Skirmishes at the Barriers A Remark on Mr. Stow. The King resolves for Bretagne intending to return to the Siege before Paris at a better season The Great Miseries of France whereby the Dauphin finds himself obliged to make certain Offers to King Edward for Peace The King being moved by a strange Tempest accepts the French Offers A Treaty ensues A Copy of the Famous Peace made at Bretigny The two Eldest Sons of England and France sworn to uphold the Peace King Edward returns for England and sends King John over to Calais The Pope quickens him to finish the Peace which he does The Copies of both the Kings Letters The Names of the Grandees sworn on both sides Other things relating to the Consummation of the Peace Endeavours to reconcile the two Pretenders to Bretagne The Mutual Friendship of the two Kings King John goes to Boulogne King Edward returns to England The Death of the Earl of Oxford of the Earl of Northampton also of the Earl of Hereford and Essex of the Earl of Kent of the Earl of Warwick's Brother and of the King of Cyprus From p. 575. to p. 607. Chap. VII The Methods of the two Kings to establish the Peace King John's Reception at Paris The unwillingness of the Frenchmen to admit of the English Government King Edward makes the Lord John Chandos his Lieutenant in Aquitaine The said Lord's Praise and Character The Disbanded Souldiers turn Robbers and overthrow the Lord James of Bourbon The Pope gets them to be drawn off into Italy A second Plague in England The Death of the Good Duke of Lancaster of the Lord John Moubray and others with six Bishops and the Archbishop of Armagh The Black-Prince Marries the Countess of Kent Prince Lionel made Lieutenant of Ireland with his behaviour there King Edward restores unto the Priors Aliens what he took from them in the Eleventh Year of his Reign From p. 608. to p. 619. Chap. VIII Ambassadors from the Kings of Armenia and Cyprus entertain'd by the King with Justs and Tourneaments King Edward Creates his Son the Black-Prince Prince of Aquitaine The Copy of his Charter The Prince prepares to go over with his Family An occasional Prophesie concerning King Edward's immediate Successor The Prince his Reception in Aquitaine He settles his Court at Bourdeaux A Parliament at Westminster The Jubilee of King Edward's Age. He Creates his Son Lionel Duke of Clarence John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster and Edmund Earl of Cambridge His Acts of Grace to all his Subjects He holds a Solemn Hunting The Lord Fauconberg dies Sr. John Copland Murther'd From p. 620. to p. 626. Chap. IX King John of France on the Death of the Duke of Burgundy without Issue takes Possession of that County and goes to visit the Pope at Avignon Pope Innocent VI dies Urban V succeeds The King of Cyprus comes to Avignon A Combat fought there A Croisade proclaimed The King of France being the Head thereof The King of Cyprus visits the Emperour The Emperours Opinion concerning the Holy War. The King of Cyprus goes to other Christian Princes The Duke of Anjou being one of the French Hostages makes an Escape The Kings of Cyprus and Denmark and the Duke of Bavaria come into England King Edward's answer to the King of Cyprus when he ask'd his Company to the Holy War. A Parliament at Westminster A Convocation which retrenches the Excessive Number of Holy Days The Death of the Dutchess of Clarence of Edward Bailiol once King of Scotland and of the Bishop of Bath and Wells A Man who after Execution at the Gallows recover'd is pardon'd by the King. The King of Cyprus rob'd King David of Scotland comes into England A long and hard Frost From p. 626. to p. 633. Chap. X. King John comes into England King Edward welcomes Him. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at once The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitaine King John sickens and dies in England The King of Navarre stirs again Sr. Bertram of Clequin sent for to oppose him A Story of his Original He takes Mante and Meulan by stratagem The King of Navarre sends the Captal of Busche against Him. Sr. Bertram reinforced The Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville King John's Funeral Rights performed in England His Body buried in France A Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy The Famous Battle of COCHEREL wherein the Captal of Busche is overthrown and taken Prisoner by Sr. Bertram of Clequin Sr. Guy of Granville redeems his Father by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims He makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy Sr. Bertram of Clequin buys the Castle of Rolebois The Duke of Burgundy sent to reduce the rest The Army divided Acts separately Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois A Party of his surprises la Charité The Duke takes in several Places Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do as they please The Duke of Burgundy goes to oppose the Earl of Monbelliard La Charité besieged and taken From p. 634. to p. 650. Chap. XI The King of France helps Charles of Blois and the King of England John of Monford both who prepare for Battle The French Order their Men. The Lord John Chandos orders the English and gives a Reserve to Sr. Hugh Calverley The Lord of Beaumanoir obtains a short Truce in order to an Agreement The Lord Chandos breaks off the Treaty The Famous Battle of AURAY in Bretagne with the Death of Charles of Blois and the Number of the slain and Prisoners on both sides Earl Monford weeps over Charles his Body the Character and Praise of the said Charles Earl Monford gives a Truce to the Country and returns to the Siege of Auray which he soon takes A Treaty for a Match between the Daughter and Heiress of Lewis of Flanders and Edmund Earl of Cambridge is dash'd by the French King's subtlety The Christians obtain a Cadmaean Victory against the Turks From p. 651. to p. 661. Chap. XII John of Monford reduces all Bretagne With King Edward's leave he holds the Dukedom of the French King. Peace made between the French King and the King of Navarre The Captal of Busche set at Liberty Is tempted to renounce the English Interest in vain The Death of the Lord Lewis of Navarre A Parliament at Westminster King Edward's Buildings and Foundation of Kings-Hall in Cambridge now called Trinity-College The Pope demands King John's Fee-Farm Rent King Edward refers the Matter to his Parliament The Lady Isabella Daughter to the King given in Marriage to the Lord Ingleram de Coucy The King punishes sundry of his Judges for Male-Administration The King of Cyprus takes Alexandria in Egypt but leaves it again Dr. Thoroton twice corrected The Earl of Warwick returns into England with the King of Lithuaniâ—'s Son to
to Favour and seemingly pardon'd but the Lord Henry Beaumont Sr. Thomas Rosselin Sr. William Trussel and Sr. Thomas Withers as not being included in this Pardon or not daring to trust to it were fain to fly the Land till the Death of Mortimer For to these Men he was implacable they being the first Persons who began boldly to challenge him for the Death of the Old King tho some of them had been concern'd in his Deposal for which this new Earl of March would gladly have had a full Revenge upon them But however upon this their flight he got many good parcels of their Lands and Possessions to be siesed on for the King's Use in name but for his own in reality V. Here because the foresaid Henry Lord Beaumont is not only mention'd on these great Accounts already but must challenge much more to be said of him hereafter as also that it may be seen what kind of Men this proud Mortimer levell'd his aim at and that I may at the same time do right to the Posterity of that Noble Personage I shall not here think it amiss briefly to touch at his Original Most of those that mention his Pedigree bring his Descent from Lewis Son to Charles Earl of Anjou t Dugd. Bar. 2 Vol. p 50. 〈◊〉 a younger Son to Lewis the Eighth King of France which Lewis Son of Charles being Lord of Beaumont in France begot of his Lady Agnes de Beaumont this valiant Lord Henry Beaumont and his Sister Isabell who was wife to John Lord Vesci of Alnwick in Northumberland and is called Kinswoman to Queen Eleanor that vertuous Consort of King Edward the First This Lord Henry married the Lady Alice one of the Cozens and Coheirs to John Cumin Earl of Boghan or Bucquain and Constable of Scotland in whose Title he afterwards obtained that Honour But whereas there are some who by mistake bring this Worthy much later into England in the company of Queen Isabella King Edward the Third's Mother this their error arose we presume from those passages of Froisard which make such frequent mention of the Lord Beaumonts assisting that Queen when it is plain that he means there the Lord John of Heinalt who was also called Lord Beaumont from another place of that name in Heinalt and besides this Lord was u Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 51. Claus 20. Ed. 2. m. 12. confin'd in England upon Suspicion at the time of Queen Isabell's Arrival And yet * Dugd. ibid. p. 50. others derive this noble Vicount Beaumont from Lewis de Brenne second Son to John de Brenne or rather Bremen the last King of Jerusalem VI. But now this Noble Lord with othes of Mortimers Enemies was fain to yield to the iniquity of the Times and to retreat into France till the Storm should be blown over Mortimer in the mean while securely basking in the sun-shine of his Prosperity as great as Heart could wish if Ambition knew any Limits to its Desires Soon after the Young King to do him further honour x Monast Angl. 2 Vol. p. 225. takes a progress toward the Marches of Wales where he gives this new Earl a visit He for his part as he was indeed descended of a very ancient and Noble Family from y Catal. Honor. p. 574. Hugh de Mortimer a Norman Baron who came into England with William the Conqueror and received of him in reward of his good Services the Castle and Lands of Wigmore was besides his natural Ambition very glorious and singularly magnificent in all his Publique Appearances But now upon this Visit 't is incredible what sumptuous Entertainments he gave his Royal Master in his Castles of Ludlow and Wigmore what Sports and Diversions in his Parks and Forests what Gallantry and Expence he exhibited in his Tiltings Tournaments and other Military Pastimes much whereof thô it might proceed from an honourable Disposition and a sense of Gratitude and dutifull Respect to his Soveraign yet as was thought not a little was upon the account of the Queen Mothers presence and that all of it in general smelt rank of a Popular Air and a vain-glorious Humour Whether it was really so or that Pride is so loathsom to all who are at a distance from it that it causes even our best Actions to be misrepresented and be view'd from the wrong Prospect CHAPTER the THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward summon'd to do Homage to the King of France for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Lands of Ponthieu and Monstroile II. A solemn Just held in London for three Days together AN. DOM. 1329. An. Regni III. with the Queen's danger by the Falling of a Scaffold III. The Old Queen and Mortimer compass the death of Edmund Earl of Kent the King's Vncle with the Manner and other Circumstances IV. King Edward goes privately into France V. Soon after his Return a Son born unto him called Edward afterwards sirnamed the Black-Prince VI. Mortimer taken and executed a Parliament I. NOW was a Froisâ—c 24. M. S. Ang. C. C. C. ibid. c. 219. Philip of Valois the French King well settled in his new-acquired Throne having received all the Homages and Fealties of his Subjects and Others who held under him as Peers of France or otherwise except only of the Young King of England his Cozen who by right had ow'd him homage for his Dukedom of Aquitain and the Earldom of Ponthieu and Monstroile had not himself been Heir to the Crown of France and so Supream Lord not only of those Parts but of the Whole But King Philip being too much elevated with his good Fortune never consider'd any such thing or at least had no great apprehensions of King Edward's Courage or Conduct and therefore finding himself now in full and quiet Possession of so flourishing a Kingdom by the advice and consent of his whole Council he resolves to summon our King Edward to make his Personal Appearance before him in France there to do Homage unto him as to his Supream Lord for the Lands which he held of that Crown He therefore soon after dispatches into England the Lord of Ancenis and the Lord of Beausalt with Monsieur Peter of Orleans and Monsieur Peter of Massieres two famous Civilians which Four with all their Retinue after provision made departed from Paris directly for Whitsant where they took the Sea and arrived safely at Dover Here having tarried one day as well to refresh themselves as to unship their Horses and Baggage they rode the next day toward the Court which they heard to be as then at Windsor Being at last come thither in respect to their Master that sent them they were soon admitted to the Royal Presence where they gave the King a full account of their Errand His Majesty answer'd with good Deliberation That the Matter required advice that as for his Part very few of the Lords of his Council were then about him but if they would withdraw to London he
