and that he may be the more obliged to serve Us before any other to bear such a regard unto him whereby he may the better maintain his Estate have given unto him the Annual Rent of one Hundred Marks during his Life to be received out of our Mannor of Bradinuch in the County of Devonshire every Year at the terms of Easter and of St. Michael by equal Portions of the hands of the Keepers of our said Mannor for the time being the Offer and Promise aforesaid being in all points held and kept And We will also that at what time and as often as his said payment shall be upon arriere in part or in whole without term assigned it shall be Lawfull for the said Sr. Henry to distrain on the said Mannor and to have what is so distrained until he shall be fully payed so much as shall be found due unto him upon arriere as aforesaid In witness whereof We have made these our Letters Patent Given under our Seal at Westminster the 18 day of January in the Year of the Reign of our most Dear Lord and Father the King over England the 21 and over France the 8. We n i.e. the King. allowing and approving the foresaid Grant do by the Tenour of these Presents confirm and ratifie the same unto the said Henry during his Life as the foresaid Letters do import In witness whereof c. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium XXVIII die Junii Anno Regni nostri Angliae 23 Regni verò nostri Franciae 10. Per ipson Regem CHAPTER the TENTH AN. DOM. 1350. An. Regni Angliae XXIV Franciae XI The CONTENTS I. Pope Clement reduces the Bonifacian Jubilee from the Hundredth to the Fiftieth Year with an Account of the first Original of a Jubilee II. King Edward forbids his subjects to go to Rome on that occasion with his Answer to the Popes expostulation thereupon III. The sect of Whippers arises and is supprest IV. King Edwards Victory over the Spaniards at Sea. V. King Philip of France dies and is succeeded by his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy VI. A Duel fought before King Edward between a Cypriote Knight and the Bastard of France VII King John puts the Bastard to Death together with the Earl of Eu and Guisnes for envy because they commended the Carriage of King Edward of England VIII Some steps towards a Peace with Scotland in order to King Davids Redemption I. THis Year being the Fiftieth of the Fourteenth Century accounting from the Nativity of our Lord being held as a Solemn Jubilee at Rome we shall here make some short enquiry after that Matter And it appears from the Sacred Records that God Almighty himself was the First Institutor of this great Solemnity For He having appointed the Sabbath-Day or the Seventh of the Week to be kept Holy in Memory of the Creation of the World which was by his Word alone compleated in the space of six Days did afterwards at the promulgation of the Law from Mount Sina a Levitic c. 25. v. 2 3 c. add unto the Jews a Sabbath of Years to be observed that so the Land of Palestine having been tilled and manured for six continued Years should be left fallow every Seventh Year without any manuring tilling reaping or dressing And seven of these Sabbatical Years or Fourty Nine common Years being compleat God commanded the Jews to proclaim thrô their whole Land a Festival Year by sound of the Holy Trumpets to be universally held as the great Sabbatical Year a Year of general Release and of Religious Rest and of Joy and of Exultation as a Type of that Eternal Rest Relaxation and Liberty which the Messias was to procure unto the Sons of God Which Fiftieth Year was called the Year of Jubilee from a b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vid. Joh. Buâ—tor f. Lexicon Hebr. in hâc vote p. 293 c. Word in Hebrew which signifies a Ram because it was proclaimed with the sound of Trumpets made of Rams-horns Unless some had rather derive it from a Word of Latine-Original which signifies to Rejoyce This being the First Institution of the Jubilee among the Jews deliver'd by their great Prince and Law-giver Moses Pope Boniface VIII brought it in also among the Christians c Labbxi Chron. Techn ad hunc aâ— Pâ—lydor Virg. l. 19. p. 385. in the Year of our Lord MCCC which was the sixth of his Papacy and then ordain'd that it should be solemnly kept every Hundredth Year Althô we find that in the Year of our Lord CCXLVII which was Ab U. C. Annus Millesimus the Emperour d Dr. Cave's Apâ—stâ—l ei in tabalâ— Chronel Philip the Second kept a Festive Year in Memory of the first Foundation of the Imperial City of Rome with all imaginable Splendour and Magnificence And this althô it had not the Name was indeed no other than a Jubilee But now e Odor Rainald ad an Christi 1349. §. 11. c. ad an 1350. §. 1. c. Pope Clement VI because it was not likely that any Man who had seen the first Bonifacian Jubilee should live to see the Return of another and also in that the Fiftieth Year was more consonant to the Mosaical Law at the Instant Request of the Roman Ambassadors granted that on this Year and every Fiftieth Year following the Jubilee should be celebrated at the Holy City of Rome at which time he granted by his Apostolical Power many great Indulgences to all those who should devoutly Visit the Churches of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul and also the Lateran called S to Giovanni Laterano the Dignity of which Church doth sufficiently appear from this Ancient Inscription in Marble in the Porch thereof at Rome Dogmate Papali datur simul Imperiali Vt sim cunctarum Mater Caput Ecclesiarum The opinion that these Indulgences were of no small Advantage did so mightly prevail that infinite Numbers of both Sexes went on Pilgrimage to Rome there being reckoned no less than f Matth. Villani l. 1. c. 58. 1200000 Thousand Strangers passing too and fro in the City at One time among whom were many Persons of extraordinary Quality and some Princes Dukes and the like But g Odor Rainal ad an 1349. §. 9. Kings and Persons of an higher Station who were by their great Affairs detained at home being desirous to be made partakers nevertheless of these Sacred Privileges wrote their Letters Supplicatory to the Pope that in them the Good-Will might be taken for the Deed and that thô they could not tend to go in Person yet since they so devoutly desired it they might obtain of his Holiness the same Indulgences as others who performed that Pilgrimage among which there was the King of Castille and Leon the Kings of Aragon Portugal and Cyprus Albert Duke of Austria and others And thô the Pope defer'd a while to answer their Requests till he might confer thereupon with
was confin'd For they said it would be much for the Advantage of the Realm if so Valiant and Compleat a Prince could be brought to espouse her Interest now that in a manner all her Nobility was either slain or taken in the Battle of Poictiers Wherefore they instantly urged the Duke at this time to deliver him because he was wrongfully imprison'd But the Duke told them all along that he durst not undertake to deliver him since the King his Father had put him in Prison for what cause it was not his part to determine However when He saw there was like to be no abatement of these heats on the Fourth Day he came into the Parliament-Chamber and said That he had not leisure as then to attend to and discuss all their Requests because of tidings which he had lately received from his Father and also from his Uncle Charles Emperour of Germany some whereof he vouchsafed to communicate unto them and so for that time adjourn'd them to the Day of All-Saints when by Advice of his Council he wholly dissolved them without any fruits of so promising an Assembly or any Remedy against the Confusions of the times At this sudden thô deserved Dissolution the Estates murmured and repin'd but however before they parted in order to the justification of their Proceedings took Copies of their Requests made to the Duke to carry to their several Countries and Corporations and to shew them upon occasion in their own Defence And thô afterwards the Duke required an Aid of the City of Paris toward the Maintenance of his Wars they told him plainly that they were not obliged to any such thing unless they were enjoyned by the Three Estates which therefore they desir'd might be reassembled But this the Young Prince would by no means yield to thô he was never so much press'd with Difficulties So unhappy was the Realm of France at this time that when her Parliaments should rather for the present have wisely winked even at great Abuses and have immediately apply'd their helping Hand to the Vitals that were now endanger'd leaving less important Mischiefs to be cured at a more seasonable time On the contrary she undutifully as well as unadvisedly quarrel'd with her Prince about the Reformation of small Abuses not considering that she ought rather in such a Desperate juncture to have closed with Him in providing Physick for the almost expiring State. Kings are not to be forced by the Insolent Populacy from the Necessity of their Affairs but to be confided in as Fathers and to be rely'd on as Generous and Benign Deputies of Heaven from whom we are humbly to request and not violently to extort More commendably did those of the Province of Languedoc as the most remote part from Paris so the most Free from the Contagion of its Insolence For they being r Fabian p. 283. Duserres p. 25. Paul. Aemyl p. 289. by Authority of the Earl of Armagnac the Kings Lieutenant in those parts assembled in order to make Provision for the Kings Redemption did behave themselves both as Dutifull Subjects and discreet men at the same time For first they unanimously agreed to provide at their own proper Costs and Charges 500 Men of Arms all Knights with an Esquire to every one of them and moreover a 1000 Souldiers on Horseback a 1000 Arbalists and 2000 others all to have a Years pay from the State viz. Each Spear to have for himself and his Esquire or Serjeant half a Floren per diem every other Man to be allow'd 8 Florens a piece per Month. Moreover they ordain'd that no Man should wear any precious Furrs or other Rich stuff and that all Women and Ladies should lay aside their Gorgeous Attire of their Heads and wear neither Pearls Gold nor Silver about their cloaths or upon their Girdles as long as the King should remain Prisoner And further to testifie how deeply they resented this Publique Calamity they generally abandon'd all Banquets Entertainments Masks Dances Plays and other Diversions during his Captivity Besides all which they freely granted a considerable Aid toward his Redemption and made divers wholsome Ordinances both to their own Honour and the Profit of the Common-weal Which Laudable Example of theirs Champaigne also followed But good Examples are not always so Influential as Bad for almost all other parts chose rather to copy the obstinate Undutifullness of that Seditious Metropolis of Paris And this City after the usual Methods of Rebels pretending to be in fear of Tyranny when it was preparing to be seditious was Å¿ Mâ—â—eray p. 47. now strengthen'd with Regular Fortifications its Walls repaired and Ditches enlarged and all the Street of St. Anthony and St. Paul which before belonged to the Suburbs was now enclosed within the Walls and Chains continually drawn cross the Streets Thus was Paris of a very weak Place made considerably strong by those popular Tribunes Stephen Marcell Provost of the Merchants and Ronsac the Sheriff who thô they intended this Defence against their Prince and so did wickedly yet as it proved some while after in good time made it more teneable against a Publique Enemy and so were by chance Benefactors to that City XVII Now t Frois c. 171. before this Fruitless Parliament at Paris was thus broke up Word was brought to the Duke and the Three Estates that the Lord Godfrey Harcourt made cruel War in Normandy and overran the Country twice or thrice in a Week sometime to the suburbs of Caën sometimes to St. Lo or to Eureux or Coutances Whereupon the Duke was however so much assisted by the Three Estates as to be enabled to raise 300 Men of Arms and 500 others to go against the foresaid Lord Godfrey Over which Troops the Duke set the Lord u Fabian p. 284. Robert Clermont his Lieutenant in that Dukedom together with the Lord of Ravenal the Lord of Remilly and two other Lords These Forces marched from Paris and came to Rouën where they very much encreased being joyn'd by many Expert Men of Arms of Normandy and also an addition of several Knights with their Troops from Artois and Vermandois as the Lord of St. Quintin the Lord Lewis of Neufcastell the Lord Edward of Renty the Lord John de Fiennes the Lord Ingram of Hesdin and several others who all rode to Coutances and there made their Garrison When the Lord x Frois c. 172. Godfrey Harcourt who was a Knight of great Valour and Conduct heard how the French were come to the City of Coutances he assembled together as many Men of Arms Archers and others as conveniently he could and said he would ride forth and look upon the Frenchmen Accordingly he marched from St. Saviour Le Vicount with little more than 700 Men in his Company consisting for the most part of Normans and other Frenchmen who holding for the King of Navarre were generally in those days called Navarrois That same day the Frenchmen also rode forth having sent their Scouts before them who brought back word of
