that the Subsidy of Woolls Leather and Woollfells was to end at Michaelmas next coming and that from thence the King was not able to endure the great Charges he was to be at to maintain the War in the Marches of â—alais Brest Cherburgh in Gascoigny Ireland and the Marches of Scotland they grant him the same Subsidies from the time they were to end until Michaelmass next after praying the King there might not be a Parlement to charge the Poor Commons until a year after Michaelmas next coming The Scots toward the latter end of this 9 Walsingh f. 240. n. 30 40. A. D. 1380. The Barbarity of the Scots in Cumberland and Westmerland Summer invade Cumberland and Westmerland raging killing and burning every where and driving away as the Historian says it was reported 40000 of all sorts of Beasts and went to Penreth where was then a great Fair and Conflux of People they killed some carried away others Captive and with them all the Goods of the Town and Fair. The Earl of Northumberland was preparing to 1 Ibm. drive them out of the Country and Borders and force them to make Satisfaction Which was to be considered on the March-Day or do the same things in Scotland when he received a Prohibition from the King not to do any thing but to expect the March Day which was a day appointed for the English and Scots to meet every year and adjust things done by either Nation upon the Borders In the same year 2 Mezeray f 398. The Death of Charles King of France on the 16th of September died Charles the Fifth King of France called The Wise On his Death-Bed he left the Regency to his next Brother the Duke of Anjou directing him to make some Agreement with the Duke of Britan if possible His Eldest Son 3 Ibm. f. 400 401. His Son Charles succeeds him Charles succeeded him being then about Twelve years of Age and was Crowned at Rheims on the 4th of November At this time there were great 4 Ib. and f. 402 403. Great Tumults and Disorders in France Tumults and Disorders in France by reason the Duke of Anjou had not taken off the Imposts as his Brother had Commanded on his Death-Bed but settled new ones especially upon the City of Paris The like 5 Ibm. and Walsingh f. 241. n. 20 30. The same in Flanders Mutinies Confusions and Tumults were then in Flanders by the Seditious People against their Earl especially those of Ipre and Gaunt having received great Provocations from him as Walsingham relates it After the 6 Froysard c. 360. Disaster of the Fleet and Army under the Command of Sir John Arundel Sir Thomas Percy c. the Duke of Britan this Summer about Whitsuntide sent to the King for Assistance against the King of France Thomas of Woodstock Earl The Duke of Britan sends to the King for Assistance of Buckingham 7 Ibm. as General the Earl of Stafford and many Barons Knights and Esquires of great Note and Skill in Arms were appointed and retained for this Expedition and 8 Ibm. landed at Calais on the 19th of July 1380 and marched from thence into Britany thro' Champagne and other Countreys by small Marches without any considerable Disturbance 9 Ib. c 363 and 365. wasting the Countreys as they went staying 2 3 4 days or more at every place or good Town where they rested and took up their Quarters When they came near Britany the Englishmen wondered they 1 Ib. c. 368. The Duke's negligence heard not from the Duke the Earl sent to him Sir Thomas Percy and Sir Thomas Trivet who met him on the way going to the Earl When they came together at Rennes they resolved to besiege Nantes as the most obstinate and Rebellious 2 Ib. c. 369. The English besiege Nants Town in Britany the Duke to assist the Earl in this Siege with his whole Force The English remained 15 days at Rennes to make themselves ready and went before the Town They within the Town had notice of these things who sent to the Duke of The Duke 's further Negligence Anjou to send them some French Officers and Soldiers to join with them for the Maintenance of the Place and they had them The English lay before 3 Ib. c. 374. They raise the Siege Nantes Two months and four days and never heard of the Duke or his Men when on the day after New-years-day they raised the Siege and marched towards Vannes where the Duke was and there and several other Towns near upon the Coast of Britany the English were Quartered all Winter 4 Ibm. The Earl's intention was at the Spring to march into France and to that purpose sent into England for more Forces The King and his Council approved his Design and engaged to send another Army to land at Cherburgh in due time to join him All this while the Duke had 5 Ibm. The Duke of Britan makes his Peace privately with France had Commissioners at Paris privately making his Peace with the Duke of Anjou which was concluded upon these Articles First it was agreed That the Duke of Britan should provide Ships to carry back the English into their own Country Secondly That the Garrison of Cherburgh The Articles of that Peace which was with the Earl before Nantes should if they would return thither by Land and have Safe Conduct Thirdly That after the departure of the English the Duke to go into France and do his Homage and Fealty to the French King as his Natural Lord. 6 Ibm. Soon after this Agreement the Duke came to Vannes and privately acquainted the Earl with it excusing himself by the obstinacy of his People and that otherwise he must have lost his Country 7 Ibm. On the 11th of April the Earl with the English set Sail from Vannes and other small Ports near and came for England About Michaelmass 8 Holinshed f. 428. and Walsingh f. 244. n. 20 30. The Duke of Lancaster went with a great Force into the North parts And did nothing the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Warwick and Stafford with other Lords and great Soldiers with a great Force went into the North Parts to Account with the Scots for their late Invasion and lay so long in Northumberland as they ruined the Country more then a Scottish Irruption would have done They made a Truce with the Scots for half a year and so returned bringing nothing from Scotland but some Horses which they divided amongst themselves On Monday next after the 9 Ro. Parl. 4 Ric. II. n. 1 2. A Parlement at Northampton Feast of all All-Saints there was a Parlement holden at Northampton which was adjourned until Thursday at which time the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury then Chancellor tho many Temporal Lords were absent in the Marches of Scotland with the Duke of Lancaster declared the Causes of their
to the Precept he had recovered Seisin by the Jugment of the Guardians When John King of Scotland disseised him again of the same Lands and Tenements and that he might not further prosecute his Right imprison'd him and caused an unjust Judgment to be given against him in Contempt of the King of England and Superior Lord of Scotland and to his own great Damage The King of Scots 5 Ibm. f. 158. The King of Scots appears appeared before the King and his Council in his Parliament after Michaelmas and denied all Contempt of the Lord his King and said he had not Day to Answer the said Magdulph who Replied He had that very Day appointed him to Answer by the King 's 6 Ibm. fol. 154 155. the Writ it self The Particulars of the Pleadings on both sides Writ delivered to him by the Sheriff of Northumberland at Strivelin on the morrow after St. Peter in Bonds that is the 2d of August which sufficiently appeared by the Return of the Sheriff and the King of Scots being asked whether he had the Writ delivered to him by the Sheriff confessed it and was then urged to answer 7 Ibm. f 158. when He said he was King of Scotland and that he dare not Answer to Magdulph ' s Complaint or any thing that concerned his Kingdom without the Advice of his Subjects sine Consilio * These Probi homines could not be the Common or Ordinary People proborum hominum Regni sui and Magdulph demanded Judgment against him as saying nothing 8 Ibm. f. 159. Then he was told by the King he was his Liege-Man and did unto him Homage and Fealty for the Kingdom of Scotland and was ordered to come thither to answer or say why he would not or ought not to answer before him and he said as before The K. of Scots dare not Answer without advice of his People That he Could not nor Dare answer to any thing that concerned his Kingdom without consulting his People inconsultis probis hominibus Regni sui Vpon this he was told he might require another Day he answered He would require none It was then agreed That the Principal Plea belonged to the King and that he made no Defence against Magdulph 9 Ibm. and because he would not require Day or shew Cause why he ought not to Answer in Elusion of the King's Jurisdiction and Superiority it was Judged a Contempt and Disobedience to him and that Three of his Principal Castles of Scotland should be Seized into his Hands and so remain till he had given Satisfaction for his Contempt and Disobedience But before the Pronounciation of the Sentence he came before the King and his Council and made Supplication to the King with his own Mouth ore suo proprio and Delivered it unto him with his own hand in Writing in 1 Ibm. f. 159 160. He Petitions K. Edward for leave to advise with them and for longer time French to this purpose Sire jeo suy vostre home du Royalme de Escoce c. Sir I am your Man of the Realm of Scotland and pray you for what I am come hither for which concerns the People of my Kingdom as well as my self That you would forbear me while I speak with them that I may not be surprized for want of Advice for that those that are with me will not nor ought to advise me without others of the Realm and when I have advice from them I will answer at your first Parlement after Easter and will behave my self towards you as I ought to do The King advising hereupon at the Instance of the Great Men of his Council and with the Consent of Magdulph granted his Prayer and gave King Edward grants his Request him Day until his Parlement after Easter on the Morrow of the Holy Trinity This is what is to be found in Ryley's Parliament Pleas about this Case and now we return to the Record again Which 2 Rot. de Superioritate Regis Angliae c. ut supra The K. at War with France and Wales Parlement at St. Edmunds-Bury A. D. 1295. 23 Ed. 1. tells us That on that Day the Parlement ceased or was not holden Parliamentum cessavit sive non tenebatur for that the King was Engaged in War lately raised against him in divers Countreys as with the King of France in Gascony and with the Welsh in Wales Yet the suit between the King of Scots and Magdulph which had begun before the Justices of the King's-Bench in Parlement was Continued and Prorogued Loquela c. Continuata fuit Prorogata To the Parlement next to be holden which was afterwards Summoned to be at St. Edmunds-Bury on the Feast of St. Martin in Winter that is November 11. which was in the 23d Year of King Edward and in the Year from the * The Publick Notary that Drew up this Record always begins the Year at Christmas Nativity of the Lord 1295. The King of England 3 Ibm. Magdulph prosecutes his Plea in that Parlement The King of Scots appears not but sends his Excuse was at St. Edmunds-Bury that day and there held his Parlement where Magdulph strenuously prosecuted his Plea But the King of Scots instead of appearing in Person sent the Abbot of Abirbrothok with other Noblemen of that Kingdom to King Edward with Letters to Excuse him that neither then or before he appeared in his Court in the Parliaments by passed at the Day given or appointed him Quod nec tunc nec prius juxta quod Diem habuerat ad Curiam suam in praeteritis Parliamentis accesserat Excusavit pretending certain Causes of Excuse that he could not come in his own Person This Abbot 4 Ibm. The Abbot and others that came to Excuse the K of Scots Demand Satisfaction for Injuries done them The Answer to their Demands and those that came with him brought not only an Excuse but a Quarrel and Demanded of King Edward Satisfaction for many and great Injuries Oppressions and Grievances sustained by the Scots from his Subjects To whom after deliberation this Answer was given That the King of England for certain Causes was coming toward the North parts and that the King of Scots should then have sufficient Recompence to his own Content for all Injuries could be proved done to the Scots by his Subjects of England and then appointed him a Day in the same Parlement by the Continuation and Prorogation of the Justices representing his Person against Magdulph the First Day of March next following The King of Scots summoned to appear at a Parlement at Newcastle at Newcastle upon Tyne Then expecting his being there enjoyn the Abbot and those with him to give Notice to their King he should then Personally appear to Treat with the King of England about the Premisses and other Things touching the State and Tranquility of both Kingdoms and their Inhabitants While the King was
than Eternal Majesty they acquiesce in such Abuses without Authority from the Apostolic See We therefore desiring to obviate such Acts with Advice of our Brethren by Apostolic Authority do Ordain That those Prelates Ecclesiastics Religious or Secular of what State Order or Condition soever they be who shall Pay or grant to Pay any Taxes or Impositions an Half a Tenth Twentieth an Hundredth or any other Part or Portion whatever of the Revenues of their Churches or Goods to Lay-men under the Name of an Aid Assistance Lending or Gift or under any other Pretence or Colour whatsoever without the Authority of the same See Also those Emperors Kings Princes Dukes Earls Barons Great Men Captains Officers and Governors by what Names soever they are known or any other of what State or Condition soever that shall Impose Exact or Receive such things or shall Arrest Seize or presume to take the Goods of Ecclesiastics deposited and secured in Churches or that shall Command them to be Arrested Seized or Taken likewise all who Knowingly shall give any Advice Assistance or Favour in these Matters for that very Thing and in that Moment shall incur the Sentence of Excommunication The Communities or Vniversities or Bodies-Politick that shall be Guilty of these things we put under Ecclesiastic Interdict strictly commanding the Prelates and Church-men by Virtue of their Obedience and under pain of being Deposed that they acquiesce not in these things without Express Licence of the said See And that under Pretence of any manner of Obligation Promise or Concession now made before this Constitution Prohibition or Precept shall come to their Knowledge or afterwards they shall not Pay or the foresaid Seculars Receive any thing any manner of way And if they do Pay or the others Receive that very Moment in doing it they shall fall under the Sentence of Excommunication nor shall they be absolved from Excommunication or Interdict without special Licence and Authority from the Apostolic See unless at point of Death For we intend not by Dissimulation to pass by such an horrid Abuse of the Secular Powers Notwithstanding any Privileges under any Tenor Form or Conception of Words whatever Granted to Emperors Kings and others abovesaid which we will not shall any way help him or them against the Premisses Therefore no Man may lawfully Dare to do any thing contrary to this Constitution Prohibition or Precept Dated at St. Peter's in Rome the 6th of the Kalends of March in the Second Year of our Pontificate That is February 24th 1296 in the 24th of Ed. 1. Notwithstanding the Clergy denied the King an Aid according to this Papal Prohibition yet he proceeded in his War and made 6 Confederatio inter Regem Comitem Flandriae pat 25 Ed 1. Part. 1 M. 18. The Confederacy between K. Ed. and the E. of Flanders a Confederacy with the Earl of Flanders against the King of France Complaining That he being a Peer of France and in Homage to the High and Puissant King Philip he oppressed and used him according to his own Will contrary to Reason Justice and his own Desert and therefore because he was so Strong and Powerful not acknowledging any Superior by Advice of his Prelates Earls and Barons he made Alliances and Covenants with his Friends to endure from that time forward for Ever a touz jours perpetuelement and particularly with the Earl of Flanders First That if the King of France or his Heirs should make War The Articles upon him or his Heirs then the King of England should Aid and Assist him against the King of France and all his Assistants by his Allies beyond Sea and by his own Subjects Faithfully and according to his Power Secondly That the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs Earls of Flanders and their Allies should Aid the King of England his Heirs and Allies in the same manner and that within two Months after notice from the King of England in this present War he was to make upon the King of France Thirdly That neither the King of England nor his Heirs nor the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs should make Peace Truce or Sufferance i. e. Cessation of Arms with the King of France and his Heirs without the Assent Grant and Consent of each other Fourthly That the Earl of Flanders might better and more surely sustain and undergo so great an Affair and so great a War as he had Covenanted to do against the King of France his Allies and Assistants Et pur ceo que cuens de Flandres peust mieuz plus surement sustenir endurer si grant bensoign si grant fais de Guerre come il convendra contre le Roy de France é ses Alliez é ses Aidantz King Edward granted for him and his Heirs to the Earl of Flanders and his Heirs every Year during the War Sixty Thousand * Four of these Livres made a Pound Sterling so that this was the value of 15000 l. Sterling Livres of Black Turnois or other Current Money at Two Payments within the Earldom of Flanders Chescun an Durant le susdit Guerre seissante Mile Livres de Turnois Noirs c. at every Payment Thirty thousand Livres the First to begin at Christmas 1297. an Noel qui serra l'an de Nostre Seigneur Mil deux centz quatre vintz é Diseseptz and the Second at the Nativity of St. John Baptist following These Payments were to endure so long as the War should endure Fifthly That these Alliances made between them might no ways be defeated neither by the Command of or Purchase from the Pope or any other nor for any thing that might be any ways Obtained or Granted without their joint Consent Ne par Commandement ne par purchaz D'Apostoille ne d'autri ne pur choise qui sait impetree ne ottrogee c. and if any thing was obtain'd it was agreed on both Parts to Reject and not use it For the Faithful Performance of this Agreement King Edward solemnly Sware to the Earl of Flanders by his Proxies Monsieur Hugh le Despenser and Monsieur Walter Beauchamp Steward of his Houshold And by that Oath he further Agreed and Covenanted with the Earl of Flanders That his Son Edward when he was of Age should Grant Agree to and Confirm this Form of Alliance and Confederacy Which was Dated at Ipswich and Sealed with his Seal on the Morrow of Epiphany or the 7th of January 1296. in the 25th of his Reign Et pur ce totes ces choses soinet plus seurez tenuz Gardez mieux plus fermement nous en noun de sovenance de Tesmoignage avous cestes presentes Letters fait seale◠de nostre Seal Les queles jurent faites Donees a Gippewiz lendemain de la Epephany l'an de Grace Mil deux centz quatre vintz sesse de nostre Regne vintisme quint. The Record is long and Tautological but this is the very Substance of it
which Inhibition or Bull he caused to be published at this time in all the Cathedrals See more of this matter in the History In his 25th Year he had an Eighth of all the Laity and a Tenth of the Clergy for the Confirmation of the Great Charter and the Charter of the Forest Walsingham in his History says the Laity gave a Ninth which agrees not with the Close Roll which says an Eighth the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury gave a Tenth and the Clergy of the Province of York a Fifth In the 29th of his Reign upon his Confirmation of the Perambulations Rot. Peramb Forest 29 Ed. I. in Turre of the Forests the Laity gave them a Fifteenth of their Moveables in the Parlement held at Lincoln which they should have at Michaelmas next coming Robert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury would grant nothing for the Clergy without the special Licence of the Pope In the 32d of his Reign being then in Scotland as appears Pat. 32 Ed. I. in Xedula by the Dates of the Commissions at Dunfermlyn and Strivelin to several Commissioners to Tax or Talliate or assess Tallage in Cities Burghs and his Demeasns in Cities and Burghs either Ryley's Placita Parliament f. 246. 264 265. Capitation by Poll or in Common according to their Faculties and Wealth as it might turn most to his Advantage And in the 33d Year the Arch-Bishops Bishops Prelates Earls Barons and other Tenants of his Demeasns petitioned in the Parlement holden on Sunday next after the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle at Westminster that they might have leave to Talliate their Tenants of the same Demeasns as he Talliated them and it was granted About this time he had a Fifteenth granted to him Ibm. f. 260. In the 34th Year the King intending to Knight his Son summoned Inter Comunia Brevia de Term. S. Trin. Anno R. R. Ed. I. 34. Rot. vel n. 40. penes Remem Regis in Scaccar the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbats Priors Earls Barons and other Great Men to be before him and his Council on the morrow of Holy Trinity to Treat of and Grant an Aid upon that Occasion He also sent to all the Sheriffs of England to cause to come before him and his Council Two Knights of every County and of every City Two Citizens and of every Burgh One or Two Burgesses as the Burgh was greater or lesser c. These same Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men and Ibm. also the Knights of Shires Treating deliberately upon this Matter and considering there was an Aid due as aforesaid and that many Burthens were incumbent upon the King by reason of his War in Scotland unanimously Granted to the King for themselves and whole Community of the Kingdom a 30th Part of all their Temporal moveable Goods c. for a competent Aid toward the Knighthood of his Son and also for an Aid toward his Expences which he was to be at in the War Also the Citizens and Burgesses of Cities and Burghs and others Ibm. of the King's Demeasens assembling together and treating about the Premisses considering the Burthens incumbent upon the King c. unanimously Granted unto him for the Causes abovesaid a 20th Part of their moveable Goods c. The Issue of Edward I. BY his First Wife 1 Sandford's Geneal Hist f. 130. 138. Elianor Sister to Alphonso King of Castile and Daughter of Ferdinand III. and only Child by Joan his Second Wife Daughter 2 Wals f. 48. n. 40. Mezeray f. 319. A. D. 1279. and Heir of John Earl of Pontive or Ponthien he had John his Eldest Son who died young By her also he had 3 Wals Hypodigma Nustriae f. 499 n. 20. Sandf ut supra f 138. Henry and Alphonso who both died young and before their Father His Fourth Son by her was Edward born at Caernarvon in Wales called therefore Edward of Caernarvon on St. Mark 's Day April 25. 4 Wals Hist 52. n. 10. in the 12th Year of his Reign A. D. 1284 who succeeded him by the Name of Edward II. By this Queen 5 Sandf ut supra f. 139 140 141 c. Wais Hypod. Neustr 499. he had Nine Daughters Elianor married to the Earl of Barr in France Johan of Acres or Acon in the Holy Land so called because there born first married to Gilbert of Clare Earl of Glocester and afterwards to Ralph Monthermer without her Father's Consent The Third Margaret married to John Duke of Brabant Berenger and Alice the Fourth and Fifth died in their Childhoods the Sixth Mary a Nun at Amesbury the Seventh Elizabeth married to John Earl of Holland Zealand and Lord of Friesland who died without Issue and she was afterwards married to Humphry de Bohun Earl of Hereford Beatrix and Blanch * Sandf ut supra f. 144. the Eighth and Ninth died in their Childhoods Issue by his Second Wife Margaret Sister to the King of France Daughter to Philip III. Surnamed the Hardy Thomas de Brotherton 6 Sandf ut supra f. 205. born at a small Village of that Name in Yorkshire from whence he was so called on the 1st of June A. D. 1300. he was created 7 Dugd. Bar. Part 2. f. 63. from Chart. 6. Ed. 21. n. 30 31 32. Earl of Norfolk by his Half-Brother King Edward II. Decemb. 16. in the 6th Year of his Reign and had then Granted unto him all the Castles Mannors and Lands in England Wales and Ireland which Roger Bigod lately possessessed except those his Widow had in Dower and in the 9th of the same King was 8 Ibm. from Cart. 9. Ed. II. n. 32. made Earl-Marshal of England Edmond 9 Ibm. f. 92. of Woodstock born there on the 25th of August A. D. 1301. and was created Earl of Kent in the 15th of Edw. II. Elianor his 1 Sandf ut supra Tenth and only Daughter by this Queen died in her Childhood A CONTINUATION Of the Compleat History of England c. King EDWARD the Second AFter the Death of Edward the First on the 7th of July 1307 his Son Edward the Second succeeded him being about the Age of Twenty three years and Seven Weeks after his accession to the Crown he summoned a Parlement by his 1 Cl. 1 Ed. II. M. 19. Dâ—rf A. D. 1307. Writs dated August 26th to meet at Northampton on the Quinden of St. Michael or 13th of October 2 Ibm. A Parlement summoned concerning the Burial of his Father his own Marriage and Coronation and other Arduous Business touching the State of the Kingdom but what was done in this Parlement more 3 Fol. 96. n. 10. Not well known what it did Walsingham tells us That the Money which would scarcely pass amongst the People in his Father's Life-time was made current after his decease under the Pain of Losing Life and Member and that the * Cl. 1 Ed. II. M. 12. intus Clergy Citizens
about the Prices of Oxen Cows Sheep Geese Hens and other Victuals set the last Parlement should be revoked and that they should be sold as formerly at reasonable Rates The reason of this says Walsingham was 2 Hist f. 107. n. 20. because after the Price set in Parlement they were much dearer On Tuesday following the King by the Bishop of Norwich promised to 3 Rot. Par. ib. n. 1. The King promiseth to observe the Ordinances observe all the Ordinances formerly made by the Prelates and Great Men per Prelatos Proceres and also the Perambulations of the Forest made in his Father's time saving to the King his Reasons against them salvis Regi Rationibus suis contra Perambulationes and thereof Writs were made accordingly On the Friday next coming 4 Ibm. Soldiers how raised and paid against the Scâ—â—s the Great Men and Community of the Kingdom Magnates Communitas Regni Granted to the King in Aid of his War with Scotland of every Town in the Kingdom one Stout Footman except in Cities and Burghs and the King's Demeasns and these Footmen were to be armed and furnished with Swords Bows Arrows Slings Lances and other Armour fit for Footmen at the Charge of the Towns and their Expences to be paid until they came at the Place of Rendezvous and their Wages for 60 Days after and no longer if the King's Service required it at 4 d. the day and Market-Towns that were further able to be charged with Men were so to be charged the King promising to give his Letters to the Great Men and Community of the Kingdom Magnatibus Communitati Regni and to their Heirs That this Grant should be no Precedent nor drawn into Example for the future The same Day the King by Advice of the Prelates and Great Men Consilio Praelatorum Procerum ordered the 5 Ibm. whole Service due to him i. e. all the Horse of England to be Summoned for this cause to be at Newcastle upon Tine 15 Days after Midsummer The Citizens Burgesses and Knights 6 Ibm. n. 2. Cives Burgenses Milites de Comitatibus qui venerunt ad Parliamentum then Granted the King in Aid of this War and Expedition a 15th Part of all the moveable Goods 7 Ibm. Civium Burgensium Hominum de Civitatibus Burgis de Dominicis Regis of Citizens Burgesses and Men of Cities Burghs and the King's Demeasns which they had at Michaelmas then last past On Shrove-Tuesday in the Parlement 8 Ibm. n 3. The King had a sincere good will toward the Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men. the Bishop of Norwich on behalf of the King moved the Earl of Lancaster to put away all Doubting he might have of him for that he had a sincere Good-will towards him and the other Great Men erga ipsum alios Proceres Regni sui and held them to be his Faithful Liege-men and told him the King desired to have him the Chief of his Council requesting him 9 Ibm. ex parte Domini Regis Praelatorum ac Procerum Regni ibidem existentium on behalf of the King Prelates and Great Men there present to take upon him to assist and advise in the Affairs of King and Kingdom The Earl thanked the King and and humbly requested time to deliberate humiliter supplicavit quod ipse possit deliberare and then answer Which he did in a very short time and was Sworn of the King's Council in the Form following Whereas our Lord 1 Ibm. n. 4. King Edward by the Grace of God King of England hath with the Prelates Earls and Barons of the Land 2 Ibm. this number only in French upon the Roll. avesques Prelates Countes e Barons de son Terre in full Parlement requested his dear Cousin Monsieur Thomas Earl of Lancaster that he would be Chief of his Council in all Great and Weighty He requested the Earl to be Chief of his Council Affairs touching himself and his Realm with other Prelates Earls and Barons which may between the King and himself take care that he may be for the Profit of him and the Realm The said Earl for the great Love he had for his Lord the King and for the Common Profit of the Kingdom and the Ordinances 3 Ibm. The Earl complies upon such Terms as he might Govern the Kingdom qil ad sur merci enterement Grante a teniz which he had upon favour entirely granted to observe and the right Laws to maintain in all Points and in hope to make Amendments in such things as had been ill done in his Court and the Estate of his Realm did grant to be of the King's Council with the Prelates Earls Barons so as at the Hour the King shall not do according to his Directions and others of his Council concerning the Matters of his Court and Kingdom after such things have been shown him and he will not be Governed by the Council of him and others the Earl without Evil Will Challenge or Discontent may be discharged from the Council and that the Business of the Realm concerning him shall not be done or performed without the Assent of him and the other Prelates Earls and Barons which shall be ordained or appointed to advise him 4 Ibm. saunz Assent de luy des autres Prelatz Countes Barous qi de luy Conseiller serront ordenetz And if any of the Prelates Earls and Barons shall advise the King or do other thing which shall not be for the Profit of him and his Realm then at the next Parlement by the Advisement of the King and his Friends 5 Ibm. solone lavisement nostres Seigneur le Roy le seon they shall be removed and so it shall be from Parlement to Parlement as to them and every of them according to the Faults found in them In Witness whereof this Bill was to be entred on the Parlement-Roll ceste Bille entre en Rouelle de Parlement And then it follows Billae 6 Ibm. The Instrument by which he was made Chief of the Council entred upon the Parliament-Roll predicta formam continens supra scriptam liberata fuit Willielmo de Ayremin Clerico c. The foresaid Bill containing the Form above written was delivered to William Ayremin Clerc by the hands of the Lords Walter of Norwich and Bartholomew de Badlesmer commanding the said William by Order of the King to inroll it Word for Word Over the Army above-mentioned raised by the Parlement against the Scots the Earl of Lancaster was made 7 Rot. Scot. Ed. 2. M. 6. The Earl of Lancaster made General of the Army against the Scots and Lieutenant of Scotland General and the King's Lieutenant in Scotland but what great things he did with this Army or by his Lieutenancy it appears not in any History I have met with Next Year the Pope sent two 8 Rot. Claus 10 Edw. II. M.
