AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ⧠Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
pillage to be dismissed The French king who lately before by the helpe of a certaine skilfull Physitian had recouered both his vnderstanding and his speech about this time relapsed againe into his former extreamitie Pope Clement who had sustained the opposition of two aduersaries first Vrbane then Boniface newly erected being dead at Avinion the Cardinalles substituted Benedict in his place conditionally that if the French King did not ratifie his election another should be chosen Both the Popes sent their Legates to the French King and he gaue them both friendly audience howbeit by the counsell of his diuines he inclind neither to the one nor the other but rather sought meanes how to take a way all ground of dissention and to establish quietnesse in the Church Therefore sending Ambassadours to the Emperour whose authoritie care and diligence ought to be chiefe in that behalfe and likewise to the Kings of Bohemia Hungary and England he besought them earnestly that they would help to further the publike welfare and tranquillitie of christendome The King of England at this time by consent of the whole state of his realme gaue all the Dutchie of Aquitaine entirely and freely to the Duke of Lancaster and to his heires for euer The Duke therefore disposing of his affaires in England sailed ouer into Aquitaine and at Burdeaux shewed the graunt which King Richard had giuen him The townesmen made him answere That of his presence and comming thither they were glad and ioyful but to admit his gouernement and acknowledge him for their soueraigne Lord that could they not yet resolue vpon Let him first deale and agree with the rest of the Citties whome it equally concerned and if they would be content to ratifie the Kings graunt neither should their part of duety be vnperformed The men of Bayon aunswered him after the same fashion And when hee assayed the disposition of seuerall persons the noblemen and gentlemen being assembled together gaue this determination That in regarde the Aquitaines were so linked and as it were engraffed together with the English that they might by no meanes be separated or conueyed ouer to any other Lorde therefore they were of opinion that this gift of the Kings must necessarily be voide and frustrate At length it was thought good that commissioners should be sent to pleade the matter before the King himselfe Who when they came thither boldely maintained their right affirming that their seigniory ought not to be alienated from the Crowne of England neither by gift marriage composition nor any other meanes whatsoeuer That the Kings of England were accustomed at their coronation to promise by solemne oth that it should be so and that the King there present had done the same and there withall they produced their charter They alleadged further that it was most necessarie and behoouefull for the realme that this custome authorized by the wisedome of graue counsellors and established by continuance of long time should still be kept firme and inuiolate For howsoeuer the Duke of Lancaster at this present were a faithfull and assured friend to the English men yet things could not alwayes continue at one stay and it might happen heereafter that hee should conclude some league or agree vpon some marriage with the Frenchmen Britons Burgonions or others according as time should serue and his owne affaires require whereby it might come to passe that the Dukedome of Aquitaine which by a certaine peculiar prerogatiue was now annexed to the crown of England should be transferred to a strange Lord and from thenceforth lost all their ancient aliance and societie with the English nation When they had finished their speech to this purpose many were mooued by their reasons to be of the same opinion But the Duke of Gloucester with great vehemencie of spirite opposed himselfe against them not so much for any affection to his brother as for that hee wisht him by this meanes to be remooued further off from the realme to the intent himselfe might the more commodiously rule all things as he listed After much debating the Gascones request preuailed and therevppon word was sent to the Duke of Lancaster that hee shoulde surcease from his enterprise and insist vpon his graunt no further Whilst the Duke was absent in the partes of Aquitaine King Richard raysing an army of thirty thousand Archers and foure thousand horsemen passed ouer into Ireland for the conquest whereof in former times great warres had beene made by his auncestors Nine moneths after his arriuall the country was yeelded into his subiection and their foure petty kings taken prisoners in framing whose fashions to ciuillity and good manners no arte nor diligence was omitted but hardly may a barbarous minde and sauage nature be reduced to ciuill conuersation After the death of Queene Anne daughter to Charles the Emperour the King of England because he had no issue resolued vpon a second marriage But especially aboue all other nations he desired to linke himselfe with Fraunce in a most stedfast bond of amity Herevpō he began to be a suter for Isabell the French kings daughter which had lately before been betrothed to the Duke of Britaines Sonne at Tours This motion did greatly displease the Duke of Gloucester who desired nothing but warres The French men for the most part were of opinion that nothing was to be determined in this matter before peace were throughly concluded and established Henrie King of Hungary brother to Charles the Emperor being threatned with warres from Basam a mighty and puissant Prince of the Turkes required ayde of the French king who sent two thousand young Gentlemen to his succour Iohn the sonne of Phillip Duke of Burgoigne a young Lord of the age of two and twenty yeares associated for his better direction with that worthy and valiant souldier the Lord Cowcy was appointed generall of these forces They passed out of France into Austria and from thence to Buda in Hurgary where being arriued although the enemie before had prefixed a day of battell yet heard they no newes of his comming therefore it was thought best to passe the army ouer Danubius and to assaile him in his owne countrey They were almost an hundred thousand strong the greater parte of them being horsemen Now when the◠were entred into the Turkes dominion after the taking of some townes they layd siege to the citty of Nicopolis the principall and strongest in those quarters The siege continuing somewhat long and affoording more vacant time than was conuenient for souldiers the Lorde Cowcy desirous to aduaunce his honour and the reputation of his name accompanied with fiue hundred launces and as many archers all on horse-backe ranged abroad somewhat farther into the countrey to see if hee could meete with any enemy vpon whome he might aduenture his fortune It happened according to his desire For the enemy vnderstanding that there were forragers abroade assembled to the number of twenty
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
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
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
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
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
the death of King Iohn The Duke of Berry through the King of Englands curtesie had intreated a yeeres respite to solace himselfe in Fraunce And vppon like fauour diuers others were licenced to depart for a season Some one or twoo onely by the payment of their ransomes purchaced their liberty Those that the King had thus dismissed after the wars began againe returned no more The french King proclaimed open warre against the King of England and committed the charge thereof vnto twoo of his brethren who mustered souldiers from all partes so that the number of them amounted to an hundred thousand men The French men made often incursions vppon the countrey of Poytiers and other of the Princes dominions And the Princes souldiers likewise invaded the Lordships of those who had given the first occasion of these warres and made complaint of him to the French King The french King published his cause and the necessity of this warre in diuers places by cunning persons with so well seeming circumstances as no man could otherwise iudge but that his proceedinges were grounded vppon most iust and reasonable occasions The same did the King of England also verily to this intent that by declaring the causes of the warre they might haue the people more at commandement to pay their subsidies and to beare the burden of their exactions Lewis Earle of Flaunders had no issue but one daughter The King of England sought by all meanes to haue obtained her in marriage for his youngest Sonne and the matter was laboured for the space of three whole yeeres together In the Earle himselfe was no want of good affection but Pope Vrbane in regard they were of his kinred would in no wise giue his consent to the marriage The Earle therfore perceiving this match might not go forward began to make meanes by his friends to Phillip Duke of Burgundy the French kings brother that the marriage might be made betweene him and his daughter This treatie tooke effect and so it came to passe that Burgoigne and Flaunders were vnited together The King of England considering how by meanes of this marriage the Duke of Burgundy should become heyre to the Earle of Flaunders practised with the King of Navarre who bare a secret grudge to the French King for certaine Lordshippes that he should denounce open wars against him The French king had provided a great power of shipping intending to send his brother the Duke of Burgundy with an army of choyce souldiers to make warres in England The King of England having intelligence thereof made preparation according and determined to receiue them with some entertainement in their passage Moreover he sent his Sonne the Duke of Lancaster with certaine forces to Calice which when the French King vnderstood by the advise of his counsell he altered his purpose iudging it the better course to encounter with his enemie when he had already passed the Seas of his owne accord Herevppon the Duke of Burgundy was set forth well appointed who at such time as he lay encamped neere his enemy notwithstanding he were of much greater puissance yet would he not adventure to giue him battell vnlesse he had expresse direction for the same from the king his brother My author reporteth that a certaine English captaine a man of approoved valour and discretion and withall very fortunate in his affayres hauing one day observed a faire oportunitie would haue attempted some exploit vppon the enemy and to the intent the better to effect his purpose had requested an English Earle to guard him with certaine horsemen for the performance of his enterprise Which when the Earle had condiscended vnto some followers of his gaue him counsell to the contrary perswading him that if the adventure prooved succesfull the reputation thereof would redownd to another and therefore that it were better for him to vndertake some service by himselfe the honour where of might be entirely his owne By this meanes the Captaine being disappointed was faine to leaue his desired enterprise