King of England afterwards bought of him that took them for twentie thousand crownes The Englishmen marching still forward passed ouer the riuer Seane towards Roane and their light horsmen scoured the country euen vnto the Suburbes of Paris where encountring the townsmen of Amience well appointed posting towardes Paris vppon commaundement from the King because of long time before they had been charged with no seruice for the warres they let fiercely vpon them and bereft them of their carriage The French King in the meane while notwithstanding the Parisians earnest sute to the contrary departed from Paris to Saint Dennis whither as then the rest of the Peeres were assembled From thence pursuing his enemie with a certaine vehement and wonderfull desire to fight he remoued to Amience The King of England assayed to passe his armie ouer the riuer Some but there was neither foord knowne nor bridge possible to be taken they were all so surely garded by the French men At length after proclamation of enlargement and reward to any French prisoner that should performe it a certaine young man taken by chaunce discouered a forde The French men suspecting they would passe ouer at the same place opposed themselues strongly against them and entertained them in the riuer with a sharpe skirmish Neuerthelesse the Englishmen waded through and put them to flight By this time the French King was come to Abbevile and the King of England wayted for him in the plaine fieldes to giue him battell When the time of battell approched the King of England made his prayers to God to send him an happy victory and diuided his wholy Armie into three parts In the vauntgarde was his Sonne in the reregard himselfe The fight was furious on both sides but at length the Englishmen obtained the victory which may seem a wonder considering the huge multitude of their enemies In this battell the King of England who awaiting oportunitie had not yet put himselfe in preasse being aduertised that his Sonne fighting valiantly in the forefront was wellnighe oppressed by the enemy he made answere to the messengers in this sort Demaunde no helpe of me this day so long as my Son liueth For I will that he now shewe some proofe of his valor and that the honour of the victory be wholy his and theirs that are appointed to attend him In this battell was slaine Henrie of Lutzenburge Father to Charles King of Bohemia who although he were blinde would needes adventure against the enemy notwithstanding Towards night the French King accompanied with very fewe withdrewe himselfe out of the field The King of England caused the dead bodies of the French men to be numbred and there were found slaine eleven Princes fourescore Barons twelue hundreth Knights and about thirtie thowsand others By commaundement from the King all the noble men were buried in the villages neere adioyning and three daies truce was graunted to giue buriall to their dead After the King of England had obtained this notable victorie he tooke his way directly towards Calice and environning the towne with a stronge siege there planted himselfe in purpose not to depart before he had constrained them to yeelde for famine Meane while the French King sent word to his Sonne the Duke of Normandy lying still at the siege of Aguillion that he should giue ouer his enterprise and conuey his forces againe into Fraunce to withstand the English men who subdued all things before them as they passed Before this aduertisement came to the Army there was another battell fought betweene the French and the English wherein was present Phillip son to the Duke of Burgundy who falling with his horse soone after departed this life During the siege of Aguillion wherof an English Baron was captaine the Earle of Derbie whome the King of England had before sent into Aquitaine remayning at Burdeaux Assoone as he vnderstood that the siege was raysed and the Duke of Normandy departed he assembled to the number of six thousand men and raunging through a great part of the countrie thereabouts at length tooke Poitiers by assault and then returning againe to Burdeaux dismissed his souldiers leauing no Garrison in Poitiers because the towne was vtterlie raced Whilste the King of England was busied about the siege of Calice David King of Scottes partly of his owne motion partly by procurement of the French King perswading himselfe that all the souldiers of England or at leastwise the greater part were gone a warfare with their King assembled his forces to the number of fortie thousand or there about and invaded England The Queene of England in the mean time behaved her selfe with great courage and discretion consulting with the Lords and Prelates of her Real me about the direction of her affaires So an armie was levied vpon the suddaine and the enemie fiercely encountred certaine Archbishops and Bishops of England being present in the conflict whose power notwithstanding it were sarre inferiour in number to the Scottes yet they obtained the victorie In this battell the Scottish King himselfe with many others were taken prisoners The number of them that were slaine amounted to fifteene thousand the rest saued themselues by flight After the accomplishment of this honourable victorie the Queene of England crossed the seas and went to visite the King her husband In the battell before mentioned amongst others was also slaine the Earle of Flaunders who by reason of the rebelliu of Iaques de Artevill was compelled to put himselfe into the French Kings protection He left a Sonne named Lewis at that time about fifteene yeeres of age Now the King of England was in great expectation that through the politicke assistance of Iaques de Artevill he should haue brought the Flemminges to receiue him for their soveraigne and that his Sonne the Prince of Wales with their generall acceptance should haue obtained the Lordship of all Flaunders But the author of so wicked a deuise was slaine as is already declared for the Flemmings would not disinherit the Son of their Lord though they loued not his Father The King of England therefore began to treate of a marriage betweene the young Earle who was then remaining in the French Court for he fled thither with his Father at such time as the state grew troublesome in Flaunders and a daughter of his named Isabell Against this match the Duke of Braband opposed himself for he also had a daughter at the same time whom he desired to match with the young Earle Meanes were found by the Flemminges to conuey the Earle from the French King and he returned into Flaunders in hope to recouer his Fathers possession The King of England in the meane while was nothing slacke in soliciting his sute with the Lordes of Flaunders By them the matter was mooued and the match profered to young Lewis But he vtterly refused it protesting that he would neuer marrie the daughter of him that had slaine his Father When the
towne as the castle with all the territory thereto belonging Also Calice and many other places besides whereof as the number is great so the rehersall would be tedious Item that the king of Fraunce should renounce his title to all these and release all fealtie and right which he his heires or successors might by any meanes clayme therein that the king of England should hold them all frankly and freely without acknowledgment of any homage or superiority to the king of Fraunce or his successors in that behalfe Item that the king of England should againe for himselfe his heires and successors disclaime all title right and interest which eyther hee or his posteritie might pretend to the crowne of France Item that he should resigne all the portion which he challenged in the Dukedomes of Normandy Aniow and Turon also all his right to Britaine These and many other articles described more at large in my author both the Kings and their sonnes were solemnly sworne to obserue And for further assurance the French King gaue in hostage the Dukes of Orleance Aniow Berry Burbon besides some twelue Earles and Barons and diuerse personages of good account sent particularly from all the chiefe Citties of Fraunce These being all conveyed to London the French king was set at libertie and returned againe to Paris to the great reioycement of his subiects Immediately vpon his returne he directed forth letters to all his officers Lievetenants and Captaines to avoyd out of all such Townes Castles and holds as hee had departed withall to the King of England But it is wonderfull to report with what vnwillingnesse they all for the most part obayed this commandement for it seemed a very strange and difficult matter for them to vndergoe the yoke and subiection of the English But the French King beeing a iust and vertuous Prince would for no respect infringe his oath or swarue from his covenants Therfore he gaue commaund that all things should bee performed according to the expresse tenor of the agreement In like manner the King of England sent commissioners to surrender againe certaine Castles and holdes taken in the warres into the French kings possession When the townes and fortresses were in this sort delivered the soldiers which had now accustomed themselues so long time together to liue vpon spoyle and pillage considering that in regard of the wicked acts they had formerly committed it would bee little for their profit and lesse for their safetie to returne home againe determined from thenceforth to seeke their fortunes And thereupon assembling themselues together they ranged through Champaine and the places adioyning wasting and destroying all things before them and as it commonly falleth out their number daily encreased The French king beeing informed of their mischieuous proceedings sent Iaques of Burbon against them with an armie He found them encamped vppon a very high hill the scituation wherof was such that it was impossible to take any perfect view of their forces being indeed some sixteen thousand they appeared to his scouts not aboue 5000. When it came to the encouÌ„ter it was fiercely fought on both sides but fortune inclined to the worser party Many gallant gentlemen perished in this conflict the Duke of Burbon himselfe with Peter his eldest Son were verie sore wounded and being conveyed to Lyons died within three daies after When these villaines had obtained this victorie they tooke their waie directly towards Avinion at whose approche the Pope and his colledge of Cardinals were not a little affrighted for such was both their courage and their crueltie that no man durst oppose himselfe against them Neuerthelesse the Pope and his Cardinalls being thus driuen to their shifts and hauing no other meanes to represse this mutinous multitude to whome no mischiefe came amisse commaunded a croysie to be preached against them with a graunt of cleere remission of all their sinnes which tooke it vppon them Many assembled but when there was no mention of pay they shrunke away euery one The very same time the Marques of Mountferrat made warre vppon the Duke of Millaine The Pope therefore practised with him to lead away this rebellious rebell into Lumbardie And euen so it fell out for when the Pope and Cardinalls had paied them threescore thousand crownes and that the Marques also had promised them entertainment besides they followed him and did him good seruice in his warres The french King passed through the Dukedome of Burgundy which was then lately fallen to him by the death of the younger Duke towards Avmion to visite the Pope who in short space after deceassed And when they could not determine vpon a new election by reason of the inordinate strife which was chiefelie betweene twoo contending for the papacie at length a certaine abbot of Saint Victors in Marseilles a learned and godlie man was chosen and from thenceforth called Pope Vrbane The King of Ciprus the same time arriued at Avinion and made earnest intercession to the Pope and the french King for the vndertaking of an expedition against the Saracens and other enemies of the christian faith The Pope promised his furtherance and in a publike assembly propounded the matter Wherevppon the french King with a great part of his nobility tooke vpon them the signe of the crosse Afterward the King of Ciprus trauelled into Bohemia to the Emperour and from thence through Germante Brabant and Flaunders he came into England making the like petition to King Edward but he honourably excused himselfe Out of England he returned vnto Amience where the french King then soiourned and after that he repaired into Gascoine to the Prince of Wales who about the same time had a Son borne named Edward The noble men that were left in hostage for the french King began to grow discontented for the long restraint of their liberty and king Edward being of a gentle and curteous disposition had giuen them leaue to go ouer to Calice as well to recreate and refresh their mindes as also that from thence being so neere Fraunce they might the more commodiously dispose of their affaires in their owne countrey They sent oftentimes to the King and the Duke of Normandy his Sonne But the King was so busied about the preparation of his voyage against the Saâ—acens withall so troubled by the King of Navarre who still continued in armes against him that he could not convenientlie intend to dispatch them By meanes whereof it came to passe that the Duke of Aniow the kings Sonne leaving the rest of his felow pledges returned againe into Fraunce The french King had a mervailous desire to see the King of England againe because he had so honourably entreated him whilste he was his prisoner He was counselled to the contrary notwithstanding he still persisted in his purpose and so much the rather for that he would excuse his Sonne for departing without licence So he went and was entertained very royally But not long after
recovery of his helth and because he had taken part with his enemis apprehended him and detained him in prison for the space of certain yeeres after At length by the helpe of his friends and vppon the paiment of an hundreth thousand pistolets he procured his liberty and levying great forces against the king of Arragon the matter had surely come to a bloudy conclusion had he not againe fallen suddenly into a violent sicknes which in short space ended his life By this meanes therefore the occasion being taken away the warres ceassed Don Pietro the tyrant of Spaine whose history we haue discoursed already left behind him two daughters Constance Isabell whome certaine noble men of Spaine immediately vpon their fathers death conveyed by sea into Aquitaine The Duke of Lancaster by aduise and perswasion of his friends espoused Constance the elder of these sissters wherevnto he was the rather moved aswell in commiseration of the young Ladies miserie as in hope hereafter to obtaine the possession of their inheritance The King of Spaine having intelligence hereof fearing likewise that the King of Englands fift sonne would marry the other daughter addressed his ambassadors to the French King with whome he ioyned in most stedfast league of friendship the French King for his part promising him assured ayd against any enemy whatsoever and moreouer that he would never enter into other conditions of peace with the King of England but such as should be both to the honour and profit of the King of Spaine The Duke of Lancaster shortly after his marriage assembled the Lords of the country together and declaring to them his occasions and purpose of departure appointed such officers as should governe in his absence and departed with his wife into England King Edward vpon advisement with his counsell determined to send his sonne the Duke of Lancaster with an army into Picardy which wasting and destroying that country should from thence proceede forward into Fraunce Moreover he sent the Earle of Pembroke with another army into Aquitaine to make warre likewise in those parts that so the French men might not faile to haue their hands full on all sides But the French King hauing knowledge hereof by meanes of certaine English men that resorted vnto him forefortifyed with garrisons all places of Picardy and further vnderstanding by relation of those fugitives that the English fleete should arrive in Gascoigne he gave secret intelligence therof to the King of Spaine his new cōfederate The Spanyard performed the part of a friend sent 40 great Ships with thirteene others of lesse receyt well appointed to meete with the English men in their passage Not farre from Rochell the Spanish fleete encountred the English with great violence and the fight continued almost a whole day without intermission During which space the Rochellers stood like idle spectators beholding the conflict and being requested by their governors to helpe the English in their necessitie alleadged frivolous matters for excuse and refused For howsoever they dissembled outwardly to the worlde yet in their harts they vttterly abhorred the Englishmens government The next day they renewed their fight afresh and it was maintained with as great resolution as ever was any Notwithstanding in the end the Spaniards obtayned victory by reason that both in number of men and shipping and in the greatnesse of their vessells also they much overmatched the English Many were slaine and many taken prisoners amongst whom was the Earle of Pembroke himselfe and most part of the captaines in his fleete The ship likewise which carryed a great quantity of treasure for the maintayning of three thousand soldiers was swallowed vp in the sea After this battell was ended came a sufficient power out of Gascoigne to Rochell but it was too late when the matter had falne out so vnprosperously before Thus it came to passe that by little and little the King of England lost all his whole seigniory of Gascoigne the people partly rebelling and partly yeelding themselues willingly to his enemy Whilst these things passed there repaired to the French Kings court one Ivan the sonne of a certaine Brittish Lord making grevous complaint of great iniury done vnto him by the King of England both in causing his father Ammon Prince of Wales to be wrongfully put to death afterward in conferring the principalitie of the whole coūtry to his owne sonne Edward Vpon relation of his grevance the French King furnished him with a fleete of ships and some foure thousand men to serue him by whose helpe this Ivan entring into a certaine yland belonging to the English and comming to encounter with his enemies overthrew them in the field and put them to flight After which exploit he was recalled by the French King and sent into Spaine there to make provision of more Shippes that he might lay siege to the towne of Rochell This good successe of the French kings affaires both by the Spanyards and by Ivan gave him occasion to thinke that the rest of the English provinces would easily be brought to revolte especially if the English men should receive but another overthrowe or at leastwise be put to any extraordinary trouble or molestation Herevpon he sent the constable with a great power of the chiefest peeres of his kingdome to renewe the warres againe in his enemies countries Assoone as they came into the territory of Poytiers all the townes and castles thereabout rendred themselues into their subiection The townesmen of Poytiers being at variance among themselues addressed letters to the constable signifying their good affection toward him and earely in the next morning according to promise set open their gates to receive him into the cittie This example of the Poitevins diverse other townes tooke as a president for themselues to imitate In the meane while this Ivans whom we spake of before accompanied with the Spanish Admirall came with a well furnished navy out of Spaine and arrived at Rochell which towne notwithstanding sustained no damage at their hands because the townesmen hated the English and desired by all meanes to be againe vnder the French Kings government They had long since freed themselves from their forced subiection but that the English garrison which kept the castle held them alwaies in such awe as they durst never venter to put their purpose in execution At length contriving a stratageme politick enough for the time vnder pretence of taking a generall muster as well of the townesmen as of the garrison they allured the captaine who was a man of no great forecaste with all his company out of the hold Which done forthwith a great number of the townesmen breaking out from an ambush gaue assault to the forte and suddenly surprised it those fewe which made resistance being easily repressed The noble men of Fraunce were at the same time assembled at Poytiers and having intelligence hereof were desirous to be received by the Rochellers into