and Arms 15 days after the King had begun and holden his Parlement when they made the Award against the Two Spencers and concealed it from the King who knew nothing of it until the Hour they came with it to Westminster with Force and Arms so as the King could not hinder the passing of it which was to this effect To the Honour of God and Holy Church and of our Lord the King for the Profit of him and his Realm and to maintain Peace amongst his People and the Estate of the Crown the Prelates Earls Barons and other Peers of the Land and Communes of the Realm do shew against Sir Hugh le Despenser Father and Son That whereas Sir Hugh the Son at the Parlement at York 7 3 Weeks after Michaelmas Claus 12 Ed. II. M. 28. in cedula was Named and it was there Agreed he should be Chamberlain to the King in which Parlement it was Agreed That certain Prelates and other Great Men should be with the King by turns at several Seasons of the Year the better to advise him without whom no great Business ought to pass The said Sir Hugh the Son drawing to him his Father who was not by Order of Parlement to be near the King or to be one of those Counsellors between them both have usurped Royal Power over the King and his Ministers and the Government of the Kingdom to the Dishonour of the King the Injury of the Crown and Destruction of the Kingdom Great Men and People and have done the Wickednesses under-written in contriving to turn the Heart of the King from the Peers of the Land that they may have the sole Government thereof 1. That Sir Hugh the Son made a Bill or Writing whereby he would have had Sir John Gifford of Brimmesfield Sir Richard de Greye and others entred into a Confederacy to have forced the King to do what he would have him and had almost done it The Tenour of the Bill is under written 2. Homage and the Oath of Allegiance is more by reason of the Crown than of the Person of the King and bound him more to the Crown than the Person and this appeared for that before the Crown descends there is is no Allegiance due to the Person Expectant Wherefore in case the King carries not himself by Reason in Right of the Crown his Lieges are bound by Oath made to the Crown to remove the King and the State of the Crown by Reason and otherwise the Oath ought not to be kept Then it was demanded whether the King was to be dealt with by Suit of Law or by Rigour par Suit de Loy ou par Aspertee By Suit of Law it could not be for he had no Judge In which case if the King 's will be not according to Reason and that he maintains nothing but Errour therefore to save their Oath and when the King will not redress what is injurious to the People they must proceed with Rigour for he is bound by Oath to Govern his Lieges and his Lieges are bound to Govern in Aid of him and in Default of him 3. Also upon the Application of the Great Men and People unto him his Answer was according to the Pleasure of these Two in turning the King from his Duty against his Oath and the Hearts of the Great Men and People against their Liege Lord. 4. Also by their evil Contrivance they will not suffer the Great Men of the Realm nor Good Counsellers to speak with or come near the King to advise him nor the King to speak to them unless in their presence and hearing or of one of them and when they please they usurping Royal Power and Sovereignty over the Person of the King to the great Dishonour and Peril of him the Crown and the Kingdom 5. Also to attain to their Wickedness Covetousness and Disinheriting the Great Men and Destruction of the People they put out Good and Agreeable Ministers placed by Assent and put in others False and Wicked of their Party who will not suffer Right to be done as Sheriffs Escheators Constables of Castles and make Justices not understanding the Law as Sir Hugh the Father Sir Ralph Basset Sir Ralph Camois and Sir John Inge and others their Friends who caused to be indicted by false Jurors of their Alliance the Peers of the Land as the Earl of Hereford Monsieur Giffard of Brimmesfield and Monsieur Robert de Monshall and other good People to get their Lands 6. Also they falsly and maliciously advised the King to raise Arms against his People in Glocestershire contrary to the Great Charter and the Award of the Peers of the Land and by their false and evil Counsel would have made War in the Land for their own proper Quarrel to the Destruction of Holy Church and the People 7. Also whereas the Earl of Hereford and the Lord of Wigmore i. e. Mortimer by the King's Command were assigned to make War upon Lheuelin Bren who had levied War against him in Glamorganshire when the Earl of Glocester's Lands by reason of his Death were in the King's hand and Lhewelin had rendred himself into the Lords hands to the King's Grace and Pleasure and upon that Condition delivered him to the King who received him accordingly but when these Lords were out of the Country these Two the Father and Son usurping Royal Power took Lhewelin and carried him to Cardiff after that Sir Hugh the Younger was seized thereof as of his Share of the Earl of Glocester's Estate one of whose Daughters and Heirs he had married pretending to a Jurisdiction where none was in this case and there caused him to be Drawn Hanged Beheaded and Quartered feloniously for things done in the time of King Henry And also took upon them Royal Power and Jurisdiction which was appendant to the Crown in Disheritance of the Crown and Dishonour of the King the said Lords of Hereford and Mortimer and in ill Example and great Peril in the like case in time to come 8. Also they ill advised the King to take into his hands the Lands and Goods of Sir Hugh Audely the Son who was fore-judged without due Process contrary to the Law of the Land by the Covetousness of the said Hugh to get some of those Lands and by other false Compassments contrived to have the Lands of Sir Roger Dammory and for having him attainted for entring into Glocestershire in Disheritance of the Peers of the Land 9. Also that whereas the King had granted by his Letters Patents to the Earl of Warwick in full Parlement at Westminster That after his Death his Executors should have his Lands until his Heir was of Age which Grant after the Earl's Death was confirmed by the King at Lincoln at the Request and Assent of the Peers of the Land in Parlement the said Sir Hugh the Father procured his Son to cause the King to repeal this Grant without cause and to give to the said Hugh the Father
and of their Wives The Citizens Burgesses and Tenents of the ancient Demeasns of the Crown granted a Fifteenth part of their Moveables as also did the Clergy In his Second year at a Parlement holden at Westminster a Claus 3 Ed. II. M. 23. in Ced Month after Easter the Laity granted a Twenty fifth of their Moveables In the Seventh year in his Parlement at Westminster the Earls In Rot. Comp. ut supra Barons Knights Freemen and the Communities of Counties gave a Twentieth part of their Goods and the Citizens and Burgesses and Communities of Cities and Burghs gave a Fifteenth In his Eighth year he had a Twentieth part of the Moveables of Rot. Pat. 8 Ed. II. M. 12. Dors Part 2. the Laity granted by the Communities of Counties of the Kingdom per Communitates Comitatuum Regni in Parlement In his Ninth year he had granted a Fifteenth of Citizens Burgesses Rot. Parlem 9 Ed. II. n. 2. and Tenents in ancient Demeasns for his War with the Scots in the Parlement held at Lincoln the Community of the Kingdom or the Military Men being summoned to do their Service then In the Fifteenth year of his Reign the King * Rot. Claus 15 Ed. II. M. 16. Dors summoned a Parlement to meet at York three weeks after Easter and after the end of this Parlement and after the 7th of July next following he directed his Writs to the Prelates and Clergy to meet at a Provincial Council at Lincoln which the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was immediately to summon to Treat of a Competent Ayd to be granted to him toward his Expedition against the Scots who had invaded England in which Writs as it were for a Direction he * Rot. Claus 16 Ed. II. M. 20. Dors recites what the Earls Barons Noblemen and the Communities of the Kingdom had done in the Parlement at York viz. That they had granted him a Tenth of the Goods of the Community of the Kingdom and a Sixth part of the Goods of Citizens Burgesses and Tenents of ancient Demeasns * Ibm. Praelati Comites Barones proceres necnon Communitates Dicti Regni apud Eborum ad tractandum super dictis negotiis aliis nos statum dicti Regni tangentibus nuper Convocati decimam de Bonis de Communitate ejusdem regni sextam de Civitatibus Burgis Antiquis Dominicis nostris nobis liberaliter concesserunt gratanter The Issue of Edward II. by Isabell Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France ON the Day of St. Brice or 13th of November his Eldest A. D. 1312. Ed. II. 12. Walsingh Hist f. 102. n. 30. Son Eoward who succeeded him by the Name of Edward the Third was born at Windsor In the year 1315 his Second Son John was born at Eltham Ibm. Hypodig Neutr f. 502. n. 30 40. from whence his Title on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the Eighth of his Father's Reign he was Created Earl of Cornwall and after several Matches propounded for him died unmarried about the 20th year of his Age. Joan his Eldest Daughter Married to David King of Scots Sandford Genealog Hist c. f. 155. when both Children and after being his Wife 28 years died without Issue Eleanor Dutchess of Gueldres his Second Daughter she Married Ibm. Reynald Second Earl of Gueldres who was Created Duke of Gueldres by the Emperor Lewis of Bavaria by her he had Two Sons Reynald and Edward who were both Dukes successively after him and died without Issue A CONTINUATION Of the Compleat History of England c. King EDWARD the Third THis Young Man at the Age of Fourteen Years being placed in the Throne of his Father then living and in Prison as hath been related in the latter end of the The young King managed by the Queen Mortimer c. The Adherents to Tho. Earl of Lancaster petition former Reign was with all the Affairs of the Nation managed by the Queen with the Advice of Roger Mortimer chiefly and other Privado's in their Designs who had been all Favourers and Abettors of the Cause and Quarrel of Thomas Earl of Lancaster whose Adherents being all Friends to and Assistants in this Revolution on the 3d of 1 Append. n. 82. to be restored to their Lands c. They were all Friends to and Assistants in this Revolution February two Days after the Coronation Petitioned the King and his Council in that Parlement which had Deposed his Father then Sitting at Westminster That being of the Quarrel of the Noble Earl of Lancaster estetent de la Querele le Noble Counte de Lancastre and therefore wrongfully Imprisoned Banished Disherited might be Restored to their Estates with the Issues of them from the time they had been wrongfully diseised And it was granted by the Assent of the whole Parlement That all the Lands and Tenements which had been seized by reason of that Quarrel or Contention which was affirmed to be good by the whole Parlement ia quele Querele par tot le Parsement est afferme bone as well in Ireland and Wales as in England should be Restored with their Issues and Arrears of Rent except those that had been Received to the King's Use On the same Day 2 Stat. at Large 1 Ed. III. The first thing printed f. 77. All that came over with the Queen her Son pardoned and those that joined them after their arrival all those that came over with the Queen and her Son and those that joined with them after their arrival were also pardoned c. The long Preamble to that Pardon Statute or Grant is worth notice as containing the Cover Pretences and Suggestions of all the Contrinances and Designs against Edward the Second in these Words Whereas Hugh Spenser the Father and Hugh Spenser the Son late at the Suit of Thomas Thun Earl of Lancaster and Leicester and Steward of England by the Common Assent and Award of the Peers and Commons of the Realm and by the Assent of King Edward Father to our Sovereign Lord the King that now is as Traitors and Enemies of the King and his Realm were Exiled Disherited and Banished out of the Relams for ever and afterwards the same Hugh and Hugh by Evil Counsel which the King had taken of them without the Assent of the Peers and Commons of the Realm came again into the Realm and they with others procured the said King to pursue the said Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men and People of this Realm in which Pursuit the said Earl of Lancaster and other Great Men and People of this Realm were willingly Dead and Disherited and some Outlawed Banished and Disherited and some Disherited and Imprisoned and some Ransomed and Disherited and after such Mischief the said Hugh and Hugh Master Robert Baldock and Edmond late Earl of Arundel usurped to them the Royal Power so that the King nothing did or would do but as the said Hugh and
at Berkele when he was Murdered The said Thomas saith That at the time of the Murder of the Murder of the said * Note That so often as Ed. the II. is any way mentioned in this Record he is acknowledged to have been King at the time of his Murder King he was sick at Bradelye without the said Castle and knew not what was done nor was consenting thereunto and thereupon put himself upon his Tryal by Twelve Knights named in the Record who found him Not Guilty nor that he fled or withdrew himself upon it but that he placed under him Thomas de Gurney and William de Ocle to keep the King by whom he was Murdered he had Day given him to hear his Judgment in next Parlement and the mean time was committed to Ralph Nevill Steward of the King's Houshold In this 4 Rot. Parl. 4 Ed. III n. 13. Richard Son to the Earl of Arundel restored to Blood Lands and Goods Parlement Richard Eldest Son to the late Earl of Arundel prayeth to be restored to Blood Lands and Goods seeing his Father was put to Death not being tried by his Peers according to the great Charter and the Law of the Land But because the Attainder was confirmed by Parlement at Northampton he mended his Petition and prayed to be restored of the King 's meer Grace and he was accordingly restored Also in the 5 Ib n. 14. A Thousand Pounds per Annum given to William Montacute for taking Mortimer without Bloodshed same Parlement the Prelates Earls and Barons pray and advise the King to give and grant 1000 l. per Annum to William Montacute and his Heirs for his Service in quietly taking Roger Mortimer Earl of March and his Confederates without Bloodshed a 1000 Marks whereof was to be out of the Lands of Mortimer Upon the same Prayer and Advice his Assistants 6 Ib. n. 15. His Assistants were likewise Rewarded Edward Bohun had 400 Marks per Annum to him and his Heirs Robert de Vfford 300 and John Nevill 200. In the 5th year of his Reign the King called a Parlement at A. D. 1331. Westminster to 8 Cl 5 Ed. III. M. 7. Dors Part. 1. meet on the morrow after Michaelmas The Bishop of Winchester being Chancellor 9 Rot. Parl. 5 Ed. III. n. 2. A Parlement called about the Business of France and Ireland And to ordain how the Peace might be kept declared the cause of Summons to be concerning the Dutchy of Aquitan and the King's Lands beyond Sea whether Peace should be made or other Issue put to the Dissentions between the King 's of England and France by reason of the said Lands and also about the Business of Ireland concerning the King's going thither to be advised by his Lieges in that Nation and likewise to ordain how the Peace might best be kept When also it was agreed That the King's Business ought to be dispatch't before any other auxint illoeques The King's Business in Parlement to be dispatch't before any other feust Accorde que les Busoignes le Roi deusseient primerement estre exploitez einz ce que Rien feust fait de nully autre Busoign The Chancellor further 1 Ib. n. 3. The Lords Advise the King to an Amicable Treaty with the King of France about the Dutchy of Aquitan c. applied himself to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and all the other Prelates Earls Barons autres Grantz and other Great Men for their Advice whether they thought it best for the King to proceed with the King of France by way of Process or War or Amicable Treaty They all agree in the 3d way by amicable Treaty with the King of France for the Restitution of Aquitan seeing the two former might prove dangerous and to that purpose the Bishops of Winchester Worcester and Norwich two or one of them as the King pleased with the Lords Beaumont Percy and Montague Monsieur Geofry Lescrop and Maistre John de Shordich were to be sent to the King of France As to the Business 2 Ib. n. 4. The Lords Advise the King to go in Person to Ireland of Ireland it was agreed by the King Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men in the same Parlement si est accorde par nostre Seigneur le Roi Praelates Countes Barons autres Grantz en Mesme le Parlement c. That the King should provide himself to go thither as soon as he could and that in the mean time he should send over some Great Men with Men at Arms to aid the Justices and other Liege People against such as opposed the Government In this Parlement 3 Ib. n. 9. The Queen Mother to have Lands and Rents of the value of 3000 l. a year assigned her the King by assent of the Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men and at their Request granted That the Queen his Mother not being well paid according to her mind Three thousand Pounds trois mill livres yearly which she was to receive out of the Exchequer for her support should have Lands and Rents of the value assigned to her Then for keeping of the Peace it was 4 Ib. n. 10. An Agreement how the Peace was to be kept agreed in full Parlement by the King Prelates Earls Barons and other Great Men of the Kingdom par nostre Seigneur le Roi Praelat Countes Barons autres Grantz du Royalme en pleyn Parlement chescun des ditz Grantz eut especialment examine assentat c. every one of the said Great Men having been especially Examined and Assenting That no Great Man of the Land for the future shall retain maintain or avow openly or privately by himself or others any Robber Evil-Doer endicted of Felony or Fugitive for the same nor any sued to Exigend Common Transgression or of Evil fame and the said Great Men promised with all their Power to assist the Justices Sheriffs and other the King's Officers in the Execution of Judgments and other things that belonged to their Offices as well against Great Men as others of what Condition soevery they were On the 27th of January in the 6th of his Reign the King issued his 5 Rot. Claus 6 Ed. III. M. 36. Dors A. D. 1331. A Parlement called Writs for a Parlement to meet on the Monday after St. Gregory or 12th of March reciting in the Summons the Cause of calling it which the Chancellor more fully declared 6 Rot. Parl. 6 Ed. 3 n. 5. To advise the King whether he should go to the Holy Land with the King of France To wit That the King of France and many other Kings and Princes quamplures alii Reges Principes so in the Writ had ordered his going toward the Holy Land in that present Month of March and that it much pleased him to have the Company of the King of England for the greater performance against the Enemies of God and for
Soveraign Lord by ancient Right and also of the Manner of his doing Homage and Swearing Fealty in the presence and by assent of the Prelates Earls Barons Knights and others of his Kingdom in Parlement assembled at Edinburgh holding his Hands between the King of England's in these Words Jeo Edward par la Grace de Dieu Roi Descoce des Isles apertenences Devenke vostre home liege pur les dits Roialm Isles contre touts Gents que purront vivre morir le dit Roi Dengleterre come Sovereign Seigneur des dits Roialm Descoce Isles receut nostre Homage en la form susdit Et puis Apres entrasems en la foi de dit Roi Dengleterre Sovereign Seigneur de dits Roialm Descoce Isles touchees les Saints Evangeles par les paroles que sensuit Nous seroms And Swearing Fealty foial loial foi loialte porteroms a vos nostre treschier Seigneur Roi de Angleterre a vos heires come as Sovereignes Seigneurs de dits Roialm Descoce Isles contre touts Gents que purront Vivre Morir Et voloms grantoms obligeroms nos nos heires affair a nostre dit Seigneur le Roi Dangleterre a ces heires Homage liege Fealty en le formes susescrits au chescun changement de Seigneur ou inneument dune part ou d'autre That is I Edward by the Grace of God King of Scotland and the Isles thereto belonging become your Liege Man for the Realm and Isles against all People that can live and dye and the said King of England received our Homage in the form abovesaid as Soveraign Lord of the Realm of Scotland and the Isles and then afterwards we entred into the faith of the said King of England Soveraign Lord of the said Realm of Scotland and the Isles touching the Holy Gospels by the Words that follow We shall be true and faithful and faith and truth bear to our most Dear Lord the King of England and to your Heirs as Soveraign Lords of the said Realm of Scotland and Isles against all People that live and dye and we Will Grant and Oblige us and our Heirs to do to our said Lord the King of England and to his Heirs Homage Liege and Fealty in the Forms above-written upon every Change of a Lord or Renewal of one part or the other In the same Instrument he granted to King Edward Berwick c. In Witness whereof he made his Letters Patents dated at Edinburgh Febr. 12. A. D. 1333 in the Second of his Reign The Original under the Great Seal of Scotland is in a Box Intituled Scotia Tempore Regis Edwardi Tertii in a great Chest with that Title in the old Chapter House in the Cloyster at Westminster In the same Year of his Reign reciting that Edward III. by great Edw. King of Scotland grants to Edw. King of England 2000 l. per An. to him and his Heirs for his Assistance c. with the Town of Berwick By Assent of Parlement Expence and Labour of him and his People had given him great Assistance in the Recovery of his Inheritance he granted for him and his Heirs to give assign and deliver unto him 2000 l. yearly Land and Rents in the Borders where it should best please him And in part of those 2000 l. yearly Rent he gave granted and assigned the Castle Town and County of Berwic upon Twede with their Appurtenances separate from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to the Crown of England for ever By Assent of the Prelates Earls Barons Knights and others of the Kingdom aliorum de Regno nostro in Parlement assembled And in further full Other Towns Castles and Counties in Scotland given to K. Edward of England Satisfaction of the said 2000 l. per An. by the same Assent in Parlement gave granted rendred and assigned the Town Castle and County of Rokesburgh the Town Castle and Forest of Jedworth the Town and Castle of Selkirk the Forests of Selkirk and Etrick the Town Castle and County of Edinburgh with the Constablaries of Haddington and Linliscon the Town and County of Pebles and Town County and Castle of Dunfres with their Appurtenances Knights Fees Services with the Advousons of Churches Chapels Religious Houses Custody of the Temporalities in the time of the Vacation of Bishopricks and all things whatsoever belonging to them with the Subjection and Government of the People in those Places To hold them to him and his Heirs separate from the Crown of Scotland and annexed to and incorporated with the Crown of England for ever Dated at Newcastle upon Tine June 12. in the Second Year of his Reign The Original under the Great Seal of Scotland is in the same Box above noted and is confirmed by several Instruments in that Box under the Great Seal King Edward of England two Years before had 7 Froysard K. Edw. demands Berwick and was denied Du Chesne f. 641. C. D. D. Bruce denied Homage to K. Edward sent to David the young King of Scots to deliver up to him Berwic as his Heritage and proper Right and enjoyed by his Ancestors and to come and do Homage for the Kingdom of Scotland holden of his Crown He consults his Barons and Great Men according to whose Advice he gave the Ambassadors this Answer That he greatly marvelled at what King Edward required seeing there could no ancient Titles or Papers be found by which it might appear that the Realm of Scotland held of the Realm of England by Homage or As R. Bruce his Father had done to his Antecessors any other way That his Father King Robert had conquered Berwic by War against Edward II. and he would keep it and that his Father never would do Homage to the Ancestors of Edward King of England And desired the Ambassadors to pray their Master That since he had Married his Sister he would permit him the same Liberty the Kings of Scotland had at all times enjoyed In the mean time King David's Friends held Berwic so as King K. Edw. besiegeth Berwick Edward could not obtain it without Force notwithstanding the Grant of Edward Baliol or his Demand by Right and therefore sent an Army under Command of the 8 R. de Avesbury p. 82. a. c. 21. A. D. 1334. 8 Ed. III. Lord William Montacute to besiege it and within a Month followed with another Army to assist in the Siege On Monday on the Eve of St. Margaret or 19th of July the Scots came with a vast Army to relieve the Town King Edward marched to meet them and led up his Beats the Scots Army and takes it Army himself and in Huntene-More near Berwic fought with and routed them killing says the Historian Forty thousand The rest fled when the Besieged yielded the Town and Castle The next Year 9 Ib p 826 b. c. 22. He wasts and burns Scotland The Scots make a Peace with him
Recovery of his own and the Rights of his Crown he summoned a Parlement to meet at Westminster on the Wednesday after the Feast of the Translation of St. Thomas the Martyr that is Thomas Becket which Feast was July the 7th to be holden before his Son Edward Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester whom he had made Guardian of England And he not only publickly declared his intention in the Writs of Summons but 9 Rob. Aves p. 89. a. c. 29. A. D. 1340. The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury appointed the precise day to be on the 13th of June to pass from Orwell in Suffolk into Flanders with about 40 Ships that lay ready there to Treat with his Confederates about the War Upon this Resolution the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury then his Chancellor informed 1 Ibm. Then Chancellor acquaints the King with the Danger in his Passage to France He would not believe him He Quits his Council and sends him the Seal him That Philip of Valois his Adversary of France foreseeing his Passage had privately sent a great Fleet of Men of War to encounter him in the Haven of Sluce and advised him to provide more Ships and reinforce his Fleet otherwise he and his Affairs might be lost in the Passage The King not believing him said he would go whatever came of it The Arch-Bishop quitted his Council and taking Leave departed and sent the Seal of his Office to him yet the King thinking better on the Matter called to him Robert de Morle his Admiral and one Crabbe a famous Mariner who upon his enquiry gave him the same Information and Advice the Arch-Bishop had given whereupon he presently sent for him and delivered to him 2 Ib. p. 89. b. the Seal and also having sent to the Northern and Southern Parts and to London within ten days he had a sufficient Fleet and more Armed Men and Archers then he could expect or had use for With this Fleet he sailed towards Flanders and on Midsummer 3 Ibm. Day the English and French Fleets engaged when the English obtained a mighty Victory killing Thirty thousand French and taking and destroying Two hundred Ships The Parliament met at the time appointed and the cause of Summons was declared to be 4 Rot. Parl. 14 E. III. pars 2. n. 2 3. The cause of calling the Parlement to Treat and Ordain concerning the things might happen to the King for keeping the Peace in England upon the Marches of Scotland and upon the Sea and to Advise and Determine how and in what manner he might be best served by the Subsidy granted by common Assent the last Parliament and to remove the Difficulties and Hindrances in Collecting it 5 Ib. n. 4 5. On the next day being Thursday it was shewn to the Great Men and Commons as Grantz Comunes That since the Summons to this Parliament God by his Grace Dieu par sa grace had given the King Victory over his Enemies to the great Assurance Repose and Quiet of all his Liege Subjects and how that to perform his Design upon his Enemies he was forced to be aided or loose his Allies il lui covendroit a force estre eidez ou perdre son alliez and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses were charged by the Duke and the Council to advise how and in what manner the King might best and to the most Profit of him and the least grievance of his People be served by the Aid which had been granted him and to give their Answer on Saturday next following donez lour respons samedy prochein suant on which day a queu samedy after great Treaty and Debate had between the Great Men and the Knights and other Commons entre les Grantz les ditz Chivalers autres des Comunes it was agreed by all the Great Men and Commons That there should be Men assigned to sell the Ninths granted to the King last Parliament and directed the quickest and best way of selling them To this Parliament 6 Ib. n. 6 7. The King wrote to that Parlement That the Ayd given last Parlement was great were sent by the King the Earls of Arundell and Gloucester and Sir William Trussell with Letters of Credence dated at Bruges July the 9th in the 14th year of his Reign in England and first of France directed to the Dukes Arch-Bishops Bishops Earls Barons and others assembled in Parliament signifying to them That tho the Subsidy granted in the last Parliament was great yet because it could not in due time be converted into Money it did not answer his purpose as it ought He likewise remembred them of the Victory he obtained in the Water of Zwynes on Midsummer-day 7 Ib. n. 8. Yet because it could not be collected in due time it answered not his purpose And farther acquaints them That with the Assent of his Allies the Great Men of England who were with him and the Country of Flanders he had divided his Army and intended to go and lie down before Tournay with one part of it being an Hundred thousand Flemings Armed besides as must be supposed his English Forces and Robert Earl of Artois with Fifty thousand besides all his Allies and their Power were marching towards St. Omers that for the governing and marching of this Army he had need of a very great Sum of Money over and above what was sufficient to discharge his Debts which were necessarily to be paid before his march requesting them and every one of them dearly vous prions cheremont a chescun de vous to consider the great Danger might happen if he was not supplied with Money and Goods suddenly to give Satisfaction to the Country and his Allies and Soldiers which he had retained in case they should withdraw themselves or desert if not paid and also if his Allies should go over to the Enemy and join him if not paid At the Close of his Letter he tells them 8 Ib. n. 9. That the Persons above-named came over to declare his Condition and Business willing them to give full Faith and Credit to what they should say This Letter having been read and the Messengers 9 Ib. 9 10. Upon the King's Letter heard for the Reasons given in and by both all were of Opinion That the King in his great necessity could not be aided so speedily as he ought by the Ninth wherefore the Great Men sought all the ways they could par quoi les Grantz sercherent totes les voies quils poaint that the King might be speedily aided and thought it the best that he should have at present a certain number of Sacks of Wooll which was propounded to the Knights of Shires for their assents how they might be hastily provided and Merchants spoken to to take them at an indifferent and equal Rate sur 20000 Sacks of Wooll granted for a present Supply ce parlez as Chevaliers des Counties d'avoir louz assent coment
who reported That after the King had begun the War with France by Assent of the Prelates Great Men and Commons par Assent des Prelatz Grantz Comunes to conquer his Rights and Inheritance there he many times passed the Sea with his Host and in his last Passage had harassed the greatest part of the Dutchy of Bretagne and by God's Assistance had taken Towns Castles and Forts At last he came to the City of Vannes which by Advice of the Great Men with him he besieged where he was desired by the Pope for the Reverence of God and Holy Church he might send Two Cardinals with Terms of Peace or a Truce until a Peace might be treated of and concluded The King perceiving the Truce to be Honourable and Advantageous for him and his Friends or Allies assented to it that during the continuance thereof a Treaty of Peace might be had before the Pope as a Mediator and Friend but not as a Judge or one to whom the matter was compromitted come meen amy noun pas come juge ne recompromissair which Peace if Good and Honourable the King would accept if not he would pursue his Quarrel And he said further That because the War was begun by the Common Assent of the Prelates Great Men and Commons the King would not treat of or make Peace without their Common Assent Wherefore the Prelates and Great Men were charged furent chargez to Assemble on Thursday the First of May Joedy le primer jour de May to treat advise and agree among themselves whether the King ought to send Envoys to the Court of Rome to propound his Rights before the Pope or not And in the same manner the Knights of Counties and Commons were charged furent chargez les Chivalers des Countees Comunes to assemble in the Painted Chamber to treat c. and to report their Answer and Agreement in Parlement the same Day de reporter lour respons lour assent en dit Parlement le dit Joedy On which Day the Prelates and Great Men answered Their Advice was That the Truce was Honourable and Advantageous to the King and all his Friends and that every Christian ought to wish the War which was so great and hurtful to all Christians might end in Peace Wherefore they agreed to the Truce and that the King should send Messengers to Rome to lay before the Pope as Mediator and Friend but not as Judge his Rights and Demands in order to a Treaty of Peace according to the Form of the Truce And then the Knights of Counties came and the Commons puis vindrent les Chivalers des Countees les Comunes and answered by Monsieur William Trussel in the White Chamber who in the Presence of the King Prelates and Great Men qi en presence de nostre Seignieur le Roy des Prelatz Grantz proposed for the Knights and Commons purposa pur les Chivalers les Comunes that they were fully agreed the Truce should be kept to the end a good and honourable Peace might be made And further the said Commons les ditz Comunes prayed the King to send solemn Envoys or Messengers to treat of Peace as abovesaid and in case he could have an Honourable and advantageous Peace for himself and Friends he would accept it but if not the said Commons les ditz Comunes granted to aid and assist him and to maintain his Quarrel with all their Power granteront de luy aidez a meyntenir sa querele ove tote lour poair Several Commissions 5 Rot. Fran. 17 Ed. III. M. 12. 20 Maii ib. 19 Aug. n. 6. ib. 18 Ed. III. M. 3. 4 Aug. ib. M. 2 Octob. 20. were made to Commissioners to treat Commissioners sent to the Pope before the Pope as a private Person and not as a Judge with the Commissioners of his Cousin Philip of Valois upon all Dominions Dignities Honours Lands Possessions Places and Rights concerning which there was any Controversie or Dissention between them and also concerning the Right he had or might have to the Crown and Kingdom of France and generally about all Dissentions Wars Quarrels Commotions Questions Damages Injuries done given or made on either side c. In the Cotton Library 6 Clâ—opatra Edw. III. f. 28. in the bottom The Pope offers Equivalents to the English Commissioners They refuse to treat of any thing but the Crown and Kingdom of France there is a Treaty as it was managed at Avignion before the Pope day by day from the 22d of October to the 29th of November by William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Offord Dean of Lincoln the Arch-Deacon of Norwich Sir Hugh Nevill Knight and Nicholas de Flisco The Pope offered many Equivalents to the English for the Dukedom of Guien c. to treat about what had been attempted against the Truce and by whose means it had been broken But they would not enter upon the Treaty of any other Matter until they were satisfied in their Demand of the Kingdom and Crown of France for King Edward By the last Commission there 7 Rot. Fran. Ed III. M. 2. 18 Octob. 20. were Two other Commissioners added to the former John de Thoresby and Sir Ralph Spigurnel Knight who appeared in the Pope's Court on the Feast of St. Catherine or 25th of November before himself and delivered the King's Letters to him and he appointed the next day at the time of Vespers to hear them When Mr. John Thoresby acquainted him that Sir Ralph and he had Commissions and were sent by the King for two things for reformation of what had been attempted against the Truce and also that they might assist the other Commissioners in the Treaty The Pope appointed them to come before him the 28th Day but not being then at leisure he appointed the next Day when they understanding from the Commissioners of the King's Adversary That he should have nothing in the Kingdom of France but in subjection to him they resolved to treat no more before they knew the King's Mind Whereupon the Pope told them he would send Sir Hugh Nevill to him with his Letters and likewise Sir Simon de Buyssy to the King of France And so stood the Treaty at that time on the 29th of November 1344. and 18th of Edward III. During the Treaty the French King put to death at Paris Oliver de Clisson and many other Barons and Lords of Bretagne and Normandy says Froissard 8 lib. 1. c. 99 for suspicion of Treason Du Chesne says 9 â— 660. A. B. they held secret Intelligence and private Correspondency and made a League with King Edward under their Seals contrary to the Ninth Article of the Truce which was That none in the Obedience of one King at the time of Truce should put himself under the Obedience of the other while it continued The Treaty hitherto having been without Success 1 Claus 18 Ed. III Part 1. M. 14 Dors A.
