won't feed the Sheep thô Odoricus * An. 1330. n. 40. Rainaldus says he intended all this for the Holy War. But whatever this his Avarice brought him to after Death 't is certain his Successor Pope Benedict made no ill use of that ill gotten Treasure but kept great Hospitality and bestowed much in Magnificent Buildings and Design'd many Great and Worthy Matters indeed some whereof took no Effect thô a special Occasion seem'd to be offer'd now at this time by the coming of the King of France and those with him Upon their first Arrival his Holiness and the College of Cardinals Received them with much Honour and Respect appointing for them all according to their Quality convenient Lodgings at Villeneufe without the Town After whom within few days came thither f Vict. rellus James 1 Vol. p. 871. sed Pedro apud Frois Alphonso Rainald ad Baron 1335. n. 39. recte Alphonso King of Aragon also as well on the same Design with the others as to require the Popes Assistance in the adjusting of Matters between James King of Majorica and himself relating to Sardinia and Corsica for * Victorellus ibid. which Received on the Conditions which Pope Boniface the VIII had imposed he had by his Ambassadors done Homage to Pope Innocent Predecessor to this Benedict While these Great Personages remain'd thus at Avignion Highly Honoured and Entertain'd by the Court of Rome tidings came that in Granada Prussia Palestine Armenia and Greece the Enemies of God became strong that the Africans and Saracens of Granada infested Spain the Turks Grecia the Egyptians and Babylonians Armenia that Orchanes especially and his Captains had Wonderfull Success against Christianity that well nigh all the Realm of g Rascia vulgò le Rasce pars Regni Hungariae late sumpti c. Rascia was overrun by the Infidels and that the King thereof being a Christian was by them most Barbarously Martyr'd and put to Death These News greatly Afflicted the Hearts of all those Christian Worthies insomuch that the Pope himself on the Good-Fryday following Preached before the Kings and Princes a Passion-Sermon with much Devotion Wherein after he had most feelingly set forth the Wonderfull Condescention of our Lord Jesus for our Sakes the unspeakable Extremity of the Pains he underwent for us and at last even Death it self a most bitter and Ignominious Death the Memory whereof was continually with most sorrowfull Compunction Recorded by all good Christians in especial Manner on that day after this and more to the like Purpose he earnestly Exhorted his Royal Auditory in Pious Gratitude for all these transcending Benefits to adventure now something for their Gracious Lord and Masters Sake with Christian Courage to undertake his Battles and with the Hazard of their Frail Bodies to oppose the Enemies of his most Holy Religion the Blasphemers of his Great and Glorious Name To all which he added the Examples of many Christian Princes their Predecessors the Everlasting Renown that would recommend their Names to Posterity the Great Rewards they would purchase thereby as here an Absolution from all their Sins and in the end an Eternal Weight of Glory All the Princes but especially King Philip were sensibly moved by this Pious and Eloquent Harangue which was insinuated with very Pathetical Applications exaggerated with many Figurative Expressions Illustrated with much Copiousness of Language and Variety of Historical Instances but above all deliver'd with so much Zeal and shining with so much Truth and Sincerity that it easily made way into the very Souls of those who came before with a good Affection to the Cause So that what thrô Pity joyn'd with Royal Courage what thrô the Hopes of worldly Honour and Eternal Felicity what thrô the Confidence of sufficient Assistance and the Feasability of the Matter first of all King Philip Bravely professes himself a Champion of Christ and Vows to take upon him the Croisade Especially having consider'd in his Mind that long since this same Matter had busied his Thoughts thô he could never absolutely fix upon it till now for want of sufficient Motives and Leisure from other Affairs His Holiness highly Applauded this Heroick Resolution and besides a Liberal Assistance in Money promised to all the Undertakers a Plenary Indulgence and full Absolution ab omni poenâ culpâ From which Encouragement and the Example of so great a King were moved to the same Resolution John K. of Bohemia Philip King of Navarre Alphonso King of Aragon and many Dukes Earls Barons Knights and Esquires with four Cardinals h Victorell p. 880. Talayrand Earl of Perigort Cardinal of St. Peter ad Vincula titulo Eudoxiae Prior of the Priests Neapoleo Cardinal of St. Adrian Prior of the Deacons Gauceline Bishop Cardinal of Alby a City of Gallia Narbonensis and Bertrand de le Puy Bishop of i Lloyds Peet Diction tit Ostia Ostia which latter by right is Senior Cardinal and is by his Place to Crown the Popes of Rome Presently hereupon was the Croisade published thrô all Christendom whereat as many as were truly Pious or Valiant rejoyced Highly those supposing Religion would be much Advanced thereby and these hoping to purchase Immortal Honour by their Deeds of Arms and Noble Chevalry The whole business therefore being thus thoroughly agreed on at Avignion the Kings and the other Grandees having taken their leave went their ways to provide for this Weighty Affair King k Frois ibid. Philip went along with the King of Aragon as far as Monpellier at which place he tarried a while till he had made a full Reconciliation and Peace between the King of Aragon and the King of Majorica After which Christian Work he returned by small journeys but with great Expence into France visiting his Towns and Castles as he went thrô Auvergne Berry Beausse and Gastinois till he came to Paris where he was Received with Great Triumphs and Feastings At that time the Kingdom of France was very Puissant and Flourishing with Nobility Gentry and good Men of War as also with much Plenty and Riches the Consequences of a long Peace and Prosperity But besides this the Pope gave that King a Large Assistance in Money and promised much more but especially he Granted him a l Knighton p. 2567. Tenth of his own Subjects for m Victorell 1 Vol. p. 865. §. c. six Years to come towards this intended War Such was the Policy of Popes whereby they came by Degrees to so great Authority over Princes for first they granted things gratefull to them Kings being willing to connive at these their Encroachments which were so profitable to themselves and afterwards they pleaded prescription to dispose Matters as well against as with the Pleasure of Christian Monarchs King Philip indeed gave his Oath to his Holiness not to put these sexennial Tythes to any other use except that of this Holy War Thô afterwards he either forgot or dispensed with this Oath
at the East-end of his Cathedral toward the North At whose Feet there lies his Brother Sr. Robert who was a Great Souldier in his time and also a Son of Sr. Robert's Named Bartholomew There died also this Year two Famous Old Barons of England the a Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 639. One was Hugh Courtney Senior Earl of Devonshire of almost 90 Years of Age who left behind him his Son and Heir of the same Name then about Thirty three Years Old. The Other was the * Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 52. Lord Henry Vicount Beaumont Earl of Buquhan in Scotland He left behind him John his Son and Heir then Twenty two Years of Age and a young Daughter Named Elizabeth afterwards Married to Sr. Nicolas Audley Son and Heir to the Lord James Audley of Heley Besides these two there Died about the same Time at Gaunt in the Kings Service the Lord Chief Justice of England Sr. Geoffry Scroop He had been very Loyal to King Edward the Second as appeared by the joynt Testimonies of the Prelates Earls and Barons in b Pat. 1. Ed. 3. p. 1. m. 22. Parliament whereupon he Obtain'd much Grace with King Edward the Third whom he also Served till his Death with Indefatigable Industry Admirable Discretion and Untainted Loyalty In Consideration whereof among other Princely Favours bestow'd on him we find that the King Advanced him to the Degree of a c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 658. Knight Banneret with a Gift of two Hundred Marks per annum for his better Support and that but this very Year he d Stow's Survey Lond. p. 249. gave unto him the Great House call'd the Erbar by the Church of St. Mary Bothaw near Dowgate-Street in London He lest behind him together with a Good Name and a Plentifull Estate Henry his Son and Heir at that Time Twenty five Years of Age who prov'd a Valiant and Noble Knight in his Days and John a Younger Son who many Years after Married Elizabeth one of the Daughters and Coheirs of David Strabolgi Son to David Earl of Athol slain in Scotland five Years before We shall conclude this Chapter with a short Relation of a most signal Victory obtain'd this Year on the 30 of October over the Saracens Moors and Africans in Spain In the foregoing Year e Câ—â—â—â—n Victorell de PP Reman p. 884. p. 887. Alphonso XI King of Castille and Leon being hardly put to it by the Barbarians begg'd aid of the Pope and all the Great Princes of Christendom From France and England went but few or none because of the Wars then hot between the two Realms But from other Parts many gallant Knights and Gentlemen went against those Enemies of God being especially encouraged thereto by the Pope's Bulls wherein he granted large Indulgences to those who undertook this Expedition Alphonso therefore being now reinforced with a small but well-compacted Army and joyned with his Neighbour Alphonso the Brave King of Portugall gave Battle to the Moors in the Plains of Tartessos vulgarly called Tariffa from a Town of that Name in the Boetic Province which enclines to the River called Rio Salado near the Herculean Sea. The Forces of Alphonso were 35000 Foot and 14000 Horse but the Army of Allibohacen King of Morocco with those of Granada under their Miramolin and three other Kings of the Moors consisted of 600000 Foot and 80000 Horse And yet thrô the Divine Assistance the Christians wan the Day f Jos Teixera de Orig. Reg. Port. and with the Loss of no more than g Joh. Mariana l. 16 c. 7. 