the person of the sonne of a Prince or any other Nobleman that we read of in our Historie But this example made of one of another grew after to bee vsuall to this Nation And euen this King vnder whom it began had the bloud of his owne and his brothers race miserably shed on many a scaffold And iust at the sealing of this Conquest Alphonsus his eldest sonne of the age of 12. yeares a Prince of great hope The death of the Prince Alphonsus is taken away by death And Edward lately borne at Carnaruan an Infant vncertaine how to prouo is heire to the Kingdome and the first of the English intituled Prince of Wales whose vnnaturall distruction wee shall likewise heare of in his time But thus came Wales all that small portion leaft vnto the Brittaines the auncient Wales vnited to England possessors of this Isle to bee vnited to the crowne of England Anno Reg. 11. And strange it is how it could so long subsist of it selfe as it did hauing little or no ayde of others little or no shipping the hereditarie defect of their Auncestors no Alliance no confederation no intelligence with any forraine Princes of powre out of this Isle and being by so potent a Kingdome as this so often inuaded so often reduced to extremitie so eagerly pursued almost by euery King and said to haue beene by many of them subdued when it was not must needs shew the worthinesse of the Nation and their noble courage to preserue their libertie And how it was now at last gotten and vpon what ground wee see But the effect proues better then the cause and hath made it good For in such Acquisitions as these the Sword is not to giue an Account to Iustice the publique benefit makes amends Those miserable Mischiefes that afflicted both Nations come hereby extinguished The Deuision and Pluralitie of States in this Isle hauing euer made it the Stage of bloud and confusion as if Nature that had ordained it but one Peece would haue it to bee gouerned but by one Prince and one Law as the most absolute glory and strength thereof which otherwise it could neuer enioy And now this prudent King no lesse prouident to preserue then subdue this Prouince established the gouernment therof according to the Lawes of England as may bee seene by the Statute of Ruthland Anno Reg. 12. This worke effected and settled King Edward passes ouer into France vpon notice of the death of Philiple Hardy to renue and confirme such conditions as his State Reg. 13. Anno. 1286. required in those parts with the new King Philip 4 intituled le Bel to whom he doth Homage for Acquitaine hauing before quitted his claime to Normandie for euer And afterwards accommodates the differences betweene the Kings of Sicile and Aragon in Spaine to both of whom hee was allied and redeemes Charles entituled Prince of Achaia the sonne of Charles King of Sicile prisoner in Aragon paying for his ransome thirtie thousand pounds After three yeares and a halfe being abroade hee returnes into England which must now supply his Coffers emptied in this Voyage And occasion is given by the generall Reg. 16. An. 1289. complaints made vnto him of the ill administration of Iustice in his absence to inflict penalties vpon the chiefe Ministers thereof whose manifest corruptions the hatred to the people of men of that profession apt to abuse their Science and Autoritie the Necessitie of reforming so grieuous a mischiefe in the Kingdome gaue easie way thereunto by the Parliament then assembled wherein vpon due examinations and proofe of their extortions they are fined to pay to the King these summes following First Sir Ralph Hengham Chiefe Iustice of the higher Bench seuen thousand Marks Sir Ralf Henghans a chiefe Commissioner for the gouernment of the Kingdome in the Kings absence Sir Iohn Loueton Iustice of the lower Bench three thousand Markes Sir William Bromton Iustice 6000 Markes Sir Solomon Rochester foure thousand Markes Sir Richard Boyland 4000 Markes Sir Thomas Sodington two thousand Markes Sir Walter Hopton 2000 Markes these foure last were Iustices Iâ—enerants Sir William Saham 3000 Markes Robert Lithbury Master of the Rolls 1000 Markes Roger Leicester 1000 Markes Henry Bray Escheater and Iudge for the Iewes 1000 Markes But Sir Adam Stratton Chiefe Baron of the Exchequer was fined in 34000 Markes And Officers fined for briberie extortion Thomas Wayland found the greatest delinquent and of the greatest substance hath all his goods and whole estate confiscated to the King Which were it but equall to that of Sir Adam Stratton these fines being to the Kings Coffers aboue one hundred thousand Markes which at the rate as money goes now amounts to aboue 300 thousand Markes A mighty treasure to bee gotten out of the hands of so few men Which how they could amasse in those daies when Litigation and Law had not spred it selfe into those infinite wreathings of contention as since it hath may seeme strange euen to our greater getting times But peraduenture now the number of Lawyers being growne bigger then the Law as all trades of profit come ouerpestred with multitude of Traders is the cause that like a huge Riuer dispersed into many little Rilles their substances are of a smaller proportion then those of former times and Offices now of Iudicature peraduenture more piously executed Of no lesse grieuance this King the next yeare after eased his people by the banishment of the Iewes for which the Kingdome willingly granted him a Fifteenth