D. 1334. the Writs for a Parlement King on the 20th of April issued his Writs for a Parlement to meet on Monday next after the Octaves of Holy Trinity or 7th of June that Year The next Day the Names of the Lords were read and examined 2 Rot. Parl. 18 Ed. III â— 5. before the King in Parlement item soient les nouns des Seigneurs c. to see who were come who not and the Names of those who were not come were given to the King in Writing that he might order such Punishment as The absent Lords to be punished at the King's Pleasure The cause of Summons declared he pleased pour ordainer lieu punissement come lui plerra On Thursday the Chancellor declared the Causes of Summons to be concerning the Truce made in Bretagne and the Breach thereof in seven Articles and begins 3 Ibm. n. 6. thus Seigneurs en les Trewes prises accordez affermez par serement en Bretaigne entre autres pointz c. Lords in the Truce made agreed and confirmed by Oath in Bretagne amongst other Articles it was agreed 1. That the Truce should be kept in Bretagne between the Kings and their Adherents entre les Rois lour Adherantz notwithstanding the Right they both claimed in the Dutchy 2. Also That none who were under the Obedience of one of the Kings en obedience dun des Rois should come under the Obedience of the other King del autre Roi during the Truce 3. That there be no renewing of Injuries against one part or other in prejudice of the Truce while it continues 4. Also That the said Lords their Adjutors and Coadjutors and Allies whatever they be do remain in such Possession and such Seisin as then they had of all their Benefices Lands and Possessions des toux lour benefitz terres possessions which they held or had any ways obtained during the Truce 5. Also That what was promised to the Earl of Montfort before and within the City of Vannes might be performed 6. Also If any one in Gascoigne or otherwhere continuing the Truce move War against their Neighbour or Enemy who shall be in the Interest of either Party then the said Kings ought not to meddle in it by themselves or others directly or indirectly que le ditz Rois ne se devient mellez par eux ne par autre droitement ne noun droitement 7. That to none of either Party shall any Gift or Promise be made directly or indirectly to make War during the Truce And against these Articles several things have been done 4 Ibm. Things done against the Truce as the King's Council have been informed par ascunes de Bretaigne by some of Bretagne First That some of the Allies of him that calls himself the King of France have taken and imprisoned many Men at Arms of the Allies of our King and some they sent into France to remain in Prison there during the Pleasure of the King's Adversary Also the said Adversary caused many Knights Esquires and other Persons of Bretagne Chevaliers Esquiers autres gentz who were known to be in the Legiance and Obedience of our King before the Truce made and were comprised in it and ought to have been protected by it to be carried to Paris and there put to death against the Assent and Decree of the Members and others of his Counsel in his Parlement and some he caused to be murdered in their own Country falsly and maliciously against the said Truce and against his Oath And the said Adversary sent Men at Arms and Foot to a great number into Gascoigne and Bretagne who after the Truce made took Castles Towns Mannoros and Fortlets and seized Lands and Possessions being in the Possession and Obedience of our King esteantz en la possession en obedience de nostre Seigneur le Roi at the time of the Truce made in which amongst other things it is contained That no new thing should be attempted during the Truce es queâ—oc entre autres choses est contenuez que rien serroit attemptez de novell durantes mesmes les Trewes And further 5 the said Adversary endeavours by all ways he can or knows to take and seize all the Lands and Possessions which our King hath beyond Sea and to procure his Allies in Brabant Flanders and Almain or Germany to leave him and hath a firm purpose as our King and Council have certainly been informed or have understood to destroy the English Language and to possess England which God forbid if a forcible Remedy be not applied to his Malice si est il inferme propos a ce que nostre Seigneur le Roi son conseil ont intenduz en certeyn a destruire la Lange Englois c. On the other side dautre part the 6 Ibm. Scots who are the said Adversaries Allies have openly declared That when he gives them notice they will not observe or regard the Truce but march into England and do what Mischief they can Wherefore the King 7 Ibm. prays and charges pur quoi nostre Seigneur le Roi pria chargea les Prelates c. the Prelates Earls Barons and Commons That these things considered they would give him such Advice and Assistance as was necessary for the saving his and their own Rights and Honour Which things being 8 Ibm. n. 7. recited by the Arch-Bishop les Prelates Counts Barons les autres des Commons prierent c. the Prelates Earls Barons and others of the Commons pray That they may deliberate till Monday next following And from that Monday 9 Ibm. n. 8. because they had not then fully deliberated they pray till Wednesday the Vigil or Eve of St. John Baptist upon which day the Arch-Bishop and Ten other Bishops Five Abbots Two Priors Eight Earls Six Barons all there named and the Commons of the Realm assembled in the White Chamber les Commons du Roialme assemblez en la Chambre blanche c. in the presence of the King having regard to the great Mischiefs and Dangers which may come to the King and all his Subjects and Allies if the Malice of his Adversary was not stopt and considering the great Charges which the Great Men and the Commons of England had been at and suffered by reason of the War continuing so long by false Truces and Sufferances and seeing openly that an end of the War or so good a Peace The Parlement prays the King to make an end of the War by Battel or Peace as ought to be cannot be made without great force of Men and great Power they pray the King with one Assent and every particular Person of the Great Men for himself si prierent touz dun assent chescune singulere persone de Grantz a par lui c. that he would make an end of the War either by Battel or by a convenient Peace if it might
Cressy where was placed an Army to oppose him which he routed killed 2000 and took a great number of Knights and Esquires the rest fled to Abbeville From hence King Edward marched leisurely toward 3 Ibm. Cressy in Ponthieu his Army burning and harassing the Country where the King of France joined Battel with him on Saturday the 26th of August 4 Walsingh f. 166. n. 30. The Victory was obtained by the English There were slain on the French side 5 Avesb. ut supra What Great Men were slain the King of Bohemia the Duke of Lorrain the Earls of Alanson Flanders Lewis of Blois the Earl of Harecourt Geoffry of Harecourt's Elder Brother and his Two Sons the Earls of Albemarl and Savoy the Archbishop of Nismes and Bishop of Sens six German Earls and many other Earls Barons and Lords The 6 Froiss l. 1. c. 130. English Army was ranged in Three Battles the Prince of Wales headed the first the Earl of Northampton the second and the King himself the third 7 Ibm. The King of France fled only with five Barons Sir John of Haynault who had left King Edward's Service Sir Charles of Montmorancy the Lord of Beaujew the Lord Daubery and the Lord Montfort to Bray Castle and so to Amiens On Sunday morning came several 8 Ib. c. 31. The number of the slain Reinforcements and great Bodies of Frenchmen to their King's Army as they thought not knowing what had been done who were all routed many taken and great numbers stain That day in the afternoon King Edward sent to have the dead viewed and numbred 9 Ib. c. 32. In that Battel by Two Barons and Three Heralds At their return to the King they gave him an account of Eleven great Princes Fourscore Banners 't is Froissard's Word Twelve hundred Knights and more than Thirty thousand Ordinary Men. From Cressy the King marched to 1 Avesb. f. 109. b. c. 55. A Parlement called Calais and laid Siege to it on the Third of September Upon his last passage into France 2 Rot. Parl. 20 E. III. n. 6. the King and Lords that accompanied him and also the Great Men of his Counsel that were in England agreed and ordered there should be a Parliament summon'd to meet at Westminster on the Munday next after the Nativity of the Virgin Mary 3 Ibm. The King sâ—nds to inform the Parlement of his success and progress in France To this Parliament the King sent from the Siege of Calais Bartholomew Burghersse John Darcy his Chamberlain Mr. John de Thoresby Keeper of his Privy Seal and John de Carleton to inform them of the State of his Affairs and to propound and declare some things to them in that Parliament that concerned the Honour of God and the Church the Defence and Quiet of the Kingdom of England and his War in France and also other things that were to be done These Letters of Credence or this Commission 4 was dated before Calais on the 4 Ibm. 7th of September and directed to the Arch-Bishops Bishops Abbots Priors Earls Barons and other his faithful Subjects in Parliament aliis fidelibus suis in Parliamento suo c. which when read Bartholomew Burgersse for himself and Companions pur lui pur ses compaignons in presence of the Guardian of England Leonell the King's Son the Prelates and other Great Men there named 5 Ib. n. 7. shewed the Graces God had given to the King to the Great Men and others with him after their landing at La Hogue monstra les graces que Dieu avoit donez a nostre Sir le Roi c. by a short Account of his Progress and Success in Normandy the Battle of Cressy and his besieging of Calais from whence he resolved not to depart until he had taken the Town and that then he would draw toward his Adversary pursue his Quarrel and not return into England until he had ended the War beyond Sea with the help of God 6 Ibm. And to desire an Aid For the accomplishment of which things the said Messengers a queu chose pour faire les ditz messages prierent c. prayed the Prelats Great Men and Commons that they would Treat and Advise about an Aid and Means to perfect that which had been so graciously begun for that by common assent in Parliament at the time when the King 7 Ibm. undertook this War they all promised that they would assist him with their Bodies and Goods to their power touz lui promistrent qils lui eideroient de corps d'avoir a lour poair At the same time they produced an Ordinance 8 Ibm. The Ordinance of Normandy produced in Parlement or Agreement made by the King's Adversary and some Great Men of France and Normandy to destroy the whole Nation of England and the English Language And to put this Design in Execution the Earl of Eu then Constable of France and the Chamberlain of Tankerville were to raise a great Army for that purpose but as it pleased God they were both taken at Caen and many of their Men there killed and taken so as the intended destruction of the English was defeated This Ordinance is 9 Ib. n. 8. enter'd upon the Parliament Roll and there in the Todding called L'Ordinance de Normandie The Ordinance of Normandy 'T is pretty long but the most Material things were That the King of France his Eldest Son John Duke What it was of Normandy as General with the Nobles and others of that Dukedom should pass into England with Four thousand Men at The design to invade and conquer England Arms Knights Esquires and Men of good Estate and Forty thousand Foot And if this Invasion could not be made that year then it was to be the next year and so in any other year at a convenient time during the War Or if this Invasion should not be made the Country of Normandy was to serve him with the same number of Men at Arms and Twenty thousand Foot in any other place where the King Duke or either of them should be in Person It was 1 Ibm. How England was to be divided in case of Conquest also agreed That if by God's assistance England were Conquered the Conquest should be made in the Name and Honour of the Duke and that all that the King of England enjoy'd should be his as King and Lord with all his Rights and Honours And what the Nobles Barons and other Seculars possessed was to be enjoy'd by the Church Barons Nobles and Noble Towns of Normandy que les Nobles les Barouns autres Seculars y on t serra demorra as Esglises as Barouns Nobles as Noble villes de Normandie That the Pope and Church of Rome should safely enjoy what they had without diminution and that whatever had been taken from the Scots by War or otherwise should be restored fully and entirely without delay
of greater Force than at that time had ever been heard of que cea en arere ad este oi to invade England destroy the Nation the King and his Subjects as it manifestly appeared by what he had shewn and did show every day The other cause was to know how and in what manner the Peace of the Land might be best kept and then the Commons were commanded to treat together and take good Advice how the Malice of the King's Adversary might be resisted and for the Safety of himself and Kingdom how he might be Aided to his greatest Profit and the least Charge to his People The Commons having advised together gave the Answer following To their most Honourable and most redoubted Liege Lord his poor Commons 3 Ibm. n. 4. shew A lour tres Honurable tres Redoutez Seigneur Liege monstre sa pour Comune That at his last Parlement he sent the Noble Earls of Lancaster and Northampton autres Grantz and other Great Men to tell them That he intended not to take any thing of or charge them which they had published to the whole Land for which they had also thanked him according to their Knowledge as much as they could and prayed for him Night and Day prient pur lui nuyt jour and yet at this present Parlement upon News now come pur noveles que sont venuz he demanded a The Commons Grievances and Complaints very great Charge of his poor Commons un trop grant Charge da sa povre Comune They desire his Nobleness and most High Lordship he would please to understand the Mischiefs and Burthens of the Commons That is to say the reasonable Aid which had been pardoned in his 14th Year that is a Grant was made it should not be paid all his Reign to wit 40 s. upon every Knight's Fee to make his Eldest Son Knight whereas by Statute there was but 20 s. due upon every Fee Fifteenths of the Commons Tenths of Cities and Burghs Men at Arms Hobelors Archers taking of Victuals without paying for them Guarding the Sea and also the Subsidy of Wooll by reason whereof every Sack of Wooll that was the Treasure of the Land was sold for 40 s. less than its Value So as it would be a great Trouble to the Commons to bear any Charge Yet The Conditions of the Grant of an Aid nevertheless so as the Aid now to be granted might not be turned into Wooll neither by way of Loan or Value or in any other manner nor levied too hastily but in the Form it was to be granted and that the Eyres of Justices in the mean time might cease as well of the Forest as of Common Pleas and General Enquiry in the whole Land if this Aid should be levied That no Subsidy upon Wooll for the future may be granted by the Merchants That no Imposition Loan or other Tallage or Charge whatsoever shall be put upon them by the Privy Council without their Grant and Consent in Parlement That Two Prelates Two Lords and Two Justices might be assigned to hear and dispatch their Petitions which were not answered in the last Parlement and that their Petitions in this Parlement might also be answered according to Reason and the Answers to remain in force without being changed or altered That the Justices do enquire of False Money which destroys the People That David Bruys William Douglass and other Chieftains of Scotland may in no manner be released neither by Ransom nor upon their Faith That he would restore the 20000 Sacks of Wooll taken of the Commons by way of Loan That an Aid to Marry his Daughter might not be taken the mean time and That there might be no Marshalcy in England except that of the King or the Guardian of England when he was out of the Kingdom Vpon these Conditions and otherwise not sur cestes Conditions autrement nient and also that they may be entred in the Parlement-Roll as Matter of Record come chose de Record by which they might have Remedy if any thing should be done to the contrary in time to come The said poor Commonalty to their very great Mischief Grant to the King si grante la dite povre Communalte a lour trop grante Mischief a nostre Seigneur le Roy trois Quinzismes c. three Fifteenths to be levied in three Years to begin at Michaelmas next coming so as every Year one Fifteenth may be levied and no more at two Terms in the Year St. Michael and Easter by even Portions and that this Aid may be assigned and reserved only for the War and not to pay Debts And if the War should cease or a Truce be made then the Fifteenth of the last Year not to be levied That of these Conditions and the manner of this Grant Letters Patents shall be made and sent into all Counties without paying any thing for them wherein shall be made mention of the great Necessity the King was in after the last Parlement And in case the War should break out toward Scotland the Aid granted beyond Trent should be employed for the Defence of those Parts as it had been formerly About this time Lewis of Bavaria being dead several of the The Electors offer to chuse K. Edward Emperor of Germany Electors met at Colen from whence they sent Ambassadors to King Edward and offered to Elect him Emperor of Germany 4 Claus 22 Ed. III M. 20 Dors A. D. 1334. He refuseth their Offer in Return to which Offer he sent Sir Hugh Nevill and Ivo de Glinton Canon of St. Paul with his Refusal of that Dignity and great Thanks for the Honour they intended him The time of the Truce of Calais being near expiring 5 Rot. Fran. 22 Edw. III. M. 13. Several Truces continued and made the King upon the Pope's sending Commissioners either to prolong the Truce or Treat of a final Peace the former was agreed for six weeks Which Term being ended the Ambassadors on both sides met between Guines and Calais and agreed to another Truce to begin on the 13th of November and continue to the first of September 1349 Which Truce on the second of May that year 6 Rot. Fran. 23 Edw. III. M. 9 10. Dors was prorogued to the Feast of Pentecost 1350. The Articles were much the same with those of the Truce before Tournay A. D. 1340 and of that before Vannes A. D. 1343. This year says Walsingham was 7 F. 168. n. 10. Glorious in England for Peace Victories the Spoils of Caen Calais and other Towns and Cities in France as also for Garments Furs Gold and Silver Vessels and other rich Vtensils which were seen almost in every House and that then it was the English Dames began to pride themselves in the Apparel The English Women imitate the French in Apparel of the French Dames In a very short time after the Truce as above was concluded the Lord Geofrey Charny
the Commons if they had any Petitions of Grievances done to the People or for the amendment of the Law they should bring them into Parlement and told the Prelates and Lords they were to attend the Business of all Persons Petitions in the Places where they were assigned And then after a long 6 Ib. n. 9. Treaty and Debate by the Commons that is the 24 or 30 Persons chosen to confer with the Great Men sent to them by the King with the Commonalty and the Advice of the Great Men sent to them as well about a convenient Ayd to the King to oppose the Malice of his Adversary as about making the Petitions concerning the common People of the Land puis apres longe Trete Deliberation eues pur les Upon Treaty of the Committee and Advice of the Lords sent to them Comunes ove la Comunalte lavis de ascuns des Grantz a eux envoies sibien sur un eide que convendroit a Roi c. The Commons came before the King and all the Great Men in Parlement vindrent les ditz Comunes devant nostre Seigneur le Roi touz les Grantz en Parlement and shewed how the Common People of the Land were much impoverished by the late Mortal Pestilence as by other Burthens Taxes Taillages and many other Payments laid upon them but notwithstanding these Mischiefs having regard to the necessary Defence to be made for the safety of the Nation against so great Malice of the Enemies of the Kingdom delivered to the King in full Parlement a Roll baillerent a le Roi en Parlement une A Roll of an Ayd and the Petitions of the Commons was delivered to the King Roul c. containing as well the Ayd which they had intirely with one accord granted as the Petitions touchant la comune de la terre concerning the Commons of the Land to which they prayed the King to give a good and quick Answer bon hastif Respons He granted their Prayer and Thanked them for the great Ayds given him before and for that now granted and for the good Will and Nature which he had always found in his Commons before this time and now finds in this Affair Then follows the Grant 7 Ib. n. 10. The Ayd of Three Tenths and Three Fifteenths granted to the King this Parlement by the Great Men of the Land and the whole Commons Grantees a nostre Seigneur le Roi en cest present Parlement par les Grantz du Roialme par tote la Comune c. for the great necessity declared to the said Commons by the King and Great Men par le Roi les Grantz avantditz to be paid as the last Tenths and Fifteenths were in Three years c. upon the Conditions following To wit 8 Ib. n. 11. The Conditions of the Ayd That all the Fines Issues Amerciaments Profits and Excesses levied or to be levied upon the Labourers Artificers Regrators c. go to the Commons toward this Tax c. as in the Statutes at Large now nothing to the purpose and so the Answer That hereafter 9 Ib. n. 12. no Tax Taillage Ayds or Charges be demanded or levied of the Commons and that all the reasonable Petitions prayed by the Commons may be granted confirmed and sealed before the departure of this Parlement As to Tax and Taillage 1 Rot. Ib. The King's Answer 't is not the intention of the King or the Great Men ne des Grantz they should ever be charged As to granting their reasonable Petitions the King is pleased it should be done Also the Commons pray 2 Ib. n. 16. the Loans that were granted to the King by many Persons of the Commons may be released and none compelled to make such Loans for the future against his will for that 't was against Reason and the Franchise of the Land and that Restitution might be made to those that had made the Loans The King 3 Rot. Ib. The King's Answer is pleased it should be so Also That whereas the Justices 4 Ib. n. 17. assigned in divers Counties have judged many Men that were Arraigned before them as Traitors for divers Causes unknown to the Commons to be Treason That the King by his Council par les Grantz Sages de la Terre and by the Great and Wise Men of the Land would please to Declare the Points of Treason in that Parlement The 5 Rot. Ib. The Answer Answer was as in the Statute of the 25th of Edward the Third Cap. 2. The next year about the beginning of August Sir Walter de 6 Avesbury c. 81 82. p. 121. b. 122. a. b. A. D. 1352. 26 Ed. III. A great Victory obtained over the French in Britany Bintley the King's Governor of Britain and Parts adjoining with a small number of English in respect of the great Army a Marshal of France had encompassed them with in the Plains near the Town of Mauron obtained a considerable Victory having killed Sevenscore Knights and as many Escuyers and Men at Arms as made the number 500 besides Common Soldiers without number and many taken Prisoners according to his own Relation in a 7 Ibm. Letter to the Lord Chancellor John Thoresby Bishop of Worcester and soon after Arch-Bishop of York in which he mentions the Names of those of the best Quality that were slain or taken On the 6th of December * Mezeray fol. 372. Pope Clermont the Sixth dies Innocent the Sixth succeeds Pope Clement the Sixth died and Cardinal Stephan de Albret Bishop of Clermont succeeded him the 18th of the same month a Limosin by Birth and took upon him the Name of Innocent VI. In the 27th of his 8 Clause 27 Ed. III. M. 12. Dors A great Council summoned Reign he issued his Writs July 15 by which he summoned a great Council to meet at Westminster on Monday after St. Matthew the Apostle 9 Rot. Parl. 27 Ed. III. n. 31. or 9. The causes of it declared on the 7th of October The King Prelates and Great Men le Roy Prelates Grants being in the 9 Rot. Parl. 27 Ed. III. n. 31. or 9. The causes of it declared White Chamber les coes appellez the Commons were called and Monsieur Bartholomew de Burghersh the King's Chamberlain told them That the King thinking how he might best Ease his People who had been often charged with Impositions and great Ayds by reason of the War against his Adversary of France who detained his Rights and Heritage of the Crown of France had sent lately the most Noble and Excellent Persons of his Realm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the * He was created the the first Duke of Lancaster on the 6th of March 25th of Ed. III. See pat 25 E. III. p. 1. M. 18. Duke of Lancaster and other Prelates and Great Men to Guynes to Treat with the Deputies of his
Adversary ove les Deputes son dit adversari in presence of a Cardinal which the Pope sent thither as a Mediator and after this Treaty had sent his Confessor to the Pope to let him know That considering the many People had been killed in this War and desiring to spend part of his time in another War to the greater Pleasure and Honour of God if his Adversary would make restitution of the Dutchy of Guyen to him as intirely as any of his Ancestors had enjoyed it to hold it freely without Homage or Service he would be willing after the end of the War to resign the Crown of France That the Pope had been farther K. Edw. upon Terms would have quitted his Title to the Crown of France addressed to privately to search out his Adversaries Inclinations toward another Treaty with Protestation That if he should not accept it all his Rights should be entirely saved to him as if no Offer had been made of which the King not having received any Account from the Pope he sent his Clerc Master William de Witlesey Arch-Deacon of Huntington to know what had been done in this Affair who brought back nothing to any purpose 1 Ibm. Wherefore it seemed convenient to the King the Great Men and his Council That he should prepare himself for War against his Adversary as well for the Defence of England as to recover his Rights for which he ought to have a great Sum of Money 2 Ibm. And the said Chamberlain shew them further That the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woollfels ended at Michaelmas last past That it was not the King's Intention to lay any Tax or other Charge upon his People but he requested the Prelates Great Men and his Commons to grant him the Subsidy of Wooll Leather The Subsidy of Wooll c. granted for 3 years and Woollfels for some time mes il prie as Prelates Grauntz ses Comunes qils lui veullent Granter le Subside des Leines Quirrs peaux lanus pur un temps Upon which Request and Deliberation had between the said Prelates Great Men and Commons they unanimously agreed and granted the King the Subsidy of Wooll c. to receive it as it had been taken formerly for three Years from Michaelmas last past if the War held so long sur queu priere ene deliberation entre les ditz Prelatz Grantz Comunes sassenteront unement granterent au Roi le Subsidi des leines quirrs peaux lanuz c. upon Condition that the Money arising from this Subsidy should be safely kept for the War and not to be employed to any other Use This Year after Christmas 3 Aves p. 122. b. c. 84. Charles of Blois set at liberty for a great Sum of Money Charles of Blois who took upon him the Title of Duke of Britan and had been Prisoner in England a long time by the Mediation of the Great Men of that Country upon certain Conditions and Promises of a great Sum of Money was released for the Payment whereof two Sons and a Daughter were sent into England as Hostages King Edward continued his Inclinations to Peace 4 Rot. Parl. 28 Ed. III. n. 58. K. Edw. continues his Inclinations for Peace St Mark was on Easter Tuesday Easter-day this year being Apr. 23. which were declared by Monsieur Bartholomew de Burghersh to the Great Men and Commons a les Grantz Comunes in the Parlement holden next Year on Monday after the Feast of St. Mark signifying to them that there was great hopes of Peace by Treaty between Commissioners on both Parts Yet the King would not conclude any thing without the Assent of the Great Men and his Commons sanz assent des Grantz de ses Comunes wherefore he demanded of them on behalf of the King Whether they would Assent and Agree to Peace if it might be had by Treaty To which the Commons answered with one accord That what Issue it should please the King and Great Men to take of the Treaty should be agreeable to them a quoi 5 Ibm. les Comunes dun assent dun accord responderent que quel Issue que pluist a Seigneur le Roy les Grantz de prendre du dit Tretee feust agreable a eux Then the Commons were asked again If they would Assent to a perpetual Peace if it might be had who all entirely answered Oil Oil Yes Yes Whereupon Master Michael Northburgh Keeper of the Privy Seal Commanded Sir John de Swyneley the Pope's Notary Tâ—at he should make thereof a Publick Instrument Not long after this Parlement 6 Aves p. 123. b. c 89. A Peace concluded The Peace to be confirmed by the Pope by a Second Treaty a Peace was concluded upon the Terms King Edward had sent to the Pope the Year before And it was agreed That for the Pope's Confirmation of this Peace there were Messengers to be sent by both King 's to the Roman Court and at the same time a Truce was 7 Ibm. made until the Feast of St. John Baptist which was to be in the Year following About Christmas 8 Ibm. The King's Envoys to the Pope for that purpose The French Envoys before the Pope deny the Articles of the Peace Henry Duke of Lancaster John Earl of Arundel William Bishop of Norwich and Michael Bishop of London went to the Roman Court in behalf of King Edward by whom the Articles of Peace were recited before the Pope in the Presence of the French Envoys who denied the Form of the Articles and said their had been no such Agreement and that they would not consent to them And the English Envoys returned not having done any thing for what they were sent except William Bateman Bishop of Norwich who died and was Honourable interred at Avignion After the Expiration of the Time of Truce King Edward on the 20th of September 9 Rot. Claus 29 Ed. III. M. 8. Dors A Parlement summoned issued his Writs for a Parlement to be holden on the morrow after the Feast of St. Martin being Thursday the 12th of October when 1 Rot. Parl 29 Ed. III. n. 1. The cause of Summons declared it was continued because the Lords were not come until Wednesday next following the 18th of October On which Wednesday Sir Walter de Manny declared the cause of Summons as knowing the whole matter of it which was as follows in part much according to the Relation of Avesbury 2 Ibm. n. 4 5 6 7 8 9. That the King had lately sent Commissioners to Calais to Treat about a Peace with the Commissioners of his Adversary of France in the Presence of the Cardinal of Bologne sent by the Pope That several Points had been agreed and that according to the Agreement he had sent the Duke of Lancaster and others his Ambassadors to the Court of Rome to perfect and finish the Peace before the Pope but without
effect for the Faults found with it on the part of his Adversary pour defaute coupe trove de la part son Adversair That while his Ambassadors remained there the King of Navarre who about two Years before had Married 3 Mezeray f. 372. The King abused and cheated by the King of Navarre Jane the King of France's Daughter had complained often to the Duke of Lancaster of the 4 Rot. Parl. ut supra Wrongs and Hardships he had suffered from the King of France affirming upon his Oath he would willingly enter into an Alliance with the King against his Adversary with all his Power and pressed him so often that at last the Duke promised an Alliance if the King pleased That thereupon he engaged to make himself as strong as he could with Ships and Land Forces and come to the Isles Guernsey and Jersey to affirm and make good the Alliance pur affermer secure lalliance That for this cause upon the Duke's return into England the King informed of this Agreement caused to be got ready an Army and Fleet of great Ships with which he sailed out of the Thames towards the Isles and the Winds being contrary with much trouble got to Portsmouth and there staid so long as he received certain Intelligence the King of Navarre would not proceed in or had quitted the Alliance que le Roy de Navarre entre lesse la dite Alliance against his Promise and Oath and was become an Allie of his Adversary Whereupon the King returned with his Fleet and Forces nostre Seigneur se retourna ove sa Navie Gentz and seeing he could not have Peace and the Alliance failed and also that his Adversary made himself strong with Men at Arms and other Forces near Calais thinking to have a speedy Battel with him he resolved The King passeth to Calais with his Fleet and Army His Foreign Allies with his Fleet and Army to pass over to Calais That when he was landed by Advice of his Council he Mustered his own Forces and those of his Allies which he found there as those of Monsieur Henry de Flanders Monsieur Frank de Vanhale and other People of Almain in great number and marched out of Calais on the Feast of All-Souls or 2d of November toward the He could not provoke the King of France to Battel Places where by Spies or other means he could be informed his Adversary was that he might bring him to a Battel But to avoid that he fled Night and Day the King pursuing him wasting and burning the Country throughout degastant ardent bruillant le pays par tut until by Assent of his Council because his People were much wearied for want of Wine having drank His Men wearied for want of Wine only Water for near four Days per cause que les Gentz fuerent molt lassez pur defaute de Vin ne buerent que de eau bien per quatre jours he returned toward Calais where he designed to have fought his Enemy but he came not Then he paid off his Allies very He pays off his Allies and returns into England frankly they having been there a long time and returned into England to his Parlement After this Relation the 5 Ib. n. 10. Commons were told by Sir William Shareshull Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench They ought to have regard to the great Trouble the King had endured for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and of his Readiness to march into Scotland against his Enemies who had taken the Speedy Advice desired of the Parlement The King desires to finish the War with France Town of Berwick by Force And that to shorten the Time of Parlement and their stay in the Town they were to give speedy Advice what was best for the King to do to make an end of the War with France which he desired sovereignly or above all things might be done with dispatch quel il desire sovereignment que soit fait en hast and how he might be best aided to do it to the least Grievance of his People and most Profit to himself he gave them time to answer until Friday next following en sur ceo les dona jour de Respons de Vendredy preschien suant and in the mean time to prepare their Bills and Petitions and bring them into Parlement 6 Ibm. n. 11. A quen Vendredy vindrent les dites Comunes en la presence nostre dit Seigneur le Roy Prelatz Grantz assemblez en la Chambre blanche el eue illoques une brief parlance ove les dits Grantz Granterent uniement c. On which Friday the Commons came into the presence of the King Prelates and Great Men assembled in the White Chamber and having there a short Conference A Subsidy of 6 years granted to the King with the said Great Men Granted uniemen dune accort unanimously and of one accord to the King the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woolfel's for six years next coming So as during that time the King should not put any Impositions or other Charges upon the Commons and then they brought their Petitions before the King who answered them Avesbury in his 7 p. 126. a. b. c. 95. His Expedition into France Narrative of the King's Expedition into France tells us That after his return to Calais on Wednesday the Feast of St. Martin or 11th of November the Constable of France and others met the Duke of Lancaster the Earl of Northampton and Sir Walter Manny at the end of the Causway of Calais and by Letters of Credence from their King offered Battel to the King of England on Tuesday following The English Lords answered by the King's Command de Praecepto Regio That it was his Intention as much as he could to avoid the Effusion of Christian Blood and therefore desired to fight Body to Body with his Adversary so as the whole Right to the Crown of France might be decided by this Battel between them two And if this was refused That each of them should take to him his Eldest Son and if he admitted not that Then both to chuse Two Three or Four Knights the nearest to them in Blood to be joined to them and their Sons that so the Right to the Kingdom of France might be finally determined and that he who was Conquered should yield it to the Conqueror Which Offers the French refused standing to their Proposition of Fighting on Tuesday The English offered to Fight the next Day or Saturday The French persisted in their First Offer which the English accepted upon Condition That if they could not bring their King to Battel on that Day they should render themselves Prisoners to the King of England as in like manner they would render themselves Prisoners to the King of France if they brought not then their King to Battel The French refused this Offer and the English thought they trifled with King Edward
Comunes en pleyn Parlement Which Name of King of France he did retake and had his Great Seal and other Seals altered and that Title 8 Ibm. engraved upon them On the same 9 Day and Thursday the Estate of the King 8 Ibm. 9 10. was laid before the Great Men and Commons feust monstre as Grants Comunes lestat le Roy and because the War was open par cause de la Guerre queste overte he should be at great Charges as well by Sea and Land which he could not maintain without their Aid he requested them they would treat and advise how he might be best assisted to his greatest Profit and the least Charge and Damage to the People The Prelates Dukes Earls and Barons by themselves and then the Commons of one accord Granted les Prelates Ducs Barons par eux puys les Comunes A Subsidy of Wooll c. granted to maintain the War dun acord Granteront c. to the King a Subsidy of Woolls of every Sack 43 s. 4 d. and of the Woollfels every Twelvescore as much and of every Last of Leather 4 l. which passed beyond Sea for three Years besides the ancient Custom to begin at Michaelmas next coming of Denizons Of Strangers for every Sack of Wooll 4 Marcs of every Twelvescore Woollfels 4 Marcs and of every Last of Leather 8 Marcs He not only provided for Money this Parlement but 1 Ib. n. 25. K. Edward's Offer To all Persons whatever that would maintain his Quarrel against France declared That for the Compensation of such Lords or others of whatsoever Estate Degree Condition or Nation they were who would maintain his Party and Quarrel against his Enemies of France should hold Heritably what they should Recover and Conquer be they Dutchies Earldoms Vicounties Cities Towns Castles Fortresses or Lordships situate in France by what Name or Title they were called of him as of the King of France by the Services and Dues accustomed except and reserved expresly to him and his Heirs all his Demeasn Royalties Services Homages Dues Resorts and Soveraignties belonging to the Crown of France except also Church-Lands and the Lands of all such as without Force or Difficulty would obey adhere to and stay in Obedience to him on their own Good-will and him Aid Counsel and Comfort in his Quarrel c. This Year 2 Wals f. 184. n. 20. The Death of the Queen The Offer as above no advantage to K. Edward 3 Froys C. 272. Du Ches f. 704. D. He sends his Letters of Indemnity and Pardon into Aquitan on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or 15th of August died Queen Philip Just and Sincere as the Historians say to the English Interest There is nothing extant which makes it appear that the Offer above-mentioned advanced King Edward's Cause and therefore next Year he sends his Letters of Indemnity and Pardon with great Promises of Reformation into Aquitan 3 That he being informed of certain Troubles Grievances and Molestations done or supposed to be done by his Dear Son the Prince of Wales in his Seigniory of Aquitan being obliged and desirous to remedy all things tending to evil Surmises Hatreds and Contentions between him and his Loyal Friends and Subjects did Announce and Pronounce Certifie and Ratifie of his meer Good-will and by great Deliberation of his Council to that purpose called and did Will and Command That the Prince of Wales should forbear and remit all manner of Actions done or to be done and restore to all such as had been grieved or molested by him or by any of his Officers and Subjects in Aquitan all their Costs Expences or Damages raised or to be raised in the Name of Aids or Chimney-Money And did further pardon all such as had revolted and forsaken his Homage and Fealty upon Condition that after the sight of these Letters within one Month they returned to their Obedience And if any Persons made any just Complaint against his Dear Son the Prince or any employed by him that in any thing they were grieved or oppressed or had been in times past he would cause them to have reasonable Amends for the maintaining of Peace Love Concord and Vnity between him and his People of the Dutchy And that all Men might be satisfied of the Truth of these Letters he willed they should have Copies of them and then declared he had Sworn to maintain and make them good by the Body of Jesus Christ in the Presence of his Dear Son John Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Salisbury Warwick Hereford and many other there named Dated at Westminster in the 44th Year of his Reign on the 5th of November in the Year of our Lord 1370. Mezeray 4 F. 389. The King of France joined Religion and Eloquence to his Arms And sent Preachers abroad to justifie his Cause taking notice of these Letters tells us That to the Force of Arms the King of France joined Religion and Eloquence which could do all things on the Hearts of the People He ordered Fasts and Processions to be made all over his Kingdom and sometimes went barefoot himself with the rest when at the same time the Preachers made out his Right and Title with the Justice of his Cause and the Injustice of the English Which had two Ends the one to bring back again those French Provinces which had been yielded by the Treaty of Bretigny the other to make those that were under him willing to suffer the Contributions and all other Inconveniencies of War The Arch-Bishop of Thoulouse alone by his Persuasions and Intrigues regained above Fifty Cities and Castles in Guien amongst others that of Cahors The King of England would have practised the same Methods on his part and sent an Amnesty or General Pardon to the Gascons with an Oath upon the Sacred Body of Jesus Christ to raise no more new Imposts but all this could not reclaim those Minds that had bent themselves another way King Edward 5 Ib. c. 249. 250. Forces sent into France to the Prince Some of the Companions joined with them sent Forces over to the Prince with Edmond Earl of Cambridge his own Son and the Earl of Pembroke his Son-in-Law who with a great number of Companions under the Command of Hugh Caverley an Experienced Officer which came from Aragon Rendezvoused at Angolesm and were put all under his Command by the Prince What things of Note they did I find not Before this time 6 Ib. c. 241 242. Henry the Bastard killed Peter King of Castile and fixed himself in the Throne Henry the Bastard had by the Assistance of Peter King of Aragon the King of France and the Power of Bertrand de Guesclin and his Companions seized the Kingdom of Castile and killed King Peter and fixed himself in that Throne The King of France wrote to Henry to 7 Ib. c 276. Bertrand de Guesclin and his Companions serve the K. of France against K. Edw.