20 Men slew in the Fight and in the Chace above h Vasaus Hist Hisp Genebr l. 4 Chronog vid. Odâ—ric Raynal ad hunc annum §. 40. usque ad §. 56. 200000 of the Infidels besides an incredible number of Prisoners taken Thô Others reckon no less than 450000 to have fallen that Day among whom were two of the Sons of Allibohacen In Memory of which Miraculous Victory the said 30 of October hath ever since been kept as an high Festival in Spain being dedicated to the Honour of the Holy Cross which was at this time so successfully advanced against the Enemies of Christendom King Alphonso after this Exploit having first and chiefly return'd his Thanks to Almighty God now also in token of his Gratitude to the Pope sends him for a Present to Avignon out of the Spoils he had taken an 100 gallant Horses of Barbary in rich Trappings with an 100 Saracen Slaves to lead them an 100 Morisco Cimitars and an 100 Shields of Tann'd Leather plated Also 24 Military Ensignes and the Horse and Standard of King Allibohacen which he used in this War together with many rich Vessels of Gold and Silver and Jewels of great Price besides his own Horse on which he fought and his own Royal Standard which he follow'd in that Battle i Ita Literae Pontis gratulatoriae ad Alphonsum neminant John Martin Don Leyva and Pedro Didaci de Corduba the Spanish Ambassadors who brought all these Presents were received with extraordinary Pomp by the Cardinals and other Prelates at their entrance into Avignon And the next day his Holiness k Victorell ib. himself celebrated Mass and after that made a notable Sermon wherein with great Eloquence he magnifi'd the Kings Victory and exhorted all present to praise God therefore and to pray for the Kings Health and Perseverance in Prosperity And to enable him the better to maintain his Wars against the Moors he then granted unto him the Thirds of the Tithes of all his Subjects which the Kings of Spain enjoy to this Day From this happy Success of the two Alphonso's Kings of Spain and Portugal against Jutzeph King of Granada and Allibohacen King of Morocco the Pope took an Occasion to exhort our King Edward of England to dispose himself towards a l Odoric Raynald ad ann 1340. §. 55. Peace with his Rival of France that they might both unite their Forces against the general Enemies of Christendom These Letters bear Date from Avignon the xv of the Kalends of January i. e. 18 of December in the Close of this Year being the VI of his Pontificate The Copy of which Letter is to be seen in the Ecclesiastical History of Odoricus Raynaldus at this Year 1340. King Alphonso presently after this Victory lays Siege to the great Town of Algezira belonging to the Moors and lying upon the Streights of Morocco on the Frontiers of Granada Which after a long Siege was enforced at last thrô Famine to yield to the Christians Thô still the Saracens held Footing in that Kingdom till having lost the City of Granada to Ferdinando and Isabella Kings of Spain they were at last finally expelled that Kingdom by Philip III. Because we may not disturb the intended Order of our Discourse which follows in the next Chapter we take leave in this place to tell the Reader that the Fruitfull Young Queen of
Villant p. 862. l. 12. c. 53. September he went from Dort in Holland with a great Fleet of Valiant Souldiers gather'd from Hainalt Flanders Brabant Holland Guelderland and Juliers to take Revenge of his Rebells of Friseland For he claimed to be Lord thereof and it was indeed his by Right if the Frisons had not been of Barbarous and Unreasonable Principles But here at last it was his ill Fortune to be met by the Frisons in a narrow passage near Staveren where being unknown he was presently slain before any of his Friends could come up to his Assistance He was a Prince of high Merit and a most Famous Souldier whereof for the short time he lived u Tâ—â—e's stcrehouse p. 721. he gave many good Testimonies in his Wars against the Saracens and Moors in the Kingdom of Granada and against the French in the behalf of his Brother in Law the King of England also in his Victories in Lithuania and Livonia and against the Russian Infidels where he loaded himself with Honour and his Men with spoil and booty Lastly in his Conquest of Vtrecht and his frequent Victories over the Frisons till this unhappy encounter wherein he lost his Life He died without Issue whereupon he was succeeded by his Eldest Sister Margaret the Empress whose Son William of Bavaria was Earl after her Decease Which William Married the Lady Mathilda Daughter to Henry Plantagenet now Earl but then Duke of Lancaster by whom yet he had no Issue There was slain at the same time with this Young Valorous Earl of Hainalt his Sisters Son William x Giov. Villani p. 862. c. Marquess of Juliers and Earl of Cambridge a Lord of great Power and Valour and while he lived a sure Friend both to him and King Edward His Uncle Sr. John of Hainalt Lord of Beaumont was y Frois c. 116. not in Friseland at the time of this woefull chance but soon after coming thither when he was told of the Death of his Nephew he rag'd like a Man distracted and would immediately have taken the Field against the Frisons But he was hinder'd by his servants and especially Sr. Robert Gluves who was his Armour-bearer and by a Dutifull Violence forced him into his Ship against his Will. So he return'd into Holland with a small Company and came to St. Geertruydenberg where he found the Young Lady his Niece late Wife to the said Earl named Joan the Duke of Brabant's Eldest Daughter who being informed of this heavy loss went and lived disconsolate in the Land of Binche about three Leagues Eastward of Mons z Vid. c. 10. §. 6. p. 114. which had been assign'd her for her Dowry The Government of Hainalt was menag'd by the Lord John till the Empress Margaret his Niece came thither to take Possession in her own Person VIII After this News was spread abroad in France King Philip whom it became to be vigilant about this own Advantage began to think how he might bring over the Lord John of Hainalt to his Side now the Earl was dead with whom since his Invasion of his Lands he could never have hopes of Reconciliation But the Lord John's Resentments he knew were not so deep wherefore he spake to Guy Earl of Blois who had married the Lord John's Daughter and had by her three Sons Lewis John and Guy besides the Lord Charles whom he had by a former Venter to use his Interest with him to bring him over to the French Side and he himself also by his Royal Letters assured unto him greater Revenues in France than he had in England which he promised to assign unto him in Lands where he should think best himself But to all these Arguments the Noble Lord was wholly Deaf for he consider'd that he had spent all the slower of his Youth in the King of Englands Service and ever found great Favour and Love from him wherefore now he had no mind to leave him When the Earl of Blois saw there was no sixing on him this way he resolved to try another and first to win the Lord of Saginelles his Chief Companion and Counsellour and so by his means to work further upon the Lord of Beaumont This Man being soon gain'd as one that had no such Obligation to England it was agreed between him and the Earl of Blâ—is to make the Lord John believe that King Edward would no longer pay him his usual Pension but had absolutely refus'd upon Demand to pay it to his Use as he had been wont This Device took for the Lord John without enquiring into the Bottom of it was so displeas'd at this supposed Unkindness that he forthwith renounced his Service and Good-will which hitherto he had born to King Edward The French King hearing hereof sent immediately sufficient Deputies to him and chose him of his Council and retained him in his Service for War at certain Wages assigning him moreover in France as much Land or more than he had in England But to require the Loss of these four Friends of King Edward's Earl William his Uncle John the Marquess of Juliers and Jacob van Arteveld about a Frois c. 114. this very time came over to his Side the Couragious and Politick Lord Godfry of Harcourt Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother to John Earl of Harcourt He had been once as Dear to King Philip of France as any Lord of his whole Realm but on b Fabian p 271. Occasion of a Quarrel between his Brother and Sr. Robert Bertram Marshal of France which was hugely fomented by Partakers on both Sides he so greatly displeased King Philip that if he could have got him into his Power 't was concluded he had found no better usage than the Lord Clysson had done before But he having timely Notice from his Friends withdrew into Brabant to the Duke his Cousin by whom when all his Lands were seised on by King Philip he was advised to go into England and proffer his Service to the King there He did so and was welcome to the King who received him with large Demonstrations of Good-will and made much use of him in his following Wars And this Displeasure of his cost the Realm of France dearly especially the Dukedom of Normandy for there the sad Effects thereof were seen an hundred years after IX In the Close of the foregoing Year it may be remembred c c. 22. §. 