. Thomas Spencer Sr. Thomas Emerton Sr. Nicolas Gascogne Sr. John Chandler Sr. Philip Cambray Sr. John Harpedon Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Robert Twyford Sr. Geoffry Say Sr. John Bourchier Sr. Geoffry Werkesley Sr. Lionel Dautrey and of Esquires William Dautrey John Galliard Thomas Bradley Henry Monford Guy Hewet John Meinil William Gostwick John Flamstead Thomas Solerant William Quintin Robert Boteler Robert Audeley Ralph Stanley and Thomas Archer When News came to the English Host how their Forerunners were engaged the Marshals made haste to send them a Reinforcement they themselves moving after with a strong Battalion But all was too late the Matter by this time was wholly over and the French and Burgundians had quitted the Field with all their Prisoners so that the English knew not where to find them This was the Issue of that Rencountre which happen'd near to Ouchy le Chasteau not far from Soissons on the 20 day of x Ità substituo pro Froisâ—rdi Feurier quia Dux Lancastrâ—ae hanc expeditionem Julio mense aggressus finâ—êrat eandem ante Natalem Domini Cuare corruptâ— sit necesse est October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXXIII After these two Losses at Ribemont and Ouchy le Chasteau there fell no other adventure to the Duke of Lancaster worth the mention For thô still the Army was fain to go thrô many a straight and hazardous passage yet ever afterwards they rode all together or at least in stronger Parties when they went to Forage The Duke of Burgundy and other Lords of France watching all Opportunities to cut them off And still as the French King shew'd any Discontent when he heard of the Havock they made about in the Country his Council would say unto him Sir suffer a
with his Hundred Knights and Esquires to ride abroad so to entice the Enemy into their Ambush Not far thence along by a great Hedge were the Lord of Gomegines and his Men who stood there on Foot all in good Order only Sr. John Harleston i True Use of Armory in the Life of the Captal of Busche p. 154. Captain of Guisnes was sent forth with 20 Spears to see if he could find the French his Orders being on sight of them to fly and suffer the Enemy to pursue him towards this Hedge where his Friends stood ready for them As Sr. John was riding forth in the Fields with this Design the young Earl of St. Pol espi'd him and said aloud to his Men Sirs now let us advance forth Yonder are our Enemies and so clapping Spurs to their Horses they set forward full Speed Sr. John Harleston flying as fast before them till he came to the Hedge where his Friends stood ready ranged with the Archers in their Front. As soon as the Frenchmen came in their reach the Archers received them warmly shooting and overthrowing to the ground Men and Horses and immediatly the Men of Arms came up with them having remounted their Horses with Spears and Axes in their Hands while Sr. John Harleston with his twenty Spears fetching a Compass about came behind and fell in upon their Backs with great fury Many gallant Deeds were done by the Young Earl of St. Pol and the Frenchmen but being thus surrounded and overpower'd with Number they were all slain or taken to a Man. The Earl of St. Pol was taken alive by the hands of an Esquire of the Dutchy of Gueldre and together with him by other Hands the Lord of Pons the Lord of Clery the Lord William of Nesle Sr. Charles of Chastillon Sr. Lionel D'Araines Sr. Gawen de Vesley Sr. Henry de Lisle and Sr. John his Brother the Chastellain of Beauvais and many more Knights and Esquires Immediately after which Discomfiture the Lord Hugh de Chastillon came thither with his three hundred Spears and his Banner before him he rode up almost to the Hedge end but understanding then how his Friends Business was already done and that the English so far outnumbred him he drew his Men together and wheel'd off without giving a stroke for he doubted more to encrease the Loss than to repair it Upon this good Success the English return'd to Ardres with their Prisoners and that very Night the Lord of Gomegines bought the Young Lord Valeran Earl of St. Pol of the Esquire that took him and soon after carried him into England and presented him to the King who thanked him very much and rewarded him more for that acceptable Piece of Service But this young Earl found such Gracious Dealing from King Edward that he became ever after as great a Friend as his Father had been an Enemy to the English Nation * Mili's Catal. Hen. p. 765. being Married to the Half-sister of King Richard the Second VIII About that time the Duke of Anjou and the Constable return'd as we observ'd before into France where they found the Archbishop of Roüen and the Bishop of Carpentras who had been long with the King at Paris making instant and continual Application unto him in the Pope's Behalf as other Legats at the same time dealt with King Edward for the same Purpose Wherefore according to a former Agreement between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster both the Kings were now again obliged to enter a Negotiation thereby if possible to accommodate their Differences The Place appointed for the Assembly was Bruges in Flanders but first the Duke of Anjou according to his Obligation went to St. Omers in great Array having sent for his Cousin Guy of Blois to come thither to him out of Hainal◠about which time the Duke of Lancaster arrived at Calais soon after which both the Dukes with their several Retinues went to Bruges And all the while there lay on the Marches between France and Flanders towards Aire and about Belle or Baillieul and Cassell in Flanders and near those Parts the Constable of France the Lords of Clisson and la Vall and Sr. Oliver Manny with above 600 Men of Arms to keep the Country least any thing should be innovated by the Earl of Flanders For these Lords being all Bretons could not repose any Trust in that Earl because he was so firm a Friend to John of Monford Duke of Bretagne against whom they fought Wherefore neither would they ever come to Bruges whatever the Commissioners on both sides could say or do There were present at this Treaty on the French Kings Part Lewis Duke of Anjou and Philip Duke of Burgundy the Earl of Salebruce the Bishop of Amiens the Bishop Elect of Bayeux and others And for the King of England there was John Duke of Lancaster William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Simon Sudbury Bishop of London Sr. John Cobham of Kent Sr. Frank van Hall Sr. Arnold Savage Mr. John Shephey and Mr. Simon Multon This Treaty was carried on by Snatches for k Mezeray two full Years with incredible Expences the Frenchmen all the while preparing at Home l Walsingh Hyp. p. 133. n. 40. for War fitting and making of Arms of all sorts and providing all manner of Warlike Habiliments And thus even in those Days were the French always too hard at Council for the English However for the present m Frois c. 312. fol. 194. Angl. sed Gallicè fol. 264. b. that no Harm or Molestation should come to any of the Lords of either Party or to any of their Men by subtlety or other means since there were Hundreds that rode in and out daily of both Sides thô they could not settle a Firm and General Truce because of the Duke of Bretagne's Concerns and other Matters which render'd the thing impracticable yet first of all they settled this Point by agreeing on a Partial Truce to endure till the First of May in the Year following in all the Marches of Calais as far as the River of Somme all other Lands being left in their former state of Hostility Whereupon the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Lord de la Val hasted with their Troops into Bretagne because the Truce extended not to that Dukedom About this n Frois c. 311. time also there was a Treaty set on Foot concerning the Delivery of the Earl of Pembroke and the rest of the Prisoners out of Spain especially because the Earl of Pembroke o Walsingh hist p. 185. n. 10. not enduring the hard Usage of the Spaniards sent to Sr. Bertram of Clequin Constable of France whom he knew to have great Interest with the King of Spain entreating him to use his power to deliver him out of that inhumane Thraldom Whereupon Sr. Bertram upon delivering back his Lands belonging to Soria Castle and acquitting certain Sums of Money due unto him from the King of Spain his Nephew Sr. Oliver