Mind might be known had conceal'd him at the Lady Vesci his sister's House The Lord Richard Talbot was now also restored to the Lands which he claim'd in right of his Lady h Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 326. Elisabeth another of the Cosins and Coheirs of the said Lord John Cumin of Badenagh Earl of Buquan as David Strabolgi Earl of Athol in Right of his Mother i Dudg 1 Vol. p. 96. Joan the other Cofin and Coheir whose Name Others reckon to be Katherine had Livery of his Lands at the same time Besides these King Bailiol gave to the Lord k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 274. Henry Percy of Alnwick Castle in Northumberland a Grant of the Inheritance of the Pele of Loughmaban as also of Anandale and Mossetdale with all the Knights Fees and Advowsons of Churches within those Valleys in as full and ample Manner as the Lord Thomas Randulph sometime Earl of Murray ever had them And moreover of divers Lands in that Realm which had belonged to other Men of the Brucean Party The like Grants were given to Ralph Lord Nevil of Raby John Lord Moubray and Sr. l Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 184. Edward Bohun Brother to John Earl of Hereford and Essex and Constable of England all Men of great Nobility and Valour These with some few more came to this Parliament held by King Bailiol as Peers of Scotland and as owing Homage for their respective lands held of him partly to settle their own Affairs and partly m Rot. Sâ—oc 7. Ed. 3. m. 2. as Commissioners from the King of England to see those Agreements ratified and confirmed that had been made between the two Kings And in this Parliament n Holinsh Eng. Chren p. 896. were revoked and made null and void all Acts Statutes and Ordinances which the late Kings of Scotland Robert or David had made and it was enacted That all such Lands and Possessions as either of the said Bruces had given granted or confirmed to any Person or Persons whatsoever should be now taken away and restored to the former and true Inheritor Thus was David seemingly unking'd and Bailiol to all appearance fixed in the Scottish Throne but we shall quickly see him at the bottom of the Wheel again and once more King David must be lifted up thô to his greater loss and trouble But now we must shut up this Active year with a few Memorandums of Mortality For Lewis Beaumont Bishop of Durham o Gedwins Cata. Bps p. 661. departing this life in September on the 19 of December following Dr. Richard Bury formerly the Kings Tutor was consecrated Bishop in his stead in the presence of the King and Queen of England and of King Bailiol of Scotland besides 2 Archbishops 5 Bishops 7 Earls and many other Noble Personages both Lords and Ladies So obligingly Gracious was this Mighty Monarch to the Man that taught him as indeed for his great Learning and Abilities he did well deserve Also on the 12 of October following p Gâ—dâ—ins Catal. Bps p. 132. Therne's Chron. p. 2066. Dr. Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterbury deceased at his Mannor of Magfield and was succeeded in that See by Dr. John Stratford Bishop of Winchester a Man of great Learning Judgment and Loyalty And on the 13 of the same Month Sr. Hugh Poynz q Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 2. a noble and valiant Knight and Baron of this Realm went the way of all Flesh leaving behind him Nicholas his Son and Heir from whom many worthy Branches are descended CHAPTER the SEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament held at York II. Edward Bailiol King of Scotland renders Homage to King Edward of England whereby the Scots begin first to be distasted again John Duke of Bretagne likewise renders Homage to the King of England for his Earldom of Richmond III. A Council at Nottingham which produces a Parliament at Westminster Wherein King Edward shews his Resolution to go with the French King to the Holy Land Vpon which he sends Ambassadors to the Pope and King Philip but that Design is broke IV. King Bailiol causes a disgust among his Friends whereat his Enemies take Advantage till being reconcil'd again he grows stronger However his Enemies get to a Head again and for a while prosper V. King Edward startled at the News prepares for another Expedition to Scotland in Person He arrives with his Army at Newcastle The Lord Edward Bohun Brother to the Earl of Hereford and Essex unfortunately drowned I. KING Edward of England in his March toward Scotland AN. DOM. 1334. An. Regni VIII which as we have observed he began in the November foregoing a Fabian p. 200. Grafton p. 229. stay'd to keep his Christmas at the City of York Thence he went and laid Siege to the Castle of Kilbridge which he presently took by fine force and thereupon having confer'd with King Bailiol and pretty well settled Affairs in those parts he return'd again after Candlemas b Holinshead p. 896. B. Dom. Lit. Pasc 27 Martii to York in order to hold his Parliament which he had summon'd to meet him there the next day before St. Peter in Cathedrâ being the 21 of February and a Monday the second Week in Lent. Here it was c M.S. Rec. Par l. p. 20. 21. §. 1. c. Sr. Rob. Cotton p. 15 §. 1. c. Enacted that the Great Charter of the Forest and other Statutes should be observed and that what Clauses therein were obscure should be by good Advice more fully Explain'd It was also petition'd that in every County one Justice of the Peace Learned in the Law should be appointed as Chief over the Rest before whom all Offences should be sued to the Outlawry And that these were yearly to make an Account of their Doings before the King. To which the King replying he would be advised granted that they should yearly send up an Extract of their Proceedings into the Treasury and to Encourage them the more herein undertook to d Ibid. § 4 provide that each of them should have certain and limited Fees allow'd him To the Petition that no Pardon be granted to any Outlawed by any suggestive means but only by Parliament his Majesty answer'd that the Statutes made should be observed and whereas it was Requested That Sheriffs might continue but one Year according to the Statute of Lincoln and Woodstock he told them that the Statutes made should stand and that the Chancellour and others who were appointed to make Choice of Sheriffs should name Able Men who were to continue One Year or longer according to their Demeanour It was now Enacted that the Justices of the Kings Bench and the Common Bench Justices of Assise and of the Peace in every County should Determine of false Jurors and Maintainers Moreover the King by his Letters Patents charged all Archbishops and Bishops to cause Excommunication weekly in every Parish to be Denounced against all such Offenders
as Ringleaders of the foresaid Dissentions had been by the French King adjudged to death for King Edwards sake were only now banished At this time also the Articles of the former League were restored and publique Instruments thereof made at Marmanda the October following and on the 20 of February in the beginning of the next Year were signed at Paris with the Kings Seal But this Peace was intricate and doubtfull because King Charles died before he had restored the Lands to his Nephew King Edward which had been taken away in Aquitain But hereupon Philip of Valois who had been present at the Ratification of the Peace being raised to the Throne neither would restore those Places won by his Father nor could by the Pope's perswasions be moved thereto and so dealing more hardly and too unkindly as well as unjustly with King Edward never remitted any thing of his Haughtiness till he had obliged the Young Prince to begin a War in the behalf of his Right which had almost brought the Kingdom of France to utter destruction But of this hereafter III. This mean while King Edward doubting what might happen resolv'd to be beforehand with his Enemies and as he question'd not but that a War would soon be open'd from France so he wisely design'd by a full Conquest to stop it the other way from Scotland Soon after Christmas therefore he went to Newcastle that he might bear an especial Eye to the Affairs of that Realm From whence b Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. he made the Lord Hugh Courtney a valiant old Gentleman Earl of Devonshire upon this occasion This Hugh had for many years after the Death of Isabell de Fortibus Countess of Albemarl and Devonshire quietly possessed the Lands and Fees of the Earldom of Devonshire as being c Vid. quemedo Mill's Catal. Hener p. 465. sole Heir to the foresaid Countess thô he had neither the Title nor Investiture of an Earl But at length there arose great difference between him and the Kings Officers of the Exchequer concerning the payment of the third Penny which as they said he being no Earl ought not to receive and thereupon the Sheriffs of Devonshire declin'd to pay it him any longer Wherefore he wrote his letters Supplicatory to the King being then in Scotland who immediately directed his Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer requiring them to make search into the Records and Memorials remaining in their Hands and to certifie him thereof Which being done the King having well consider'd the Matter and the Merit of the Man return'd this Answer Rex Dilecto Fideli suo Hugoni de Courtney seniori Comiti Devon. Salutem c. d Claus 9. Ed. 3. m. 35. in derso Mill's Cat. Honor p. 465. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 638. Time's storehouse p. 524. The King to his Well-beloved and Trusty Hugh Courtney senior Earl of Devonshire greeting Whereas you as appeareth by your Petition exhibited to Us and our Council have for some time been sued for the Annual Payment of xviii l. vi s. viii d. of the yearly Fee of the Earldom of Devonshire which Isabell de Fortibus late Countess of Devonshire whose Heir you are and the Predecessors of her the said Countess and yours Earls of Devonshire yearly received at the hands of the Sheriffs of that County that were for the time being and which you likewise after the Death of the said Countess as her Heir received for some time And whereas the said Summ hath since been from you detained because you have not used the Name and Title of an Earl as by the Certificate of our Treasurer and of the Barons of our Exchequer by our Commandment made into our Chancery doth appear Forasmuch as the Inheritance of the foresaid Countess and of her Predecessors and yours Earls of Devonshire is unto you descended by Hereditary Right and that you at this present do hold the said Inheritance We therefore willing to provide as well for our own Dignity and the Equity of our Kingdom as for your Honour and Support Will and Command you in requesting you that by taking to you the Name and Honour of an Earl you cause your self henceforward to be called Earl of Devonshire being assured that we will cause the foresaid Fee to be yearly paid unto you as it hath been wont to be paid to the Earls of Devonshire your Predecessors Witness the King at Newcastle upon Tine the 22d of February and in the Ninth Year of our Reign Edward R. And to enforce this the more he sent his Precept to the then Sheriff of Devonshire the Writ beginning Rex Vicecomiti Devoniae Salutem c. Commanding him forthwith by publique Proclamation both in his County and all other places of his Bailywick to require all Persons thenceforth to esteem and call him Earl of Devonshire And likewise another Precept to the Lord Treasurer and Barons of his Exchequer that they should cause the said Summ of xviii l. vi s. viii d. to be annually paid unto him nomine Comitis by the Title of an Earl as his Ancestors formerly had received it Now c Walsing Hypod p. 113. n. 30. Holinshead 898. R. Southwell c. about the Feast of the Ascension the King held his Parliament at York concerning his Affairs then in hand relating to the Scotch War at which time were Enacted sundry Statutes very serviceable for the Peace and Weal of the Realm And here by the Intercession of King Philip who sent thither the Bishop of Auranches and others for that purpose he granted the Scots a Truce till the Feast of St. John Baptist then next ensuing IV. But about Midsummer the Truce being near expired he went in the Head of his Army to Newcastle again whither King Bailiol came unto him from Carlile And here it was finally agreed between them and their Council that King Edward of England should pass to Carlile and on the 12 of July enter Scotland that way in Hostile Manner with these Lords and Captains in his Company Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham Earl of Cornwall the Kings own Brother the Lord Henry Plantagenet Son to the Earl of Lancaster the Kings Cosin Thomas Beauchamp Earl of Warwick John Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex John Vere Earl of Oxford the Lord Bartholomew Burwash Senior the Lord Adam Wells Ralph Lord Bulmer the Lord Ebulo le Strange who dying this Year left his Wife and Title of Earl of Lincoln to Hugh de Frenes who was also in this Expedition together with John Lord Willoughby Henry Lord Fitz-Hugh Robert Lord Ferrers William Lord Montague the Lord Hugh Audley junior the Lord William Clinton the Lord John Norwich the Lord John Bardolph the Lord John Tibetot or Tiptot and the Lord John Grey of Codnore with Sr. Mawrice Barkley Brother to Thomas Lord Barkley and many others of High Quality and Courage On the other Hand King Bailiol was appointed to go to Barwick