their towne Wherevnto they condiscended but vppon certaine conditions which were these 1. That it should be lawfull for the men of Rochell vtterly to race their Castle out of which they had often received so great displeasure and to lay it levell with the ground 2 That the French men should solemnely promise neverto erecte any castle there againe 3 And that Rochell from thenceforth should perpetually remaine a member of the crowne of Fraunce and never be alyenated to any other Lord by any possible meanes that might be devised according as times and states should happen to alter afterward When the King who was made acquainted with these proceedings by the Lords had confirmed and ratifyed these covenants Rochell became subiect again to the French and the revolting of this towne gave occasion to many other of their neighbours to doe the like The French kings captaines holding it discretion to follow their fortune vsed such industry that in short space they recovered all the territorie of Poytow and the country adioyning not without some helpe and furtherance from the Britons who were exceedingly inclined to the French King though their Lord wholly favoured the King of England as by whose meanes he had obtayned his Dukedome It happened not long after that the Englishmen immediately vppon their comming into Britaine burnt vp seaven great shippes of the King of Spaines as they lay there in harbour Herevppon suspicion arose that this matter was done by the Duke of Britaines consent and direction whereof the French king being advertised by certaine Lords of Britaine sent the Constable to make warres vppon the Duke and to conquer his country as one who had forseited his estate by entring into a league with the English men against him of whome he had received the investiture of his Dukedome and to whome as the custome is he had sworne homage and fealtie The Duke of Britaine in this extremitie distrusting his owne subiects fled into England And the Constable by the helpe of the Britons themselves brought much of the country in subiection David King of Scotland deceassed without issue and by right of succession the crowne descended to Robert It is said before that King Edward after his sonne the Duke of Lancaster was come with his wife into England had determined to send him ouer againe to make warres in Picardy But the matter was delayed For this yeere was the first time of his arrivall at Calice accompanied with the Duke of Britaine and thirteene thousand soldiers They raunged through a great part of Picardy putting all to fire and sword but they abstayned from besieging of townes for the French king had long before sufficiently strengthned them with garrisons And as they marched forward making havocke of all things the French army still followed without intermission notwithstanding they never came to ioyne battell but by intercession of the Popes legates a truce was taken and a time appointed for another meeting at Bruges in Flaunders there to treate of waightyer matters Before this truce was proclaymed the Duke of Britaine by the Englishmens ayd had recovered diverse places and was like to have gotten more had not the newes of this truce beene a stay to his proceedings Therfore discharging his army and leaving good garrisons in the places recovered he returned into England About the calends of November the ambassadors of both Kings repayred to Bruges that there by mediation of the Popes Legates they might treate of a marriage betweene Richard sonne to the Prince of Wales and Marie the French Kings daughter The matter was diversely debated but could not bee brought to any perfect conclusion Pope Gregorie taking offence thereat departed from Avinion and went to Rome About this time Prince Edward the King of Englands eldest sonne a most worthy and valiant gentleman ended his life at London After whose death king Edward assembling the rest of his sons and the nobilitie of his realme declared publikelie vnto them his purpose that Richard the sonne of his sonne deceassed should succeed in the inheritance of the kingdome And because he had long since imparted asmuch both to the noble men and the residue of his sonnes before he made his last voyage into Fraunce it was no hard matter to perswade them all to approve his determination and to confirme the same by oath Within a while after the King himselfe also departed this life not without great sorrowe of as many as knewe him for he was a Prince so renowmed that even the French King himselfe when he heard of his death gave this report that he thought him worthy to be numbred amongst the wisest of princes After his deceasse succeeded Richard his grand sonne according to his owne appointment in his life time and was crowned king of England the eleuenth yeere of his age Anno Dom. 1377. The Duke of Lancaster was chosen protectour and tooke vpon him the government of the realme during the kings minority who in the meane while was trayned vp vnder the instruction of a certaine noble man appoynted to that charge by generall election It is declared before how the French King the better to maintain his warres against England had made a league with the King of Navarre but it fell out afterward that two gentlemen of the house of Nauarre attending vppon the king of Navarres sonnes in the French court were had in suspition of giving poyson to the King Which fact when they had publickly confessed before the people they were put to execution for the same Immediately herevpon the French King sent an army into the sea coast of Normandy belonging to the King of Nauarre vnder the conduct of the Constable who easily subdued all that part of the country Besides this the King of Spaine the French kings new confederate made warre also vpon the King of Nauarre who beeing driuen to this distresse required ayd of Richard King of England of whome he accordingly obtayned it The Duke of Britaine remayning still in England made importunate suite to the young King from time to time for ayd but the king gaue alwaies a deaâ—e â—are to his request For the Duke of Lancaster aspiring to get that seigniory to himselfe assembled a power and sayled over into Britaine where he layd siege to certaine places but the French army wherof the Constable was generall compelled him to depart The second Booke IN the former booke is declared how the French men recouered a great parte of Aquitaine from the English There were many still notwithstanding in those places which stood stoutly for the King of England The Duke of Aniow therefore comming thither with an army subdued in a mannner all that euer remayned The Gascoignes had lately before sent into England for succour but by reason there was trouble and insuirection budding vp within the realme their sending was to none effect For the Duke of Lancaster who had all the authoritie in his hands was
Armenia who had been driuen out of his country by the Tartars and came lately before into France being not a little sory that so great dissension should grow between two such puissant Princes as the French King and the English of a certaine godly zeale and good disposition sayled ouer into England to make a tryall if he could doe ought in establishing a peace between them The King of England gaue him patient eare in discoursing his miseries and banishment and how the power of the Turkes and Barbarians daily encreased through the mutuall wars and dissention of the Christian Princes And when by occasion hereof he descended to the point to exhort to loue and concord the King answered that he should first deale with his aduersary to discharge his great army and that done for his part he was not so peruerse but he would willingly embrace whatsoeuer was agreeable to equity and reason Herevpon he returned to the French King who seemed nothing affected nor inclinable to peace The third Booke IT fortuned in Fraunce that a certaine gentleman of the Earle of Alaunsons house rauished another mans wife whilste her husband was absent in a forraine country Assoone as he returned the sorrowfull Lady with teares in her eyes and shame in her countenance declared vnto him the violence shee had suffered Her husband complained to the Earle of Alaunson and the party accused denied the deed Now the Earle shewing himselfe more fauourable to the offender then to him that had the iniury the plaintiffe appealed to the Parliament of Paris A whole yeere and more the matter was there caâ—uassed and in conclusion when the one still auouched the fact and the other stood stoutly in denyall it was decreed that the controuersie should be decided by combate So at a certaine day which either themselues had chosen or the iudges appointed they encountred one another firston on horse-backe after on foote Not blind fortune which otherwise is wont to beare sway in such cases but iustice and true valour shewed their force in this conflict For he that held his wiues chastiâ—y deerer then his owne life and was not affraid to venture his head in defence of the same by his aduersaries destruction made it manifest to the worlde that there is a God of vengeance which will not suffer secret wickednesse to escape vnpunished After he was slaine the hangman drew his bodie to the gallowes and hung it vp whereas if he had fortuned to gâ—t the victorie the woman for falsly accusing him should by decree of the Parliament haue bene burned and her husband after his death put to the same reproch which now was vsed to his aduersarie The whole company of honourable spectators highly exstolled the conqueror and applauded his victory with deserued commendation Moreouer the French king out of a certaine princely respect and inclination not suffering so worthy an acte to passe vnrewarded gaue him presently a thousand franks and from thenceforth a pension of two hundreth pounds by the yeere during his life About this time deceassed the King of Arragon who a little before his death calling his sonnes vnto him exhorted them to mutuall loue and concord for as much as in so great partaking of Princes he onely had stood indifferent betweene the two Popes he desired his sonnes that they would doe the like and not apply themselues to any faction till the truth were more manifestly discussed Neuerthelesse when he was dead Pope Clement and the French king drew Iohn his eldest sonne to their party But when he came to be crowned the citties would not consent vnlesse he were first solemnly sworne not to leuy any tributes or exactions of money other then such as had bene formerly accustomed Edward Prince of Wales as long as he liued was for his noble chiualry and glorious fortune held in great admiration and many sought his friendship and alliance AmoÌ„gst others there was also a league betweene him and the King of Arragon vnder these conditions That the Englishmen should at no time make warres vppon the realme of Arragon and in consideration hereof that the King of Arragon should yeerely send fiue hundreth horse to serue the Duke of Aquitaine against any enemy whatsoeuer or if he could not conuenâ—ently finde so many horsemen he shold pay him a certaine summe of mony Now for the space of ten yeeres he had neither done the king of England any seruice nor payd him any money The Duke of Lancaster therefore to whom at his setting forth towards Portugall the king his nephew had giuen authority to demaund all rights and seruices belonging to the Dukedom of Aquitaine either from the king of Arragon or any other thinking that so great a masse of money would much pleasure him in his present affaires wrote letters requiring those arrerages and sent them to the King of Arragon by the Archbishop of Burdeaux Who at his coÌ„ming found the King very sicke so as he dyed within few dayes after The Archbishop neuerthelesse still prosecuted his suite and the new king offended with his importunity cast him in prison at Barcelone Whereof when the Duke of Lancaster was informed he gaue commandement to the English garrison at Lourde which is the only strong and impregnable castle in those quarters that they should infest the Arragonians with warre and doe them as much displeasure as they could They were nothing slack in performing his commaund and wrought great annoyance to the country especially to the merchants whom they intercepted at euery passage and spoyled of their commodities The people of Barcelone being vexed with their daily excursions and caught vp as a prey by the rauenous souldiers made such meanes to their king by intercession of the nobility that he was content to release his prisoner After that by perswasion of the Duke of Berâ—y the voyage into England was deferred as we haue shewed a little before assoone as the spring came on it was appointed that the Constable of Fraunce with twelue thousand men should be sent to inuade England and besides that certaine forces should be likewise conueid into Spaine to the reliefe of King Iohn against the Englishmen Portingales Vppon this occasion a new subsidy beeing sessed againe through all Fraunce ye might haue seen many country people and towne-dwellers which not knowing how otherwise to helpe themselues abandoned their lands and tenements and departed either into Henault or into the Bishoprick of Liege because those places at that time were free from the burthen of such intollerable exactions The succours sent into Spaine were six thousand horsemen vnder conduct of the Duke of Burbon We haue told you before how the king of Portugall expecting the successe of the English warre dissembled politickly with the Duke of Lancaster in the meane while Now when he saw that England was discharged of the daunger and that the French kings army was dissolued he sent some forthwith to affiance the Duke
had bestowed the seigniory of Angolesme who had also espoused the daughter of Charles of Bloys being aduanced to that office was by Charles king of Navarre slaine suddainlie in his bed With this fact as ye may well iudge the French kings mind was not a little troubled neuerthelesse vppon certaine conditions he was pacified To this Charles thus murdred succeeded Iaques of Burbon And the truce taken between the French king and the English to endure till Aprill was prolonged to Midsommer For the ambassadours of both kings meeting at Avinion before the Pope when they could not agree vppon articles of peace added so much more time to the continuance of the truce The Prince of Wales brought an army into Aquitaine and the King his Father intending to prosecute his warres in Fraunce came to Calice There the French King by an herauld profered the single combate but the King of England refused it The French King sending out his writtes summoned to Paris all his nobilitie with the heads of the church and the burgesses of his townes declaring vnto them how greatly it imported him to prouide for the warres So by act of Parliament a generall subsidy was graunted from payment whereof there was no man could be exempted The King of Navarre Iohn Earle of Harecourt and divers others being surprised by the French kings vnsuspected approche as they sat at dinner in the Castle of Roan were suddainly apprehended and committed to safe custody The King of Navarre was sent prisoner to Paris The Earle of Harecourt had vttered I wot not what reprochfull words against the King in presence of diuers noble men stoutly maintaining that the subsidy lately exacted ought not to be payd and withall exhorting the residue to stand stifly in deniall thereof Hence grew the ground of his inditement and hence proceeded the cause of his punishment For herevppon the King commaunded him to be beheaded and his body afterward to be hanged vppon a gibbet The King of Englands Sonne who came lately as we told you into Aquitaine setting forth from Burdeaux wasted all the country thereabout namely Poytiers Turon and Berrie where fournishing himselfe with what was needfull for his owne vse the rest he vtterly spoyled and destroyed burning vp their corne and shedding out their wines to the intent that afterwards it might not be coÌ„uerted to the benefite of his enemy The French King in the meane while hauing a great power assembled at Charires departed from thence with all possible hast and a right enemie-like affection following after the English Prince When he came neere vnto Poytiers newes was brought him that the English armie laie encamped not farre off Immediatlie herevppon calling his counsell he gaue direction for the setting of his men in order disposing his whole armie into three battalions In the first he placed â—he Duke of Orleans in the second Charles his eldest Son and himselfe led the reregard The number of his enemies was very small Assoone as he vnderstood by his scowts in what sort they were embattelled and how they had planted themselues in a place both by nature and their owne industrie stronglie fortified he gaue commaundement that all his people should fight on foote three hundreth or somewhat more onlie excepted who with their horses were appointed to breake the aray of the english archers He was accompanied in the field with his foure realme with great impunitie of vice as generally happeneth in such cases where scarce any are thought to remaine which by authoritie might represâ—e mischiefe punish offenders Theeues and robbers banding themselues together filled the country with repine and murder forestalling the highwaies and spoyling the passengers Besides this the Sâ—ates could not well agree among themselues for the nobilitie began to distaste the authoritie of the â—ix and thirty which were appointed to haue chiefe rule in the coÌ„mon wealth But most horrible of all other was that â—umultuous insurrection of the peasants which assembled in Champaine and the places thereabout whose companie by little and little augâ—enting through the daily concourse of such rascalles as resorted to them from all quarters at length encreased so farre that their number amounted to an hundreth thousand Their purpose was to have destroyed all the nobilitie and gentry of Fraunce And with this intent entring violently into the noble men and gentlemens houses they riâ—led them bound the Maisters to the postes â—auished their wiues and daughters before their faces murthered cruelly all the whole houshoulde and lastly consumed the houses with fire And now their barbarous outrage preuayling so â—arre that the women of greatest calling were compelled to forsake their dwellings and hide themselues in secret places vnlesse they would abandon their bodies to the beastly lust of most filthy varlets an army at length was raised and at the towne of Meaulx they were fought withall and euerie one slaine or drowned in the riuer Marne Charles the kings sonne perceiuing there was a secret conspiracie betweene the King of Navarre and the Prouost of Paris departed out of the towne and assembled his forces It seemed as if the matter would haue growne to a troublesome issue for hee besieged the cittie but by the mediation of certaine Bishops the Princes were reconciled The Prouoste neuerthelesse intending to set all in an vproare had plotted one night to dispatch all those of the contrary faction And the matter was brought to such forwaâ—dnesse that he had already agreed with ceâ—taine â—ho for the same purpose awayted their prey without the gates that at a time appointed in the night they should enter into the cittie But the treason beeing discouered hee himselfe was apprehended in the night season with â—he keyes of the towne in his hand and so slaine with soâ—e others that were partakers of his practise This Prouoâ—â—e during the troublesome state of those times was the first that enclosed Paris with walles and ditches and planted gates at the entrances into the cittie The King of Navarre beeing certified of this mans death whome he dearely esteemed in regard of the manifolde benefits he had receiued at his handes and partly moued with displeasure of the matter but â—ore neerely touched for that himselfe was commonly noted to bee chiefe author of that practise as well of his oâ—ne accord as by instigation of his brother Philip who had formerly vexed Normandy with warres desired nothing more then to â—orke mischiefe to the realme of Fraunce â—orthwith denounced warre and hotly pursued it making many excursions towards Seane and Marne and â—inning also diuerse townes and fortresses about Amienâ—e Arras The Prouost had furnished him with great sommes of money and therefore he might maintaine men of warre at his pleasure besides many fauoured his pretence and furthered his proceedings Hereby it camâ— to passe that oftentimes he tooke many townes and castles â—ith little or no difficultie insomuch that certaine of the principall toâ—nesmen of Amieâ—ce at an houre
This tyrant in regard of the manifold crimes whereof he was often accused before the Pope had already prouoked all mens hatred against him Pope Vrbane therefore vppon good consideration sent for this bastard Henrie and Peter King of Arragon who was at continuall enmity with the tyrant as one that had bereft him of diuers Lordships to come before him at Avinion There Henrie the bastard was made legittimate and denounced King of Castile the tyrant being first excommunicate after desposed The King of Arragon promised free passage through his country and prouision of victualles to such armies as should be conducted into Castile against the tyrant intending also by the helpe of those forces to recouer his owne losses To this expedition resorted many honourable personages and by this meanes those souldiers that had so long annoyed the realme of Fraunce were conveyed into Castile The tyrant having intelligence of the armie that was comming against him betooke himselfe to flight with his wife his two daughters and one noble man onlie For he was so hated of the commons that not one of them would take armes in his defence so he was forsaken and left destitute of all men And Henrie the bastard arriving in Castile with great ioye and generall applause of the people tooke vppon him the administration of the kingdome After his coronation when he had received the othe of allegeance from the most part of the Nobilitie and Cities of the realme the noble men by whose ayde he had obtained the crowne tooke their leaues and departed for now all semed to be accomplished But he had not yet discharged those french make-shiftes because he purposed to make warre against the King of Granado The tyrant remaining in these perplexities by the aduise of that one noble man which attended him addressed letters to the Prince of Wales full of lamentable complaints concerning his misfortunes beseeching him to commiserate his estate and to releleeue him with succor Shortly after he himselfe not daring to trust his owne subiects repayred to Bayon The Princes counsell were of opinion that he ought not to be succoured in regard of his abhominable wickednesse and vngodly disposition nor that any daungerous enterprise should be vndertaken for his sake Contrarily the Prince iudged it an vnworthy thing that a bastard Sonne should vsurpe the inheritance of the crowne which was a very ill president and extended to the preiudice of other kings and princes Therefore when the tyrant came he receiued him courteously into the town of Burdeaux and promised him his assistance Neuerthelesse he sent inâ—… England to the King his Father declaring to him the whâ—… circumstance of the matter and requiring his couâ—… and direction concerning his proceedings The King of England in regard thâ—â— of long time before there had beene a league between 〈…〉 Spaniard and him encouraged his Sonne in the answâ—… of his letters to go forward with his purpose for the 〈…〉 him to his â—ing do 〈…〉 And so the iourney was 〈…〉 vppon betweene thâ—… But one thing was 〈…〉 in the waâ—… Their â—…assage lay through the King oSpanâ— varres country who had lately contracted amity with Henrie the newe King of Spaine Howbeit matters were so handled that a meeting was had at Bayon and vppon certaine conditions the King of Navarre was â—o well satisfyed that he promised all curtesy frendship and peace King Henrie being aduertised of these proceedings sent to the King of Fraunce forayd The Prince practised with the Captaines of those souldiers which before had been so troublesome to Fraunce now tooke paye of the Spaniard that they should forsake King Henries seruice and follow him There was about twelue thousand of them and as they were marching towards Gasâ—oine in the kingdome of Arragon they endured great distresse the wayes and passages being on all sides soreclosed and fortified Nevertheles they made way through all inconveniences and holding on their iourney till they came almost at Tholous they were receiued into Mount Albane a towne pertayning to the territory of Guyen The french men vnderstanding thereof besette the wayes rounde about that they might not issue foorth into Tholous or the places adioyning In conclusion it came to hand-strokes and the French men fought valiantly insomuch that they chased their enemies euen vnto the towne but by reason of the fresh supplies comming continually to their rescue in the end the French men were ouerthrowne and the greater part of them eyther slaine or taken prisoners In which number was the Earle of Provence who came at that time to ayde the men of Tholons and besides him diuerse others of great account both of Provence and Fraunce Hauing thus cleared their passage by the sword they proceeded to the end of their iourney The prince of Wales because he was loth to burden the people of Aquitaine with exactions for the maintenance of his soldiers borrowed no small some of money of his father besides that conuerted all his plate both gold and siluer into coyne Many prisoners as the custome is were discharged vpon their worde so was the Earle of Provence But Pope Vrbane for hatred he bare to those mutinous soldiers took vppon him to acquite the Earle of Provence and others that were set at liberty after the same manner from their ransoms so that they payd not one farthing but had a cleare dispensation from him of all bonds and obligations whatsoever Whilst the Prince was making preparation for the warres there arived at Burdeaux the King of Maiorica who made grievous complaint of the King of Arragon which had slain his father in prison at Barcelone and withheld all his possessions from him by force towards the reuenge of which iniuries and the recouerie of his inheritance he humbly implored the Princes ayd He had to wife the Queene of Naples The Prince vpon hearing of his complaint promised that so soone as he had finished this enterprise for Spaine he would vndertake his affaires and so bring to passe that either vppon reasonable conditions or by force of armes he should be restored to his kingdome Before the Prince set out from Burdeaux he had a sonne borne to whom the banished King of Maiorica was godfather He was named Richard and afterward came to be king of England Edward the Princes elder sonne being dead before his father In the beginning of Februarie the Prince departed from Burdeaux and within a little while after an vncertaine rumor was bruted abroad concerning the King of Navarre as if he had entred into a newe league with King Henry of Castile and that therevpon the Ptince and his Army shold be denyed passage through his country Herevpon letters were addressed to the King of Navarre who aduisedly alleadging the reasons that moued him withall declared his good affection to the Prince and the banished Tyrant The Prince marched with his army in three battels one following another the vauntgard was conducted by the Duke of