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
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
to the Value of 437 l. But now at his Death he bequeathed unto them all his Plate prised at 2700 l. besides all Debts due unto him which amounted to 3954 l. 13 s. 4 d. Over and above all which he sent at the time of his Death unto the said Monastery the Summ of a 1000 Marks to buy 40 Marks per annum Land to encrease the Portions of Four Monks who were to say Mass dayly for the Souls of his Parents and Himself So that the Money which from first to last he bestow'd only upon the Abbey of Westminster is by a c tua Simon sunt data quendam Octingentena Librarum Millia Dena Monk of the same Place reckon'd to amount to no less than 10800 l. Sterling a Prodigious Summ in those Days For all which they caused d Vid. Philipet's Catal. of Chancell p. 42. Catal. Treasur p. 37. Gedw Cat. Bish v. 144. a Rhyming Epitaph to be engraven on his Tomb not worth Eight Farthings thô as Rich as their poor Wits could make it But the Reward of Charity lies in another World. And yet this Noble and Munificent Prelate could not avoid the stinging Libels of an Infamous Wretch who upon his Translation from Ely to Canterbury e Vid huâ—us Hist l. 3. c. 13. §. 3. p. 671. ten Years before set forth this Malicious Rhyme concerning him viz. Laetentur Coeli quià Simon transit ab Ely Cujus in Adventum flent in Kent Millia Centum There f Dugd. Bar. 1 Vâ—l. p. 677. Warwichsh p. 699. died also this Year Sr. John Peche a Valiant Knight of Warwickshire and Lord of Hampton in Arden leaving behind him John his Son and Heir then but fifteen Years old His Fathers Arms are said to have been Gules a Fess between Six Cross Croslets Argent with a Label of three Points in Chief X. This Year g Vid. Câ—aâ—â—n Victerel de Vitt. Pontiff Rom. p. 949. Odor Rainald an ann 1377. §. 1. Mezeray p. 95. c. Pope Gregory XI return'd the Papal Seat to Rome upon the Occasion which we mention'd before and at the Exhortation of St. Briget of Sweed and St. Catherine of Siena He left Avignon and embarqued at Marseilles on the 13 of September 1376. and after many great perils at Sea arrived at Rome on the 17 of January following where he was received with the greatest Pomp and Joy imaginable CHAPTER the FOURTEENTH The CONTENTS I. King Edward creates his Grandson Richard the Black-Prince his only Son Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester whereby he shew'd him to be his next Heir II. The Citizens of London pay their Respects to the Young Prince in an Extraordinary Manner III. The King takes unto him John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Government IV. A Parliament at Westminster with a Copy of the King 's Writ c. V. An Exact Account of John Wickliff and his Doctrine VI. The Duke of Lancaster favours him and upon his Account quarrels with the Bishop of London VII The Londoners in a Sedition affront the Duke of Lancaster VIII The Bishop of London with much adoe restrains the People from doing more Mischief IX The Princess of Wales puts the City in Mind of their Duty They make their Excuse to the King and a Reconciliation is made between the Duke and Them. X. Sr. John Menstreworth taken and executed for Treason XI The Lord of Coucy King Edward's Son in Law cleaves to the French Interest XII A Treaty held at Bruges to no purpose XIII King Edward creates his Grandson Prince Richard Knight of the Garter XIV A further attempt for Peace being frustrated the War is again open Sr. Hugh Calverly made Captain of Calais and England prepares for War The Fortress of Outwick yielded to the French. Sr. Hugh Calverley revenges on the French an Affront done to certain Englishmen XV. The English Commissioners with the Duke of Bretagne return for England and find the King upon his Death-bed He dies XVI A Story of Alice Perters and of the Manner of his Death refuted XVII The French King's Commendation of him his Burial Epitaph Tomb and Character I. NOW it is to be remembred that as We said heretofore AN. DOM. 1377. An. Regni Angliae LI. Franciae XXXVIII how the Prince of Wales desired his Father to inaugurate his Son Richard in his Life-time thereby to recommend Him to the Care of the Parliament and the English Nation so the last Parliament of which we spake in the preceding Year had made their Request to the King for that Purpose Whereupon soon after the said Prince's Obsequies were perform'd as We have shewn viz. a Mills his â—atal Hon. p. 315. on the 20 of November in that same Year the Young Lord Richard of Bourdeaux Onely Son living of the Deceased Prince of Wales being then not compleatly b Vid. harus Risi l. 4. c. 2 §. 1. p. 695. Vbi natus 6 Jaâ— 1367. Ten Years of Age was by the King his Grandfather at Havering atte Boure created Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester as his Father had been before him And thereupon the King declared unto his Sons the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Cambridge and the Lord Thomas of Woodstock that the Young Prince Richard was of Right to Reign over them after his Decease And so he caused them all to swear to uphold and maintain Him as their only Lawfull Lord and Undoubted Sovereign And on the Christmas Day following the King his Grandfather made him to sit down with him at his Table in Great State above all his own Children representing thereby that he was to be looked on as the Next Heir of the Crown and consequently King after his Decease II. This Conduct of the King 's gave a General Satisfaction to all the Land who hitherto retain'd a Gratefull Sense of the Black-Prince's Merit and were extream glad that his Son Prince Richard was to Rule over them And here I hope it may deserve a Pardon if I take liberty to shew in what an extraordinary Manner the Citizens of London expressed themselves on this Occasion On a Sunday the First of February and the day before Candlemas toward the Evening c Stâ—w's Survey of London p. 78. c. there were One Hundred and Thirty of the Prime Citizens who being all well Horsed and Disguised as for a Mummerie with the Sound of Trumpets Sackbuts Cornets Shaumes and other Minstrelsie rode with innumerable Torch-lights of Wax from Newgate thrô Cheapside and so over the Bridge thrô Southwark till they came to Kennington near Lambeth where at that time the Young Prince of Wales was with the Princess his Mother his two Uncles the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge also the Earls of Stafford d Ità corrigo pro Hertford quiâ— neque Hertford neque Hereford hec tempore Câ—mitem in vivis habâ—erit Warwick