rest all made Prisoners and the Bishop by chance wounded in the Head slightly thô being brought into Sandwich thrô that and his grief together he died soon after Besides this small Success the p Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 138. Merchants of Bristow about this time took in fight a French Ship called the Christmas of which Sr. Thomas Lord Bradestan had a Grant from the King in requital of his good Services Now upon the safe arrival of the Ambassadors in England and their Complaint of the Garrison in Cadsant q Frois c. 30. Holinsh p. 901. King Edward said He would very speedily provide a Remedy against that And accordingly soon after he sent the Earl of Darby the Lord Walter Manny the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. 67. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 784. Reginald Cobham and divers other Knights and Esquires with 500 Men of Arms and two thousand some say ſ James Meire four thousand Archers who all went on Board at London in the River Thames The first Tide they went to Gravesend the second to Margate and with the third they took the deep Sea and made directly for Flanders They had Wind and Tide at will and so being come before Cadsant they prepared themselves for Battle and having placed the Archers on the Decks before them in the Name of God and St. George they sounded their Trumpets and sailed toward the Town The Men of Cadsant saw their Approach and knew well who they were but like good Warriers they ranged themselves along by the Dikes on the Sands with their Banners waving before them having for encouragement sake made 16 new Knights They consisted of 5000 Men of War valiant Knights and Esquires with their Retinues besides the Inhabitants their Chief being Sr. Guy the Bastard of Flanders who was an expert and hardy Captain and now earnestly desired all his Company to have regard to their Honour and to do their Devoire With him besides those mention'd before were present Simon and John Bouquedent and Peter of Anglemonster who were then and there made Knights with many other valiant Gentlemen The English were resolved to assail and the Flemings were as resolutely bent to defend But when the t Frois c. 31. fol. 19. English Archers with a great Shout began all at one instant to send among them a thick Flight of deadly Arrows they that kept the Shore recoyled back in great dismay leaving many dead but far more grievously wounded upon the place Insomuch that the English immediately took Land in very good Order and so came to Handy-Stroaks with their Enemies who fled not before them but having recovered their late Disorder came bravely forward to dispute their Landing Here the Earl of Darby behav'd himself worthy of the Royal Stock from whence he came but in the first Shock adventur'd so forward among his Enemies that in the Preass he was at last fell'd down to the Ground thô without any hurt for he was arm'd at all Points after the Manner of that Age Sr. Walter Manny was not far behind but saw when and where he fell and inflam'd with generous Valour prick'd forward so boldly and laid about him with his Battle-Ax so furiously encouraging also his Men to the Rescue with these Words Lancaster for the Earl of Darby that he clear'd the place by fine Force raised his General from the Ground and set him safe in the head of his own Guard crying all the while Lancaster for the Earl of Darby On the English Part beside the foresaid Henry Plantagenet Earl of Darby and Son to the Earl of Lancaster and the valiant Lord Walter Manny who thus rescued him there were the Lord Robert Hufford Earl of Suffolk the Lord Reginald Cobham the Lord Robert Bourchier and the Lord John Norwich the Lord William Beauchamp Brother to the Earl of Warwick and Sr. Lewis Beauchamp his Cosin with other good Captains Upon this Rescue of the Earl of Darby both Powers joyn'd again with more Animosity than before the English to revenge the former Affront and the Flemmings in hope to succeed better now The Battle was surely fought on both Hands very well for the Flemings were Chosen Men and the English resolv'd not to part Stakes by any means but to win all at this their first Setting out or perish Many therefore were slain on both Sides but the greater number fell to the Flemings share But all the while the Archers of England flanking their Men of Arms shot with such violence and so wholly together that they were not to be endur'd so that at last the Enemies Ranks being made thin and broken they began to fly Sr. Guy the Bastard was taken Prisoner there were slain Sr. Duras Halvin Sr. John Rhodes the two Brethren of Bouquedent Sr. Simon and Sr. John who but a little while enjoy'd their Knighthood Sr. Giles Lestriefe and above 36 Knights and Esquires more and of the Common Souldiers more than 3000 what in the Haven Streets and Houses Besides all which about u Stow p. 234. Walsing hist p. 132. n. 10. 3000 more of the Inhabitants being fled for safety into a Church were by the enraged Welchmen burnt together with the Church it self For after the Battle they took the Town plunder'd it and then set it on fire and so with much Prey and many Prisoners return'd for England without any x Frois c. 31. f. 19. considerable Damage themselves King Edward received Sr. Guy the Bastard respectfully for he was a valiant Man and only taking his Oath to continue true Prisoner permitted him to walk abroad at his pleasure But y Frois ibid. he was so won with the Kings Goodness that that very Year of his own accord he became a Leigeman to him and swore Faith and gave him Homage as one who heartily embraced his Service However for him and for the rest of the Prisoners about two Years after King z Holinshead p. 901. E. Lit. Dom. Edward gave to the Lord Walter Manny the summ of 8000 l. Sterling This Battle between the English and Dutchmen was fought on the 9 of November being a Sunday and the day before St. Martin Of this Discomfiture at Cadsant * Frois c. 32. Tidings were immediately spread over all Flanders and generally the Flemings said They were e'ne serv'd well enough since without the consent of the good Towns nay and against their Wills only in Obedience to the Earls unreasonable Humour they had presumed to keep a Garrison against their Friends of England This was just as Jacob van Alteveld desired and thereupon he sends Messengers to King Edward to recommend him heartily to his Majesty and to request him to take the Sea and come ove◠forasmuch as the Flemings were impatient till they had a Sight of Him The effect whereof we shall see hereafter Nor even here was King Edward the First Aggressor for it appears that King Philip had * Foliet hist sen l. 6. already hired
Lords and Prelates met again in the Cathedral of Cologne where they heard Divine Service and after High Mass the Emperour and all his Barons swore to the King of England That they would stand by him help and defend him against the King of France and all his Adherents both to live and to die with him for the space of Seven whole Years to come provided the War to be between the said Kings should not be compounded before that time It was also further sworn that all the Barons of Almain from Cologne and on this Side should presently enter the King of Englands Service and should always be ready to come unto him as often as they should be summoned thereto against the King of France as well where the King of England should be in Person as to any other Place to which he should assign them And if it should happen any of the said Lords of Almain should refuse to obey the said King of England in the Premises that then all the other Lords of High Germany should rise in Arms against that Man till they had destroy'd him At this time n Nicâ—laus Minâ—rita M.S. Bib. Vatican sign n. 4008. apud Odoric Rainald ad â—â—nc annum §. 68. also there was a certain Sanction formerly made repeated in King Edwards Presence containing these two Points the First That the Administration of the Empire belongs to the King of the Romans as soon as ever he is Elected by the Seven Electors without the Pope's Confirmation and the Other That those are Proscribed who do not obey him or as Rebdorf says that whosoever for the future shall esteem Lewis to be Excommunicate or shall omit Divine Service for any Papal Sentences shall be Proscribed in Body and Goods Which latter Clause chiefly respected the Bishop of Cambray who upon that Account had left the Emperor and revolted to the French King. These matters being thus fully contracted and established after many enterchangeable Caresses and Magnificent Entertainments the King of England took his leave of the Emperour and return'd with all his Company to Brabant The mean time o Frois c. 34. several great Lords of England rode about Flanders and Heinalt at their pleasure being wonderfull Magnificent and Liberal in their Expences freely bestowing Gifts of Gold and Silver and other Jewels to the Lords and Ladies of the Country to purchase their Good Wills And truly they obtain'd the very Hearts of the Country but especially they were extolled among the common Sort because of the splendid Shew they made wherever they came All these things must needs have been matter of incredible Expence and Charge to that Mighty Monarch And indeed it seem'd that he had made good Progress in his Affairs having succeeded so well with the Emperour and the Lords of Germany But those Friends that are made by Money commonly fall off at the appearance of a greater Interest and when they have got what they could expect as within a while all these did Thô as it chanced he gain'd more Glory thereby performing afterwards of himself what had been no such great matter to have done with the help of the Empire 's Forces As we shall see hereafter V. Now King Edward upon his Return into Brabant p Frois c. 34. fol. 19. sends his Summons to the Duke of Gueldre the Earl of Juliers and all other his Allies in those Parts to come to him about q Novemb. 11 the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop to his Parliament to be holden at Arques in the County of Leuze near Brabant or as r Knighton p. 2572. n. 30. One says at Malines in Brabant Against which time the Town Hall was as richly adorn'd with Hangings and other Royal Furniture as if it had been the King 's own Chamber of Presence Thither at the time appointed came the Duke of Brabant and the Duke of Gueldre the young Earl of Heinalt the Earl of Juliers the Lord of Valkenberg or as the French pronounce it Faulquemont and all other Barons on this side Cologne except only the Bishop of Liege who had no less than Å¿ Ferrarii Lexâ—n Leodium twenty four Cities as they call them subject unto him both as a Secular Prince and as a Bishop In this Parliament t Frois ibid. King Edward in his Royal Robes with a Crown of Gold on his Head sat on a Stately Throne five foot higher than any other and there the Emperours Letters Patents were openly read wherein was declar'd That King Edward of England was made Vicar General or Lieutenant for the Emperour and as so had full Power to make Laws and to administer Justice to every person in the Emperours Name and to coin Money both Gold and Silver at his own Pleasure with his own Stamp and Inscription It was also commanded by these the Emperours Letters Patents that the Lords and other Subjects of the Empire should yield Obedience and pay Homage to the King of England his Vicar as to himself And the Lords of Germany there present u Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. promised in all things to obey him according as their Liege Lord the Emperour had commanded and that they were both willing and ready to attend his Service to the utmost of their Power Immediately hereupon certain x Frois ibid. Claims were made and judgment given between Parties as before the Emperour himself and at the same time a Statute before-time made by the Emperour was renew'd being to this effect That whoever design'd War or Combat or any other Harm against any Person Kingdom or Country should make his Challenge or Defiance at least three Days before he began any Hostile Deed otherwise that the Author should be look'd on as a Malefactor and the Deed Villanous Then the King y Knighton p. 2572. n. 40. 50. sent forth his Summons to the Bishop of Liege to come in accordding to his Duty but he absolutely refus'd to obey him for his Heart was French all over Whereupon the King sent Henry Burwash Lord Bishop of Lincoln to make Complaint of him before the Emperour and to require Justice against him to which it was answer'd That the Emperour himself would shortly come in Person to the Aid of his most Dear Brother-in-Law the King of England for it was expected that a great War would begin the next Spring between the two Nations VI. After this the Lords of Almain departed having first agreed upon a Day wherein they were all to appear before Cambray which was at that time in the French Hands thô belonging to the Empire there to lay their Siege to wit on the 8 of July the Year following being Wednesday in the Third Week after the Feast of St. John Baptist King Edward went back to Louvain to the Queen who as we said before was newly come thither out of England well accompanied with Ladies her Maids of Honour and other Gentlewomen who went over as well to wait