vnperformed Thus we see envy and ambition hath some predominance in all places and oftentimes it falleth out that through private â—mulation whilste one will adventure nothing in anothers behalfe many notable occasions are neglected which perhaps the enemy afterward converteth to his owne aduantage When the French and English armies had thus a while confâ—onted one another the Duke of Burgundy by the kings commaund brake vp his campe and licensed all his souldiers to depart The Duke of Lancaster returned to Calice and when he had there rested some fewe daies to refresh himselfe reassembling his forces he tooke his way into Fraunce where having burnt vp certaine townes because the winter approched he dissolved his army and returned into England These long-lasting warres greatly grieved many noble men of Fraunce insomuch that divers of them conveyed away their goods housholdstuffe remooved theÌ„selus into other places where they might with more safety expect the comfort of a calmer season wisely mistrusting least in sitting still oâ— taking part either with the french King or the English they might haue taryed to their cost howsoeuer For so stood the caâ—e with many of them who had possessions in both Princes dominions that they could neither adhere to the one nor forsake the other without preiudice to their owne estate and apparant losse of whatsoeuer they held within either of their iurisdictions On the other side many Lords of Gascoine revolted from Prince Edward and ioyned with the french King Edward as he was a man of singular wisedome and stayed disposition foreseeing that this defection of the nobility from his Sonne would tend to much mischiefe addressed letters into Gascoine to this effect How he vnderstood that they all for the most part were discontented with the subsidy which his Sonne had lately imposed vppon them his mind was therefore to apply a remedy to this inconvenience and wholy to take away all occasions which might any way mooue dissenâ—ion or controuersie To which purpose and intent he had giuen commandement to his Sonne that he should surcease from all such exaction of money and that all those which found themselues oâ—er-charged or burthened either by him or any of his officers should haue satisfaction allowed them according to the dammage they had sustained And further he pardoned all such as had reuolted to the French King vppon condition that within one moneth after they should returne againe into Gascoigne requesting this only at their hands that they would not stirre sedition but calling to minde their promised faith and allegeance rest contented to conforme themselues to the present state of gouernment In so doing they should find him ready to make particular recompence to as many as could iustly complaine of oppression And for conclusion that this was the intention and desire both of himselfe and all his counsellours These letters were published in divers places of Gascoine but they wrought small effect for many were seen daily to
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
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
much hated by the commons which afterward was the occasion of much mischiefe in England Thus when no forces came from thence to their rescue the Gascones destitute of all succour were constrayned to yeeld themselues to the enemie The French King being a wise and politicke prince held correspondence with all men which might stand him instead or from whome he expected any commoditie or furtherance considering therefore with himselfe how the king of England was yet vnder age and that trouble and part-taking were growing within the realme he sollicited Robert King of Scotland and put him often in remēbrance by his letters to make warre vppon the Englishmen now while so great opportunity was offered that being thereby busyed at home they might not haue so good leysure to passe ouer into Fraunce The scottish King moued with these instigations and partly of himselfe desirous to reuenge old iniuries especially whilste the King of England was yet in his nouage vppon consultation of the matter sent commaundement for the assembling of his people to meete him at a certaine time ready furnished and appointed for the warres vppon the borders of England and Scotland When they were come together a certaine Scottish Lord desirous to shew some proffe of his vasor and bold courage associating himselfe with some fewe others in the night season whilste the watch were all sleeping or negligēt without any great difficulty surprised the castle of Barwicke When the gouernour of the towne vnderstood it he gatherd together a company of the townsemen and early in the morning assoone as any daylight appeared first brake downe the bridge which was the onely passage to issue out and then environed the castle round about with a siege so straightly that it was impossible for his enemy to make any evasion The people of the country being also certified by him how the matter stood brought in ten thousand men to his ayde At the tydings whereof the Scottish men raised their campe to come and rescue their besieged companions But they were so terrified with the greatnes of the English army that they would not aduenture the curtesie of fortune So in conclusion assault was giuen the castle recovered and all that were in it were put to the sword saue onely the captaine himselfe vppon whose authoritie this enterprise was vndertaken After the Castle was thus gotten againe it seemed good to the Englishmen to pursue their eniemies in their retreyte which they likewise did though it fell out to their own deadly disaduantage fortune fauouring the Scottish Pope Gregorie in time past had made a solemne vow that if euer he attained to the Papacy he would neuer keepe his residence any other where then are Rome This was very offensiue to some of the Cardinals which bare scarce good affection to the Romaines and it was nothing pleasing to the french King who was desirous to haue had the Pope his neerer neighbour Therefore he sent his brother the Duke of Aniow to Avinion to perswade with him but he was not able to diuert him from his purpose So he went to Rome the place he desired and within a while after there ended his life When the Cardinals as the custome is were assembled together for the election of another the people of Rome began to make great tumult in the court threatning violent effects of their displeasure if they made choyce of any other to be Pope then such a one as was both by birth and ancestors a Romaine And therewithall rushing in amongst the Cardinals and with their fury interrupting their businesse it came to passe by meanes of this disturbance that one was chosen for Pope which was 100 yeeres old This man the Romanes hoysed vp vpon a white Mule and with great solemnity led him about the Citie But the crooked old man wearie with this troublesome kind of curtesie and tyred with this tumbling vp and downe within three daies afeer gaue vp the ghost Wherevppon ensued another hurliburly the Romaines therein with arrogant threates shewing themselues more outragious then before At length a Romaine borne was elected and called afterward by the name of Vrbane the sixt About the same time dyed the Queene of Navarre the french kings sister and by her decease a certaine seigniory in Normandy fell to Charles and Peter the King of Nauarres sonnes which were brought vp in the french Court. Many counselled the french King to seize into his hands all the King of Navarres possessions in Normandy and to hold the same till his sonnes were come of age The King of Navarre mistrusting as much requested to haue his Sonnes sent home pretending that he was purposed to bestow the elder of thē in marriage with the King of Spaines daughter Answere was returned by the french King that his sonnes could not be in a better or more honourable place then in his Court. For he would bring them vp in all respects as was fitting for the Sonnes of a King and such as were alyed in bloud to himselfe This answere was taken in displeasure by the King of Navarre who therevppon fortified those places of Normondy against the force of the french men Many important occasions mooued the french King to conceiue offence against the King of Navarre but especially that matter of poisoning which we told you before was confessed Wherefore sending an army against him he subdued Mountpelier and the country about it which at that time were vnder the King of Nauarres subiection The King of Navarre being thus molested both vpon the frontiers of his owne kingdome and in Normandy for the French King had sent an army thither also made request to the King of England by ambassadours that he might be receiued into his frendship The King of England sent him answere how he thought it expedient that if he would deale seriously and effectually in matters of such importance he should come into England himselfe This motion was well accepted by the King of Nauarre and accordingly he repaired into England where recounting his misfortunes after the matter had been debated in counsell he was receiued into league and amity with the King of England vppon these or the like conditions 1. That from thenceforth euer after he should take part with the English 2. That he should neuer make peace with the french King or the King of Spaine vppon any tearmes whatsoeuer without consent of the King of England and his counsell 3. That he should fortifie the Castle of Chirburg in Normandy and maintaine a garrison in it for three yeeres space to the vse of the King of England 4. That if it should happen the Englishmen to recouer any townes in these quarters from the french then the King of England to haue the profits of the same the propriety of the places remaining to the King of Navarre And this especially was most acceptable to the English because from thence they might alwaies haue accesse into France at their pleasure It
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