and Suffolk besides many other Lords and Ladies In the First Division of these Mummers there rode Fourty Eight habited like Esquires Two and Two together all clothed in Scarlet Coats and Gowns of Say or Sendal with comely Visards on their Faces After whom went Fourty Eight Knights in like Order and in the same Livery of Stuff and Colour Then came One richly Arrayed like an Emperour and some distance after him Another Gorgeously attired in Pontificalibus representing the Pope with Twenty Four Cardinals attending him In the Reer of all came up Eight Persons with Black Visards and strange as if they had been Ambassadors from some Foreign Princes These Mummers being enter'd the Court of Kennington alighted all from their Horses and went orderly into the Great Hall Whereupon the Young Prince his Mother and the Great Lords who were acquainted with the Matter came out of the Chamber into the Hall and received the Salutations of the Mummers They by a pair of Dice flung upon the Table signified their Desire to play with the Young Prince and upon his Accepting their Motion they so obligingly contrived the Dice that the Prince always won whether He cast at Them or They at Him. Having thus lost some considerable Sums of Gold then they set to the Prince Three Jewels one after another viz. a Bowl of Gold a Cup of Gold and a Ring of Gold all which the Prince wan at three Casts Then they set to the Lady Princess to the Duke the Earls and other Lords to every One a large Ring of Gold which as the Dice were order'd those Illustrious Personages also wan After Play succeeded a Splendid Entertainment accompanied with most exquisit Musick the Prince and the Lords dancing on the One part and the Mummers on the Other And then all being concluded with a Banquet of Wine and Spices the Mummers departed in Order as they came III. Now it is to be observed that althô King Edward was something recover'd from his Sickness yet not being very Current and especially because of his great Age he had lately associated unto Himself his Son John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster as his Assistant in the Regency Who thô perhaps he might be Ambitious enough yet being of too Rough and Martial a Temper to please the People was not thereby in any great likelyhood of Injuring the Right of the Young Prince of Wales who besides the Advantage of his Title was also for his Great Fathers Sake most strongly rooted in the Affections of all True Englishmen However the Duke of Lancaster being thus advanced shew'd himself Terrible to all his Enemies especially to William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester whom he hated mortally for what Cause I shall not here enquire and caused him e Fex p. 392. to be deprived of all his Temporalities with a Prohibition not to come within 20 Miles of the Court. And not being well assured of Edmund Mortimer Earl of March at that time Marshal of England with a Design to remove him out of the way he commanded him in the King's Name toward the End of the preceding Year to haste over unto Calais according to his Office and there to take a diligent View of the Castle and Town of Calais as also of all the Castles and Forts in the Marches thereof and to cause such Repairs to be made as should seem needfull and likewise to see them well Manned and Victualled But the Earl of March who saw how hereby he was set as a Mark for Envy declin'd the Matter and chose rather to yield up his Rod with the Office of Marshal thereto belonging than obey in so hazardous an Employ The Duke gladly accepts his Rod and gives it with the Office to his sure Friend the Lord Henry Percy afterwards Earl of Northumberland the First of that Name and Family who was then f Dagd 1 Vol. p. 276. b. assign'd to the same Employ thô he had not full Commission till this present Year IV But now a Parliament is summon'd to meet at Westminster D. Lit. Dom. as on the Quindene of St. Hilary being the Tuesday g Vid. Rot. Par. 51. Ed. 3. M.S. praedict p. 143. Sr. Rob. Câ—tton p. 144. next after the Conversion of St. Paul that is the 27 of January the Writs of Summons bearing Date at Westminster on the 1 of December preceding And here for instance-sake I shall set down the Names of those Peers to whom the Kings Writs were directed with a Copy of the Writ it self as taken from the Latine only premising that the King herein calls his Nephew Prince Richard by the Name of Son as well to set the higher Character upon him as because he was now in Law to be look'd on as his Son being come into the Place of his Deceased Father EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to his most Dear SON Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Greeting Whereas concerning divers and Weighty Matters relating especially to Us and the State of our Realm We intend to hold our Parliament at Westminster on the Quindene of St. Hilary next ensuing and there with You and others our Peers and Barons of the Realm to consult about the Premises We command You upon the Faith and Allegiance which You owe unto Us firmly enjoyning that at the said time and Place all other Business laid aside You be personally present there to consult and advise about the Premises with Us and other our Peers and Barons and that this You omit by no means Teste meipso apud Westmonast primo Decembris Ano. Regni nostri Angliae 50 Franciae verò 37. Per ipsum Regem The like Letters were directed besides the Clergy to these Peers following viz. John King of Castille and Leon Duke of Lancaster Edmund Earl of Cambridge Richard Earl of Arundel Thomas of Woodstock Constable of England Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick Hugh Courtney Earl of Devonshire Hugh Stafford Earl of Stafford Gilbert Vmphravile Earl of Angos William Vfford Earl of Suffolk William Montagu Earl of Salisbury Henry Lord Percy Marshal of England William Lord Latimer William Lord Bardolph Guy Lord Bryan Roger Lord Beauchamp John Lord Clinton Gilbert Lord Talbot William Lord Botreaux John Lord De la Warre Henry Lord Scroop John Lord Nevill Thomas Lord Rous of Hamlake Richard Lord Stafford Reginald Lord Grey of Ruthin John Lord Grey of Codnovre Henry Lord Grey of Shereland Nicolas Lord Burnel William Lord de la Zouch of Harringworth Roger Lord Clifford And the Lord Almaric of St. Amand. The Quindene of St. Hilary as We said before was the First Day of the Parliament At which time the Noble and Puissant Lord Richard Prince of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester together with the Bishops Lords Justices Commons and others summon'd to the Parliament assembled at the Palace of Westminster in the Painted-Chamber where
that the Marshal should play the Master there as he had begun even althô he said Nay At last after much crowding they all got thrô and came into our Ladies Chappel where the Duke and other Barons sat themselves down with the Archbishop and other Bishops John Wickliff standing before them according to the usual Manner ready to answer what should be objected unto him The Lord Marshal first brake silence desiring Mr. Wickliff to sit down and alledging that he had many things to answer to and therefore had need of some Repose But the Bishop of London said He should not sit down there for neither was it according to Law nor Reason that He who was cited there to appear to answer before his Ordinary should sit down during the time of his Answer but rather stand These Words created others and they brought forth more the Bishop standing upon the Privilege of his Place and Function and the Marshal on his own and the Duke's Authority so that many bitter words and Menaces passed on both sides to the great Offence and Scandal of the People But then the Duke began to take the Marshals part and warmly chode the Bishop who was not a whit behind hand with him so that the r Erubuit Dux quod non petuit praevalere litigio hist Men. D. Albani ibid. Duke was asham'd to find himself worsted by the Bishop and threatned that he would shortly bring down the Pride not only of him but of all