1â— p. 312. how we spake of the Deliverance of John Earl of Montford who claim'd the Dukedom of Bretagne from Prison And that by Vertue of the Truce King Philip was obliged in a manner to give him his Liberty but it was done with this Proviso that he d â—â—bian p. 270. should not go into Bretagne nor make the least offer to intermeddle with the Affairs of that Country Notwithstanding this Tye of his Promise Earl Montford took the first Opportunity to make his Escape into England as he did about
Inhumane and Unprincely Actions was Sirnamed The Cruel He had indeed b Rederic Sant Par. iv c. xiv §. 40 c. Vid. Marian. de Reb. Hispand 17. c. 7. many notable good Qualities and Perfections both of Body and Mind for he was Tall of Stature and of a strong and well-compacted Body of a Gracefull and Majestick Countenance and of a sharp and sound Wit He was Sweet and Persuasive of Language Affable and Judicious Able and Expert in Arms a severe Enemy to the Proud and Obstinate and especially to Thieves and Robbers on the High-way In short he had such Courage and other Endowments of Mind as set forth and adorn the Owner but cannot make him Happy without the Addition of Vertue For as to his Religion He either had none or seem'd to take no no ice of it but lived in continued Adulteries and rejected all Admonitions of his Clergy and united himself as was reported to the Moors and the Kings of Belmarine Tremisen and Granada He was always an inveterate Enemy to Pedro King of Aragon and had lately taken from him a part of his Kingdom intending at last to deprive him of the whole as indeed he had a desire to oppress all his Christian Neighbours Nay when c Oder Râ—inal ad an 1362. § 18. Ruffus Maurus King of Granada came to him under safe Conduct for Protection to his City of Sevil partly to obtain his Treasures which were reported to amount to 800000 pieces of Gold and also to gratifie his natural thirst of Blood he caused him to be carried into the Field on an Ass together with One and Fourty Moors his Servants and there he transfixed him thrô the Body with his own Lance and caused the rest of the Moors to be trod to Death by his Horsemen Moreover he had divorced and as some say caused to be dispatched his own Queen the Lady Blanche Daughter to d Philippus dicitur apud Odor Rainal ad an 1353. §. 16. Peter Duke of Bourbon and German Sister to the French Queen and to the Countess of Savoy whose Death was much bewailed by all that knew her especially those of her Family which was then one of the most Illustrious in the World. The occasion why he was so Cruel to a Lady of her Worth Youth and Beauty for she was but e Maria. de Reb. Hispan l. 17. c. 4 five and twenty when she died and once He himself lov'd her entirely is f Id. l. 16. c. 18. Innocent PP VI. Vitae Auther apud Bosq Vid. Oder Rainâ—l ad an 1353. § 16. attributed to the Enchantments of a certain Jew who at the Instigation of Don Pedro's Concubine Maria de Padilla by Magick so charmed a Rich embroidered Girdle which his Queen Blanche had given him that when he had it on it appeared both to himself and all others nothing else but a great and terrible Serpent From that time He could never endure his Queen who soon after either died for grief or as it is said was poisoned by him And thus being again at his own Dispose he took the said Maria de Padilla to Wife and made her his Queen Now this Don Pedro King of Castille and Leon had Three Bastard Brethren whom his Father Alphonso had gotten on the body of the Lady Leonora Gusman called the Ricco Drue the Eldest was named Henry Earl of Trastamare a Man who supply'd the Defect of his Birth by Vertue and an Honourable Inclination the Second was Tellius alià s Don Tello afterwards Earl of Sancelloni and the Third Sancho When these Three Brethren saw the many Murthers of the Prime Nobility perpetrated by the King their Brother and that he daily grew worse and how he had put to Death Three or Four of their Brethren gotten by King Alphonso on another Lady they began to doubt their own Lives and resolving to get out of his Reach fled for Protection to Pedro King of Aragon whom our Don Pedro so pursued with Bloody Wars that finding no further security there they were e'n fain to fly to the French King. Hereupon Don Pedro confiscated all their Estates and proscribed them as Traytors which prov'd an Occasion of his Ruine For now that all hope of Pardon was taken away they began to consider how by depriving him of his Life they might secure their own To which Resolution they were the more enflam'd because they heard he had lately put to Death the Lady Leonora Gusman their Mother having first caused to be burnt in her Presence a Jacobin of the Order of St. Domingo della Calcade g Favine le Parisien Theatre l'Henneur l. 6. c. 9 c. who had foretold that he himself should be slain by the hands of Henry of Castille Conde of Trastamare his Bastard Brother in Revenge of his other Brethren whom he had murdered About this time also the Prelates of Castille sent grievous Complaints to Avignon to the Pope importing that their King intended to overthrow Holy Church and had already taken away many Church Lands and Revenues and held several of the Clergy in Prison and oppressed the whole Land by Tyranny against all which they beg'd of his Holiness some Remedy And moreover having lately violated the Truce taken between him and the King of Aragon he refus'd to hearken to the Admonitions of the Pope who by his Letter bearing h Odor Rainal ad hunc ann §. 30 c. Dat. Aven Non. Februar Ano. Pontif IV. and sent unto him by William de Lynne alià s Lulimere Bishop of Chichester exhorted him earnestly to be at peace with the said King. Upon all these accounts Pope Urban being netled to the quick sent Messengers forthwith into Spain to the King citing him to appear by his Proxies in his Court there to answer what should be alledged against him and to excuse and purge himself of those horrible Matters laid to his Charge But Don Pedro in stead of bending a little for a while being full of Pride and Security not only flatly refus'd to obey this citation but also abus'd the Popes Messengers whereby he greatly incurred the Indignation of the Church and especially of the Chief Bishop thereof the Pope And in this manner he persever'd till at last i Frois c. 229. fol. 126. in the open Consistory at Avignon in the Chamber of Excommunication he was solemnly ejected from the Bosom of the Church and pronounced to be but as an Infidel And then after these Censures it was advised that he should be deposed by the Arms of the Companions who were at that time in France Hereupon the King of Aragon who was an Apparent Enemy to Don Pedro and Henry the Bastard who had little cause to be his Friend were sent for to come and confer with the Pope at Avignon Now this Henry the Bastard was a most Valiant and Couragious young Gentleman and had been many Years in France pursuing the Wars on the French Kings part with