part of Almains and Brabanders These 3 Battails assaulted the Town at one time in three several places with much Vigour and Gallantry the Archers all the while both from within and without letting fly their Arrows and Quarrels without sparing The Earl with his Battail came up near to the chief Gate which for a while was worthily defended by the Vidame of Chalons who there and then Knighted three of his Sons and obliged his Men by words and example to do gallantly But yet at last both he and they were by the Earl beaten back again into the Town in some Confusion The Earl carrying the Barriers by fine Force and keeping them The mean while his Uncle the Lord of Beaumont was fighting with like Valour and Success at the Gate toward Chimay where after a sharp Conflict which yet was well manag'd by the Lord de la Bonne and the Lord of Bresne he forced the Enemy to retire into the Town and thereby wan both the Barriers and the Bridge also Yet what they had as it was not cheaply won was not easily maintain'd For the Besieged being beaten into the Town came now to revenge that Affront upon the Walls whence they cast down barrs of Iron Stones Timber Darts and Pots of quick Lime which did a great deal of Mischief An Esquire of Hainault had such a stroke with a stone upon his Target that it was quite cloven in sunder with the blow and his Arm so shatter'd and broken that it was long before it could perfectly be healed The next morning being Saturday the Assault was again renew'd on all sides with far more fury than before so that althô they within did their utmost to defend themselves at last all their Barriers and Defences were beaten down and the Town was carried by Force Sr. John the Earls Uncle enter'd first with great noise of shouting and Trumpets his Men of Arms beating down all before them At this dreadfull sight the Vidame of Chalons like a Noble Knight withdrew himself into a fair spacious place before the Minster where he stood with his Men in a square Battail resolved as it should seem to sell his Life dearly But as for the Lord of Bresne when he saw all was lost knowing he had so much displeased Sr. John by his late Incursion into his Lands about Chimay that if he were taken no Ransom would be accepted for his Life he determin'd to save himself by flight and presently taking a good Horse fled away without any Order upon the spur Sr. John hearing that his Capital Enemy was escaped immediately with a good Brigade of Horse sped after him but the Lord of Bresne had got the start of him so much that finding the Gate of his Town ready open to receive him he made shift to enter and close the Gates again just as Sr. John came up to the very Walls thrô eager pursuit with his Sword drawn in his hand Wherefore seeing his Enemy had escap'd him he return'd back to Aubenton but in his passage thither meeting with many of the Lord of Bresne's Men following their Master he put them all to the Sword without mercy The mean while in the Town was the young Earl and his Men hard fighting with those who were drawn up before the Minster and there the Vidame of Chalons did Wonders in Arms and so did two of his Sons and all his Company plaid this their last Stake gallantly and with honour but the Hainalders were as cunning Gamesters besides that they were more animated with Success so that at last the Vidames Party being opprest by numbers of Men no less valiant and desperate than themselves were slain upon the spot every Man not one was taken to ransom and the Vidame indeed scorn'd to be taken and his Sons were of his Mind and so they all fell with their Swords in their hands And of the whole Town not one escaped but only those who fled away with the Lord Bresne so that there died about 2000 People of the Town besides the Souldiers After this bloody Execution the Town was rifled and plunder'd and all the Goods sent away to Chimay and the residue committed to the Flames From Aubenton these incensed Warriers went to Maubert Fontaine which they presently wan and spoiled the Town and then ras'd it to the ground after that they took and burnt the Town of Aubigny and Signy the Greater and the Less and all the Hamlets thereabout to the number of above 40. And then at last the Earl of Hainalt being as the manner of War is rather overrevenged of his wrongs return'd to Mons well pleased and having satisfied his Men with Thanks and Prey gave them leave to depart for a while because the season was not yet come to keep the Field But considering that these his Actions would shortly call a War upon him from France having constituted his Uncle Sr. John Deputy Governour of Hainault Holland and Zealand he immediately shipt himself for England with design to make an Alliance Offensive and Defensive with his Brother-in-Law King Edward that so he might be the better able to withstand the Power of France But the Lord John of Hainault staid at Mons where like a good Provident Captain he took care for all Parts and retain'd Souldiers and strengthen'd all his Nephews Castles and Fortresses with Men and Ammunition And first he sent to Valenciennes the Lord of Engien the Lord of Vergny the Lord of Gomegines and Sr. Henry of Hofalize To Landrecy he sent the High-Steward of Hainalt with an hundred Spears to Bouchan in Ostervandt three Captains Brethren Knights of Almain named Courrars instead of the two Mannys who were removed to the Castle of Thine as Å¿ Huâ—us cap. §. 3. p. 164. we shew'd before To Escandure he sent Sr. Gerard van Sanckins and the Lord of Valkenburg to the Town of Avesnes the like care he took of St. Amand and of every Fortress fronting on France VI. But when King t Frois c. 46. fol. 26. Philip heard how the Hainalders had wasted the Country of Tierasche and had slain and taken his Captains and destroy'd utterly his good Town of Aubenton he presently in a great fury commanded his Eldest Son John Duke of Normandy to make a notable Inroad into Hainalt and there to harrass and destroy all the Country that the Memory of his severe Revenge might remain for ever And him we shall leave about his vast Preparations to execute his Fathers Command His Father the mean while to provide against the Storm which he expected from England reinforced his Navy greatly at this time and commanded his Admirals to cruise about the Coasts of Flanders and by no means to suffer the King of England upon his return to set Footing there on pain of their Heads And because he now understood for certain that the Flemings had made homage and Fealty to the King of England his Adversary he sent unto them a notable Prelate who pretended
And we find remaining upon this Registry of True Glory no less than Eight Emperours of Germany Five French Kings Five Kings of Denmark Three Kings of Spain Two Kings of Scotland before the Realms were happily United Five Kings of Portugal Two Kings of Sweedland One King of Poland One King of Bohemia One King of Aragon Two Kings of Castille Two Kings of Naples Two Arch-Dukes One Duke of Guelderland One Duke of Holland Two Dukes of Burgundy Two Dukes of Brunswicke One Duke of Milain Two Dukes of Vrbin One Duke of Ferrara One Duke of Savoy Two Dukes of Holstein One Duke of Saxony and One Duke of Wertemberg Seven Count Palatines of the Rhyne Four Princes of Orange One Marquess of Brandenberg all Strangers besides many other Worthies and Persons of the Highest Rank and Vertue both at home and abroad to the Number of well near 500 since the First Institution All whose Names together with the Escutcheons of their Arms are still remaining Engraven on Square Plates of Mettal affixed to their several Stalls in the most Beautifull Chappel of St. George and every Knights Banner is set up over his Head during his Natural Life So that We may justly conclude with our Learned Selden that it exceeds in Majesty Honour and Fanie all Chevalrous Orders in the World. VIII No less Designs than these busied the Active Mind of this Illustrious Monarch when he met with any Respit from War which now is hasting on apace For while by the Device of his Round Table He was thus laying a Foundation for this Royal and Heroick Institution King Philip of France who already had begun to countermine him with another Table of his Erecting at Paris and was extreamly offended with whatever King Edward went about began to be jealous of certain of his Lords and others who hitherto had served him faithfully as if they secretly for all that favour'd King Edwards cause Whether that was True or no whereof they were suspected is no where made appear but however King t Frois c 99. Mezerâ—y p. 21. Philip under pretence of a Solemn Tourneament which he then held at Paris in imitation of King Edwards at Windsor as we shew'd train'd thither the Lord Oliver Clisson with ten or twelve other Lords of Bretagne in company of the Lord Charles of Blois and there the most Loyal and Valiant Lord Clisson was suddenly by the jealous Kings Order apprehended and clapt up in Prison no Man being able to imagine for what reason unless that because King Edward had chose rather to release him by Exchange for the Lord Stafford he was therefore suspected to be a secret Friend to the English And notwithstanding that he had so gallantly recover'd Vannes from the English and at the same time had rid King Philip of the Lord Robert of Artois one of his most mortal Enemies nowwithout any Process or hearing he was adjudged to be drawn thrô the City to the Place of Execution where u Fabian p. 272. he lost his Head and after that his Body was hanged in Chains upon a Gibbet and his Head sent to Nantes in Bretagne where it was advanced upon a Pole over the Gates of the City To the great x Mezeray p. 21. Astonishment of all Men and the infinite Regret and Indignation of the Nobility whose Blood till now was not used to be shed but in Battle for that Cruel Princes quarrel This Lord Clisson left behind him a young Son named Oliver as his Father was him his Relations upon this Disaster took up presently and carry'd unto the Countess of Montford where he was bred up with her young Son John who was just about the same Age with him Soon after there died in the same manner and for as little matter Sr. John and Sr. Godfry de Malestroit the Father and Son two Valiant and Worthy Bretons also Sr. John de Montauban Sr. William Bruce Sr. John Cablet and Sr. John du Plessis Knights and John Malestroit Nephew to the foresaid Sr. John the Elder Esquire as also Robert Bruce John and David de Sennes Esquires Shortly after there were also Executed in Paris or as some say y Frois c. 99. starved to Death three Valiant Knights of Normandy Sr. William Bacon Sr. Richard Percy and Sr. Rouland de la Rochetessone all whose Heads were sent to Carentan a Chief City in Normandy which afterwards proved the utter Ruine of that Place as we shall shew Sr. Godfry of Harecourt himself who was Lord of St. Saviour le Vicount and Brother of the Lord Lewis Earl of Harcourt had been served in no better manner but that he wisely kept aloof nor would he by any means obey King Philips Summons but at last despairing of any tolerable security in those parts he came over into England to King Edward who received him gladly and made good use both of his Valour and Counsel in the following War whereof he became a second Firebrand as the Lord Robert of Artois had been before him And King Philip after his old manner to enflame the business the more proceeded against him with an High Hand and openly proscribed him as a Traytor and Enemy to the Crown of France but King Edward on the other hand being then again at Enmity with Philip called him Cousin allowed him an Honourable Maintenance and made him one of the Marshals of his Host But this happen'd after the Death of the Lord Clisson z Frois c. 114. almost a Year Thus King Philip when he should rather have endeavoured of Enemies to make Friends by his rash severity and want of Princely connivence and temporizing a little rendred even many of his own Subjects Enemies unto him IX Of the first part of this Tragedy King Edward had News immediately for while a Frois c. 101. at Windsor he was busied in preparing his Round-Table of which we have spoken Mr. Henry b Fabian p. 273. Malestroit a Deacon in Holy Orders Master of the Requests to King Philip and younger Brother to Sr. Godfry of Malestroit whom the said King had unjustly put to Death came over to England in deep displeasure and told the King complaining unto him most lamentably of the Death of his Father Brother and Cousin and how cruelly and without all Reason King Philip had Executed several other Lords Knights and Esquires and especially the noble Lord Clisson who had so faithfully and valiantly served against the English only because he had a jealousie that they were secretly King Edwards Friends Wherefore he exhorted him earnestly that since the French King had thereby broken the Truce he would renew the War against him and Revenge the Blood of those his Innocent Friends How King Edward resented this News We shall shew when we have first dispatch'd what concerns this Messengeâ— Mr. Henry Malestroit To him the King presently assigned a place of good Authority in the City of Vannes in Bretagne which was then held of England