Swords Daggers and Axes Helmets Habergeons Shields and all manner of Weapons and Armour For they expected to use them very shortly But the Chief Captains especially drew together in Council being thereto called by the Lord John Chandos to whose Conduct all the rest submitted themselves not only on the account of his Quality but also of his known Wisdom and Experience in the Wars besides which he had a secret Commission from the King of England to be the Chief Captain in this action With him was the Lord John Nereford an English Baron William Lord Latimer the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Hugh Calverley Sr. Richard Burley Sr. Matthew Gournay Sr. Richard Taunton the Lord Oliver Clisson and the Valiant Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt all who were of the Opinion that the Earl of Monford should rise from the Siege and take the Field early next Morning and so expect his Adversary and if he came forward give him Battle This being resolved on in Council all the Captains of the Army were acquainted therewith who told it to their respective Officers by whom the whole Army was informed that the next Morning they were to be all ready to take the Field to fight the Enemy Before six the next Morning being a Saturday and the Eve of St. Michael the Englishmen and Bretons left their Trenches and marched forth in Battle-Array the Lord John Chandos leading them to a convenient plat of ground behind the Castle of Auray And soon there came toward the same place the Lord Charles of Blois who had left Vannes the Evening before with all his Army which was disposed in the best manner imaginable For 't is said they rode in such good Close Order that if any thing had been cast among them it must have rested on their Spears points so that the f Frois c. 225. fol. 121. Englishmen were extreamly delighted to behold them The Frenchmen being come in sight of their Enemies made an halt as they were in Battle-Array before them choosing their Field among the Bushes and the Marshals gave Command that no man should stir forward without Order Wherefore both Armies stood still confronting each other being ready ranged for Fight which they all eagerly desired IV. The Lord Charles of Blois with the advice of Sr. Bertram of Clequin who was an experienc'd Captain and well belov'd by the Barons of Bretagne made Three Battails and a Rereguard The first was led by Sr. Bertram himself who had with him more than a 1000 Choice Men of Arms Knights and Esquires of Bretagne The Second was headed by the Earls of Auxerre and Joigny and the Lord of Prye with the French Auxiliaries consisting of 1500 Spears and upwards The Third was brought up by the Lord Charles of Blois himself with whom were the Chief Barons of Bretagne that held of his side as the Vicount of Rohan the Lord of Leon the Lord of Avaugeur the Lord of Rieux the Lord of Malestroit and divers others as aforenamed In the Rereguard or Fourth Battail stood John the Bastard of Blois a most Valiant Young Gentleman with Eight or Ten stout Barons of Normandy and many other Knights and Esquires and in every g Frois c. 225. fol. 121. b. Battail there were at least a 1000 Men of Arms besides others And the Lord Charles of Blois rode about to every Battail earnestly desiring them all to do their utmost that day and for their better assurance he took it on his Soul and on his part in Paradise that they were to Fight in a Righteous Quarrel and moreover he promised to reward every Man liberally according to his Performances V. Now on the other part the Lord Chandos who because of his Abilities in the War was the Principal Captain thô the Earl of Monford was head of the Cause began wisely to consider how he might with a lesser Number overthrow a greater in plain Field where no advantage of ground might be had Especially his concern was now encreased because the King of England his Master had given him such a Charge to look most carefully to the Business of his Son in Law for the Earl of Monford had h Speed p. 590. Sandford's Geneal hist p. 179. Ashmole's Garter p. 669. Married the Lady Mary his Daughter Wherefore like a Loyal Gentleman he fully determin'd with his utmost diligence to advance the Affairs of the Earl of Monford and to stick close to him that day He had perfectly noted the exact order and discipline of the Frenchmen upon their approach and hugely applauded to himself the great Conduct and Discretion that appeared among them and therewithall said aloud to his Friends the Lords and Captains about him Gentlemen it is high time for Us to order our Battails For our Enemies are giving Us an example Those who heard him answer'd Sir You are in the Right But this is your Province You are our Chief Master and best Counsellour therefore order Us at Your pleasure for no Soul here shall contradict You since we know the King has committed this Charge to You and surely You have the most experience in these Affairs of any among Us. Thereupon the Lord Chandos began also to form Three Battails and a Rereguard The First he committed to the Care of Sr. Robert Knolles Sr. Walter Hewet and Sr. Richard Burley with whom was the Lord John Nereford the Second was led by the Lord Oliver Clisson who i True Use of Armory in Chandes his Life p. 62. bare Gules a Lion Rampant Argent Crown'd Or with him were the Lord John Bourchier Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt and Sr. Matthew Gournay whose Arms were k Id. p. 67. Or Three Pales Azure The Third was govern'd by the Earl of Monford who himself was governed by the Lord Chandos and here was William Lord Latimer and in each of these Battails were 500 Men of Arms and 400 Archers But when Sr. John came to the ordering the Rereguard he called unto him Sr. Hugh Calverley and said Sr. Hugh You must be Governour of the Rereguard with 500 Men of Arms in your Company But you are to stand on a Wing and by no means to quit your Station for any thing that may happen unless you see an absolute necessity As when any of our Battails are disorder'd or broke by the force of our Enemies if you think there is Danger then come you on with your Battail and entertain the Enemy till our Men are rallied again And when you have done thus much draw off and keep your former Post till such another occasion calls to a like assistance For surely this will be the best piece of Service You can do Us this day When Sr. Hugh Calverley had fully heard the Lord Chandos his Words he was asham'd and displeasâ—d in his Mâ—nd and said My Lord pray commend this Rereguard to some other Man besides me For I have no desire to meddle with it And Sir I admire in my heart what You have
their Eldest Brother the Constable himself could not be there by reason of an Infirmity of Body there was also Sr. b Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 145. vid. Ieland Collect. 1 Vol. p. 686. John Lord Molins Robert Lord Hufford Ralph Lord Stafford William Lord Clinton and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby Now while these men were devising how to Seise on Mortimer c M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C. C. C. Cantab. c. 222. the same Mortimer in Order to their Destruction held a close Council in the Castle of Nottingham with the Queen-Mother the Bishop of Lincoln Sr. Simon Bereford Sr. Hugh Turplington and Sr. John Monmouth and other his Creatures how to bring to utter Ruine all those that had accused him of Treason and Felony But this close Carriage of Mortimer's was smoak'd by the Lord Montague and those of the Council concern'd with him especially because none of them were permitted to take up their Lodgings in the Castle wherefore they knew that Mortimer and his Complices were brewing mischief for them Then Sr. William Montague went and told the King that since neither he nor any of his Partakers were admitted to Lodge in the Castle they should never be able to Seise Mortimer without the Consent and Assistance of the Constable Sr. William Eland Now surely said the King I love you well and therefore advise you to go to the Constable in my Name and command him to be Aiding and Assistant to you in taking the Mortimer all other things lay'd aside on peril of Life and Limb. St said Montague then God grant Success And thereupon he went and found the said Constable to whom he told the King's will before the rest of his Partakers but only yet in general Terms that it was the King's Pleasure he should be assistant to them in a certain matter relating to the King's Honour and Safety And the Constable answer'd that the King's Will should be obey'd in what he could and that he would not stand out for fear of Death it self and then he swore to be constant and secret and made his Oath to the Lord Montagu and Montagu to him in the hearing of all the Assistants Now surely Dear Friend said the Lord Montagu to the Constable it behoved us to gain your acquaintance in order to seise on Mortimer since you are Keeper of the Castle and have the Keys at your dispose Sirs reply'd the Constable if it be so you shall understand that the Gates of the Castle are locked with the Locks that Queen Isabell sent hither and at Night she hath all the Keys thereof and layeth them under the Pillow of her Bed until the Morning And so I may not help you into the Castle at the gates by any means But I know an Hole that stretcheth out of the Ward under Earth into the Castle beginning on the West-side which Hole neither Isabell the Queen nor none of her Retinue nor Mortimer himself nor none of his Company know any thing of and through this Passage I shall lead you till you come into the Castle without the Espial of any that are your Enemies That same Night Sr. William Montagu and all the Lords his Partakers and the Constable also took Horse pretending to go out of Town which when Mortimer heard of he thought they were fled away for fear of him and devised further how to entrap them But about Midnight being * Lit. Dom. G. a Fryday and the day after the Feast of St. Luke or the 19 of October returning back again they all came to the Passage aforesaid and there following the direction of Sr. William Eland enter a certain dismal Cave not of a long while taken Notice of which opening its Mouth without went all under the Castle dug unequally thrô Stony and other sort of Ground till it came to the Rock on which the Castle stood thrô which it also passed with Stairs till it open'd it self above within the Keep or Chief Tower. This wonderfull d Drayton's Barons Wars l. 6. Stanz 46. Passage had been after this manner hewed and dug forth during the Danish Invasions by some of the Saxon Kings for their better Security in case of a siege But since the Action of this Night it hath purchas'd the e Speed Map. Nettingh §. 6. Name of Mortimer's Hole Whom without any great Noise and with little Resistance they at last took not in the Queen Mothers Chamber as many too ignorantly or too maliciously suppose but in another not indeed far from it in the Company of f H. Knighton p. 2556. Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln Before he could be seised the Lord Montagu finding some Resistance from his Attendants slew Sr. Hugh g Knighton ibid. Adam Marimâ—uth M.S. ibid. c. Turplington Steward of the King's Houshold and Sr. John Monmouth and at last Chiefly by the great Valour of Sr. William Eland took the Lord Mortimer's Person to be reserved to some more Publique Fortune On the King's Party Sr. John Nevil of Horneby was wounded but not as some say slain as will appear hereafter where we shall speak of the Reward the King allotted him for this piece of Service and also in the 15th Year of this King we shall find him Governour of Newcastle upon Tine Thô by others Sr. Hugh Turplington is made one of the King's Party and again both he and Sr. John Nevil of Horneby are by h Drayton's Bar. Wars l. 6. Stanz 63. Mr. Drayton mistaken for Mortimer's Friends and both said then and there to be slain But this I mention not as a Fault in so Great a Man since Poets are not obliged to be so Exact for Truth as Historians are The Queen Mother being then in Bed heard the Noise of this Rencountre and supposing what the matter really was and that the King himself must needs be there she called out to him in these Words i Stow p. 229 c. Bel Fitz Bel Fitz ayes Pitie du Gentil Mortimer Dear Son have pity on the Gallant Mortimer Or as the foresaid k M. S. ibid. c. 222. M. S. which takes no notice of the King 's being there reports her words more probably Now fair Sirs I pray you that you do no harm unto his Body for he is a Worthy Knight Our well-beloved Friend and Our dear Cozen. But for all this the Earl of March was hurryed away thence and brought before the King where he stood and presented unto him who strait commanded him to be put into safe Custody in the Castle whereof all the Keys are forthwith seised into the King's Hands that none might issue out to discover what had been done till the rest of Mortimer's Abettors were secured also So the next Morning by the King 's special Command l Knighton p. 2556. two of his Sons were seised in the Town Sr. Edmund and Sr. Geoffry together with Sr. Oliver Byngham and Sr. Simon Bedford or Bereford and Sr. John