prouide a wife for my sonne in those quarters that by such meanes the bond of league and frendshippe betwixt vs may be more strongly combined Ye haue heard how the King of England takes the same course and seekes a wife from thence that he may strengthen and establish his affaires by such alliance This realme of ours as we see is much disquiered and suffereth many displeasures by the English I beseech you endeuor to take away all such occasions of warre and enmity For howsoeuer I may seeme to haue nourished warres yet in my heart I haue vtterly abhorred them and the thought thereof at this present moues no small remorce in my conscience These and many other things were spoken by him to the like effect The Duke of Aniow was absent as I told you a little before notwithstanding by messengers that went and came hee easily vnderstood how all things passed and vppon aduertisement from some of his frends remayning at the Court he came to Paris the same day that the King ended his life As soone as he heard certainely that the King was dead incontinently he seazed vpon all the kings apparell and iewelles and whatsoeuer else was there of worth or value For at the same time he had determined vppon a iourney into Naples towards the furniture whereof he had need of many such necessaries especially being so augmented in honour as he was lately before by the gift of Pope Clement Now although it were appointed by the kings will who should haue the administration of his goods yet neuertheles the duke of Aniow took it vpon him his brothers did not greatly gainsay him peradueÌ„ture inrespect he was their elder Afterward it was decreed by the Peeres of the Realme that so soone as the coronation of their new King were finished the gouernment of the state should be committed to his vncles to remaine in their hands till the king came to one and twentie yeares of age To the coronation of this King were called Albert Duke of Bavaria the Earle of Savoy and the dukes of Gelders and Iuliers there were also present Wenceslaus Duke of Braband with the duke of Loraine the Earle of Marche and others The Earle of Flaunders excused himselfe The young King was then twelue yeares old he had one brother and one sister both by father and Mother their names were Lewis and Katherine After these solemnities ended great consultacion was had about matters concerning the honour and fafety of the kingdome At length it was concluded that the duke of Berry should gouerne all that prouince which is commonly called Languedoc the duke of Burgoine should rule Picardy and Normandy and the duke of Aniow remaining about the kings person should haue the chiefe gouernment of the whole kingdome King Charles was a Prince so wise and prudent that sitting in his gowne at Paris in ease and quietnes he recouered many things by counsell and policie which his predecessors fighting themselues in the field with all the forces they could make had lost before in battell to their enemies And amongst other vexations which happened to King Edward at his last voyage that he intended into Britaine for the rescue of his men besieged when he was forced backe by the extremitie of weather this one thing troubled him aboue the rest that he must make warre with such an enemie as neuer bare armes nor came into the field whervppon it is reported he should say that he neuer delt with any enemie which vsed so little armor and put him to so much trouble For indeed King Charles after he came to the crowne neuer put on armour himselfe but mannaging all his affaires by wisedome and policy committed the execution thereof to his brothers Charles the sixt IT is shewed before how the youngest sonne of King Edward passed with his forces through Fraunce into Britaine to ayd the Duke who albeit he were recalled by his subiects as I told you yet the King of Fraunce wrought so much by his policy that he found small faithfulnes and but cold affection in many of them especially in the people of Nants and some others When the duke discoursed of his vnfortunate aduentures and the subtilty of his enemies proceedings the King of Englands sonne alwaies comforted him and promised assurance of frendship and succour So they agreed betweene themselues to besiege the towne of Nants with both their forces vnited together and the Englishmen went about it without further delay The Duke of Britaine in the meane time sollicited his people to furnish him with succours for the proceeding in his enterprise But they made him answere that they would in no wise waste their owne country for the Englishmens pleasures and that they would neuer take armes in his quarell so long as the Englishmen lingred in Britaine This was the very occasion and impediment which made him breake promise with the English And the King of Englands sonne meruailing what the matter meant began to be somewhat offended especially because there came no newes at all from the duke the messengers which carried letters between them being indeed cut off by the way At length after long and dayly expectation when he had spent two moneths in the siege finding that all he could do of himselfe was but labour lost vnlesse more forces came from his confederate leauing his enterprise vnperformed he himselfe tooke his iourney to the duke intending to know directly what was his purpose resolution The Duke aduisâ—dly purged himselfe imputing the blame to his people by whose treachery being deceiued he was not able to performe his promise Neuerthelesse to render his friend some satisfaction he gaue him leaue to winter with his army at Vannes During the time that Nants was besieged certaine noble men of Britaine of more eminent respect and authority then the rest had some communication with their Prince in these words or the like Sir you sufficiently declare and manifestly shew that you are wholy addicted to the English nation But what fruite or commodity what honour or aduauncement doe you expect from their friendship what motiues induce you to obserue them with such affection For when you haue brought theÌ„ into Britaine they shall bereaue you of your goods and dispossesse you of your inheritance descended from your auncestors and this they will doe if euer they obtaine the vpper hand of the French men Let the King of Nauarres example moue you who in regard of the singular good opinion he had conceiued of their faithfulnes committed into their hands the towne and castle of Chirburg whereinto being once admitted they would neuer out of it but held it for euer after as their owne By like occasion if through your sufferance and fauour they be once receiued into our citties here neuer perswade your selfe that they will at any time forgoe them for they may alwaies haue ayd out of their owne country at pleasure whereby their courage shall be
refreshed their forces renewed We neede not seeke farre for a president see you not how they detaine Brest a towne entirely of your owne seigniory and iurisdiction But when will they finde time to restore it againe assure your selfe for certainty they intend nothing lesse Let this therefore be your warning and holde your selfe well appayd that you are beloued of your people who are resolutely of this minde and purpose neuer to forsake the French king to pleasure the English will you for your wiues sake because you haue marryed an English woman take a course to ouerthrow your selfe and your estate will you therefore aduenture the losse of so goodly and large an heritage for the keeping whereof you haue sustayned so many perills and so great dangers will you be at the charge to maintaine soldiers perpetually what are you able to performe of your selfe when your subiects shall forsake you yea and take armes and fight against you also But omitting all these reasons and considerations the French King is now dead which was so vehemently incensed against you and in his place his sonne succeded who is yet very young and of no euill disposition we will apply our endeauours to reconcile you vnto him that friendship and amity may be established betweene yoâ— So shall it come to passe that both you shall enjoy your owne without trouble or disturbance and these Englishmen finding their expectations and purpose preuented shall get them home into their country The Duke although he were much moued with this kinde of discourse yet dissembled the matter for feare of giuing offence to the English And the noble men which had giuen him this counsell thinking it was no time to vse longer delay posted secretly to the French King lying then at Paris where declaring what had passed they treated for peace The English generall not knowing what was in hand purposed against the next spring to haue had new supplies out of England and to haue made sharper warres in Fraunce then before The French men themselues mistrusted as much foreseeing that at one time or other some great mischiefe would befall them from the English The Britons which negotiated with the King for agreement perceiuing that such a matter was feared in Fraunce like discrect commissioners who obserue all things diligently in such occasions and apply the same to their owne aduantage in their treaty of peace did meruailously exaggerate that point and with great pollicy insomuch that by mentioning such matters and casting doubts thereupon they had the French King farre easier to be delt with in all their affaires The Duke of Aniow as I told you was chiefe in authoritie who for that he was purposed shortly after to take his iourney into Calabria and the other prouinces which he had obtained in gift from the Pope intended nothing lesse then that Fraunce should be troubled with any new warres by occasion whereof he might lose the opportunity of performing what he had before determined Therefore accepting the counsell of the Briton commissioners so much rather for the doubts of future warre which they had suggested into his opinion he willingly condiscended to the motion of agreement So it was concluded to this effect that the Duke of Britaine being receiued into the French kings fauour should do homage to him for his Dukedome with performance of all rights belonging to such ceremonies And further to the intent that the English generall who vpon the Dukes request had trauelled such an infinite compasse of ground to come to his ayd might in some sort be honourably satisfied it was permitted to the Duke to furnish him with ships and all other things necessary for the conueying of him and his people againe into his country The English generall seeing himselfe thus deluded and deceiued would admit no excuses but full of indignation hoysed sayles to the winde made homeward into England About this time the Earle of Flaunders was exceedingly incensed against the Gauntoyes for their intollerable proud and arrogant demeanor It happened the same time very fortunately for him that variance rose amongst the men of Bruges betweene the Aldermen and the Commons insomuch that the magistrate wrote letters to the Earle instantly desiring his presence Whereupon he came and hauing put to death some fiue hundreth one other he receiued the towne into his protection with certain other of their neighbors which were desirous of the like fauour Being therefore emboldened by the accession of these forces he determined to chastice the men of Ipre who had slaine certaine gentlemen of his houshold and receiued the Gauntoyes into their towne At their request the Gauntoyes their confederates sent three thousand men to ayd them The Earles army with the helpe of the men of Bruges amounted well nere to the number of twenty thousand The Gantoyes therefore augmented their power likewise by leuying nine thousand more and so proceeding some miles on their way they sent word to their fellowes that they should also bring forth their men into the field that so with vnited forces they might ioyntly assayle their enemie There came forth some eight thousand who when they had marched a while in order of battell arriuing at a three-way leete and consulting among themselues which way was to be taken at length they followed the same which was forelayd before by any ambush of the Earles souldiers whereinto being once falne before they could cleere themselues from the daunger and come to ioyne with their confederates they lost three thousand of their men the rest hardly escaping by flight The party which gaue them counsell to enter that passage being accused of treason for his labour was by the people in their furie and vprore admitting no excuse miserably slaine and torne in peeces one limme from another euery man snatching some part to wreake his particular malice The vnhappy wretch doubtlesse had this punishment vndeserued for had he committed such a villany surely he would neuer haue trusted himselfe in their hands afterward After this good successe the Earle forthwith addressed himself to the siege of Ipre now whilst they were all in this feare perplexity But the men of Ipre terrifyed with the late accident submitted themselues to his mercy Being receiued into the towne he put to death some 700 commoners and sent three hundreth or thereabouts of the wealthyer sort prisoners to Bruges Many other townes following the example of Ipre yeelded themselues likewise to his obedience The Gauntoyes therefore which now in a manner alone stood out against him were besieged but it could not be done so streytly but that victuall and prouision might freely be conueyd into the towne at one gate or another For the place is naturally very strong both in regard of the ground wherupon it is scituate and the commoditie of two riuers called Skeld and Lise running by it therfore he had neede of a very populous army that should enuiron it on all sides The townesmen