contradict the Ordinance that was so deliberately devised by my Council By God it shall not go as he imagines let him stay at home if he will for without his 1000 Spears I trust in God to accomplish my Design with Honour Then as it usually happens when Princes are angry their servants rather than mitigate the Passion are apt to enflame it higher some English there present said Sir Don't You yet know the Minds of these Gascogners nor how proud and insolent they are and that they bear Vs but small love and never did otherwise Don't You remember how loftily they bare themselves towards You here in your City of Bourdeaux when King John of France was first brought hither For they said then and spake it plainly that by their aid alone You obtain'd that Glory in taking the French King and this they stuck too so stiffly that You was fain to treat with them for some while before they would consent that you should convey him into England But at that time you thought it convenient to comply with them thereby to keep them in Obedience At these Words the Prince held his Peace but he thought nevertheless of what he himself knew to be true This was the first occasion of Difference between the Prince of Wales and the Lord of Albret so that the said Lord was at that time in great Danger For the Prince was High and of a great Spirit and terrible in his Anger for he disdain'd not to have all Men at his Command that were his Subjects and held of him But when the Earl of Armagnat Uncle to the Lord of Albret heard of the Prince's Displeasure he made haste to Bourdeaux and together with the Lord John Chandes and the Lord Thomas Felton so wrought with the Prince that he reconcil'd him to his Nephew on condition that he should bring but 200 Spears and no more With which notwithstanding the said Lord of Albret was not fully pleased in his Mind nor the Men which he was obliged to leave behind and indeed he never after loved the Prince so heartily as he had done before But now he saw since there was no other Remedy that it was requisite for him to dissemble and conceal his trouble as well as he might But these hidden Sparks some time after brake out into such a flame as raised a Mighty Fire over all the Principality of Aquitaine which occasionally embroiled the two Realms of England and France as we shall see in due place CHAPTER the SECOND AN. DOM. 1367. An. Regni Angliae XLI The CONTENTS I. A Second Son born to the Black-Prince who was in time King of England by the Name of Richard the Second II. Prince Edward begins his March is joyn'd by the Duke of Lancaster Matters adjusted between the Prince and the King of Navarre III. The Prince passes the Pirenean Mountains the Order of his Army and the Names of his Chief Captains IV. Don Henry the Bastard prepares to oppose him and sends his Expostulation and Defiance unto him V. The Lord Thomas Felton rides before the English Army and takes Navaret The King of Navarre suffers himself to be taken Prisoner so to avoid passing with the Prince into Spain Salvatierra yield to the Prince VI. The Lord Thomas Felton beats up the Bastard's Quarters and sends Intelligence to the Prince Don Henry goes forward to meet the Prince but makes an Halt at St. Miguel The Prince expects him at Victoria VII The Earl of Sancelloni Don Henry's Brother beats up the Prince's Quarters and discomfits and takes Sr. Thomas Felton and all his Company VIII The Discourse thereupon had in the Spanish Camp. IX The Prince passes the River Ebro and sends an Answer to Don Henry's Letters X. Don Henry's Resolution XI The two Armies move forward the Order and Number of the Spaniards XII The Lord Chandos made a Banneret the Princes Prayer before the Fight The famous Battle of Najara commonly called Nazars in Spain where the Black-Prince gives the Bastard a Mighty Overthrow XIII The City of Najara taken The Time and Place of the Battle XIV The Number of the slain on both sides XV. The Prince causes Don Pedro to give a General Pardon to all his Subjects XVI Don Pedro rides to Burgos and is follow'd by the Prince where all Spain comes in and submits to her King. XVII The Prince demands his Souldiers Pay of Don Pedro who goes to Seville to raise Money but sends none XVIII The great Renown of the Black-Prince after this Victory XIX England rejoyces and France repines at the News XX. The Bastard having escaped from the Battle gets some Forces together and invades the Principality but is beat off by the Lord James Audley XXI The Black-Prince by reason of a sickness in his Army it forced to return home without his Money XXII The Bastard retires into Aragon The first Change of King Edward's Fortune XXIII The Danish Fleet beaten by the English XXIV The Death of Don Pedro the Justiceer King of Portugal I. WHile thus the Prince of Wales was busied at Bourdeaux in his Preparations for the Spanish War and daily expected the Arrival of his Brother the Duke of a Frois c. 233. f. 133. sed conser cum eodem Froi p. penult Lancaster the Beautifull Princess his Dear Consort fell in Travail on the Day of the Three Kings of Colen commonly called the Epiphany b Lit. Dom. C. Anno 1367. being the Sixth of January and as that Year went a Wednesday On which Day about the hour of c Frois tâ—tius Historiae capite ultimo Ten of the Clock in the Morning the said Princess was by the Grace of God deliver'd of a Fair Son to the great joy of the Prince and all his Court. On the Friday after at Noon he was Christen'd in the Church of St. Andrew in the City of Bourdeaux by the most Reverend Father in God Elias Archbishop of the same Place Richard Bishop d Frois c. 233. f. 133. of Agen in Agenois and James King of Majorica being his Godfathers thô e Sandford Geneal Hist p. 191 ex Walsing cum tamen is uno in loco viz. Hypod. p. 129. Richardus Rex Majoricarum alio in loco viz. Hist p. 175. Ricardus Rex Navarriorum Sed Navarrus erat Carolus Majoricae Rex Jacobus dictus ut quivis facilè intelligat some thrô mistake instead of the Bishop say it was Richard King of Navarre when 't is evident to any strict Enquirer that Charles was the King of Navarre's Name at that time and long after King Don Pedro was then at Bayonne expecting the coming of the Prince so that he could not be concerned at this Solemnity Thô f Chronica W. Thorne p. 2142. n. 16. sed ibi pro Majoricae legitur Portugalliae vid. Ashmole p. 676. Others say that this Young Prince had no less than Three Kings for his Godfathers as Pedro King of Spain Charles King of
as then they heard to be in the County of Bigorre and to have won the Town of Bagneres whereby he had done much Mischief in those Parts And the Lord Chandos told the Prince that Sr. Bertram was so belov'd by all manner of Men of War that it was not safe to let him go till Don Pedro had paid what he ow'd the Prince lest he should again embroil his Affairs as he had done before On all which accounts Sr. Bertram could not obtain to be deliver'd at this time whatsoever Ransom he offer'd and so he was obliged to be content with his Condition Now while the Prince of Wales lay at Valladolid which he did in all for about three Months even the best part of that Summer among many Hundreds others James the young King of Majorica fell dangerously ill and kept his Bed so that when the Prince was ready to depart he sent the Lord John Chandos and Sr. Hugh Calverley unto him to let him know that he was just then upon taking his leave of Spain and would be glad of his Company as one whose Interest he had promised to embrace Wherefore he should be loth to leave him behind The King of Majorica replied that he thanked the Prince most heartily but that as then he could not ride nor endure to be carried till it should please God to restore him to a better Degree of Health and Strength Then they demanded if he was willing that their Lord the Prince should leave with him any Troops to wait on him and to conduct him into Aquitain when he should be able to ride Nay surely said the King I shall never put the Noble Prince to any such unnecessary trouble for God alone knows whether ever I shall be able to ride or no. So the English Knights took their leave and returned and declared all this to the Prince who said Well then be it as it shall please God and him For Necessity calls us away from this unfortunate Country And then he took the first Opportunity to march with all his Army and went to the City called Agreda and thereabout he rested in the Vale of Soria between Aragon and Spain where he was fain to tarry a Month because he found certain Passages closed against him on the Borders of Aragon And it was reported thrô the Army that the King of Navarre who was newly released from his Imprisonment had agreed with the Bastard of Spain and the King of Aragon to hinder the Prince's Return thô there was no such Matter as it afterwards appeared However as then the Prince was the more enclin'd to believe this Report because the King of Navarre came not unto him thô he was at Liberty Whereupon he began to treat with the King of Aragon certain Commissioners on both sides meeting on the Marches for that Purpose Between whom it was at last concluded that the King of Aragon should open his Country and permit the Prince and his Army to pass thrô freely they paying courteously for what they should take up among his People After this Agreement was established the King of Navarre and Sr. Martin Carre came unto the Prince and then the King of Navarre seeing how Matters stood between the Prince and the King of Aragon shew'd all the Respect and Honour imaginable to the Prince and readily offer'd free Passage to him and his Dear Brother the Duke of Lancaster and all the Knights and Lords of England and of Gascogne but by no means would he permit the Companions to take their way thrô Navarre He said he had had enough of them already Then the Prince order'd the Companions to accept