Hauing before in Anno Reg. 9. offred a fift part of their goods to haue them expelled The banishment of the Iewes but then the Iewes gaue more and so stayed till this time which brought him a greater benefit by confiscating all their Immouables with their Talleis and Obligations which amounted to an infinite valew But now hath he made his last commoditie of this miserable people which hauing beene neuer vnder other couer then the will of the Prince had continually serued the turne in all the necessarie occasions of his Predecessors but especially of his father and himselfe And in these reformations that are easefull and pleasing to the State in generall the Iustice of the Prince is more noted then any other motiue which may bee for his profit And howsoeuer some particular men suffer as some must euer suffer yet they are the fayrest and safest waies of getting in regard the hatred of the abuses not only discharges the Prince of all imputation of rigor but renders him more beloued respected of his people And this King hauing much to doe for money comming to an emptie Crowne was driuen to all shifts possible to get it and great supplies wee finde hee had alreadie drawne from his Subiects As in the first yeere of his Raigne Pope Gregorie procured him a Tenth of the Clergie for 2. yeeres besides a Fifteenth of them and the Temporalty In the third likewise another Fifteenth of
know not and thither the Duke himselfe brings Prince Richard of the age of 11. yeeres places him in the Kings Seat and taught him to Iohn Sow demaund a Subsidie Which was two Tenths to be payd in one yeere Or twelue The Prince motions a Subsidie in diuers kinds pence in the pound of all Marchandizes sold for one yeere and one pound of siluer for euery Knights Fee and of euery Fire-house one penie And this Demaund the Duke earnestly vrges Saying one of them ought of necessitie to be granted in regard the Enemie proclayming Warre purposed to inuade the Realme The Knights of the Parliament whom the Duke they sayd had by practise made The Parliament diuided and put by all of the last Assembly except twelue which he could not alter require respite to answere a day is appointed The maior part make choyce of one Hungerford a Creature of the Dukes to deliuer their answere The other would haue Sir Peter Dela Mare to be inlarged and deliuer theirs and also answere to what could be obiected against him before the Lords in Parliament and thereto submit himselfe Then the Duke demaunds ayd of the Bishops They refuse to treate therein without their Brother the Bishop of Winchester prohibited from comming to the Parliament Now there fell out an Accident that besides gaue interruption to this businesse A certaine Divine named Iohn Wicliff depriued by the Arch-bishop of Canterbuie of a benefice in Oxford which hee was found vniustly to holde had heretofore being discontented the humour that commonly breeds Scisme inueighed in his Sermons A dissention about Iohn Wicliffe and other actes in the Schooles against the abuses of Church-men Monkes and other religious orders which were not then so free from scandall but might well be taxed and had by his doctrine there and in London wonne many Disciples vnto him who after were called Lollards professing pouerty going bare-footed and poorely clad in russet which made them as extreames are the more noted and get passage into the opinion of the people apt to imbrace nouelties and vsually beguiled by disguises in regarde they rather belieue then iudge Amongst other his Doctrines he taught that neither King or other Secular Lord could giue any His doctrine thing in Perpetuitie vnto Church-men and that Temporall Lords if they neede might lawfully take the goods of such religious persons to relieue them in their necessities by the example of William Rufus c. A doctrine very pleasing to great men who commonly imbrace Sects either for ambition to get or for iealousie not to lose or for hatred to reuenge This man the Duke of Lancaster and Sir Henry Percy much fauour and cherishe The Duke of Lancaster fauours Wicliffe and why extolling him both for his learning and integrity of life which made him so farre presume as hee daily in one Church or other published his opinions without feare whereupon at length hee is cited to answere before the Archbishop the Bishop of London and others in Paules At the day appointed the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Marshall goe to conduct him by the way hee is animated by his followers not to feare the Bishops and entring into Paules the presse is so great as hardly any passage could be made whereupon the Marshall vsing some violence thrust in vpon the people which Courtney Bishop of London prohibited him to doe saying The conuention of Wicliffe before the Bishops in Pauls If he had knowne he would haue behaued himselfe so in that place hee should not haue come into the Church The Duke hearing these wordes angerly replyed That the Marshall should execute his authority whether hee would or not When they were come to our Ladies Chappell the Duke and Barons with the Bishops sitting downe Iohn Wicliffe sent for in by the Lord Marshall was by him likewise willed to sit downe in regard hee sayd the man had much to answere and needed a conuenient seat The Bishop of London tolde him it was against all law and reason that hee who was there cited before his Ordinary should sit hereupon