not land Having kept the Sea about five weeks and the time limited for Relief or Surrender of the Town being past he returned to England in the beginning of October 2 Ib. c. 306. Poictou Xantogne and Rochelois lost This unhappy Voyage with the Disaster of the Earl of Pembroke lost all Poictou Xantogne and Rochelois On the very day 3 Pat. 46 Ed. III. Part. 2. M. 25. Richard Son to the Prince of Wales made Guardian and Lieutenant of England in his absence he put to Sea he made his Grandchild Richard Son to the Prince of Wales then scarce Seven years old Guardian and his Lieutenant of the Kingdom during his absence appointing him a Council fit for the Management of the Publick Affairs Two days after on the first of September 4 Clause 46 Ed. III. M. 11. Dors Summons of Parlement he issued Writs of Summons for a Parlement to meet 15 days after Michaelmass but before that time King Edward was come into England and by his 5 Ib. M. 10. Dors Which Prorogued by Writ Writs dated at Winchelsea on the 6th of October he prorogued this Parlement to the morrow of All-Souls or 3d of November Sir John Knivet 6 Rot. Parl. 46 Ed. III. 11. 1 2 3. Further Declaration of Summons declared in part the Causes of Summons the Parlement being adjourned until Friday after that Monsieur Hugh Bryan in the White Chamber acquainted 7 Ib. n. 7. The Revenues of Guien not sufficient to support the Government of it c. the Prelates Duke Earls Barons and Banerets les Prelates Dâ—â— Countes Barones and Banerets That the Prince who had the Principality of Guyen by the Grant of the King had often signified to him when there by Letters and Messengers That the Revenues and Profits arising from the Principality did not nor could suffice to maintain him and support the Government and Wars against their French Enemies and other necessary Charges without great assistance from the King and that the Prince having made these things appear to the King and Council when first he came into England had surrendred 8 Ib. n. 8. The Prince resigns it into the King's Hands into the King's Hands the Principality and all he could claim there by virtue of his Grant in the presence of the King's Council and some other Great Men. On the next day being 9 Ib. n. 9. Yet a further Declaration of Summons Saturday Sir Hugh Bryan before the Prince Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and Commons in the White Chamber more especially declared the Causes of Summons That the King by Advice of the Great Men des Grantz had ordered many Great Men plusours des Grantz with sufficient Power some into Gascoigne others to Calais to oppose the Malice of his Enemies and make War upon them by all the ways they could That afterwards for sudden News that came to the King he made ready with all his Power to put to Sea or go to Sea ove tout son poair daler sur la Meer against his Enemies to do what he could against them but by reason of the Wind being contrary and other Causes reasonable par contrariousete de vent autres causes reasonables he came back into England and caused to be summoned and prorogued this Parlement that the Great Men who were with him upon the Sea might be there that by the good Advice and Counsel of them and others and The French make themselves stronger by Sea and Land then ever they had done before also of the Commons anxi une la Coe he might do the best he could for the safety of the Nation and to resist and oppose the Malice of his Enemies who had made themselves much stronger by Land and Sea then ever they were before qui plus safforcent de guerer si bien par terre come par Meer que unques fesoient a devant And then 1 Ibm. beseecheth the Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons on behalf of the King supplia as ditz Prelates Prince Ducs Countes Barons as Coes de par le Roi that they would advise upon this Matter and give such Counsel donner tiel conseil and Ayd to the King as seemed to them best profitable for the Nation and to restrain the Malice of his Enemies Queux 2 Ib. n. 10. These Commons were the Knights of Shires Prelates Prince Ducs Counts Barons Coes eu sur les pointes de lour charge as dependantz dycelles plein deliberation c. which Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons having had full Deliberation upon the Points of their Charge and the Dependences thereon and also considering the great and outrageous Charges and Expence the King was to be at for the Defence of the Nation and Maintaining the War against his Enemies granted him the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Wooll-fells A Subsidy upon Wooll c. for Two years to begin at Michaelmass last past of every Sack of Wooll which passed out of England 43 s. 4 d. of every Twelvescore Woollfells as much of every Last of Leather 4 l. of Denizens besides the old Custom and of Strangers or Forreigners four Marks of every Sack of Wooll as much of every Twelvescore Woollfells and Five Pounds six shillings eight pence of every Last of Leather And whereas 4 Ibm. A Fifteenth granted the Subsidy and Custom so granted could not be sufficient for the great Expence and Charge the King was to be at for the Causes abovesaid as it was openly shewed unto them the same Prelates Prince Dukes Earls Barons and Commons having regard thereto 5 Ib. n. 11. granted One Fifteenth for one year to be levied as the last was On the 23d of 6 Ib. n. 12. November the King Prelates Duke Earls Barons and Commons assembled in the White Chamber when the Chancellor declared to the King how kind the Lords and Commons had been to him in granting him the Subsidy and Fifteenth who much Thanked them for their great Ayd and and then the 7 Ib. n. 13. Petitions of the Commons were read and answered when the Knights of Shires had leave to depart 8 Ib. n. 14. and sue out Writs for their Wages or Expences pour lour depenses but the Citizens and Burgesses were commanded to stay 9 Ib. n. 15. The Grant of the Citizens and Burgesses who the same day assembled before the Prince Prelates and Great Men and for the safe coveying of their Ships and Goods granted 2 s. upon every Tun of Wine coming in or passing out of the Kingdom and 6 d. in the Pound of all Goods for a year The next Year the King 1 Rot. Fran. 47 Ed. III. M. 18. A. D. 1373. John Duke of Lancaster the King's Lieutenant in France and Aquitan made his Son John King of Castile and Leon and Duke of Lancaster his Lieutenant as well in the Kingdom of France as
in Aquitan tant en nostre Roialme de France come in Aquitaigne and other where giving him Power to take and receive in his Name and by his Authority to his Peace Grace Obedience and Subjection all the Cities Towns Burghs Castles Fortresses and Places in those Parts and their Inhabitants that would come and return into his Peace Grace c. and to remit and pardon all manner of evil Practices The great Power given unto him toutes maneres de Malefices Trespasses Excess Theft Homicide and all manner of Treasons To re-call all Banished and Exiled Persons and to re-establish and render to them all their Goods they had forfeited and to restore them entirely to their Countries with all their ancient Privileges they were used to enjoy To give to those that deserved well in his Wars Towns Castles Fortresses Lands and Rents c. in Heritage during their Lives or for Years according to their Deserts To raise Forces Taxes Subsidies and Aids for the Wars to collect and to levy them To shorten this full long and extraordinary Grant and Commission he had Power to do whatever he could do himself if present It was Dated at Westminster June 12. 1373. and 47th of his Reign of England c. The Duke of Lancaster having this Power 2 Claus 57 Ed. III. M. 25. Dors Prayers having been made for his good Success 3 Mezeray f. 393. Froys c. 310 311. arrived with an Army at Calais on the 20th of July which he divided into three Bodies or Battels marched through and pillaged Artois Picardy Champagne Fores Avergne and Limosin and so into Guyen and to Burdeaux where he came about Christmas with a shattered and His ill Conduct unserviceable Army having 4 Wals f. 187. lin 16. lost many Men and most of his Horses for want of Rest Victuals and Forage without any Battel or considerable Engagement Mezeray 5 F. 393. The King of France his Policy reports it to have been the constant Resolution of this King of France not to hazard any main Battel against the English but directed his Forces should be so lodged every Night as next Morning to follow them always galling and disturbing them falling upon their Parties and Detachments keeping so near them as to prevent their being supplied with Provision and Forage and by that means to defeat great Armies by in marching his Army little and little and make them unserviceable which was the present case The Duke of Lancaster though he marched Triumphantly in the beginning yet toward the latter end of his March being constantly followed and attended by the Dukes of Anjou and Burgundy and Constable of France his Army was baffled without Fighting and mightily weakened While the Duke of Lancaster marched thus through France Summons to Parlement from Calais to Burdeaux his Father Summoned a Parlement to meet on the morrow of St. Edmund the King or 21st of November which was that Year on Monday In the Writs of 6 Rot. Claus 42 Ed. III. M. 13. Dors A. D. 1373. Summons to the Sheriffs were these unusual Clauses being enjoyned to cause to be Chosen Two Dubbed Knights or the most Worthy Honest and Discreet Esquires of the County and the most expert in Feats of Arms and no others 7 Ibm. What Knights Esquires Citizens and Burâ—â—sses were to be chosen Quod de Comitatu tuo Eligi facias duos Milites Gladiis cinctos seu Armigeros de dicto Comitatu Digniores Probiores in actibus Armorum Magis Expertos Discretos non alterius Conditionis And of every City of that County Two Citizens and of every Burgh Two Burgesses de Discretioribus magis Sufficientibus qui in Navigio ac in Excercitio Merchandisarum noticiam habent meliorem of the most Discreet and Sufficient who had the greatest Skill in Shipping and Merchandizing The King Prince Prelates Earls Barons Great Men and Commons being assembled in the Painted Chamber le Roi Prince Prelatz Countes Barons Grantz Comunes en la Chambre de Peinte assemblez Sir John Knivet then Chancellor declared the cause of Summons 8 Rot. Parl. 47 Ed. III. n. 2. The cause of Summons declared The Peace broken by the French telling the Lords and Commons they knew well That after the Peace between the King and his Adversaries of France apparently broken by them the King had many times sent great Numbers of Men at Arms and others over Sea to recover his Rights and to restrain the Malice of his Enemies and lately had sent his Son the King of Castile and Leon and Duke of Lancaster with many great Men and others in great Number to oppose the Malice of his Adversaries * This must be in the beginning of their March and before the Armies of France attended their motion and hindred their glorious and easie Progress who by their Good and Noble Conduct queux par my lour bon noble Government and Feats of Arms have done great Damages and Destructions to his Enemies as they knew well to the great Honour Quiet and Tranquillity of the King the Clergy and all others of the Kingdom That the Sum granted last Parlement to the King in Aid of his Wars tho' great and heavy upon the People yet the King exponded a great Sum of his own more than that Further 9 Ibm. n. 3. That the Great Men and others who ventured their Lives and Fortunes for and to defend them from their Enemies ought to be well refreshed and comforted with Force and Aid many ways busoignent bien de estre refreschez confortez de Force de Eide par plusors vies and that as speedily as might be as it was well known to many of them who had been in the same Condition The Enemy of France makes himself strong c. That also the Enemy of France made himself as strong as he could not only by his own People and Allies but by Strangers of divers Countries and by all the ways he could both by Land and Sea Wherefore he said the King beseeched and charged them 1 Ibm. n. 4. par quoi nostre Seigneur le Roi vous supplie charge That considering the Perils and Damages might happen to the Kingdom and all the People for these Causes they would consult upon the matter and give the King such Advice as might be for the Safety of him the Kingdom and themselves And further said 2 Ibm. The King willeth That all Petitions and particular Business remain in suspence until his was dispatched That the Business requiring speedy dispatch the King would that all manner of Petitions and other particular Business might remain in suspence until this had a good Issue Le Roi voet que toutees manere de Petitions autres singulers Busoignes de moergent en suspens tanque cette soit mys a bon fin And then commanding the Commons commanda as Comunes
to consider and give good Counsel and Advice upon the Points above-said told them they might depart for that Day and come thither again on the morrow At which time 3 Ibm. n. 5. The Commons desire a Committee of Lords to treat with them some of the Commons in Name of the rest went to the Lords and prayed they might have some Bishops Earls and Barons with whom they might treat and confer for the better Issue of the Matter was enjoined them sur la matire que lour estoient enjoynt and desired the Bishops of London Winchester and Bath and Wells the Earls of Arundel March and Salisbury Monsieur Guy Bryan and Monsieur Henry le Scrop And it was agreed they should go to the Commons and Treat with them in the Chamberlain's Chamber And there having been Deliberation between the Great Men and Commons until Tuesday the Eve of St. Andrew on which Day the King Prince Prelates Great Men and Commons being in the White Chamber the Commons Granted les Comunes granteront the King an Aid for the Wars against his Enemies and delivered a Schedule thereof to the King which was read and begins thus Les Seigneurs Comunes Dengleterre ont Grante a nostre Seigneur le Roi en ceste present Parlement la Quinzeine The Grant of a Tax c. The Lords and Commons of England have Granted to the King in this present Parlement a Fifteenth c. The effect of the Grant was Two 15ths to be levied in two Years according to the ancient manner to be paid at the Feasts of the Purification and Penticost If the War ended the first Year the Second 15th not be paid Also Six pence upon every Pound value of Merchandise going out of the Kingdom except upon Woolls Leather and Woollfells Wine c. And of every Ton of Wine Two shillings for two Years upon the same Condition Likewise the Subsidy of Wooll to be received after Michaelmas next coming without Condition for the first Year and under the same Condition for the second These were granted so as no other Charge or Imposition might be upon the People of England for those two Years The Commons prayed what was granted might be spent in maintaining the War and that no Knights of Shires or Esquires Citizens or Burgesses returned for this Parlement might be Collectors of this Tax All things now went backward in France nothing from thence The French Towns and Countries in Aquitan revolt but the loss of Towns and small Countries in Aquitan either by Force or Revolt many voluntarily and by Inclination becoming French and putting themselves under the Obedience of that King The Particulars might swell the History but the knowledge of them at present is not of much moment * Fol. 8â— lin 7. Walsingham says That when the Duke of Lancaster came out of Gascony into England in the 48th of Edward III. about the Month of July all Aquitan revolted from the King of England except Burdeaux and Bayon The Pope in this Posture of Affairs was very sollicitous to procure The Pope mediates a Peace a Peace between the Two Nations and used all Endeavours towards it and oftentimes prayed and required both Kings by his Letters solemn Messengers and lastly by his Nuncio's the Arch-Bishop of Ravenna and Bishop of Carpentras who frequently went backward and forward between both Parties to make them inclinable and condescend to a good Peace and Accord between each other as may be seen in the 4 Rot. Frâ—n 49 Ed III. M. 2. Record of the following Truce both in the Preface of the Commission to John King of Castile and Leon Duke of Lancaster by Edward III. and in the Commission of King Charles of France to his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Savoir faisons que come nostre tresseint Pierele Pape eit plusours foitz nous prie requis par ses Lettres fait prier requirer par ses solennes Messagers Darreinment par Reverentz Piers in Dieu l'Ercevesque de Ravenna l'Evesque de Carpentras de incliner condescendre a bon Paix Accord ovesque nostre Adversair so in both Commissions c. The Commission to the Duke of Burgundy bears Date at Paris the first of March 1374. and 11th of King Charles of France and 48th of Edwad III. and that to the Duke of Lancaster was Dated at Westminster June 8. and 49th of Edward III. This 5 Ibm. A Truce in order to a Peace Treaty was managed chiefly by the Two Dukes before the Two Nuncio's and by their Mediation at Bruges in Flanders which produced a General Truce in order to a Peace between the Two Kings their Subjects Friends Allies Aidants and Adherents and for all their Dominions Lands Countries and Places whatsoever 6 Ibm. A. D. 1375. to begin on the 27th of June 1375. the Day of the Date of the Truce in 49th of Edward III. and end the first Day of July 1376. and 50th of Edward III. The Heads of the Articles were these All taking of Persons Fortresses and other Places 7 Ibm. The Heads of the Articles all Pillaging Robberies Burnings and all other Feats of War touz Pilleries Robberies Arceurs tout autre fait de Guerre through all the Realms Lands and Dominions of one Party and the other to cease during the Truce Neither Party to suffer any Subjects or Allies of the other to change their Obedience Subjection or Alliance All Subjects of either Party to remain in the Countries of the other without Arms and to Trade and dispatch all other Business there without Disturbance but not to enter into Castles Fortresses or fortified Towns without Licence Prisoners taken to be released No New Forts to be erected None of the Subjects or Allies of one Party to do Injury to the Subjects or Allies of the other or their Friends by way of Company Robberie or otherwise if they did to be punished so soon as it came to the knowledge of their Lords without Request All Attempts and Injuries to be repaired without delay If the Lands of either Party were invaded by Companions upon Request they were to assist each other in freeing their Countries of them None to demolish the Houses of one Party or the other nor destroy Fruit-Trees If any evil Action Attempt or Enterprize happen it shall not be a Breach of the Truce nor shall War be made therefore This Truce was Sealed by the Two Dukes and Pope's Nuncio's at Bruges on the 27th of June 1375. There were certain 8 Ibm. Mutations Declarations and Modifications made by way of Supplement in reference to this Truce by the Pope's Nuncio's of the same Date namely That Henry King of Castile the Bastard and the Lands he held should be comprized in the Truce That the Duke of Bretagne should in like manner be comprized in it That War should cease there and the King of England and Duke to remove their Forces out
of the Dukedom without delay during the Truce all but 200 Men to guard the Towns and Places the Duke held there The Two Kings to have 9 Ibm. Commissioners at Bruges on the 15th of September next coming to Treat of Peace The residue of the Articles are of less moment These were confirmed by John King of Castile and Leon Duke of Lancaster with Protestation That the Title of King of France given to King Charles Adversary to his Father nor the Title of King of Castile given to Henry his Adversary might in no manner prejudice either of them or their Titles In Winter the 48th of Edward III. the 1 Rot. Fran. 48 Ed. III. M. 6. Earl of Cambridge and Duke of Bretagne were made the King's Lieutenants in France but went not till the next 2 Claus 49 Ed III. M 46. Spring for whose good Success Publick Prayers were appointed to be made In this Expedition 3 Froys cap. 313. there went with the Earl and Duke several Noblemen and Persons of Quality and in a short time he recovered many of his Towns in Bretagne and had laid siege to the Town of Campelly when Sir Nicholas Carswell and Sir Walter Vrswick were sent to him by the Duke of Lancaster to quit the Siege and give over that War as being included in the Truce made at Bruges On the 28th of December next following the Truce 4 Claus 49 Ed. III. M. 6. Dors Summons to Parlement Writs of Summons were sent forth for a Parlement to meet on the 12th of February Afterwards before it met by Writs Dated 5 Ibm. M 4. Dors the 20th of January the King thought fit to Prorogue it duximus prorogandum to the Monday after the Feast of St. George but it sate not till the next Day when the Prelates Dukes Earls Barons and other Great Men and Commons Justices Serjeants of the Law and others assembled in the Painted Chamber before the King 6 Rot. Parl. 50 Ed. III. n. 2. A quel Lendemain s'assemblerent les Prelates Ducs Contes Barons les autres Grantz Comunes Justices Sergeantz de Ley autres en la Chambre de Peynte And there Sir John Knivet declared the Causes of holding the Parlement which were three 1. The First and Principal was To advise about the Good Government The cause of Summons and Peace of the Realm of England 2. The Second For the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom as well by Sea as Land 3. The Third To take Order for the Maintenance of the War with France and otherwhere and how and in what manner it might be done for the best Profit quickest Dispatch and greatest Honour of the King and Kingdom And then told them expresly That what the King always had done was by their good Counsel Comfort and Assistance tout dys par lour bons Conseilx Confortes Aides for which the King The Lords advise by themselves and the Commons by themselves entirely thanked them and desired they would diligently advise about these Matters the Prelates and Lords by themselves and the Commons by their selves and give their Good Answer lour bone Responce as soon as they well could The Commons 7 Ibm. n. 8. A Committee of Lords assigned by Parlement to go to the Commons c. went to their ancient Place the Chapter-House of the Abbey of Westminster and the Prelates and Lords went by themselves and there were assigned in Parlement fuerent assignez in Parlement the Bishops of London Norwich Carlisle and St. Davids the Earls of March Warwick Stafford and Suffolk They agree about the Grant of a Subsidy the Lord Percy Sir Guy de Bryan Sir Henry Lescrop and Sir Richard de Stafford to go to the Commons and assist them in Treating and Conferring upon the things before declared They agreed upon the Grant of a Subsidy which begins as followeth Les Seigneurs Coes 8 Ib. n. 9. assemblez en cest present Parlement eantz consideration The Lords and Commons assembled in Parlement having Consideration of the very great Charges and Expences the King hath and must be at for the maintaining of his Wars his Noble Estate and otherwise granted him the Subsidy of Of Wooll c. Wooll Leather and Woollfells as it was granted him in the Parlement holden at Westminster in the 47th of his Reign from the Feast of St. Michael next coming when the Subsidy then granted ended to the end of three years and the Commons humbly pray the King to be excused That they gave him no other Subsidy or Ayd for his Wars for that they were brought so low and so disabled by the Pestilence the Murrain among their Beasts and destruction of their Grain and other Fruits that they could not do otherwise at present but promised if any extraordinary Case should happen they would Ayd him to the utmost of their Power as they had done before beyond all the Commons of the World to their Liege Lord. After this the Commons considering 9 Ib. n. 10. the Mischiefs of the Land do shew unto the King and Lords of Parlement That it would be for the Honour and Profit of the King and the whole Land which is grieved in divers manners by many Adversities as well by the Wars of France Spain Ireland Guyen Britain and other-where so that the Officers about the King without The Commons pray Ten or twelve Persons may be added to the King's Council c. other assistance were not sufficient for so great Busines wherefore they pray the King's Council may be inforced or augmented with Lords Prelates and others to the number of Ten or Twelve who should be continually with the King so as no great business should pass without their Assent and Advice nor small Matters without the Advice and Assent of Six or Four of them at least as the Case required The which Request the King understanding 1 Ibm. The King grants their Prayer upon Condition it was honourable and very profitable to him and the whole Realm granted provided always that the Chancellor Treasurer and Privy Seal and all other the King's Officers might execute their Offices without the presence of any the said Counsellors which the King was to assign from time to time of such as he pleased who were to be Sworn to keep this Ordinance and to do Right to every one according to their Power without receiving any Reward for so doing That none of 2 Ib. n. 11. The King's Officers not to receive Gifts c. the King's Officers should receive any Gifts Fees or Rewards other then their Salaries Liveries and Travelling Charges The Commons make Protestation 3 Ib. n. 15. The Commons ready to ayd the King with Body and Goods Complain of Evil Counsellors and Officers That they were and always have been and will be ready to Ayd the King with their Bodies and Goods to the utmost of their Power but they
say 't is true That if the King had always had about him Loyal Counsellors and good Officers he had been very rich in Treasure so as he should not have needed much to have charged his Subjects with Subsidy Taillage or otherways having respect to the great Sums of Gold which were brought into the Kingdom for the Ransom of the Kings of France and Scotland and other Prisoners They also say it further seems to them That for the singular Profit and Advantage of some Private Persons about the King and their Confederates the King and Realm were much impoverished and many of the Merchants undone wherefore they thought it a profitable thing to the King and his whole Kingdom to have all these things duely amended as soon as might be And the same Commons promise the King That if he will do Justice and speedy Execution upon such as should be found Culpable and do with them as Law and Reason required they undertake he would be so rich as to maintain his Wars and support his other Affairs for a long time without any great Charge to the Commons and they say further That in doing this he should do a thing Meritorious and pleasing to God and much for the Incouragement Three special Points to be amended of them freely to aid him according to their Power And then propound Three especial Points to be enquired into and amended First Whereas 4 Ib. n. 16. the Staple of Wooll and other Staple Merchandises and Bullion was lately ordained in Parlement to be at Calais and no where else for the great profit of the King and Kingdom the Advantage and Amendment of the Town for the Concourse of Merchants and their continual Residence there the said Staple Bullion and Trade is removed from thence and like to be lost by the procurement and counsel of the said Private Persons about the King and their Confederates for their singular Profit to the great damage and prejudice of the King and his Realm and destruction of the Town of Calais Secondly Whereas 5 Ibm. the King had need for divers Sums of Money for his Wars and otherwise some Persons by consent and contrivance of the said Private Persons about him made agreement for divers Sums to the use of the King upon Usury taking more from the King for Interest then they Bargained for to the Deceit and grievous Damage of the King Thirdly Whereas 6 Ibm. the King was Debtor to divers People upon Record in great Sums several had by Assent and Contrivance of the said Private Persons bargained with his Creditors for the 10th 20th or 100th Penny and procured the King to pay the whole Debt in Deceit of the King and his Creditors for the singular Profit of themselves and Confederates Upon these or some of these Points 7 Ib. n. 17. Richard Lyon impeached by the Commons several were impeached by the Commons First Richard Lyon Merchant of London and Farmer of the King's Subsidy and Customs He put himself upon the King's Grace and submitted his Body Lands and Goods to the King's Pleasure 8 Ib. n. 19. His Judgment He was adjudged to be Imprisoned during the King's Pleasure to loose the Franchise of the City never to bear Office under the King nor approach his Council or Court All his Goods and Chattels were seised into the King's Hands and Inquiry was made in all the Ports concerning his Extortions since his being Farmer of the Customs The Lord Latimer was 9 Ib. n. 21. The Lord Latimer accused accused par clamour des Communes by the Clamour of the Commons upon the Heads and Articles and as a Confederate with Lyon who tho he seemed to make a good satisfactory Defence yet by the Prelates and Lords in plein Parlement in full Parlement was adjudged 1 Ib. n. 28. His Judgment to be Imprisoned and make Fine and Ransom at the Will of the King and further upon the Petition of the Commons the King granted he should never have Office under him or be of his Privy Council He was 2 Ib n. 29. His great Bail Bailed by Four Bishops the Arch-Bishop of York being one Three Earls the Prior of St. John of Jerusalem and Twenty six Barons with promise That during the Parlement he should appear before the King and Lords to answer further to the Articles of which he was accused William Ellys 3 Ib. n. 31. William Ellys accused of Great Yarmouth was also accused par la surmyse des Communes by the Surmise of the Commons as Deputy to Richard Lyon Farmer of the Subsidy of 6 d. in the Pound of all Merchandises granted to the King of many Extorsions in Collecting of them and other Evil Practices 4 Ib. n. 32 His Judgment Notwithstanding his Answer which seemed satisfactory and sufficient he was awarded to Prison and to make Fine and Ransom at the King's Will and to give his Prosecutors several Sums for Injuries pretended to be done to them It displeased the King 5 Ib. n. 35. Alice Perer s Forfeiture and Banishment that Women should pursue and sollicite Business in the King's Court and therefore forbad all Women especially Alice Perers for the future to do it upon pain to forfeit whatever the said Alice could and to be banished the Realm Sitting this Parlement the Prince of Wales King Edward's The Death of the Prince of Wales Eldest Son died on the 8th of June being Trinity Sunday 6 Ib. n. 50. The Commons humbly pray the King That for the great Comfort of the whole Kingdom en grand confort de tout le Roialme he would order the Noble Child or Youth Richard of Burdeaux His Son Richard of Burdeaux brought into Parlement and made Prince of Wales c. Son and Heir of Edward late his Eldest Son Prince of Wales to come into the Parlement that the Lords and Commons might see and Honour him as the true Heir apparent of the Realm Which Request was granted and at the same time the Bishops Lords Temporal and Commons applied to the King to make him Prince of Wales Which was done The Commons Petition 7 Ib. n. 57. The Commons Petition about Justices of the Peace That Justices of the Peace may be named in every County by the Lords and Knights of the County in Parlement and Sworn before the King's Council and not to be removed without consent in Parlement and that they might be allowed Wages The King's Answer was 8 Ibm. Ro. The King's Answer They should be named by him and his continual Council and as to Wages he would advise The Major Aldermen and Commons of London shew unto the King 9 Ib. n. 143. The Grievances of the City of London they were impoverished and brought to nothing by reason their Franchises granted and confirmed by him and his Noble Progenitors were restrained and in a great measure taken from them and assign their chief
Grievance to be That any Stranger might have a House and dwell in the City be a Broker and buy and sell all sorts of Merchandises by Retail and Stranger sell to Strangers that they may again sell the same Goods to others to the great raising the Price of Merchandises and making them Dear Whereas in times past no Strange Merchant used any of these Practices against the Franchises of the City by which the Merchants of the City were much impoverished the Navy or Shipping much impaired the Private Transactions of the Nation discovered by those Strangers to his Enemies by Spies and others lodging in their Houses And then pray it They pray Remedy would please the King and his good Council in Charity to order in that Parlement that Merchant Strangers should be restrained in these Practices and that the Major Aldermen and Commons of the said City might enjoy their Franchises notwithstanding any Statute or Ordinance made to the contrary The King's Answer was 1 Ibm. Ro. The King's Answer upon Condition c. That upon Condition the City might be under good Government to the Honour of him and Profit of the Kingdom from thence forward no Stranger should have a House to be a Broker nor Sell any Goods by Retail within the City or Suburbs notwithstanding any Statute or Ordinance to the contrary saving to the German Merchants of the Haâ—s-Towns their Franchises Granted and Confirmed to them His Letters Patents to the same purpose by the King and his Progenitors According to the Purport and Effect of this Answer the Major Aldermen and Citizens of London obtained the King's Letters Patents Dated the 4th of November next following The Commons Petition the King That whereas great Riots 2 Ib. n. 164. The Commons Petition against Riots were committed in several parts of the Nation by great numbers of Armed Men that the Sheriffs might raise the Posse Comitatus or Power of the County to suppress them and that the Sheriffs and Justices of Peace might inform the King's Council of such Rebels de tiels Rebelles as refused to go with them The Answer was 3 Ibm. Ro. The King's Answer The King by Advice of his great Council would order Remedy if need were but in the mean time let the Statutes concerning that Matter be put in due Execution This Parlement ended July the 6th in the 50th of Ed. III. Whether the Two Kings sent their Commissioners to Bruges on the 15th of September 1375 as was agreed on or if so what was done then I find not however the Truce continued for in The last Truce continued the next year in a Commission to Thomas de Felton Seneschal or Steward of Aquitan and others Dated the 28th of May in the 50th of Edward the Third for Reforming whatever had been done against the Form of the Truce in that Dutchy and punishing the Offenders it appears that the Truce had then been lately renewed and prolonged from the last day of June next coming when it was to have ended to the first of April which should be in the year 1377 or 51st of Edward the Third Holinshed Fol 411. col 1. n. 60. says it was again continued to the first of May and then the War opened But the King many months before the Expiration of the Truce The King of France designing against King Edward had notice of a Design forming against him by the King of France having made an Alliance with Spain and Scotland to that purpose wherefore on the first of December in the 50th of his Reign he issued 4 Clause 50 Ed. III. M 6. Dors Part 2. He calls a Parlement Writs for a Parlement to meet on the Quinden of St. Hillary or 27th of January next coming at Westminster which was held by Commission to the Prince of Wales then about 10 years of Age the Bishop of St. Davids being Chancellor Who 5 Rot. Parl. 51 Ed. III. n. 11 12 13 The Declaration of the Causes of Summons in his Declaration of the Causes of Summons moved the Lords and Commons to a due Love Affection and Obedience toward the King and his Grandchild the Prince of Wales and then tells the chief Cause of Summons was for the Defence of the Land for that the King having at the Request of the Pope agreed to a Treaty of Peace and that there was a Truce made for a time while a Peace might be made which Truce his Adversary of France had broken and was preparing for War and by the assistance of Spain Scotland and other Enemies to destroy the King Kingdom and English Language To obviate this Design and the Malice of his Enemies and to Maintain the Peace of the Nation within and without by their Counsel and Advice was his great Intention as also to know how the Expence of the War should be provided for and for that it was not fit for a Bishop to say any thing against the Pope Monsieur Robert de Ashton Chamberlain to the King was appointed to propound how further Provision might be made against his Vsurpations as should by a Bill be shewed in this Parlement At another 6 Ib. n. 18. meeting of the Prelates Lords and Commons in Parlement the Commons in the King's Name were directed to go to their Old Place the Chapter House of the Abby of Westminster there to treat and advise how due Resistance might be made to the Enemies of the Nation for the safety of the King Kingdom Navy and themselves and how Money might be most speedily raised to the least Grievance of the People The Prelates and Lords Treating likewise about the same Matters there was A Committee of Lords appointed by Parlement to Treat with the Commons assigned in Parlement to have Conference with the Commons for their better Information the Bishops of Lincoln Chichester Hereford and Salisbury the Earls of Arundel Warwick Salisbury and Stafford the Lords Percy Roos Fitzwalter and Basset To Maintain his 7 Ib. n. 19. Wars considering the great Charges the King was to be at for them the defence of the Kingdom and otherwise the Lords and Commons Grant him Four pence of the A Tax granted Goods of every Person des biens de chescune persone of the Kingdom Male and Female above Fourteen years of Age except very Beggers and most humbly pray their Liege Lord he would please to excuse them that they could grant him no greater Subsidy being most willing to have done it but that they were so impoverished of late by great Losses at Sea as otherwise pur grands perdes sur la meer come autrement that they were unable at present And the Commons 8 Ib. n. 20. Treasurers for the Tax prayed the King he would please to Name Two Earls and Two Barons that should be Treasurers as well of this Subsidy as of that the Clergie was yet to grant and also of the Subsidy of Wool Pelts and Leather