whereof You still want and I believe will not find them here in haste The King extreamly disdaining these Proud Words immediately Answer'd That he would however ride forth into France with Banner displayed and that there he would demand a View of those Invincible Frenchmen and that He would either win that Realm against whosoever should oppose him or honestly leave his Body in the field The next day He x Froisa 38. departed in this Resolution from Mechlin and went on to Brussels another Chief City of Brabant his people passing on by the Town Thither at last came now the long expected Aid of Almaines to the Number of 20000 strong with their Leaders but only the Duke of Brabant appeared not as yet Wherefore once more King Edward sent and demanded of him Whether he intended to let him have his Company to the Siege of Cambray or no The Duke answer'd that as soon as he knew for certain that Cambray was actually Besieged he would upon his Honour come thither with 1200 Spears all good Men of War. Satisfied with this King Edward marched on five Leagues Farther till he came to Nivelle a Town near the Borders of Hainault where he lay one Night and the next day went to Mons a chief Town in Hainault and of great strength and there he found the young Earl of Hainault his Brother-in-Law who received him gladly The King was attended by the Lord Robert of Artois who was of his Privy Council and always about him with about 16 or 20 more of the most Noble Barons of England who still waited on the King both for the Honour of his Person and to be ready to advise with him about any sudden Emergency Together with whom was Doctor Henry Burwash Brother to the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior and Lord Bishop of Lincoln who purchased much Praise of all Men for the great Wisdom Conduct and Courage he at all times shew'd but especially in these Grand Affairs of the King his Master The Army lay without the Town in the Fields and Villages thereabout where they found plenty of Provision of all sorts for their Money thô as some paid truly others made bold to do otherwise It being next to Impossible absolutely to restrain a whole Army from all kind of Licence When the King had tarried thus at Mons the space of two Days he went thence accompanied with the young Earl to Valenciennes which was seven Leagues further standing on the Skell And here he met with the Lord John of Hainault the Earls Uncle the Lord Faginelles the Lord Verchin the Lord of Havreth and others who were about the Earl their Master The King to shew his Generous Confidence in the Earl went into the Town only attended with twelve more of his Nobles the King and the Earl his Brother-in-Law y Engl. Atl. 4 Vol. p. 233. going hand in hand thrô the Court of the great Hall of his Palace which is called La Salle du Comte But as they were going up the Stairs of the Hall the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaimed aloud these Words O Yes William Bishop of Cambray I Henry Bishop of Lincoln as Procurator to the Mighty Lord Edward King of England Vicar of the Sacred Empire of Rome do here Warn and Admonish You the said William that You open the Gates of the City of Cambray to Our said Lord the King of England Which if You refuse to do You shall forfeit Your Lands and We will enter by force To this Proclamation no Answer was given for the Bishop of Cambray was not there Present but in the City of Cambray it self looking to the Defence thereof Then the Bishop of Lincoln Proclaim'd again O Yes You Lord William Earl of Hainault We here Warn and Admonish You in the Name of the Emperour that You come and serve the King of England his Vicar before the City of Cambray with such a Number of Souldiers as You ought to do The Earl answer'd With all my Heart I am ready to serve him according to my Duty Upon these Words they enter'd into the Hall after which the Earl Led the King into his Chamber where they supp'd together The next day the King departed to Haspre upon the Salle where he tarried two days viewing his Men as they passed onward before him and thence he went to Cambray which immediately he began to invest round and daily his Forces encreased For thither came the young Earl of Hainault and John Lord of Beaumont his Uncle in Great array These had their Quarters Assign'd them near the King there were there also the Duke of Gueldre and his Men the Earl of Juliers the Earl of Mons the Earl of Savenier the Marquess of Nuys the Lord of Faulquemont Sr. Arnold of Baquehen with other Lords of the Empire Allies of England And now at last the sixth day after the Siege was laid came thither the Cautious Duke of Brabant with 900 Spears in his Company and he took up his Station on the side towards Ostervandt on the River Skell over which he flung a Bridge to maintain Communication between the Hosts for their mutual security As soon as he was come he also sent his Defiance to the French King who was then at Compiegne in Valois whereat his Resident Sr. Lewis of Travemund who had always confidently affirmed that his Lord meant nothing less was so ashamed and confounded that he would never after that return into Brabant but died in France of sorrow and vexation During this Siege there were many Skirmishes and Rencounters for the Town was well replenished with good Men of War the Bishop z Mezeray 2. part 3 tom p. 15. having lately received into the Walls John Duke of Normandy King Philips Son with 500 Men of Arms besides the ordinary Garrison and the Forces sent thither before upon the Defiances of King Edward and his Allies And many times there went forth from the Army strong Detachments to fetch in Provision or to seek for Adventures abroad among whom the Lord John of Hainault and the Lord of Faulquemont with their Men rode constantly together as Companions in Arms and burnt and wasted greatly the Country of Cambresis One day among others the two foresaid Lords with 500 Spears and a 1000 other Souldiers in their Company went and presented themselves before the Castle of Oisy in Cambresis which belonged at that time to the Lord of Coucy and made there a very vigorous Assault But the Besieged defended themselves so well that they received little or no Disadvantage so that the Lords were fain to return again without obtaining their purpose But the Assaults that were given to the City of Cambray it self were surely both many and very fierce thô not much more successfull Once especially the young Earl of Hainault with some Troops of English mixt with his own Men on a Saturday gave a terrible Assault at the Gate of Cambray that looks towards St. Quintins there was a young lusty
victory after a sharp and terrible Conflict In which Battle a mighty Number of our Enemies were destroyed and almost all their whole Navy taken with some Loss also on our Part but nothing like in Comparison to theirs By reason whereof We doubt not but that the Passage by Sea shall hereafter prove more quiet and safe both to Us and our Subjects And also many other Commodities shall ensue thereupon as we have good cause to hope Wherefore We devoutly considering the Divine Favours so gratiously bestowed upon Us do render our most humble Thanks and Praise to Christ our Lord and Saviour Beseeching him that as he hath been and always is most ready to prevent our Necessities in his own good time so he will please to continue his helping Hand ever towards Us and so direct Us here temporally that We may reign and rejoice with him eternally in Heaven Moreover We require your Charitable Assistance that you also Rising up together with Us unto the Praise of God alone who hath so favourably begun to work with us for our Good do instantly in your Publique Prayers and Divine Service as well as in your Private Devotions recommend Us to the Lord since We are here labouring in these foreign Countries and not only studying to recover our Right in France but also highly to exalt the whole Catholick Church of Christ and to rule our People in Righteousness And that You also call upon all your Clergy and People each one thrô his distinct Diocess to do the same altogether invocating the Name of our Saviour on our Behalf that of his Clemency he would please to give unto Us his Humble Servant his Grace and a docible Heart that We may so judge and govern here upon Earth in Equity doing what he hath commanded that at length We may happily attain to that which he hath promised thrô our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ c. An. 1340. V. This Letter was enclosed in another of the Kings directed to his Son the Prince who received them at Waltham And then at last and not before was the Fame of this Victory perfectly credited by the most Scrupulous But thrô France the sad News of this their Loss flew more nimbly thô as yet none durst undertake to be the hatefull messenger of such an unwelcom Relation to King Philip. Till at last his Lords prompted a pleasant Fellow the Kings Jester to do it who is said to have revealed the whole Matter after this manner r Walsingh hist p. 134. n. 30. Fox Acts and Mon. p. 347. Sr. Rich. Baker c. Running carelesly one time into King Philips Presence he began to insult with much vehemence and upbraid the English of flat Cowardise calling them Dastards and cowardly Poltrons with many other Opprobrious Words to that effect Which he repeated with great Bravery till the King asked him the reason why he so extreamly undervalued the Englishmen Why said the Fool because the Cowardlike Faint-hearted Rogues had not the Courage to leap into the Sea so gallantly as our Normans and Gentlemen of France did Certainly We are told by most Writers that in this Fight the English Arrows fell so thick among the French and did so sting torment and fright them that many Men rather than endure them leapt desperately into the Sea To which the Words of this Jester no doubt alluded And without all question the Guns which are used now adays are neither so terrible in Battle nor do such Execution nor work such Confusion as Arrows can do For Bullets being not seen only hurt where they hit but Arrows enrage the Horse and break the Array and terrifie all that behold them in the Bodies of their Neighbours Not to say that every Archer can shoot Thrice to a Gunners once and that whole Squadrons of Bows may let fly at one time when only one or two Files of Musqueteers can discharge at once Also that whereas Guns are useless when your Pikes joyn because they only do execution point blank the Arrows which will kill at Random may do good service even behind your Men of Arms And it is notorious that at the famous Battle of Lepanto the Turkish Bows did more mischief than the Christian Artillery Besides it is not the least observable that whereas the Weakest may use Guns as well as the Strongest in those Days your lusty and tall Yeomen were chosen for the Bow whose ſ Fabian p. 392. Hose being fastned with one Point and their Jackets long and easie to shoot in they had their Limbs at full liberty so that they might easily draw Bows of great strength and shoot Arrows of a Yard long beside the Head. But to proceed VI. About the same time that King Edward sent the foremention'd Letters into England he also directed others from t Frois c. 50. f. 30. Gaunt to the Earl of Hainalt and those who were besieged within the Castle of Thine certifying them of his Arrival and Success When the Earl heard this News and that the French had received such a Blow at Sea because he could not force the Duke of Normandy to a Battle having at last brought off the Besieged in that manner as we related he decamped and giving his Souldiers leave to depart return'd with all the Lords in his Company to Valenciennes where he feasted them all most magnificently There Jacob van Arteveld once or twice declared openly in the Market-place in the Presence of the Earl of Hainalt the Duke of Brabant and all the Lords and Others who were content to hear him What undoubted Right the King of England had to the Crown of France and of what great Puissance the Three Countries of Flanders Hainalt and Brabant were like to be now that they were surely joyn'd in one indissolvible Bond of Allyance whereof King Edward was the Knot Strength and Stay. And more he spake to this purpose with so much Eloquence and Discretion that all who heard him highly applauded his smooth Language and weighty Reasons Saying that he was both a very good Orator and a most sound and expert Politician and therefore most meet and worthy to Govern all Flanders After this the Lords of the Empire departed severally from Valenciennes having first of all agreed to meet again within eight Days at Gaunt to visit the King of England which they did accordingly He for his part received them gladly and feasted them honourably as also did the Queen in her Apartment And here 't was agreed between King Edward and the Lords of Germany that a General Council should be held at Villenort about their present Affairs for which a certain Day was appointed and Notice given to all the Allies to meet accordingly Now the King of England as he had formerly made a Promise to the Flemings had brought over with him certain Bishops and very many Priests and Deacons u Mezeray 2 part 3 tom 16 pag. who being less scrupulous than the Priests of Flanders