contumelious wordes arose betweene the Lord Marshall and the Bishop the Duke takes the Marshals part and sharply reprehended the Bishop the Bishop returnes the like to the Duke who in great rage seeing hee could not preuayle swore hee would pull downe the pride of him and all the Bishops of England You trust sayd hee in your Parents but they can profit you nothing I trust not in my Parents said the Bishop nor in any man liuing but in God in whom I ought to trust The Duke as if whispering in his eare tolde him hee had rather pull him out of the Church by the hayre of the head then suffer these indignities which wordes the Londoners ouer-hearing swore with a lowde voyce they would rather lose their liues then suffer their Bishop to bee thus iniuriously vsed and threatened to bee pulled out off The Citizens of London take their Bishops part his owne Church Their fury was the more incensed against the Duke for that the day before in the Parliament whereof hee was president it was required in the Kings name that from thence forth there should bee no more a Mayor of London but a Captaine appoynted for the gouernment of the City and that the Lord Marshall of England should arrest offenders within the Liberties as in other places About this businesse and this wrong offered to their Bishop the Citizens assembling The Citizens in vprore the morrow after to consult amongst themselues it happened the Lord Fitzwater and Guido Brian came into the City which the people seeing furiously ranne vpon them and were like to beate them downe for comming vnsent for at that time The Lord Fitzwater protested hee came for no other end but to offer his setuice to the City being by inheritance their Standard-bearer and was to take iniuries offered to them as to himselfe and therefore willed them to looke to their defence Whereupon they presently take Armes assayle the Marshals Inne breake open the gates brought forth a prisoner in his Gyues and let him at liberty but found not the Lord Marshall who with the Duke that day were to dine with one Iohn de Ypres Thence thus surious multitude ran to assayle the Sauoy which a Knight of the Dukes seeing hastes to the place whsre his Master dyned and acquaintes him with this vp-roare in the Citie The Duke leaps from the Table so hastily that hee hurt The Duke of Lancasier in danger slees to the Princesse both his shinnes in the Fourme and with Sir Henry Percie alone takes boar and away he gets to Kennington neere Lambeth where the Princesse with the young Prince lay to whom he complaines of this Ryot and the violence offered him In the meane time the multitude comming to the Sauoy a priest inquisitiue to know the busines was answered They went to take the Duke and the Lord Mashall and
the night and in approaching the walles the Guard asked Who goes there he answered The fortune of France His voyce being knowne the gates are opened and in is hee receiued with the teares and lamentations The French King flyes of his people when yet seekes to comfort all he could The number of the slaine on the place are certified to be 30. thousand The chiefe men were Charles d' Alanson Iohn Duke of Borbone Ralfe Earle of Lorraine Louys Earle of Flanders Iaques The number of the slaine Dauphin de Viennois Son to Imbert who after gaue Dauphine to the Crowne of France the Earles of Sancerre Harcourt brother to Geoffry and many other Earles Barons and gentlemen to the number of 1500. This memorable victorie hapned vpon the Saterday after Bartholomew day being the 26. of August 1346. All the Markes of an intire ouerthrowe rested with King Edward the field of the Battaile the bodies of the slaine and their spoiles The occasion of this great defeit according to humaine coniecture the French attribute to the choller rashnes and precipitation of their King and his brother and sure temeritie and presumption haue euer been the ruyne of great Actions especially in warre King Edward managed this victorie with as great moderation as he wanne it and first hauing imbraced his Sonne commending his valour shewed that day he renders thankes to God after as he had inuoked his ayde before at the beginning of the Battayle and earely in the morning being Sunday he sent out 300. Lances and 2000. Archers to discouer what was become of the enemie who found great Troupes of such as were comming from Abbe-uille St. Requier Roan and Beauvoys ignorant of what had hapned led by the Arch-byshop of Roan and the Prior of France whom they like wise defeited and slew 7000. Our Writers report that of Straglers which were fled from the Battaile or comming on hauing lost their way by reason of a thicke mist which hapned that morning were slaine many more then in the field the day before which sheweth vs the wonderfull losse this afflicted Countrie susteined at one fatall blow But this was not all the victories that fell to King Edward that yeere there was an other of more importance gotten in England by the Queene and his people at home against the K. of Scots who being set on by the French to diuert the warre there entred King Dauid ouerthrowne and taken prisoner vpon this Kingdome with 60. thousand men as our Writers report assuring himselfe of successe in regard as he supposed the maine strength thereof was now gone into France But he found the contrary the Lords of the North as Gilbert de Humfrivile Earle of Angos Henry Percie Ralph Nivile William Dayncourt