the Duke of Braband putting him in mind how vnfitting it were for his honour to attempt such an enterprise against a company of silly women vnable to make resistance partly by the iustnesse of his request and partly by intreaty and perswasion diuerted the king from his purpose It was covenanted between the King and the Parisians that the mony which they were to pay weekly shold be kept by the treasurer of the Citie and no part of it to be expēded about any other occasiō but only in time of necessity for the maintenance of men of warre Now the french King when he should send his succours unto Spaine required the treasurer to disburse an hundreth thousand franks for the vse of that seruice The treasurer neither refusing nor performing delayed the matter with friuolous excuses The duke of Aniow at that time standing in great fauour with the people to the intent the more commodiously to furnish himselfe for his iourney into Naples wrought secretly in such sort that no part of this money was sent to the King but hauing all the authority in his owne hands found meanes to bring the matter so about that the whole summe which the King demaunded was without any grudging deliuered to himselfe Being therefore plentifully furnished with all things needfull and hauing gathered together about thirtie thousand men he proceeded on his voyage When he arriued at Auinion where Pope Clement then remained he found the hearts of the noblity meruailously inclined towards him Afterward leauing Prouence he passed through Italy into Apulia and Calabria of which countries when with most earnest affection of the people he had taken possession he tooke his way towards Naples But the Neapolitanes were altogether addicted to his aduersarie Charles the King of Hungaries nephewe heretofore mentioned This Charles after the death of the Queene of Naples who left no issue of her owne to enioye her inheritance vsurped the title and dominion of all these seigniories affirming that the Popes gifte to the Duke of Aniow was for twoo especiall causes of no force nor value First because it was not in the deceased Queenes power to alienate those things that were not her owne which opinion of his the Neapolitanes and Sicilians stoutly mayntained And againe though it had beene most free for her to dispose of them all at her pleasure yet because in those countries they acknowledged Vrbane for chiefe bishop and not Clement to whome and from whome that conveyance was made the gift must necessarily be voyd and frustrate Charles had long before furnished with all manner of prouision a certaine castle called Leuf planted as the people say by art Magicke encompast on euery side with the sea and so impregnably fortified that by any other means then by such like skill it was impossible to be conquered Into this castle abundantly stored with all necessaries for certain yeares he withdrew himselfe and his retinue taking no great thought for the rest in regard he was wel assured that the Neapolitanes would neuer forsake him and as for Calabria though he lost it for the present yet after a yeere or two he made no question to recouer it For he knew the Duke must alwaies maintaine a great army in pay for feare of rebellion which he could not long continue but either want of money or victuall would force him to great inconuenience So that his power being weakened and his numbers dispersed he might easily be ouerthrowne and driuen out of the country But there was a certaine coniurer which promised the Duke of Aniow to blinde the eies of them in the Castle in such sorte as they should belieue there was a bridge made ouer frō the main land by meanes whereof they should be compelled to yeeld for feare But by procurement of the Earle of Sauoy who accompanyed the Duke in that expedition he was put to death for a like peece of seruice which he had done long before The Englishmen and Gascones hauing taryed almost nine moneths in Portingale without performing any notable exployt like men that hated such slolthfulnes determined once againe to aduenture sorth against the Spaniards Their Captaine the Earle of Cambridge when they acquainted him with the matter was against it but they neuerthelesse went forward with their purpose and hauing good successe brought certaine townes in subiection After their returne they complayned that their entertaynment was not payd them The king of Portingale halfe angry because they aduentured without his commission made shew as if he would not haue contented them Whereupon some counselled to forrey the country take out their wages in pillage but others of more stayed iudgment and sounder discretion perswaded the contrary and so at length by intreaty they obtayned that which they were purposed to haue gotten by violence After this the King of Portingale leuyed an army of fifteene thousand besides the English and the King of Spaine hauing a power of thirty thousand bad him battell Both their forces came into the field and many dayes together light skirmishes passed betweene them But the king of Portingale because his enemies forces were more in number then his would in no wise ioyne with him in a sette battell The Duke of Lancaster whom this matter chiefly concerned in regard he marryed the eldest daughter of Don Pietro had promised his brother at his setting forth towards Spaine that as soone as he had dispatcht his affaires in Scotland he would come thither also himselfe and bring an other army His comming the king of Portingale expected But by reason of the late insurrection the state being somewhat troublesome in England the King thought it not conuenient to send his men of warre out of the Countrey The King of Portingale therefore seeing no more succours come began to treate with the Spaniard of peace though altogether against the mindes of the English whose Generall highly offended with the matter returned thereupon into England and tooke with him his sonne also to whome the king of Portingales daughter named Beatrice a Lady of 10 years old had beene lately betrothed The nextyeere following the King of Spaines wife which was the King of Arragons daughter deceassed and the King of Spaine marryed this Beatrice whom the Earle of Cambridge had in a manner cast off and forsaken This marriage was ratifyed by the Pope Not long after also dyed Ferdinando King of Portingale in whose place not the King of Spaine which had marryed his daughter but a bastard brother of his succeeded being admitted to the crowne rather by fauour of the clergy and authoritie of the citties then by election or approbation of the nobility Vpon this occasion much trouble and great warres ensued afterward When the Gauntoys through the Earle of Flaunders procurement were kept streitly from victuall out of all places adioyning certaine of their towne to the number of twelue thousand passing through Barband came to Liege and were there relieued with corne and
other necessaries In their returne homeward they earnestly besought the Dutches of Braband for the Duke was then at Lutzemburgh to be a meanes to the Earle of Flaunders that at leastwise he wold be fo farre pleased as to suffer the matters betweene them to be debated by indifferent persons at some time place appointed The Earle condiscended and a meeting was had at Tornay Thither resorted the commissioners of diuerse neighbour states to compound the strife if it might be possible For the Gauntoys came Philipâ— of Arteuile But after much expectation when it seemed the Earle would neither come himselfe nor send any other to treate in his behalfe the parties assembled wrote letters admonishing and earnestly entreating him that he would not neglect this good opportunity now whilst his aduersaries were so tractable to deale with and so desirous of agreement Whereunto the Earle made answere that he had not leysure to be present there himselfe but to gratify those honourable persons that had trauelled so farre in the matter he would send some in few daies after which should fully acquaint them with his resolution the effect whereof vpon relation of his messengers was much to this purpose That he would not come to composition with the Gauntoys vppon any other termes then that all of them generally betweene fifteene and threescore yeeres of age presenting themselues without the cittie vppon the open plaine without any manner of weapon bare headed and bare footed with halters about their necks should first craue pardon of him for their offences afterward submit themselues to his mercie to determine of them and their liues at his pleasure Other answere then this notwithstanding all the intercession of his friends none could be obtayned and so the assembly brake vp Phillip returning to Gaunt the next day discoursed the successe of his treaty to the people Then might ye haue seene the lamentable state of a citty reduced to extreame miserie desperation In which generall calamitie Philip put them in choise of three courses to be taken eyther to accept the conditions profered or to shut themselues vp in their churches and there praying to God for pardon of their sinnes abide patiently the end of their liues or else some fiue thousand of them to issue out of the towne and fight with their enemy After deliberation this last tooke place for indeede there was no other remedy but either to try their fortunes forthwith by the sword or else to perish miserably for hunger The Earle had his men of warre about him the same time at Bruges to the number of forty thousand For knowing that his enemies were now brought to such distresse he was resolued by all meanes to make an honourable conclusion of this warre and therefore when he heard tydings of the Gauntoys approach â—e disposed his forces to receiue them The Gauntoyes though they were fewe in number yet being hartened by perswasions and chiefly for that they left a poore forlorne afflicted and most miserable citty behinde them wherein their wiues their children and whatsoeuer else was deere to them remayned the safety or destruction of all which depended wholly vppon the successe of that one dayes seruice came to the field with a bold courage desperate resolution The men of Bruges who before were