Your Selves herein that We may have cause to commend Your Care and Diligence Witness Our Self at Westminster the Twelfth day of February in the Year of Our Reign over England the 15 and over France the 2d. In Answer to this the Archbishop return'd the same Defence he had made in the Pulpit at Canterbury only mutatis mutandis with this Preface directed to the King viz. IX b Antiqu. Brit. p. 227. c. To his Dread Lord EDWARD by the Grace of God of France and England the most Illustrious King John by Divine Permission his humble Minister of the Church of Canterbury once Temporally but now more in the Lord wisheth Health both of Soul and Body and evermore to persevere in Good and Manfully to Resist envious and wicked Suggestions which easily corrupt Good Manners There are two Things whereby the World is principally governed the Holy Pontifical Authority and the Royal Power Of which the Burthen incumbent upon Priests is so much more weighty and sublime by how much at the Divine Scrutiny they are to give an Account even concerning Kings themselves And therefore your Majesty ought to know that You depend on their Judgment not that they can be directed by your Will. For who doubts but that the Priests of Christ ought to be accounted both Fathers and Masters of Kings and Princes and of all the Faithfull Is it not look'd on as a sign of a deplorable Madness for a Son to endeavour to bring under his Father or a Scholar his Master And that many Prelates have Excommunicated some of them Kings others Emperours the Canonical Authority of the Scriptures testifies And if you enquire for any thing particular of the Persons of Princes the blessed c c Innocent l. Papa Rom. flâ—ruit circa An. Chr. 404. Innocent smote the Emperour Arcadius with the edge of Excommunication because he consented that St. John Chrysostom should be violently expelled from his Seat. And the Holy Ambrose Archbishop of Milain for a fault which to other Priests seem'd not so very enormous bound the Emperour Theodosius the Great in the Bond of Excommunication who afterward having first given convenient Satisfaction obtain'd Absolution And in more convenient time and place many more Examples of the like nature may be produced Whatsoever Priests therefore offend by Error meerly humane which doth no way trespass upon the Faith of Religion it seems that they neither can nor ought to be punished by the Secular Power For it is the part of a good and religious Prince to restore broken and bruised Churches to build new ones to honour and with all respect imaginable to defend the Priests of God like unto Constantine that pious Prince of most Happy Memory who when the Complaints of Clergymen were brought unto him said You can be judged of None that is none of the Secular Judges who are reserved to the judgment of God alone according to the Assertion of the Apostle saying d d 1 Cor. c. 2. v. 15. The spiritual Man is judged of no man. Let your Majesty therefore consider what and how great the Punishment of that Son ought to be who uncovers the nakedness of his Father and wickedly defames his innocent Parent to whom as is premised he ought to yield all reverence and honour For the Pagan Princes after their manner yielded and do yield no small Honour to the Prelates of their Temples and Idols whom they termed Flamins How much more ought Christian Princes Worshippers of the True God and of the Christian Faith to reverence the Ministers and Prelates of Christ But alas in a preposterous and unnatural way the Honour which on Occasion of the Dignity wherein we thô unworthy preside ought unto us as unto your Father to be yielded is turned into Reproach the Respect into Reviling and Reverence into Contempt While You sent your Royal Letters Patents sealed with your Royal Seal or rather notorious Libels spitefully dictated and written by our Enviers and Enemies containing various crimes and many enormous Matters and false-invented Reproaches against us to our infamy as plainly by the reading thereof may appear to all the Suffragans of our Province of Canterbury Deans Abbots Priors and their Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall Persons to be published to the great Affront of us I hope and not of God himself That so the Devotion of our Flock toward us might wax cold and their Obedience be turned into Contempt From which unexpected not to say detestable Deed it evidently appears to all that behold it how the Royal Power which proceedeth from the Lord according to the saying of the wise King Solomon e e Wisd of Solomon c. 6. v. 1. 3. Hear ô ye Kings and understand Learn ô ye Judges of the ends of the Earth For Power is given unto you from the Lord and Soveraignty from the most High doth now presume to judge even the Lord God himself in the Persons of his Ministers and Priests not only to the violation of the Divine Law but against the Ordinance of God of humane Law and natural Reason and doth condemn its Spiritual Father and the chief Peer of the Land being not called not convicted and by your Record to use the vulgar word unheard to the hazard of your Soul to the exceeding prejudice of all us Peers and of all the People of the Land. Nor let any one maliciously accuse us that being conscious of our own Guilt we seek to hide our selves lest we should be obliged to bear the brunt of your Objections For the most High knoweth that we heartily desire to see you above all mortal Men that all Flattery remov'd we may intimate unto your Highness the dangers both of You and of your Kingdom and the Affection and loving Hearts of your Subjects and advise You that your Actions I wish they were all Praise-worthy might be as a Light to others according to that of the * * Claudian Regis ad exemplum tâ—tus componitur â—rbis Wise Man The World is by a King's Example sway'd And also that upon beholding our Face You might call to mind those Services which lately we have performed in your Employs carefully and Faithfully according to the Conscience of our Soul so God help us in the last Trial when all Men shall f f 2 Corin. c. 5. v. 10. stand before his Tribunal to receive the things done in their Bodies according to that they have done whether it be good or evil And especially that before You the Prelates Barons and Peers of the Realm we might set forth our Reputation which by your Letters and Libels aforesaid is basely torn and bespatter'd purged true and pure as I call God to Witness it is to Publique Knowledge But upon notice that certain of your principal Counsellors near your Person have given forth menaces of Death against us who are in this Land not as Joseph was in Egypt but like Tyrants now adays domineer in the Throne after
but shortly after when the Truce was broken was deliver'd up to the French by the two Cardinals who were Guaranties of the Truce There this poor Gentleman being found was sent away Prisoner to Paris where he was soon after put in a Tumbrell or Dung-Cart to which he was fastned with Chains of Iron and so convey'd bare-headed with great noise and outcries of the People from the Castle down thrô the High-street of Paris till he came to the Bishops Palace where they deliver'd him up to the Bishop and he by vertue of a Commission purchas'd by King Philip from the Pope then and there degraded and deprived of all Degrees and holy Orders the said Master Henry and so deliver'd him back again to the Secular Power Then he was judged to stand in the Pillory at such an hour for three Days together in the most Publique place of the City but he was so cruelly pelted with rotten eggs apples and other filth and ordure of the City that on the third Day he was found dead and afterwards had no better burial than a Dog. King Philip not content with these severities to cool the affections of his Grandees at the same time beside those notable Subsidies which his Subjects of France had freely granted him to the maintenance of his Wars c Mezeray ad an 1344. Fabian p. 271. levied strange and unheard of Taxes and which was worse settled a Gabelle upon Salt for which cause our Edward by way of Raillery called him the Author of the Salique Law. This Impost which makes the Sun and Water to be sold was the Invention of the Jews Mortal Enemies to the Christian Name as the word Gabelle denotes which comes from the d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terminavit Hebrew X. But to return when King Edward had received the News which Mr. Henry Malestroit brought him how the Lord Clisson and others had lost their Lives for his Sake he took deep e Frois c. 101. Mezeray ad hunc aunum Indignation at this Inveterate Malice of the French King's and was once in mind to have served the Lord Henry du Leon who was now his Prisoner in the same manner But his Cousin the Generous Earl of Darby shew'd to him and his Council such Reasons as alter'd his furious Intention and something calm'd his Passion Sir said he thô King Philip being stung with mortal Jealousie hath rashly done so base an Action as unjustly to put to Death such valiant and worthy Knights Yet for Gods sake let not the bright Splendour of your Name be sullied with any such black and shamefull Deed. And to say the Truth your Prisoner Sr. Henry as he was no way accessary to his Masters Fault so methinks ought not to find any harder Usage for the same but rather to be put to a reasonable Ransom as a Man of Honour taken in the Wars Hereupon the King who always was inclinable to hear Reason became something more pacified and sent for the Lord Henry du Leon to come before him at which time he spake thus unto him shaking his Head for anger Ah! Sr. Henry Sr. Henry Mine Adversary Philip de Valois hath shew'd in a most cruel manner his extream Tyranny unjustly to put to death such Worthy Knights Wherewith I am infinitely displeased althô I never held any Correspondence with any of them because I question not but he did it in despight of Us. And therefore if I would contend with him in Malice I could now serve you in like manner for you have done to Me and mine more displeasure in Bretagne than any other But this I will pass by and let Philip do his worst to our Power we shall preserve our Reputation and not care to imitate him in his ignoble and unprincely Actions Wherefore for my Cousin of Darby's sake who hath entreated me in your Behalf I am content to deliver you for a small Ransom on Condition you will do as I shall require you The Knight answer'd making a low Reverence Sir I shall readily do what you shall please to command me Then the King proceeded I know well you are one of the most substantial Knights in Bretagne and if I would be strict with you that you are well able to pay me thirty or fourty thousand f A Scute is 6 s. 8 d. Sterling Scutes But if you will engage upon your Honour to go to mine Adversary Philip de Valois and to shew him from me that since he hath so cruelly and unjustly put to Death such valiant Knights in Spight of Me I say and will prove that he hath broken the Truce taken between Me and Him wherefore also I renounce it utterly on my Part and from this Day forward mortally defie him This Message if you will truly perform your Ransom shall be but 10000 Scutes which you shall truly pay and send to Bruges within 15 days after you have crost the Seas And moreover you shall say to all Knights and Esquires of those Parts that for all this they forbear not to come to our Feast at Windsor for they shall be welcome to Us and enjoy the benefit of our safe Conduct as We have declared Sir replied the Knight to the best of my Power I shall perform your Commands and God reward your Majesty for the Great Clemency You are pleas'd to shew unto me And I heartily thank my Noble Lord of Darby for his Good word in my Behalf So Sr. Henry du Leon took his leave of the King and within a few days went on Board at Southhampton with intent to go to Harfleur in Normandy and so to Paris to deliver King Edwards Defiance But a storm took him in such a manner that being forced among other things to sling all his horses overboard he was beside so tossed and harassed that he never after recovered his Health thô at last he gain'd land at Crotoy in Picardy at the mouth of the River Somme From thence both he and all his Company were fain to foot it to Abbeville about five French miles journey where they gat Horses But Sr. Henry was so sick that he was fain to be carried in a Litter to Paris where he did his Message to King Philip very punctually but as he was returning homeward into Bretagne he died by the way at the City of Angiers just upon the Borders of his own Country A very noble and valiant but unfortunate Gentleman who never had any rest or comfort after he had betray'd his Master John of Montford in the City of Nantes as we have related XI In this very season before the Solemnity at Windsor was over King g Frois c. 102. Edward heard News from Gascoigne by the Lord De le Sparre the Lord of Chaumont and the Lord of Mucidan who were sent into England by the Lord De la Brett aliàs de Albreth the Lord of Pamiers the Lord of Montferant the Lord of Duras the Lord of Craon and