of his Agreement which he had made with the King of Aragon and to pass thrô his Country but as for Himself because he saw the Way thrô Navarre more commodious than the other he chose to go that Way and was convey'd with the rest of the Army quite thrô that Realm even beyond the Passages of Roncevaux From thence the Prince marched at his ease till he came to Baionne where he was received with great joy and tarried there four Days to refresh Himself and his Men. Then he proceeded toward Bourdeaux where he was received in Triumph being also met and welcom'd Home by his Beautifull Princess with her Eldest Son Edward who was then about Three Years of Age. Here the Prince disbanded his Army and sent the Lords and Captains of Gascogne and others to their several Homes having first declared his Obligations unto them and promised to pay them every Man punctually when he could raise Money enough even thô King Don Pedro should not keep Touch with Him For He said they should suffer no Loss however since they had served him so well and for his own Part Honour should be his Reward At the same time the Companions that went thrô Aragon came into the Principality where they had Quarters assigned them till they should be paid their Wages XXII King Henry the Bastard this mean while hearing of the Prince's Return thought it no time for him to expect any Advantage in those Parts wherefore immediately he removed with all his Men into Aragon and had his Recourse to the King of that Realm who loved him entirely and made him extream welcome There he tarried all that Winter and renewed his former Alliance with that King who promised to aid him in his War against the King his Brother and forthwith the Bretons that were with Don Henry as Sr. Arnold de Limousin Sr. Geoffry de Ricons Sr. Pontius Laquenet Sylvester Budes Eliot du Carhais Alan du St. Pol and the rest of the Bastards friends had order to go to the Frontiers of Spain and begin to make War on King Henry's behalf And thus have We ended this Great and last Expedition of the Prince of Wales I say his last For whether God Almighty was displeased with him for assisting so Wicked a Tyrant thô We shew'd before what good Grounds he went upon or whether the Sins of England being now also ripe began to call for Vengeance from this time We may be bold to period the Happiness of King Edward's Wonderfull Reign For We shall find that l Virgil. Aen. l. 2. v. 169. c. Exillo Fluere retrò sublà psa referri Spes Anglûm Fractae Vires Aversa Deûm Mens From thence the English Hopes did Ebb and fail Nor could their Fortune or their Arms prevail From this time the swelling Tide of Prosperity was found to Ebb apace the Prince of Wales begins to be sick of an Incurable Disease Prince Lionel is taken away in the Flower of his Age Queen Philippa soon after dies and King Edward who hitherto was both Glorious and Fortunate shall from this time be less Fortunate thô not one jot the less Glorious For We shall find that never any Prince contended more bravely with Froward Fortune nor ever was more Worthy to have succeeded still XXIII This Year m M.S. vet
after married the Lady Eleanora Daughter to the said Earl of Hereford Essex and Northampton and in time became Constable of England Earl of Buckingham and Duke of Gloucester The Admiral of the Fleet was the Lord Guy Brian a most expert Commander both by Sea and Land and one of the Honourable Order of the Garter With him was joyned Sr. Richard Sturry and many other Valiant Captains with a choice Number of Archers for their Defence upon Occasion Nor was all this Precaution needless thô they were neither encountred by the Fleet of France nor of Spain for since the Heiress of Flanders had been given away to Philip of Burgundy there was no good Correspondence between England and Flanders The Flemish Fleet had been at Rochell where they were laden with Wine and now in their Return homewards they called at la Baye in Bretagne where they took in vast Quantities of the best Salt the Heer van John Peterson being their Admiral The English making up to the same Port knew not at first who they were but when they saw them prepare to entertain them as Enemies they made hast to receive them couragiously So there began a fierce and terrible Medley which lasted long For b Frois ibid the Flemings were more in Number and better provided for a Battle as those who waited for such a Business thô they found here but an indifferent Mercat neither This Naval Fight endured for three Hours together in which time many Gallant Actions were performed by the valiant Men on both sides and many wounded hurt or slain For they were fastned to one another with Grâ—pling-Irons so that there was no other way but to conquer or die At last the Victory fell to the English the Heer van John Peterson the Flemish Admiral being taken Prisoner together with all that were left alive the rest being either drown'd or slain not c Jacob. Meyer ibid. a Man of them escaped one of these three Evils For the English were more than usually severe when they had the full Mastery because they had been so bold as d Walsing hist p. 182. to begin the Assault After the Fight the Earl of Hereford advised Sr. Guy Brian the Admiral to make for England as then and not expect his Return till he had reinforced the Fleet So he took land with the rest of the Commissioners at la Baye and went straight to Brest where he found the Duke of Bretagne But the Lord Guy Brian set sail for England returning with his Conquest and Prisoners above 4000 of the Enemy being slain and as many taken with 25 Ships laden with Salt and all the Wine they had taken in at Rochell XI The King of England was wonderfully pleased as this unexpected Success of his Fleet and so much the more when he heard how the Flemings had been the Aggressors and gave the first Occasion and yet were so entirely defeated The Heer van John Peterson their Admiral was sent to the Tower of London and the other Flemings bestow'd about in other places And because the King resolved by any means to pull down the Pride of those People who had thus presumed to begin a War against him e Frois Jac. Meyer ibid. he forthwith sent out a Royal Fleet against the Flemings giving strict Command to his Admiral and Viceadmiral to make sharp War upon all the Merchants of Flanders and to block up their Ports and constantly ply about the Sea called la Manche or Pas de Calais between Dover and Calais so to intercept all their Commerce with France When this was known to the Men of Gaunt Bruges and Ipres they had a Council together wherein all things consider'd they concluded it most for their Interest to remain at Peace with England and not any longer to have the Displeasure of King Edward for the sake of their Lord the Earl of Flanders who was now again wholly for the French. Wherefore all the Good Towns of Flanders having agreed in this Resolution sent Deputies sufficiently instructed into England to treat for a Peace with the King and his Council And these Deputies had such Success that they return'd with a Consummation of Peace with Flanders on certain Conditions sealed and agreed to on both Parts Thus lightly can Vulgar Minds be moved to begin a War and when they are beaten as readily sue for Peace XII It may be remembred that upon the Black-Prince's Return out of Spain we observ'd how James the Young King of Majorica by reason of sickness was forced to tarry behind and how shortly after he was taken Prisoner in his Chamber by the Bastard Henry upon his return to make new War against King Don Pedro. Now I suppose it will not be amiss to inform the Curious Reader what further became of this Unfortunate Prince And first Pope Vrban being moved with his Calamity f Dat. vâ— Kal. Januar. Ann. 6. Vid. Tom. 6. Fp. Secr. p. 32. Odor Rainald ad an 1367. §. 18. wrote in his Behalf to Don Henry that he would restore to liberty the unhappy young King who had so long languished in the King of Aragon's Prison before And the Queen of Naples his Lady and the Marchioness his Sister when they were informed of his Mischance took it very heavily and within a while g Frois c. 294. Gallicè fol. 242 sent certain discreet and sage Gentlemen to treat with Don Henry who was then King of Spain about his Ransom So at last he was deliver'd for the Summ of an 100000 Franks which the Ladies paid very punctually to King Henry's satisfaction When the King of Majorica had thus got his Liberty he returned into Naples where yet he lay not long idle but having amassed together considerable Sums of Money and gather'd many Valiant Captains and hired Souldiers about him he began his March towards Navarre with design to make War upon the King of Aragon his Adversaâ—y to whom he could by no means be reconciled for he had Murther'd the King his Father and had long kept him himself in Prison and unjustly and violently withheld from him his Crown and Heritage Upon which account he had furnish'd himself with Men of War from all Parts as English Gascogners Italians Almaines Bretons and some Troops of the Companions Who in all amounted to 1200 Men of Arms besides Archers and Footmen The Captains of the Companions were Sr. Gracian du Chastel Sr. John de Malestroit Silvester Budes and James Braye besides sundry Lords and Gentlemen of Divers Countries to all whom he gave great Wages and promised to satisfie them in each point King James order'd his Affairs so well that he had leave to bring this Army into the Realm of Navarre and also to tarry there some few days to refresh himself From thence he entred into Aragon and began to make heavy War against Don Pedro King of that Realm and ravaged the Country and took little Fortresses and Ransom'd and slew Men