the Prelacy of England and to the Bishop he said Sir You are too bold and all in Confidence * He was a Younger Son to Hugh Courtney second Earl of Devonsâ—ire of that Name and of the Lady Margaret Daughter to Humphry Behun Earl of Hereford and Essex Eighth of that Name by his Wife Elizabeth Daughter of King Edward the First His Parents were both now living thô the Earl his Father died on the 2d of May this Year of your Parents who yet will not be able to help you they shall have enough to do to help themselves To whom the Bishop reply'd That he ought to be bold in declaring the Truth but that his Confidence was not in his Parents nor in any Mortal Man but in the living God alone in whom he trusted Then the Duke softly whisper'd to one that sat next him how he had rather drag the Bishop out of the Church by the Hair of his Head than take this at his Hands However this was not utter'd so softly but that some of the Londoners overheard him who being enraged thereupon cry'd out that they would never see their Bishop so abused but rather lose their Lives then that any one should draw him out of his Church by the Hair. Upon this Contention that Council was dissolved before Nine of the Clock and the Duke with the Lord Percy return'd to the Parliament then sitting at Westminster Wickliff being easily dismiss'd thô not without a Prohibition neither to preach nor write any more in defence of those Articles which were objected to him VII 'T is said that that same day before Dinner there was put up in Parliament by the Lord Thomas of Woodstock the Kings youngest Son and the Lord Henry Percy Marshal of England a certain Bill as in the Kings Name importing that the City of London should no more be govern'd by a Mayor but by a Captain as in times past And that the Marshal of England should have the sole ordering of Arrests within the said City as elsewhere with many other Articles tending to the Diminution of the Liberties of London Which Bill being read there stood up a Worthy Patriot Alderman John Philpot one of the Burgesses of that City who spake so notably against the said Bill and pleaded so strongly in behalf of the Charters and Privileges of that Famous Metropolis that immediately the Bill was flung out of the House and the Name of Alderman Philpot much set by I can find no Warrant for this indeed in the Records of the said Parliament which we have faithfully exhibited before and therefore dare not absolutely lean to the belief thereof But whether it was really so or only cunningly nois'd abroad by some seditious Arts to stir up the People however we find that the next day the Londoners assembled in Council to consider of the Matter and also how far the Power of the Marshal extended not forgetting to take notice of the Affronts put upon their Bishop the Day before While thus the Chief Citizens were entertain'd with sober Debates and perhaps only prepar'd some Petition or Remonstrance to shew unto the Parliament in the behalf of their City the Commons understanding that One of their Body was then in Prison in the Marshals House which stood within their Liberties being secretly animated by some considerable Beautefeus whom for several Reasons I cannot with others believe to have been the Lord Guy Bryan and the Lord Walter Fitz-Walter went immediately in great Fury to the House of the Lord Percy where breaking up the Gates they took out the Prisoner by force and burnt the Stocks wherein he had been set in the midst of the City Then they sought for the Lord Percy for whom all Corners and Privy-Chambers were searched and the Beds and Hangings torn in pieces with their Bills and Javelins But He it seems was at that time happily out of the way being together with the Duke of Lancaster invited to Dinner by one John of Ipres at his house Å¿ Stow's Survey of London p. 260. called Ipres-Inne in Knight-Riders Street of which the Londoners knew nothing but thought they were at the Dukes House called the Savoy and so posted thither in great fury But one of the Dukes Knights observing this madness of the People went in great haste to the Place where his Lord the Duke was and when for all his Knocking he could not be admitted he said aloud to the Porter whose name was Haveland Hark you Haveland If you love my Lord the Duke and your Life open the Gate At these Words he was let in and in great fear told the Duke that there were infinite Numbers of Armed Men searching for him so that if he had not a Care that day would be his last At this the Duke leap'd so hastily from his Oysters that he hurt both his Legs against the Form Wine was offer'd but he could not drink for haste and so fled at a Back gate with the Lord Henry Percy and taking a Barge at the Thames never left Rowing till they came to an house near the Mannor of Kennington where at that time the Princess-Mother of Wales lay with her young Son Richard before whom he made his Complaint against the outragious Insolence of the Citizens And the Princess promised him to take such Order in this Matter as should be to his Content The mean t Fox Acts Mon. p. 394. while the Commons of London had beset the Dukes House called the Savoy where
parts retired fair and softly to their main Battle not ceasing to skirmish all the way The mean while Sr. Emery drew forth his Men along upon the Dike without the Barriers and placed the Archers ready on both sides the way to receive the Enemy The Noise and Cry of Men and Martial Instruments was so great that all the whole Army drew thitherward expecting a full decision by Battle only their Pages and Valets being left in the Camp. At that very time Sr. Walter Manny with his 600 Men sallied out privily at the Postern Gate and fetching a Compass behind the Camp entred the Lodgings of the French Lords where they met with no Resistance for all were at the Skirmish Sr. Walter being directed went straight to the Lord Charles of Blois his Tent where he found the two Knights Prisoners Sr. John Butler and Sr. Matthew Trelauny with their Faces cover'd and their Hands ti'd behind them For all the Servants left about them were run away Sr. Walter unbound them himself and made them leap upon two good Horses brought thither for that purpose gave them each a Sword in their Hands and immediately without doing any harm return'd the same way he came and enter'd Hennebond with all his Company where he was received of the Countess with great joy All this while the Battle waxed hot near the Great Gate till the Valets who fled from before Sr. Walter brought word how the Prisoners were rescued When Don Lewis heard this Report he thought the Lord Charles had put a Trick upon him and ask'd in great fury which way they were gone that made the Rescue they told him toward Hennebond Then he left the Shirmish in great Displeasure and with his Troops retreated to the Camp at which time also Sr. Charles sounded a general Retreat For he found himself cheated and that there was no good to be done As the Frenchmen retired the Lord of Landerneau and the Governour of Guingand pursued after them so eagerly that they were both taken Prisoners and carried to the Lord Charles his Tent where they were so beset with Threats and Promises that they presently acknowledged him Duke of Bretagne and rendred him their Homage and Fealty Thus for the Recovery of two Friends the Countess lost two other but however by this Action she gain'd such a Reputation from her Enemies that they reckon'd her at that time Invincible XVII For three days after this brisk Exploit at a Council of War in the Lord Charles his Tent it was consider'd That Hennebond was not to be forced that by these Wars the Country had been so wasted and robbed