with the Arch-byshop of Yorke the Bishop of Durham and others of the Clergie gathered so great force and so well ordered them by the animation of the Queene who was there in person as they vtterly defeited this great Armie tooke Dauid their King prisoner with the Earles of Fife Menteth Murry Sutherland the Lord Douglas the Arch-byshop of Saint Andrewes and others and put to the sword 15. thousand Scots This Victorie sell likewise vpon a Saterday and sixe weekes after that of Cressie And as if all concurred to make this yeere tryumphant The aydes sent to the Countesse of Monfert in Brittaine lead by Sir Thomas Dagworth ouerthrew and tooke prisoner Charles de Blois pretender to that Duchie and with him Monsieur la Val the Lords Rochford Beaumanoyr Charles de Bloys taken prisoner Loyacque with many other Barons Knights and Esquires there were slaine in the incounter the Lord De la Val father of him which was taken Vicont Rohan Monsieur de Chasteau Brian de Malestroit de Qnintin de Direval great Lords besides many other worthy men at Armes Knights and Esquires to the number of about 700. Thus all fell before the Sword of England Now King Edward without medling with the great Cities Amiens and Abbeville which were both neere marches on directly and sets downe before Calais a Towne of more importance for England and the gate to all the rest wherein Iohn de Vienne Marshal of France and the Lord d' Andreghen a great man in his time commanded All that Winter King Edward hauing sheltred his people as in another Towne furnished with all prouisions lay without any molestation of the French King who King Edward besiegeth Calais this while was likewise besieged with the affliction of his owne state Misfortune is euer held a great fault both in mightie men and meane and opens the mouthes of those whose hearts are peruerse The people of France were in extreame pouertie yet notwithstanding the necesitie of the Kings affayres must constraine fresh supplyes The ill managing the publique treasure the falshood of the Financiers the decrying of Moneys the deminishing of trafficke augmentation of impostes Subsidies Gabels c. were the causes of this publicke murmur and put the people in dispaire seeing no end of the troubles wherein their King was dayly more and more ingaged And now was no way to helpe him but by an assembly of the States Wherein the Financiers Receiuers and managers of monies are called to render an account and the treasure committed to the disposing of the Cleargy and the Nobles to take away suspition in the people of ill dealing Foure Bishops two Abbots and foure Knights are chosen for that businesse Pierre des Essars Treasurer of France is committed to The State of France prison condemned in a great Fine to the King Other Officers and accountants restore at once what they were long in gathering The Banquiers Lombards and other vsurers are put to the presse for their vnlawfull exactions the Intrests are proued to exceed the Principall which is confiscate to the King and the Intrest giuen to the Debtors Courses wherewith indigent Kings in expensiue times vse to serue their turnes and please their oppressed people Which I haue the rather noted though it lye without our circle to shew that other Kings likewise layd hand vpon what they could fasten as well as ours haue done and made benefite of mens offences onely this of the Vsurer is new to vs but yet like to that practised heretofore vpon the Iewes and might serue a turne with as much content to the people and as faire a shew of a iust correction as theirs did the nature of the Extortors being alike Ayded with this meanes and the ready seruice of his Nobles and ablest subiects the French king in the Spring hath an Army in the field approaches Callais but findes no way open to come to relieue it The King of England was both Maister of the Hauen and possest all other wayes whatsoeuer were passable and had the Flemings his friends who with a huge Army had besieged Ayre and did much mischiefe on the confines of France To oppose them is Iohn Duke of Normandy the Prince sent for out
of Guien who being no sooner remoued from thence but Henry of Lancaster Earle of Derby became master of the field hauing an Army consisting of twelue hundred men at armes two thousand Archers and three thousand other foot English and Gascoines takes in most of the Townes of Yaintonge and Poictou in the end besieged and sacked Poytiers and so returnes to Burdeaux with more pillage then his people could well beare Thus the French suffer euery where Their King not being able to approach to grapple with the king of England sends to solicite him to appoint some place of battaile and hee would incounter him King Edward returnes answere If hee would make his owne way to come thither vnto him there hee should finde him for from thence hee would not part hauing there layne so long to his great labour and charge and being now so neere the point of gaining the place The two Cardinals sent from the Pope labour to mediate a peace and Commissioners on either side meete to treate but nothing could bee effected So that the French King was forced to breake vp his Armie and retire to Paris leauing Callais and the defendants vnrelieued to the mercy of the Besieger which when they vnderstood they sent to desire Parle had it granted and therein receiued this finall sentence that sixe of the chiefe Burgesses should