Prey About this time the Duke of Lancaster desired to have the Money The Duke of Lancaster equips a great Fleet. granted the last Parlement upon promise to secure the Kingdom from Invasion of all Enemies for one Year and to do some other great Good to the Nation which at length he obtained and provided a great Fleet and also for his Assistance hired Nine Ships at Bayon which in coming hither encountred a Fleet of Spaniards and took Fourteen Ships laden with Wine and other Merchandise Henry the Bastard that called himself King of Spain hearing Henry the Bastard King of Spain prepares a great Fleet to opposehim what those of Bayon had done and that the Duke of Lancaster was putting to Sea with a great Fleet and Force fearing him by reason of his Title to his Kingdom prepared a great Navy to oppose him and if he could to take him Prisoner The Duke The Duke delayed his putting to Sea The English Fleet beatenâ— by the Spaniards delayed the time of his putting to Sea the Chief Officers of the Fleet were disturbed at it and sailed without him and having been some days at Sea met the Spanish Fleet by which they were beaten and Sir Hugh Courtney a Famous Soldier taken with many others This Misfortune says Walsingham was imputed to the Duke for that he made such long Delays but whether he was in Fault knew not And while he was thus Dilatory John Mercer a Scot with a Ships taken out of Scarburgh Haven by John Mercer a Scot. J. Philpot sets out Men of War at his own Charge Takes Mercer with all his own and 15 Spanish Ships that had joined him Was questioned for it but discharged small Force of French Scots and Spaniards took some Ships in Scarburgh Haven killing some of the Mariners and carried them with him to Sea John Philpot a rich Citizen of London considering the Negligence if not the Falsity of those who were to defend the Nation and provide against such Inconveniencies at his own Charge set out some Men of War which met with Mercer and 15 Spanish Ships that had joined him and behaving themselves bravely took him and all the Ships with him recovering the Ships that were taken at Scarburgh and taking great Riches in the Spanish and other Ships John Philpot was taxed by the Lords for presuming to set forth Men of War without Advice of the King's Council but he made such a Defence before the Earl of Stafford and others that called him to account as he was suffered to depart without further Trouble for that matter Still the Duke delayed his going to Sea it not being known for what Reason until the Spring and beginning of Summer were over but by his Persuasion the Earls of Salisbury and Arundel set sail and landed in Normandy who compounded with the King of Navarre then become Enemy to the King of France for the Town and Port of Cherburgh then very considerable in The King of Navarre sells Cherburgh in Normandy to the English The Duke of Lancaster puts to Sea Lands in Britany Returns ingloriously which was placed a Garrison of English and so the Earls returned At length the Duke of Lancaster went to Sea and with him the Earls of Buckingham Stafford Warwick and others of the English Nobility with a great Force they landed in Britany where Sir Robert Knolls burnt several Towns and lost many of his stoutest Men. The Duke besieged St. Malo but it was so well defended as he raised the Siege and returned home Walsingham says at first the Townsmen would have yielded so as the Town might have been preserved from being burnt and plundered The Duke would not accept it but upon Discretion and that he might do with it what he pleased In the mean time the French landed in Cornwal and burnt Fowey or Foy and The French land in Cornwal Burn Foy and other Towns A Truce between the English Scots who had burnt Roxburgh c. and several other Towns without Resistance The Scots taking the Advantage of the present time burnt Roxburgh and spoiled the Country thereabout whereupon a Truce was made between the English and them for some time On 8 Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II. n. 1 2. Part 1. A Parlement at Glocester The Scots make Alliance with the French Thursday the 21st of October it having met the Day before the Parlement sate at Gloucester in the Great Hall of the Abby there The Bishop of St. Davids then Lord Chancellor declared the cause of Summons wherein he took notice of what had been done by the Scots at Roxburgh and that since 9 Ibm. n. 7. notwithstanding the Truce they had made Alliance with the French against England Next Day Monsieur Richard le Scrop Steward of the Houshold enlarged upon the Causes of Calling the Parlement and making excuse for his own Inability 1 Ibm. n. 15. Declaration of Summons told the Prelates Lords and Commons as the Chancellor had said before That the Nation was encompassed with Enemies who daily encreased That the Ports of Cherburgh and Brest which of a long time had not been in the hands of the English besides Calais Burdeaux and Bayon with the Countries about them were very chargeable to maintain Calais with its Marches or Limits about it stood the King in 24000 l. every Year and Brest 12000 Marcs and the other three Places according to the same Rate Afterwards 2 Ibm. n. 16 The Speaker's Request and Protestation in behalf of himself and Commons Sir James Pickering Speaker of the House of Commons with the Commons came before the King Prelates and Lords in Parlement puis le Comunes reviendrent devant le Roy les Prelates en Parlement illoeques Monsieur James de Pickering c. making Protestation as well for himself as for the whole Commons of England First for the Commons That if he should utter any thing to the Prejudice Damage Slander or Disgrace of the King or his Crown or in lessening the Honour or Estate of the Great Lords it might not be taken notice of by the King and that the Lords would hold it for nothing as if nothing had been said primerment pur la dite Comune que si per cas il y dist choses que purreit soner en Prejudice Damage Esclandre ou Villaine de nostre Seigneur le Roy ou de sa Corone ou en anientisement del Honour Estate des Grants Seigneurs du Roialm que ce ne feust acceptez par le Roy les Seigneurs eins teâ—â—â— pur nul come Riens nent este dit for that the Commons soveraignly desired soveraignment desirent to maintain the Honour and Estate of the King and the Rights of the Crown in all Points As also to preserve the Reverence due to the Lords in all Parts So much for the Commons For his own Person he made Protestation That if by Indiscretion he
spake any thing by Common Assent of his Companions it might be amended by them before their departure or afterwards He then 3 Ibm. n. 17. rehearsed in short Words the Articles of the Charge il rehearceast en courtes Paroles les Articles de les Chargez a eaux donez And first for the Liberties and Franchises for the Liberties and Franchise of the Church Good Laws and Customs Honour of God granted to Holy Church and for the King's Promise of preserving the Good Laws and Customs of his Kingdom entirely and punishing such as should any thing do against them the Commons humbly thanked him with their whole Hearts kneeling upon the Ground les genulx a Terre and praying God they might be put in due Execution As to the Aid the King 4 Ibm. n. 18. The Commons Pretences why they ought or could not grant an Aid demanded of his Commons for the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom and for the Safeguard of his Lordships Lands Towns and Forts beyond Sea and toward his Wars the Commons said la Comune dit That in the last Parlement in his first Year the same things were shewn unto them in behalf of the King at which time they answered It was apparent the King had not so great need for an Aid seeing he had in his hands the Priories alien the Subsidies of Wooll the Revenues of the Crown the Lands of the Prince his Father and many other Great Lordships by the Nonage of the Heirs of them and that therefore there must be great Plenty of Money in the Treasury To which the King's Council then answered That lately the Charge of the Coronation had been very great and that the Money upon those Funds they mentioned came in very slowly nor could they be collected soon enough for an Expedition that Year And it was then further said That if the Commons would furnish the King with â— great Sum of Money to make such an Expedition as might be for the Destruction of his Enemies en destruction des ses Enemies they hoped he might have Money sufficient afterwards from time to time to maintain the War and defend the Kingdom And thereupon the Commons then said That in hopes of that Promise to be discharged of Tallage for a great time after they granted a greater Sum than had been given to any King to be levied in so short a time And all things considered it seemed to the Commons that there must be a great Sum in the Treasury besides what had been expended in the last Voyage so that the King had no need to charge the Commons who were in a lower Condition than ever by reason of that Payment and lately by the Murrein amongst their Cattel and their Enemies Burnings upon the Sea-Coasts That their Corn and other Chattels were at so low a Rate that no Money could be raised at present And hereupon they prayed the King to excuse them not being able to bear any Charge for pure Poverty pur pure Povertee To all which 5 Ibm. n. 19. A full Answer to those Pretences The Commons charged with untruth Monsieur Richard le Scrop answered making Protestation That he knew of no such Promise made in the last Parlement and saving the Honour and Reverence due to the King and Lords what the Commons said was not True le dit de la Comune en celle partie ne contient my veritee And as to the Subsidy last granted that a great part of it was in the Treasury to wit of the Two Fifteenths and Two Tenths and afterward of Wooll in that Parlement he vouched the Testimony of William Walworth and John Philpot who by their Consent were appointed Receivers of them that every Penny thereof was expended upon the War and that not one Penny came to the High Treasurer of England or any other to the Use of the King That the Revenues of the Crown besides the Annuities and other Charges upon them granted by his Grandfather and Father were too small and without the Customs of Wooll and Lands of the Priors aliens the Honour and Estate of the King could not be maintained And therefore they were to know that according to Reason they ought to relinquish their Complaint if they pleased a celle pleint voâ—s faut par Reson cesser si vous plest Whereupon the Commons 6 Ib. n. 20. The Commons request to know how the Money had been expended To know the Names of the Great Officers and Governours of the King's Person for the Year ensuing after a short Deliberation made it their Request to the King he would please to shew them how and in what manner the great Sums given for the War had been expended and also that he would please to let them know the Names of such as should be the Great Officers of the Kingdom and who his Counsellors and Governours of his Person being yet of tender Age for the next Year as it had been before Ordained in Parlement To which it was 7 Ib. n. 21. The Answer to both those Requests answered on the behalf of the King by the said Monsieur Richard That though there never was any account given of Subsidies or any other Grant made in Parlement or out of Parlement to the Commons or any other but to the King and his Officers yet he willed and commanded of his own motion to please the Commons not that it was of Right for him so to do or that he was forced to it do by reason of their Request now made That William Walworth then present with some of his Council assigned thereto by him should in Writing clearly shew them the Receipts and Expences so as it should not be drawn into Example for the future As to the Officers the King had caused them to be chosen by the Advice of the Lords And as to his Counsellors they should be such as pleased him serra les Counsellers de tieux come luy plerra whose Names they should receive in certain si plest au Roy. The King commanded charged and prayed them and also all The Commons commanded and prayed to dispatch their Parlement Business the Lords present prayed them nostre Seigneur le Roy vous commande charge enpriant ainsi vous priont touz les Seigneur cy presentz That having due Consideration of the great apparent Dangers on all sides they would provide for the Defence of the Kingdom which not only concerned the King but all and every one of them and think how the War might be maintained and give as speedy an Answer as they could that the Parlement To save the Charge of the poor Commons in paying their Wages might have an end and good effect in ease of the King Lords and themselves for the Profit of the Kingdom and Discharge of the poor Commons that every day paid their Expences during the Parlement which was one of their principal Charges given the first day Another
side they intended to have burnt the City of London and to have divided all the Rich Goods found there amongst themselves This he affirmed to have been their Design as he desired God would help him at his going out of the World W. Walworth and other chief Citizens of London Knighted and then had his Head struck off For their Good Service in destroying Wat Tiler preserving the City and giving him Assistance the King Knighted 1 Stow's Annals p. 463. William Walworth Major John Philpot Nicholas Brembre and Robert Laund Aldermen and gave to Sir William Walworth 100 l. per Annum Land and to the other 40 l. per Annum to them and their Heirs for ever And not long after Knighted Nicholas Twiford and Adam Francis Two other Aldermen In the 2 Wals f. 278. n. 50. 279. lin 4. time of these Insurrections and Rebellions the Duke of Lancaster was in Scotland where he concluded a Truce for Two Years before they heard of the Tumults and Riots in England 3 Ibm. n. 30 40. A two Years Truce with the Scots A Quarrel between the D. of Lancaster Earl of Northumberland In his return he was denied Entrance into Berwic by the Earl of Northumberland which mightily incensed him against the Earl On the 16th of July 4 Rot. Claus 5 Rot. II. M. 40 Dors A Parlement called Writs were sent forth for a Parlement to meet at Westminster on Monday after the Exaltation of Holy Cross or 14th of September which was afterwards Prorogued to the 5 Ib. M. 39 Dors morrow of All-Souls which was Monday when it was 6 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 1. Adjourned to the next Day many Lords and Prelates being absent and so unto Wednesday when by reason of the Quarrel between the Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Northumberland who came to the Parlement with great Force of Armed Men and Archers the King They came to the Parlement with great Force of armed Men. caused the Parlement to be Adjourned unto Saturday in which 7 Wals f. 280. n. 40 50. The K. ends the Quarrel time the King composed the Differences between them and ended the Quarrel The Cause of Summons was 8 Rot. Parl. 5 Ric. II. n. 8. The cause of Summons declared to be That they might consider how to procure the Quiet and Peace of the Nation and settle it after the late Tumults and Insurrections to confirm or repeal the Revocation the King had made of the Grants of Liberty and Manumission by Force and Coertion obtained by the Natives Bond-Tenants and Villains That the King was much indebted and in great Necessity for Money to maintain his Court and the Wars The whole Parlement Lords and Commons 9 Ibm. n. 13. The Liberties and Manumissions of the Villains c. repealed by Authority of Parlement declared the Grants of Liberties and Manumission to Natives Villains and Bond-Tenants to be by Coertion in Disheritance of them and Destruction of the Realm and therefore to be null and repealed by Authority of Parlement The Commons 1 Ibm. The Commons desire certain Prelates and Lds. to treat with them The King prayed the King to have certain Prelates and Lords to comune with them about their Charge for that the Matters very highly concerned the State of the Realm and it was much to the Purpose to have their Advice The Answer 2 Ibm. n. 14. grants their Request was They should give in the Names to the King in Writing of such as they desired that he might advise about it Which was done and the King granted their Desire le Roy lour Grantast al Effect qils furent Demandez And the Commons further * Ibm. n. 16. The Commons pray the King the Prelates by themselves the Great Lds. by themselves and the Kâ—s by themselves and the Justices by themselves might treat about their Charge and their Advice reported to theâ— This was contrary to the Practice and Custom of Parlement which the K. would have observed prayed the King That the Prelates by themselves the Great Lords Temporal by themselves the Knights by themselves the Justices by themselves and all other Estates singly might be charged to treat and comune about their Charge and that their Advice might be reported to the Commons To which it was answered Tha the King had charged the Lords and other Sages to comune and treat diligently upon the said Matters But the ancient Custom and Form of Parlement had always been That the Commons should first report their Advice upon the Matters given them to the King and Lords of Parlement and not on the contrary and therefore the King would that the ancient and good Customs and Form of Parlement should be kept and observed After the Commons had conferred 3 Ibm n. 17. The Commons complain of the ill Government of toâ— Kingdom with the Lords they returned into the Parlement and made great Complaint of the ill Government of the Realm which if not amended the Kingdom would be in short time ruined They complained of the Government about the King's Person his Court the over-great Number of his Servants of the Chancery Kings-Bench Common-Pleas Exchequer of grievous Oppressions in the Country par la Outrageouse Multitude de Braceurs des Quereles Mainteinours qi sout come Roys en Pais que Droit ne Loy est a poy fait c. by the great Multitude of Bracers of Quarrels and Maintainers who behaved themselves like Kings in the Country so as there was very little of Law or Right and of other things which they said were the cause of the late Commotion Rumor and Mischiefs of the Land and requested they might be amended The King 4 Ibm n. 18. Certain Lords and others assigned to survey and examin the Government of the King's Person and Kingdom These Lords and others were assigned and chosen by the King See n. 27. by Advice of the Lords and his Council granted that certain Prelates Lords and others should survey and examin the Government of his Person and Court and to think of sufficient Remedies The Persons chosen to make this Enquiry were The Duke of Lancaster the Elect of Canterbury the Arch-Bishop of York the Bishops of Winchester Ely Excester and Rochester the Earls of Arundel Warwic Stafford Suffolk and Salisbury the Lords Zouch Nevil Grey of Ruthin and Fitz-Walter Monsieur Richard le Scrop Monsieur Guy de Bryan and others autres 5 Ibm. The King's Confessor not to come to Court The King's Confessor was charged to abstain from coming to and remaining at Court by the Request of the Commons and Assent of the Lords The Commons 6 Ibm n. 19 20 21 22 23. The Commons Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned to appoint Officers c. Petition the Duke of Lancaster and others assigned by the King to that purpose to place the most valued Officers about the
Richard Earl of Arundel and Surrey Thomas Earl of Warwic and Thomas Earl-Marshal did accuse and appeal Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk saying I. That as False Traitors and Enemies to the King and Kingdom taking Advantage of his tender Age and the Innocency of his Person informed him and put upon him for Truth false things of their own Invention against Loyalty and Good Faith and made him entirely their own so as they had his Love firm Faith and Credit while he hated his Loyal Lords and Lieges by whom he ought to have been Governed And encroaching to themselves Royal Power in Disfranchising the King en Defranchisantz nostre dit Seigneur le Roy blemishing his Sovereignty and lessening his Prerogative and Royalty and made him so Obedient as he was Sworn to be Governed Counselled and Conducted by them by virtue of which Oath they kept him in Obedience to their false Imaginations and mischievous Deeds contained in the following Articles II. Also whereas the King is not bound to make any Oath but on the Day of his Coronation or for the Common Profit of himself and Kingdom the aforesaid Alexander Robert and Michael False Traitors and Enemies to the King and Realm made him Swear and Assure them That he would Maintain Support and Live and Die with them And also whereas the King ought to be of more free Condition than any other of his Kingdom they have put him more in Servitude than any one against his Honour Estate and Royalty against their Legiance as Traitors to him III. Also the said Robert Michael and Alexander by the Assent and Counsel of Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas de Brembre false Knight of London by their false Contrivance would not suffer the Great Men of the Kingdom nor good Counsellors to come near the King nor would suffer him to speak with him unless in their Presence and Hearing accroaching to themselves Royal Power Lordship and Soveraignty upon the Person of the King to the great Dishonour and Peril of the King the Crown and his Realm IV. Also the said Alexander Robert Michael Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas de Brembre false Knight of London by their false Wickedness evilly advised the King so as his appearance he ought to make to the Great Lords and his People Liege and the Favours and Right to which they requested his Answer were not to be obtained but at their Pleasure and Allowance in staying the King from his Duty and against his Oath and turning the Hearts of the Great Lords from him with Design to estrange his Heart from the Peers of the Land to have amongst them the sole Government of the Kingdom V. Also by the said Encroachment of Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland and Michael de la Pole by the Advice and Counsel of Alexander Arch-Bishop of York caused the King without Assent of the Kingdom by their Abetments without any Deserts of the Persons to give divers Lordships Castles Towns and Mannors as well annexed to his Crown as others as the Land of Ireland the Town of Okeham and the Forest thereof and other Lands which were the Lord Audley's and other great Estates to the said Robert de Vere and others whereby they are greatly enriched and the King become poor and had not wherewith to support and bear the Charges of the Kingdom unless by Impositions Taxes and Tributes put upon his People in Disheriting his Crown and undoing the Realm VI. Also by the Encroachment of the said Alexander Robert and Michael by the Assent and Advice of Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas Brembre false Knight of London caused the King to give divers Lands Mannors Tenements Reâ—â—â— Offices and Bailiwics to People of their Kinred and other Persons of whom they received great Bribes and also to make them of their Party in their false Quarrels and Purposes as in the Case of Robert Manfield Clerc John Blake Thomas Vske and others to the undoing of the King and Kingdom VII Also Robert de Vere c. Michael de la Pole c. Alexander Arch-Bishop c. by Assent and Counsel of Nicholas Brembre c. encroaching to themselves Royal Power caused the King to give very great Sums of Gold and Silver as well of his own Goods and Jewels as the Treasure of the Kingdom as Tenths Fifteenths and other Taxes granted by divers Parlements to be expended in Defence and Safeguard of the Kingdom and otherwise which amounted to the Sum of 100000 Marks and more to Robert Vere Duke of Ireland and others And further they caused many good Ordinances and Purposes made and ordained in Parlements as well for the Wars as Defence of the Kingdom to be interrupted to the great Injury of the King and Kingdom VIII Also by the said Encroachment and by great Bribes taken by the said Robert Michael and Alexander divers Persons not sufficient or fit had the Guard and Government of divers Lordships Castles and Countries of War as in Guyen and otherwhere as well on this side as beyond the Sea whereby the People and Countries of those Parts Liege and Loyal to the King for the greater Part were destroyed and great Dominions of late rendred into the hands and possession of the Enemy without Assent of the Realm which were never in the hands of the Enemy since the Conquest of them as in the Marches of Scotland and otherwhere in Disherison of the Crown and great Injury of the Realm as in the Case of Harpedene Craddock and others IX Also by the Encroachment of the foresaid Alexander Robert Michael Robert and Nicholas divers People have been hindred of the Benefit of the Common Law of England and put to great Delays Losses and Costs and Statutes Judgments justly made upon the necessary Causes in Parlement have been reversed and nulled by Procurement of the said Misdoers and Traitors and this by Reason of the great Bribes by them received to the greatest Injury of the King and Kingdom X. Also the Five aforesaid accroaching to them Royal Power as false Traitors to the King and Kingdom caused and counselled the King to grant Charters of Pardon for horrible Felonies and Treasons as well against the State of the King as of the Party against the Law and Oath of the King XI Also whereas the Great Lordship and Land of Ireland hath been beyond Memory Parcel of the Crown of England and the People thereof for all that time have been the King's Lieges without mean to him or his Royal Progenitors and our Lord and his Noble Progenitors King 's of England in all their Charters Writs Letters and Patents and also under their Seals in Augmentation of their Names and Royalty stiled themselves Lords of Ireland the foresaid Robert Duke of Ireland Alexander c. Michael c. as false Traitors to the King by the said Encroachment gave Advice that the King inasmuch as was in
Royal Power in Prejudice of the King his Royal Estate his Crown and Dignity And that the Charter of Pardon was made in Deceit of the King and expresly against him his Royalty sa Regalie and Dignity wherefore the said Pardon and Charter by Assent of the King and all Estates of Parlement upon the Request of the Commons had been in this Parlement Repealed and made Void And then the Earl was asked if he would say any other thing and Sir Walter Clopton Chief Justice of the King's Bench by the King's Command declared to him the Law and the Punishment he must undergo if he said nothing else and told him if he did not plead further he would be Convict and Attainted of all the Matters objected against him Notwithstanding this and the Repeal of the Charter and Pardon he demanded the Allowance of them The Appellants in their proper Persons prayed the King it would please him to give Judgment upon him as Convict of all His Judgment the Points he was Appealed Whereupon the Duke of Lancaster by Command of the King and all the Lords Temporal and Sir Thomas Percy having Power sufficient from the Prelates and Clergy as appeared by Record in this Parlement Awarded the Earl of Arundel Culpable and Convict of all the Points of which he was appealed and adjudged him Traitor to the King and Realm and that he should be Drawn Hanged Headed and Quartered and because The Aggravation of his Treasons the Treasons were so high as to have surrendred their Homage Liege and Deposed the King and the Levying of War having been so notorious the said Duke of Lancaster by Command of the King the Lords Temporal and Monsieur Thomas Percy having Power as above by Assent of the King Awarded That all the Castles Mannors Lands Tenements Reversions Fees Advousons and every other manner of Inheritance as well in Fee-taile as Fee-simple which were the Earl of Arundel's on the 19th of November in the 10th Year of the King or afterwards and also all the Lands and Tenements of which other Persons were inâ—eoâ—â—ed to his Vse the said 19th of November or afterwards should be forfeit to the King and his Heirs and also all his Goods and Chattels should be forfeited to the King who pardoned the Execution of his Judgment to be Drawn Hanged and Quartered but was Beheaded near the Tower of London on the same Day The King and Lords as well Spiritual and Temporal would not nor was it their Intention that the Lands and Tenements Fees Advowsons Reversions or any other Inheritance the said Earl of Arundel was infeâ—â—ed to the use of another by reason of this Judgment should in any manner be forfeit On the same day the Earl of Arundel was 3 Append. n. 111. brought into Parlement Tryed and Convicted the King directing his Warrant to Thomas Earl Marshall Captain of the Town of Calais and to his A Warrant to the Earl Marshall to bring the Body of the Duke of Glocester into Parlement Lieutenant That he should bring the Body of Thomas Duke of Glocester in his Custody with all speed he could to Answer to divers Articles of Treason in Parlement according to the Law and Custom used in England objected against him by the Appellants and to do further and receive what should be ordered by him and his Council concerning him in Parlement Dated at Westminster the 21st of September in the 21st year of his Reign by the King and Council in Parlement The 4 Ibm. The Earl Marshal returned he was dead Answer of the Earl Marshall was That he could not bring him before the King and his Council in that present Parlement for that he being in his Custody in the King's Prison at Calais died there This Return was made September 24. Upon 5 Pleas of the Crown 21 Ric. II. Reading of this Writ and Return in Parlement the Appellants in their proper Persons prayed the King That the Duke of Glocester might be declared Traytor and Enemy to him as having levied War in the Kingdom against his Person contrary to his Ligeance and that all his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels as they ought in this Case notwithstanding his Death might be forfeit Whereupon the Commons also of this Parlement prayed the King and Lords That it being notoriously known to the King and all the Estates of the present Parlement and to all the Kingdom that the Duke and others of his Party assembled at Haringay in the County of Middlesex with a great number of People Armed and Arrayed to make War against the King contrary to their Ligeance and came with such Force into the presence of the Person of the King which was to levy War against their Liege Lord That he might be adjudged Traytor and that his Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels might be forfeit notwithstanding his Death as they ought in this Case Upon this all the Lords Temporal and Monsieur Thomas Percy having Power as abovesaid having been fully Examined said That the said Crime and Treason were notoriously known to them and the whole Kingdom wherefore His Judgment all the Lords Temporal and Monsieur Thomas Percy by assent of the King declared him guilty of levying of War and Traytor and adjudged all his Castles Mannors Lands c. which he was possessed of on the 13th of November in the Eleventh year of this Reign as in the Earl of Arundel's Judgment forfeit to the King and his Heirs And that none of his Issue or Heirs of his Body or their Issue or Heirs in time to come should ever bear the Royal Armes of England intire nor with difference ne ove deference or in other manner whatsoever nor should inherit the Crown of England Upon 6 Ibm. the 25th of September the Appellants in full Parlement prayed the King That if there were any thing upon Record whether by Confession of any Person appealed or other Person whatsoever touching their Appeal that it might be openly known and declared in full Parlement Then by Command of the King and Advice of all the Lords Temporal 7 Append. n. 112. The Confession of the Duke of Glocester when Prisoner before Sir William Rickhill a Commission bearing Date the 17th of August this year was read directed to Monsieur William Rickhill one of the Justices of the Common Bench and a Confession made before him by Thomas Duke of Glocester by force of that Commission and the Return of that Commission was then also Read which follows in these Words This is the Answer 8 8 Pleas of the Crown in Parlement 21 of Ric. II. of William Rickhill to the Commission of his Liege Lord. THomas Duke of Glocester be the name of Thomas of Woodstok the zer of the King Richard Twenty one in the Castle of Cales by vertue of a Commission of the King as it is more plainly declared in the same directed to William Rickhill Justice hath * * Declared