Philip sought by his Ambassadors to provoke King David of Scotland to break the Truce made with England and with all Expedition strongly to invade the Northern Borders But this Matter however closely carried on came to be scented by King Edward who then lay before Calais Thô he resolved for all that not to quit the Siege as well because he had Confidence in the Courage and Sufficiency of those to whom he had left the Care of the Government in his Absence as because he had some hope that the Scots themselves either in Respect to their Faith given or thrô Remembrance of their former Losses would not easily venture to break the Truce so solemnly taken between them Yet however to prevent if possible the Calamities that might ensue upon an Invasion from Scotland he presently dispatched away from Calais certain of his Lords being Captains of great Experience either to perswade King David to a punctual Observance of the Truce or if that might not be obtained to help to defend his Subjects against him Among these were John Lord Moubray William Lord Ros and Thomas Lord Lucy of Ceckermouth who bare for his Arms Gules Three Lucies Hariant Argent These with other the Kings Ambassadors are said by the Scotch Writers a Hector l. 15. p. 325. Bachan l. 9. p. 302. Holinshead Hist Sect. p. 240. vid. Frois c. 137. Du Chisne p. 666. Mezeray Aiscues Hist of Scotland p. 178. Walsin Hyped p. 119. id Hist p. 157. Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 75. vid. Odoric Rainal ad hunc ann §. 43. Adam Mâ—rimâ—uth c. to have offer'd King David in their Masters Name Not only to deliver into his Hands the strong Town and Castle of Barwick but even the Person of his old Competitor King Bailiol for whose Sake the War was first begun betwixt them on Condition that he would reject the Motions of the French King and agree to observe the Truce as both in Equity and Honour he was bound These Offers if the Scotch Authors do not enlarge them as we have good reason to doubt especially in that part which relates to the Delivery of the Bailiol being propounded to the King of Scotland in his Council caused the more Prudent Sort to advise their Master that in no wise they ought to be rejected Since the Friendship of a Conquerour especially on Conditions both Honourable and Advantageous was more preferable than to abett the Weaker Side both against Equity and Profit But David himself thrô the great Love he bore to the French King with whom he had also sojourned about seven Years during his Exile and the Major Part of his Nobility being such as had either Younger Heads or more Daring Hearts or who were either sway'd by their Princes Example or France's Gold were all desirous to take this Opportunity of King Edward's Absence to revenge themselves on the English Nation and so were fatally drawn to condescend to King Philips chargeable and hazardous Request and reject King Edward's more safe and profitable Offers II. Wherefore a b Du Chesne p. 666. Parliament of all his Earls Prelates and Barons of Scotland being met at St. John's Town it was concluded that England should speedily be invaded with a Puissant Army Now that King Edward being at Calais and such other of his Forces in Bretagne Gascogne and Poictou a pleasing hope of Success began to smile upon Scotland So a War was resolved an Army appointed to be levyed forthwith and Solemn Proclamation made that all who were able and fit to bear Arms should come to the King to the General Rendezvous at St. Johnston upon the Tay by such a Day well appointed Accordingly toward the latter end of September there came to St. Johnston the Earls Barons and Prelates of Scotland all ready to serve their King against their old Enemies the English Among other great Captains thither came c Ita Hector Buchan sed John apud Frois Reginald Lord of the Isles of Hebrides who govern'd the Wild Scots for they would not endure the Government of any Man else thô others desired to obtain it And he brought with him no less than 3000 of the most Couragious and Hardy People of all that Country There came also thither at the same time David Earl of Rosse with his Troops and made his Musters before the King But the Night following he treacherously slew the Noble Lord of the Isles with seven of his Kinsmen as they lay in their Beds and immediately fled thereupon and gat him into Resse At which horrid Fact as the Army was greatly troubled so it was very much weakned the Friends of both Parties for fear of a Civil Combustion between the two Families departing to their several Homes King David thô he was extreamly incensed hereby and eagerly bent and fully resolved severely to punish that insolent and daring Fact yet because he would not break off this Expedition defer'd the prosecution thereof till a more convenient Opportunity Althô the Lord William Douglas of Liddisdale us'd his utmost to perswade him rather for that time to defer this journey and first to Chastise these Insolencies 〈◊〉 Home thereby to allay those unkind heats that might else raise a General Conflagration in his Absence But all would not do the King was so hot upon his purposed War with England to which his Affection and Obligations to the French Nation and his own evil Destiny hurried him on continually When the whole Army was assembled at St. Johnston it amounted to between 50000 and 60000 Fighting Men with which Forces King David began his March from St. Johnston in the beginning of October about a Moneth after King Edward had lay'd his Siege before Calais On the first Day he reach'd Dumfermeling which was about 20 Scottish Miles onward The next Day passing a little Arm of the Sea he came to Sterling and thence to Edinburgh where again he muster'd all his Men and found them to be 3000 Men of Arms Knights and Esquires and 30000 other on Geldings and Gallowayes besides the 15000 Crossbows of Genoua and the French Auxiliaries From Edinburgh he marched to Roxborough the first Fortress that was then on the English side that way The Captain whereof was a Famous Souldier Sr. Edward Montagu Uncle to the present Earl of Salisbury Of whose Valour We had occasion d L. 1. c. 19. §. 19. p. 251. c. to speak in the Fifteenth Year King David whether in dobut of a Man whom he had already experienced to be unconquerable even when in a Place of less strength and importance or rather because he designed greater things passed him by without offering the least Assault to the Castle and on the sixth of October began to enter Northumberland Upon his first coming to the Borders before he set foot within the English pale he made many new Knights to encourage and animate his Men But especially he created the Lord William Douglas the Son
Prince Lionel holds another in King Edwards Name at Westminster III. The Pope writes to the King of England to perswade him to Peace King Edward's Answer and Odoricus Rainaldus refuted IV. King Philip attempts to gain the Flemings but in vain The Earl of Flanders returning home is imprison'd by his Subjects because he will not match with a Daughter of England V. King Edward reinforces the Siege of Calais VI. The Earl of Flanders by pretending a Compliance gets his liberty and escapes into France VII Two Frenchmen for favouring King Edwards Right put to Death at Paris VIII John Duke of Normandy receives a Foil before Cassel in Flanders IX The French make several Efforts to relieve Calais but fail The Losses and Difficulties of the English Camp. X. Sr. Robert of Namur tenders his Service to King Edward before Calais XI A short Account of the Scotch Affairs since the Battle of Durham XII An Account of the Affairs of Bretagne The Battle of Roche d' Arien where Sr. Charles of Blois is taken Prisoner by Sr. Thomas Dagworth XIII Roche d' Arien retaken by the French and the English Garrison put to the Sword by the Men of the Country XIV The French Navy intended to Victual Calais defeated The Calisians thrust 500 Poor out of the Town XV. And send a Letter of their Case to King Philip c. XVI The Earl of Lancaster leading a Detachment towards Amiens upon News of King Philips Approach returns to the English Camp The French Kings Strength he desires Leave of the Flemings to pass thrô their Country but is refused The Flemings besiege the Town of Aire but upon Philips Approach rise XVII King Philip comes to Sangate near Calais and demands Battle of King Edward with the Answer XVIII Two Cardinals obtain a Treaty which comes to nothing King Philip goes off in Despair XIX The Manner how Carais was yielded XX. Calais settled by King Edward XXI A Truce betwen the two Kings King Edward returns for England XXII A Brush between the English and Scots of the Borders XXIII Lewis the Emperour dies King Edward chosen Emperour refuses Charles King of Bohemia succeeds The Death of William Occam and Walter Hemingford A Law-Case I. THE mean while King Philip of France AN. DOM. 1347. An. Regni Angliae XXI Franciae VIII having now about him his Son the Duke of Normandy with his Forces thô he had by this heard also of the great Loss that his Friend the King of Scots had suffer'd for his Sake was not able as yet to attempt any thing against his Enemy of England because of the Winter Season further than that he provided a Frois c. 140. Du Serres for the Cities of Picardy that lay nearest unto Danger and set Men of War in every Fortress in the Marches of Guisnes Artois Boulogne and about Calais But however being desirous to employ that Unactive time of the Year to the best Advantage that he might as well further the next Campagne as also seek the Advice of his Peers Lords and Commons of France he b Giov. Villani l. 12. c. 85. p. 893 calls a Parliament of the Estates to meet together at Paris on the Palm-Sunday following which fell that Year c Lit. Dom. G. Pasch Kâ—l Apr. on the 25 of March or the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin and so became a double Holy-day Requiring all the Barons Prelates and Commons of his Realm to assist him in Leavying a mighty Army against the King of England who lay as then before Calais For he said how he had sworn not to make a Peace or so much as a Truce with his Enemies untill he had taken full Revenge for the Loss he had received at Cressy and of the high Indignities which the King of England had put upon the Crown of France as well by Invading his Realm in Hostile Manner as now by holding a Siege before Calais Which Oath tho it could not be punctually observed yet prov'd a strong Enforcement to assemble together all his Barons Prelates Chief Burgesses and Citizens to his Parliament Here several Ways were in this Great Council devised to raise Mony for the maintenance of his Wars and leavying of two Formidable Armies For King Philip had long since in his Secret Council resolved to carry on the War against England with an High hand this next Campagne Himself intending in Person to go at the Head of one Army against King Edward to raise the Siege of Calais and at the same time to send his Son the Duke of Normandy with another mighty Army into England to attempt the Conquest thereof And upon this latter Point there had been an Ordinance drawn up and contrived called the Ordinance of Normandy of which we shall speak when we come to the English Parliament held at Westminster in the beginning of this Year Now for the Procuring of a sufficient stock of Money for the Kings Service d Du Serres p. 12. it was in this Assembly agreed first of all to call the old Treasures and other Great Officers and Ministers of State to an exact Account for Abusing their Places and embezling or converting to their own Use the Taxes and other the Kings Monies they had been entrusted with and to leavy and raise of all such Offenders Fines and Mulcts proportionable to their Offences And for the future to refer the Government of the Treasury to the most eminent Persons of the Clergy and Nobility thereby to free the People from suspecting that their Contributions were any more like to be ill employed Of this Affair the Abbots of Marmoutier and Corbie are chosen Superintendants to whom Four Bishops and Four Temporal Lords were joyned Assistants Monsieur Peter of Essars Treasurer of France is flung into Prison and condemned in a vast Fine to the King and together with him many other great Officers being condemned whether justly or unjustly yield up that at once for a satisfaction which they had been so long in heaping together the Golden Spunge of Oppression being now squeez'd by the Iron Hand of the Law. Then the Banquers Lombards and other Usurers are call'd to a strict Account for all their unjust Exactions upon the poor Subjects of France The interest is proved to exceed the Principall wherefore the Principal is adjudged forfeit to the King and the Interest to be remitted if not paid or if paid to be refunded to the Debtor who had borrowed the Mony upon such Interest and all the Bonds and Obligations therefore to be cancell'd and made void And yet after e Fabian p. 274. this Wipe the Usurers themselves were not released out of Prison without large Fines to the King. But the chief Honour of this Assembly was that the whole Body tenderly sympathizing with the Head was unanimous to serve the King with their Lives and Fortunes in Defence of his Crown and Dignity Wherefore at that time they leavied vast Contributions among themselves according to