exceedingly forward and desirous to fight in so much that the Earle was in a manner constrayned by their importunity to giue battell that day against his owne minde and purpose assoone as the armies ioyned being strooken with a suddaine feare vppon what occasion I knowe not except because the sunne was in their faces brake their aray and ranne headlong out of the battell The Earle himselfe also when he could by no meanes restrayne them was forced to fly and his battell of horsemen with him The Earle outryding the rest of his company recouered the towne of Bruges and would haue closed the gates against the entrance of his enemies but it was in vaine for they pursued so fast after him as he fled that they entred the cittie a little before night And euen then the Earle not altogether past hope gathered the townâ—â—â—â—en together made head against the enemie But he was brought to such extremity that somewhat before midnight the Gauntoyes hauing ouerrunne all the Citty and he being vtterly destirute and forsaken of his people was faine to conuey himselfe by stealth sometime into one lane and sometime into another and at length entring into the cottage of a poore woman who had scarce so much in all her house as to hide him with much adoe saued his life Behold here the misery and straunge mutability of mans estate After this victory the men of Bruges were cruelly entreated by the enemy and amongst other things that pleased the conquerour some fiue hundreth of the wealthyest of their cittie were carryed prisoners to Gaunt The Earle still doubtfull of his life after he had lurked there a while in great secrecy fled to Lisle one while on foote and other whiles on a mares back without any saddle in most wearysome way and most tedious weather This successe of the Gauntoys greatly reioyced the people of Paris of Roan of Liege of Braband and all the citties thereabout not only in regard of the example but because they also wished ill to the earle of Flaunders whom they generally noted of pride Phillip was highly honoured in all places where he became and in all things vsed such excesse as euer in a Prince might haue beene counted superfluity All the townes generally submitted themselues to the victorious people of Gaunt Only the men of Arde being summoned to yeild when they had valiantly refused euen in despight of their enemies were besieged by Phillip with a strong power leuyed from all parts of Flannders The Gauntoyes in the meane time made many rodes into the country rissing and destroying diuerse gentle mens houses And amongst the rest a certaine castle of the Earles where they found the holy Funt wherein the Earle was christened with his cradle and such other things which were all made a prey to the barbarous fury and outrage of the soldier The Earle being thus vtterly ouerthrowne brought vnder foote considered how there was no other hope of recouery now remayning but one which was to moue the French king to commiseration of his estate To this therefore he addressed himselfe and for better obtaynment of his purpose employed the friendly endeauour of his sonne in law the vncle of him at whose hands he required succour The young king easily induced by his perswasions vndertooke this warre with great alacrity When Phillip of Arteuill vnderstood that by the Duke of Burgoines intercession the Earles suite was preferred in Fraunce he addressed letters forthwith in the name of the people to the French king beseeching him that he would be a meanes to make reconciliation betweene the Earle his country He wrote not this
the truce to the King of Scotland But this was left vnperformed by what errour or negligence I know not It should seeme after the Earle of Flaunders death the duke of Burgoynes braiâ—e was so busied that he quite forgot it for all that inheritance was descended to him Certaine English gentlemen taking aduantage of this occasion made a rode into Scotland wasting the country as they went with fire and sword The Scottes who knew nothing what had passed meruailled much at the matter seeing no warre was proclaymed and so much the more because they had heard a certaine darke rumor of a truce But howsoeuer the case stoode they prepared to defend themselues When report hereof was brought to the french King the Peeres began to accuse one another of negligence in forgetting a matter of so great moment And because there was now no other remedy they sent certaine into Scotland which by declaring the true circumstances of the matter should giue them satisfaction The king himselfe was well inclined to peace but the Lords of his country made much adoe and were very hot vppon reuenge and in like maner rode forth into the borders of England to shew that they neither wanted courage nor ability to defend themselues and their goods from their enemies At length being pacifyed and the King perswaded the French ambassadors sent an herauld into England and so quieted the strife And when the truce was receiued and ratifyed on both parts it was proclaymed by sound of trumpet that no man should presume to transgresse the articles therein contayned But to perswade the king of England to this peace for he was highly offended at the late inuasion of the Scottish great meanes were made by the Duke of Lancaster who had formerly determined to make his voyage this yeere into Spaine with the assistance of the King of Portingale which warre he was the more desirous to accoÌ„plish in regard he had issue by his wife to whome he affirmed the kingdome of Spaine was both by the lawe of nations and nature it selfe of right apperâ—ayning It is shewed before with how great preparation puissance the Duke of Aniow passed into Italy When he came thither he found no opposition but onely in the Neapolitanes who would in no wise be turned from his aduersarie but Prouence Calabria and Apulia receiued him The Earle of Sauoy as I told you accompanied him in his iourney and about this time ended his life Now when he had retayned his souldiers for the space of three yeeres together being almost drayned dry with so great and coÌ„tinuall charges he requested his brothers that they would not faile him in these his affaires of so great honour and importance They out of their loue and honourable affection holding it not fit to abandon him in so â—ust a quarrell sent an army to ayd him which when it came to Auinion receiued certaine tydings that he was lately dead at a Castle not farre from Naples and so returned home againe After the death of the Earle of Flaunders the inheritance of that country descended to Phillip Duke of Burgundy which had married his daughter Now the Dutchesse of Braband whose husband Wenceslaus of Bohemia dyed lately before at Lutzemburge desired earnestly that Burgundy Henault and Flaunders might be vnited in perpetuall league and amitie The Duke of Burgoigne had a sonne named Iohn This Iohn marryed Margaret the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier and Henault at Cambray And William the sonne of Albert tooke to wife Margaret daughter to the Duke of Burgoigne The french king was present at these nuptialles And the Duke of Burgoigne gaue in dowry with his daughter an hundred thousand franks These allyances troubled the Duke of Lancaster who had a purpose to haue matcht a daughter of his to the sonne of Duke Albert. And therefore at such time as these matters were in treaty he endeauoured by his letters to Albert to haue hindred their proceedings but it preuayled not Concerning the Earles of Henault ye must conceiue that William the Lord of this seigniory had foure daughters Margaret Phillip Ione and Isabell and one sonne named VVilliam Margaret was married to Lewis of Bauier the Emperour Edward king of England marryed Phillip VVilliam was slaine in battell against the Phrisoners left no issue Therefore by his death the right of succession deuolued to Margaret the eldest sister and she enioyed the heritage till such time as Albert her sonne whom she had by Lewis the Emperour being growne to mans estate entred vpon the inheritance of his ancestors And afterward VVilliam the sonne of Albert married the Duke of Burgoignes daughter as is a little before declared The Duke of Aniow left behinde him two sonnes Lewis and Charles in whose right their mother by the counsell of Pope Clement and the French king made warre vppon the people of Prouence not without the French Kings assistance who supplyed her wants both with men and money The men of Manceilles were well affected towards her but all the rest opposed themselues against her and as it seemed would not accept her for their soueraigne before Calabria Naples and Apulia had done the same of which countries when she could showe her selfe to haue quiet possession they also offered to put themsel es vnder her obedience The truce by this time being expired the French King had a mervailous desire to bee doing with the King of England Hereupon leuying an army he sent the Duke of Burbon into Aquitaine that if it were possible he might expell the English men wholly out of Fraunce He sent another army also into Scotland vnder the conduct of his Admirall to the intent the Scottish power and his being ioyned together might put the king of England to the greater vexation But when the Admirall arriued in Scotland he found not such friendly entertaynement as he lookt for Charles the fift vpon his death-bed had requested his brothers to chuse a wife for his son of some noble family especially out of Germany that the allyance might be the stronger They did according to his desire For he married Isabell the daughter oâ— Stephen Duke of Bauier a Lady of most excellent beauty But the first meanes of this match was deriued from this occasion that Fredericke of Bauier her vnckle had followed the French king in his late warres against the English as hath beene already declared Shortly after the death of the Duke of Aniow who had attempted great matters in Italie dyed also his aduersary Charles surâ—amed the Peaceable It was supposed that he was made away by the Queene of Hungarie who hauing two daughters by her husband Lewis deceassed feared lest this Charles which was his brothers sonne should dispossesse them of their inheritance specially for that he openly tearmed himselfe King of Hungarie and therefore wrought meanes to dispatch him out of the worlde but whether this be a true report or a coniecture I cannot affirme Then