this myn oth but as the words stonde And if it be so that I come agayn or do agayn this oth or any party thereof I yhelde me here cowpable as an Heretyk and to forfeit all my goods to the Kings will without any other process of Law and thereto I require the Notary to make of all this which is my will an instrument agayns me Et ex habundanti idem VVillielmus Dynett eodem die voluit recognovit quod omnia bona catalla sua mobilia nobis sunt forisfacta in casu quo ipse juramentum predictum seu aliqua in eodem juramento contenta de caetero contravenerat ullo modo And moreover the same VVilliam Dynett the same day granted and acknowledged that all his Goods and Chattels were forfeit to us in case he any ways contraven'd the said Oath or did any thing against what was contemned in it Taxes in this KING's Reign THE Lords and Commons perceiving the great danger of Rot. Parl. 1 Rich II. n. 27. Destruction the Nation was in by reason of the great Wars as well by Sea as Land for the defence of the Kingdom and resistance of its great Enemies they granted to the King Two Fifteenth without Cities and Burghs and Two Tenths within Cities and Burghs for Two years Praying the King that as well the Money of the Tenths and Fifteenths as the Tenths granted by the Clergy and Money for the Subsidy of Wooll might be in the keeping of Especial Treasurers by the King's appointment which were William Walworth and John Philypott Merchants of London who were to give an Account of their Receipts and Disbursements in manner as the King and his great Council should order In this Parlement the Commons for the arduity of their Charge Ib. n. 11 12. and feebleness of their Powers and Knowledge prayed the King to have John King of Castile and Leon Duke of Lancaster and Four Bishops Four Earls and Four Barons there named by them for their Ayd and to confer with them about the hasty and good exploit or dispatch of the things wherewith they were charged In the Second of Richard the Second in Quindena paschae part Rot. Parl. 2 Ric II. n. 13. in quindena Paschae 2. n. 13. upon Condition the Marc a Sack added upon Wooll and Sixpence the Pound upon Merchandise given in the last Parlement at Glocester might be remitted the Lords and Commons granted the Subsidy of Wooll as it was before that Parlement for One year from Michaelmas next coming and likewise a Sum upon divers Persons of the Kingdom for which see the Appendix n. 102. The Prelates Lords and Commons perceiving the great Perils Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II. Die Mercurii prox post Festum Sancti Lucae p. 2. n. 29. with which the Land was environ'd and the great and outrageous Expences the King was to be at for the salvation and defence thereof granted to him the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woollfells for Three years of Wooll 43 s. 4 d. the Sack of Woollfells as much for every Two hundred and forty accounting Sixscore to the Hundred and for Leather 4 l. 6 s. 6 d. every Last which were exported by Denizens and Strangers and as an additional Grant they gave more 13 s. 4 d. for every Sack of Wooll as much for every Two hundred and forty Woollfells and for every Last of Leather 26 s. 8 d. Also they gave Sixpence in the Pound for every Pound value Ibm. n. 30. of Merchandise as well of Denizens as Strangers imported or exported for One year The Lords and Commons upon the same Reasons and Suggestions Rot. Parl. 3 Ric. II. n. 16. Die lunae prox post festum sancti Hillar Ibm. n. 17. as in the last Parlement granted the King One Fifteenth and half without Cities and Burghs and One Tenth and half within And seeing the King could not Maintain the Charge of the War without them they granted the Subsidy of Wooll Woollfells and Leather for One year after the Term the last granted should expire The Lords and Commons gave Three Groats of every Lay Person Rot. Parl. 4 Ric II. Die Lunae prox post Festum omnium Sanctorum of the Nation Males and Females except very Beggars and so as the richer or more sufficient in every Town should help the poorer so as no one paid above Forty Groats In the Fifth year the Parlement began on the Morrow of All-Souls Rot. Parl. â— Ric. II. n. 4â— and 67. or 3d of November in which the Lords and Commons granted the Subsidy of Wooll Woollfells and Leather as it was last granted until Candlemas next On the 25th of February it being then expired they grant the same Subsidy as it was last received to Midsummer next following and from that time for Four years In the Sixth of Richard the Second in the First Parlement that Rot. Parl. 6 Ric. II. n. 15. year the Lords and Commons perceiving the danger the Nation was in granted a Fifteenth and a Tenth In the Seventh of Richard the Second in the First Parlement Ib. 7 Ric. II. n. 13. that year the Commons with the assent of the Lords gave Two half Fifteenths In the Second Parlement this year holden at Salisbury the Lords Ib. 7 Ric. II. n. 10. and Commons considering the great Charge the King had been and was to be at for Maintaining his Estate his many Wars and Defence of the Kingdom granted Half a Fifteenth and Half a Tenth In the Eighth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ibm. n. 10. grant Two Fifteenths upon Conditions there mentioned In the Ninth of Richard the Second the Lords Great Men Ibm. n. 10. and Communities of Counties Cities and Burghs granted to the King for the Voyage of the Duke of Lancaster into Spain keeping of the Sea and Marches of Scotland a Tenth and Fifteenth and Half a Tenth and Fifteenth And then the Prelates and Noblemen and Great Men Proceres Ibm. n. 11. Magnates and the Communities aforesaid granted to the King the Subsidy of Wooll Woollfells above the ancient Custom of 6 s. 8 d. a Sack 42 s. 4 d. of Denizens and 46 s. 8 d. of Strangers and of Leather and Pelts or Woollfells pellibus lanutis in like manner according to the Rate In the Tenth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ibm. n. 18. grant to the King Half a Tenth and Half a Fifteenth also Three Shillings per Tun upon Wine and Twelvepence in the Pound upon other Merchandise coming in and going out upon Condition the the Commission made to Fourteen continual Counsellors might no ways be repealed and that they might execute the Power granted by that Commission without disturbance In the Eleventh of Richard the Second the Parlement began Ibm. n. 11. on the Morrow of the Purification or 3d of February the Lords and Commons then granted Half a Tenth and Half a
Fifteenth The Lords and Commons also grant until Whitsunday next coming Ibm. n. 12. 3 s. per Tun upon Wine and a Shilling in the Pound upon Goods also they grant the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woollfells for the same time as it was last paid The Lords and Commons then likewise grant to the King 43 s. Ibm. n. 16. 4 d. the Sack upon Wooll above the ancient Custom upon Denizens and 46 s. 8 d. upon Strangers upon every Two hundred and forty Woollfells or Woollskins the same Duty upon both Denizens and Strangers as upon Wooll Upon every Last of Leather Six Marks and 6 s. 8 d. upon Denizens besides the ancient Custom and upon Strangers Seven Marks besides the ancient Custom from Whitsunday which was this year the 23d of May until Midsummer and from thence to Midsummer next following The Lords and Commons grant a Subsidy of Wooll Transported Rot. Parl. 13 Ric. II. n. 20. c. 33 s. 4 d. the Sack upon Denizens and 36 s. 8 d. the Sack upon Aliens In the Fourteenth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ib. n. 14 Ric. II. n. 16 17. grant the King for Three years a Subsidy of Wooll c. Three Shillings upon every Tun of Wine and Twelve Pence upon every Pound of Merchandise as in the Eleventh year so as the same may be only employed for the defence of the Realm c. In the Fifteenth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ib. 15 Ric. II. n. 10. grant Half a Fifteenth and Half a Tenth if the King went into France in his own Person to Treat of Peace or Truce and besides a whole Fifteenth and Tenth if there should be War In the Sixteenth of Richard the Second the Commons by assent Ib. 16 Ric. II. n. 11. of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal grant to the King for Three years the Subsidy upon Wooll c. Three Shillings the Tun upon Wine Twelve Pence per Pound upon Merchandise In the Seventeenth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ib. 17 Ric. II. n. 12. grant to the King for Three years Six Pence upon every Pound of Merchandise and One Shilling and six pence upon every Tun of Wine In the Eighteenth of Richard the Second the Lords and Commons Ib. 18 Ric. II. n. 6. grant to the King a Tenth and a Fifteenth for the Conquest of Ireland The Commons by assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal Ib. 20 Ric. II. n. 18. granted to the King Twelve Pence in the Pound of all manner of Merchandises and Three Shillings of every Tun of Wine for Three years The Commons on the last day of the Parlement at Shrewsbury Ib. 21 Ric. II. n. 75. which was Thursday the last of January by assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal granted to the King the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woollfells during his Life and One Tenth and One Fifteenth and Half a Tenth and Half a Fifteenth His Wives THE First was 1 Walsingh f. 281. n. 40. Ann Daughter to Charles the Fourth Emperor of Germany who having been his Wife 2 Ib. f. 350. n. 40. Twelve years died without Issue His Second was 3 Ib. f. 353. n. 30. Isabell Eldest Daughter to Charles the Sixth King of France to whom he was Married the 28th of October 1396 being then not above Seven or Eight years of Age and therefore never Bedded her having been Dethroned and Murthered about Three years after FINIS The Authors and Records from whence the Materials are taken NIcholas Trivet a Monk of Bridlington wrote the Life of Edward the First and lived in or about the time a Manuscript in the Norfolk or Arundell Library in Gresham-College London N. 220. the second Treatise pag. 52. This is Transcribed by Walsingham Adam Murimoth was a Canon of London and as he writes of A Manuscript in the Prologue to his History himself was of sufficient Age to consider what Authors wrote and to write himself he begins his History in A. D. 1303. and the first Three years Story he had out of the Chronicles of Westminster The residue he wrote was what he saw and heard in his own time which was to the Twenty first of Edward the Third in the Custody of Dr. Covell Master of Christ's College in Cambridge Much of him also Transcribed by Walsingham Robert of Avesbury wrote the Life of Edward the Third and P. 76. in the Rubrick to the first Chapter Pitsaeus P. 899. as he Reports of himself was Keeper of the Registry of the Court of Canterbury he lived in the time of Edward the Third a Manuscript in Sir Simmonds Dewes's Library at Stow Lanthorn in Suffolk Thomas de la More Kt. Servant to Edward Second and out-lived him Printed at Francfort A. D. 1603. Frier John Trokelow's Annals of Edward the Second a Manuscript in the Cotton Library Claudius D. 6. Puteanus or Monsieur Dupuy Counseller and Library Keeper to the King of France wrote the History of the Condemnation of the Templars from the great Register of the Process against them in the French King's Treasury of Records from Page 113 to Page 222 and out of the Inventory of the King's Papers and Instruments concerning the same Matters from Page 70 to Pag. 111. Froysard was a Clerk in King Edward's Court and Servant to Queen Philip and often in King Richard's Court as he says of himself in the last Chapter of his Second Volume Ranulph Higden or the Monk of Chester Mathew of Westminster and Walsingham are known Authors and mentioned before in my First Volume of this History The Close and Patent Rolls the Rolls of Rome France Gascoign Scotland the Parlement Rolls and others in the Tower of London Advertisements to the Candid READER THE Church-Affairs are mostly such as hapned and were Contested inter Regnum Sacerdotium between the Ecclesiastic and Secular Government relating to the Politic State of the Kingdom or indeed between our Kings and the Popes For certainly all our Intestin Troubles Commotions and Wars in some of the Former Reigns and in These were Fomented Managed and Carried on in a great measure by the then Clergy and even those called the Barons Wars who to make their Own Advantage and repair their Fortunes when reduced to a low Condition by their own Vanity and Profuseness were their great Assistants with Religion and Holy Church in the Front of their Designs That the Translations of the Latin and French are Literal and Verbal as near as might be according to the very Meaning of the Words And That some particular Parts of the Citations in Latin and French are more frequent than they might have been because many Men without the Words of the Authors themselves are loth to understand or believe such things as are delivered by them The INDEX A. ABbeys in England to pay no Taxes to foreign Houses Fol. 87 D Adam Bishop of Hereford accused of High Treason Fol. 147
Faith upon the Covenants granted them Qui ove lui vindrent a nostre pees a nostre foi par mi les covenances qui leur feurent grantez shall pay for their Ransom paent pur Ranzon amends des trespas par eux faitz c. and Amends of the Crimes by them committed Three years value of their Lands and Rents toward the building of new Castles in Scotland for security of the Nation and preserving the Peace or to other Vses as we shall think fit And we Pardon the said John Comyn and David Graham their Exiles and remaining out of Scotland according to the * * The Covenants made with John Comyn Covenants aforesaid Further 't is Ordained by us and our Council That the People of Scotland which submitted to us before John de Baliol shall pay only the Rents of Two years of their Lands except those that can shew themselves acquitted by our special Grant or Deed. The same Order and Decree was made concerning Adam de Gourdon and Simon de Fraser Kt. Further we Decree and Determine That the Bishops Abbats Priors and the Clergy of the Kingdom of Scotland except the Bishop of Glasco shall pay for their Ransom and their Crimes the value of their Rents and Lands for one year except those that can shew by special Deed or other manner they ought to be discharged The Bishop of Glasco was to be upon the same Terms with John Comyn in all respects and also as to his Banishment which was remitted Further That Ingelram de Umfrevil because he made his Submission but a little while before these Letters were granted should pay Five years value c. And that William de Baliol and John Wychard should pay for the same Reason Four years Rent Further That Hugh de Adrossan John de Gourley John de Naper and John de Makilgoigny who were of the Retinue of the said William Ingelram and John should pay Three years value Further For the time and manner of payment of these Compositions or Fines the King's Lieutenant and Chamberlain of Scotland should make a reasonable and just Extent of the Lands of the Offenders according to the present value of the Lands and according to that Extent the Composition or Fine was to be levied and paid every year at the usual time of Payment half the value and so from year to year till the whole was paid and the other half of their Lands and Rents should remain to them for their support and maintenance And 't is to be known That our Will is not that this Determination should extend to and be understood of such Persons of the Scots as were Prisoners upon this Occasion nor of such as have not submitted to our Peace or Faith In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters Patents to be sealed at Westminster the 15th of October in the 33d of our Reign The Title of this Patent is Forma pacis Scotiae The Form of Peace of Scotland William Waleys could not be mentioned in this Record having William Walers taken Hang'd Drawn and Quartered been taken about the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary or 15th of August two months before the Date of it and brought to London where on the Eve of St. Bartholomew he was Condemned to be Hanged Drawn and Quartered his Head to be fixed upon a Pole on London-Bridge and his four Quarters to be sent into Scotland and set up in four parts of the Kingdom Notwithstanding this Establishment the Agreement and Forms A. D. 1306. 34 Ed. I. 5 Mat. West f. 453. n. 10 20 30. The Scots Bishops Noblemen and others Perjured twice or thrice They Conspire against gainst King Edward and set up Robert Brus. John Comyn Murthered because he would not be Perjured A. D. 1306. 34 Ed. I. of Peace by Consent of the Scots and their Commissioners when the King expected nothing but Peace and fair Compliance 5 in January following the same Scots that had twice or thrice done Homage and sworn Fealty to King Edward and the Bishops themselves that had Sworn Faith and Truth to him as heartily as other Men joined with Robert Brus Earl of Carrick in setting up his Title and especially the Bishops of St. Andrews and Glasco and Abbat of Schone who were the great Contrivers of his Design and Assistants in it and begun a War more troublesom and lasting then any before and because John Comyn was very resolute in keeping his Oath and would not join with them being a Man of great Power and Interest in Scotland and much pressed to do it by Robert Brus he with his Followers killed him in the Church of the Friers Minors of Dunfres on the 29th of January and upon the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin next following he was Crowned at Scone in the presence of the Two Bishops the Abbat and many other Earls Barons and Knights In Easter 6 Ib. f. 454. n. 10. The Pope Absolves the King from his Oath concerning the Perambulations of the Forests Week ensuing the Pope's Bull was published absolving the King from the Oath of Deforesting or laying out of his Forests such Lands as were or ought not truly to be contained in them and abolishing and punishing all Ill Practices and Vsages Tricks and Deceits of his Officers within and belonging to them Excommunicating such as observed it and absolving such as broke it In the Historians it appears not what use he made of this Absolution but in a Writ or Letters upon the 7 34 Ed. I. M. 13 14. The King troubled at the Actions of his Officers Statute Roll with the Ordinance he then made Dated May 28. he Expressed himself much troubled in Mind for the Clamours of the People who as he there says were much oppressed impoverished and injured by the Officers of his Forests and therefore desiring to obviate these Oppressions and Grievances which he could not pass by without great Scandal or Offence Quae absque gravi scandalo diutius sub dissimulatione praeteririe non possumus and to provide for the Peace and Tranquillity of the Kingdom he Emitted the foresaid Ordinance of the Forest Dated May 28. in the 34th year of his Reign Printed in Totel's Magna Charta 1556. Part. 2. p. 67. a. but with this Writ or these Letters which were 8 Ib. Rot. Stat. 34 Ed. I. M. 13 14. sent into every County in England with Command to the Sheriffs to cause them to be read and the Ordinance contained in them to be proclaimed in full County The King being fully informed of the Insurrection and Proceedings of Robert Brus and his Confederates 9 Mat. West f. 454. n. 30 40 50. and f. 455. The King sends an Army into Scotland sent Aymer de Valentia Earl of Pembroke Robert Clifford and Henry Percy into Scotland with a good Force against the new Crowned King and the King intending to follow them summoned his Army to Rendezvous at
and Burgesses gave their new King a Fifteenth part of their Goods and the other Laicks a Twentieth I find not what was further done here in England in the first Five months of his Reign other than That his great Favourite Peirs de Gaveston returned into England his 4 App. n. 43. Peirs de Gavesion returned into England Exile and the Obligation of his Oath not to come over unless recalled by or had Leave to come from King Edward the First having been both determined by his Death And also the Oath which King Edward made when Prince of Wales at the same 6 Ibm. time That he would not Receive or Retain him without the Leave of his Father How long he had been in England and how long Earl of He is made Earl of Cornwall and Guardian and Lieutenant of the Kingdom Cornwall before the 26th of December in the first year of King Edward's Reign I have not seen On that day being at Westminster he made him by the Name and Title of Peter de Gaveston Earl of Cornwall his 7 Append. n. 48. Guardian and Lieutenant of the Kingdom for the better Conservation of the Peace and Quiet thereof while he should be beyond the Seas or during his Pleasure And on the 18th of January following being then at Dover 8 Ib. n. 49. The great Power given to him he gave him Power to grant Licences of choosing Pastors of Cathedral and Conventual Churches to take their Fealties when Elected and Confirmed and restore the Temporalities to give Prebends and vacant Benefices which were of his Collation or Presentation and dispose of Wardships and Marriages which might happen in his absence On the 19th of January he 9 Cl. 1 Ed. II. M. 11. Dors summoned a Parlement to meet at Westminster on the first Sunday in Lent being then at Dover but of it there are no Memoires in the Tower or other-where that I have seen Then the King passing over Sea on the 28th of the same month was 1 The. de la Moor f. 593. n. 10. Married to Isabel Daughter of Philip the Fair King of France at Bologne with wonderful Pomp and Celebrity there being at the Solemnity Four Kings and Three Queens besides the Bride and returning into England they were both 2 Cl. 1 Ed. II. M. 10. Dors Crowned at Westminster on the 24th of February where the Earl of Cornwall excelled all the Company in rich Cloaths and Ornaments and carried the Royal Crown 3 Ib. de la Moor ut supra n. 20. before the King which much increased the Envy of the Nobility against him He was the 4 Son of a Gasconian Knight who had done Who Peirs Gaveston was 4 Frier John Trokelow's Annals of Ed. II. f. 192. col 2. â— in Biblioth Cotton Claudius D. 6. Edward the First great Service in the Wars of that Country and in respect thereof he ordered him to be Educated with his Son the Prince which made the great familiarity between them Sir Tho. de la Moor Servant to Edward the Second gives him this Character 5 That he had a fine Body was of a quick and sharp Wit curious in his Behaviour and sufficiently Skilful 5 Ut supra in Military Affairs which appeared as he says by his Management of and keeping in due Subjection the Scots when he commanded the English Forces in that Kingdom for which he was envied by those who saw his happy Success By reason of the King 's extravagant Favours toward and in The Nobility much moved by the King's favour to him conferring Honours and Lands upon him especially after he had Married his Niece Margaret Sister to the Earl of Glocester with his receiving him into so great Intimacy and making him Chief Minister as may be supposed according to the Report of all our Historians the Nobility were much moved who pressed and advised the King he might avoid the Realm which not being done so soon as was expected the King declared 6 Pat. 1 Ed. II. M. 10. to all such as should see or hear his Letters Patents That for no cause whatever he should be permitted to stay in England longer than the Morrow of St. John Baptist according as it had been advised by the Prelates Earls and Barons and agreed to by himself Given at Westminster the 18th day of May. Accordingly he was sent into Ireland and made the King's He is made the King's Lieutenant in Ireland 7 Pat. 1 Ed. II. M. 3. in Cedula An. D. 1308. Lieutenant there to Direct and Act in all things in his Name as if he had been himself there present Witness the King at Reding 16 die Junii But long he stayed not there for in the Second year of the King he procured a Tournement to be proclaimed at 8 Walsingh f 96. n. 50. A. D. 1309. The Nobility contrive how to destroy him Waling ford and called thither so many Military Men out of Foreign Parts that he insulted over the English Nobility who came to meet them amongst whom the chief were Thomas Earl of Lancaster Humphry de Bohun Earl of Hereford Aymer de Valence Earl of Pembroke and John Earl of Warren and Surry who being much displeased and hardly bearing the Pride of Gavestan and the Reproach they received every day considered and contrived how they might destroy him De die in diem quomodo Petrum perderent cogitabant The Prelates Earls and Barons taking advantage of the King 's continued Exorbitant Kindness to him and heaping upon him so great Riches and Estates to the disadvantage of the Crown and lessening the Revenues thereof and the great Power he had with him and being thereby as may probably be concluded the great Obstacle to the Execution of their Designs formed against They press the King to give them a Commission to choose Ordainers to make Ordinances for the Government of his Houshold and Kingdom the King's Father and himself were impatient till they had removed him never to return again and to do this they daily pressed the King to give them Authority to choose such amongst them that might have Power to make Ordinances for the Government of his Houshold and Kingdom which at length they obtained and had this Grant or Commission for the making of them THE 9 9 Append. n. 50. A. D. 1309. 3 Ed. II. The Commission for that purpose King to all those who shall see or hear these Letters Greeting Whereas to the Honour of God and for the good of us and our Realm we have of our free Will granted to the Prelates Earls and Barons of our Realm that they may choose certain Persons of the Prelates Earls and Barons and others whom they think fit to call to them during the time of their Power that is to the Feast of St. Michael next coming and from that Feast for a year next following to Ordain and Establish the Estate of our Houshold
had imprisoned Clercs and others against the Laws of the Land his Coronation-Oath and against the Great Charter the Infringers whereof were by the Prelates of England and the Pope's Bull which he had by him excommunicated Which things he had done to the great Danger of his Soul and Detriment of his State and Honour He tells him he had pronounced Excommunicate all such about him that were Favourers of Treason Flatterers of and imposed upon him and as his spiritual Father beseecheth him to hold them as such some of which by their Sloth and Wicked Service and Advice lost Tournay And requested him to call together the Prelates Great Men and Peers of the Land to see and enquire in whose hands the Wooll Moneys and other things then remained which since the beginning of the War had been granted to him for maintaining thereof and by what means and whose default he lost Tournay and punish the Offenders in all things according to Law And as to what concerned him saving always the Estate of Holy Church and his own Order he was ready in all Points to submit to the Judgment of his Peers This Letter was Dated at Canterbury the First of January In the same Month 1 Ib. f. 151. n. 30 40 c He wrote also to the Chancellor of England to preserve the Liberties of the Church he wrote to Robert Bouser a Lay-man late made Chancellor of England in the place of the Bishop of Chichester to preserve the Liberties of Holy Church and the Laws of the Land entire And to let him know that the Ninth had levied and destreined for it upon Prelates and others of the Clergy who were not bound to pay it as those that 2 Rot. Parl. 14 Ed. III. Part 2 n. 14. 17. paid the Tenth granted to the Clergy and held nothing of the King by Barony or were obliged to come to Parlement and also exacted the Tenth of such as were bound to pay the Ninth oppressing the Clergy contra Deum Justitiam against God and Justice Exhorting and requiring him in the Lord hortamur in Domino requirimus not to permit the Religious and Clergy to pay otherwise than according to the Form of the Grant of the Taxes nor give his Advice or Assent to any thing in prejudice of the Great Charter or that might tend to the Subversion of Church-Liberties declaring if he should make out any Writ Commission or Precept to that purpose he should not omit to exercise such Power as Holy Church had permitted him He 3 Wals f. 152 n. 10 20 c. The A. Bp. declaimed in a Letter to the King all those Excommunicate wrote also to the King and his Council after this manner Domino nostro Regi Consilioque suo ac omnibus singulis dicti Consilii sui Personis monstramus nos Johannes permissiones divina Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus totius Angliae Primas sedis Apostolicae Legatus c. To our Lord the King and his Council to all and every one of them We John by Divine Permission Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Pope's Legate do declare all those that do Arrest Who imprisoned Clercs Clercs put them in Prison and detain them against their Wills are Excommunicated by Canon Which Sentence he published in the or oppressed the Church Church of Canterbury and caused it to be published by all his Brother Suffragans or Bishops of that Province After the Denunciation of which Sentence several Clercs there named were taken and imprisoned in prejudicium Dei Ecclesiae Sanctae in prejudice of God and Holy Church against the Laws and Privileges of all Clercs and to the danger of their Souls who did such things or gave Advice or Assent to the doing of them Wherefore he beseeched the King to preserve untouched the Rights and Privileges of Holy Church and forthwith release the Clercs and others that had been imprisoned against the Great Charter the Laws of the Land and Privileges of such as were detained And further beseeched all of the King's Council who had presumed to advise the King to commit such things qui talia committendi consilium Regi dare presumserunt not to hinder the Release of those that were kept in Prison He also declared That the King's Ministers or Officers of what Condition soever who entred the Granges Houses and other Places of Arch-Bishops Bishops Ecclesiasticks or other Religious without the Consent of their Bailiffs and took and carried away their Goods and all those that commanded these things to be done were involved in the same Sentence of Excommunication He wished the King would vouchsafe to apply a fit Remedy for he could not dissemble but that against such as his Pastoral Office required it of him by his Brother Bishops of the Province he should execute what was his and their bounden Duty Yet it was not his Intention that the King Queen or their Children should be comprehended in this Judgment or Sentence of Excommunication as far as by Law or Right they might be excused 4 Ibm. n. 50. nostrae tamen Intentionis non existit Dominum nostrum Regem Dominam Reginam aut Liberos eorundem dictis Sententiis involvi seu comprehendi quatenus de jure poterunt excusari As he had resolved 5 Ib. f. 153. n. 20 30 40 c. he wrote to all the Bishops of his Province 6 Ibm. f. 154. n. 30. and commanded them to declare Excommunicate all such as deprived Churches of their Rights or by Malice infringed or disturbed their Liberties or free Customs and those especially that violated the ancient Liberties and free Customs of his Church of Canterbury or in any manner diminished them or did any thing contrary to its Privileges Also those that disturbed the Peace and Quiet of the Kingdom or that gave Advice or Assistance to or favoured them Also those who by any Art or Trick whatsoever quacunque arte vel ingenio should violate break diminish or change any of the Liberties and free Customs contained in the Great Charter or Charter of the Forest privately or openly by Word Deed or Advice or the ancient Liberties and free Customs granted by them to the City of London should be declared Excommunicate And then he directs them to proceed in the same manner against all such as imprisoned Clercs or entred into the Houses Granges Ba c. of Arch-Bishops Bishops c. as above The King moved with this Behaviour of the Arch-Bishop 7 Ibm. f. 154. n. 30 40. â— The King's Letter concerning the A. Bp. of Canterbury and his Crimes wrote to the Bishop of London and the Prior and Chapter of Canterbury in harsh and severe Language how he had been used by the Arch-Bishop and charged him with many great Crimes as that being exalted to the Throne in his Nonage desiring to be directed by sound Counsel believing him in Fidelity and Discretion to exceed all Men and using him as the
to the Prior and Convent against him which he desired might be read Which was done by order of the Prior and the Contents of them published in the English Tongue Against and makes his Defence which the Arch-Bishop in every Point defended his Innocence and then admonished the People to pray for the King Queen and their Children and to those that should do so devoutly and also pray for the State of Holy Church being penitent and sorry for their Sins he granted Forty Days Indulgence from Purgatory And the next Day being the Chair of St. Peter at Antioch or the 22d of that Month 9 Ibm. the Abbot of St. Augustines in Canterbury to whom and his Convent the like Letters had been sent published The Abbot of S. Augustines published them to the Disadvantage of the A. Bp. them to the People expounding them in Hatred to the Arch-Bishop in odium Archiepiscopi that so the People might have an ill Opinion of him The very same Complaints against this Arch-Bishop the King 1 Rot. Rom. 14 Ed. III. M. 4. The King sent to the Pope to remove him out of the Kingdom sent to the Pope tho' in somewhat smoother Language in some parts of the Epistle and requests he might be by him removed out of the Kingdom for preserving the Peace of it and preventing other Dangers that might be feared to ensue if he staid there Dat. apud Langele 14 die Martii The Arch-Bishop wrote an Answer to the King's Letter which bears this Title 2 Hist Sacr. vol. â— f. 27. The A. Bp.'s Answer to the King's Letter which he cal's a famous Libel Excusatio Archiepiscopi ad famosum Libellum The Excuse or Answer of the Arch-Bishop to the slanderous Libel addressing himself by way of Preface to the King telling him There were two things by which the World was Governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Ordained Power of which the Charge of the Priests was the greatest and highest inasmuch as they were in the last Judgment to give an account of Kings Wherefore he ought to know that they depend upon the Judgment of Priests who might not be directed by their Wills for who could doubt but Christ's Priests were to be thought the Fathers and Masters of Kings Princes and all faithful People 3 Ibm. Reverendo Domino suo Edwardo Dei gratia c. Duo sunt quibus principaliter regitur iste Mundus Sacra Pontificalis Autoritas Regalis Ordinata Potestas in quibus est pondus tanto gravius sublimus Sacerdotum quanto de Regibus illi in divino reddituri sunt examine rationem Et ideo scire debet Regia celsitudo ex illorum vos dependere judicio non illos ad vestram posse dirigi voluntatem Quis enim dubitat Sacerdotes Christi Regum Principum omniumque fidelium Patres Magistros censeri And he proceeds to inform him that many Bishops had 4 Ibm. f. 28. Excommunicated Kings and Emperors and also to inform him what Good Kings were to do and how to behave themselves toward Bishops and what Reverence Honour and Respect was due to them And he complains that the Honour due to him in regard of his Dignity and as he was his Father was turned into Disgrace Devotion into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt sed proh dolor c. Honor nobis exhibendus conversus est in Opprobium Devotio in Blasphemiam Reverentia in Contemptum whilst his Epistles sealed with the Royal Seal but more truly slanderous Libels 5 Ibm. dum Epistolas vestras Regio sigillo Signatas quin verius Libellos famosos dictated and written by his Enemies containing many Crimes falsly imputed to him were sent to the Bishops of his Province Deans Abbots Priors their Convents and Chapters to be published to his and would to God not to the injury of him too in nostram utinam non in divinam injuriam By which unthought of that he might not say detestable Fact Royal Power presumed to Judge the Lord God in his Servants and Priests and he seemed to condemn him his Spiritual Father and greatest Peer of the Land against the Order of God Human Law and natural Reason not called not convicted by Record and unheard to the Danger of his Soul and as an ill Example to the manifest Prejudice of all the Peers of England At last making great Profession of his Affection to him and the great Services he had done him he comes to his Answer here following That 6 Ibm. f. 29. whereas he accused him That when the Kingdom of France was devolved to him by Right of Succession he importuned him to make a League with the Almain to recover his Rights and was only to find expert Soldiers and he would find Money which failing you were you say forced to contract great Debts upon Usury 7 Ibm. To this he said That in the beginning of his Government when he was Bishop of Winchester it was known by whose Counsel he was Governed That when the Kingdom had devolved to him by Hereditary Right and so judged in the Parlement at Northampton the two Bishops of * Adam Orlâ—ton Worcester Coventry and Litchfield were sent into France to Claim that Kingdom in your Name and to hinder the Coronation of Philip de Valois which Embassie was the greatest occasion of the War We at that time were not employed in any of your Affairs but were hated at Court for what cause God knows Afterwards when it pleased your Majesty to call me with others of your Privy Council to transact the Publick Affairs we considering the Danger of Mens Souls Bodies and Goods by a devouring War endeavoured with all our Power to make Peace between the Two Kingdoms but 8 Ibm. f. 30. after all Endeavours for Peace proved insuccessful and Philip had made War upon you then in a Parlement at Westminster called for that Purpose seeing the Obstinacy of Philip it was agreed you should League with the Germans or Almains and others As for the Payment of the Expences of this War there were Agreements made with certain Merchants in a Council at Stamford which are to be found in Chancery which if observed together with other Subsidies granted both by Clergy and Laity and the great Customs of Wooll not only in our own but in the Opinion of all the Council had been sufficient for the whole War if well managed 9 Ibm. And your Majesty knows well that these Agreements were not broken or changed by us nor did the Subsidies come to our hands because after your first Passage we staid not in this Kingdom but with the Reverend Fathers the Cardinals and Bishop of Durham went into France to treat of Peace often going backward and forward from and to your self then in Brabant and afterward when there was no hopes of Peace staid some time with you there and were made Partakers of your Necessities and with