forsake the Prince and to resort to the French King notwithstanding whereby it appeared plainely that no vertue hath more force to hold the hearts of men in obedience then affability For Prince Edward though otherwise a worthy gentleman being puffed vp as men commōly are with the prosperous atchieving of great enterprises began to carry himselfe roughly and austerely towards the noble men that were his subiects whereby it came to passe that they could not loue him But the french King for that besides his excellent wisedome he was also gentle and curteous easily insinuated himselfe into the fauour and affection of all men By meanes whereof he greatly enriched the Realme of Fraunce and worthily deserved to bee registred in the number of the most prudent Princes The french King by the aduise of his brethren the Dukes of Aniow Berry and Burgoyne with other of his nobility sent a puissant army into Gascoine The Duke of Aniow marching with his forces from Tholouse easily recouered either by force or by composition whatsoeuer townes or holds were pertaining to the English in those quarters The Duke of Berrie invaded the territory of Lymoges Certaine Lords of Gascoine ioyned themselues with the Duke of Aniow they were the same that by their complaints and accusations had formerly incited the french King to vndertake this warre The Duke of Berry was associated with the dukes of Burbon and Alaunson and diuers others which way soeuer they tooke they found easie passage About this time the french King fell to agreement with the King of Navarre For it stood him vppon to make him his friend least perhappes he should haue giuen accesse to the English forces through a part of Normandy which he held and by the seacoast into the rest of that country pertayning to the crowne of Fraunce The agreement was vppon this point that the King of Navarre assoone as he returned into his own kingdōe should make his defiance to the King of England There came also a power out of Spaine to the ayd of the French King vpon the bountie and good affection of King Henrie In the mean time the Prince of Wales not vnmindful of his frends adherents raysed men of warre on all sides and the King his father that he might with more ease sustaine the brunt of these warres tooke a truce with the Scottish King for nine yeeres in such sort as it should be lawfull for the Scots to serue for entertainment on either partie at their pleasure He sent also another armie to wast the countrey of Picardy the charge whereof he committed to one Sir Robert Knolles a man marvailously affected to the english natiō though himselfe were a stranger and a briton borne The number of his forces came to some ten thousand men With this power departing from Calice and marching through Artois when he came before Arras he forbare to assault it but by setting fire to the subvrbes tempted the townesmen to make some sallie out of their gates whereto notwithstanding he could not provoke them So he proceeded forward destroying all with fire and sword as he passed The Duke of Aniow after he had recouered diuers places from the English in regard he thought sufficient was performed for the present imparting his purpose to the rest of his associates dissolved his army and distributed his men into garrisons The Duke of Berry after long siege received the City of Lymoges by composition Whereat the Prince of Wales conceived so great offence and indignation that raysing a power immediatly he begirt the towne with a new siege vowing never to depart before he reduced it againe into his subiection And when he vnderstood by such as had taken exact view of the scituation and strength thereof that it was too hard a matter for him to take it by assault he caused a mine to be drawne and conveyed vnder the earth even close to the gates of the Citie which being set on fire the violence thereof overthrew a great peece of the wall and opened a large breach for his souldiers to enter But who is able to report the miserable and vnmercifull slaughter which then ensued Not so much as women and young Children which cast themselues prostrate at the feete of the English lamentably imploring the saftie of their liues could obtained any favour but were all put to the sword so implacable was the Princes wrath so relentlesse his displeasure And after all this terrible massacre of people the spoile and sacke of the Citizens goods with the committing of all beastly and inhumane outrage according to the lust and furie of the souldier the towne it selfe by Prince Edwards commaund being set on fire was vtterly raced and laid levell with the ground The Duke of Berry when he wanne this Citie had dismissed his army as his brother had donne before him by meanes whereof it came to passe that his souldiers being dispersed and fewe perhaps remayning there in garrison the townesmen were left destitute of releefe The armie of Sir Robert Knolles which had pierced through Fraunce into the country of Aniow was at length slaine by the Constable and Sir Robert himselfe escaping by flight retourned into Britaine About this time dyed Pope Vrbane who but lately before was retuned to Avinion In his place was set vp Gregorie the xi through the earnest sute and great travell of the french King who foresawe that this bishop would be a great strength to his procedings Prince Edward by the advise of his phisitions left Gascoine and returned into his owne country For at such time as he warred in Spaine in the behalfe of Don Pietro the banished tyrant of Castile he caught a greevous and welneere incurable disease which was now so farre growne and encreased vppon him that he was not able to sit vppon horsebacke but was faine to be caried from place to place in a litter wherevppon his phisitions gaue him counsell to go into England because they were of opinion he might better be recouered in regard the temperature of the climate being his natiue soile was more agreeable to the constitution of his body At his departure out of Aquitaine he appointed his brother the Duke of Lancaster who during the whole continuance of the warres had beene partaker of his fortunes to be his vicegerent into those quarters beseeching the noble men of Gascoine which were assembled at Burdeaux that they would be contēt to accept of his government We haue formerly made mention of the King of Maiorica who in hope to be revenged of the disgrace and iniury done vnto him had for a time depended vppon the faithfull promise of Prince Edward to ayd him against his enemie the King of Arragon then confederate with the Spaniard But King Henrie of Spaine when after the Princes depature he had almost recovered all that belonged to his dominion found this King of Maiorica in a certaine towne of Spaine left there by the english for
was further agreed that the King of England should immediatly send foure thousand horsemen into Navarre to be employed against the Spaniard and that it should not be lawfull for them to depart out of the King of Navarres seruice till such time as the warres were finished This to be done not at the King of Englands charged but his owne The french King being aduertised by some of the King of Navarres owne houshold that he was purposed to goe into England perswaded the king of Spaine to make inuasion vppon his country in the meane while The commaunder of that army which the french King had sent into Normandy was a great souldier and one well experienced in martiall affaires called the Lord Cowcy This man whilste the King of Navarre was absent negotiating his affaires in England recouered many townes and fortresses thereabout and with so much more facility because he caried in his company Charles the King of Nauarres eldest sonne in whose behalfe when many heard those warres were vndertaken they stoode not much vppon resistance Onely the Castle of Chirburg remayned still to be brought in subiection Henrie King of Castile besieging Bayon a towne of the English dominion with a great army had surely enforced them to yeeld had not the plague consumed his souldiers Neuerthelosse he brought not forth his forces in vaine for he subdued many other townes thereabouts and besides a great part of his army was conveyed to the siege of Pampelone the chiefe Citie of Nauarre I told you before of one Ivan a welch man who after the death of his father Prince of Wales had from thenceforth of a child beene brought vp vnder Phillip Iohn Charles Kings of Fraunce This Ivan being growne to mans estate and desirous of reuengment omitted no occasion whereby he might worke displeasure to the English and in all military employments so demeaned himselfe that the french King held him in great reputation As he lay at the siege of a certaine Castle in the country of Burdeloys and had brought the besieged to that point that famine must of necessity haue enforced them to yeeld a certaine welchman vnder pretence of bringing priuate intelligence of his countrymens good affection insinuated himselfe into his acquaintance and in conclusion waiting oportunitie one day when he had no other company about him cruelly murthered him vnawares as he sat idely gazing vppon the Castle combing his head The rest of the Captaines though they were much troubled with this shāefull murther of so gallant a souldier yet continued their siege very straightly notwithstanding But vpon the approche of a great number of Englishmen comming by sea both the french men and Britons which ioyned to their ayd were constrained to breake vp their campe and leaue their enterprise vnperformed By this occasion the Englishmen recouered much in the territory of Burdeauz Amongst other places the English had besieged a towne in Britaine called Saint Maloes at that time in possession of the french men Many assaults were giuen and those very violent but the french King then abyding at Roan sent an army whose comming somewhat abated the fury of the assaylants and gaue a stop to their proceedings Neuertheles they went forward with their enterprise and attempted to cōpasse it by vndermining Which when the townes-men perceiued taking the aduantage of opportunity one night very secretly they issued out of the towne and whilst their enemies kept negligent watch brake vp the mines in such sort that those which laboured in the workes vnderneath were ouerwhelmed with the earth which they tumbled vppon them The English thus preuented and disappointed of their purpose thought it best for their behoofe to returne into their couuntrey Two of the King of Englands vncles were cheefe cōmanders in this seruice Iohn the King of Spaines Sonne termed the infant of Spaine and the Constable of Spain together besieged Pampelone The King of Nauarre emboldened with the assistance of the English valiantly defended himselfe and was purposed to haue giuen battell in the field but King Henrie vppon some occasions recalled his sonne and so the army was dispersed The Englishmen and Nauarroys together pursued the Spaniards in their departure and burned and sacked certaine townes and villages vppon the frontiers Wherewith the King of Spaine was so vehemently mooued that he raysed an army of some forty thousand in purpose to haue besieged Tudell the place where the King of Nauarre wintered But by mediation of good men a meanes was found to make peace between them Which was that Charles the King of Nauarres son should take to wife the King of Spaines daughter and the King of Spaines Sonne should likewise marry the King of Nauarres daughter This Charles as we told you had been detained certaine yeeres by the french King but at such time as this treaty of marriage tooke effect vpon the king of Spaines request he was honourably sent home to her father Immediatly vppon the conclusion of these matters the King of Spaine deceassed and Iohn his sonne with the generall consent and approbation of the state was receiued in his steed The Duke of Lancaster and his brother who had married the daughters of Pietro the tyrant slaine by King Henrie tooke it in high displeasure that the matter was knit vp in this sort not a little enuing the new kings coronation The King of Portingall also was very much offended at the succession of King Iohn as shall be declared more at large hereafter The French king being a notable politicke Prince and of great experience in matters of state to the intent he might more commodiously maintaine his warres against the English sent an ambassadour into Scotland to retayne the Scottish King in amity and frendship This man arriuing by the way at Sluce in Flaunders from whence he purposed to haue proceeded on his iouruey was by the magistrate of the towne brought before the Earle then remayning at Bruges where by occasiō of some vndiscreet speeches he was reprooued and sharpely checkt with tearmes of reproch both by the Earle of Flaunders himselfe and by the Duke of Britaine inueying earnestly against such kind of persons as the chiefe causers of all dissention and vnquietnes There were others also which put him in feare that if he committed himselfe to sea it was likely that the Englishmen lying in waight for such oportunities would intercept him in his passage Here vppon altering his purposes he returned into Fraunce without dispatch of his commission and vppon the report he made of these matters the french King wrote very sharpe letters to the Earle of Flaunders exhorting and aduising him as he tendred his owne welfare that he should not foster his enemy the Duke of Britaine When the Earle had imparted these letters to his counsell there were none but perswaded him that a banished Prince forced in such sort to flye his country was by all meanes to be releeued many of them boasting that if
mony belongs all to you as your husbands debt in lieu of your dowry and since it is now come to my handes I will in no wise suffer it to passe from me againe Then beganne she to intreate and earnestly to beseech him that hee would alter his purpose in that behalfe shewing how great occasion it would minister of perpetuall hatred and contention betweene them how she durst neuer returne home to her husband vnlesse she brought the mony with her for hee was by nature wrathfull and would neuer be pleased with her againe if he sawe himselfe deceitfully dealt with considering how she was the onely meanes which mooued him to accept that assurance and to deliuer his prisoner neither of which he would haue done but vpon hir intreatie and therefore the whole blame would be imputed to her by her husband When she had oftentimes thus expostulated in vaine and sawe his obstinate minde would be nothing changed not daring to goe backe into her owne country she abode still in Nauarre with her brother During the time she soiorned there her sonne which bare his fathers name a youth of some fifteene yeares of age came thither to visite her and after certaine moneths tarâ—iance when he prepared to depart he would faine haue perswaded her to returne with him to his father but she would by no meanes be intreated So he tooke his leaue and went from thence to Pampelone to doe the like to his vncle who not onely vsed him with all honourable and kinde respect but also at his departure gaue him many rich giftes and amongst the rest a purse with a little box in it full of a certaine confection in fine powlder the force whereof was such that whosoeuer had tasted of it in neuer so smal quantity should incontinently haue died In presenting this amiable gift to his yong kinseman he vtterd these speeches You see sweet nephew how great displeasure your father hath conceiued against your mother yet not so great but that there is possibility they may be againe reconciled No man will imagine how much I am grieued for the discontentment betweene them and no lesse in duty ought you to be also But for remedy of this inconuenience when you are returned to your father you shall find the meanes to cast alittle of this powlder vpon the meate which shal be set before him but you must do it very closely for it will come to passe that whereas now he vtterly abhorreth her as soone as he hath eaten of that meate he shall desire her aboue all things insomuch as he shall scarcely at any time endure her out of his company so great shall be his loue so ardent his affection Vndoubtedly you haue much reason to wish it were so but in any wise beware you make no man of your counsell for then you loose your labour The yong gentleman as yet vnacquainted with the world thinking his vncle of whom he would neuer haue suspected ill had intended good faith and spoken as he thought receiued the gift thaÌ„kfully promised to do according to his direction When he came home his father gently welcoÌ„med him inquiring of diuers circumstances concerning his iourney and other nouelties and amongst the rest whether his vncle had giuen him any at his parting or no. He answered yes and shewed him all his gifts the box only excepted But it so fell out that a bastard son of the Earles who kept familiar company with his brother I know not by what occasion lighted vppon his garment and found the purse hanging at it wherein he perceiued some speciall thing whatsoeuer it were was contained Wherevppon questioning with his brother what it should be that he carryed so continually about him in his bosome he would giue him no answere but changed colour and seemed angry that he had been so inquisitiue Within few dayes after they fell at variance playing at tennice and the young Lord buffetted his bastard brother with his fists who hauing no other meanes to make his party good ranne straight to the Earle with a lamentable complaint shewing what iniury was donne to him by his brother who indeed deserued to be beaten himselfe and well chastized with a whip And for what cause quoth the Earle doest thou thinke him worthy to be whipt because quoth the bastard euer since he ruturned from his mother he hath carryed about him at his breast a thing with a ranke sauour to what purpose I know not but that he told me it would not be long before his mother and you were reconciled With that the Earle began to haue some suspition and commaunded the boy to keepe all secret Next meale as he sat at dinner and his sonne after his ordinary custome seruing him with assay he espyed the purstrings hanging at his bosome wherevppon he harkened him to him as if he wouâ—ld haue whispeâ—ed in his eare and when he came nigh tooke hold of his dublet and vnbuttoned it and cutting of the purse made a proose of the confection vppon a dog who assoone as he had reciued it fell downe dead immediatly Then the Earle enraged with anger and trembling all ouer his body rose vp against his sonne intending doubtlesse to haue slaine him but that the Gentlemen which were about him abhorring the cruelty of such a fact and amazed at the strangenes of the accident withheld him When he saw he could be suffered to vse no other violence with bitter execrations he cursed his sonne that had gone about so vnnaturally and with so horrible kind of death to haue murthered his owne father who had oftentimes sustained great warres against mighty and puissant Princes only to enlarge his seigniorie and to leaue him the richer inheritance All that were preseÌ„t did what they could to appease his wrath but he commaunded his sonne forth with to prison and to be sure he should not escape gaue in charge that he should be streyghtly watched threatning this keeper with extreame punishment if he shewed him any fauour Moreouer he put to death with most cruell torments about fifteen persons all gentlemen of good worth because that being conuersant and familiar with his soâ—ne they had not discouered this damnable practise Afterwards in an assembly of all the states of his country whome he had summoned to be present at a day appointed when he had declared at large the most wicked and vnnaturall treason which his sonne had practised against him amplifying the matter with diuers circumstances to make it appeare more haynous he gaue sentence vppon him that he should be put to death Intercession was made of all hands humbly entreating him that he would not shew so cruell an example neyther would they depart from thence before hee had faithfully assured them that his sonnes life should be saued He performed his promise but detayned him still in prison When report of this matter came to Pope Gregory the xi he sent certaine Cardinals from Avinion whome he had giuen