sent she ambassadors to the French King requiring that her daughter might be matchd to his brother Lewis of Valoys This being not mislikte in Fraunce commissioners were sent into Hungarie to go through with the matter in the behalfe of Duke Lewis and others afterward sent from thence into Fraunce to fetch the bridegroome In the meane while Henry of Bohemia called the Marques of Blankford the naturall brother of Charles King of Bohemia disdayning that a king should be sought so farre off by the procurement of certaine Lords of Hungary and not without consent of his brother besieged the Queene and her daughter as they soiourned for their recreation in a certaine castle seated in a solitary place farre from resort of people By meanes whereof she was at length constrayned to giue him her daughter to wife The French kings brother who was proceeded on his iourney as sarre as Champaigne with all his houshold and retinue when he heard newes of this alteration in Hungary was not a little discontented with the matter returned again to his brother who seemed not greatly sorie for as much as Hungary by reason of the farre distance of the country from Fraunce could hardly afforde him any helpe at neede The Scottish king vnderstanding the Admiralles desire to be employed leuyed an army of thirty thousand men He himselfe would not be present in the iourney but he sent his nine sonnes who together with the French men set forth towards their enemies country and wasted the borders farre and neere But assoone as they vnderstood that the King of England approched with an armie of seauenty thousand men they made no longer abode but retyred and the English pursued after The Admirall perswaded to giue battell but the Scottish men in regard their enemies were more in number then they and because they knew likewise that the English were men of great practise and experience in armes by all meanes refused the encounter And it appeared the English were neuer almost more vehemently bent to doe the Scottish a displeasure then at that time because they had then waged forraine soldiers against them and that out of Fraunce wherwith the English men were exceedingly prouoked The Scottish men the better to satisfie the Admirall who still vrged them to giue battell brought him to a hill there by of exceeding great height from whence he might perfectly take a view of all his enemies forces Which assoone as he had seene he was content to followe their counsell that were of a contrary opinion to his owne Notwithstanding least they should seeme to haue performed nothing with both their powers ioyned together they inuaded the marches of Wales where they did somewhat more harme then they could in England The Duke of Lancaster and many others gaue counsell to followe after them but a certaine person of great credyt and authority quite diuerted the kings minde from that purpose suggesting into his conceit how the Duke sought to thrust him forth into this dangerous action to the intent he might perish in battell and so himselfe get possession of the crowne How much mischiefe this bringing the King in suspition of his vnckles bred afterward in England shall be declared in place conuenient The Gauntoys tyred with seauen yeeres warres were desirous of peace but it was priuately amongst themselues For Peter de Boys who knew it was most for his profit and reputation to haue the people alwaies in trouble contention held them vnder in such sort that scarce any man durst openly make mention of peace Neuerthelesse through the diligent endeauour of two well disposed cittizens men studious of the publike welfare and a certaine gentleman of vertuous qualitie who was well beloued and befriended in Fraunce their matter was brought to a peaceable conclusion and the Duke of Burgoigne who was lately become Lord of the country shewed himselfe very gentle and tractable which he did so much the rather because in the beginning of the next spring he was purposed to make warres in England My author makes a large rehersall of the Articles of this peace which here it shall not be needfull to insert When Peter de Boys vnderstood these proceedings he likte them so well that he left the Cittie and went ouer into England with an English gentleman whom the Gauntoys long before had procured vppon ernest entreaty to be gouernour of their towne For howsoeuer after the peace was confirmed it seemd he might haue stayed there in safetie yet not daring to trust the multitude he thought it his best course to conuey himselfe out of their danger The author of this worke after rehearsall of these matters discourseth how himselfe for his better knowledge and instruction of such occurrenty as happened in Spaine Portingale Gascoigne and the countries thereabout when he was of those yeares that he was able to endure the trauell of the iourney and of that capacity and vnderstanding that he could describe and register in writing such things as he learned by his owne or others obseruation came at length to the house of a Gascone Lord called the Earle of Foys a man of much honour and respect in those times by whome being familiarly entertayned for certaine moneths together he receiued diuerse informations both from the Earle himselfe and from other persons of great credyt and account which had bene present themselues at the doing of those things whereof they made relation Amongst the rest he recounteth a certaine sorrowfull aduenture and such a one as would make euen nature it selfe astonished the discourse is this The Earle of Foys an honourable and valiant gentleman held in custodie a certaine noble man whom he had taken prisoner by the lawe of armes who for his ransome couenanted to pay fifty thousand franks for which summe the king of Nauarre whose sister the Earle had married profered to become surety But the Earle suspecting the Kings credite wherewith perhaps he had beene too well acquainted would not but vpon better assurance deliuer his prisoner His wife displeased to see her brother no better respected was very importunate with her husband and would not be in quiet till she had perswaded him oftentimes making mention how there was a matter of as great value as that to be assigned to her brother in consideration of her dowry and therefore that he neede not feare to be deceiued The prisoner by this meanes being set at liberty as soone as he came home into his countrey to the intent to discharge his credite prouided the summe of mony and sent it at his day accordingly not to the Earle himselfe but to the King of Nauarre his surety which when the Earle vnderstoode hee maruelled much the mony was not brought him and by his wife who willingly vndertooke the iourney signified his minde to the King of Nauarre desiring him to remember his promise who vpon receit of the message answered his sister in this sort Sister this
was very glad and desirous to goe this iourney His first landing was in the hauen of Brest which towne because the Englishmen refused to restore to the Duke of Britaine was at that time by the Britons and Frenchmen together beseiged But the Duke of Lancasters puissance enforced the Britons to raise their seige Then directed he his course towards Cologne a towne in Spaine For after much deliberation it was generally thought more honour to land first in their enemies country then to go streight to their friends But the towne was so strongly fortifyed as their atttempt and endeauour was vaine Therefore loosing from thence they sayled to Compostella into which towne after some parly they were honourably receiued Assoone as the King of Spaine heard tydings of the Englishmens arriuall he tooke counsell with certaine French Lords whome he chiefly fauoured concerning his affaires and what they thought of the Englishmens proceedings They were absolutely of opinion that the king of Portugale should marry the Duke of Lancasters daughter and therefore that it behou'd him to require ayde of the French king who both in respect of his owne good disposition and the most strict and auncient alliance betweene Spaine and Fraunce would not faile of his friendly dutie in that behalfe Moreouer assuring him that there were a great number in Fraunce so ill affected to idlenes that nothing could happen more according to their desires then to meete with any occasion of millitary employment When they had giuen him this counsell they further aduised him to take order that all weake holds churches and such like whereinto the country people had conueyed their goods for feare of the forraging souldiers should be beaten downe For those places were such as could not be defended and if they were taken the prey and pillage therein would afforde greate profite and aduantage to the enemy The King to whoÌ„ this counsell seemed not amisse authorised the French men to cast downe what they thought good at their discretion and withall to seize whatsoeuer they found in them after a day prefixed to their owne commodity The French king being solicited by the king of Spayne for ayd required him to be of good courage for within short space he would bend all the forces he was able to make against the English nation who being once subdued he would send store of souldiers into Spaine by whose helpe he should be enabled not onely to brydle and restrayne but to breake and confound the puissance of both his aduersaries Whilst the Englishmen wintred at Compostella they made often rodes into the country and brought certaine townes vnder their subiection In the meane time the king of Pontingale wrote diuerse Letters to the Duke of Lancaster full of great kindnesse and affection But counsell was giuen the Duke that he should delay the matter no longer nor negociate with the King any further by letters that it was very behooueful for him now he had proceeded thus farre to goe through with his affaires as speedily as might be the French men were subtle fellowes the Spaniards had small faithfulnes and it might so fall out that the French men by whome the King of Spaine was wholy carryed would perswade him to agreement with the King of Portingale vppon some indifferent conditions These reasons were approoued and therevppon the Duke sent word to the King of Portingale that he was desirous to speak with him whereto he condiscended and so they met at a place appointed After much communication it was concluded that the Duke of Lancaster should stay all the winter at Compostella sending abrode his souldiers to forrey the country in the meane while and assoone as the spring time approched to aduance their Standards both together against the enemy in what part of the Kingdome soeuer he remayned Also that the King of Portugale should take his choyce which of the Dukes daughters he would haue in marriage He chose Phillip the Dukes daughter by his first wife The matters thus accomplished the duke returned to Compostella The King of Spaine being disquicted by the English souldiers which wasted his country and forced his townes to yeeld meruailed much that there came no ayd all this while out of Fraunce but the French Lords alwaies encouraged him putting him in comfort that assoone as the wars in England were dispatched he should not faile of sufficient succours The French King vppon a meruailous desire to inuade England assembled the greatest puissance he could possibly make There were numbred of noblemen and gentlemen aboue twenty thousand and more then fifteene hundred shippes abundantly furnished with all necessaries euen to smallest trifles And although this preparation was such as a greater or more sumptuous had not been seen in mans remembrance yet as it often happeneth in such occasions the report thereof in England farre exceeded the truth and was extended aboue measure In so much that publicke prayers and supplications were daily offered to God that he would auert and turne from them this imminent mischeife All the hauens and port townes where they suspected the French men might land were strongly fortified and planted with Garrisons and an vnmeasurable masse of mony was leuied amounting to the â—umme of twenty huÌ„dred thousand floreÌ„s so as there was no man in the whole kingdome which felt not the waight of this heauy burthen All good and well disposed persons bewayled the present state of their country but idle vnthrifâ—s male-contents and such as had nothing to take to were of nothing more desirous The French army was now fully furnished and all things put in a readines in the hauen of Sluse in Flaunders nothing was wanting but onely the Duke of Berryes presence He neuer allowed this enterprise and at his comming thither when consultation was had about setting forward on their iourney he perswaded the contrary with diuers reasons as the roughnes of the winter weather for it was then about Christmas and the tender age of the King whome he thought in no wise was to be committed to the vncertainty of winds and seas at that vnseasonable time of the yeere His counsell preuailed and therevppon the voyage was put of till the next spring the preparation whereof stood Fraunce in little lesse then thirty hundred thousand Frankes It was oftentimes reported for certainty to the King of Portugale that the French Kings army was already entered into England Wherevppon some gaue him counsell that he should not be to forward in marrying his wife which he had lately affianced but rather to exspect what issue the wars would come to for if it should happen the King of England to go by the worse as it was likely enough at that time the Duke of Lancasters friendship would then do him small pleasure The King following their aduise dissembled his marriage and for a while made nomotion at all thereof but with kind letters and costly presents still continued the Dukes fauour for his aduantage Leo King of