Charles Earl of Blois and John Earl of Montfort about Succession to and Enjoyment of that Dukedom Their Titles were thus Arthur the second had 1 Ib. and Robert of Aversbury p. 98. b. c. 40. Competitors for the Dukedom Two Sons by his first Wife this Duke John and another who Married and had a Daughter only and died before the Duke his Brother This Daughter was Married to Charles Earl of Blois Nephew to Philip the French King by his Sister The same Arthur by a second Wife had a Third Son who did bear the Title of Earl of Montfort The Question was Whether the Wife of the Earl of Bloys or the Earl of Montfort was nearest in Blood to the late Duke Upon the Dukes Death Montfort went to Nantes the chief City in Bretagne 2 Froâ—ssard Ibidem The Citizens of Nantes and some others own Montfort where he was received by the Citizens and People of the Country thereabout as their Lord and as nearest of Blood to his Brother who did homage and sware fealty to him To this place he summoned in the 3 Ib. 65 66 67. The Nobility and best fort of People appear not upon his Summons Nobility and the best sort of People of the Country and good Towns of Bretagne who appeared not whereupon he raised an Army and took the Town and Castle of Brest the City of Rennes the Town and strong Castle of Hannybout the Town and Castle of Caraches Yet after all this the Earl 4 Ib. c. 68. He offers to hold the Dukedom of the King of England by Homage and Fealty King Edward accepts his offer and promiseth to defend him of Montfort fearing the Earl of Bloys by the power of France might drive him out of the Dukedom came into England and offered to King Edward to hold it of him by Homage and Fealty if he would defend him against the French King and all others who should give him Trouble in this Matter The King accepted his offer and thought he should have great advantage by it as not having a more commodious way of entring France than by Bretagne calling to mind that the Alemans or Germans and Brabanters had done little or nothing for him and only made their own advantage by spending him much Money After Homage done King Edward in the presence of the Lords of Bretagne and England that were present promised he would aid and defend him as his Liege-man against the French King and all others The Homage and Promises were written sealed and delivered interchangeably The French King observing what the Earl of Montfort had The French King summons him to Paris done in Bretagne and hearing he had done Homage to the King of England for that Dutchy at the Request of the Earl of Bloys he was summoned to appear at Paris before the King Twelve Peers and other great Lords of France He appeared according to Summons 5 Ib. c. 69 70. He denies he did Homage to the King of England and when the French King charged him with having done Homage to his Adversary the King of England he denied it He then commanded him by all he held of him that he should not depart from Paris in Fifteen days in which time the Twelve Peers and other Lords should judge of his Right But he suddenly and privately withdrew from Paris and returned into Bretagne Nevertheless the Peers and Lords on the 15th day gave their The Peers of France give the Title of the Dutchy of Bretagne to Mary the Wife of the Earl of Bloys Opinions concerning the Title and Inheritance of the Dutchy That it belonged to Mary the Wife of the Earl of Bloys and further their Opinions were That if ever the Earl of Montfort had any Right he had forfeited it two ways by doing Homage and receiving it from any other Lord than the King of France of whom he ought to have held it and by disobeying the King's The Earl of Bloys enters Bretagne Commands in going from Paris without his Leave No sooner was this Judgment passed for him 6 Ib. c. 71 72. Surprised and took Earl Montfort but the Earl of Bloys with great assistance from the King of France entered Bretagne and surprized and took the Earl of Montfort in the Town of Nantes by the Treachery of the Townsmen from whence he was sent Prisoner to Paris and there died This was done says Foissard 7 Ib. c. 72. A. D. 1341. Who died at Paris being there Prisoner in the year 1341 about the Feast of All-Saints which was in the Fifteenth year of Edward the Third after whose Death his Widow Sister to the Earl of Flanders a Princess of great Prudence and Courage 8 Ib. c. 79. and Du Chesne f. 656. B. His Widow maintains War against the Earl of Bloys maintained the War against the Earl of Bloys and kept possession of those Parts and Places of Bretagne as had not been brought under his power This was in the beginning of Winter when the French Nobility that came with the Earl of Bloys by the King of France his Command retired the fury of the War then ceasing but failed not to return in the Spring to attempt to take from the Countess of Montfort what remained in her possession So soon as she was informed of their return she sent 9 Ib. in both She sends to the King of England for assistance Emery de Clisson a Lord of Bretagne into England to Request Assistance of the King propounding her Son John Heir to the Earl of Montfort as a Husband to one of his Daughters who was afterwards 1 Sâ—â—df Genealog Hist f. 179. Which she received Married to Mary his fourth Daughter and she enjoyed the Title of Dutchess of Bretagne The Proposition was readily agreed to by the King and he sent Sir Walter Manny into Bretagne with as many Men 2 Frâ—iss Du Châ—sne â—t supra A. D. 1342. Upon the Marriage of her Son with the King 's 4th Daughter at Arms as Sir Emery desired and also 3000 Archers but these were not sufficient to defend the Country against the Force of the Earl of Bloys who had taken Rennes Vannes and other Places and would have conquered all Bretagne if not speedily opposed 3 Ib. Frâ—iss c. 86. 90. Du Cheâ—ne f. 657. B. This Account was sent to the King by Messengers from the Countess and Sir Walter Manny whereupon he sent Robert de Artois with more Men Arms and Archers to reinforce Sir Walter 4 Du Chesne Iâ—m C. D. Frâ—â—ss c. 92. This joint Force besieged and retook Vannes but not long after Vannes was recovered by assault made by the Forces and Friends of Charles of Bloys in the defence whereof 5 Ib. c. 9â— Du Châ—sne f. 658. B. C. Robert de Artois was much and dangerously wounded who not long after returned into England in hopes of better Chirurgeons and Medicines and died there The
according to the Original by others according to the Corrected Articles but 't is not very hard to see thro this Mystery for both Kings and their Sons were very strict and exact in Confirming both Copies of the Articles as they thought themselves obliged by Oath to do and first confirmed them at Calais before the King of France had his Liberty and afterwards at Bologn when he was free from his Imprisonment yet were not so strict and just in the observation of their Oaths in the performance and fulfilling of them but used and made their advantage of the different Copies of the Letters and Instruments as they served their turns All things at that time relating to this Peace at Bretigny that could be having been finished at Calais and Bologne the 1 Froysard lib. 1. c. 213 f. 108. b. A. D. 1360. The King returns to England with the Hostages for the Observation of the Peace of Bretegny King his Sons and others with the Hostages of France took Shipping on the Eve of All-Saints or last of October and came for England where the Lords and other 2 Ibm. Their Freedom and Kind Reception in England Hostages had all the Enjoyments of the City of London Hawked Hunted and Visited the Ladies in the Country without any Restraint the King's Favour being so great towards them It was not long after this 3 Ib. c. 214. Du Chesne f. 693. D. A. D. 1361. King Edward â—â—nt Commissioners into France to take Possession of what had been agreed on that King Edward sent his Commissioners into France to take possession of what was granted him and what he was to enjoy according to the Peace but several Lords in Languedoc and Gascogne refused at first to be wholly under the Power of the English notwithstanding the King of France had Released their Faith and Homage which they affirmed Several Earls Viscounts and Lords refuse to become his Subjects Yet at last submit against their Wills he could not do nor make them Subjects to another Man The Lords were the Earls of March Perrigort Gominges Arminac the Viscounts of Chastillon and Carmaing the Lords of Pincornet and d'Albret yet at last pressed by the King's Command and prevailed upon by the King's Cousin James of Bourbon who was sent Express to them they obeyed against their Wills The same Difficulties were found in 4 Ibm. in both The same difficulties of non-submission in Poictou c. Poictou Rochelois and Xantoigne The Rochellers excused themselves often praying King John he would not put them out of his Power that they might come under the power of the English shewing to him they had rather every year be Taxed to the half of their Goods then come under their Power yet at length they submitted declaring openly That they would obey but their Hearts could never be moved 5 Froys Ib. Du Chesne f. 694. A. Further Difficulties about Evacuating Garrisons This done King Edward made Sir John Chandos his Lieutenant who had possession given him of all the Lands Countreys Towns and Fortresses which he was to have in France by John de Maingre Marshal of France and Received the Fidelity and Homages of all the Earls Viscounts Barons Knights and Esquires Towns and Fortresses making and appointing Seneschals Bayliffs Governors and all Officers in all Places in the Name of the King of England and made his own Residence at Niort a City in Poictou Then these there were yet greater Difficulties for notwithstanding what the English and French Commissioners for evacuating the Garrisons held by or for the English could do 6 Froys Ib. f. 109. b. Robbers Plunderers and Disbanded Officers and Soldiers there were some that would not yield but pretended they were imployed by the King of Navarre There were also many Strangers great Captains and great 7 Ibm. Make a great Body and call themselves Companions Robbers or Pillagers as Almains Brabanters Flemmings Haynalders and Gascoins who would not quit their Imployments or the Kingdom of France but set up for themselves under the Name of Companions and the Disbanded Soldiers of such as gave up the Garrisons and freely left their present Imployments ran into them chose new Captains and formed themselves into a great Body of Men 8 Ib. f. 110. a. so as it was feared in time they might do more Mischief in France then the War had done 9 Walsingh f. 178. l. 9 13. f. 181. l. 9. The greater part of their Leaders were English or at least under the Dominion of the King of England yet would not obey his Orders answering they must live by what they got To reduce these or expel them the Nation 1 Froys Ib. c 215. f. 111. 4. James of Bourbon sent with an Army to reduce them the King of France sent his Cousin James of Bourbon with an Army which was routed and himself much wounded of which Wounds he died three days after 2 Ibm. which was routed and himself killed They divide into Two Bodies These Companions pillaged and plundered the Countreys and good Towns where-ever they came and by the encouragement of this Victory or Advantage they grew very numerous so as they divided themselves into Two Bodies one whereof lay at Ance upon the River Saone not far from Lyons 3 Ib. f. 111. b. One whereof marched toward Avignon And threatned the Pope and Cardinals the other marched down by the River Rhosne leaving Lyons toward Avignon and in their way took the Bridge and Town of Holy Spirit within Seven Leagues of that Place and other Fortresses making themselves Masters of that River in this Place they found great Riches and had contrived to proceed to Avignon and take it or bring the Pope and Cardinals under their Mercy Pope Innocent and the Cardinals much disturbed at the Proceedings of these People who besides Robbing and Plundering committed all sorts of 4 Ibm. A Croysado Preached up against them without effect horrid Villanies preached up a Croysado against them and absolved all from Crime and Punishment a culpa poena who would venture their Lives to destroy them 5 Ibm. The Artifice to divert them but this Design did not take and therefore they sent to the Marquis of Montferrat who had then War with the Milanese to come to Avignon 6 Ibm. where it was contrived That for a good Sum of ready Money and the Promise of great Pay he should attempt to get them into his Service which had its due effect for upon the Payment of the Money and his Promise they quitted the Town of St. Spirit and other Places and marched with him into Piedmont The other Body of Companions would not stir out of France but kept possession of what they had got and increased in their Numbers and Outrages During these Confusions in France King Edward sent his Commissioners Sir Thomas Vuedale and Mr. Thomas de Dunclent Licentiate in Laws to the King
the College declared an Infidel Cursed and Condemned and Henry the Bastard Legitimated and made capable of Receiving the Kingdom 9 Froys ib. The Kings of France and Arragon make War against Peter and drive him out of his Kingdom By this Encouragement the Kings of France and Aragon made War upon him and sent under the Command of Bertrand du * Guesclin the Famous Commander of the Companions a great Body of those Men and a great Number of other Voluntiers under excellent Officers to assist the Bastard Henry against Peter who drove him out of his Kingdom Peter applies himself to the Prince of Wales 1 Ibm. c. 231. A. D. 1366. He applies himself to the Pr. of Wales who undertakes his Quarrel who sends into England to his Father and by his Advice and the Concurrence of the Gascon Lords undertakes his Quarrel upon Condition of Payment of his Men and that the King of Navarre would permit them to pass through his Country 2 His Brother the Duke of Lancaster came to his Assistance out of England and with as many Companions as he could gather up under the Command of Sir Hugh Caverly and others the Gascons and Forces his Brother brought with him he enters Castile 3 Ib. c. 234. Beats Henry The March Number of Men and Chief Commanders are described and named by Froisard on Saturday April 3. 1366. The 4 Ib. c. 237 238. and restores him Battel was fought between Navar and Navaret in Spain where Henry the Bastard received a total Rout and Peter was restored to his Kingdom Some time after the Battel 5 Ib. c. 239. f. 142. The Pr. sends to K. Peter for Pay for his Soldiers and could not get it the Prince sent to King Peter for Pay for his Soldiers who excused himself and let him know his People could raise no Money so long as the Companions were in the Country and that they had three or four times robbed his Treasurers coming to him with Money and therefore desired him to send them away The Prince not being well 6 Ibm. The Pr. not being well returns with his Army into Aquitan nor the Air of Spain then thought to be infectious agreeing with him or his Army he was advised to return to Aquitan and Order was given accordingly Upon his return he promised the Army to pay them so soon as he got Money though King Peter had not kept his Promise The Gascon Lords went to their own Homes the 7 Ib. c. 240. Companions kept together expecting their Wages and exercised their Trade of Robbing and Plundering The Prince desired 8 Ibm. The Companions rob and spoil the Country them to leave his Country it not being able to sustain them Some staid others that would not displease him marched towards France under English and Gascon Officers passed the River Loire and went into Champagne where their Numbers encreased much and they were so strong as none dare encounter them though many Complaints had been made to the King of France concerning them They harassed the Countries where-ever they came and the 9 Ibm. People wondered the Prince of Wales should send them thither to make War * So Mezeray Froysard Clâ—squi Walsingham Cleikin others Clequin and Guesciline Who wanting Money to pay his Debts contracted by the The Pr. wants Money Spanish Expedition and his own Expences and in some measure to satisfie his Soldiers and Military Men he was advised 1 Ib. c. 241. to call together the Bishops Abbats Barons and Knights of Aquitan at Niort where Chimney-Money was propounded and urged by Chimney-money propounded Many dissatisfied about it the Bishop of Rhodes Chancellor of Aquitan a Frank upon every Chimney Some consented to it others dissented but the main Answer was They would consider and advise about it and then departed 2 Ibm. Yet it was exacted The Prince commanded them to return at a Day assigned Many returned not nor would suffer Chimney-Money to be paid 3 Ibm. against the Advice of some of his Council He rigorously exacted the Collection of it Sir John Chandos one of the Chief of his Council advised him to the contrary but seeing he could not prevail left him pretending Business in Normandy at his own Estate St. Saviours le Vicount where he abode six Months In the mean time 4 Ibm. Many Great Men of Gascon complain to the King of France of the Oppressions of the Pr. of Wales the Earl of Arminac the Lord d'Albret the Lords Gomenges Pincornet and divers other Barons Prelates Knights and Esquires of Gascon made great Complaints and appealed to the French King as their Superious Lord to whose Court was as they affirmed the last Resort for maintaining their Liberties and Franchises against the Oppressions and Evil Usages of the Prince of Wales 5 Ibm. The King of France Summons him before him in his Chamber of Peers He managed them cunningly giving them such Answers as satisfied them at present yet knew not his meaning until he had covertly prepared for War and then he sent a 6 Ib. c. 243. Du Chesue f. 699. D. A. D. 1369. The Prince his Answer Summons to the Prince of Wales upon their farther Instance Dated January 25. at Paris to appear there before him in his Chamber of Peers and do the People Right according to their Complaints His Answer was That if he must come he would attended with Sixty thousand Men. This Summons was soon after followed with a Defiance 7 Froys e. 246. Du Ches f. 700. D. The King of France desies the King of England Invades Ponthicu and Aquitan sent to the King of England and the Invasion of Ponthieu and Aquitan The chief Reasons why the French King began the War again with England were besides the above-mentioned a pretended 8 Du Chesne f. 693. B C. The Reason of this War Agreement the Two Kings should make at Bologne on the 26th of October 1360. when the Treaty at Bretigny had been corrected and confirmed by them both by which it was accorded That whereas for some Difficulties which then hapned the Renunciations to be made at Calais could not be perfected both Kings in the Year following should send their Deputies to Bruges to be there on the Feast-Day of St. Andrew bringing with them the Treaty of Peace and Renunciations in Letters Patents Sealed with their Seals And until that time they should be of no effect And that to the King of France should remain the Resorts and Soveraignties as before 9 Ibm. That if any of the Subjects of one Party or the other should contravene the Peace exercising Robbing and Killing Pillaging Burning or Taking or Detaining Fortresses Persons or Goods in one Kingdom or the other upon the Subjects Adherents or Allies and should not cease or make Reparation within one Month after Demand From thence they were to be holden as Banished both Kingdoms Guilty of
coming and that those that stayed beyond that Feast might be Outlawed and the Abbies and Priories which they possessed might be seized into the King's Hand and Englishmen placed in them according to the Advice of the Ordinary of the Place For that the young English Scholars who had and then did neglect their Studies and those that should be the Teachers of their Faith and would undertake it if they had any hopes to be incouraged And that the good Priories were in the Hands of Strangers who carried the Revenues beyond Sea so that for this reason their Faith was like to come to nothing That the strange Monks were only Laymen and the King their Patron The 7 Ib. Ro. Answer That the Religious Aliens were Spiritual Persons and in their Houses by Institution which thing could not be Tried in Parlement quele chose ne poet Estre trie en Parlement And as to their Lands and Benefices they were in the King's Hands and he received the Profits of them but as to Outing of them it could not be done without Consulting the King It was also Prayed 8 Ib. n. 32. That Strangers Enemies in England who should remain there after St. Michael and should be Outlawed Command might be given to seize their Possessions and Goods to the King's Use and he to cause Englishmen to inform the Parishioners and support the Chanteries for that those that were advanced in England were Taylors Shoemakers and Chamberlains to Cardinals sont Taillours Suours Chamberleyns as Cardinalx so that the Parishioners were not informed by them and their Faith decreased daily The 9 Ib. Ro. Answer was near the same with the other That they were Spiritual Persons and the King had taken the Profits as abovesaid and as to Outing them of their Benefices it could not be done without the King's Assent Notwithstanding these Proceedings in Parlement against the Pope's Bulls his Provisions and Reservations and the Proclamations and Inhibitions thereupon the same Course was continued for in the 25th of his Reign 1 Rot. Parl. 25 Ed. III. Part 1. n. 13. the Commons in a long Petition to the King and Peers of the Land Item prie sa dite Comunes a nostre dit Seigneur le Roy a les Pieres de la terre veer regarder un tres Grand Mischief c. pray them to take notice of the great Mischief and Destruction of late coming upon the Kingdom by the Pope's Reservations by Brocage and purchasing his Provisions and many of the former Grievances complained of which turned to a greater Ruine of the Nation then the whole War and Request the King would please with his Council to ordain Remedy in that Parlement for that the longer these things were suffered there would be the greater difficulty in Reforming them and it was then 2 Ibm. Agreed the Answer to this Petition should be made a Statute for which see Statutes at Large and Pulton in this year And in a Second Parlement the same year the Commons 3 Ib. Part 2. â— 43. pray this Statute concerning Provisions and Reservations might be published and put in Execution against such as acted to the contrary The Answer 4 Ibm. was That the Statute should be recited before the Council and if need were it should be better worded and amended so as the Estate of the King and Kingdom might in all things be safe and preserved In the 27th of the King 5 Statute aâ— Large 27 E. III. c. â— upon the grievous Complaint of the Great Men and Commons That divers of the King's People had been drawn out of the Kingdom to answer things the Cognisance whereof belonged to the King's Court And that the Judgments given in the same Court were impeached in another Court in prejudice and disherison of the King and his Crown and all the People of the Realm in destruction and undoing of the Common Law It was accorded and assented by the King Great Men and Commons That any of the King's Ligeance who should practice such things and upon warning given him to appear before the King and Council or before his Justices at the time appointed to undergo the Law and did not should be put out of the King's Protection and his Lands Goods and Chattels forfeit to the King his Body to be Imprisoned and Ransomed at the King 's Will. During this Contest between the King and Pope or Secular and Ecclesiastick Power then so termed the King was very kind to the Clergie in confirming their old and granting them many new Liberties and Priviledges as appears by the Statutes made for the Clergy in Print in the Statutes at Large in the 14th 18th and 25th of his Reign From this time all things were pretty quiet no considerable things complained of in Parlement against the Pope and his Provisions until the 47th of his Reign when the Commons 6 Rot. Parl. 47 E. III. n. 30. Request Remedy against them for that by reason thereof he received the First Fruits of Ecclesiastical Dignities and by that Means the Treasure of the Realm was conveyed away which they could not bear The Answer was 7 Ib. Ro. The King had Embassadors at the Court of Rome concerning these Matters before whose Return he could not give them Satisfaction In the Fiftieth year of his Reign 8 Append. n. 100. the Knights Citizens and Burgesses which came to this Parlement for the Commonalty of the Realm do pray the King and his Council and supplicate on behalf of the Commonalty That he would please to have good Consideration to the Things underwritten and Faults following and Ordain convenient Remedy which will be the most pleasing to God and kind to Holy Church the most profitable to him and his Kingdom that ever was done it being their holy Faith and firm Hope that those who please God and holy Church shall be accepted in whatever they do First That he would please to think and re-think how his Noble Progenitors Kings of England and other Great Men of the same Land autres Grands de mesme la terre built Churches and in process of time by great Devotion endowed them with Riches Rents Lands and great Possessions Franchises and Temporalities which with what the King himself had given amounted to more then the Third part of his Kingdom and think how all these things were given upon such Devotion and Intent that the Profits rising from them should be spent upon the Places where they were given to the Honour of God and Maintenance of the Places belonging to them in Hospitality and Alms and divers Works of Charity in the Service of God and Holy Church in Chaplains Clerks and Poor that Prayed Night and Day for their Holy Father the Pope for Holy Church for the King and Kingdom for Peace for their Founders Patrons and Benefactors for their Souls and all Christian Souls And think how the Kings and other Great Men autre
of such Reports of the Land was a manifest and very Traytor for such Debates might turn to the Destruction of the Kingdom for ever and he prayed that a good Ordinance and a just and speedy Punishment might be provided in that Parlement for such Talkers and Inventors of Evil Reports or Dreams sur tieux parlours trouvours de mesongs to avoid such Mischiefs for the time to come but for the time past all should be forgiven as to his own Person After this 1 Ibm. n. 17 18. The Commons pray Three things of the King and Lords First That Eight continual Counsellors may be appointed for that the King at present was Innocent and of Tender Age for the amendment of several Mischiefs and the Salvation of the Realm which was then in greater Danger then ever it was before the Commons prayed the King and Lords of Parlement for Three things especially First That they would in that Parlement Appoint and Name Eight Persons of divers Estates to be the continual Counsellors of the King for the Business of the Kingdom together with the King's Officers to be such Persons as best knew and most diligently would and could take pains in the amendment of the Mischiefs and for the good Government and Salvation of the Realm and the Commons might know the Names of those Counsellors which also may be the Expenditors and Directors of what was to be given toward the Wars Secondly That they would please to 2 Ib. n. 19. Secondly Such to be appointed as were to be about the King's Person Name and Appoint in that Parlement such as should be about the King's Person People of Virtuous and honest Conversation that might Educate him accordingly and that the Charge of the King's House might be born with the Revenue of the Crown so as what was granted for the Wars might only be employed that way Thirdly That the 3 Ib. n. 20. Thirdly That the Land might be observed Common Law and other Statutes and Ordinances of the Land might be Observed Ratified and Confirmed and the People Governed by it and that it might not be defeated with Masterships and Singularities of any about the King c. saving in all things the Regalities and Dignity of the King to which the Commons would not any prejudice should be done any way by their Demands The Answer to these Demands 4 Ib. in the end of the number The general Answer was That the Prelates and Lords would Advise together commanding the Commons to return to their place commandant as communes de retournir a lour place and Treat of their other Charges given to them tretir de lours autres â—â—arges a lours douez between that time and Thursday next a quel jour ils furent commandez a retournir en parlement c. to hear the Answer to their Requests The first 5 Ibm. n. 21 22. The particular Answer to the first Request Request of the Commons was Repeated before the King and Lords and by them granted so as the Chancellor Treasurer and Keeper of the Privy Seal Justices of the one Bench and the other and all other Officers of the Realm may execute their Offices without the presence of such Councellors who by Advice of the Lords were 6 Ib. n. 23. Nine the Bishops of London Carlisle and Salisbury the Earls of March and Stafford Messires Richard de Stafford and Henry Lescrop Banerets and Messires John Deverose and Hugh Segrave Bachelors Which 7 Ib. n. 25. Nine Prelates Earls and others chosen in Council for this year esluz en conseil pur ceâ—â— An were Sworn before the King himself to do what they were chosen for in the presence of many Lords of Parlement As to the Second Request to 8 Name and Assign such as To the second Request should be about the King's Person the Lords of Parlement there answered That it seemed to them for many Causes too heavy and hard a Request trop chargeant dure Request to place any Person about the King that should not well please him or to Remove any Officer or Servant if it were not by his Express Will and for notable fault to be proved against such Officers and Servants Wherefore the Lords would not willingly meddle with these Matters peront les Seigneurs ne verroient voluntres entre mettre To the other 8 Ib. toward the end of the number part of this Request the Lords Answered They would by good Deliberation speak with the Great Officers of the King's Houshold and if by their advice it could be done saving the State and Honour of the King what they desired should be performed For the 9 Ib. in the end of the number To the Third Third at present it seemed reasonable to all the Lords it should be granted The Lords and Commons * Ib. n. 27. Two Fifteenths and Two Tenths granted perceiving the great danger of Destruction the Nation was in by reason of the great Wars as well by Sea as Land for the defence of the Kingdom and resistance of its great Enemies granted to the King Two Fifteenths without Cities and Burghs and Two Tenths within Cities and Burghs for Two years praying the King That as well the Money of the Tenths and Fifteenths as the Tenths granted by the Clergy and Money for the Subsidy of Wooll might be in the keeping of Especial Treasurers by the King 's Appointment which were William Special Treasures appointed to receive them Walworth and John Philypot Merchants of London who were to give an Accompt of their Receipts and Disbursements in manner as the King and his great Council should order In this 1 Ib. n. 41 42 43. Parlement Alice Perrers was brought into the Lords House where Sir Richard Lescrop Steward of the King's Houshold by the Command of the Prelates and Lords Recited in the presence of the said Alice an * See this Ordinance here in the 50th of Ed. III. Alice Perrers accused in Parliament Ordinance made in the Parlement holden at Westminster in the 50th of Edward the Third That no Woman especially Alice Perrers should prosecute any Business in the King's Courts by way of Maintenance upon pain of forfeiture and Banishment out of the Kingdom and the said Seneschal or Steward surmised to the said Alice and the Lords That she had incurred the pain of it and forfeited against the Ordinance in Two Points First That Sir Nicholas Dagworth was ordered by the King's Council to go into Ireland upon several great Matters profitable to the King and his Realm the said Alice after the Ordinance made perswaded the King and procured at the Court at Havering by her singular Suit That the said Nicholas should be countermanded and his Voyage staid to the great damage of the King and Realm Secondly That one Richard Lyons for certain Misprisions of which he was Convict in the said Parlement submitted himself to the King's Grace viz. his