for three yeares Bayon Burdeaux receaue the English The death of Iaques de Arteuill Valiant resistance made by the English in the Castle of Aguillion Caen in Normandy woÌ„ne by the English The battell of Blanchetaque The memorable battell and victory of King Edward at Cressy Calice besieged David King of Scottes taken prisoner The battell of Cressy Charles of Bloys taken prisoner Calice yeelded to King Edward 1346. Phillip of Valoys dieth and Iohn his Son succeedeth Edward the black Prince during their Kings captiuitie A strange shift in extremitie Priuate conference about a peace 1359. It should seeme to be but twenty thousand Iohannes Roâ—hetaillada King Edward inclineth to peace 1360. Peace concluded and King Iohn set at liberty 1360. 1362. 1362. The death of King Iohn Charles of Bloys slaine in battell The occasion of Prince Edwards expeditioÌ„ into Spain Don Pietro the tyrant expulsed and Henrie the bastard made King of Castile The Earle of Provence taken prisoner The king of Maiorica craveth ayd of Prince Edward and obtayneth promise of the same The birth of King Richard 2. Prince Edward setteth forward on his iourney into Spaine Prince Edwards victorie against Henry king of Castile Don Pietro restored The ingratitude of the Tyrant The Lords of Gascoigne rebell against Prince Edward The death of Don Pietro and recovery of the kingdome by Hen ry the Bastard The peace broken and warres againe renued betweene England Franc King Charles commended for his curtesie A truce taken with Scotland â—or 9. yeeres Lymoges recouerd by the French Conquered againe vtterly raced by the English Prince Edward returneth into England The Duke of Lancaster marrieth Constance one of the daughters of Don Pietro Edmond of Langly The Duke of Lancaster returneth into England 1372. The English men overcome at Sea the Earle of Pembroke taken prisoner Ivan the son of Ammon Prince of VVales The I le of Garnesâ—y Poytiers yeeldeth to the French Rochell yeeldeth to the French The Duke of Brittaine flyeth into England 1373. The Duke of Lancaster arriueth at Calice 1376. The death of Prince Edward King Edward the thirds death and commendation King Richard 2. 1377. The French King poysoned 1378. 1379. The Castle of Barwicke surprised by the Scottish Againe recocouered by the English Great tumult about the election of a Pope King Richard entreth into league with the King of Navarre Ivan of VVales trecherously muthered by one Iames Laube a welch man as he lay at the siege of a certaine castle called Moctaine Saint Maloes besieged Henrie the bastard King of Castile deceaseth and Iohn his Son succeedeth Edmond of Langly He is called Siluester Budaeus Fross Chro. Liâ— 2. The Queene of Naples coÌ„meth to the Pope The Queene of Naples coÌ„ueyeth her inheritance to the Pope The occasion of the Flemish warres Iohn Lyon a seditious fellow in Gaunt bringeth vp the faction of the white cappes The death of Lon. The Earle of Flaunders besieged by his subiects The Duke of Britaine returneth into his country King Richard aydeth the Duke of Britaine Thomas of VVoodstocke the Earle of Buckingham King Charles the 5. dyeth of poysontaken long before His speech at his death 1380. 1380. The coronation of Charles the fixt The coÌ„mendation of King Charles the 5. Thomas Earle of Buckingham Nants besieged The Duke of Britaine recoÌ„ciled to the French king forsaketh the English 1381. Peter de Boys Phillip of Arteuill Edmond of Langly Sir Iohn Newton captaine of the Castle of Rochester At Black-heath VVat Tiler Iack Strawe Iohn Ball. The Sauoy At Saint Katherines Mile end VVat Tiler Iack Straw Iohn Ball. Simon Sudbury It was in Smith sield VVat Tiler VVilliam VValworth Gaunt besieged by the Earle of Flaunders Commotion in Paris The Lord Coucy King Richard marrieth Anne sister to Charles King of Bohemia The Duke of Aniow taketh his iourny into Italy Zeuf an enchaunted castle see Fros Chro Lib 2. Cap 391. This enchaunter by such like illusions had before caused the Queene of Naples and her husband to yeild vp the same castle into the hands of Charles Fross Chro. lib. 2. cap 346. 392. The death of Ferdinando king of Portingale The Gauntoyes kept from victuall and brought to great extremity by the Earle of Flaunders A hard choise See the effects of desperate resolution 1382. The Earle ouerthrowne and Bruges taken by the Gauntoys Strange alteration in the Earles fortune The Duke of Burgundy The French King taketh vppon him the Earles quarell against the Gauntoys They were in all not aboue soure or fiue hundreth Fros Chro. lib. 2. Cap. 414. Ipre receiueth the French king The French kings victorie against the Gauntoyes Phillip de Arteuill slaine Bruges yeeldeth to the french King Schisme in the Church The practises of Pope Vrbane against Clement his aduersarie He sent no lesse then 30. as appeareth Fross Chro lib. 2. cap. 428. Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich Nine thousand flemings slaine by the English in a battell not farre from Duakirk 1383. The French King agayne vndertaketh the Earle of Flaunders cause 1383. The death of Lewis Earle of Flaunders The Duke of Aniow dyeth in Italy Her name was Phillip whom he had by Blaunch his first wife The Admirall of France sent with a power into Scotland Charles the French king marryeth Isabell daughter of Stephen Duke of Bauier The French and Scottish men together inuade the borders of England The Earle of Oxenford 1358. The Gauntoies receiued to sauour and their peace made vvith their Lord the Duke of Burgoigne Sir Iohn Bourchier The Earle of Foys The strange story of Gascone Earle of Foys and his sonne Gascone The Earle of Foys killeth his owne son vnwittingly Pag. 110. Iohn King of Spaine layeth claime to the crowen of Portingale besieged Lisbone The King of Portugale through the English mens ayde obtaineth a notable victorie Pope Vrbane besieged Page 127. The Duke of Lancaster sayleth into Portugall Bristowe The Duke of Lancaster arri-Seth in paine The French King maketh great preparation to inuade England Jaquesle Gris sir Iohn de Carogne A notable example of diuine iustice The French king was present with most of his nobility The death of Peter King of Arragon The Duke of Lancasters ambassadour imprisoned by the King of Arragon Phillip the Duke of Lancasters daughter marryed to the King of Portugall John of Bloys marryeth the Constables daughter of Fraunce The Castle of Ermine The Lord de laval 1390. At Saint Georges feast at VVindsore Sir Robert Tresilian Sir Robert Beachampe sir John Salisbury sir Nicholas Brambre The Englishmens miseries vnder the Duke of Lancaster in Spaine Sir John Holland The Duke of Lancaster returneth out of Spaine Bertold of Machline Reignold Earle of Gelders marryed Mary daughter to Bertold of Machline Langue fride VVenceslaus Duke of Braband taken pri soner Edward Duke of Gelders slaine in battell 1383. The Spanyards recouer againe all that the Duke of Lancaster had gotten in Castile Charles King of Nauarre by a strange misfortune burned in his bed The Duke of Britaine restoreth all that he had taken from the Constable Graue besieged by the Brabanders The notable victory of the Duke of Gelders against the Brabanders 1388. The French king goeth against the Duke of Gelders The Duke of Gelders submits himselfe to the French king The Scottes inuade England The Duke of Gelders taken prisoner Katherine the Duke of Lancasters daughter married to Henry Prince of Castile Truce for three yeeres between England Fraunce their confederates The Duke of Berries treasurer burned The death of Pope Vrbane 1390. The French King aydeth the Genowayes against the Moores and Barbarians The death of Iohn king of Castile The Earle of Arminacke passeth into Italy against the Duke of Millaine Guy Earle of Bloys The suddaine death of Gascone Earle of Foys 1391. A treaty of peace at Amience Sir Peter of Craon Sir Oliuer Clisson treacherously assaulted and almost slaine by sir Peter of Craon Euer since the Parisians met the King in armes at his returne out of Flaunders when to curb their boldnes he caused all their armour to be taken from them the chaines of the streetes to bee carried away and the foure principall gates of the citie from thence foorth to be left alwayes open The French King falleth sodaynly into a frensie 1391. Sir John Mericer A truce for foure yeeres between England France The death of pope Clement King Richard giueth all Aquitaine to the duke of â—ancaster The Gascones refuse to accept the duke of Lancaster for their soueraigne K. Richards voyage into Ireland 1394. Otherwise called Lamorabaquy Iohn the duke of Burgoignes sonne sent by the French king to ayde the King of Hangary against the Turkes Nicopolis besieged Fifteen thousand Turkes 〈◊〉 slaine by one thousand christians vnder the conduct of the Lorde Cowâ—y A discourse ot the Duke of Millaine Pag. 127. Friseland subdewed by the Earle of Henault 1396. King Richard marrieth Isabel the french kings daughter One mans pride causeth many mens destruction The siege before Nicopolis raised and all the Frenchmen slaine or taken prisoners The Lord Cowcies death 1397. At the marriage of King Richard to the French Kings daughter a truce was agreed vpon for thirtie yeeres The Earle of Saint Paul The duke of Glow ester murdered in the castle of Calice 1397. Richard earle of Arundell Thomas Mow bray Duke of Norffolke The Earle of Derby the Erle Marshall banished The Duke of Burgoignes sonne Pope Benedict besieged and taken prisoner by the Frenchmen The death of John of GauÌ„t Duke of Lancaster 1399. Henry Pâ—rcie earle of Northumberland and his sonne Thomas Arundell Hee should haue vsde the benefit of oportunity 1399. King Richard deposed
albeit hee had a farre greater power then the King of England as hauing in his armye aboue an hundreth thousand men yet notwithstanding partly perswaded by his Lords but principally terrifyed by the letters of Robert King of Sicill his neere kinseman an excellent Astronomer hee withdrew himselfe and departed without giuing battell And so the King of England returned into Braband and the French King into his own Country much displeased with himselfe that he had refused to fight The King of England shortly after being well assured of the faithfulnes of his confederates passed ouer into his own kingdome About this time in the Citie of Gaunt a certaine person of the baser sort named Jaques of Arteuill purchased himselfe such estimation among the commons that in continuance of time there was none able to withstand his bold attempts no not the Earle of Flaunders himselfe The King of England to procure the good will of the Flemmings allyed this fellow vnto him as one that might affoord him much helpe in his warres hereafter Of this Iaques henceforth we shall often haue occasion to make mention The King of England before hee returned into his owne conntrey as is a little before declared had obtained a grant of the Flemmings to ayde him in his warres whereby himselfe might not onely assayle his enemie with the greater force but they also recouer their lost towns as Lisle Tourney and certaine others holden at that time by the French But the Flemmings pretended great difficulty in the matter before they would conclude this league with the English For they had formerly couenanted with the French King and bound themselues vppon the forfeiture of twenty hundreth thousand crownes neuer to beare armes against the King of Fraunce and these conditions were ratified by the Bishop of Rome Hereupon they perswaded the King of England to take vpon him the armes and stile of the Realme of Fraunce and in so doing they thought themselues discharged of their oath The King after much deliberation condiscended to their requests and so the league was established betweene them The French King hauing intelligence of the matter practised with the Flemmings by some friends of his as it were in the name of the Pope to forsake the King of England and adhere to him againe adding large promises of great reward all which notwithstanding they refused wherevppon presently ensued the Popes thunderbolt It made the Flemmings shrewdly affraid but the King of England so encouraged and hartened them by letters and messengers that they brookt the matter with the better patience Then beganne the warres to growe hot between the Flemmings and French men and the King of Fraunce sent his eldest Sonne as Generall who with a puissant Armye marched through the country euen as farre as Henault Whilste William Earle of Henault for the establishing of his affayres trauailed first into England and afterward to Lewis the Emperour the French men in his absence did meruaillously afflict his country by making continuall incursions vpon it But the Earle at his returne out of Germanie hauing associated himselfe with the King of England the Emperour and diuers Princes of the Netherlands raysed a mighty power and being also ayded by him who in a manner had the hearts of the Flemmings at commaund I meane Iaques of Artevile enforced his enemies to retyre So the Armyes on both sides being prepared to fight the Earle of Henault was very desirous to come to the encounter but the Duke of Braband was of another opinion and with weightie reasons disswaded him from hazarding the battaile till such time as the King of England were returned whome they accounted as Generall of this warre Assoone as the French King vnderstood the King of England was departed into his owne countrey he gaue commaundement that a fleete of Shippes should presently bee rigged and put forth to Sea to attend his comming backe and then to assayle him with great violence and bend all their forces to empeach his landing But the King of England encountring them in his passage put them valiantly to the worse and with fortunes fauourable assistance arriued safely in Flaunders Robert King of Sicill of whome wee haue formerly spoken foreseeing by the Art of Astrologie that the kingdome of Fraunce should sustaine great dammage by the English men for the great affection he bare to that Realme trauailed himselfe to Auinion and there made earnest sute to the Pope and Colledge of Cardinalls that they would set an attonement betweene those twoo puissant Princes They promised to employ their endeuours so the mindes of the kings were disposed according About this time the Brabanders Flemmings and Henowaies entred into a most strict league among themselues in such sort that if any of those countryes should happen to be molested with warre or afflicted by any other meanes the rest were bound to succour and assist them And if any dissention or variance chaunced they should arbitrate the matter among themselues or else if the case were such that they could not decyde it then it should bee determined by the discretion of the King of England into whose hands they were all sworne to put the controuersie and to abide by his arbitriment The King of England associated with the ayd of his confederates besieged Tourney with a strong army Many assaults were giuen but they preuailed not by reason of the valiant defence made by the Townsemen who were furnished throughly aforehand both with men and all thinges needefull to offend the enemye by commaundement from the French King who was ptiuie to a great part of the deuises and consultations among his enemies During the siege before Tourney the French King sending certain companies into Scotland ernestly entreated the captains left there in Garrison for the safty of their country by King Dauid to make some invasion vppon the English that by this meanes his enemie might bee enforced to rayse his siege and returne for the defence of his own country promising moreouer that he would send them store of souldiers whose seruice they might employ in that action The Scots stoutly vndertaking the matter wonne certain holdes and much endammaged their enemy The French King in the meane while levied a great armye to rayse the siege before Tourney There came to his ayde Charles King of Boheme the Dukes of Burgoine Britaine Burbon and Loraine the Earles of Bar Sauoy Geneua Alauson and Flaunders And besides these the kings of Nauarre and Scotland the one as confederate the other as feudarie to the crowne of Fraunce That the Earle of Flaunders followed the French King as we haue declared whilste the Flemmings tooke part with the English let it not seeme straunge to any for thus standeth the case This Iaques of Arteuill whome we spake of before was become so popular and growne to such authoritie amongst the commons that the Earle himselfe could finde no safe abyding in his own country but was constrained for that cause to commit
enemie Moreouer being besieged in a certaine Castle and put to great distresse when for the most part all that were about her perswaded to yeeld shee alone amongst men persisted in opinion to the contrarie and with this resolution held it out so long till at last the English forces which had wandred a great while vppon the Seas arriued to her rescue A certaine French captaine called Lewis of Spaine tooke the Citie of Dinant in Britaine by composition the Citizens hauing slaine their gouernour in the market place because he refused to yeeld it Another Citie neere adioyning named Gerand was taken by the same Captaine by force where not so much as Children and little infants nor the Temples consecrated to Gods seruice could escape the vttermost rigour of warre but were all destroyed with fire and Sword The Duke was much displeased with this impious cruelty and worthylie caused the authors of such wickednesse to be hanged He also receiued the citie of Vannes vppon composition without consent of the captaine and many other places besides To be short diuerse encounters passed both by Sea and Land with variable fortune on both sides A towne and Castle in those partes called Hamibout was assaulted with great violence but defended with more valour for therin at that time remayned the Duchesse of Britaine whome wee spake of before The French men perceiuing they spent their time in vaine and that Winter began to approach perswaded Charles of Bloys to dismisse his Armie and withall to take a truce and place his souldiers in Garrison It was so done and the Duchesse sayled ouer to the King of England who sent an Armie into Britaine against the French men About this time the noble men of England counselled their King to take a stedfast truce with the Scottes for three yeeres space if it might be shewing how great a burthen it would be to him to supporte so huge a charged of wars round about him in Scotland on the one side in Fraunce on the other Herevppon Ambassadours were sent to the Scottish King but nothing could be effected for he would determine vppon nothing without the French kings counsell The King of England mooued therewithall raysed a mightie power in purpose to bring the Scottes to vtter subuersion But in the meane time by the mediation of good men a truce was obtained stablished The English Armie which we spake of erewhile met with the French kings fleete well appointed vppon the coast of Britaine There they encountred one another and continued in fight till within the euening Somewhat before midnight there arose a very dangerous tempest which scattered them in such sort that they were separated more then an hundreth miles asunder In this conflict also the Countesse of Mountfort her selfe performed knightly seruice At length the English men recouered a hauen not farre from the City of Vannes at that time in possession of the French men where putting on land their forces they valiantly approched the Citie And in conclusion diuiding their army into three partes with two of them they fiercely assaulted the town in two seuerall places in the night season and whilste al men resorted thither to make resistance they brought the rest of their forces to a place vnfortified and so entred the towne putting all that were in it eyther to the Sword or to flight There were two French Lords which had the custody of this towne whome it full sorely greeued to see the Citie thus taken Therefore assembling such forces as they could rayse vppon the suddaine they gaue a fresh assault to the towne and so surprised it agine from the enemy In these conflicts Robert of Artoys admirall of the English fleete and Generall of the warre was wounded who being conueyed to London for the cure of his hurts in short space after there ended his life Whereat the king of England conceiued so great greefe and displeasure that of purpose to reuenge the death of so worthy a man so deerely esteemed he himselse sailed ouer with a mighty power of shipping into Britaine So great was the number of the English forces that at one instant they besieged three of the most puissant Cities in all that countrey Renes Vannes and Nants where Charles of Bloys with his wife at the same time remained besides the towne of Dinant which they tooke by force Charles of Bloys wrote to the French King concerning the state of his affaires the arriuall of the English the besieging of his townes earnestly requiring that he would succour him in this great distresse The French King sent his sonne the Duke of Normandy who with an Armie of some forty thousand tooke his way directly towardes Vannes at that time very streytly besieged by the English And had not the winter season brought great impediment to their purpose it had surelie come to a field battell But at length through the intercession of twoo Cardinals sent from Pope Clement a truce was agreed vppon for three yeares and a solemne o the taken of the Princes for the due obseruation thereof in the meane space So the King of England returned into his owne countrey Whilste the warres were yet open the Englishmen had laid siege to the Citie of Vannes latelie before recouered by the French and it was stoutly defended by twoo noble men the one called Lord Clisson the other Henrie of Lyon It was these mens fortune in a certaine light skirmish to be taken prisoners by the English and because there was a Lord of England also remaining among the French vpon conclusion of the truce communication was had for the exchange of prisoners The King of England for the redeeming of his deliuered to the French men the Lord Clisson detayning the other still prisoner Herevppon as is most likely some emulous obseruers of Clissons cariage raysed a suspition that he should be secretly affected to the English and that for this respect he rather then the other obtained his libertie To be short this iealousie encreased so farre that he lost his head for it at Paris And for the like cause diuers other noble men suffered the like punishment Sure it was a lamentable spectacle especially considering that Clisson in the recouerie of Vannes from the English had so honourablie performed the office both of an excellent Captaine and valiant souldier This act of the French kings was taken in so ill part by the King of England esteeming it done in his reproch that he commaunded Henrie of Lyon to be presently set at libertie and freely forgaue him his raunsome onelie enioyning him at his returne to signifie to the French King how he interpreted these proceedings no otherwise then as intended to his dishonour and that thereby he held the late truce to be violated wherefore he should expect no other from him but as an enemy This message was deliuered to the French King and the King of England sent an armie into Aquitane with certaine other forces