by both Parties that there was hardly any Forage or Provision to be got that Winter also was near at hand for it was now t October between the Feast of Remigius and All Saints Wherefore they agreed to raise their Siege for that time only it was advis'd that the Lord Charles should take care to reinforce all his Fortresses which he had won with Provision Soldiers and Captains that so they might the next Year find their Affairs in no worse Posture than now they left them And for the better security of their Men in Winter Quarters it was order'd that if any desired a Truce till Whitsuntide it should not be refused This was the Result of what was agreed in this Council before Hâ—nnâ—bond in the Moneth of October MCCCXLII Whereupon u Frois c. 88. fol. 47. they brake up the Siege and except only such of the Lords as the Lord Charles of Blois retain'd with him to advise him in his Affairs all the Captains with their Forces went to their several Homes or the Quarters assigned them The Army breaking up at the strong Town of Karhais where some time after the Lord Charles of Blois remained Now during his Stay at Karhais a certain rich Merchant being a wealthy and powerfull Burgess of Jugon a Town standing on the River Arguenon about 7 Leagues from St. Brieu and 5 from Dinant was taken up by the Marshall Sr. Robert Beaumanoir and brought to his Lord Sr. Charles This Merchant by Commission from the Countess of Montford had the chief Rule of the Town of Jugon and was greatly also beloved and respected by the Inhabitants thereof Him Sr. Charles put in fear of his Life and pretended to be unwilling to accept of any Ransom whatsoever So that what thrô Fear and other Arts us'd upon him he began to listen to a Proposal of Betraying the Town At last it was agreed that as he who kept the Keys of the Town he should on such a Night leave open such a certain Gate For the Accomplishment whereof he left his Son in Hostage and Sr. Charles on his Part promised to give him in Requital of that Service five hundred Pounds of yearly Revenue This Agreement was performed on the Alderman's Part and on the Night appointed Sr. Charles enter'd the Town at such a Gate with considerable Forces But the Watchman of the Castle perceiv'd them and gave the Alarm crying out Treason Treason At this the Inhabitants began to run to their Arms but seeing all lost they fled to the Castle for security by Heaps and to set a good Face upon the Matter the Alderman who was author of the Plot fled along with them In the morning Sr. Charles of Blois sent such a number of his Men to search and plunder the Houses and he himself with the rest came before the Castle and thô he saw and knew the great Strength thereof yet considering how thronged it was now with new Comers whereby their Provisions would be mightily wasted he said aloud That he would not stir thence till he had it at his Devotion The mean while Sr. Gerard of Rochfort who was Captain of the Castle perceiving evidently and upon strict Examination finding that this Burgess the Governour of the Town had betrayed all presently took him and hang'd him for an Example over the Walls after which considering that his Provision would not serve above ten Days and that the Lord Charles had made a vow not to depart till he had one way or other reduced the Place he Capitulated to yield on Condition that the Goods and Lives of all within should be saved which was granted The Lord Charles took them all to his Homage and left the Castle to the Government of the same Captain Sr. Gerard of Rochefort whose Loyalty he approved even thô lately contrary to him Thus both Town and Castle of Jugon were put in a good posture of Defence only the Master was changed XVIII But now by the Mediation of many sober Men on both Parties a Truce was at last concluded between the Lord Charles of Blois and the Countess of Montford and consented to by all their Aiders and Assisters to endure to the Fifteenth of May then next ensuing Whereupon the King of England having before sent for the Countess of Montford as soon as this Truce was ratified She together
with her young Son John took the Sea and went for England under the Conduct of the Earl of Northampton about the Middle of December and arrived in safety at Plimouth whence She was honourably convey'd to the King who received her graciously and for a long while after took Care of her Son here in England For her sake King Edward renewed those publique Rejoycings which were usual in his Days with his accustomed Magnificence All the Christmass Holydays there were daily Tournaments Running at the Ring Dancings Balls Splendid Collations and Princely Banquets so that the Countess look'd upon the Court of England as another Paradise And here for many Years her Son was exercised in those honourable Methods of Education which fitted him for the Character he was afterwards to bear and enabled him to purchase the Glorious Sirname of Valiant XIX This Year the Renowned Earl of Salisbury is said to have Conquer'd the Isle of Man in consideration whereof and because x Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 644. his Father was Married to one of the Sisters of Orry King of Man descended from Orry Son to the King of Denmark he y Id. ibid. p. 646. was now by King Edward his Gracious Master Crowned King of the said Island which was in like manner enjoy'd by his Son till he sold it to the Lord Scroop in King Richard the Seconds days thô it is certain z Id. ibid. p. 648. that he bore the Title of Lord of the said Isle unto the Day of his Death On the a Labbe Chronol Tech. ad hunc annu◠Odoric Rainald ad hunc an §. 1. 25 of April this Year Pope Benedict the XII died at Avignion after he had sat 7 Years 4 Moneths and six Days Clement the VI succeeded him a Man of great Learning but as 't is said very Prodigal especially of what was not his own For he took up by way of Provision as well throughout England as elsewhere most of the best Spiritual Preferments which he b Vid. Walsingh hist p. 149. conferr'd on his Cardinals and others till he forced King Edward flatly to oppose this his Tyrannous Usurpation as We shall see hereafter CHAPTER the TWENTY FIRST The CONTENTS I. King Edward prepares on all hands against the next Campagne but chiefly embraces the Countess of Montford's Interest to whose Aid he commands the Lord Robert of Artois in all haste to address himself But not finding the Scots sure he resolves forthwith to bring them down II. He enjoyns his Clergy by Proclamation to make Publique Prayers for the Success of his Arms. III. A Truce for two Years taken between the English and Scots to which the French King gives his Consent IV. The Lord Robert of Artois Admiral of the English Fleet Engages with Don Lewis of Spain Charles of Blois his Admiral but a Tempest parts them V. The Lord Robert of Artois Landing in Bretagne lays Siege to Vannes and takes it by Stratagem VI. The English lay Siege to Rennes VII The Bloisian Lords come suddenly before Vannes and retake it by Storm VIII The Lord Robert of Artois dies in England of his Wounds received at Vannes King Edward vows to revenge his Death IX A Parliament wherein Edward the Kings Eldest Son is created Prince of Wales X. The Commons in Parliament complain of the Popes Provisions and Reservations of Benefices in England whereupon by the Kings leave the two Houses send an Address to the Pope with the Event XI The Popes Letter to the King about the Premises XII Another of the Popes Letters to the same purpose directed to his Council XIII King Edwards notable Answer unto the Pope in behalf of the Liberties of the Church of England with his Proceedings thereupon XIV The King goes