of this Place And be assured of this that he intends not to let You and those that are with You go away so easily but that You should all entirely submit your selves to him upon Discretion some to be Ransomed and others to be Punished as they have Deserved For the Men of Calais have so highly provoked him by their Obstinacy and frequent Injuries and Piracies against him and his and have now particularly put him to such Charges and Labour and cost him so many of his Men that he is very much incensed against You indeed Why Truly Gentlemen said the Captain this is something too hard a case for Us We are here within a small parcel of Knights and Esquires who have Loyally and Honestly served the King our Master as You serve Yours and in this our Service We have endured as You know many Hazards and Difficulties But for all that We shall yet further undergo as much misery as ever any Knights did rather than consent that the poorest bad in the Town should surf fer harder Conditions than the very best of Us all Wherefore Lords I beg of You that of Your great Generosity You will go and Intercede with the King of England for Us For We trust his Goodness is so large that by the Grace of God he will remit something of his more severe Determination Upon this Sr. Walter Manny and Sr. Ralph Basset went both to the King and declared unto him all the Captains Words but the King answer'd that he would not receive them unless they yielded simply to his Mercy without any Capitulation at all Then the Lord Manny said Sir saving your Majesties Displeasure in this Point You may be in the wrong For hereby You will set an ill Example to your Enemies to use a like severity against your Subjects So that when You will send any of Us your Servants into any Castle or Fortress We shall not go with a very good Will If You put any of the Calisians to Death after they have yielded for then the French will serve Us in the same Manner as often as We fall into the same Condition These Words many of the Lords of England that were present approved and maintain'd adding further Å¿ Paradin's Ann. de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 333. That the most Noble and Magnanimous Princes made not Wars with Design to exercise Cruelty and to shed the Blood of their Enemies for the sake of Revenge but to purchase Honour and Reputation by being Gracious and Mercifull whereby they obtain more Renown than by being Bloody and Cruel as We may judge by Tyrants who are rendred Odious and Detestable in History Wherefore at last the King said Well my Lords I will not be alone against You all But Sr. Walter You shall go now and tell the Captain that all the Favour they are like to expect from me is this that six of the Chief Burgesses of the Town comeforth to me bare-headed bare-footed and in their shirts with Halters about their Necks and the Keys of the Town and Castle in their hands and upon Condition that six such Men resign themselves in this Manner purely unto my Will the Rest shall all be taken to our Mercy Other Favour than this from Me have they none With this Message Sr. Walter Manny return'd to the Walls where he found the Captain 〈◊〉 waiting for an Answer who having heard the utmost Grace that the King would shew said Well Sir then I only desire You would please to tarry here a little till I declare thus much to the Commons of the Town who sent me hither And with that Sr. John went into the Market-place and order'd the Larum Bell to be rung to call the People together And when the Assembly was full Sr. John related unto them all the Kings last Resolution saying You t Paradin's Annals de Bourgogne l. 2. p. 334. Good People of Calais there is no need for me to put You in mind of the Evils Affliction Distress Necessity Famine and Diseases to which We are at this Day reduced for want of Succour However in this extremity there are two things for our Comfort the One that We have approved our Loyalty both before God and Man even to this time the Other that our Succour from the King failing Us no Man can impute unto Us that We have failed in our Faith or Duty Wherefore following the Resolution taken in Council I went to speak with the Enemy who having Sword in hand and Power without question propounds unto You a Matter most Sad and Lamentable saying this the Tears flow'd from his Eyes in abundance so that he could not presently proceed which is this he Commands That to save the Lives of the Multitude of People within this City Six of the Principal Burgesses of this Town of Calais go forth in their Shirts bare-footed and bare-headed with Halters about their Necks and in that Posture present unto him the Keys of the Town of which Six Burgesses he will dispose at his Pleasure This is the Will of the Conquerour and I would have You to know that I endeavour'd with those who were sent from King Edward to mitigate the Matter and to bring it to a more Favourable Issue But it is not possible for me to draw him from his Resolution He is so fixed and Resolved wherefore my Friends since it will be no otherwise consider of it and make a quick Dispatch Upon this all the People Men Women and Children began such a pitifull Lamentation that it would have melted an heart of Marble into Tears to behold so sad an Object The Captain himself could not refrain from weeping But in the End u Frois ibid. Mezerâ—y ad hunc anâ—um Da Châ—sne p. 66â— c. there rose up the very Richest and most substantial Alderman of the whole City named Eustace de Sanct Pierre who spake thus unto the Heads of the Corporation Gentlemen it would surely be a great Cruelty to suffer so many Christian Souls as are in this Town to perish either by Sword or Famine when there are any means left to save them I am verily perswaded that He or They who could prevent so great a Mischief would do a very acceptable Service in the sight of God. And for my part I repose so much Confidence in the Goodness of our Lord Jesus that if I die in the Quarrel to save the Residue God will receive me into his Mercy Wherefore to save this poor People I will be the First that will offer my Head to the King of England as a willing Sacrifice for my Dear Country When he had thus spoken all the Assembly was ready to adore him and many kneeled down at his Feet with heavy Sighs and condoling Lamentations Then straight arose another Honest Burgess whose name was John Dayre and said I'll keep my Friend Eustace Company in this Honourable Danger After him rose up James of Wissant who was very Wealthy in
in Hostile Manner is beaten by the Flemings and English IX King Edward inform'd of a Design to betray Calais pardons the Lombard Captain and gives him Instructions how to behave himself X. King Edward goes privately over Sea to Calais and discomfits the Frenchmen XI King Edward at Supper presents a Rich Chaplet of Pearls to the Lord Eustace de Ribemont a French Prisoner and in contemplation of his Valour acquits him his Ransome XII The Lombard Captain put to Death by the Frenchmen King Edward rewards his Friends and having settled Calais under a New Captain returns for England XIII The Death of the Queen of France and of the Dutchess of Normandy The French King and the Duke his Son marry again I. NOW doth King Edward the Third seem to stand in the full Zenith both of his Age and Glories He had but just past the 35 Year of his Life and yet was crown'd at Home in his Family with a Lovely Row of Hopefull Children and a Vertuous and Beautifull Consort in his Kingdoms with Peace and full Prosperity And abroad he was renowned above all the Kings of the Earth for his Notable Victories by Sea and by Land in Scotland France and Bretagne for set Battles or Taking of Towns for Kings slain Kings routed and Kings taken Captive Nor was his Moderation less admired and commended which he shew'd in Refusing the Title and Dignity of an Emperour This in my Opinion is the Brightest part of all his Reign thô yet another King remains to be Captive by his Arms and another King is destin'd to recover an Usurped Crown by the Aid of his Sword and Fortune For now a Walsingh Hypod 121. hist 159. Holinsh Engl. Chron. p. 943. Stow p. 245. by means of so honourable a Peace founded on so many remarkable Victories it seem'd as if the Golden Age was reduced to England and a New Sun began to shine in our Horizon So great Riches and Plenty the usual Attendants of Conquest being generally diffused over the face of the whole Land. For there was scarce a Lady or Gentlewoman of any Account which had not in her possession some precious Houshold-stuff as rich Gowns Beds Counterpains Hangings Linnen Silks Furs Cups of Gold and Silver Porcelain and Chrystal Bracelets Chains and Necklaces brought from Caen Calais or other Cities beyond Sea. And yet as the Roman Historians complain that they were overcome by the Luxury and Fashions of the Nations they had conquer'd So from this time the Native Candour and simplicity of the English Nation did visibly empair and Pride Superfluity and Vanity began to lift up their hatefull Heads till they provok'd the Author of the World to visit this Land also with his awakening Judgments Some whereof were not wanting even in the Days of this Great Monarch but did especially take rise in the Reign of his Successour from a Cruel and Unnatural civil War which was not wholly extinct till it had prey'd upon the Lives of Five Kings very many Princes Dukes and Earls and Hundreds of the Prime Nobility of England besides those many Thousands of the Common People who perished in the Quarrel even thrô the Reigns of Seven Kings till in a more mercifull Providence King Henry the VII happily united the two Roses and Peace and Humanity and Arts began again to revive and flourish among us II. But that the Blessings of Peace and Plenty might be preserved unto England as much as lay in King Edwards Power as well for the Support of his own Honour as for the Security of his People's Advantages and the Conservation of the good Laws of the Realm he begins this Year with a Parliament Which he b 14 Febr. Teste Rege apud Westminest M.S. Record p. 66. Sr. Rob. Gott n's Abridgâ—n p. 68. summons to meet him at Westminster on the Monday in Midlent From which time because several of the Peers were not then come the Parliament was continued from day to day untill Wednesday When Sr. William Thorp then Lord Chief Justice by the Kings Command declared in presence of the King and Lords for what Reasons the Parliament at that time was called As that the King had according to the Truce taken at Calais sent Commissioners to the Pope from whom he had long since expected some Satisfactory Answer but as yet had received none Also that sundry Articles of the Truce touching both the Kings and their Allies were not duely performed and further that the French were preparing a Puissant Army wherewith to invade the Realm From all which it appeared that the Truce was but very fickle and that it was neither safe nor prudent to rely upon it but rather betimes to be armed against the worst that might happen Besides he added that the Conservation of the Publique Peace at home was a main Point for their Consideration to employ it self about and that this must be done by wholsom Laws duely and impartially put in Execution Upon these Matters the Lords and Commons debated earnestly for several Days and at last answered the Kings Wants and prepared their own Petitions in manner following They c M.S. Record p. 68. Sr. Rob. Cottens Abidgment p. 69. first shew the great Charges laid upon the Commons as the Reasonable Aid being pardon'd in the 14 Edw. 3. Whereof every Fine was forty shillings whereas by Statute the same should be but twenty shillings also the setting forth of Men the taking up of Victuals without Ready Money and the Charge for keeping the Sea The very Subsidy of Wooll amounting to 60000 l. per annum and yet without Law the Lending of 20000 Sacks of Wooll and the Restraint of Exporting Wooll Notwithstanding they grant to the King Three Fifteens in three Years so as the Subsidy of Wooll might cease and on Condition that David Bruce William Douglas and other Chief Captains of Scotland be not deliver'd for Ransom or on their Faith Yet so that if the Wars do cease within three Years then their Grant might cease also this Condition being likewise understood that their following Petitions be granted and these their Conditions enrolled and exemplified Petitions of the Commons with their Answers Pet. That the Falseness of those who were appointed to gather the 20000 Sacks of Wooll lent to the King may be determin'd by some of the Parliament and that all Acquittances made to any such may be repealed Ans This Petition was answer'd in the last Parliament and therefore Command was given anew to execute the same Pet. That the King would command the Nobles in no wise to take any common Thief or Robber into their Protection And that in every Shire-Town two Knights and two Learned in the Law be appointed to determin all Offences and to enquire of False Money they to have some Fee to encourage them in their Duty and to prevent Receiving of Bribes But this also was said to have been answer'd in the last Parliament Pet. Whereupon the