to succour the Lady Mountfort The Englishmen were entertained with great applause at Bayon and Burdeaux Afterward laying siege to Bergerat a towne neere the riuer Gerond they receiued the townsemen to mercy the English Captaine taking their othe of fidelitie in the name of the King his Master They tooke many other places also partly by composition partlie by force of armes Amongst other they wonne the Castle of Auberoch a place notably fortified and leauing there a Garrison to defend it the English Captaine returned againe with the rest of his army to Burdeaux In the meane while the French men to the number of twelue thousand besieged the same Castle againe verie streytly and put the souldiers there in Garrison to great distresse But the English Captaine at Burdeaux hauing intelligence thereof assembled some nine hundreth men and in an euening when the French men were to supperward brake suddainelie out of a wood and charged so resolutely vppon them that he put them to discomfiture and in the chace tooke diuers prisoners their Captaine for one being sore wounded whome the people in those partes had in such estimation as if he had beene a Prince As the English men lay in leaguer before a certaine Castle the souldiers put their Captaine in holde because he refused to yeeld it vp to the enemy and would by no meanes graunt his liberty but vppon consent to their request In the end he consented and afterward comming to Tholouse was there arrained of treason and hanged vppon a gibbet for his labour The towne of Rioll was likewise rendered into the Englishmens handes but the Castle was still maintained by the Captaine The Englishmen therefore drew a mine ouerthrew a great part of it to the ground then the captaine considering his imminent perill abandoned the place and left the Castle to the English They also receiued Angolesme by composition after a moneths respit which the townsemen had requested vppon hope to be releeued in the meane time by the French King It is formerly tolde you of Iaques de Arteuill how he was growne so great among the Flemmings that the Earle himselfe could haue no safe recourse into his own country But at length hee receiued the iuste reward of a seditious rebell He had giuen great hope to the King of England that hee would procure the whole countrey of Flaunders by generall consent to accept him for their soueraigne And for accomplishment hereof the King of England with a well furnished nauie arriued in the hauen of Flaunders The matter was propounded to the commons and all for the most part seemed well affected to the King of England But the Gauntoys tooke this practise in meruailous ill part and when Iaques returned into the Citle they entertained him nothing so kindly as they were wont but besetting the house where he was brake open the dores vppon him and slew him as he thought to haue escaped at a posterne Amongst other Articles wherewith they charged him this also was a principall point that he had priuately conueyed all the common treasure ouer to the King of England The Earle of Flaunders moreouer had but one onelie sonne About the same time William Earle of Henault sayling with great assistance into Friseland pretending himselfe to be rightfull Lord of that country was himselfe there slaine in battell with diuers of his nobilitie After his death Margaret Princesse of Henault and wife to Lewis of Bavier the Emperour tooke possession of this Earledome The French King was very desirous to draw vnto his partie one Sir Iohn of Henault a worthy Gentleman and a gallant souldier who had formerly done great seruice to the King of England The matter was attempted by diuers meanes and when no other would take effect this devise was put in practise to insinuate into his conceit that the King of England had a purpose to withdrawe from him his pensions and yeerely entertainments He gaue such credit to this report that forthwith he wholy estranged himselfe from the King of England and yeelded his seruice to the French King When the French King vnderstood that the Englishmen wasted Aquitaine and had wonne many townes and fortresses there he levied his forces amounting to the number of an hundreth thousand men Ouer this armie he appointed his Sonne John Duke of Normandy to be Lievetenant Generall To the French kings ayde came Odet Duke of Burgundy with his Sonne Phillip Earle of Artoys and Boloine both of them excellently well accomplished for the warr They recouered the towne of Angolesme laid siege to the castle of Aguillion gotten before by the Englishmen vppon composition then which there was not a stronger nor better fortified in those quarters The winning thereof was by sundry meanes attempted But it is incredible to beleeue with what courage and resolution the Englishmen that laye there in Garrison defended themselues The French King being aduertised thereof and demaunded what his pleasure was to be done in the matter returned answere to his Sonne that he should continue his siege till necessitie of hunger constrained them to yeeld The King of England vnderstanding in what distresse his men were raysed in continently a power of fourteen thousand souldiers He was accompained amongst other with his Son Edward Prince of Wales and a certain French Gentleman called Godfrey of Harecourt who being expulsed his country by the French King fled to the King of England for safegard of himselfe and reuenge of his iniuries for the French King had seized vppon all his possessions This Godfrey was the cause that the King of England directed his course into Normandy being otherwise purposed to sayle into Aquitaine He diuided his Armie into three partes whereof two raunged along the sea coast wasting the fields sacking diuers townes and leading away their prisoners least afterward they might gather to a head and worke them some displeasure The third wherein was the King himselfe marched through the maine land making hauocke of all things and euery night they mette all together againe at the kings campe The French King in the meane time caused such an armie to be raised as a more puissant had not beene seene in Fraunce of many yeeres Letters were also addressed to the King of Bohemia for ayde who at that time highly fauoured the French King The Englishmen tooke a very rich towne in Normandy called Saint Lupes and afterward hastened to the siege of another much richer called Caē borrowing that name of the riuer running by it The townsmen were purposed to haue giuen battell to the Englishmen in the field but being people vnexperienced in armes at the first fight of the enemie they fled backe again into the towne The French captaines had betaken themselues to their fortresses but beholding the huge slaughter made in the Citie for the Englishmen had taken it they yeelded Amongst other prisoners the Constable was one whome with the rest which were taken in his company the
counsellors of Flaunders sawe him so resolute in this opinion and that he would giue them none other answere they committed him to safe custody and would graunt no enlargement but vppon condition that he should be ruled by the aduise of his elders So at length he was perswaded and the King of England with the Earles wife that should be the Lordes of Flaunders and himselfe mette together at a day appointed There the matter was debated the Earle consented was forthwith contracted and after returned into Flaunders where he was nothing so straightly lookt vnto as he had beene A little before the nuptialls should be solemnized he tooke occasion accompanied with a small traine to ride a hawking where pretending great earnestnesse in following a Faulcon which he had let flye at the heron by little and little he outstripped the rest of his companie till at last he lost sight of them all and so escaped againe to the French King Whilste the King of England besieged Calice the truce which we told you was concluded by certaine Cardinals between Charles of Bloys and the Countesse of Mountfort expired by occasion where of the warres were renewed againe afresh The King of England sent a competent crew of horsemen out of the army which besieged Calice to succour the Lady Mountfort Certaine Englishmen were straightly environed by Charles of Bloys in a towne castle which they had taken immediatly before But certain other Englishmen sent suddainly from the Countesse in the dawning of the day brake vnlookt for into the campe of the French men who by reason of a little good fortune in a certaine skirmish the day before lookt negligently to their watch and putting a great part of them to the sword tooke also the Lord Charles of Bloys himselfe prisoner In the meane time the King of England prested the town of Calice with great vehemency and the French King intending to raise his siege levied a mighty army Whereof the King of England hauing aduertisement so fortified all places by which the French men might haue any accesse as well by the sea coast as the maine land that they could not possibly make any approche to disturbe him The French King seeing all entrance already foreclosed required the King of England to giue him battell But the King of England considering how he had spent welnigh a whole yeere in the siege of this Citie and withall consumed a great treasure about it thought it good policy to hold his advantage The same time also two Cardinals sent from Pope Clement to endeuour an accord betweene the Princes had three dayes communication with the Lords that were appointed Commissioners from both parties but could effect nothing of their purpose Wherevppon the French King presently after dissolued all his great army The Cal sians seeing themselues depriued both of present ayde and future expectatioÌ„ began to parly of giuing vp the town But the King of England would accept no other condition but one which was to put themselues life and goods absolutelie into his power and to remaine wholy at his disposition His counsell earnestly disswading him from this obstinate resolution as a thing tending to very ill example at length the matter was brought to this issue that six of the principall citizens bareheaded and barefooted with halters about their necks and the keies of the towne in their hands should present themselues before him to be disposed of at his pleasure The report of those tydings suddainly mooued great mourning and lamentation in the citie In which sorrowfull confusion when one not of the meaner ranke had protested openly that he would not shunne death in the behalfe of his country now almost pined with hunger his example soone after drewe fiue more to the like affection These men being publikely brought forth in such manner as he appointed who had now iurisdiction over their liues and by his commaundement adiudged to dye when all the Noble men had made intercession in vaine the Queene at length after many reasons alledged for her purpose with much entreatie obtained their pardon Then were some sent to take possession of the towne and by authority from the King all the old Inhabitants were removed and the Citie new peopled with English After this by meanes of a certaine Cardinall a truce was taken for two yeares The King of England entrusted the gouernment of Calice to a certaine Italian Not long after a French Lord that laye in Garrison at Saint Omers knowing the nature of the Italians to be aboue all other people couetous of golde practised priuately with this fellow to sell him the Castle for twenty thousand Crownes The King of England I know not by what meanes hauing intelligence hereof dissembled his knowledge and sending for the Italian examined him of the matter Who seeing no other remedy confessed the truth and besought him of pardon The King graunted and at his departure gaue him in charge to proceede with his proiect A day before this practise should be put in execution the King himselfe strongly guarded as couertly as might be entered into Calice The french man who had payd his money down and knew nothing that the plot was discouered sent his men of armes before to take the Castle Assoone as they came in not suspecting any such matter they were presently attached and made prisoners to the English Then in the dawning of the day the King of England issuing out of the Citie charged suddainly vppon the rest of the French men which houered thereabout to see the successe of their enterprise and put them to flight taking many prisoners and amongst others the same person that was the first contriuer of this treason About this time King Phillip of Valois married another wife the daughter of Phillip King of Navarre and almost at the same instant Iohn his eldest Son tooke to wife Iâ—aue Duchesse of Boloine late wife to the Duke of Burgundies Sonne the same that at the siege of Aguillion ended his life in the yeere of our Lord 1346. After the decease of King Phillip Iohn his Sonne succeeded in his stead who not long after his coronation arrained the Constable then newlie deliuered out of prison in England of treason and caused him to be beheaded at Paris John the son of Phillip de Valoys SHortly after the coronation of King Iohn Pope Clement departed out of this life at Avinon He appointed for his successour in the papacy the Cardinall of Ostia a French man borne called before his election Stephen Albert but afterward named Innocent the sixt By occasion of certaine disgracefull speeches mutually enterchanged a mortall quarrell was growne betwixt the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lancaster which they were at point to decide by single combate but the French King interposing himselfe by his mediation the matter was compounded After the Constable as we tolde you was by the kings commandement put to death Charles of Spaine vpon whome the King
agreed vpon in the night set open the gates of the towne for his soldiers to enter where then nothing else remained to winne but the castle But by good fortune certaine freâ—ch horsemen falling vpon them dissappoynted their purpose putting the aduentureâ—s to flight and the traâ—tors to execution Together with these euills as is wonte to happen ensued a wonderfull dearth and scarcitie of all things in such forte as the poorer people had much adoe to sustaine their liues and this plague continued fower yeeres For so long as the insatiable soldiers deuoured all mens goods of what estate or degree soeuer without controlment so long the husbandman might not apply his labour in safetie not the merchant exercise his trafficke without extreame hazard both of life and goods what other effect could ensue thereof but a generall common mischiefe and such a one as should concerne euerie particular person Certaine of the king of Navarres people beeing vpon a time surprised by their enemies at some disaduantage wheÌ„ they sawe that of necessity they must put their fortunes in tryall though farre ouermatched in number yet seeing no other remedy they betooke themselues to a little hill and putting off all their spurres pitched them in the ground before theÌ„ with the rowells vpward to hinder the aproach of their enemies But the euening came on so fast that it stayed the frenchmen from the'ncounter In the night time with great silence they conveyd themselues into the next village and there making fires as if they had purposed to tarrie all night they secretly departed contrarie to the frenchmens expectation who pursued in vaine but could not ouertake them Amongst other places the Navarrois held Melune vpon Seane To the besieging of this towne the Duke of Normandy sent foure thousand horsemen But by mediation of the Cardinals which wee spake of before a peace was concluded betweene them But Phillip the King of Navarres brother would neuer giue his consent to any conditions of peace whatsoeuer vpbraiding his brother that he was deluded with witchcraftes and enchauntments and therefore he retired himselfe to certaine holdes vppon the Sea coast which were in the kings of Englands subiection By that time the peace was confirmed betweene the Navarrois and the Frenchmen the three yeeres truce obtained by the Cardinals after the taking of King Iohn betweene Fraunce and England expired Therefore all such as had serued â—nder the King of Navarre repayred to the English Captaines for entertainment and so one mischiefe drew on many more successiuely ensuing each other Notwithstanding for that time the Englishmen were but ill entreated by the French though not without great daÌ„mage to the poore wretches that inhabited in the vpland country or in townes but weakly fortified For the Englishmen accompanied with forreine souldiers made spoyle of them at their pleasure When the time of truce as wee said before was worne out the king of England and his eldest Sonne with the French King and the Duke of Burbon conferred priuately together at London concerning a peace the articles whereof they sent ouer to the Duke of Normandy and he propounded them to the three estates of the kingdome But when the matter came to be debated in counsell these conditions were vtterly disliked and answere was giuen to the Ambassadors that they would rather choose to endure yet greater miseries then condiscend to such articles This answere was taken in very ill parte as well by the captiue King of Fraunce as by the King of England who immediately thereupon caused such an armie to be levyed as neuer any man saw passe out of England before Hee tooke landing at Calice accompanied with his foure sons But before his departure out of England he made open declaration of his intent before the whole army in effect that he had vndertaken this expedition in hope and full purpose to enforce the French men to receiue such conditions as should be both for the honour of his person the commoditie of his people and the dignity of his crowne And that he was resolued neuer to giue ouer nor returne again till such time as he had accomplished his affaires in such sorte as he desired Wherfore if any man disliked his pretence hee should haue free liberty to depart or tarrie But there was none amongst them all which did not willingly embrace these conditions From Calice the King of England marched to Rhemes which cittie when he found for the bignesse thereof to be strongly fortifyed he forbare to assault it because he wold not rashly hazard the losse of any of his men whome he reserued for greater seruices From thence after two moneths siege or somewhat more he tooke his way into Burgundy The Duke sent messengers to him requesting that his souldiers might not be suffered to spoyle his country The King of England beeing a very curteous Prince was easily entreated but vppon condition that the Duke of Burgundy should pay him an hundreth thousand crownes In the meane time Fraunce was miserably wasted partly by the King of England himselfe partly by the rest of his army left in Picardy and not a little by the King of Navarre who yet againe moued armes against the Duke of Normandy A certaine fryer of the order of Saint Frauncis prophesied at Avinion that both the Clergy should suffer much for their pride couetousnesse and ambition and that the kingdome of Fraunce should be extreamly afflicted by the invasions of strangers in so much that no part of it should be free from that miserie The Pope because he foretolde matters that displeased him cast this fryer in prison The King of England sent word to the Duke of Normandy that he would giue him battell but the Duke hauing no disposition to put himselfe to the curtesie of Fortune stayed still at Paris And because he well perceiued that the state could not long continue at this passe without the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe of the kingdome by aduise of his nobility counsell he sent ambassadors to the king of England to entreate of peace The matter was diuersly attempted but it seemed almost an impossibility to accord their difference For the King of England still absolutely maintayned that the crowne of Fraunce was his rightfull inheritance Whilst things were thus in consultation there suddainly rose a meruailous tempest about Chartres the violence whereof was such that it ouerthrew both men and horses The king was so moued with the consideration hereof that he made a vowe he would incline his minde vnto peace so at Calice the matter was concluded The conditions were these that the king of England his heyres and successours after him should hold enioy the Countyes Cities Castles holds Lordships Isles rents and revenues of all Aquitaine also the Cittie Castle county and whole seigniorie of Poytiers the Cittie and castell of Rochell and Limoges with all the country about it To these were added Angolesme aswell the
Lancaster sent lately from the King of England to assist him the King of Maiorica had the leading of the rereward and he himselfe accompanied with the tyrant marched in the maine battell As they passed through Navarre the King himselfe for their better direction became their guide and bare them company through a great part of his country At Pampelone also which is the chiefe citie of Navarre he entertayned the Prince with a banket Many feared that the armies should haue been stay'd assoone as they came within his kingdome but contrarie to their opinion the King still persevered in peace and friendship King Henry hauing advertisement of the army comming against him out of Aquitaine levyed forces in Spaine to the number of threscore thousand fighting men For he was exceedingly beloued and every man was willing to vndergo any danger for his sake Thē he sent an herault with letters to the Prince desiring to know what the reason was that he vndertooke these warres against him seing that for his parte he had neuer offered him any manner of offence or iniury The Prince vpon deliberation with his councell detained the messenger and marching still forwards arriued at a towne called Victoria nere vnto which both himselfe and his aduersarie encamped with their armies The king of Spaine had three thousand soldiers sent to his ayd out of Fraunce The Englishmen had planted themselues vppon a hill Counsell was giuen to the Spaniard that if he purposed to winne the victorie without slaughter and bloudshed he should need to take no other course but only to shutte vp the wayes that no prouision of victuall might be conveyd to his enemie For the Englishmen were enclosed as in a streight with small labour all passage might easily haue beene intercepted But the King of Spaine desirous to fight in regard of the greatnesse of his forces which were now growne to aboue an hundred thousand for their number daily encreased chose rather to abide the tryall of battaile When the Prince had rested some fewe dayes in that place because of the barrennes thereof he dislodged from thence and encamped in another ground more commodious And being not far distant from his enemie he sent backe the messenger whom he had now detayned almost three weekes with letters to the King of Spaine containing briefly this answere that for respects of great importance he was come to succour the banished King that he would willingly compound the difference betweene them but vpon no other termes then that King Henry should renounce the title and resigne the gouernment of that kingdome whereto he could pretend no lawfull interest and if this were refused that he should finde him prepared as well the one way as the other We shewed you before in what manner the Englishmen ordered their battells The spaniards in like sort divided their whole power into three parts The first was led by a certaine French Captaine of great esteeme and in it were about foure thousand men The second was commanded by the two brothers of King Henry and it contained some fiue and twenty thousand horse and foote The third by King Henry himselfe and his battell far exceeded both the other in number as hauing in it seaven thousand horse and threscore thousand footemen whereof a great part were armed with crossebowes The field was pitcht betweene Navarre and the towne of Navarette Seldome or neuer hath any battell beene fought with greater fury and violence The spaniards vsed slings whose force was such that therewith they pierced the helmets of their enemies surely a cruell kinde of fight On the other side the Englishmen being most expert arches ouer whelmed them with the multitude of their shot One of king Henries brothers which as we told you had the leading of the vauntgard assoone as he sawe the Princes colors aduance towards him departed out of the battell and neuer strooke stroke against the enemie His example much discouraged a great many of the rest But King Henry himselfe wheresoeuer he sawe his men fainte or go by the worse preassed in thither calling earnestly vppon them exhorting and encouraging them and often putting them in remembrance both of his honour and their duty in so much that thrise in that one day did his vehemēt acclamations adde new life to his souldiers courage and thrise restrayned them from flying when they were euen betaking thēselues to flight Neyther did the common soldiers onely exercise their weapons that day but the Princes themselues also laying hand to their swords made honourable proofe of their particular valour The deposed Tyrant sought by all meanes he could to haue encountred King Henry The fight continued for a time very vehement cruell the soldiers on either part well expressing the hostilitie of their affection by the violence of their actions but at length the Spaniards vnable to withstand the vnited forces of the Englishmen and Gascones gaue themselues to flight neither could king Henry by his authoritie or perswasion cause them to turne head against their enemies So that perceiving himselfe to be more and more abandoned of his people he was constrayned to fly also for he made no question at all that he should be put to death if he had beene taken prisoner in the battell The Englishmen pursued the chace meruaillous destruction was made partly of those that were slaine partly of those that-perished in a certaine notable river thereby whereinto they chose rather to cast themselues hedlong then to come alive into the hands of their enemies When the chace was ended a generall view was taken of the dead bodies and there were found slaine little lesse then six hundreth horsemen and almost seaven thousand footmen not accounting them that were killed at the bridge or drowned in the Riuer After this battell the Princes came together to Burgis a towne of Spaine and thither resorted all the Nobilitie of the country from Toledo from Lisbone from Gallicta frō Sivill and from diuerse other places of Castile to sweare fealty to Don Pietro againe restored for well they saw it was not possible to resist such power as he had now about him These things dispatched Prince Edward delt with the Tyrant to provide money for the payment of his soldiers by whose helpe he had recovered his kingdome wherevpon Don Pietro tooke his iourney into Sivill there to levy mony for that purpose pretending to returne within fewe weekes after and to give satisfaction to all men For at such time as he was driven out of Castle came first to Burdeaux to implore the Princes ayd as we haue formerly declared hee made faithfull promise that assoone as he should be restored to his kingdome he wold giue liberall contentment to all that serued in his quarell and to the same effect became bound to the Prince that so the Prince might be his surety to the Captaines and gentlemen that were readie to vndertake the enterprise in his behalfe At his