in Person into Bretagne and lays Siege to Vannes with Charles of Blois's Preparations to resist him and King Edwards march against him whereupon he Besieges him in Nants And at the same time takes in Dinant Ploermel Malestroit and other Towns. XV. The Lord Clisson and the Lord Henry du Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis of Spain distresses the Kings Navy which being Succoured for the more security is removed part to Brest and part to Hennebond XVI John Duke of Normandy comes into Bretagne with an Army against King Edward XVII The two Armies confront without offering Battle on either side by the Mediation of the Pope a Truce agreed on and a time limited for a further Treaty King Edward returns into England XVIII The Treaty fully Ratifi'd whereupon some English Lords go to the Holy War. XIX The Year concludes with the Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall of Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Gaius College in Cambridge I. NOw while King Edward was keeping his Christmas with great Solemnity and entertaining the Fair Countess of Montford and the Lords of Bretagne he a Frois c. 89. received sundry Letters of great Importance from several places From Gascogne and Bayonne his Captains desired a supply of Men to secure the Frontiers From Flanders Jacob van Arteveld sent him Letters importing how He hop'd shortly to bring it about AN. DOM. 1343. An. Regni Angliae XVII Franciae that his Eldest Son Edward Duke of Cornwall should marry the Daughter of the Earl of Flanders for him and his Son they intended to expell and so should be Lord and Duke of Flanders with many other Politick Devices which I pass over because they never took effect From Scotland at the same time King Bailiol who was Governour of Barwick for King Edward the Lord Ros of Hamlake and the Lord Henry Piercy of Northumberland sent also their Letters signifying to the King that the Scots did not hold the Peace over punctually but that they made great Trainings and Muster'd many Souldiers to what intent as they knew not his Majesty might easily guess Besides all this his several Captains in Ponthieu Xaintogne Rochel and Bourdelois sent him Word how the French made vast Preparations for the ensuing Campaigne and that therefore the Truce made at Arras being well-nigh expired it would become his Majesties Wisdom to look about him And so He did and answer'd all these Letters distinctly promising to provide a timely Remedy for all their Doubts But in especial manner notwithstanding all these Avocations he was b Frois c. 90. fol. 46. resolv'd to embrace the Interests of the Countess of Montford who was then at London with her Son in the Queens Company Wherefore he commanded his Cousin the Lord Robert of Artois with such a Number of Archers and so many Men of Arms to undertake this Expedition He also c Frois ibid. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 74. sent the Lord Thomas Holland and Sr. John Darvel to Bayonne with 200 Men of Arms and 400 Archers to defend the Frontiers there But as for the Scots thô the King intended to War upon them in
know well Sir that I have entrusted to your Charge that Thing which in this World I love best next my Wife and Children that is to say the Castle of Calais whereby the Town also is commanded And yet this Castle have you traiterously sold to the French Wherefore what can you say now why you should not suffer a shamefull Death Then the Lombard fell down upon his knees and said Ah! my Gracious Master I humbly crave your Mercy What you say I acknowledge is all true but Sir the Bargain may easily be broken for as yet I have not received one Penny of the Mony. Now the King who had long had a great Favour for this Lombard began to take pity of him and said Emeric I give you your Life and continue you in your Office in trust of your Amendment And I would also have you go on with your Bargain and get as much Mony of my Enemies as you can But let me have true Information of the Day and Hour appointed for the Delivery of the Castle and let no Soul living know of this our Communication and on this Condition I forgive you your trespass According to this Agreement things were settled and the Lombard return'd back to Calais and kept all very close resolving to be true to so indulgent a Master and to put a Trick on those who had thus attempted to debauch his Loyalty The mean while Sr. Geoffry Charny not doubting but to succeed in his intended Enterprise upon Calais near the time appointed had furnish'd himself with r Mezeray p. 32 a thousand choice Men of Arms and a proportionable Number of Others thô few or none of all his Company had the least knowledge of what he design'd 'T is thought that he never acquainted the King his Master with his Purpose for fear that in Honour he should not give his Consent because of the Truce but he doubted not when once the Matter was happily effected not only to gain a Pardon but Thanks for such a piece of Service The Time on which the Castle of Calais was to be deliver'd was fixt on the last Night of December or the first Morning of the New Year Of which Bargain the Lombard sent secretly by a Brother of his a distinct Notice to King Edward who was then at Å¿ M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. c. 228. Holinstead Eng. Chr. p. 944. Havering at the Bower in Essex where he kept his Christmas X. The King being thus acquainted with all the Minutes chose privately unto him t Mezeray p. 31 Frois c. 151. 800 Men of Arms and 1000 Archers and taking Ship at Dover arrived safely that Evening at Calais so secretly that none but his Friends had the least inkling thereof And so immediately he began to dispose of his Men in Ambush in the Dungeon and other Places of the Castle And having done thus he said to the Lord Walter Manny Sir Walter I have a mind to grace you with the Honour of this Enterprise For both I and the Prince my Son intend to fight under your Banner Now this mean while the Lord Geoffry Charny on the last Day of December after Noon began to march from Arras toward Calais and came thither about 8 of the Clock at Night and then made an Halt waiting for those that were not yet come up and set his Men in order for Battle Which being done and all his Men he expected being come about twelve of the Clock he sent two Esquires to the Postern Gate of the Castle who finding Sr. Emeric of Pavia ready there to receive them demanded of him if it was time that the Lord Geoffry might come and he said Yes high time With this Answer they return'd to their Master who thereupon made his Men pass New-land Bridge in good Order of Battle Before whom he sent twelve Knights with an 100 Men of Arms to go and take possession of the Castle for he judg'd rightly that when once he had secur'd that to himself he should presently get the Town Since he had such a Number of Men with him no less than 20000 and might have more from the Country about at his Pleasure When he sent these Men he also deliver'd into the hands of Sr. Edward of Renty their Chief Captain 20000 Crowns of Gold in a Bag to give unto the Lombard according to their Agreement and while those went to take the Castle he himself hover'd near the Town in great silence with his Banner before him For it was his Resolution to enter the Town by the Gate or else not at all Now the Lombard Captain had let down the Bridge of the Postern and permitted the 100 Men of Arms to enter peaceably Sr. Edward Renty having at the Postern deliver'd into his Hands the 20000 Crowns in a Bag which he took saying I hope here is the full Summ thô I am not at leisure to count it now for anon it will be Morning And we have not done all