whether the Tenants of such as hold by Barony and are summoned to Parliament shall contribute to the payment of Knights Fees coming to the Parliament As heretofore so the same shall be That present Pay be made of all Purveyances being under twenty Shillings and of greater within one Quarter of a Year and that Purveyance be made without Malice It is good to make Payment accordingly to the first Point and to redress the second That all Sheriffs be charged to make present Payment for all Purveyances for Calais The Demand is reasonable That any one attainted upon a Writ of Oyer and Terminer may bring his Attaint a Ita M.S. Sr. Rob. Cotton â—n petiùs haâ—ing hanging his Suit against the other The Lords will not alter the Order of the Law. That the Lords Marchers of Wales do suffer no Distresses to be made on any English Man coming into Wales for any other Mans Debts if he be no Debter Trespasser or Surety As heretofore so the Law shall be That no Inquest upon Conspiracy Confederacy Maintenance or such like be returned but by the Sheriff of the most lawfull Men and nighest in that part of the Country where such Acts are laid that all Evidences therein be given openly at the Bar and that no Man speak with the Jury after they depart therefrom This last Petition was Enacted That the King b Now for the better Understanding of this Petition it is to be noted that about four Years before this c hâ—lâ—â—â—Hâ—lâ—â—â—head Engl. Chron. p. 948. vid. Gedwins Catal. Bish p. 234. William Edindon Bishop of Winchester and Lord Treasurer of England had caused Groats and Half-Groats to be Coined to the People's great Disadvantage for they wanted something of the just Sterling Weight Which occasion'd the Price of all things to be very much enhanced whereupon at the Commons Complaint now in Parliament the King promised to redress the Grievance the first Opportunity Yet however many times after those Days the like Practice hath been used insomuch that now 5 s. scarcely contain so much silver as 5 Groats had 300 or 400 Years ago So that 't is no wonder if things be sold at treble the Price which they held at that time For hereby also it comes to pass that the Prince and Nobility cannot possibly maintain their Estates with their Ancient Rents and Revenues because thô they bring them in the old Tale and Number yet they fall far short in the due Weight and Quantity of Metal will appoint a Time when the Coin shall be made Finer With Opportunity the King meaneth the same That the King have the Forfeitures of his Widows Dowagers but not of such as hold joyntly with their Husbands The old Law shall stand That the Writ of Appeal brought d Ita Sr. Rob. Cotton having in M.S. hanging another may abate the other The Common Law therein used shall continue That Weights and Measures may henceforth be made in the Town of London so as all Counties do conform themselves according thereto There is a STANDARD in the Treasury where every Man readily may have the same That the Writs of the Chancery may be at reasonable Prices and that the Clerks of the Crown and others for Commission and such like do content themselves with the Kings Allowance As heretofore the same shall be That Fines for Writs may be reasonably made in every of the Kings Courts The Chancellour shall do as heretofore The Commons beyond the Trent require that the Justices of the one Bench or of the other may yearly come twice amongst them for taking Cognisance of Fines and Letters of Attourney of the Unable The King will be advised That Labourers may take Corn for their Wages The Statute made shall be observed That the Staple may always continue in England The same shall so continue till the next Parliament and not be alter'd without the Assent of the Parliament The Merchants Strangers require that the Ordinances of the Staple may be executed speedily The King willeth the same It is Enacted that that Statute made that all Merchants coming into this Realm with their Merchandises might sell the same to any Person whatsoever and of the same to make Exchange or to buy Wares paying the Customs therefore is confirmed to continue That the Customers do dispatch all such Merchants coming in with their Wares and that those Merchants for the Prices of their Wares may be credited upon their Letters and Oaths It is Enacted that some One of the Kings Council may be appointed to be Governour to such Merchants Strangers The Chancellor or Treasurer shall supply the same when he may attend if not some Learned Justices shall be appointed therefore The Printed Statutes of this Year e Statute-Bâ—ck p. 108. ad an 28. Ed. 3. concerning shewing of Woolls Ch. XIV And concerning that none be Outlawed or put to Death without due Process of Law Ch. III. And that touching Errours and Misprisions in the City of London Ch. X. And that touching the Confirmation of all Statutes not repealed Ch. I. And that how the Escheators shall answer the Profits of the Lands of the Kings Tenants Ch. IV. And that which prohibits Exporting of Iron Ch. V. And that for the Election of Coroners Ch. VI. And that which concerns the Continuance of Sheriffs C. VII And that touching Attaint given without respect to quantity of Dammages Ch. VIII And that which contains sundry Ordinances of the Staple Ch. XIII And that concerning the Bounds of the Staple Ch. XV. And that touching Sheriffs who use to take Inquests for the inditing of any Ch. IX All f M.S. Rot. Par. an 28. Ed. 3 n. 20 22 26 28 31 32 39 41 43 46 47 c. Sr. Rob. Cottons Abridgm p. 86 87 88. these Printed Statutes agree exactly with the Record After all these things the Lord Bartholomew Burwash senior being then Lord Chamberlain and g Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 35. a. one of those who had been at the Treaty of Calais the last Year declared to the whole House that there was a Treaty of Peace between the King and the French and a good hope of a final Accord whereto in the Kings Name he demanded of the Commons whether they would agree To which Demand they answer'd how therein they wholly submitted themselves to the Order of the King and his Nobles Whereupon Dr. Michael Northborough Keeper of the Kings Privy Seal and about h Godw. Catal. Bish p. 197. ubi Northbrook male pro North-burgh ut Pat. 29 Ed. 3. this time Elect Bishop of London commanded Dr. John Swinley the Notary to prepare a Publique Instrument thereof VIII And having thus dispatch'd the Transactions of this Parliament it is high time to see what was effected as to the Treaty then in hand between the two Crowns of England and France According to an Article of the last Years Truce Ambassadors were to appear from both the Kings at Avignon in January then next
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
Ah! Thrice Dear Sir for Godsake refrain your Anger and take not this Summons in such evil part neither be displeased at us Sir we are but Servants sent by our Lord the FrenchKing whom we are bound to obey as your Subjects in like manner ought to obey You. And as it was our Duty to obey his Commands so Sir whatsoever you shall please to give us in Charge to say we will fully declare it unto the King our Lord and Master Nay said the Prince Sirs I am not displeased with you but with them that have sent you hither And the King your Master is lead by weak Counsel and simple Information thus to offer to combine himself with our Subjects or to make himself a Judge where he hath nothing to do by any manner of Right or Title For it shall be evidently shew'd that in the Rendring up and putting the King my Father into Possession of the Dutchy of Aquitain both his Father and He for Them and their Heirs for ever utterly disclaimed and quitted all manner of Resort or Jurisdiction So that those who have occasion'd this Summons to be made against me have no other Resort of Right but in the Court of England before the King my Dear Father and before it shall be otherwise I assure you it shall cost the Lives of an 100000 Men. And with that the Prince flung away into another Room and left the Frenchmen still there to whom certain of the Prince's Servants who understood his Pleasure came and said Gentlemen you may e'n go about your business when you please You have duly performed your Errand But you are to look for no other Answer than what you have heard With that the Knight and the Doctor went to their Inn and having there dined made ready their Carriages in all hast and took Horse with all their Servants and went from Bourdeaux the way to Tholouse-ward for they design'd to shew the Duke of Anjou what they had seen and done The Prince was extreamly displeased at the Insolence of these Summons and so were all the Lords and Knights of his Council most of whom had advised Him to hang the two Messengers for their Pains thô the Prince charged them to the contrary and yet he had many a shrew'd Imagination against them But when it was told him how that they were gone without any other Licence then what was given by word of Mouth and how they took their way toward Tholouse he called unto him Sr. Thomas Felton Seneschal of Aquitain and Sr. Thomas Wake Seneschal of Rouvergue his Chancellor the Bishop of Rodez Sr. Richard Pontchardon and Sr. Thomas Percy of whom he demanded whether the French Messengers had any safe Conduct or no and they answer'd how they knew of none they had No more have they said the Prince shaking his Head but sure it is not convenient that they should thus easily get off and go and make their jangling to the Duke of Anjou who is but a small Friend of ours and will laugh heartily that they have thus summon'd Vs in our own House I believe all things consider'd they are rather Messengers from my own Subjects as the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort Cominges and Carmain than from the French King. Wherefore because of the signal Affront that hath been put upon Vs We wish they were overtaken and clapt up in prison At this Motion all the Prince's Council were well pleased only they said Sir we fear You have been too slow as to this Resolve Immediately the Seneschal of Agenois was commanded to take along with him Sr. William Molineux a Worthy English Knight and so ride Post after the French Messengers and stop them till further Order These two and certain of their Men took Horse accordingly and pursued so diligently that at last they overtook them in the Land of Agenois and so arrested them pretending another Occasion for when they seized them they spake not a word of the Prince's Command but said how their Host where they lay last complained of them for an Horse which he said they had changed The Knight and the Doctor wonder'd much at this Accusation and began seriously to excuse themselves but all in vain for they were presently brought back to the City of Agen and there clapt up in Prison But several of their Servants were suffer'd to go their way who passing thrô the City of Tholouse told the Duke of Anjou of all that was done At which he was not a whit sorry For he knew that from hence another Occasion of Hatred and Dissension being given things would at last be brought to Extremity and accordingly he prepared for War thô with all the Caution and Dissimulation imaginable Certain of these Pages soon after went to Paris and told the French King of all the Premises whereat he took great Indignation especially when he heard the Words wherewith the Prince had threatned him saying how he would come and make his Personal appearance before his Vncle but that should be with his Helmet on his Head and 60000 Men at his Heels To withstand all which the French King made covertly vast preparation for he well knew it was no light Matter to wage War against the King of England and his Power Seeing in times past he had put his Predecessors to so much pain and difficulty Upon which account he was at first so backward to begin the War but he was so importun'd by the Lords of Gascogne and also hardly prest by many of his own Council who shew'd unto him the Extortions and other frequent Oppressions of the English and that they were dayly like to grow more insupportable as likewise that King Edward was in his Declining Age and his Son the Prince sick of an Incurable Disease that at last he yielded to the War thô much against his Will considering the Destruction of many thousand poor souls which he saw would necessarily ensue thereby Upon this he ventur'd first to send his Summons which every Man knew would never be obey'd but would occasion a Breach of the Peace between the two Realms And now because of this fierce Answer of the Prince King Charles and his Council made vast preparation but as secretly as was possible Thô for all his fine Conveyance the Prince of Wales who ever had his Eyes open toward that Quarter since the Lords of Gascogne had been entertain'd in the Court of France saw all along the close train of these subtle Devices and m Walsing hist p. 177. n. 43. sent in good time his Letters to his Father into England warning him not to give too much Credit to any smooth Words or fair Overtures of the French King for he saw evidently that he intended nothing but a Breach of the Peace and only had not yet begun the War for want of a fit opportunity But King Edward could not think that Charles n Mezeray p. 80. who was no Man of