Cardinal by the Will and Consent of the said King of France and his Council To which o Leco supra citate Odoricus Rainaldus adds these Words What dreadfull slaughters King John brought upon himself thereby with a like event as his Father Philip had revoked the Peace made with the English Commissioners from whence we said the English War brake forth whereby France was embroil'd for so many Years will appear hereafter IX Since we spake a little above of the Death of Dr. William Batemanâ— it is fit that we take our leave something more solemnly of so Worthy a Person of whom many commendable things are to be said thô only to excite Vertue in a Degenerate Age by the example of others whose Liberality have embalmed their Names to late Posterity He was p Godw. Catal. Bâ—s p. 426. born at Norwich bred at Cambridge and being Dr. of the Civil Law and Arch-Deacon of Norwich was at last elected Bishop by the General Consent of the Convent He was the first Founder of Trinity-Hall in Cambridge appointing it as it remains to this day a perpetual Seminary of Learned Civilians and giving certain Lands toward the Maintenance thereof He founded also the Hall of the Annunciation of our Lady in the said University and gave one of the Publick Chests And provoking others to follow his good Example he perswaded one Edward Gonwell alià s Gonvill to found another Hall in the same English Athens which afterwards was much augmented at the Cost and Charges of one John Caius a Learned Physician and is now after both their Names called Gonvill and Key 's College Dr. Bateman was succeeded in the See of Norwich by q Dagd 1 Vol. p. 275. Richard Piercy younger Brother to Henry Lord Piercy which Henry was never Earl of Northumberland thô Godwin by mistake calls him so and gives unto this Richard the Name of Thomas as Stow also doth but Father to the first Earl of that Name X. About this time r Stow p. 255. Walsing Hyped p. 122. hist p. 161. Foâ— p. 361. Holinshead p. 948. there fell a Cruel Dissention in the Famous University of Oxford between the Scholars and the Townsmen The occasion whereof was this On the Tenth Å¿ Anton. Wood's Antiqâ— Oxon. of February t L. 1. p. 174. ad annum 1354. ex Reg. Synwell dicto fol. 67 68 69 c. Dom. Lat. D. ad an 1354 / 5. which in the Year 1354 / 5 happen'd on a Tuesday and the Feast of St. Scholastica the Virgin Walter Sprinheuse and Roger Chesterfield with other Scholars went to a Tavern called Swindlestock or Swinstock at the Sign of the Mermaid in the Street named Quatervois and there finding fault with the Wine called for John Croydon the Vintner and demanded better Wine Here Words being multiply'd and the Vintner not at all complying the Scholars went so far as to strike the Pot and Wine and all about his Head. Upon this Affront he ran down made his complaint to his servants and family and afterward to his Neighbours so that in short a great part of the Town conspired the Destruction of the Scholars and rang the Town Bell at St. Martins Whereupon the University Bell of St. Maries was rung also and so the Scholars and Townsmen being armed with Bows and other Weapons had a scuffle till the Evening parted them and as yet no great harm was done But the next day the Countrymen near Oxford to the Number of about 2000 came in to the Assistance of the Townsmen with a Black-Banner born before them Whereupon the Scholars fled to their Colleges but the enraged Multitude breaking in upon them slew many whom they flung in their Bog-houses and then rent and tare their Books and Writings to pieces and carried away the College-Plate and what else they pleased There were the Names of more than 28 University men slain and wounded that day given in to the Bishop of Lincoln a few days after besides those who being secretly buried were not heard of any more For this Riot the King * Ret. Claus 29. Ed. 3 m. 9. seised on the Liberties of the City the greater part whereof were granted to the University which they enjoy to this Day However for that time the University was in a manner dissolved all Scholars but those of Merton College going to their Friends and Relations where they continued for a Year or two after The mean u Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 949. Anton. Wood's Antiqu. Oxon. l. 1. p. 174. 176. while the Bishop of Lincoln inhibited all Priests to celebrate Divine Service in presence of any Layman within the City of Oxford and the King sending his Justices thither to take knowledge of this disorderly Riot there were divers both of the Townsmen and Scholars endited and certain of the Burgesses as Richard Forester and Robert Lardiner and the Mayor himself John Bereford were committed to Prison And the High-Sheriff named Richard Williamscote because he did not according to his Duty in helping the University and the Vicechancellour was removed and John Laundels put in his Place The x Anton Wood's Antiqu. Oxon. l. 1. p. 176 c. former Mayor and Bailiffs being now clapt up in the Tower at the y In Minâ—r Rubr. Libr. Civ Oxon. C. fol. 27. Kings Command another Mayor was chosen whose Name was John de St. Frideswide and two new Bailiffs William Somerford and Hugh Yeftele alià s Eifley who were to hold for the remainder of the Year The next day after their Names were carried to the King and Attourneys sent to beg in their behalf his Majesties Pardon for the foresaid Sedition About which time certain Advocates for the University were also at Court solliciting an end of these Matters Whereupon both Parties being cited up to London sent thither their several Advocates The University wholly resign'd both her self and Privileges into the Kings hands Then also the Townsmen produced their Resignation and rendred up all their Privileges and Liberties their Persons and Goods moveable and immoveable and their Gilds whatsoever as well general as special and all their Rights they entirely submitted to the Kings disposal and this they did as they confess in the form of their Surrender because if they should be proceeded against by any other way of Law and solemnly the examination of their cause would tend to their greater Confusion and Punishment c. These Surrenders were made on the Wednesday next after the Feast of St. Dunstan the Bishop before John Archbishop of York Chancellour and William Bishop of Winchester Treasurer and the Justices and others of the Kings Council in the Council Chamber by the Exchequer at Westminster At which time both Parties humbly petition'd that the Kings Majesty would accept of their Resignations But the King commanded them to be deliver'd into the hauds of David Wollere Master of the Rolls of Chancery to be kept until such time as upon due
the same time almost in an instant to fortifie so vast and spacious a City as Paris And whatever the occasion was most certainly never any Provost did an act of more Advantage to that Place for had it not been for these Defences the City had not only been shortly after taken by King Edward but upon several other occasions easily overrun and spoiled Now when the x Frois c. 185. Duke of Normandy had compleated his Musters and gather'd together to his Assistance sundry Persons of Honour not only of the Realm of France but also out of the Empire and elsewhere for pay so that he had more than 3000 Men of Arms besides others He presently went and laid Siege to Paris toward the Gate of St. Anthony along by the River of Seyne himself being lodged at St. Maur des Fossez and his Men thereabout who every day went and skirmished even to the Walls of Paris But still the Provost's Workmen proceeded for the Souldiers within the City defended them upon all occasions Sometimes the Duke lay at St. Maur and sometimes at Charenton so that nothing could come to Paris on that side either by Land or Water For he had caused both the Rivers of Seyne and Marne to be well kept and had burnt all the Villages about Paris which were not enclosed the better to curb the Insolence of that Rebellious City And surely he had served Paris it self in the same manner if it had not been pretty well fortify'd However none durst go in or out for fear of his Men who rode on both sides the Seyne at their Pleasure there was none to Resist them Yet there were in the City several Loyal and well-disposed Persons as John Maillart and his Brother Simon and many of their Relations and Friends who were very much troubled at the Duke of Normandy's Displeasure with the City and would very willingly have submitted unto him and have beg'd his Pardon But the Provost had so inveigled the Vulgar by his Popular pretences that no Man durst contradict him unless he had a Mind to be torn in pieces The Provost for his part still kept in with the King of Navarre following his Directions in all things and all the while he had Men at Work both Day and Night by turns for Defence of the City and moreover retain'd Souldiers on all hands as well Navarrois as English Men of Arms and Archers and other of the Companions For no other Englishmen durst make War in France because hitherto there was a Truce between the two Nations When the King of Navarre saw this Difference between the Duke and the City he began to call to Mind the Words of his Brother Philip That there was no Trust to be reposed in the Vulgar and therefore doubting the Worst if Matters should proceed he very fairly took his leave of them thô not without many kind Promises and drew off to St. Dennis Where he began to retain Souldiers in great Numbers but the City of Paris paid their Wages The Duke of Normandy had now lain at Charenton six Weeks and the King of Navarre almost as long at St. Dennis and between them both all the Vicinage was in a manner destroy'd and eaten up V. But in this sad juncture it pleased God to raise up certain Eminent and Worthy Personages to labour effectually to compose Matters first between the King and the Duke and then also between the two Realms And here we must not forget the great Diligence of the Pope y Odor Rainal ad hunc annum §. 2. 3. ex Tom. 6. Epist Secret. p. 6. 7. who by his Letters both to the Dauphin and the King of Navarre earnestly exhorted them to a final Concord so profitable to the Realm and so comfortable to all Good Men. Besides the Archbishop of Sens then newly Ransom'd out of England the Bishop of Auxerre and the Bishop of Beauvais the Lord Charles of Monmorency the Lord Moreau de Fiennes and the Lord of St. Venant joyned together to do their utmost in this pious way of Pacification These six went so often between the Parties interceding qualifying arguing and conjuring and bare themselves with such discretion That now the King of Navarre of his own meer good Will without the least Constraint went to Charenton to the Duke of Normandy and excused himself of what he was suspected especially of the Death of the Lords of Clermont and Conflens and of Doctor Simon Bucy and of the Affront which the Provost had done unto him in the Palace at Paris Swearing that it was all without his Consent and knowledge and promising the Duke to embarque with him and joyn issue in all his Affairs both good and evil and to make the Parisians give him satisfaction for what they had done Hereupon there was Peace made between the King and the Duke the latter whereof said He was willing to pardon the Parisians on Condition that he might have the Provost and 12 other Burgesses such as he should name to punish after their Demerits After this Agreement the King of Navarre returned to St. Dennis and the Duke went to Meaux in Brie which had suffer'd so much lately on occasion of the Jaquerie Both the King and the Duke disbanded the greater part of their Troops now and several of the Burgesses in Paris especially such as had been concern'd in promoting the Treaty had invited the Duke to come to Paris promising to render him all the Dutifull Respect imaginable But the Duke reply'd How he would surely keep the Peace which he had made and sworn to without any breach or flaw on his part But as for setting his Foot within Paris that he was resolved never to do till he had satisfaction for the Affronts put upon him When the Duke of Normandy had thus broke up his Siege the Provost of the Merchants and the Chief of his Partakers went frequently to St. Dennis to visit the King of Navarre and they told him How for his sake the◠had incurred the Duke's Displeasure for that they had deliver'd him out of Prison and brought him in such Honour to Paris Wherefore they desired him for Gods sake to have some respect to their safety and not to repose too much Confidence either in the Duke or his Council nor leave them as a sacrifice to attone for all the Publique Miscarriages The King who was very subtle resolving now however things went to make the best Market for himself reply'd Certainly Friends you shall suffer no harm but I will bear a part therein But to be armed against the worst Events I would advise You since at this time You have the sole Government of Paris in Your Hands to furnish Your selves with Gold and Silver so that if You should be thrust out of your Places You may have a Friend left at a Pinch And what You can thus heap together for its better security send it hither to me as privately as may be to be