was That if any Fault was found in any part of the Kingdom or Government in the Laws or any other manner that they would bring in their Petitions concerning it and they should have due Remedy The Commons desire to have the time limited to bring in They desire the Parlement may be continued to Nov. 2. It began Octob. 20. their Common Bills or Petitions and that it might be prolonged to the Feast of All Souls or 2d of November next coming that Day to be accounted in ce lour estoit ottroiez which was granted Also the 8 Ibm n. 22 They pray â—â— have a Copy of the Enrolment of the last Subsidy of 15ths and 10ths Granted it the King's Pleasure not their Request Commons prayed the King to have a Copy of the Enrolment of the last Subsidy of Fifteenths and Tenths as they had been enrolled upon the Roll of Parlement for them to advise upon ce lour estoit ottroiez come de la voluntee nostre Seigneur le Roy ne mye a lour Requeste And this was granted as the King's Pleasure and not upon their Request They pray 9 Ib. n. 23. How and in what manner a Committee of Lords and Commons were chosen to Treat and Confer And the Reports to be made likewise That Five or Six Prelates and Lords might come to the Commons to Treat with them about their Charge The Lords Answer they neither ought or would do it in that manner which had never been seen but in the Three last Parlements but the Custom was for the Lords to choose a small number of Six or Ten and the Commons as many of themselves and Treat together without noise and report what they had done to their Companions of one part and the other according to this Method the Lords would act and no otherwise and to this the Commons assented to proceed as had anciently been used After 1 Ib. n. 24. The Commons upon Perusal of the Inrolment pleased with the Accounts Say they were not bound to bear any Forreign Charge the Commons had seen and Examined the Inrolment Receits and Expences they were well pleased with them as honourable to the King and Kingdom They only said That 46000 l. which was expended in keeping several Countreys Places and Forteresses as the Marches of Calais Brest and Cherburgh Gascoigny and Ireland was not to be charged upon them nor as it seemed to them were they bound to bear any Forreign Charge To which 2 Ib. n. 25. The Answer to that it was answered That Gascoigny and the Forts beyond Sea were Barbicans and as it were Outworks and Defences to England and if they were well Guarded and the Sea well kept the Kingdom would be quiet otherwise it could not be so The Commons 3 Ibm. A further Proposition of the Commons to avoid an Ayd The Answer to that then propounded this Charge to be born by the Goods of King Edward the Third which the King possessed and was much inriched by them Whereto it was answered That those Goods were justly prised and delivered to those his Grandfather was indebted except some Necessaries reserved for his own House for which he had paid in part and was to pay in whole for the satisfaction of his Creditors and therefore the King commanded and the Prelates and Lords The King Commands and the Lords pray them to give an effectual Answer to their Charge prayed them as they had done before purce nostre Seigneur le Roy vous commande les Prelates Seniors vous priont come devant c. to advise about their Charges and give good and effectual Answers with as much haste as might be for the common Profit of the Kingdom and the Ease of the Lords and themselves At length notwithstanding these Excuses the 4 Ib. n. 29. Prelates Lords and Commons perceiving the great Perils wherewith the The Prelates Lords and Commons grant a Subsidy of Wooll Leather c. Land was encompassed and the great and outrageous Expences the King was to be at for the Safety and Defence thereof granted to him the Subsidy of Wooll Leather and Woollfells for Three years Of Wooll 43 s. 4 d. the Sack Of Woollfells as much that is for every 240 of them accounting Sixscore to the Hundred and for Leather 4 l. 6 s. 8 d. every Last which were Exported by Denizens and Strangers besides the ancient Custom And as an additional Grant they gave more 13 s. 4 d. for every Sack of Wooll as much for every 240 Woollfells and for every Last of Leather 26 s. 8 d. And 6 d. in the Pound upon Merchandise Also they 5 Ib. n. 30. gave 6 d. in the Pound for every Pound value of Merchandize as well of Denizens as Strangers both Imported and Exported for One year The Scots 6 Walsingh f. 219. n. 10 20 30 40. A. D. 13â—8 on Thursday before St. Andrew or the 30th of November in the night surprised Berwick Castle and killed Sir Robert Boynton the Governor but suffered his Wife and Children and their Friends to depart upon Condition to pay 2000 Marks Berwick surprised by the Scots within 3 weeks or deliver themselves Prisoners but the Earl of Northumberland gathered a sufficient Force and in Nine days retook it by Assault putting to the Sword all the Scots he found Retaken by Assault in it except one that was to discover this Contrivance and the Scots Designs The King of France 7 Walsingh f. 219. n. 50. The Britans forced to Swear to deliver their Forts and Castles to the King of France upon demand about this time assembled a Parlement at Paris when upon pain of Death he forced the Noblemen of Britany that were there to Swear to yield to him the fortified Towns and Castles they held whenever he would demand them At their return home they Manned and Victualled their Castles and Places of Strength To reduce them he sent Bertrand de Clequiâ— with a good Army which the Britans forced to retire out of their Country Sir Robert Rous 8 Ib. f. 220. lin 13. Governors of Towns changed was recalled from the Government of Cherburgh in Normandy and Sir John Harleston put in his place and in the stead of Sir Hugh Calverley the Earl of Salisbury was made Governor of Calais who not long after his coming entered into France beyond the Marches plundered the Country and brought with him a great Prey Sir Hugh Calverley 9 Ib. n. 20 30 40. and Sir Thomas Percy were joined in Commission to keep the Sea who with a great Force of Armed Men sailed to the Coast of Britany where they took Seven Ships of Burthen and One Man of War and sent them into Bristol and afterwards set on Shoar a Party of Men to plunder the Country ad depraedandune patriam couvicinam who were all taken by Geffry Cormel a British Knight that lay there in
The Bishop of Norwich his 2d Offer Accepted by the King and his Council and approved by the Commons having had time to consider of his first Profer makes a second To serve the King one Year with 2500 Men at Arms and 2500 Archers well Arrayed and Mounted for the whole Fifteenth granted by the Laity of which Number 1000 Men at Arms and 1000 Archers should be ready to pass the Sea for the Relief of Gaunt and the Country of Flanders within 20 Days after the first Payment and that he would take upon him to pay the Charge of Shipping and other Charges 5 Ibm. This Profer was accepted by the King and his Council and much approved of by the Commons This Bishop some time before had received 6 Wâ—â—s f. 291. n. 30 40. The Bishop of Norwich had Bullsfrom Pope Urban for a Croysado against the Anti-Pope Clement Bulls from Pope Vrban for a Croysado and to sign all with the Cross that would go with him into France for the Destruction of the Anti-Pope who called himself Clement and to Sanctifie the War against all his Adherents which were the 7 Knighton col 2671. n. 20 30 c. The Ladies give their Jewels Necklaces Rings c. toward this Croysado French Scots Flemings and many other Nations By virtue of these Bulls he collected a great Sum of Money besides Jewels Necklaces Rings Dishes Spoons and other Silver Implements especially of Ladies and other Women And many gave 8 Ibm. to be pardoned and absolved from their Sins beyond their Ability as it was believed to obtain the Benefit of Absolution and Pardon for their Sins For otherwise they were not absolved unless they contributed according to their Ability Many found Men at Arms others Archers and many went in their own Persons The Form of Absolution was this By Apostolic Authority to me committed 9 Append. â— 105. The Form of the Absolution I do Absolve thee A. B. from all thy Sins which thou dost with a contrite Heart confess or would confess if thou didst remember them and give thee a Full Remission of them the Retribution of the Just and do promise the Increase or Addition of eternal Salvation And I Grant to thee the same Privileges that are Granted to such as go to the Defence of the Holy Land and do impart to thee the Benefit of the Prayers and Suffrages of the Holy Catholic Church To publish this Croysado and to absolve according to this Form there were a sufficient number of Preachers sent beyond Sea and all England over besides all the Mendicant Friers to stir up the People to contribute with a Clerc to take the Names and receive Money of the Contributors not omitting Labourers Knighton Col. 2673. Toward the latter end of 1 Wals f. 298. n. 30 40. The Bishop passeth beyond Sea with his Army May the Bishop passed the Sea with his Army staid a few Days at Calais besieged Graveling and took it by Assault Dunkirk yielded without much trouble where some Flemings joining with the French and Britans to the number of 30000 came toward the Town 2 Ibm. f. 301. lin 11. Knight ut supra n. 50 60. His great Success He besieged Ypre against whom the Bishop tho' but with a small Number in respect of theirs marched out of Dunkirk and gave them Battel taking many and killing 3000 Walsingham says 12000. Afterwards he took in Cassal Dixmude Burburgh Fern Newport and Popering Then he besieged the 3 Knight ib. His Army left the Siege and revolted from him Town of Ypre a long time assaulted it often and was always repulsed and beaten off and at length without his Knowledge the Army left the Siege and Revolted from him The Battering Engines were all left behind with one great Gun called Canterbury-Gun 4 Ibm. col 2672. lin 3. cum una magna Gunna vocata Gunna Cantuariensis The Bishop followed his Army and went to Dunkirk with Sir Hugh Caverse and part of it and from thence to Gravelin Sir Thomas Trivet Sir William Elingham and others went to Burburgh with other part of the Army and fortified it 5 Ibm. n. 10 20 30. The King of France takes Burburgh The King of France comes suddenly upon them with a great Army besieged the Town assaults it and was beaten off with loss Yet within few Days they treated and yielded the Town to the King of France upon Condition to march away with Horse and Arms and all their Goods and so they did to Calais After 6 Wals f. 304. n. 50. f. 305. n. 10 20 30. and Gravelin Burburgh was taken the French Army marched before Graveling and summoned the Bishop to yield the Town The French offered him 15000 Marks to quit the Town with liberty to demolish it and to depart and go whither he would and all with him with all their Goods He desired Time to consider of the Terms and appointed a Day to give his Answer and in the meant time sent to England for Relief which not coming at or before that Day he accepted the Terms levelled the Town to the ground and came for England after Michaelmas And thus ended the Croysado or the Pontifical War Before the Return of the Bishop of Norwich Writs Dated the 20th of August had been 7 Claus 7 Ric. II. M. 37. Dors A. D. 1384. A Parlement called The Reasons of calling it given in the Writ of Summons sent forth for a Parlement to meet on Monday before All-Saints In which Writs notice was given That by Advice and Assent of the Council the Parlement was called for their Mediation and Assistance in a Treaty of Peace to be had then between the King his Kingdom Dominions and Subjects on the one part and Robert King of Scotland his Lands Dominions and Subjects on the other part and for other Difficult and Urgent Business which concerned him the State and Defence of the Kingdom and Church of England Sir Michael de laPole then Chancellor 8 Rot. Parl. 2 Ric. II n. 3. The same and other Causes of Summons declared by the Chancellor shewed the Causes of Parlement to be for that the Truce with the Scots was to end at Candlemas next and whereas the Duke of Lancaster had been sent to renew it he was returned and brought back That the Scots would send Commissioners to London to manage the Treaty about it Another Cause was 9 Ib. n. 4 5 to provide against Three Powerful Enemies Spain France and lately Flanders And here he offered several Reasons to prove it was better for us to begin and make War upon them than they upon us or suffer them to invade us Further shewing That these Wars were not to be imputed to the King seeing that with the Crown they descended to him And the last Cause was 1 Ib. n. 6. for the Maintenance of good Laws and Security of the Peace when he put them in mind of
and other Payments To do what they would in the Kingdom and to amend all things according to their Discretions and these Powers greater perhaps then any King ever exercised were given to any Six of them with his Three Great Officers Willing That if diversity of Opinion happened between his Counsellors and Officers that the Matter should be determined by the greater part of them commanding and charging all Prelates Dukes Earls Barons the Steward Treasurer and Controller of his Houshold the Justices of one Bench and the other and other his Justices whatsoever Barons and Chamberlains of the Exchequer Sheriffs Escheators Majors Bayliffs and all other his Officers Ministers and Lieges whatsoever that they be attending obedient counselling and aydant to the said Counsellors and Officers so often and in what manner they should direct Dated at Westminster the 19th day of November Upon this Commission a Statute was made and the whole Recited in it See Statutes at Large Cap. 1. in the Tenth of Richard the Second the Parlement Roll of this year and the Pleas of the Crown in the Parlement the 21st of this King This Parlement ended on the 20th of 7 Rot. Parl. 10 Ric. II. n. 36 The King's Protestation in Parlement November and the last thing entred upon the Roll before that Memorandum is That the King made open Protestation in full Parlement with his own Mouth That for any thing was done 8 Ib. n. 35. in that Parlement he would not that prejudice should come to him or his Crown but that the Prerogative and Liberties of his Crown should be safe and preserved This year Richard Fitz-Alan Earl of Arundel was made 9 Rot. Franc. 10 Ric. II. M. 13. and M. 18. Admiral of the whole Fleet in the West and North parts of the Kingdom he got ready the Fleet and put to Sea early in the Spring and on the 24th of March discovery was made of a great 1 Walsingh f. 326. n. 10 20 30 40. The English take an Hundred and more Ships from the Flemings French and Spaniards Navy of Flemings French and Spaniards laden with Wine and well Guarded with Men of War after a sharp Engagement wherein he took many Armed Ships killed and took many Soldiers of different Quality the rest fled he pursued them two days and in the whole took an Hundred and more Ships great and Small wherein were Nineteen thousand Tuns of Wine 2 Col. 2692. n. 40 50 60. Knighton in his Relation of this Engagement says there were One hundred twenty six Ships taken in which were about Twelve or thirteen thousand Tuns of Rochel Wine and that the Admiral of Flanders was taken with many others 3 Ib. and Col. 2693. n. 10. He refitted his Ships and sailed into Britany and relieved Brest besieged the second time by that Duke demolished the Castles he had built about it and between Lady-Day and Midsummer took A. D. 1388. One hundred and sixty Ships well laden This Summer the King with his Queen went 4 Ib. n. 20 30 40 50 60. The King and Queen's Progress The Commission and Statute made last Parlement Questioned a Progress into the West and North Parts of the Kingdom in his Return he held a Council at Nottingham on the 21st of August where many Questions about the Commission and Statute made last Parlement and those that procured and forced the King to grant them and how they were to be punished were propounded to the Two Chief Justices and other Judges who answered they ought to be punished as Traytors as will be more fully related in the following Account of this year In this Council were present Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk Robert Tresilian Chief Justice of the King's-Bench and Nicholas Brembre of London Knight his great Favorites and Advisers in all things who were heard before all others and according to common fame only they On the 5 Ib. Col. 2696. n. 40 50 60. The King splendidly received by the Major and Citizens of London The Duke of Glocester Earls of Arundel and Warwick march with a great Force toward London 10th of November the King came to London where he had a Wonderful Splendid Reception by the Major and Citizens who went out to meet him says the Historian with an innumerable Multitude of Horsemen richly Clad and conducted him and his Queen to St. Paul's Church and from thence to his Palace at Westminster his great unhappy Favourites accompanying him Next day on the Feast of St. Martin the King and his Favorites had notice the Duke of Glocester the Earls of Arundel and Warwick were marching toward London with a great Force from Haringay Park near Highgate who wrote 6 Ib. Col. 2699. n. 30 c. Their Letter to the Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of the City to the Major Sheriffs and Aldermen of the City to let them know They were and always would be Obedient and Loyal Lieges to the King and that they ought not to wonder at their assembling in such a manner for that in the last Parlement it was ordained by the King That certain Lords there appointed and Sworn for the Honour of God the good of the King and Kingdom to have the Government of his Council and the Realm for one year which Government had been and was then greatly disturbed by Alexander Arch-Bishop of York Robert Vere Duke of Ireland Michael de la Pole Earl of Suffolk Robert Tresilian false Justice and Nicholas Brembre false Knight of London all and every one false Traytors to the King and Kingdom who falsely and Traiterously by their Engines Counsel and Conduct of the Honourable Person of the King carried him into divers Parts far from his Council in the Ruin of him and his Realm and falsely Counselled him against their Oath to do divers things in Disheritance and Dismembring his Crown being in point to loose his Heritage beyond Sea to the great infamy and destruction of the whole Nation and falsely made several Differences between the King and Lords of his Council so as some of them were in fear and danger of their Lives as they had informed the King by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury the Duke of York the Bishops of Winchester and Ely and divers other great Lords To Redress these things and Punish the Traytors according to Law they were assembled Requiring and Charging them the Major c. by vertue of their Allegiance That they should make full Proclamation vous requirons chargeoms par vertue do vostre legiance que vous eut facez plein proclamation c. thro' the whole City that this is our intent and no other and that for the Honour Profit and Salvation or Safety of the King Kingdom and all his Loyal Lieges and that you will be Aiding and Comforting with all your Endeavour and Power not favouring or aiding the Traytors nor any of them as
and Traitors by their false Imaginations Deceits and Accroachments abovesaid Which Securities and Oaths were against the Good Laws and Usages of the Land and against the Oath of the King to the great Ruin and Dishonour of the King and Kingdom XX. Also by force of such Bonds and Oaths all the Realm was put into great Trouble by the said Evil-doers and Traitors and in peril to have suffered many importable Mischiefs XXI Also to bring about their Traiterous Purposes the said Five caused the King to go into several Parts of the Kingdom for some long times whereby the Lords assigned by the said Ordinance Statute and Commission could not Advise with him about the Business of the Kingdom so as the Purport and Effect of the Ordinance Statute and Commission were Defeated to the great Ruin of the King and Kingdom XXII Also the said Robert de Vere Duke of Ireland by the Counsel and Abet of the other Four Traitors accroaching to himself Royal Power without the King's Commission or other sufficient usual Warrant made himself Justice of Chester and by himself and Deputies held all manner of Pleas as well Common as of the Crown and gave Judgments upon them and made Execution thereof and also caused many Original and Judicial Writs to be sealed with the Great Seal used in those Parts And also by such Accroachment of Royal Power he caused to rise with him a great Part of the People of that Country some by Threats others by Imprisonments of their Bodies some by seizing of their Lands others by many Dishonest Ways by colour of the said Office and all this to make War upon and destroy the Lords and other the King 's Loyal Lieges in undoing the King and whole Realm XXIII Also the said Traitors Robert de Vere c. Alexander c. Michael c. by the Counsel and Abet of Robert Tresilian and Nicholas Brembre incroaching to themselves Royal Power caused to be delivered John de Blois Heir of Britan who was Prisoner and Security to the King and Kingdom without Assent of Parlement and the King 's Great Council and without Warrant to the great Strengthening of the Adversary of France the great Ruin of the King and Realm and against the Statutes and Ordinances aforesaid made in the last Parlement XXIV Also the said Five Traytors caused the King to have a great Retinue of late of divers People to whom he gave Badges which was not done in ancient time by any Kings his Progenitors that he might have Power to perform their false Treason aforesaid XXV Also the aforesaid Five Misdoers and Traytors in full accomplishment of all their Treasons aforesaid and to make the King give Credit to them and their Counsel and hold them more Loyal and greater Sages then others of his Kingdom and the more to colour their false Treasons they caused the King to make come before him in several Places of the Kingdom divers Justices and Lawyers Robert Tresilian Robert Belknap John Cary John Holt Roger Fulthorp William Burgh his Justices and John de Loketon Serjeant at Law and with them John Blake Referendary and others which Justices Serjeant and John Blake being asked in the presence of the King by the Misdoers Whether the foresaid Ordinance Statute and Commission were made in Derogation of his Royalty and Prerogative or not and divers other Questions To which they answered in manner following Be it Remembred That on the Twenty first day of August in the Eleventh year of King Richard the Second at the Castle of Nottingham before the King Robert Tresilian Chief Justice and Robert Belknap Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas John Holt Roger Fulthorp and William Burgh Knights Justices Associate of Robert Belknap and John Lokeson the King's Serjeant at Law in the presence of the Lords and other Witnesses underwritten personally there being were required by the King upon their Faith and Allegiance to answer faithfully to certain Questions and speak the Law concerning them according to their Discretion First It was demanded Whether the new Statute Ordinance and Commission made in the last Parlement at Westminster The Opinion of Judges c. concerning the Statute and Commission did derogate to or from the King's Royalty and Prerogative They unanimously answer It did especially for that they were contrary to the King 's Will. 2. Also it was demanded How those were to be punished that procured the Statute Ordinance and Commission to be made They unanimously answer With Death unless the King would shew them favour 3. Also it was demanded How they were to be punished that Excited the King to Consent to the making of that Statute Ordinance and Commission They unanimously answer as to the last Question 4. Also they were demanded How they were to be punished that forced or straitned the King qui compiderunt sive Arctarunt Regem to consent to the making of the Statute Ordinance and Commission They unanimously answer They were deservedly to be punished as Traytors Likewise they were demanded How they were to be punished who hindred the King from Exercising those things which belonged to his Prerogative and Royalty They also unanimously answer They were to be punished as Traytors 5. Also it was demanded Whether after the Parlement was met and the Business of the Kingdom and the Cause of the Meeting of the Parlement by the King's Command declared and certain Articles appointed by the King upon which the Lords and Commons ought to proceed if the Lords and Commons would proceed upon other Articles and not upon the Articles limited by the King until they had the King's Answer to their own Articles notwithstanding the King had injoined them to the contrary Then Whether the King ought to have the Government of the Parlement and indeed to govern effectually so as upon the Articles limited by the King they ought first to proceed Or Whether the Lords and Commons ought first to have Answer from the King to their own Articles before there were further Proceedings Nunquid Rex debeat habere in ea parte Regimen Parliamenti de facto Regere effectum quod super Articulis limitatis per Regem primo debeant procedere vel an Domini Comunes primo debeant habere Responsum a Rege super Articulis per eosdem expressis antequam ulterius procedatur They unanimously answer That in such Case the King should have the Government and so in order in all other Articles touching the Parlement to the end of the same and if any one acted contrary to this Government of the King he was to be punished as a Traytor 6. Also it was demanded Whether the King when he pleased might not Dissolve the Parlement and Command his Lords and Commons to depart from thence They unanimously answer He might and if any one afterward proceeded as in Parlement against the King's Will he was to be punished as a Traytor 7. Also it was demanded Whether when the King pleased to Remove
be had And that when 1 Ibm. n. 9. And nâ—t to lay aâ—â—de his Voyage for the Pope's Letters the King should be ready to pass beyond Sea to take what God should give him pur prendre ce que Dieux lui durra upon the Exploit of this Business he would not for the Letters or Command of the Pope or any other lay aside his Voyage until he had made an end one way or other The which Prayer the King fully granted a quele preere le Roi ottroia pleynement but because it could not 2 be done without a great and agreeable Aid the Arch-Bishop Bishops Prelates and Procurators of the Clergy of the Province of Canterbury granted to the King a Triennial Aid for this Voyage granted by the Clergy and Commons Tenth les ditz Commons le samaday apres granterent nostre Seigneur le Roi pur mesme la cause deux Quinzismes de la Commonalte de la Cerre deux dismes des Citees Burghs And the said Commons granted to the King for the same cause Two Fifteenths of the Commonalty of the Land and Two Tenths of the Cities and Burghs And 3 Ibm. n. 10. after that the said Commons granted another Fifteenth apres le dite Commune grantent une autre quinzisme See for the Conditions of these Grants in the Statutes at large 18 Ed. III. translated exactly from the French on this Roll n. 14. to n. 23. which Statute was made from the Petitions of the Commons and the Answers to them and 't is called in the todding on the Roll the Charter of the Commons la Chartre enseale par la Comune and also for the Statute or Charter for the Clergy bearing Date July 8. in the 18th of his Reign which gave them many Privileges n. 24. to n. 32. In both these Statutes which are now in a manner become obsolete 't is said the Great Lay-men granted to pass and adventure themselves with the King and therefore they are not found upon the Roll to be Taxed The residue of this Year was spent in 4 Walâ— f. 164. n. 30. Froys l. 1. c. 100. Ashmâ—le f. 182. Tournaments and other Military Exercises at Dunstable Smithfield and especially at Windsor in Feastings Revellings Dancing and all manner of Jollity But it was not long after the beginning of the next Year that King Edward 5 Avâ—â— p. 103. a. c. 48. III news from Bretagne received news of what had been done in Bretagne how the Noblemen who adhered to him there were put to death and what havock and depopulation had been made in those Places under his Subjection Whereupon William de Bohun Earl of Northampton had 6 Rot. Franc. 19 Ed III. Part 1. M. 24. The King sent Defiance to Philip of Valois Commission Dated April 24. to defie Philip of Valois as a Truce-breaker his capital Enemy Persecutor and unjust Vsurper of his Inheritance the Kingdom of France And as what was done in Normandy and Bretagne against the Truce had been declared to be so by the Parlement so he wrote 7 Rot. Rom. 19 Ed. III. M. 2. n 4. He wrote 'to the Pope complaining of him to the Pope on the 26th of May following almost the same thing and made grievous Complaints to him of Philip de Valois having in the highest manner broken and dissolved the Truce The effect of his Letter the Pope repeats in his Bull or Answer to it the Original being in the Cotton Library 8 Cleopâ—tra E. 2. The Effect and Contents of K. Edward's Letter to the Pope That for avoiding the Dangers and Damages that might arise by reason of the Dissentions and Wars between Edward III. and the Illustrious King of France as the Bull hath it inter te fili carissime ac carissimum in Christo filium nostrum Philippum Regem Franciae Illustrem he had offered many ways of Peace that he might apply himself as he much desired to the Service of his Redeemer beyond Sea but was always delayed with fair Words and Treaties without effect to his great Damage His second Complaint was after a Narrative of the Truce made before Vannes That when he returned into England and had left a few Men only in Bretagne and sent his Commissioners to treat before his Holiness about a Peace as related before he received news which pierced his Soul That certain Noblemen of Bretagne were by Command of Philip taken carried to Paris and put to death And also of the great Ravage and Depopulation made in Bretagne Gascoigne and other Places 3dly That he endeavoured by crafty and secret Treaties to draw his Allies and Subjects from him and procured other things to be attempted against the Truce by Sea and Land Therefore he thought it utterly dissolved by his Adversary And now since the Time of Treaty was ended and no rational way of Peace appearing nor were the things attempted against the Truce reformed or amended but rather multiplied although by his Holiness's Letters the said King had been often required to reform them not to say any thing of his Legate that was sent into Bretagne to cause the Truce to be observed yet took the contrary part and blamed him that he did not what he ought toward an Accommodation he thought himself excused by God Holy Church and the People if seeing he could have no other Remedy in a just Cause he declared the Truce dissolved by Philip and defied him as above and renewed the War again protesting he would attempt nothing that might offend his Holiness or the Apostolick See which he desired and ought to revere or that might do Injury to any one but only with Moderation to defend himself and prosecute his Rights asserting what he did was for want of other Remedy and against his Will offering Peace when he might have a good one or by good means cum habere poterit bono modo The Pope's Answer to this Complaint begins with a most obliging The Pope's Answer to K. Edward's Complaints Compellation calling God to Witness Fili dilectissime novit 9 Ibm. Altissimus qui scrutator est cordium cognitor secretorum c. Most beloved Son the Most High knows who is the Searcher of Hearts and understands all Secrets that he had faithfully endeavoured to procure a Peace between him and the King of France without partiality and would not yet spare any Pains for the effecting of it And he tells him That those who wrote his Letters probably understood not the Truth of the Affair for that there were some things put in them and some things left out which caused notable He tells him he had not done according to the Truce Errors It was agreed by the Truce That there should be some of the Royal Blood Commissioned to Treat on either side in his Presence and though the King of France had sent several of the Royal Blood and many Prelates of great Authority as it
of France to make certain Requests King Edward sends to the King of France to make good what was agreed by the Peace of Bretigny to him about the accomplishment and a full effectual Dispatch of the things agreed promised and sworn to upon the Peace made between them and especially that he would cause to be delivered and rendered intirely to him or his Deputies all the Cities Towns Castles Fortresses Lands Countries Isles and Places which he was bound to deliver according to the Peace aforesaid and further to Receive the Letters of him and his Eldest Son which should be sent and delivered at Bruges in Flanders on the Day of St. Andrew next coming as well those of the Renunciations Cessions Releases and Transports as of other things that ought to be performed according to the Peace under their great Seals in Manner and Form agreed between them c. This Commission was Dated on the 15th of November 1361 and * Rot. Franc. 35 Ed. III. M. 3. 35th of Edward the Third but whether the Commissioners went according to the Commission or what was done upon it I have not seen This year there was a great Plague in England which swept away many of the Nobility and Bishops and amongst the rest Henry Duke of Lancaster 7 Dugd. Bar. Vol. 1. f. 789. A great Plague in England on the 24th of March or last day of the year a Person of great Worth in all respects On the 19th of July the year following the Prince of Wales was made 8 Rot. Vascon 36 Ed. III. M. 16. A. D. 1362. The Prince of Wales made Prince of Aquitan Homage and Fealty done to him by the Noblemen He kept his Court at Burdeaux Prince of Aquitan and had all Guien and Gascogne given him during Life the Direct Dominion Superiority and last Resort of those Countreys reserved to his Father Not long after this the Prince his Princess and Family removed into Aquitan where having received the Homages and Fealties of the Noblemen and others he kept his Court at Bourdeaux in great State and Splendor He made Sir John Chandos his Constable of Aquitan and Guischard d'Angle a Native of France but by the Peace of Bretigny a Subject of England his Marshall who continued faithful This year * Walsingh f. 179. n. 10. Pope Innocent dies An Englishman chosen Pope died Pope Innocent the Sixth in August to whom succeeded Gillerin an Englishman and Benedictin Abbat by the Name of Vrban the Fifth who was Consecrated on the First of November King Edward was very kind to Four of the chief of the French Hostages 9 Froys c. 218. f. 113. 6. A. D. 1363. Great Liberty given to four French Hostages The Duke of Anjou made his Escape the Dukes of Orleans Anjou Berry and Burbon who gave them Leave to go over to Calais and stay there for some time and to go about into the Country for 4 days at any time so as they always returned to Calais before Sun-set on the last day of the four The Duke of Anjou upon this Liberty made his Escape the others returned with the King of Cyprus into England Toward the 1 Ibm. c. 219. The King of France comes into England end of this year King John of France came for England and landed at Dover the day before the Eve of Epiphany or 4th of January upon the 2 Mezeray f. 382. News he received of the Escape of his Son the Duke of Anjou to repair his Honour and shew he had no Hand in that Act and to dispose King Edward to the Expedition of the Holy War he having accepted the Command of Generalissimo by the Preaching and Perswasion of His Errand Pope Vrban the Fifth After he had been Nobly Treated here by the King and Nobility 3 Ib. f. 383. A. D. 1364. He falls sick and dies there he fell sick at the Savoy in London about Mid-March and died on the 8th or 9th of April following for whom the King of England made a Magnificent Funeral but his Body was carried into France and interred at St. Denis upon the 7th of May and upon Trinity Sunday next following His Son Charles Crowned King his Eldest Son Charles the Regent of France and Duke of Normandy was Crowned King at Rhemes This year the King held a Parlement 15 days after Michaelmass A Tax granted to the King Rot. Parl. 36 Ed. III. n. 35. wherein * was granted unto him of every Sack of Wooll Transported 20 s. of every 300 Woollfells 20 s. of every Last of Leather 40 s. besides the Ancient Custom Notwithstanding the Peace of Bretigny wherein 4 Mezeray â—ol 384. War in Bretagne between Blois and Montfort were not comprehended the Naverrois and Dukedom of Bretagne the War continued there Charles of Blois having been assisted by the French and John de Montfort by the English After many Skirmishes Sieges and the Battels of Cocherel and Auvray in which last Charles of Blois lost his Life and then by a Treaty at Guerrand a Peace was concluded 5 Ibm. f. 385. A. D. 1364. Froyâ— c. 229. f. 125. a. A Peace between them upon these Terms That Montfort should enjoy the Dutchy upon Condition of doing Homage and Fealty for it to the King of France That the Widow of Charles should enjoy the Title of Dutchess during her Life and in case Montfort died without Heirs the Dutchy to remain to the Heirs of Charles of Bloys About the same time or not long after there was Peace 6 Ibm. f. 125. b. between France and Navarre when many Soldiers and Companions knew not what to do 7 Ibm. A Peace between France and Navarre The Companions waste the Country They refuse to serve against the Turk Froysard says most of the Captains of the Companions who horribly wasted and plundered the Country were Englishmen and Gascons under the Obedience of the King of England and that the King of Hungary wrote to the Pope the King of France and Prince of Wales that those People might be employed in his Service against the Turks who offered them Gold Silver and Passage but they would not quit France which they called their Chamber Yet within a year or two the Pope and King of France found an Opportunity to employ these Companions they so much feared 8 Ib. f. 126. Mâ—zâ—r f. 386. An Expedient to imploy them Alphonso XI King of Castile had by his Wife a Son called Peter and by another Woman had several natural Sons or Bastards the Eldest whereof was was Henry Peter had the Name Peter the Cruel King of Castile an Enemy to the Church Henry the Bastard Legitimated by the Pope made King of Cruel and Wicked from his Actions of the same Denomination and was reputed a great Enemy to the Church whereupon great Complaints were made to the Pope who upon Summons refusing to come to Avignion was by Advice of