departing towards Sivill he made certaine appointment with the Prince and gaue him his faith to returne verie shortly againe and to bring mony with him for the discharge of his soldiers When the prince vppon expectation of his returne had taryed certaine moneths beyond the time prefixed he sent messengers to inquire the cause of his delay The tyrant excused himself how he had sent certaine of his servants with the mony that they were intercepted in the way by theeves Wherfore he requested him to returne into his owne country leave some officers of his in Castile to whome he would make satisfaction to the vttermost This answere greatly displeased the Prince but no other at that time could be obtayned King Henry escaping out of the battell fled to Valentia a cittie of Arragon and there acquainted the king with his calamitie From thence he went to Mountpelier to the Duke of Aniow a mortall enemy of the English After that he tooke his iourney to Avinion to Pope Vrbane who was then prepayring to depart from thence to Rome and to him likewise recounted his miseries and misfortunes At last being privately ayded by the Duke of Aniow he assembled certaine forces and invaded Prince Edwards dominions The Princesse somewhat amazed with the suddainnesse thereof sent to the French King to represse her enemie But the French King winked at the matter Herevppon Prince Edward having advertisement how the world went was constrayned to returne into his owne country before the King of Castile had payd him his money As he came through Arragon he met with some impediments his passage was stopped Neverthelesse at a day of meeting the matter was taken vp friendly betweene them Prince Edward after his returne into his owne dominion because he had consumed a great masse of money about this expedition into Spaine summoned all the nobilitie of Aquitaine with the burgesses of the citties to a parliament and there made publike request for the graunt of a generall subsidy to belevyed through all his dominion and that only for five yeeres in consideration as well of the great debt wherewith he had charged himselfe and had not yet discharged his soldiers as also for that he had spent and in a manner cleerely exhausted all his owne treasure about this voyage All the citties for the most parte gave their consents but many of the greatest Lords opposed themselues against the Princes purpose Affirming that so long as they were subiect to the King of Fraunce they were never burdened with any such exactions and rather then they would now vndergoe them they would endure the vttermost whatsoever When the Prince would relent no part of his rigor the Lords which had thus gainsaâ—d him tooke their way directly to Paris to the French King where in assembly of the councell they declared their griefe making sore complaint of the Prince and withall beseeching the French King to receive them into his protection The French King made answere that he would deale by the advise of his counsell and according to the articles of peace concluded betweene his father and the King of England Meane while the Lords of Gascoine remained at Paris The subsidy was such that euerie houshold should pay yeerely one francke which had amounted to the some of twelve hundreth thousand Frankes by the yeere King Henry having advertisement of the rebellion of the Gascones and holding it good pollicie to make vse of another mans trouble resolved not to let slip so faire an opportunity Therefore by the King of Arragons assistance he raised an army of ten thousandmen and which way soever he directed his forces he recovered townes and castles againe to his subiection Don Pietro remaining the same time at Sivill assoone as he heard newes of these proceedings sent presently to the King of Portingall and the King of Granado for succour He obtayned his request and had gathered together in all forty thousand men amongst whom there were many Saracens King Henrie seeing it stood him in hand to proceede rather by discretion and pollicy then by plaine force for the Tyrant farre exceeded him in number of souldiers following the aduise of a certaine Captaine of his even in the mornings first approche contrary to expectation suddainly invaded his enemies and fought prosperously in such sort that the Tyrant was constrained to fly for tefuge into a castle thereby whereof assoone as King Henry had intelligence he brought all his Army thither and bent his forces against it The tyrant perceiving his imminent perill issued secretly out of the castle accompanied with some sewe in the dead time of the night hoping so to haue escaped by flight But it was his fortune to fall into the hands of the captaine of the Scowtwatch by whome he was apprehended and brought forth with before King Henry who at his first entrance began presently to inveigh against him with most bitter termes and the tyrant for his part also returned words of like reproach calling him sonne of a strumpet To be short King Henry overthrowing him to the ground and getting vpon him stab'd him to the hart with his dagger and in short space after his death with small trouble recovered againe the possession of the whole kingdome The King of Portingall weÌ„t about to haue revenged the death of his kinsman Don Pietro by battell but he was pacified During the time that the Lords of Gascoine soiourned at Paris the French King had a sonne borne which afterward carried the name of his father In the mean while the Lords of Gascoine made often supplication to the French King that he would vndertake the defence of their cause against Prince Edward which thing if he refused to doe extreme necessitie would compell them to seeke some vnder whose protection they might quietly enioye their possessions by meanes whereof it might come to passe in time that the Kings of Fraunce should forgoe all their right and interest in the whole province of Aquitaine The french King considering the great importance and daunger of the warre tooke long respite to deliberate vppon the matter Most of his counsell perswaded him to warre affirming with great vehemency that the articles of peace were infringed by the King of England At length it seemed good to summon the Prince to appeare in person at the parliament of Paris and certaine were appointed to carry the summons accordingly Prince Edward when he heard this message after some pause made answere to this effect that sithence the French King had so commanded him he would surely come to Paris but it should bee with his helmet on his head and threescore thousand souldiers in his company The messengers departed out of Burdeaux and being apprehended in their way homeward wereby the Princes commandement cast in prison Here by the way it shall not be amisse to make some remembrance of the hostages left in England The Duke of Aniow as is declared already had conveyed himselfe away before
it should come to the push to haue warres for the matter Flaunders was able to withstand the vttermost that Fraunce could doe Neuertheles the duke of Britaine shortly after of his owne accord departed into England and the minds and affections of his people began to incline more fauourably towardes him then in former times they had done It is declared before how the Cardinals after the death of Pope Gregorie to pacify the tumult of the Romanes had through feare and compulsion chosen Vrbane the sixt Now because this Vrbane by reason of his pride and insolency was misliked of all men the Cardinals by generall consent proceeded to a new election and chose Robert bishop of Cambrey called afterwards by the name of Clement There remained at that time in the territory of the Romanes one Robert Budaeus a mâ—n honourably descended in the country of Britaine and a stout warriour hauing twoo thousand of his country men vnder his command Him did Pope Clement sollicite for the maintenance of his quarrell who nothing misliking the motion was secretly conveyed with his men into the Castle from thence to worke disturbance to the Romanes On the other side the Romanes oftentimes sent the Germane and Italian souldiers whome they had waged in their defence against these Britons and they handled the matter in such sort that their enemies wearied with their often and continuall assaultes were at length constrained to yeeld vp the Castle vppon no other conditions but only the sauing of their liues Robert their captaine who was not present at the dooing hereof but lay encamped without the Citie when he heard these tydings waighted oportunitie till such time as he vnderstood by his espialles that the Romanes should assemble together in the Castle to consult of their affaires then taking his way through secret passages and vnder the euenings couert entring closely into the Citie euen at the fittest time that could be wished for his purpose he assayled the Romanes as they came out of the counsell house vnarmed and suspecting no such matter of whome he made a terrible slaughter and killed many of the principall men and cheefe Citizens amongst them After the accomplishment of which mischâ—efe he returned againe to his campe at leysure When the French King vnderstood that a newe Pope was created he called a conuocation of certaine estates chiefly of diuines demaunding their opinion whether of the two Popes ought in this diuersitie to be acknowledged Their censures for the most part as happeneth in such cases were variable and different The Lords of the spiritualty with the Kings brothers and many of the diuines were of opinion that Cleoment ought to be receiued This determination pleased the King well and was immediately proclaymed through the whole kingdom that a certainty might generally be knowne for his subiects to trust vnto Of the same iudgement were the King of Spaine the Earle of Savoy the Duke of Millaine and the Queene of Naples Charles of Boheme the Emperour dissembled his minde notwithstanding the greater parte of the Empire tooke parte with Pope Vrbane The Scottish King also inclined to Clement Lewis Earle of Flaunders affirmed boldly that open iniurie was offered to Vrbane the Henaulters stood newter adhering neither to the one nor the other Pope Clement the better to confirme his cause directed the Cardinall of Poytiers into Fraunce and the countries adioyning to publish in all places where he came how Vrbane had beene by force and violence vtterly against the willes of the Cardinalles intruded into the papacie It was an easie matter to perswade the French men who had already giuen sentence on his side The Earles of Henault and Barband omitted not to giue him all honourable and curteous entertainment but for aught else there was nothing to be obtayned at their handes The Earle of Flaunders had sent him word long before that he had no desire to talke with him for he accounted Vrbane as chiefe shepheard of the Lords flock and intended neuer to forsake him Moreouer Pope Clement sent to Avinion to haue his Court prepared and furnished with all things necessary against his comming About this time the Queene of Naples resorted to the Pope to treate with him of very important affaires and thus stood the case Lewis of Sicill Duke of Apulia and Calabria lying vpon his death bed caused this his daughter to come before him addressed his speech to her in this manner Thou art now my deare daughter to enter vpon the inheritance of a most flourishing estate I doubt not but many princes will be forward to desire thee in marriage in respect of this thy goodly and glorious heritage Therefore if thou wilt follow thy fathers counsell match thy selfe to a Prince that is rich and powerfull whose puissance may be able to defend both thee and thy possessions And if it happen that thou haste no issue then make conueyance of all thy patrimony according to the direction of the Pope then being This my father Robert enioyned me at his death and this to discharge my selfe of that duetie I likewise giue in charge to thee againe When the father had discoursed much more to this effect the daughter deuoutly promised in the presence of many that she would not faile in her duety for the performance of his commaund After her fathers deceasse she was marryed to Andrew the brother of Lewis the King of Hungary but of this marriage proceeded no issue be reason that her husband dyed very young Afterward she matcht her selfe to Charles prince of Tarent and by him had only one daughter Against this Charles the King of Hungary moued warres and subdewed from him the countries of Apulia and Calabria Charles himselfe being likewise taken prisoner in battell and carryed away into Hungary where he ended his life After him she marryed to the King of Maiorica and sent Ambassadours into Fraunce to Lewis of Navarre of whome we haue formerly made mention for the concluding of a match betweene him and her daughter Who taking his iourney for the same intent deceassed by the way before he could attaine the accomplishment of his purpose The King of Maiorica in hope to recover his fathers inheritance prepared to make sharp warres vpon the King of Arragon by whome it was with-holden from him His wife desirous to retaine him still at home disswaded him all she could from his intended enterprise alleadging how he already enioyed a kingdom large and flourishing sufficient of it selfe to maintaine pleÌ„ty euen with superfluitie but she could not preuaile Therefore giving place to his resolution at his departure she earnestly exhorted him that he should open all his estate to Charles King of Fraunce who was a wise and prudent prince and declaring to him his iniuries receiued dispose all his proceedings according to his direction But the King of Maiorica expecting I know not what greater helpes otherwhere required ayde of Prince Edward the king of Englands sonne who
so much for any good faith which he intended as to learne hereby what opinion was holden of him in Fraunce But assoone as hee saw himselfe disappointed there for the King had disdaine at his letters he turned to the King of England of whome he not onely requested ayd for the Gauntoyes but also altogether out of season demaunded the two hundreth thousand crownes that his father Iaques had lent King Edward at the siege of Tourney by meanes whereof it came to passe that he obtayned neither the one nor the other For had he made no mention at all of the money but onely entreated of the league it is like enough he might haue obtayned his desire The Earle of Flaunders hauing accesse now opened vnto him by reason the kings mind was so addicted to this war tooke his iourney into Fraunce And after he had receiued his inauguration at the kings hands for the county of Artoys which was lately befalne him he began to conceiue better hope of his affaires especially when he sawe so puissant a Prince with such forwardnes of affection bring a mighty army of no lesse then threescore thousand men to wage batell against his enemy in the maintenance of his quarell Whereof so soone as Phillip had receiued aduertisement he omitted no part of what pertained to his charge but commaunded presently that all the bridges vpon the riuer Lise which were nere hand should be broken downe Moreouer he caused two passages vpon the riuer to be strongly fortifyed and defended with good garrisons the one of them at Comius being kept by Peter de Boys with nine thousand men Whereof the French men being not ignorant sundry opinions rose amongst theÌ„ as they consulted of their affaires some thinking it were best to goe about by Saint Omers where the riuer is shallowest others giuing counsell to make a bridge ouer Skeld not farre from Tourney to the intent the army might passe easily from thence into Arde. At length it likte them best to venture vppon the enemy before mentioned which lay at Comius When they came thither they found the bridge broken downe and no passage to get ouer whereuppon they fell againe to consultation In the meane while certaine aduenturous gallants which were desirous to make some proofe of their valour hauing formerly agreed amongst themselues that if no passage could be found they would secretly vse some meanes by their owne industry without knowledge of their commanders to conuey themselues ouer with the helpe of three or foure small botes slyding along by a cord fastened to both sides of the riuer passed ouer in that sorte by a fewe at once till they had gotten all their company to the further side in safety and this they did with so little trouble or daunger that the enemy who lay encamped not farre of neuer perceiued it before such time as he saw them marching towards him with Ensignes displayd Peter de Boyis immagining that so small a number durst neuer venture vppon him because the cuening approched would not fight with them as then but rather thought to set vppon them in the night when the wearinesse of their trauell had ouertaken them with sleepe But the French men whom the boldnes of their attempt had made circumspect in their proceedings considering how great and dangerous an enterprise they had vndertaken without lycence either of King or Captaine were exceedingly watchfull and stood alwaies vpon their guard for feare of disaduantage About the breake of day their enemies came forth to assayle them whom they encountred with such resolution albeit their number were but a handfull in comparison that they slew well â—ere six thousand and chased the rest into a towne thereby which they tooke for refuge After this battell the French king presently building vp a bridge brought ouer the rest of his forces and marched directly towards Ipre The townesmeÌ„ following the fortune of the conquerours army slew their gouernour because he refused to yeild and committed themselues to the French King All their neighbours immitating their example did both pay great summes of money and also brought their captaines prisoners which perswaded them to stand out in rebellion But the Earle of Flaunders was called to councell in none of these proceedings The men of Bruges could haue bene contented to yeild as well as the rest but their Captaines so encouraged them with hope of ayd out of England that they held it out notwithstanding When Phillip of Arteuill vnderstood that the power of the most puissant King was encamped not farre from him he also brought forth his army into the field which consisted of some fifty thousand men There he exhorted them in a pithy oration that now going to battell they set before their â—ies that memorable ouerthrowe which with so small a company they had giuen to the Earle of Flaunders and withall to consider how after this battell if they obtayned victory they should thenceforth become Lords of all and be able to make opposition against them Which thing in their behalfe all good and well gouerned common wealthes desired to whome no tydings could be more acceptable then to heare that the Gauntoys fighting valiantly and constantly in defence of their liberty had reaped the honourable reward of their vertue and courage by destroying such persons as through ambition and couetousnesse could not suffer any common wealth to remain in quiet When he had spoken much more to this effect he commanded that in the conflict they should put all to the sword and spare no man the King only excepted The Flemings not forgetting what Phillip had told them fought very manfully this also not a little sharpened their courage that they had stirred vp such a puissant enemy against them whome if they might ouercome it would redound to their perpetual fame amongst all posterity NotwithstaÌ„ding at length being enclosed betweene two wings of their enemies forced into a straight they were ouerthrowne The battel lasted not much aboue an hower and yet in that little space xxv Thousand of their number were wanting Philip fighting valiantly amongst the thickest of his enemies was slaine in the field and his body being sought for and found amongst the dead was by the Kings commaundement hanged vppon a tree Vndoubtedly that dayes battell was fought in a fortunate houre for all noblemen and gentlemen For had it falne out otherwise then it did surely as the world then went it would haue giuen a great blow to their anthority and haue shaken euen the seates of Kings and Princes The Parisians who lately before had begun a coÌ„motion long'd exceedingly to heare some good newes of the successe of this battell In Champaigne and a great part of Fraunce besides all the wealthiest cities and the peasants of the country began to make insurrection Therefore vppon the successe of this action depended the safety or ruine of many Princes estates The King was then between thirteene and fourteene yeares of