to Horse and Man. But because such Matters were not strange in the declining of the Year the King encouraged himself with Patience resolving to bear what he could by no means prevent However the King rode thus by q Frois ibid. c. 2â—7 short journeys till he came into a dryer Country to Bapaume in Artois about which Place there happen'd an adventure between a Lord of France and a German Lord of the English part well worthy a particular Relation Only it is to be premised that all the Towns Cities Castles and Passages in Picardy and Artois where the King was suspected to pass were well guarded with Souldiers partly such as the Dauphin and Parliament had sent thither and partly also such as the Great Towns had themselves hired for their better security In the City of Arras was the Earl of St. Paul with 200 Men of Arms the Constable of France was at Amiens the Lord of Monsault at Corbie Sr. Edward of Renty and Sr. Ingram of Hesdin at Bapaume and Sr. Baldwin Danequin Master of the Crossbows at St. Quentin and the like Provision was made for other Places For by this it was generally noised about that King Edward design'd to go and lay Siege to Rheims in Champaigne intending when he had won the Place there to be r Mezerâ—â— p. 58. anointed with the Holy Oyl Crowned King of France IV. But now the Inhabitants of Perone in Vermandois which lay directly in the King of Englands way were wholly destitute of an able Captain and Commander to defend them and that City being scituate upon the River of Somme when they understood it was King Edwards Custom to march along by Rivers they expected the English to be upon them every Day and were infinitely perplexed on that account At last they bethought themselves of a Valiant Captain called Sr. Galahaut de Ribemont who was now unengaged in the City of Tournay being a Baron of high Courage and Conduct and Cousin to the Lord Eustace Ribemont who fell in the Battle of Poictiers To him therefore now they send very kind Letters inviting and requesting him to come and be their Captain with such a certain Number of Men of Arms they promising to allow him 20 Franks per diem for himself and ten for every Knight in his Company and for every other one Frank a Day The Lord Galahaut was a Knight of great Courage and Experience in the Wars and very desirous to be employed in any Hazardous Attempt for Glory Wherefore he accepted the civil Proposals of his Neighbours of Perone and sent them word that he would not fail to be with them the second Day after So he rode presently from Tournay with no more than 30 Spears in his Company but still as he went on his Number encreased And particularly Sr. Roger of Coulogne to whom he had sent to come and joyn him in such a Place came to him accordingly with 20 Men of Arms more So that now Sr. Galahaut being fifty Spears strong besides others as he was marching towards Perone came and took up his Lodgings within two Leagues of the English Army in a little Village in the Fields which was quite void of Inhabitants for all the People of the Country were fled into strong Holds for fear and he design'd the next morning for Perone near unto which this little Village stood Now after Supper when they had set their Watch and discoursed of several things relating to the present Juncture the Lord Galahaut said to his chief Captains then in Council with him To morrow early we shall be at Perone but yet before we go thither I would advise that we ride a little nearer toward our Enemies for I believe there are those among them who to get Honour or Booty will ride abroad in the Morning so that we may chance to meet with some or other of them who may help to pay our Shot To this Advice his Council agreed and kept it private in their own Breasts being all ready for that purpose by break of Day with their Horses sadled Then they mounted and rode forth in good Order leaving the Road to Perone and coasting the Woods to see if they could find any good Adventure At last they came to a certain Village where the People had fortified the Church for their Security and there Sr. Galahaut alighted for he was sure to meet with Bread Wine and other Provision in this Place and those within offer'd him to take what he would for they knew him to be a Friend While they tarried here to refresh themselves Sr. Galahaut called two Esquires unto him one whereof was named Bridol of Talmond whom he commanded to take their Horses and ride forth into the Field and discover the Country about whether they could meet with any thing of Moment and so to come back and bring him word thither for he would stay there for them Now on the English Part the Lord Reginald of Boulant a German of the Duke of Lancasters Retinue had ridden forth the same Morning and finding no Adventure was now returning to the Army again at which time he met with these two French Esquires about a League from Sr. Galahaut's Station The Esquires at first took them to be some French Men of Arms who had laid an Ambush thereabouts but when they perceived them to be Germans they agreed to pretend to be of their Party for otherwise they could not escape them At this Sr. Reginald of Boulant demanded of them in High Dutch who they were and to whom they did belong to which Esquire Bridol who was skill'd in that Tongue answer'd Sir we are Englishmen of the Retinue of the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Why where is the Lord Bartholomew said Sr. Reginald Sir said the Esquire He is now in yonder Village What means he to tarry there said the Knight Sir said the Esquire he expects our Return For he sent us abroad to see if we could meet with any Forage hereabouts in the Country On my Word said Sr. Reginald here is none for I have been abroad all this Morning and can find nothing Wherefore go back and bid him come away that we may both ride together toward St. Quentin to see if so at least we may mend our Market Sir said Esquire Bridol who are you then that would have our Lords Company They call me said the Knight Reginald van Boulant only say so much to my Lord Bartholomew that 's enough With that the two Esquires returned upon the Spur to the Village to their Master who asked him what Tidings Sir said they we have seen enough for in yonder Wood there is the Lord Reginald of Boulant who hath been riding about this Morning with 30 Spears and he desires your Company to ride with him toward St. Quentin How said Sr. Galahaut what is that you say Sr. Reginald de Boulant is a Knight of Germany and retained under the King of Englands Pay. All that said
Chosen Men of Arms and 400 Archers at the News of whose Coming the Prince was very glad While things were thus preparing in the Principality there came unto the Prince to Bourdeaux James the Younger King of Majorica as he was called but at that time he had not one foot of his Kingdom in his own Possession For his Uncle Pedro King of Aragon who had before murther'd his Father as was said in Prison at Barcelona had hitherto by force excluded him from his Inheritance So that he had nothing in the World to live on saving that the Lady Joan Queen of Jerusalem Sicily and Naples had in consideration of his Youth Shape and Nobility p Vid. Odor Rainal ad an 1362. §. 10. c. taken him for her Third Husband about Four Years before this Wherefore he now applies himself to Prince Edward that by means of his Powerfull Arms he might be able to Revenge the Death and Injuries of his Father and to recover his Right as well in the Kingdom of Majorica as also in the Earldoms of Roussillon and Cerdanna The Prince made him very Welcom and gave him good hopes and comfort against the Present Difficulty of his Affairs and told him when he had heard his whole business Sir ô King being already embarqued in another Affair of like Consequence as yet I cannot possibly attend to your Cause but I promise you faithfully that after my safe Return out of Spain I shall forthwith take Care to restore you unto your full Right either by Treaty or by Force This Free and Generous Promise settled the Young Kings mind for the Present and so he tarried still with the Prince in Bourdeaux expecting when he would begin to march as others did for he intended to accompany him in this Expedition And the Prince considering his Quality allow'd him all that was necessary because he was a stranger and in Distress But daily there were brought to the Prince's Ears great Complaints of the Companions how they were exceeding troublesome to Men and Women of those Parts where they quarter'd wherefore they desired the Prince to begin his March as soon as he could which was his own Desire too But he was advis'd to stay and see Christmas over first that so he might have Winter at his Back and he agreed the rather to this reasonable motion because the Princess his Wife was big with Child again and very near her time and she was mightily concerned lest he should leave her before her Delivery Wherefore fearing that either she or the child might come to any harm he was content to stay till that Danger was over and she was extreamly pleas'd when she heard him promise so to do XX. All this while there was great Provision of Wine and Victuals and other Necessaries made over all the Country because they were to enter into a Kingdom where what for the season of the Year the Nature of the Soil and the Care of their Enemies they were likely to find but small purveyance Among other things while thus they tarried at Bourdeaux and all the Country was full of Souldiers the Prince of Wales by advice of his Council countermanded 800 of the Lord of Albret's 1000 Spears which before he had thought to have retained by his Letters sealed with his Seal the Tenor whereof followeth EDWARD by the Grace of God Prince of Aquitaine and Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester to his Right Trusty and Right-well-beloved Bernard Lord of Albret Greeting My Lord of Albret whereas of our meer Will and Pleasure We have taken upon Vs this Expedition in which We shortly intend to proceed considering the vast business charge and encombrance which We now have as well by reason of strangers who have offer'd themselves to our service as of the great Numbers of the Companions who are so numerous that we must not leave them behind Vs for fear of the Mischief which they may create among our Subjects That yet We may take sufficient Care of our Land in this our intended absence for as all may not stay behind so neither are all the Men of War to go lest the Country be left without Defence Vpon these Considerations after good Advice had it is ordained by Vs and our Council that for this time You only serve Vs with 200 Spears and You may discharge your self of the Residue and let them do as it shall please them And so God Almighty have you in his keeping Dated at Bourdeaux the 8th of December Ano. Dom. 1366. These Letters being sealed with the Prince's Great Seal were sent to the Lord of Albret who at that time was very busie in his Country about the Preparations for the Campaigne for it was now constantly affirmed that the Prince would begin his March very suddenly But when he saw the Prince's Letters he read them over twice the better to understand their meaning and then he was both amaz'd and displeas'd at what he found in them What saith he to himself how comes this to pass that my Lord the Prince makes a scorn and derision of me after this manner For now he would have me disband 800 Spears Knights and Esquires all whom by his own Command I have already retain'd and so diverted from other ways as well of Profit as of Honour Being in this heat he presently called for his Secretary and caused him to write an Answer to the Prince in these Words Most Illustrious and Dear Lord I am mightily surprised at the Letters You were pleased to send me and Sir I am in a great streight how I ought or may answer You in that point For it proves much to the prejudice and damage of me and all my Friends whom by your own Ordinance and Command I have already enter'd into service whereby I have hindred them of many fair Advantages which they might have reaped in other places For some of them were determin'd to have gone over Sea into Prussia to Constantinople to Jerusalem as most Knights and Esquires do in times of Peace at home to advance their Honour abroad Sir they are all very much surprised and displeased at me thus to be left out at this time and I also extreamly admire for what fault of mine I have deserved this severe Vsage Right Dear Sir May it please You to know that I cannot be sure of 200 unless I may be permitted to bring them all because I fear none will be willing to go when thus unhappily divided from their Friends I am the meanest and worst of them all and yet if any are left behind I doubt none will go God Almighty preserve your Royal Highness Dated c. When the Prince received this answer he look'd upon it as insolent and presumptuous and so did many English Lords and Knights of his Council whereupon the Prince shook his head and said in English Ah! this Lord of Albret is too great a Master in my Dominions when he will thus dare to