and won Cattle and Prisoners and fill'd the plain Country with Desolation The King of Aragon who very much doubted this War being alarum'd at this sudden Invasion sent Men of Arms in all haste to the Frontiers under the Conduct of the Vicount of Roqueberton and the Earl of Rodaiz while himself was busied in raising an Army to go against h Vid. Lit. Papales de hoc ad Regem Aragonium apud Odâ—r Rainal ad an 1363. §. 9. his Nephew the King of Majorica But He Poor Prince even while thus the War was fair on his side fell sick again in the Valley of Soria of which sickness he died within few days leaving the Injuries done unto his Father and himself unrevenged and all the hopes of his Crown and Life together It is likely that upon his Delivery from his Spanish Prison when he found how the Black-Prince in whose Fortunate Valour he had reposed a sure hope of Success was himself seised with an Incurable Malady he thereupon began by Degrees to entertain Melancholy thoughts till now at last his Grief and Sickness together put an end to his troublesome Life However his Uncle the Aragonese had Peace thereby and continued in that Condition several Years after As for the Companions who came with the King of Majorica to make War against him they return'd back into France where they thought to make their advantage either by owning the French or English Interest The rest of the Auxiliaries went as their Humor or Interest led them to other Parts XIII All this i Frois c. 295. fol. 178. Gallicè fol. 243. while John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster was in the City of Bourdeaux on the Garonne where he kept a Court little inferior to that of the Prince his Brother having about him a Gallant Retinue of Barons Knights and Esquires of England and of Aquitaine And as yet Fortune had not taken her leave of King Edward as We may see by his late unexpected Victory over the Flemings Thô several Lords of Poictou Limosin and other Provinces revolted daily to the French King and immediately turn'd their Arms another way making frequent Skirmishes and Rencounters with the English But now Divine Providence began to weaken the English Interest and Power even by such a Means as all other Princes make use of to strengthen theirs viz. An Alliance by Marriage which thô Glorious in shew prov'd no more but an Airy Title and yet that brought forth in time many Expensive Wars and gave an Occasion of much Bloodshed and loss of Treasure principally in Spain and Portugal but by accident also it produced the loss of Rochelle and consequently of many more Places in France as we shall now see We spake k Vid. l. 4. c. 6. §. 31. p. 782. before of the Death of the Lady Blanch Dutchess of Lancaster upon which the Duke her Husband being left a Widower the Barons of Gascogne now with the said Duke at Bourdeaux began to consider how Don Pedro late King of Castille and Leon had left behind him two Daughters which he had by a Lawfull Bed. That these young Ladies were then at Aire a City of Gascogne having been left as Pledges with the Prince of Wales for certain Sums of Money due unto him from their Father And when these Ladies heard first of the Murder of the King their Father they were extreamly Disconsolate and in such Fear and trouble that it was a Thousand Pities such Innocent Virgins of Royal Blood should ever be brought to such Affliction by the Sins of their Father Especially all Men lamented the Condition of the Eldest who was now the True and Lawfull Heir to the Crown of Castille by Right of Succession devolved unto her immediately upon the Death of her Father King Don Pedro. All this Sr. Guischard D'Angle shew'd unto the Duke of Lancaster in the Presence of the Earl of Cambridge his Brother saying My Lord if it please your Royal Highness You are yet to be disposed of in Marriage once more and Sir We can tell You of a Match not unfitting your Birth whereby You shall obtain the Title of a King in her Right and your Children by her shall be Heirs to a Crown and she likewise hath a younger Sister which will make a good Wife for You my Lord of Cambridge They are both Ladies of Incomparable Perfections both of Mind and Body being the Daughters of Don Pedro late King of Castille and Leon. And surely it is no small point of Charity to succour and comfort distressed Damsels especially they being Daughters to a King in such a forlorn Condition as Fortune hath now reduced them to My Lord Duke We your Faithfull Servants would advise You to take unto Wife the Lady Constance who is the Eldest of these Princesses For We cannot tell where You can Match more Honourably or obtain Higher Dignity in so doing These Words and more to the like purpose made such an Impression on the Duke's heart who was now but One and Thirty Years of Age and in the Highest Vigour of Nature but especially when both their Beauties were enlarged upon he was so pleased that he resolv'd forthwith to send for the two Ladies Constance the Eldest whom he had pitch'd upon and Isabella the Youngest whom his Younger Brother the Earl of Cambridge design'd to espouse Four Lords with their Attendants went for them and they menaged their Business so well that the Ladies consented to go along with them to Bourdeaux when they should have got all things ready for their journey Upon News of the time the Duke of Lancaster and the Earl of Cambridge rode forth to meet them and were both so extraordinarily pleased with their several Mistresses that they immediately Married them in the next Village to them called Rochefort not far from Bourdeaux The Marriage was solemnised with a Great and Royal Feast and after that the two Princely Bridegroomes brought their Ladies to Bourdeaux where again there was Feasting and Joy and a most Splendid Resolemnization of this Double Marriage being attended with a great Number of Lords and Ladies all who Caressed the Royal Brides and presented them with many Rich Jewels and other Gifts to shew their Respect chiefly to the Duke But whatever all this might be in other Circumstances it was only now in effect to denounce Mortal War against the King of Spain and his Heirs for ever and thô indeed that King was an Usurper yet he was at that time of Great Power so that it seem'd no ways convenient to put him to Despair in a juncture when the King of England had his Hands full of War elsewhere King Henry of Castille had early notice how the Duke of Lancaster had Married the Eldest of his Neices and the Earl of Cambridge the other Wherefore by Advice of his Grandees who were all strictly United to his Interest he resolved forthwith to engage with the French King in a close and perpetual League Offensive
was slain with 7000 Christians the Pagans obtaining but a bloody Victory with the loss of no less than 58000 Men This Battle was struck on the Feast of St. Catherine being the 25 of November The Other was between the Castilians of Spain and the Moors of Granada of which because it bears some reference to the succeeding Affairs I shall take leave to speak something more particularly It may be remembred that when I spake of the Dishonourable Peace made with Scotland at Northampton I took occasion to mention a Voyage which the Lord James Douglas the famous Warriour of Scotland had undertaken to the Holy Land there to offer up his dead Master King Robert's Heart at the Sepulchre of our Blessed Saviour Now as soon as he had well provided for so long and important a Journey he took the Noble Heart of his Lord King Robert g Hector Bâ—et l. 15. fol. 311. b. n. 70. embalmed and enshrin'd in a Golden Box and with a Gallant company of choice Knights and valiant Gentlemen of whom the Lord William Sinclare and Sr. Robert Logan were chief he set forth for the Holy Land. And here Hector according to his usual way makes no more adoe but boldly affirms that he came to Jerusalem offer'd up the Heart stay'd a while fought many Glorious Battels wan much Renown brought the Saracens to a Peace on conditions very advantageous to the Christians richly rewarded the Priests and Holy Men there and away came he again safe and sound as could be till he touch'd the Spanish Coast about Andaluzia or the Boetic Province where finally he lost his Life But Buchanan in this place more modest h Buchan l. 8. p. 279. acknowledges that his Death happen'd not in his Return but in his Passage to Jerusalem and therein agrees with i Frois c. 20. fol. 11. Froisard a most credible Historian in the main who thus reports the whole