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
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
by compulsion The Duke following their counsell made restitution of all and besides put euery officer in his place againe as he found them when he first seized the castles into his possession The fame hereof being presently spred into Fraunce met the commissioners also vpon the confines of Britaine Who when they came before the Duke because of his owne accord he had already performed that which otherwise they should haue requested at his handes they proceeded to the other part of their commission which was to require him that at a day prefixed he would repaire to the towne of Bloys vppon the riuer Loire there to meete and conferre with the Kings vncles The Duke condiscended and being come thither accordingly they exhorted and entreated him that for assurance and confirmation of peace he would speake with the King himselfe and doe homage vnto him as all others had done he only excepted The Duke as one that was not ignorant how great enemies he had about the King namely the Constable and Iohn his Son lately set free out of England discreetly and earnestly excused himselfe Neuertheles after the Kings vncles had made him faithfull promise that he should both goe and returne in safety without any offence or interruption he was contented at length to beare them company to Paris When the Duke of Lancaster had sent many letters from Bayon into England for succours and could not preuaile seing all mens affections generally enstranged from the voiage of Spaine it was a mighty greefe and corrosiue to his heart considering with himselfe how strong and well furnished an army he had brought forth against his enemy through the puissance whereof he had conquered no small number of townes and fortresses and afterward how cruelly fortune had dealt with him and his ouerthrowing the whole course of his proceedings in such sort as he sawe no possible meanes left how euer to obtaine his inheritance of the kingdoÌ„e of Castile In musing vpon this his misfortune he compared it to that calamity which the Duke of Aniow suffered in Calabria who being come into Italy vpon large hopes and great expectation not only fayled of the endes whereto he aspired but spent his life also in the pursute of his enterprise This only was a comfort to him in all his discouragements that he had a daughter by his wife Constance whome he thought some French Lord of high estate eyther in respect of her birth or possibility would desire to haue in marriage Now the Duke of Berry was at the same time a widdower and his freinds now and then discoursing with him about a wife amongst others mentioned also the Duke of Lancasters daughter The Duke presently began to conceiue some good affection that way and therevppon aduertised the Duke of Lancaster of his intent whome when he had found nothing strange in the matter he sent CoÌ„missioners againe to negotiate with him further in that behalfe The Duke of Lancaster in the meane time politickly dispersed the fame hereof into all countries far and neere by sending to his freinds instructed for the purpose both the copyes of his owne and the Duke of Berries letters for he was well assured that these tydings would meruailously trouble and disquiet the King of Spaine Who indeed assoone as he heard of the matter began to enter into a deepe consideration with himselfe how great inconuenience might redound vnto him by this marriage namely that peace being established between England and Fraunce both those nations vniting their forces together would make warres vppon Spaine and so conuey the possession of the crowne to the Duke of Lancasters wife Wherefore vpon aduise which his counsell it was thought good to make a secret motion that the Duke of Lancasters daughter might be giuen in marriage to Henrie his sonne whome hee had by the King of Arragons daughter Herevpon a sew were sent and those slenderly accompanyed least the French men by whose friendship he possessed his kingdome should come to any knowledge of the businesse intended The Duke gaue good eare to their message And yet he put the French commissioners still in great hope euer making this exception that he would go through with nothing without the consent and approbation of the King of England his nephew to whome he had wholy referred the conclusion of these matters and with this answere he dismist them But he carryed himselfe much more familiarly towards the Spaniards through his wiues procurement who sawe by this meanes that her daughter without any empeachment or difficulty should orderly succeed in the inheritance of that flourishing kingdome for the obtayning whereof so many travailes and painefull aduentures had been sustained by her husband The hatred kindled euery day more and more betweene the Brabanders and Gelders and the Brabanders assembling about fortie thousand men besieged Graue a towne neere adioyning to the riuer Maze The duke of Gelders lying the same time at Nymmeghen because he had great confidence both in the townsemen and the Garrison left at Graue did not greatly passe for that siege Neuerthelesse he required ayde of the King of England sor so it was conditioned between them when he made his defiance to the French King But the state of England was so intangled with ciuill dissention and troubled with expectation of wars out of Scotland that no ayd could be obtayned from thence And the Brabanders seeing they wasted their time in vaine sent some tenne thousand of their men abroade to harry their enemies countrey The Duke of Gelders being certified thereof gathered together about three hundred horsemen and contrary to the perswasions of almost all his Counsell with that small company marched towardes his enemy with great courage esteeming it better to die fighting manfully in the field than to be shut vp within the walles of a towne and besieged Therefore when hee had put his men in array hee exhorted them to knightly prowesse and valiant demeaâ—our giuing so great encouragement by example of his owne resolution that setting sputres to their horses they all in one troupe ranne suriously vpon their enemies preuenting their expectation with such a desperat charge before they could settle themselues to any orderly resistance that they easily ouercame them and with small losse obtained an honorable victorie Many perished some slaine in fight others drowned in the riuer Maze such as escaped fled with all the speede they could make and carried tidings of their ouerthrowe to the campe before Graue Whereupon so great terrour rose presently amongst them that without further delay they abandoned the siege and for haste left all their prouision and baggage behinde them The French king being exceedingly desirous to take reuengement of the Duke of Gelders for those arrogant and reprochfull Letters he had sent him raised a mighty armie Many disswaded him from this voiage and among the rest his vncles but because the duke of Brittaine was now fully concluded withall insomuch that he had
French King in forsaking his freindship which notwithstanding was the thing that he studied by all possible meanes to preserue and continue The King of Spaine answered that indeed there had beene debating of certaine matters in his name with the duke of Lancaster but it should be in no wise preiudiciall to the state of Fraunce and that he would neuer attempt any action whereby in the least degree he might seeme to haue broken the bondes of freindship and alliance between them Assoone as he had dismissed the ambassadours with this answere immediatly after he went through with the marriage and therevppon the Lady Constance to put the matter out of question conueyed Katherine her daughter into Spaine and there marryed her to Henrie the yong Prince of Castile Which done shee made diligent serch for her fathers bones and when the place of his buriall at length was discouered she caused them to be taken vp and honourably entumbed againe at Siuill Through the trauell and industrie of certaine well disposed persons communication was had concerning a truce betweene the Kings of England and Fraunce with their confederates viz. Spaine Portugall and Scotland Now because the Scottes lately before had some good successe against the English there was much adoe to draw them to any agreement neuertheles their King being well inclined to quietnes in the end they also changed their copie So a truce was concluded for three yeeres in such sort that whosoeuer should by any meanes infringe it should be accounted as a wicked and periured person We haue spoken before of the Duke of Ireland who being driuen out of England and lately through faire promises allured out of the low countries into Fraunce remained there a while but could not purchase any setled aboade or continuall resting place For the Lord Cowâ—y a man of great authority about the French King vppon iust and weighty occasions hated him extreamely For the Duke of Ireland hauing taken to wife this Lord Cowâ—yes daughter fell afterwards in loue with an other woman and by dispensation from Pope Vrbane who was ready by all meanes to pleasure the King of England diuorced his wife and marryed his paramour The Lord Cowey therefore father of the wronged Lady being deeply mooued with such dishonourable iniury would neuer be in quiet till he had bayted out of Fraunce this man whome the world charged with more crimes then that alone See here the â—bbing and slowing of humain estates the affections of Princes and the ends of wicked persons The French King was perswaded by some about him to make a progresse into the furthest partes of his kingdoÌ„e as a thing so acceptable to the