Lawfull King and that there were none who rebell'd or held out against him then he spake these Words unto him Sir Blessed be God You are now again peaceably established King over this your Realm without any Rebellion or Opposition And Sir I and my Men tarry here at our great Charge and Expence Wherefore I request you to provide Money to satisfie those who have holpen me to Reinstate you in your Throne as well as to compleat your Promise to which you have sworn and set your Hand and Seal And Sir the sooner this is done the more acceptable will it be to Vs and the more also to your Advantage For you cannot be ignorant that Men of War if they are not paid will make hold to pay themselves Sir We call not your Justice in question but only put you in Mind that at this time there are many Souldiers of Fortune among us and as it will be your Discretion to satisfie them so will it be just and equitable to be punctual in your Word to all who have been assistant to you in this Enterprise To this the King answer'd Fair Cousin We are firmly resolv'd to hold keep and perform to our power what We have sworn and sealed to But truly Sir as for the present We have no sufficient Quantity of Money ready at hand However now we intend to take our Progress toward the Marches of Sevil where we will make such provision of Gold and Silver as to be able to satisfie all Men. Onely Sir We desire you to tarry here in Valladolid where You will find a Plentifull Country and surely We shall return unto You as soon as We may conveniently but at the furthest by Whitsuntide This Answer was nothing disagreeable to the Prince and his Council who consider'd the hard Circumstances of that King and so within a few Days after Don Pedro took his leave of Prince Edward and rode toward Sevil the chief City of Andaluzia with a Design to raise Money to pay off the Men of War as he had covenanted and the Prince went and quarter'd in Valladolid his Lords and Captains being spread abroad in the Country at large the better to provide Victuals and other Necessaries for Themselves and their Horses Thus they tarried in Castilla Vieja not much to the advantage of the Country For whatever strict Discipline the rest of the Army kept the Companions could not for their Hearts forbear stealing plundering and defrauding the People XVIII The News presently spread abroad thrô England France Germany and other Countries far and near how the Prince of Wales had discomfited in Battle King Henry and all his Power having routed taken slain and drowned a well-Order'd and Royal Army consisting of more than an 100000 Men whereby the Prince was greatly renowned and his Valour and Conduct highly extolled in all Places whither the same flew especially in the Empire and in England for France had no cause to boast thereof But the Germans Flemings and Englishmen said that the Prince of Wales was the very Fairest Flower of Knighthood and that such a Prince was well worthy to govern all the World since by his exalted Prowess he had atchieved Three such extraordinary Enterprises as he had done First at the Battle of Cressey in Ponthieu where by Him the whole Power of France was broken Two Kings slain and a Third put to Hight Secondly at the Battle of Poictiers ten Years after where again he overcame the whole Power of France and took the King of the said Realm Prisoner And Thirdly now in Spain near Najara where at one Blow he decided the Fate of a Kingdom XIX But in England especially were great Triumphs made particularly in the Kings-Chamber the City of London Where the Lord Mayor and Aldermen celebrated the Memory of this Victory with great Solemnity and Triumphal Arches in like manner as they were formerly accustomed to do for their Kings when they had obtain'd any notable Success against their Enemies But in the Realm of France there was a quite different Scene representing nothing but deep Displeasure and unfeigned Sorrow because so many Gallant Knights of that Country were lost in that Battle And the taking of Sr. Bertra◠of Clequin and of the Lord Arnold D'Endreghan and other Frenchmen Prisoners at that time prov'd a great Corrosive to the minds of those who lov'd the Honour and Interest of France for they were all Persons of undoubted Worth and therefore now their Condition was lamented because they were little better than Dead to their Friends while thus buried in Captivity Thô surely they were all kept with much Courtesie and Respect and all of them shortly after put to easie Ransoms except only Sr. Bertram of Clequin who staid longer before he could be acquitted because the Lord John Chandos who had him in Keeping would not as yet deliver him for any Ransome and also Sr. Bertram did not much urge him to let him go XX. Now after the Battle of Najara Don Henry the Bastard escaped out of the Field as We intimated before from the reach of his Enemies and having with much difficulty got his Wife and Children about him went to the City of Valencia where he found King Pedro of Aragon his Godfather Friend and Ally and recounted unto him all his Evil Adventure with the Prince of Wales Within a while after the Aragonian advised him to go to Mompellier to Lewis Duke of Anjou and there to open his Case unto him and this Advice the Bastard was well pleased with because he knew the Duke of Anjou secretly maligned the Prince and all Englishmen in General Having therefore committed his Wife and Children to the Protection of the King of Aragon he took his leave and rode beyond Narbonne the First City of France on that side from thence he rode to Besiers and so to Mompellier in Languedoc where he found the Duke of Anjou who made him heartily welcome For he now lov'd him the more in despight of the English whom he naturally hated thô as yet he had no manner of Pretence to make any War against them When this Duke had fully heard all King Henry's losses and the present state of his Affairs he comforted him to his Power and while he tarried entertain'd him very obligingly indeed Shortly after Don Henry went to Avignon to visit Pope Vrban V and to have some secret Conference with him which done he return'd back again to Mompellier to the Duke of Anjou between whom there was a long and close Treaty held And as it was then reported and afterwards appeared to be manifest at that time King Henry obtain'd of the Duke of Anjou a Fortress bordering on the Principality of Aquitain called Castle-Moron where he assembled together Companions and other Men of War Bretons and Others who had not gone into Spain with the Prince so that presently he got about 300 Men of Arms. However all this was not carried on so privately but that News thereof
Bretagne arrived safe at St. Matthew du Fine Poterne in Bretagne where formerly he had found the Gates shut upon him Here he took Land in good Order and forthwith began to Assault the Castle which stood without the Town not greatly fortified at that time either with Men or Munition Wherefore the English carried it by force and put every Man of them to the Sword because they repented not but stood out still in Rebellion against their Natural Lord. When the Townsmen saw this severe Example they presently set open their Gates to receive the Duke unto whom again they sware true and constant Obedience From hence the English marched straight to the City of St. Pol du Leon which was very strong and enclosed with a Wall and a Ditch However they began a fierce and Vigorous Assault and all the while the Archers who stood on the Dikes shot so wholly together that few or none durst appear at their Defences and so at last the Place was won rifled and plunder'd and many hundreds put to the Sword but of the French Garrison not a Man was saved From thence they passed on taking Towns and Castles all along till they came to St. Brieux de Vaulx which was well furnished with Men and Arms and all things necessary For the Lords of Clisson and of Beaumanoir the Vicount of Rohan and other Lords of Bretagne had been there but a little before and refreshed the Place sufficiently But the Duke sat down resolving to try what he could do by Siege and Assault III. The mean while the Vicount of Rohan and the Lord of Beaumanoir who lay by way of countersiege not far off fronting the Duke of Bretagne heard how the Lord John Devereux being near Quimperlay made great havock thereabouts and had newly repair'd and fortify'd a little Place of Defence which he call'd New-Fort that there he kept his Garrison to the terrour of the whole Country so that the Inhabitants could hardly put their Heads out of their Gates but they were presently pick'd up by Sr. John and his Men. Upon this they sent word to the Lord Clisson who was then at Lamballe a Town about Five Leagues from St. Brieux and He for his part having left some Troops behind to secure the Town marched with the rest of his Men to joyn his Friends before New-Fort to which they soon after laid Siege News hereof was brought to the Duke of Bretagne and the English Lords before St. Brieux just as they had lost a Mine which with great Cost and Pains they had been making for 15 Days together Wherefore being vext at this Disappointment and also desirous by all means to save Sr. John Devereux they agreed not to tarry any longer before so strong a Place but rather to rise and go to the Succour of their Friends For said they if We may but find them in the Field who have now besieged them We trust to have a Fair Day against them Upon this Determination they brake up their Siege and began to March towards New-Fort which it seems the Lords of Bretagne had so fiercely Assaulted that they were now come even to the foot of the Wall and began to dig with might and maine not fearing any thing that the English could cast upon them they were so well cover'd with a Penthouse of shields and indeed the English had but little heavy Matter to fling down But however Fortune so well favour'd them that at the very Instant while they were thus digging to bring down a Pane of the Wall there came one to them suddenly upon the Spur saying Lords get away as fast as You can for yonder is the Duke of Bretagne coming in all haste upon You with his English Army They cannot be above two Leagues off by this time Upon this immediately the Trumpets sounded a Retreat to the Assailants and they drew all back mounted their Horses and marched off speedily taking their way to Quimperlay the nearest Place of Defence they knew of and being enter'd they shut up their Gates drew up the Bridges and prepared for their Defence IV. By this time the Duke of Bretagne came thither with all the Barons and Knights of England having pass'd by New-Fort and given but a short Visit to Sr. John Devereux who thanked them all heartily for their timely Assistance without which he had been most certainly lost But now the Duke lays Siege to Quimperlay his Archers being brought forth into the Field and his Footmen and Men of Arms set to the Assault The Englishmen were not in jest no more were the Besieged So that after a cruel Attack and a Resolute and well-menag'd Defence many being grievously wounded on both sides they parted for that time But thus every day the Game was play'd between them without any considerable Advantage to the English thô to all appearance it was not possible for the Besieged to hold out much longer For Succour to come they had none to Escape away there was no hope all the Avenues being possest by the Enemy and they very well knew that if they were taken by force they should have no mercy especially the Lord Clisson who had been of late so inveterate an Enemy to the English that he could expect no favour at their Hands Upon these considerations they fell to treat with the Duke offering to yield themselves on Condition they might be put to courteous Ransom But the Duke thinking it shamefull to Capitulate thus orderly with his own Subjects absolutely rejected that Motion and would have them yield up simply However at last with much ado they obtain'd of him a Truce and Respit for Eight Days during which time there fell an happy Chance for the Besieged For two English Knights Sr. Nicolas Charnells and Sr. Walter Vrsewick were sent thither from the Duke of Lancaster then at Bruges enjoyning the Duke of Bretagne and all the English Commanders in the King of England's Name to forbear all further Acts of Hostility Forasmuch as there was then lately a Truce taken between the two Kings of England and of France and all their Friends and Allies of the Articles whereof these Knights brought Authentick Copies into the Camp. They were immediately read and published thrô the Camp and also to the Besieged in Quimperlay to the great joy of the latter for without this unexpected good Fortune they had all been lost infallibly And thus the Duke of Bretagne being trepan'd by this subtle trick of the Frenchmen was forced to let his Enemies slip out of his Hands and so brake up the Siege licencing all his Men to depart except his Domestick Retinue with whom he went to Auray where he found his Dutchess After this having at his leisure refreshed his Garrisons of Brest and Auray and done what was necessary for the preservation of his own he return'd with his Lady into England to advise further with the King his Father-in-Law V. A little before which Edmund Earl of Cambridge Edmund