matter Earl Douglas being well purvey'd of all things sets sail immediately from a Port of Murray in Scotland directing his course for Sluce in Flanders where he design'd to enquire if there were any Knights or Noblemen who to advance the honour of Christ and purchase unto themselves true Renown would adventure to accompany him in this his Expedition to the Holy Land. Having therefore accordingly sent into the Country thereabout to publish his Intention he lay on Board before Sluce the space of twelve Days himself not once offering to touch the Land so firmly was he set on the performance of his Royal Master's Injunctions And all the while that he might the better allure Companions in Arms to partake with him in this hazardous Enterprise he kept a stately and magnificent Port making on Board triumphant Noises with Trumpets Clarions and other Instruments of War as if he had been King of Scotland himself He had with him in his own Ship two Knights Bannerets and six other Knights with 26 lusty Esquires and other young Gentlemen to attend his person and all the Vessels he was served in were of Gold or silver And whoever came on Board to visit him were nobly entertain'd with Banquets Wine and spices every one after his Quality While thus he lay to the great pleasure and satisfaction of the Country at the end of twelve days he had certain News that Alphonso the XI King of Castille and Leon held war with the Moors and Saracens of Granada Upon this report he thought it every whit as meritorious to fight against Infidels in Spain as in the Holy Land and that it could no way thwart with his dead Masters Command if he should endeavour to exalt the Cross of Christ against Mahometanisme to which cause himself had both living and dying devoted his own Royal Heart Desirous also to leave some Token of the Scottish Valour in the furthermost Parts of Spain and concluding after all to perform at his leisure the Voyage to Jerusalem he at last resolves to be a partaker in these honourable Wars Whereupon hoising sail directly for Spain he arrived happily at the Port of Valencia where he landed with all his Company but such as were appointed to look to the Fleet. Thus this Gallant Scot having well refreshed himself and his Troops rode bravely forward toward the King of Spain whom he found with his Army facing the Enemy on the Frontiers of his Kingdom toward the Realm of Granada To make short his service was well accepted and thereupon the King of Spain resolv'd to give his Enemies Battle The King of Granada seeing the Christians advance set forward also to meet them with innumerable Forces And now both Armies wanted but little of joyning when the Generous Earl Douglas fearing to come too late to so glorious a Banquet with all his Company strake spurs to his Horses sides and couching his Spear rushed fiercely among the thickest of his Enemies all the way crying out a Douglas a Douglas as he that nothing doubted but to be well back'd by King Alphonso The Enemy thô vastly Numerous was strangely amaz'd at this vigorous and resolute Onset and either out of Dismay or Policy open'd their Ranks to receive them giving also back a little to abate the Fury of the first shock Certainly had the Castillians immediately seconded this Noble Knight with but half that Bravery the Moors had either wholly been overthrown or at most gain'd but a Bloody Victory But whether 't was Fatal oversight or Discretion not to Engage with such vast Numbers in confidence of a few seeming-rash Strangers or whether 't was a certain stupor and excess of Admiration or a desire to stay a while beholding the Effects of such Gallantry or foolish Envy or base Cowardise or that they could not come up timely enough King Alphonso however Brave and Victorious at other times stood now still and joyned not the Battle Whereat the Moors encouraged immediately surrounded the Deserted Scots with their Numerous Forces and there the Gallantest Captain in the World being abandon'd to Infinite Multitudes of Barbarians was miserably at last hewen in pieces with all his Martial Company Thô they left such Marks of their exceeding Valour behind that the Infidels who felt and saw their Fury thought them Invincible till they beheld them slain before their Eyes Thus by occasion of a superstitious Vow of the Late King Robert was Scotland unfortunately depriv'd of a Noble Captain and many other Brave Souls at a time when most she needed their Assistance at Home This Lord Douglas bare for his Arms k Frois c. 17. fol. 8. Azure a Chevron Argent but his Posterity in Memory of this his Enterprise and Death do l Hâ—linshead hist Sâ—ctl p. 227. bear the Bloody Heart for their Arms to this day And indeed he was one of the first Builders of his Name and Family in Scotland being a great Champion to his Native Country and as great a Terror to all the English Borderers For m Knighton p. 2559. n. 50.
Pedro's Cruelty returned him Letters with full assurance that thô he should lose half his Realm therefore he would make no Agreement with the Prince which should be to his Prejudice but that he would never come to any manner of accord with Don Pedro And further he promised to keep his Country open for all Men of War that would come to his Assistance but to close all the Passages against those who came to trouble or molest him All which promises he kept very punctually For when he knew that Don Pedro was abetted by the Prince and that the Companions were marching toward Bourdeaux to joyn them he presently stopped all the Passages of his Kingdom and kept them strictly and set Men of War on the Mountains to defend the Passages and Streights of Catalunna so that none could pass without exposing themselves to imminent Danger But for all this the Companions found another way thô they suffer'd many Hazards and Difficulties before they could get rid of those traps set for them in Aragon Yet at last they came to the Marches of the Earldom of Foix where they found that Countrey also closed against them For the Earl would not by any means permit such a sort of Pillagers to pass thrô his Land. XV. The mean while Prince Edward employ'd all his thoughts Night and Day how he might to his Honour perform this Expedition and now he was concerned how these Companions who had already proffer'd him their Service might be safely brought into Aquitaine for he heard how the Passages of Aragon were closed up and that now they were upon the Marches of the Earldom of Foix in much trouble and more danger Wherefore he began to doubt lest the Bastard Henry and the King of Aragon together should by thus streightly dealing with these Companions who were in all to the Number of 12000 Men prevail so as either thrô fear of Danger or Hope of advantage to oblige them to act on the other side which he resolv'd if possible to prevent because they were all Expert and Valiant Men. Then he determin'd to send the Lord John Chandos to retain them for his Service and also to treat with the Earl of Foix desiring him in the Prince's Name to do no harm to them on which account he promis'd him that whatever Damage they should do in his Country he would make him double Amends therefore This Business Sr. John Chandos undertook to do for his Lord and so he first rode to the City of Dax in Gascogne whence he continued his journeys till he came to Foix and here he so well menaged the Earl that he consented to all that he requested of him Then the Lord Chandos rode onward till he came to Belcayne where he found the Companions and fully agreed with their Captains and retain'd them to serve the Prince in his Spanish Expedition for such and such Considerations which the Lord Chandos engaged by Oath should be performed This done he return'd to the Earl of Foix again and desired him that these People being now retained in the Prince's Service might find no lett or hindrance from him but that he would freely permit them to pass by one of the sides of his Country The Earl of Foix who had a great Respect for the Prince besides that he held his Lands of him to do him a pleasure consented on condition they should do no harm by Spoil or otherwise to him his Lands or People Sr. John engaged they should forbear all Violence and Rapine and then he sent an Esquire and an Herald to the Companions with the Articles of the Treaty made by him on their behalf with the Earl of Foix after which he return'd to the Prince and gave him an account of his Success wherewith the Prince was well satisfied For he was very earnestly bent on this Expedition XVI The Black-Prince was now in the Flower of lusty Manhood being in the Thirty sixth Year of his Age of full Strength of Body and in perfect Health of undaunted Courage and Resolution all well temper'd with Experience and Discretion and he was never weary nor cloy'd with War from the first time he bore Arms but was always greedy of hazardous Enterprises and honourable Dangers But to say the Truth as for this Expedition into Spain wherein he intended to advance and resettle King Pedro in his Throne from which he had been deposed by Violence he was moved thereto