our Work yet And thereupon he cast the Bag and Crowns and all into a Chest and said to the Frenchmen Come on Messieurs you shall first seise on the Dungeon and then you are sure to be Masters of the Castle And therewithall upon their Approach thither he drew aside the Barrs and open'd the Gate wide for them to enter Within this part of the Tower was the King of England with 200 Men of Arms who at that instant sallied out upon the Frenchmen with their naked Swords and Battle-axes in their hands crying out A Manny a Manny to the Rescue What do the Frenchmen imagin with so few Men to take the Castle of Calais The French were both suddenly surprised and far outnumbred wherefore seeing 't was in vâ—in to resist they strait yielded themselves Prisoners so that few or none were hurt or slain and immediately they were all disarmed and clapt up together in the same Tower of the Dungeon Then the Englishmen with the King issued out of the Castle into the Town all mounted on Horseback for the Frenchmens Horses were all now in their Hands and an hundred English Archers leapt thereon and accompanied the King and his two hundred Men of Arms and others on Foot to the Gate that looks towares Boulogne Where the Lord Geoffry Charny stood with his Banner before him which was Gules Three Escutcheons Argent He was very desirous to be the first that should enter the Town and said thrô impatience to the Captains that were about him Except this Lombard open the Gate quickly we are like to starve here with Cold. Oh! Sir said Sr. Pepin de la Gueret these Lombards are covetous and subtle Fellows I 'll warrant he is looking over our Crowns now to see whether they be all Current or no and to find whether it be the full Summ. And with that Word King Edward and his Son the Black-Prince were ready at the Gate being Both incognito under the Banner of the Lord Walter Manny
Kings only Brother the little Young Duke of Burgundy Son to his Queen by her First Husband the Lord Philip aforesaid the Earl of Dampmartin and Others And at the same h Martin p. 125 time in consideration of the eminent and agreeable Services of the Lord Don Carlos de la Cerda of Spain who had lately enter'd the narrow Seas in Behalf of the French with a Powerfull Fleet and thô he was beaten by King Edward as we shew'd even now had first done considerable dammage to England created him Earl of Angoulesme The i Frois ibid. next day the King removed thence and went to Laon and so thrô Soissons and Senlis after which both He and his Queen enter'd into Paris on the 17 of October in great Triumph where there was general Feasting and Revels for an whole Week together and the King tarried at his Palace of Nesle untill the Eleventh of November or the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop and Confessor during which time he sent forth his Summons for the Three Estates to meet him in Parliament at such a Day VI. Now it is to be noted k Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 37. c. that in these Days there was hot War between the Soldan of Babylon and Constantine King of Armenia the former invading the King of Armenia's Dominions with vast and numerous Armies and the latter endeavouring by the united Strength of his own Subjects the Cypriotes and Rhodians to repell the Violence of the said Heathen Invaders or at least to stop their Progress which then began to threaten all Christendom Among l Walsing Hist p. 160. n. 25. Stow p. 250. b. n. 56. Holinsh p. 945. b. n. 20. the several great Men who together with the Christian Princes were engaged in this Holy War whereof Hugh the Valiant King of Cyprus was the most Notable there was a Cypriote Knight named John de Vesconti of the King of Cyprus his Blood and a Knight of France called Thomas de la Marche Bastard-Brother to John de Valois the French King both who had a considerable Command in the Christian Army It so fell out that John de Vesconti laid slat Treason to the Charge of the Bastard of France namely that he had secretly appointed in Consideration of a certain Summ of Gold to be paid unto him before-hand in part of a greater Summ to be paid afterward to betray the Christian Army to the Turks The Defendant strenuously denied the Charge which the Appellant as eagerly urged but there was no other Proof on either side save only their single Asseverations Whereupon a Challenge being denounced and accepted between the Parties the Christian Captains fearing either to displease the King of Cyprus or the King of France to whom they were Allied or at least doubting some Dissention might happen thereupon among themselves by reason of Part-taking on either side made them both swear to stand to their Award as it should be determin'd by the Confederates in Council The Judgment was that they should take and carry Letters importing their Cause fully and clearly from the said Christian Princes unto King Edward of England and to submit themselves to be tried by Combat before him as the most Worthy and Honourable Prince in all Christendom they swearing to remain as perfect Friends untill that time As it was determin'd so these Generous Knights performed and came into England in the beginning of September and forthwith presented their Letters unto King Edward in the Name of the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus and the rest of the Princes and Captains of the Christians containing the whole Difference between them and that they were to determine the Matter by Combat before him as their Judge And then again Sr. John de Vesconti openly before the King began to accuse Sr. Thomas de la Marche of the Treasonable Intent and Purpose aforesaid challenging to prove it upon his Body and thereupon flung down his Gantlet Which the said Sr. Thomas as boldly took up and accepted the Challenge in proof of his Innocency King Edward having read the Letters and seriously consider'd the whole Matter set them a Day C. Lit. Dom. namely the Fourth of October being the Monday after St. Michael wherein to decide their Quarrel in close Field within the Lists at his Palace of Westminster On the day appointed they met accordingly Armed at all Points on Horseback the King the Prince of Wales and the whole Court of England being Spectators There presently upon Sound of Trumpet began a most gallant Combat between these two Gentlemen for at the Tilt both their Spears brake on each others Shield yet neither of them was moved from his Saddle wherefore as it were by Consent they both alighted at one instant and renewed the Combat on Foot till having with equal Valour and Discretion fought a Considerable while both their Weapons were rendred useless and they were obliged to come to close Grapple till by Wrestling both fell lock'd together still contending for the Victory Now the Visors of both their Helmets were defended before with small distant Bars of Steel thrô which they might see and breath more freely all the rest of their Bodies being wholly cover'd with Armour Wherefore Sr. Thomas de la Marche the Knight of France who only of the two had certain short but sharp Pricks of Steel called m Ab Angle Sar. Gadd Massa chalybis Gadlings enclosed in the Joints of his Right Gauntlet struck therewith at the Visor of Sr. John de Vesconti as often as he could come at him and grievously tormented him in the Face Insomuch that being himself unprovided of the like Gadlings he was forced thrô Extremity of pain to cry out aloud as one that could not help himself At that King Edward flang down his Wardour and the Marshal cried Ho and so the Combat ceased the King adjudging the Victory to the Frenchman and the Vanquished to be at his Mercy according to the Law of Arms. Sr. Thomas de la Marche however being satisfied with so plain and honourable a Proof of his Innocency before so Great a Presence forbore to use his power over his Enemy and only took him and made a Present of him unto the Black-Prince to use at his Discretion Which done with great Devotion he Dedicated his own Suit of Armour to the English Patron St. George in the famous Cathedral of St. Paul at London A few Days after this King Edward having graciously entertained and rewarded the Bastard of France sent him home honourably with Commendations to King John his Brother And as for the Captive Knight of Cyprus some while after the Generous Prince of Wales for the Sake of the King of Cyprus gave him his full Liberty and let him go at his Leisure VII Now King John of France before the return of his Bastard-Brother had heard of all this business and taking it in deep indignation that a Frenchman of