people as nothing could be more effectuall to winne their hartes So he tooke his iourney through Campaigne Burgoigne and other prouinces till he came to Avinion and when he had visited the Pope went from thence to Mountpelyer Which Citty although by reason of trasicke and merchandize it be very wealthy yet it had been so oppressed with tributes and exactions that as then it was much impouerished For as long as king Charles the fift liued the duke of Aniow had the rule of all those countries to the great enriching of his owne cofers And at such time as in pursute of greater fortunes he vndertook his voyage towards Naples by consent of the Peeres the duke of Berry succeded in his gouernment But assoone as the king came to one and twenty yeares of age he displaced his vncles from their authority and tooke the administration of their offices into his owne hands Now when he came into Prouince and the places adioyning many grieuous complaints were preferred against his vncle of Berry who had beyond measure polled the poore commons of their goods and brought them in a manner to extreame desperation Yee might daily haue seene great numbers of suters putting vp petitions and supplications complaining of deceyt iniury violence rapes extortions and proscriptions It greiued the King exceedingly to see the miseries of his people and therefore for an example to terrify others he caused the Duke of Berries treasurer the cheifest man in those quarters to be burnedâ— for there came many accusations against him of great wrong and oppression which he had done in the country The Duke of Berry by his letters made earnest intercession to saue his life but he could not preuaile When the King vndertooke this iourney he would in no wise be accompanyed by his vncles wherewith they were greatly offended but especially because they sawe some others of meane estate to growe in great reputation about him About this time departed Pope Vrbane out of this life whereof Clement being certified within ten dayes after at Avinion he earnestly commended his cause to the French King desiring him that now vpon this occasion he would vse his credit with the Emperour the King of Hungary and other Princes to the intent that all discord being remooued peace and quietnesse might at length be established in the church He was in good hope that now when his aduersary was dead the supremacy would entirely haue falne to him But he was farre deceiued for the Cardinalles created Boniface of Naples The Moores and Barbarians made often excursions vppon the Genowaies and the Citties and Ilands vnder their subjection Which thing they might more commodiously doe because vppon the confines comming from Genoa towards their country they held a very strong and defensible towne called Affricke Out of this towne they issue forth against their enemies by sea with great ease and aduantage and if need require they haue recourse againe into the same as a most safe harbor receptacle The Genowayes therfore enforced through the coÌ„plaints entreaty of their freinds began to consider how they might worke redresse And because they vnderstood there was a truce lately concluded between Fraunce England and the kingdomes conconfederate they sent ambassadours to the French King requiring him of succour The King was so inclinable to this warre that he not only vndertooke it himselfe but solicited diuers of his neighbour Princes to set their helping hands to performance of the enterprise Therefore assembling no small power out of Fraunce Britaine Artoys Flaunders and England he sent it into Lombardy vnder the conduct of Lewis Duke of Burbon with whome he ioyned in commission the Lord Cowcy a man of most knowledge and experience and in greatest iudgement and direction in military affaires that liued in those times These taking shipping together at Genoa at length ouercame the contrary waues and tempests which encountred them at sea and arriued safely in their enemies country Now as the Moores were consulting because they saw that the Genowayes vppon this redoubling of their puissance by the comming of the french and other forraine nations to their ayd would besiege their Citty a certaine graue old man amongst them descended of a noble family gaue counsell in this manner That they should not giue battell
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
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
manner finished When they came thither the Duke stoutly dissembling his purpose and himselfe leading the Constable from place to place as it had bene to doe him the more honour at last brought him to a certaine tower of farre more sumptuous and costly building then the rest desiring him to view it well and if he espied any fault that he would frankely tell him his opinion The Constable entred in alone and mounting vp the first story the dores were presently closed beneath and certaine armed men rushing suddainly forth laide hands vppon him and bound him in fetters The hangman was likewise ready by the Dukes appointment to haue taken away his life Neuerthelesse at the humble entreaty and teares of a certaine noble man that came in his company the Duke hardly relenting delayed his execution commanding him to be kept streitly in yrons But within fewe houres after anger boyling in his brest admitting no other thought but reuenge his wrath not like others being any whit asswaged but rather more vehemently encreased by respit and consideration he againe commanded that his head should be stricken of But what labour and care what perill and difficulty he againe sustained by whose meanes the Constable had hitherto beene saued how many how sorrowfull how effectuall matters he alleadged before he could moue the Dukes most obdurate minde to any sense or feeling of compassion none can conceiue but hee which knoweth that the Duke long since had resolued vppon nothing more certainly then by one meanes or other to bring the Constable to destruction none but he which knoweth that the Duke for many yeres together had with incredible desire hunted for this opportunity none but he which considereth that it was a most vnnaturall outragious kinde of anger which vpon time to muse thinke of it was not quenched but enflamed and could be satisfied with nothing but the bloud and slaughter of a man which was brought in danger by deceipt and vnder the pretence of friendship Therefore that the Constable was saued from the Dukes deadly intent next to the prouidence of the euerliuing God he was onely to thanke this man for his deliuerance who immediately made intercession for him and neuer rested till by extreame importutunity he had extorted from the Duke the assurance of his friends life and safety So at length the Duke was cōtented to set the Constable at liberty vppon condition that he should pay him an hundreth thousand crownes before he departed and deliuer three castles into his hands to remaine to him and his heires for euer Wherof assoone as the Duke had taken possession he dismissed his prisoner who within two dayes after came to Paris made greuous complaint to the King of the great iniurie and violence he had suffered The king gaue him comfort and hope of redresse but the Kings vnckles vppon relation of the circumstances were so farre from pittying his mischaunce that they rather seemed angry and offended because when he had all things in a readinesse for his iourney he neglected his affaires and the opportunity of the season to followe matters of pleasure and idle disporte giuing rash credyt to such a one as both he himselfe hated and who he knew well enough had long since sought aduantage of his life The Admirall and the rest of the Lords which were ready to take shipping in Normandy vppon vnderstanding of these occurrents dismissed their forces So it came to passe that this expedition against England which by the generall consent and good liking of the whole kingdome had beene most certainly resolued and concluded vppon was by these occasions that yee haue heard vtterly ouerthrowne and disappointed At the same time also the young Duke of Gelders proclaymed warres against the French King and sent him his defiance for the king of England for so doing had giuen him a pension of foure thousand frankes The chiefe motiues that stirred the Duke of Britaine to this fact before mentioned were first the mortall hatred he bare to the Constable and secondly that he might thereby reconcile himselfe to the King of England whose displeasure he had mightily procured by entring in league with the French King Most part of the noblemen of Fraunce perswaded the King in the Constables behalfe that he should not suffer such a deed to escape vnpunished Herevpon messengers were sent to the Duke to let him vnderstand that both the King and his vncles and the whole counsell of state were highly offended with him because through his violent apprehension and detayning of the Constable he had frustrated the kings purpose of inuading his enemies Wherefore their will and pleasure was that he should make full restitution both of the mony and castles which he had wrongfully taken and concerning his disappointment of the voyage that he should come in person to Paris there to render an account of his doings The duke when he had receiued this message after some deliberation of the matter made answere to this effect that he not only nothing repented him of what he had done to the Cōstable but was also exceeding sory that he did no more and that it greeued him at the heart as often as he remēbred it that euer he suffered him to go away aliue As for the castles seeing he had them in his possession he would by no meanes restore them againe nor neuer depart with them vnles the King put him out by force The mony was all bestowed amongst those that helpt him to defend his country against the Cōstable thē whome he had not a more mortall enemy in the world For interrupring the iourney into England he had neuer any such thought in his mind it was a priuate case between the Constable and him and whatsoeuer was done proceeded of no other intent but only desire of reuenge Yee haue heard how at such time as inuasion was feared in England great summes of money were leuied for the maintenance of war to defend the Realme Now when the French men altering their purpose returned without performance of their enterprise many gaue out speeches that it was vniustly done of the kings officers to keepe still the mony the daunger being auoyded without any charge or expences This muttering being stilled for a while vppon occasion of a new subsidy demaunded for payment of the souldiers wages which had byn placed in garrisons was againe renued more boldly then before The commons tooke the matter very haynously and framed grieuous accusations against certaine persons through whose dishonesty and vnfaithfulnes they said the whole treasure of the kingdome and the goods of the subiects were wastfully consumed The King was led altogether by a few of the meaner sort men of base quality and ignorant disposition But especially the Duke of Ireland had him in a manner at command and possest him in such sort as it seemed he had enchaunted the young kings affections For whatsoeuer he sayd was done and there was nothing so
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