be sent to the King bare-headed bare-footed in their shirts with halters about their necks the keyes of the Towne and Castle in their hands and submit themselues to the Kings will for the residue hee was content to take to mercy This sentence intimated to the miserable townsmen Conditions for the rendering of Callis they all in lamentable manner looking each on other who should bee chosen for this sacrifice one amongst the rest stands vp and boldly spake to this effect Fellow citizens for mine owne part I that haue so often exposed my life in this long fiege for my Countrie and haue beene euery day to die am now most willing to sacrifice the same for my last oblation thereunto and will cherefully carry my head to the victory of the King of England not desiring to suruiue the perdition of my miserable Countrie Which free and resolute speech so wrought with this amazed people as now they striue who should bee one of the six and cryed Let vs goe let vs goe vnto death it is the last daty wee ought to render to our natiue soyle Six are presently chosen and sent according to the sentence presenting themselues on their knees to the King and beseeching him to shew mercy vnto them The King commands them instantly to be carryed to their execution and would not although great supplication was made for them by his Counsel be diuerted in regard as he said of his oath till the Queene great with Childe fell The Queene obtaines pardon for the Burgesses of Calais on her knees before him and with teares obtained their pardon and had them giuen vnto her which done she caused them to be clothed gaue them their dinner and sixe nobles a man appointing them to be safely conuayed out of the Armie and set at libertie An Act worthy of so great a Queene and the greater by this her deed of mercie The King though in this he were sterne yet was he more sparing of blood than his Grand-father Edward 1. and had more of Compassion as shewed an Act in this Seige When victuals within the Towne began to faile and all vnusefull persons as King Edwards Clemencie olde men women and children put out of the gates hee forced them not backe againe which hee might haue done the sonner to consume their store but suffered them to passe thorow his Armie gaue them to eate and two pence a peece to euery one And thus was that strong Towne of Callais the thirde of August 1347. gotten The Conquest of the Towne of Calais after almost an yeeres siege with infinite cost and labour all the inhabitants are turned out and sent away to seeke newe dwellings a Colonie of the English planted therein and so it remained in the possession of the Crowne of England 210. yeeres after And now this tryumphant King hauing made truce for some few moneths and taken order for the safe-keeping of his hard gotten prize returnes with his Queene the Prince and his people into England to make Holy-day and inioy the benefite King Edward returnes into England of their booties brought home out of France which are said to be so great as euery house had some part and the wiues of England now flourish with the stuffe and ornaments of those of France who in the meane time lament their losses and heere is nothing but Feasts and Tryumphes throughout the Kingdome And to adde to this glorie the Princes Electors send to signifie that they had chosen King Edward King Edward refuseth the Election of King of the Romans King of the Romans which great dignitie notwithstanding he refused being it seemed out of his way or cumbersome to deale withall But before that yeare ended this great iollitie heere in England turned to the saddest mourning that could be possible The invisible Sword of Heauen makes such a The first great Pestilence rauage vpon Mankinde as had not been knowne before A contagious Pestilence ariseth in the East and South parts of the Worlde that dispreads it selfe ouer all Christendom And in England they write that it tooke away more then the halfe of men as if the Diuine prouidence seeing them thus violently bent to destroy and massacre one another would lessen their numbers for their fieldes and take to it selfe the vengeance of blood-shed in his terrible maner Churchyards could not heere suffice to burie the dead new grounds are purchased for that purpose It is noted there dyed in London betweene the first of Ianuary and the first of Iuly 57374. persons Other Cities and Townes suffered the like according to their portions All which calamitie notwithstanding could not deterre those egar Princes frō prosecuting their quarel nor yet so vnfurnish their fieldes but that they found still fresh hands for blood-shed as shewed their many conflicts shortly after But yet it gaue some pawse till the feruour of the contagion asswaged which was also attended with a miserable famine murraine of Cattle and sterrilitie of the earth caused through the indisposition of the Heauens and want of culture The first Action after this was the Kings going ouer to Caluis vpon an information Anno Reg. 23. of a practise to surprise the Towne contriued by the French which was thus Monsieur de Charmy Gouernour of Saint Omers had dealt with Americo de Pauia whom King Edward had left Captaine of the Castle of Callais offring him 20. thousand King Edward goes ouer to Calais Crownes to be receiued into the Castle Americo accepts the offer and appoints a night for the businesse In which night by aduertisement from Americo King