and other great Lords in other Villages about the City which the King now design'd to block up Within the Place at that time was the Lord John de Craon Archbishop of Rheims the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh Porcien his Brother the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Carency the Lord of Annore the Lord of Lore and divers other Captains Knights and Esquires of those Parts King Edward intended after his manner to offer them the choice of his Favour before he gave them a tast of his Fury and many times y Matt. Villant l. 9. c. 67. p. 549 he proffer'd them by his Heralds to exalt and magnifie their City above all others in France if they would give their Consent that he should there receive the Crown of France promising to use them all most graciously But when he saw that he was not heard believing that they did thus because they were ashamed to surrender without having received any Loss he began to threaten them with a long Siege and the Desolation of their Land if they refused to do what he demanded But neither fair Overtures nor foul did avail any thing For by Common Assent this was their Answer That they had their Lawfull King to whom they intended whilst they had Breath in their Bodies to be loyal true and faithfull and if he used Force against them they design'd to defend themselves by Force Nor were these Mens Deeds disagreeable to their Words for they maintain'd their Loyalty so well that the Place suffer'd no great Dammage during the whole Siege which lasted from the Feast of St. Andrew till the beginning of Lent. For besides that the City was very Defensible and well provided of all things the King would not suffer any Assault to be made because he would preserve his Army entire for a greater purpose And truly the Lords of England wanted a little Rest at that time for they began their Siege in the Heart of Winter and there were high Winds and much Rain about St. Andrews and they wanted Litter for their Horses for the Country had layen in a manner waste for well nigh two or three Years before so that little Forage was to be got abroad under 10 or 12 Leagues off whereby there fell many dangerous Rencounters wherein the English sometime wan and sometimes also lost VI. During this Siege several strong Detachments were sent abroad from the Army especially into the Country of Rhetelois in Champagne to Warcq to Mazieres to Donchery and to Mouson some whereof would absent from the Camp three or four Days together ravaging and plundering the Country and then return again to the Camp before Rheims At that same time Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being newly redeem'd from Prison had begun to manifest by his Hostilities in France that he was at liberty He had lately won z Vid. l. 3. c. 4. §. 9. p. 561. by Surprize the Town of Attigny on the River Aisne in Retelois where he found plenty of Provision of all sorts but especially of good Wines whereof he sent the greater part to the King of England and his Son the Prince then lying at the Siege of Rheims who received it very kindly at his Hands Among the divers Adventures which fell during this Siege it happen'd that the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Richmond and March the Lord John Chandos the Lord James Audley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord of Mucidan and Sr. Richard Pountchardon rode forth about the Fields of Châlons in Champaigne where 't is believed that a Ano. Dom. 453. Attila King of the Hunns was overthrown with the Loss of an Hundred and Eighty Thousand Men by the joynt Forces of Merovee King of France Theodoric or Therry King of the Gothes and Aetius the General of the Roman Empire Thô Jornandes makes this Battle to have been fought near unto Tholouse and not to Chálons However in these Fields the foresaid English Lords ranged till they b Frois c. 208. Knighton p. 2621. True use of Armory p. 54. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788 c. came to Cernoy en Dormois a fair and strong Castle which upon view they resolved to attempt For it was a place of considerable moment In this Castle there were two Valiant Knights Captains the Chief whereof was Sr. John Caples who bare for his Arms Or a Cross Ancree Sable The English assaulted the Castle vigorously till the Lord Mucidan being among the foremost was slain with a stone from the Walls to the infinite regret of the English Lords and especially of his own Men the Gascogners who loved him entirely for his winning Carriage and resolute Conduct So that upon his Death all the Lords sware that they would not stir a foot thence till they had taken the Place and revenged the blood of so worthy a Gentleman And then the Assault was renew'd with all the Fury imaginable The Gascogners especially being enraged at their Loss plunged into the Ditches like Madmen without any care of themselves and approached the Walls and mounted up with their Targets over their heads while the Archers of England sent their Arrows so thick together that the Enemy durst hardly appear upon the Walls at their Defences and whoever did but presume to peep over was in evident Danger of their shot By this means thô not without the loss of many Men the Castle was at last taken by force and the two Captains only with some few Esquires received to Mercy all the rest were put to the Sword as Sacrifices to the Ghost of the Lord of Mucidan Thence they c Knightâ—n p. 2621. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 7â—8 marched about two Leagues farther to Autry en Dormois lying on the River Aisne which was accounted stronger than Cernoy but before they came thither the Inhabitants fled Thence they went back to St. Menehou in Champaigne a fortified Town also whence upon their approach the Inhabitants fled likewise whereupon they all returned to the Camp before Rheims and related to the King what they had won and whom they had lost VII Near this d Frof c. 208. time the inconstant and turbulent King of Navarre fell off again from the Dauphin without any known cause or provocation and leaving Paris of a sudden retired to Mante on the River Seyne whence he sent his Defiance to the Duke and his Brethren who wonder'd upon what Pretence or Title he thus renew'd his Hostilities Under pretence however of his Quarrel an Esquire of Brussels named Walter Ostraste surprized the strong Castle of Rolebois on the Seyne about a League from Mante where he kept a Garrison which did afterwards very much incommode the Parisians and the Vicinage While the Siege c Frois ibid. before Rheims lasted the Lord of Gomegines an Hainalder who went to England with a Message to the Queen from King Edward when he sent the Lords Strangers back to Calais repassed the Sea now again and rode into Hainalt