from Principles of Honour and Equity and out of a compassionate Regard to Don Pedro's miserable Change of Fortune For however he might perhaps seem to deserve as bad or worse measure yet he rightly concluded that no Subjects much less a Bastard-Brother had either Law or Reason to call their Sovereign Lord to an account much less to punish him in such a manner He often spake to his Lords and Knights especially to the Lord John Chandos and the Lord Thomas Felton concerning this his intended Journey and particularly once he demanded of them what they thought of the matter And those two Lords answer'd him how indeed they thought nothing but well for the Cause was just and his Counsels proportionable to the end but they continued Sir without doubt this is a greater Enterprise beyond Compare than it was to thrust King Pedro out of his Kingdom For he was generally hated and when he thought to have made his Part good all Men forsook him But now at this present the Bastard King is actually possest of all that Realm and is confirmed the more strongly in the said Possession by being Master of the Hearts and Affections of all the Nobles Prelates and the whole Body of the Kingdom For they have unanimously received him for their King and his Children after him having for ever excluded Don Pedro and his Heirs and they have promised to uphold him in that Estate to the utmost extent of their Lives and Fortunes Wherefore Sir it concerns You to take along with you a Royal Army for besides the Alliances which the Bastard hath made or may make You shall find the whole Power of Spain and Aragon against you These things said the Prince we have fully consider'd but what think you as to the Nerves of this War which ought not to be the last Consideration Sir replied the Lord Chandos I would advise your Royal Highness to break the best part of your Plate and Treasure of which you have great Abundance and convert it all to Money to bestow largely among the Companions and other your Souldiers because 't is only for your Sake that they are willing to go but as for Don Pedro they would not stirr a foot either for the Love they bear to his Person or the Faith they have in his Promises Besides all which You would do well Sir to send into England to the King your Father desiring him to furnish you towards this expensive Enterprise with an 100000 Franks which Summ the French King is obliged shortly to pay to
the good Country of Poictou but he found it so well furnished with Men of War both Knights and Esquires that no considerable Advantage was likely to be gained here Yet besides all this Power of the Duke of Berry's there were at the same time in the Marches of Touraine Three considerable Captains of the Companions who held Garrison there for France as Sr. Lewis of St. Julian Carlonet the Breton and Sr. William de Bourde who all made War upon the English There was also at that time an English Esquire named Percival Damorie whom the Duke of Lancaster had left Captain in a Castle of his called Beaufort between Troyes and Châlons This Man seeing the War now open renounced his Allegiance to his Natural Lord the King of England and turn'd to the French side and sware Allegiance to King Charles who received him gladly Rewarded him well and left him still Captain of the said Castle adding unto him another Esquire of Champaigne named Owen so these two did much mischief to the English thereabouts being Persons of great Valour and Experience in the Wars But to recompence the Loss of this English Esquire the Noble Lord Canon of Robsart who had hitherto been all along on the French part came over voluntarily to the King of England and sware unto him Faith and Obedience for ever against all Men living Whereat King Edward was well pleased not only upon the account of the Man's Valour and Nobility but also of his known Judgement and Integrity which were sufficient to add Reputation to a Cause he was pleased to own The Duke of Anjou wan over to his side certain Gascogners Captains of the Companions as Sr. Perdiccas of Albret the Little Mechlin the Bourg of Bartuel Edmund Ortingo Perot of Savoy Ralph Braye and Nandon of Pons who all with their Troops turn'd to the French to the great Displeasure of the English on the other part who were much weakned thereby But Nandon of Bergerac the Bourg de l'Esparre Sr Robert Briquet Sr. Robert Thinne Sr. John Freville Sr. Galiard du la Motte and Emery of Rochechoüart remain'd still for the English Interest Thus Knights and Esquires chang'd their Copies on both sides as Hope or Affection perswaded them especially the Captains of the Companions for they all took part either with the English or the French none of them remain'd Neuters The Companions of the English side lay for the most part about the Bishoprick of Mans and also in base Normandy where they had taken the City of Vire and destroy'd all the Country about II. But these Forces were too small to uphold the English Interest on that side the Sea wherefore King Edward sent his Son Edmund of Langley Earl of Cambridge and his Son-in-Law John Hastings Earl of Pembroke to go into the Dutchy of Aquitaine to the Prince his Son and there joyn him with a certain Number of Men of War the Chief Captains whereof were the Lord Guy Brian the Lord Miles Stapleton Sr. John Trivet Sr. Thomas Banister and divers others beside the two Princes The Lord Guy b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 151. Brian was Admiral of the Fleet toward the setting forth whereof King Edward had commanded his Son the Prince of Wales to impreset all such Ships as were in the Port of Kaermerdin of one hundred Tunns and upwards and to send them well-mann'd and victuall'd to Portsmouth by such a time to be employ'd by the said Sr. Guy in the Kings Service All things being ready they took the Sea as early as they might being in all c Mezeray p. 81. 500 Men of Arms and 4000 Archers who sailing toward Bretagne had Wind at Will and arrived safely at the Port of St. Malo in the Isle When John of Monford Duke of Bretagne heard of the Arrival of his Brethren of Cambridge and of Pembroke he was very well pleased and immediately sent certain of his Knights to bid them Welcome the Chief whereof were Sr. John de Lantriguer and Sr. John St. Augustin This Kindness of the Duke 's highly satisfied the two Earls for till then they were not assured that the Lords Knights and Good Towns of Bretagne would give them leave to pass thrô their Country But now they boldly desired that Favour of the Duke who whatever new obligations he had to France could not in Honour deny this Request to those by whose Aid he had obtain'd his Dukedom wherefore he gave them leave only conjuring them to pay civilly for what they should take Then the two Earls sent for all those English Companions who now lay part in the Fortress called Chasteau Gontier in Anjou and part in the City of Vire in low Normandy all whom they took along with them and so passed by the River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes without doing any harm to the Country Now from the time that Prince Edward had finish'd his Spanish Expedition Sr. Hugh Calverley was order'd to lie about the Marches of Aragon with 6000 able Men of War of the Companions in his Company in order to receive the Moneys for which Don Pedro stood engag'd unto the Prince Thô all that expectation proved fruitless by reason of the Death of the said King who was slain as we have shew'd by his Bastard Brother When this Sr. Hugh Calverley heard how the French King made War upon the Prince his Lord he marched hastily thrô Aragon and Foix and came into Bigorre and soon after went and presented his Service to the Prince at Angoulesme who received him joyfully and kept him still with him till his Brother the Earl of Cambridge should come to him with the rest of the Companions out of Normandy and Anjou they having already sold their Fortresses with Design to come to his Service And when the Earl was come he made Sr. Hugh Calverley Chief Leader of all the Troops of Companions and sent him into the Lands of the Earl of Armagnac and the Lord of Albret there to make War and burn waste and pillage the Country Now it is to be remembred that the Earls of Cambridge and Pembroke tarried still at St. Malo till all their Company had passed the Loire as the Duke of Bretagne had agreed and when they had tarried there to refresh themselves Four Days they went after their Men to the City of Nantes where the Duke received them with great Demonstrations of Kindness and entertain'd them and their Servants Three days On the Fourth they took their leave of the Duke and passed over the great River of Loire at the Bridge of Nantes and so began to enter into Poictou continuing their journey till they came to Angoulesme where they found the Prince and Princess Prince Edward was extream glad to see his Brother and Brother-in-Law and enquired of them how the King his Father and the Queen his Mother did and having enjoy'd them for Three Days he then sent them upon an Expedition into the Earldom of Perigort So they took