a like Distance from each other In the year 1346 being then in the Sixteenth Year of his Age he obtain'd that Memorable Victory at Cressy in Ponthieu in the Year 1356 being the 26th of his Age he took King John of France Prisoner at the Battle of Poictiers in the Year 1366 he undertook the Quarrel of Don Pedro upon which Account he Triumphed at Najara in Spain being then Thirty Six Years Old and now lastly in the Year 1376 being the Fourty Sixth of his Age he left this World for a better His last Will and Testament was finish'd k Ashmoles Garter p. 676. ex libro in Offic. Principal Cant. vecat Sudbary f. 90. b. but the Day before his Death all the former being then rendred void wherein he disposed of his Body to be buried in the Cathedral of Canterbury called Christchurch And such was his Care of those who had done him Service that he charged his Son Richard by his Will to continue unto them all the Payment of those Pentions which he had given them But 't is not material to reckon up here the Various Legacies that he gave as Silk-Beds Horses Armour Gold and Silver besides what he dedicated to Holy Uses as he had done many things of that nature in his Life-time We shall only remember the Names of his Executors as they were appointed in his Will viz. his Brother of Spain the Duke of Lancaster William of Wickham Bishop of Winchester John Harewell Bishop of Bath and Wells William Spridlington Bishop of St. Asaph Robert Walsham his Confessor Hugh Seagrave Steward of his Lands Sr. Alan Stokes and Sr. John Fordham And thus fell this Victorious Prince in whose l Walsing hist p. 186. M.S. vet Ang. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 238. Fall the Hopes of all England seem'd to be cast down While he lived they feared no Invasion they doubted no Warlike Encounter He never march'd against any whom he overcame not never besieged any City which he took not All Nations both Heathen and Christian dreaded his Fortune and Conduct in War as of another Hector nor did his * Churchill's Divi Britan. p. 245. Wisdom any way come short of his Courage Both which were equall'd by his Exemplary Justice Clemency Liberality Piety and Moderation Vertues but seldom sincerely embraced by Persons of High Condition He was a Prince m Daniel's hist p. 256. of whom we never heard any Ill nor received any other Note than of Goodness and the Noblest Performances that Magnanimity Generosity Courage and Wisdom could ever shew Insomuch as what Praise can be given unto Vertue is due unto Him. King n Frois c. 314. fol. 195. b. Gaâ—lic f. 266. b. Charles of France because he was of his Kindred performed his Obsequies in most Solemn Manner in the Holy Chappel of the Palace at Paris the greater part of the Prelates and Peers of his Realm being present A little before which time the Truce between the two Realms was again o Ret. Franc. 50. Ed. 3. â—â— 16. 21. prolonged unto the First Day of April which was to be in the Year of our Lord 1377. The mean while King Edward was sorrowfully busied with the unwelcome Cares of his Son's Funeral the last Office he could pay unto Him but p Polyd. Virg. p. 399. that 't is believed thrô Grief at this Loss that he was the rather content to loose Himself by following him sooner into the other World for we shall find that he surviv'd him but a Year and Thirteen Days Nor did he properly live that while neither for presently upon the Death of his Son he retired to Eltham in Kent endeavouring to concoct this hard Morsel of Providence thô it was every day ready to break his Heart The Body of this Famous Warrier being Embalmed lay in State and was then wrapped up in Lead to be kept till Michaelmas next coming that so it might be interred with the Greater Solemnity in the Presence of the Parliament as both Houses had desired And accordingly at Michaelmas He was carried in a stately Herse drawn with 12 Horses thrô the City of London over the Bridge the Whole Court and the Two Houses of Parliament attending him in Mourning till they came to Canterbury where he was buried with Great Solemnity in the Cathedral of Christ-Church as Himself had order'd in his Will on the South-side and near the Shrine of St. Thomas Becket and over his Grave was shortly after erected a Stately Monument of Grey Marble with his Pourtraiture lying thereon of Copper Gilt The Ends and Sides whereof are garnished with Escutcheons of Copper enamel'd with his Arms and Devises the One being the Arms of France and England Quarterly with a Labell of Three Points and the Other the Ostrich Feathers commonly called from Him the Prince's Arms with the Word Doumont on the Former and Ich Dien on the Latter On an Iron Bar over the Tomb are placed the Helm and Crest Coat of Mail and Gauntlets and on a Pillar near thereunto his Shield of Arms richly Diapred with Gold all which He is said to have used in Battle The Figure of this Noble Monument is exactly delineated in q Sandford p. 188. Mr. Sandford's Genealogical History of the Kings of England On the Monument there is this old French Epitaph circumscribed on a Fillet of Brass beginning at the Head * Extat apud Sandford â—â—l Weever's Fan. Mon. c. viz. By Gist le Noble Prince Monsleur Edward aisnez Filz du Tresnoble Roy Edward Eiers Iadis Prince d' Aquitaine de Galles Duc de Cornwaille Comte de Cestre qi mojust en la Feste de la Vrinite qestoit le viii jour de Juyn l'an de Grace Mill Trois cenz septante sisine Laime de qi Dieu tit Merrit Amen That is in English Here lieth the Noble Prince the Lord Edward Eldest Son to the Thrice Noble King Edward the Third late Prince of Aquitaine and of Wales Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester Who died on the Feast of the Trinity which was the Eight Day of June in the Year of Grace MCCCLXXVI On whose Soul God have Mercy Amen To which is added this French Rhyme beginning at the South-side of the Tomb and running on at the Foot of the North-side Tu qi passez oue bouche close Par la ou ce Torps repose Entent ce qe te dirai Si comme te dire le scay Tiel comme tu es autiel fu Tu seras tiel conune je su De la mort ne pensai je mie Cant comme javoy la vie Entre avoi grand Richesse Dont je y fis grand Noblesse Eette Mesons grand Tresor Draps Chivaux Argent Dr. Mes ore su jeo poures chetiss Perfond en la * An Terre tre gis Grand Beaute est tout allee Ma thar est tout gastee Moult est estroit ma Meson En
seen in me that You should not give me leave to be one of the foremost of those that are to Fight our Enemies this day The Lord Chandos who well knew his own Reasons reply'd Sr. Hugh I do not appoint You to command this Rereguard because You are not as good a Knight as any other No certainly that was never in my mind But I choose You for this purpose because I know You to be a prudent and well-advised Gentleman And Sir believe me it is absolutely necessary that either You or I take this Office if We intend to survive this day Wherefore once again I heartily require You to do it and I dare engage that if You undertake it You will not only do a very notable piece of Service but also obtain to your self much Honour thereby And yet over and above I here faithfully promise to grant You the first reasonable request You shall ever desire of me But all these Words could not Work upon Sr. Hugh for he did not as then imagine any such necessity of a Reserve and he thought it reflecting upon his Honour to stand in a manner idle when others should be adventuring their Lives in the heat of Action Wherefore again he desired him for Gods sake holding up his hands That he would please to give this Charge to some other since he for his part desired nothing more than to fight among the foremost The Lord Chandos was ready to weep at these Words but he added seriously Sr. Hugh consider well what I say For to be short this matter is of such concern to Us all that either You or I must undertake it and then think with your self who of Us can best be spared But don't trouble your self about a false Notion of Honour For he fights best who is most serviceable to his Friends althô he stands still all the while At this Sr Hugh began to reflect upon the Matter for with these last words all his former thoughts were dashed and confounded and then he said Certainly my Lord I know well You are too much my Friend to put me upon any thing which may redound to my dishonour Since therefore it can be no otherwise I accept of your Commands with all my heart and to my Power shall obey your Orders And with that he took upon him the Charge and drew out his Men aside on a Wing where he set them in very good Order to give or receive an Onset His Banner waving aloft in the Front which l True Use of Armory p. 66. GF Dom. Lit. was Argent a Fess Gules between Three Calves Sable Thus on a Saturday which was the 28 of October in the Year of our Lord MCCCLXIV were both these Rival Dukes embattail'd each against other in a Fair Plain near to Auray in Bretagne which no doubt was a delectable sight to behold For there were many embroider'd Banners and Penons waving in the Wind and Rich Surcoats of Sattin diapred with Gold and Silver and bright Armour shining against the Sun But especially the Frenchmen were so well armed at all Points and so Richly beseen that it was a great pleasure to view them And in this manner they fronted one another neither Party as yet making offer to begin VI. Now there was at this time with the Lord Charles of Blois a Great and Potent Baron of Bretagne called the Lord of Beaumanoir who was at that time a sworn Prisoner to England and so was not to bear Arms but being otherwise at liberty might go too and fro between the two Armies or elsewhere as he pleased Of which Power he made this Advantage to endeavour to accommodate Matters between the two Powerfull Competitors All Saturday Morning he went in and out frequently till Noon so that at last he obtain'd a Respite between both Parties for the remainder of that day and for the Night following untill the Sun-rise next Morning Whereupon on both sides they drew to their respective Lodgings and took their ease and refreshed themselves with what they had by them That Evening the Captain of Auray issued out of his Garrison peaceably because the Truce also extended unto him and went to the Lord Charles his Camp who received him joyfully His Name was Henry of Tintineac an Esquire and a good Man at Arms who brought 40 Spears well Horsed and Armed of those who had holpen him to defend the Fortress When the Lord Charles saw him he asked him all smiling of the Condition of his Castle and the Esquire answer'd him Sir blessed be God We have Provision enough to hold Us two or three Months longer if need were Well Henry said the Lord Charles to morrow You shall be wholly rid of the trouble of a Siege either by Peaceable Agreement or the Decision of open Battle God give Grace Sir said the Esquire By my Faith continued the Lord Charles I have here in my Company 4500 Men of Arms besides others all as well provided and as likely to acquit themselves Nobly as ever yet did any Company that came out of France And my Lord said the Esquire that is a great Advantage for which You are to thank God and Sr. Bertram of Clequin and those other Barons Knights and Esquires of France and Bretagne that are come with so much Zeal to your Service Thus the Lord Charles passed his time in discoursing with One or Other about the present State of Affairs But on the other hand the Lord John Chandos was that same Night earnestly desired by the Officers of the English Companions then in his Service by no means to admit of any Accord or Agreement to be had between the Earl of Monford and the Lord of Blois For they said they had already spent all that they had and were almost reduced to Poverty wherefore they resolved now to win something by fighting or to lose all together Upon which account it is said that Sr. John promised them that whatever Treaty he might hold not to yield however to any Agreement otherwise than what the Sword shall appoint From whence there arose a Proverb m John Haâ—ding c. 184. fol. 185. True Use of Aâ—â—â—ory c. Chandos his Treaty spoken when Men make or receive many Overtures in order to an Agreement thô at the same time they are determin'd to decide all by Battle VII On the Sunday Morning early both Armies drew again into their former Field in their appointed Order having first heard Mass and shrived themselves but about Sun-rise the Lord of Beaumanoir came again toward the English Army with a design to renew the Treaty and compose Matters if possible to avoid the Effusion of Christian Bloud which was his earnest Desire He took his way directly to the Lord Chandos where he saw his Banner next to that of the Earl of Monford At his approach my Lord Chandos stept aside to speak with him because he would not have the Earl of Monford hear what was said At the first