inuasion without defiance Whereto he aunswered that he persecuted all the Clementines in the behalfe of Pope Vrbane The messengers replyed that Flaunders held altogether of Vrbanes side it there were none other occasion but that he had vniustly vndertaken this warre against those that had no way deserued it Wherefore they desired him to graunt them safe conduct that they might passe ouer into England to speake with the King Then the Bishop in a froward fashion told them that for his part he would make them no safe conduct neither to goe nor tarry if they would needs passe they might do it at their owne perill When no other aunswere then this could be obtained from a person so arrogant and vnciuill the Flemings to the number of twelue thousand made opposition against the English not farre from the towne of Dunkirke where encountring them in battell after they had slayne a Herauld sent with a message from the Englishmen they were ouerthrowne and put to flight with the losse of some nine thousand of their people Then the Englishmen hauing taken certaine little townes thereabout marched forward to besiege Ipre And to the intent to make their power the stronger they sent word to the Gauntoys that they also should draw out their forces into the field For there was no league established between them and it grieued the English not a little that the french men wonne the victory in the former battell so enuious were they of the french mens honour or good fortune The Gauntoys therefore sent them 20000. men to the siege of Ipre Whilst Ipre was thus streightly enuironed the Earle of Flaunders by mediation of the Bishop of Liege determined to fall to some friendly agreemeÌ„t with the English whome as in reason it might be supposed he should find tractable in that behalfe considering how the warre was raysed onely against the Clementines and himselfe with all his people were Vrbanists But the Gauntoys who were partakers of the English mens counsels for hatred they bare to their Lord interrupted this treaty Then had the Earle no other hope but the helpe of the french King who being againe sollicited by the Duke of Burgome his vncle and the Earle of Flaunders sonne in law vndertooke the matter and raysed an army of aboue an hundred thousand men The Bishop as vnskilfull in matters of warre so wonderously proud when he heard that the kings power was comming against him streytway dislodged his campe and breaking vp his siege withdrew himselfe towards the sea coast with part of his army the rest being dispersed in garrisons to the intent that when his enemy approched he might the better prouide for his safety by an easy retreyte to Calice In the Kings army was the Duke of Britaine which seemed a straunge sight to the Englishmen through whose friendship and assistance he had often been succoured restored to his Duke dome But he might lawfully do it at that time without empeachment of his honour First because he was lately before reconciled to the french King and againe in regard he ought this reciprocall dutie to the Earle of Flaunders whose bounty and good affection he had abundantly tasted in the time of his necessity when he liued as an exile expnlsed out of his owne country Such is the instability of mans estate that the affliction which oppresseth one to day seizeth vppon another to morrow And yet the Duke shewed himselfe no whit vnmindfull of the benefits he had receiued from the English who vpon the approche of the french army had retyred themselues into a certaine towne called Borborough and were besieged in the same For considering the imminent perill that hung ouer their heads which they could no way auoyd but by yeelding the successe whereof was likewise vncertaine he ceased not to exhort them as they parlyed with him from the walles to prouide in time for their owne safegard by offering some reasonable composition The Englishmen not only vnthankfully accepted his motion but further entreated him to be a meanes to the King for the effecting of their purpose which he also vndertooke and performed So the King vppon some deliberation receiuing the towne into his hands suffered all the Englishmen to depart without harme or violence When the expedition was ended and the army brake vp the King gaue honourable thanks to such forraine Captaines as had serued him in this iourney especially to Duke Frederick of Bauier who had put himselfe forth into this action only vpon desire to see the countries and to obserue the order and discipline of the french warres The Duke of Britaine desirous in regard of his good affection aswell to the french King as the English to bring them to agreement procured so much by his great trauell and diligence that an appointment was made for the meeting of certaine ambassadours from Fraunce England and Spaine For the french King would not deale with the English but so as the Spaniard might be included in the treaty And because in so doubtfull a case neither the french men wold come to Calice nor the Englishmen to Boloine a place indifferent betweene both was assigned for their meeting There the french kings vncles demaunded againe all Aquitaine together with Calice and all the fortresses which the Englishmen then held on that side the sea as farre as the riuer of Gerond aswell in Normandy as in the countries of Britaine Poytow and Rochell Contrariwise the Englishmen would part from none of all those things and besides the principall points which they had in coÌ„â—ission to treate of they would also that the Gauntoys should be receiued into this society For so it was formerly agreed betweene the Gauntoys and them at Calice But against this demaund the Earle of Flaunders opposed himselfe with great vehemency affirming that they were in no wise to be admitted into league with so great Princes In conclusion when nothing else could be agreed vppon a truce was taken for tenne moneths both by sâ—a and land between the French English Spanish Scottish and Gauntoys notwithstanding all that the Earle of Flaunders could alledge or perswade to the contrary This also was added that somewhat before the truce expired the ambassadours should meete againe at a place appointed to conferre of these affaires more at large Within a while after deceased the Earle of Flaunders whome fortune for a time had wonderfully entangled with warres amongst his owne subiects so that in his example alone we may behold how great a happinesse it is for a Prince so to gouerne his people as he may be both beloued and feared and contrarily how daungerous it is to happen vppon a puissant common wealth which vnder pretence of maintayning their liberty confoundeth all things together to the intent to shift their necks wholy out of the yoke of obedience When the ambassadours departed from the treaty aboue mentioned it was agreed amongst other matters that the French men should giue notice of
owne vertue preserued after assurance giuen by the enemy and receiued by them according to the law of atmes fell into extreame calamity at such time as they thought themselues most secure of life and safety and were slaine by the conquerour not enraged and angry as in the fury of battell but being now at peace with them and euen himselfe abhorring such an vnnaturall slaughter The Portingales through the great aduantage of their ground ouerthrew their enemies againe and in this second battell was mercy shewed to no man They that could saued themselues by flight the rest were all slaine The Spaniards mist of their number about seauen thousand Afterwards as the custome of Princes is when they haue performed many notable mischiefes a truce was agreed vppon So the King of Spaine dismissed his souldiers and the King of Portugale was receiued with great triumph into Lisbone About the same time the French men recouered all that was holden by certaine Brigants in the country of Tholous the places there adioining The Gascones for that the wars they made in France was greatly to their enriching did willingly serue vnder the King of England and if they had been gently and respectiuely vsed they would neuer haue changed their Lord. But the King of Englands Sonne by his straÌ„ge behauiour alienated the greatest part of the nobility from him in such sort that they forsooke him put themselues vnder protection of the French King Besides this his officers vsed the Gascones disdainfully as vnworthy to whome any charge in the common wealth should be committed Herevpon grew hatred betweene them and by this occasion Charles the fift recouered all againe as hath been already declared Whilst the warres were yet hotly pursued between the two Popes the souldiers of Clement had besieged Vrbane in a certaine castle of Italy and if money had come to content them he had surely beene taken But the Bishops treasure at Avinion was already so wasted that the suÌ„me of twenty thousand frankes which should be distributed amongst the souldiers could not possibly be raised This dissention betweene the two Popes drew almost all the Princes of Christendom into sundry factions as hath beene shewed before These miseries and many other wherewith the Clergie should sometimes be afflicted a certaine Franciscane Fryer had long since foretolde in the time of Pope Innocent and being for the same cast in prison at Auinion had lost his head for his labour but that he confirmed his sayings by authoritie of scripture We haue spoken of Ferdinando king of Portingall which left behinde him one onely daughter named Beatrice marryed to the King of Spaine Now my author declareth how he vnderstood afterward that she was begotten by the king of Portugall vppon a certaine Ladie whome he had rauished and whose husband he had chased out of the kingdome and that his daughter so borne was afterwards by Pope Vrbane made legitimate And moreouer at such time as the marriage was in treaty betweene this Lady and the King of Spaine this matter was also brought in controuersie But the King of Portugall to remoue all doubts dealt in such sort with his nobilitie and chiefest of the citties that they all solemnly promised him not to acknowledge any other soueraigne after his death then this his onely daughter neither to admitte any man else to the succession of the crowne but him that should haue her in marriage Assoone as he was departed out of this life the noble men were desirous the inheritance should passe to the King of Spaine but the citties for hatred they bare to the Spanyards aduanced him to the crowne of whom we haue oftentimes spoken before namely the base brother of the King deceassed And because at such time as the king of Portugall dyed the Ladies husband remayned still aliue most men thought that the childe begotten betweene them was borne in adultery Moreouer that couple had liued fiue yeeres together as man and wife wheÌ„ the king doting in his wicked and frantick affection attempted this dishonourable practise not only for a Prince but for any other person most vnworthy and shamefull The wretched husband being robbed of his wife gat him to the King of Spaine and after the King of Portingales decease returned againe to Lishone but receiued his wife no more following therein the â—ounsell of his frends who alledged great reasons to the contrary Afterward he was slaine in a certaine skirmish and it is likely he had small ioy of his life considering the extreame iniury and disgrace receiued from such a one of whom he had no hope to be reuenged At such time as Lisbone was besieged by the Spanyards the king of Portingale sent Embassadors into England exhorting and requesting the Duke of Lancaster to succour him in this great necessitie against such an enemy as both possessed a kingdome which was none of his owne and sought also by force to seize vpon the crowne of Portingale whereto he had no more right then to the other Vppon hearing of their ambassage it was concluded that the Duke of Lancaster should be sent into Portingale and all things were prepared and made ready for his voyage when suddainly the Admirall of Fraunce landing with an army in Scotland from thence made warre vppon the English as hath bene before declared Hereuppon the Dukes iourney was stayed Neuerthelesse the King of Portingale fought prosperously and vanquished his enemie in two battells as is shewed already And after this victorie returning to Lisbone by aduise of his counsell he sent Ambassadours againe to the king of England and the Duke of Lancaster desiring him if euer he meant to attempt any thing against his aduersarie the king of Spaine that he would not neglect the present opportunitie For twise he himselfe had already defeated him in battell and driuen him from the field now did he quake and tremble for distrust of his estate and it were an easie matter to ouerthrowe him whollie specially if they should assaile him with both their forces vnited together Scarce could he know on which side to turne him his affaires and his counsels would be all so confounded and that his state might be more violently shaken it seemed best in his opinion to make present inuasion vppon him befote he should recouer his strength or bethinke him of the danger When these and many other like matters had beene deliuered by the Ambassadors it pleased the King that the Duke of Lancaster should now at length proceede with his voyage before vndertaken So with a certaine number of horsemen and more then two thousand archers accompanied with his wife and children he tooke shipping at a certain hauen in Wales whither the Portingales vppon aduertisement from their ambassadors had before sent fiue and twentie shippes and Gallies to attend him And because he saw great likelyhood of troubles to arise in England that he was enuyed by many which were in authority about the King his nephew he
Duke of Braband then William the Duke of Iuliers sonne holding the seigniory of Gelders in right of his mother claymed againe from the dutchesse of Braband these Castles which his vnckle Edward in his life time had challenged before The restitution wherof being denyed ministred newe occasion whereby the olde grudge was againe reuiued And because Braband at that time was in league with Fraunce and the Duke of Burgoine the French kings brother was next heyre to the widdowe the Duke of Gelders who studyed all the displeasure he could against the house of Fraunce to the intent to shewe his loue towards the English nation passed ouer the seas and contracted great alliance with King Richard receiuing from him a pension of foure thousand franks as hath bene before declared and afterward at his returne defied the French king and professed open enmitie against the Brabanders in so much that the Duke of Burgoigne vppon aduertisement from the widdowe of his daily incursions was constraimed to send thither certaine companies of horsemen for defence of the frontyers Mention is made before of the Duke of Lancaster who by reason of great plague and mortality in his army was forced to discharge his soldiers and returne to the king of Portingale Now when the Spanyards and French men sawe their enemies dispersed they easily recouered all that was lost the Englishmen which remained in garrisons being either expelled by force or dismissed by composition The king of Portugall perswaded his father in lawe to send for a new supply out of England But the Duke considering how it was farre of and that the state of England was at that time greatly encombred made speedy prouision for his departure and sayled as we haue shewed you to Bayon from whence he wrote diuerse letters both to the King and to his brothers for succour But the Englishmens minds were so alienated from the wars of Portingall by reason of the great miseries they endured there that scarce any man could be found which would enter his name to goe vppon that voyage Besides this the troubles seditions and executions which had bene lately in the realme before remayned still so fresh in euery mans memory as they had no leysure to intend to forreine affaires The French king vnderstanding how the world went in England to the intent to make vse of his aduersaries ill fortune vpon great hopes and large promises allured the Duke of Ireland out of the Neatherlands into Fraunce Charles king of Nauarre about this time sessing his people at a subsidy of two hundred thousand franks assembled the burgesses of his townes at Pampelone the chiefe Citty of his kingdome and when he saw that they stucke vppon the matter he shut them vp in a certaine court enclosed about with high walles threatning that if they concluded not the sooner he would handle them according to their deserts But in the meane while happened a wonderfull accident After he had left them in this angry moode he gaue himselfe to sleepe and because he was aged his seruants were accustomed to burne a perfume about him to prouoke him to sweat Now it fortuned by what negligence or mischaunce at that time I know not that some sparke of fire caught hold of the bed which by little and little encreasing and gathering strength at last brake forth in a burning siame about him by means whereof the wretched king being alone and not able by reason of his age to helpe himselfe nor to winde out of the linnen which entangled him was almost consumed in the flames before any could come to his rescue Many Lords of Fraunce which were much displeased that the Duke of Gelders had made defiance to their king in such proud termes contrary to the custome of other Princes were of opinion that if he should escape cleerely away withall it might perhaps hereafter be imputed as a blame and reproch to them which were now of the kings counsell The king was forwarde enough to haue taken a course of reuenge but in regard the Duke of Britaine attempted new troubles solliciting the English to be partakers of his proceedings the enterprise which both himselfe and many other desired could not then be performed The Duke of Berry sent one priuately in his owne name to deale with the Duke of Britaine in friendly manner to drawe him to some reasonable agreement but it was in vaine and that made the French men in greater feare and suspition For they considered what perill it might be to the realme if the King as he desired him selfe and was perswaded by others should now addresse himselfe into Germany when the Duke of Britaine shewed so small affection to peace as he seemd altogether desirous of warre attending but for opportunity to discouer his intention When they had long varied in opinions some thinking such indignity was in no wise to be taken at so meane a Lords hands as the Duke of Gelders that the King now in his youth was to be enured to armes others opposing against this counsell the present state of the kingdome the charge of the warres and the fiercenesse of the Germanes at length it was agreed to contemne the Duke of Gelders as a young man whom rather heate of youth then any aduised iudgement had moued to that action and if he proceeded to make warres as he had threatned that then it should be more honour for the king to aduance his forces against him But by all means it was thought necessarie to fall to agrement with the Duke of Britaine For he as we said before seemed openly to practise with the King of England and already certaine English ships scowred the Seas betweene Normandy and Britaine which notwithstanding they did no harme to Fraunce yet because they still houeâ—ed about that coast the French men alwaies mistrusted the worst For these causes many thought it the fittest course by warr to chastize the Dukes presumption But the Kings Vncles and some others of sadder discretion who alwaies held the successe of warre vncertaine were of a contrary opinion For it was easie to coniecture that the warres with England would be renewed vppon this occasion which was the onely thing that the Duke of Britaine desired Commissioners were therefore directed vnto him to make a peaceable conclusion of the matter Whereof the Duke beeing informed before their comming consulted of his affaires at large His counsell with weighty reasons perswaded him that hee should desist from his course and restrayning his affections submitte himselfe to the French King whose puissance was such as hee had restored great Lords yea and Princes to their honour and estates and had driuen others againe to whome he bare displeasure out of their seigniories and dominions Therefore their best aduise was that he should of his owne accord restore againe to the Constable the castles which he had lately taken from him For it would be more honourable for him to deliuer them now willingly then hereafter
to their enemies in regard of their great number but rather suffer them quietly to encampe and settle themselues before the Citty for it was strong ynough to abide the violence of their siege for a long season Therefore let their enemies roast themselues abroad in the heate of the scorching sunne beames whilst they being fenced from the iniury of the weather with houses and shadowy places rested at their ease within the Citty For it would come to passe that when their prouision by little and little was consumed themselues tormented with heate and tyred with a thousand other discommodities they would get home againe without speeding of their purpose The olde mans counsell was well liked and the citty being besieged both by sea and land many light skirmishes were daily interchanged The Barbarians sent an Ambassador desiring to knowe for what causes this warre was mooued against them The French men made answere that the chiefe reason was because their forefathers had put the Sauiour of the world to a shameful death for that they excluded baptisme were blasphemers of God and spake vnreuerently of the holy Virgine mother of Christ these were the occasions why they bent their forces against them as the common enemies of christendome This answer seemed but a mockery to the Moores so farre were they from any thoght of misliking their religion The Sicillians and other countries neere adioyning brought corne wine and other prouision aboundantly into the campe of the besiegers But by reason of the hotenesse of those countrey wines and the extreame intemperatenesse of the ayre it could not be otherwise but that very many fell into most dangerous diseases Amongst these inconueniences the duke of Burbon now altogether out of season beeing haughty prowde and cruell and such a one as no man almost might presume into his presence would remitte no parte of his seueritie insomuch that through his default shewing himselfe alwaies rough and intractable many notable exploits were omitted After two moneths siege when they had bestowed all their labour in vaine virtaile waxing scant and scarcitie being feared because the winter approched and their watching grew painefull for the Barbarians did continually molest them in the night the pestilence being also mistrusted to hang ouer their heads most were of opinion that the best course was to dissolue the army This also was another thing which they suspected that the Genowayes perhaps might fall to agreement with their enemies and ther was already such a rumor spread through al the camp Vpon these considerations therefore the French men raysing their siege which greatly displesed the Genowais addressed themselues homeward Wherupon the Barbarians resuming greater courage began to conceiue large hopes and to promise themselues the performance of great matters heereafter And that they might be able to repulse their enemies with greater force another time they ioyned in league with the Princes that bordered about them Iohn king of Spaine within two yeares after his sonne had married the duke of Lancasters daughter departed this life leauing the succession of the Crowne to Henry his sonne Moreouer at such time as the marriage was concluded this also was one couenant betwixt them That the King of Spaine should yearely pay to the Duke of Lancaster and his wife a hundred thousand crownes and for assurance therof should deliuer as pledges foure of the chiefe Earles of his kingdome Galeas duke of Millaine surprized his vncle Barnabas by treason and put him to death The sonne of this Barnabas tooke to wife the Earle of Arminackes sister And Lewis duke of Orleance brother to King Charles the sixt had maried Valentine the daughter of Galeas Now the Earle of Arminacke vpon the incessant importunity of his sister assembled an army of the companions in France and leading them into Italy layd siege to Alexandria a towne pertaining to the Dutchy of Millaine Galeas who soiourned the same time at Pauy sent thither fiue hundred horsemen to lie there in garrison for his enemies were not then of so great number that they could enuiron the towne round about The Captaine of those horsemen being a skilfull man of armes after he had laine a while at Alexandria issued forth one day with 300. horse to draw his enemies to some disaduantage for he knew well they would proffer some skirmish to the townes-men Therfore at his going out he gaue commandement that in their fight they should retire from the enemy and suffer him to pursue them till they had drawne him within compasse of their danger He was nothing deceiued in his opinion for as they were skirmishing after their ordinary maner the townesmen gaue backe till they came to the place where their fellowes lay in ambush who incontinently brake foorth with great violence The French men thus vnexpectedly engaged behaued themselues with great courage and valour but being ouerwearied with trauell and faint with heate of the Sunne they were vnable to sustaine the reviewed force and fury of their enemies The Earle himselfe hauing gotten out of the preasse to take ayre found a brooke there by whereof he drunke so aboundantly that he was sodainely taken with such a sicknesse as both presently bereft him of his speech and within few houres after of his life His souldiers by this means discouraged made as much haste as they could to get themselues out of Italy But many of them being intercepted slaine in their passage the rest when they came to the confines of Fraunce were by the Kings commaundement prohibited to enter The Duke of Britaine who had larely beene at Paris and done his homage according to the custome being vnable to change the disposition of his nature though he had bin oftentimes reconciled to the French King yet in his heart he could not choose but hate him and loue the King of England At such time as this attonement was made at Paris hee promised from thencefoorth to become a Clementine But assoone as hee was returned into his owne countrey hee performed nothing lesse And when the Kings Officers were sent vnto him hee would not admit them to his presence carying himselfe altogether in such a fashion as it might plainely appeare hee sought new occasions of warre and contention Many counselled the King to leuie armes against him to abate his pride and arrogancie which was in tollerable But the Kings vncles and especially the Duke of Burgoigne whose wife was the Duke of Britaines kinswoman employed their trauell to this effect that a day certaine might be assigned for communication So a meeting was had at Tours and certaine pointes were there rehearsed wherein the Duke might seeme to haue contemned the kings authority The Duke answered respectiuely to euery of them and sharpely enough glauncing couertly somtimes at certaine persons of base linage in the Court vpon whose counsell and opinions the King much depended Such difference and alteration was about the matter that it seemed not likely to be otherwise ended than by
thousand and marched directly against them When the French men had intelligence thereof they practised a deuise as the time then serued not vnfitting for their purpose Entring all into a wood they sent about some hundreth horsemen to entice the Turkes out of their strength where they lay at the defence of a certaine passage to come foorth and skirmish with them The Turkes supposing there had bin no more of their ennemies than they sawe issued presently out against them and the French men purposely retired vntill such time as they had drawne them to the wood within compasse of their ambush which sodainely brake foorth and inuaded them on all sides By this meanes the Turkes being intercepted and cut off as well by those that freshly assailed them as by the other which before made countenaunce to flie but now turned furiously vppon them were slaine to the number of fifteene thousand and the rest hardly saued themselues by flight Basan the Turkish king howsoeuer hee seemed slacke in his affaires yet had he perfect intelligence of all his enemies proceedings For hee was continually certified thereof by Galeas Duke of Millaine with whome he had great entercourse of friendship Therefore hee assembled a huge army the Souldan of Babylon the Medes and the King of Persia sending great forces to aide him Concerning the Duke of Millaine ye shall vnderstand that there were sometimes three brothers Manfred Galeas and Barnabas The vncle of these was Archbishop of Millaine Lewis of Bauier being elected Emperour when he could not obtaine his confirmation from the Pope went to Rome and there of his owne authority creating another Pope and certaine Cardinalles was by him inuested in his imperiall dignity and afterward permitted his souldiers to take the payment of their wages out of the spoyle of the Citty Charles King of Bohemia the Sonne of Henry of Lutzemburge was created Emperour against this Lewis Which Charles coÌ„ming newly into Italy from Aquisgraue where he had receiued his coÌ„secratioÌ„ of the Pope this Archbishop of Millaine entertayned him with great curtesie and did him all the honour he could lending him mony also at his departure to the sum of an hundred thousand crownes The Emperour in consideration hereof and to shew his gratefull mind created the Archbishop Vicount of Millaine and gaue to him and to his nephews after him all that seigniory to hold and enioy the same till such time as the Emperour should redeeme it againe by repaiment of the whole sum which he had borrowed After the Archbishops death Manfred his eldest nephew by the Emperours consentand good liking succeeded in the seigniory of Millaine But his brothers for enuy dispatched him out of the way concluding with themselues to seize vppon his estate and afterward to confirme their authority by alliance in marriage with other Princes So when they had â—idde their elder brother of his life they made equall partitioÌ„ between them and rayned puissantly by force and policy Galeas in regard he was the elder had tenne townes and Barnabas had nine Millaine it selfe was indifferently allotted to them both the one to haue it one yeare and the other another by turnes They leuyed subsidies and taxes of their people from time to time by most vniust and violent meanes Such fortresses as either of them held they furninished with Garrisons of forraine souldiers of all nations but their own whome they principally distrusted Through compulsion and rigour they kept the people in great awe and subiection exacting most cruell punishment vpon such as stirred neuer so little against them to the intent to terrify others by their example They purchased the alliance of Princes with great summes of mony Galeas paid to the Earle of Sauoy whose sister he married an 100000 crowns This Galeas had like wise a sonne of his own name that marryed the daughter of Iohn King of Fraunce who in consideration hereof departed with six hundred thousand frankes towards the payment of his father in lawes ransome to the King of England Valentine the daughter of this younger Galeas was marryed to Lewis Duke of Orleans brother to the French King Charles the sixt but her father first paied to him that should be his sonne in law tenne hundred thousand franks surely a wonderfull summe of mony with part whereof the Earledome of Bloys was purchased as we haue heretofore declared Betweene the two brothers there was no contention as long as they liued together But the younger Galeas after his fathers deceasse surprised his vncle Barnabas by treason and slew him One of this Barnabas daughters was married to Stephon Duke of Bauier and brought forth a daughter named Isabell who afterward became the wife of Charles King of Fraunce as is mentioned in this history already Galeas hauing thus trecherously slaine his vncle was not so contented but persecuted euen his childrens children and all their generation seizing into his hands all their goods and possessions Also he burthened the people with grieuous and continuall exactions Besides this he held a wicked and vnreuerent opinion concerning the Godhead So he might enrich himselfe and aduance his authority he regarded not by what means it were effected Amongst other precepts of good doctrine wherewith he was plentifully instructed he was also mis-led in this opinion and tooke it as hereditary from his ancestors vtterly ro despise the Popes authority and to reioyce exceedingly when any dissention happened in the church Now the Duke of Orleance wife being a very ambitious woman was not a little faine and desirous that her husband might attaine to the Crowne by what meanes shee did not greatly regard Herevppon many suspected that the kings mind had beene all this while enchaunted by her witch-craft The ground of the suspition grew vppon this occasion Shee had a Sonne by her husband a fayre young child much about the age of the Dolphin As these two children were sporting together in a chamber a poysoned appell was cast in amongst them on that side where the kings sonne was but the child which may seeme a wonder refused to meddle withall Then the other when no body perceiued him caught it vp and within a little while after he had eaten of it through the violent operation of the poyson yeelded vp the ghost The report hereof was presently carried to the Court and soone dispersed ouer all the country This also was another thing which encreased the suspition that during all the time of the Kings sicknes he would endure neyther the Queene nor any other woman to come about him but only this Duchesse of Orleans By these occasions mens minds being meruailously incensed shee was conueyed from the Court to a certaine castle not farre from Paris and there restrayned of her liberty Besides her husband conceiued great displeasure against her about the death of his sonne When Galeas of Millaine vnderstood how his daughter was entreated he was highly offended and sent ambassadours forthwith into Fraunce where they found nothing
with this calamity For entring into a deepe consideration with himselfe how hee had alwayes heeretofore beene very fortunate in warrelike affaires and now hauing receiued so great a charge from a mighty prince could not hold his place and execute his office for the enuy of his aduersary but was brought in danger of his life through another mans rashnesse in a barbarous countrey with the losse and slaughter of a great number of his friendes vppon the conceit heereof he died for sorrowe To the like end also came the party that by his folly and indiscretion drew so many thousand people and so many honourable personages into destruction and extreame miserie The Duke of Burgoigne to the intent to redeeme his sonne and the rest of his fellow prisoners from captiuitie dealt with the Merchants of Venice which trauell into all parts of the world for commodities that ioyning with the other Ambassadors sent by the French King they shoulde compound with the Turkes for their ransome The composition which they made was to this effect that the Lords and Gentlemen that remayned prisoners to the number of fiue and twenty should pay for their ransome two hundred thousand crownes and for this summe the Merchants became sureties From that time forth Basam beganne to vse the French men more curteously than he had done and at their departure taking occasion to speake to the Duke of Burgoignes sonne I perceiue saide he that thou arte descended of high and noble parentage liuest in great expectation of honour it can not be but a great griefe and oppression to thy minde thus in the flower of thy youth to be subiected to this misfortune for recouery of which disgrace and to put away the sad remembraunce of this aduenture perhappes thou wilt one day come in battell against me againe And although by the lawe of armes I haue now power to binde both thee and thy fellowes from euer bearing armes against mee heereafter yet will I not doe it but freely giue leaue both to thee and the rest that being returned into your countries yee shall assemble your vttermost forces and make warres vpon me againe whensoeuer ye are disposed For I am of that courage and puissaunce and withall so confident in my fortunes as I dread not the power of any enemy whatsoeuer And this that I speake thou mayest boldely make report to whome thou thinkest good in my name Soone after the French men being discharged sailed with the Venetians to Rhodes and departing from thence after a long and trouble some passage at length arriued safely at Venice During the time they soiourned there the King of Hungary sent a messenger to congratulate their deliuerance signifying how much he reioyced at their happy enlargement withall how hee vnderstoode they were to pay a great masse of money for their ransome and he heartily wished his estate were such that he were able to supply their defect therof in such plentifull manner as he desired But as now by reason of the late vnfortunate ouerthrow hee was much impouerished and the yearely reuenues of his Crowne not a little impayred Neuerthelesse for some testimony of his good affection whereas the State of Venice was to pay him yearely seauen thousand crownes hee had giuen commission to his messengers to sell that annuity and the money rising thereof to bestow vpon them towards the furnishing of their wants and maintenance of their necessary expences The French men thankefully accepted this kindnesse but the Venetians answered subtilly and vncertainely to the matter and there were some that suspected it was handled in such sort of set purpose between them and the ambassadors of Hungary The Duke of Burgoigne obtayning a friendly beneuolence of his people not without helpe of the French kings liberalitie discharged his credite with the Merchants His sonne being returned into Fraunce made a large relation to the king of such things as he had obserued through the whole course of his voyage in conclusion adding thus much how it was not vnknowne to the Turkes that thorow the ciuill dissention of the Popes the generall quiet not onely of the Church but also of all Christendome was disturbed and that it seemed a wonder to them how euer Kings and Princes could suffer such licentious libertie and vnbridled ambition of one or two persons to remaine vncontrolled The kings mind was exceedingly moued with this discourse so as from that time forward he intended to the establishing of peace more earnestly than euer before The Duke of Gloucester being altogether of a turbulent and feditious nature was not alittle angrie and discontented in his minde that so many yeares truce was taken betweene the two Kings who were now so linked and vnited together by marriage as there was no other expectation but that a finall peace should be concluded betwixt them Heereùpon he caused seditious rumors to be spread abroade and such as imported danger to the Kings person whome hee had now purposed in his mind to put besides the gouernement of the kingdome And knowing himselfe to be in great fauour and authority with the Londoners hee perswaded them that from thencefoorth they should refuse the payment of the taxe which was imposed vppon all kindes of merchandise certaine yeares since for maintenaunce of the warres and defence of the Countrey seeing now all was quiet againe and a truce taken with the enemy for such kinde of exactions hee saide were vniust and contrary to reason The people by petition mooued this matter to the King who referred his answer till the Parliament at Westminster which being come the Duke of Lancaster made publike declaration of the Kings minde in such sort as they were all well pacified for that time and departed without further trouble Not long after the earle of Saint Paule sent from the French king to visite the new married Queene arriued at the Court of England who vnderstanding of the Duke of Gloucesters treacherous practises exhorted the King to prouide a timely remedie for such inconueniences After his departure a generall brute was raised that the king would restore Calice to the French men and that hee had already concluded vpon the matter with the earle whome the French king had sent Ambassadour for the same purpose There was not any thing whatsoeuer that could more vehemently haue in censed all England against the King than this And the Duke of Gloucester taking occasion hereat perswaded the people that they should expostulate the matter with the king to know certainely his intention The king answered in such sort as any sound and indifferent iudgement might well haue been satisfied and easily haue seene that this rumour was meerely contriued by enuie and detraction These false reportes and malitious suggestions greatly troubled the kings mind and when hee vnderstoode that his vncle aspired to the Crowne and studied how to bring his purpose to effect not without bewayling the present state of his countrey he asked counsell
his people the Archbishop of Canterbury by generall consent of the State was addressed to the Erle of Derby to bring him againe into England vpon most assured hope and expectation of the Crowne The Bishop vndertooke and perfourmed this charge so secretly that none knew of his going saue those that were interessed in the action and when he came into Fraunce not any man there could coniecture the true cause of his comming The Earle of Derby politikely dissembling the matter requested leaue of the French King to goe into Britaine to visite the Duke with whome he made no long tarriance but tooke shipping and within few dayes after arriued in England By reason of the Archbishops presence and authoritie hee found no interruption in his passage but trauelled along towards London And when they approched neare the citty they sent a messenger before to giue notice of their comming At which tidings the Cittizens sodainely surprised with ioy came flocking out of the gates in great companies to welcome the Earle from thencefoorth couenaunting to receiue him for King of England Soone after a certaine number well appointed were sent foorth against king Richard to apprehend him and bring him to London Many of the Kings followers when they vnderstood of the Londoners comming soone changed their seruice and chose them new Masters At first the King made some shew of resistance but seeing his people forsake him by counsell of his friends hee retired into the castle of Flint When the Earle drewnigh accompanied with some two hundreth men and the rest of his army following after he approched the Castle gate and sent word to the king how he required to speake with him wherevpon himselfe onely and twelue more were admitted entraunce As soone as hee sawe the King without yeelding him any reuerence Sir saide he you must this day prepare towardes London for so the people are fully purposed What should hee doe in this distresse Being destitute of succour and beholding his enemies forces before his face to escape the fury of the people he yeelded him selfe to the Earles mercie As they carried him towardes London he requested one thing very earnestly which was that hee might not be led through the Citty His request was graunted but the people much offended As soone as he came thither he was conueyed to prison New officers and seruants were placed about the Queene and other Ladies and Gentlewomen appointed to attend her all the French being dismissed and sent home into their countrey The Earle hauing brought his matters to this passe the first thing hee did hee recalled the Earle of Warwicke and certaine others that were banished And shortly after hee caused to be beheaded foure of the chiefe that had bin about King Richard by whose counsell hee confessed himselfe to haue been principally ruled in those matters which were obiected against him They were drawne to their execution vnder the prospect of his windowe of purpose that he might see them The Lords that accompanied him in prison bewailed their miserable estates and the King himselfe with the consideration of his heauie misfortune burst foorth into aboundaunce of teares and with bitter sighes cursed the day and houre that euer hee was borne to come to such an end as now entred into his cogitation He was perswaded by his partners in misery that to appease his aduersary and to purchase the assuraunce of his owne safety and such as were about him hee should renounce his royall state and dignity Herevpon he required to haue communication with the Earle to whome when hee had declared his mind after the acceptance of his offer the Erle fell into a bitter reproofe of his former life making a large repetition of his offences and besides vpbrayded him with bastardy for many reported that he was begotten by a Priest Within few dayes after King Richard in open assembly of the Lordes at the Tower of London with all ceremonies and solemnities incident to such occasions resigned the Crowne and Scepter with all his right and interest in the kingdome to Henry of Lancaster reducing himselfe into a priuate estate without assurance of his life after he had raigned two and twenty yeares This alteration of the State in England so troubled the French King that hee fell againe into his olde disease But the Counsaile of Fraunce sent certaine Ambassadors to visite the Queene his daughter and to vnderstand in what state shee remained The Duke of Burbon was likewise sent into the country of Burdeloys which seigniory since King Richard to whome the people in those partes were wonderfully affected was fallen into this calamity the French men went about to recouer againe to themselues But when the chiefe of the Citties had propounded the matter to the Commons they could not preuaile For the people feared much to be oppressed againe with the often taxes and â—allages which they had endured of olde tâ—me vnder the French men Certaine great Lords of England had secretly conspired against Henry their new King but their practise being discouered they were all put to death The French King raising a puissant army determined to haue inuaded England But it hapned about the same time that King Richard ended his life at London My Authour reporteth that he could not learne certainly by what means he came to his death but that Henry the late crowned king was incessantly called vpon by the people to dispatch him out of the way because otherwise the realme should neuer want matter of trouble and dissention Neuerthelesse he addeth further that the King in regarde hee had giuen him a faithfull promise of his life would not condiscend to their requests Now when the matters betweene Fraunce and England seemed thus to tend toward a sorrow full issue by mediation of good men a truce was obtained and confirmed for sixe and twenty yeares The French men were the rather inclined to peace by reason of their Kings infirmitie Mention hath beene made of the earle Marshall of England banished by king Richard vpon occasion of his quarrell with the Earle of Derby As soone as he vnderstoode that Henry of Lancaster had obtained the Crâ—wnâ—e and that King Richard was dead hee conceiued so great griefe and displeasure therevppon that incontinently he fell sicke and died at Venice Moreouer Pope Benedict because that after so many advertisements he would not incline to the will of the Princes was depriued of his honor and Pontificall dignitie Her name was Isabell 1326. Robert of Artoys commeth into England and the occasion of his coÌ„ming Cambray besieged King Edward taketh vppon him the title of Fraunce Tournay besieged A truce taken for twelue moneths Prolonged for twelue moneths more The occasion of the warres in Britaine Charles of Bloys Durham take sacked by the Scottish 1342. The gallant carriage and warlike behauiour of the Lady Mountfort Vannes wone by the English Recouered againe by the French The death of Robert of Artoys 1343. A truce