the Meat will be cold else So he sat down with his Chief Captains about him and had done with the First Course but as the Second was served up and he had hardly tasted thereof having all this while deeply weighed the Matter with himself he suddenly lifted up his Head and said to the Knights and Esquires about him Hark ye Gentlemen the Earl of Pembroke is a Noble Person and of High Lineage he is Son also to my Natural Lord the King of England for he hath married a Daughter of his and in all things he is a Companion with the Earl of Cambridge He has requested me to come and succour him and I ought not to see such a Man lost if I may help it Wherefore I 'll go to his Assistance by the Grace of God. And with that Word he thrust away the Table from him saying Gentlemen make ready for Puirenon His Men were all overjoy'd when they heard these Words and immediatly flew to their Arms and the Trumpets sounded and every Man made haste to mount his Horse as soon as it was known that the Lord Chandos would ride to Puirenon to help the Earl of Pembroke and his Men that were besieged there So they drew out into the Field more than 200 Spears and presently the Lord Chandos was in the Head of them compleatly armed and so they set forward their Numbers still encreasing as they went. The Frenchmen that held the Earl of Pembroke so close had their Spies abroad who brought them Word at High noon to which time they had continued the Assault that Sr. John Chandos had left Poictiers with more than 200 Men of Arms and was coming thitherward in great haste having as it seem'd an huge desire to find them there When Sr. Lewis of Sancerre Sr. John de Vienne and the other Captains heard this News the Wisest of them said Gentlemen our Men are now extream weary and spent with Assaulting these Englishmen both yesterday and to day surely therefore it would be better for us to return now fair and softly while we are well with such Prisoners and Booty as we have than to expect the arrival of the Lord Chandos and his Men who are fresh and lusty and what Number they make we know not For otherwise we may not only lose what we have with so much Labour won but fling away our selves too in the Bargain This Advice was presently taken for they had but a short time to advise in So they sounded a Retreat and put themselves in Order and trussed up all their Baggage and presently took the way to la Roche Pozay The Earl of Pembroke and the Lords with him knew by this their hasty Retreat that the Frenchmen were inform'd of the Lord Chandos his Coming then he said Come on now Gentlemen let us leave this unhappy Place where we have been thus long Prisoners against our Wills and ride forth toward Poictiers to meet my Dear Friend Sr. John Chandos Then those that had Horses still leapt upon them and some went two and two on an Horse the rest going on foot and so they all went out of their Hold with great joy taking the way toward Poictiers They had scarce gone thus the space of a League but they met with the Lord Chandos and his Men to the great satisfaction of both Parties who shook each other by the Hands the one side congratulating the others Safety and they returning thanks for so seasonable Deliverance But Sr. John Chandos said how he was extreamly dissatisfied with himself that he came too late to find the Frenchmen Thus they rode all together the space of three Leagues and then took leave of each other Sr. John returning to Poictiers and the Earl of Pembroke to Mortagne from whence he went at first But the Marshal of France with his Troops went without the least impeachment to la Roche Pozay where the Booty was divided and then every Man return'd to his own Garrison leading along with him his Prisoners whom shortly after they ransom'd with much Courtesie and at easie Rates as was the Custom in those Days between the English and French Men. XXIII All this g Frois c. 267. f. 161. while the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Burgundy faced each other at Tournehan at which time another great Loss happen'd to King Edward of England which indeed fell not out but by the usual Course of the World and yet was heavy to the King his Children and all the Realm For now the Incomparable Queen Philippa who had done so many Acts of Piety and Charity in her Days and had protected so many oppressed Persons and had brought forth such Renowned Sons and was always a h Walsing hist p. 179. n. 10. constant Lover of the English Nation this Excellent Lady fell mortally sick in the Castle of Windsor and was brought so low that she was given over in the Opinion of the Wisest But when the Good Lady i Frois ibid. perceived her Dissolution approaching she desired to speak with the King her Husband who coming into her Chamber she put forth her Right Hand out of the Bed and took the King by his Right Hand whose great Heart was now almost conquer'd with Grief and then she said Sir blessed be God We have lived in good Love together this two and fourty Years crown'd all the while with Peace Joy and great Prosperity But now Sir since it pleaseth Almighty God to call me from You I pray that You will grant unto me three Requests at this our Parting Then the King not able to refrain from Tears said Dearest Madam ask what You will I grant it Sir said she First of all I desire You that as for all manner of People whom I have had occasion to deal withall in Merchandise either on this side or beyond the Sea You would please to pay them whatever it shall appear I owe unto them or to any other Person Secondly whatsoever Donations or Promises I have made to any Churches Religious Houses or Colleges either in this or other Countries as my Devotion perswaded me that You would please to confirm and fulfill the same And Lastly Sir I heartily desire You that whensoever it shall please God to call You out of this transitory Life it would please You to choose no other Sepulchre but near unto me in Westminster The King not without many Tears answer'd Sweet Madam all this I firmly promise and grant You with all my Heart Then the Good Queen signed her self with the sign of the Cross in token of her Faith in Jesus Christ and so recommended the King her Husband and her Youngest Son Thomas of Woodstock who being about 14 Years old stood crying at her Bedside and all her other Children to God Almighty she quietly yielded up the Ghost on the k M.S. vet Angl. in Bibl. C.C.C. Cantab. c. 233. Walsing 〈◊〉 p. 179. c. 15 of August being the Festival of the
Philip heard first of this Loss Arrows prefer'd to Guns The Armies of France and Hainalt break up from before Thine l'Evesque King Robert of Sicily procures the Pope to write to King Edward to move him to Peace From p. 177. to p. 186. Chap. XVII King Edward in a Council of his Foreign Allies resolves to besiege Tournay and St. Omers He sends a Challenge to King Philip with Philip's Answer He sits down before Tournay where he is joyn'd by his Allies The Earl of Hainalt's Exploits and an Assault of the Flemings upon Tournay King Philip prepares to raise the Siege and encamps near the Town The various Rencounters during the Siege A Parliament at Westminster Scotland recovers Breath The English Allies before St. Omers possest with a Panick Fear The Difficulties of both the Kings The Pope and the Lady Jane de Valois procure a Treaty and that a Truce Both Armies break up The Truce prolonged for 2 Years The Death of sundry Great Personages The King of Spain's Victory over the Moors Queen Philippa deliver'd of a Daughter From p. 187. to p. 211. Chap. XVIII King Edward comes over in great displeasure into England where he displaces and imprisons several of his Chief Ministers of State. The state of his Quarrel with the Archbishop The Archbishops Letters to the King and to the Lord Chancellor His Remonstrance to the King and Council His Letter to the Bishop of London His Articles of Excommunication The King justifies his Proceedings in a Letter to the Bishop of London The Archbishop makes his Defence to the King. The King's Reply to the Archbishop's Defence A Parliament at Westminster The Archbishop pardon'd The Revocation of a Statute From p. 212. to p. 235. Chap. XIX King Philip brings over the Emperour to his side The Emperours Letters of Revocation to King Edward His Answer The Duke of Bretagne dying without Issue John of Monford and Charles of Blois lay claim to the Dutchy Earl Monford seises his Fathers Treasure calls a Parliament and takes in many places He goes into England and makes Homage to King Edward thereby to gain his Protection Being summon'd to appear in the Chamber of France he comes to Paris but steals away again The Dukedom adjudged to Charles of Blois King Philip confiscates the Earldom of Monford which King Edward requites with the Earldom of Richmond Charles of Blois takes his Rival and sends him to Paris The Countess of Monford renews the War. Queen Philippa deliver'd of her Fifth Son Edmund of Langley Francis Petrarch crown'd Laureat Poet. The Lord Douglas takes Striveling King Edward marches into Scotland brings the Scots to Conditions King David of Scotland returns home invades England lays siege to Newcastle but rises King Edward prepares to oppose him Durham destroy'd King David lies before the Castle of Werk The Story of King Edward's Love with the Countess of Salisbury exploded The Captain of the Castle passes by night thrô the Scotch Host to acquaint King Edward with the matter On knowledge whereof the Scots retire King Edward comes before Werk and follow the Scots A Truce between the two Kings The Earls of Murray and Salisbury acquitted From p. 236. to p. 255. Chap. XX. Charles of Blois lays siege to Rennes The Countess of Monford sends to King Edward for Succour Charles takes Rennes and besieges the Countess in Hennebond A famous Exploit done by the Countess Charles leaves half his Army with Don Lewis before Hennebond and goes with the other half to Auray Sr. Reynald of Dinant's Success against those of Rosternan Just as Hennebond is upon the point of Yielding the Lord Walter Manny arrives with the English Succours The Bishop of Leon falls off from the Countess The Lord Manny breaks the Enemies biggest Engine and beats up their Quarters Don Lewis rises in despair and goes to Charles of Blois who sends him to Dinant He takes Comper in his way The Lord Manny having retaken Comper returns to Hennebond The Men of Dinant having murder'd their Captain Sr. Reynald of Dinant yield to Don Lewis who takes and sacks Guerande Auray taken by Charles of Blois He takes Vannes and besieges Karhais The Lord Manny routs Don Lewis He attacks Rosternan the Captain of Favoet carries away two English Knights whom the Lord Manny follows but cannot recover He takes Gony en la Forest and returns to Hennebond The Countess sends to England for a Reinforcement Karhais yields to Charles of Blois who renews his siege before Hennebond Don Lewis vows to cut off the Heads of the two English Knights who were taken by the Captain of Favoet But the Lord Manny rescues them Charles leaves the Siege in despair but takes Jugon A Truce being taken between Charles and the Countess the latter comes with her Son into England The Earl of Salisbury is made King of Man by King Edward Pope Benedict XII dies Clement VI. succeeds From p. 256. to p. 267. Chap. XXI King Edward provides for the Campaign Sends the Lord Robert of Artois along with the Countess of Monford And resolves himself to pull down the Scots He enjoyns his Clergy to pray for the Success of his Arms. A Biennial Truce between England and Scotland The Lord Robert of Artois engages with Don Lewis of Spain but a storm parts them The Lord Robert of Artois lands in Bretagne and takes Vannes by stratagem The English lay Siege to Rennes The Bloisian Lords retake Vannes by storm The Lord Robert of Artois dies of his Wounds King Edward vows to revenge his Death A Parliament King Edward creates his Eldest Son Prince of Wales The Commons in Parliament complain of the Pope's Reservations The two Houses Address to the Pope The Pope writes to the King and his Council The King 's Notable Answer King Edward goes into Bretagne lays siege to Vannes Charles of Blois prepares to oppose him The King besieges him in Nantes and takes in divers Towns. The Lords of Clisson and Leon taken by the English before Vannes Don Lewis distresses King Edward's Navy John Duke of Normandy comes with an Army against King Edward The two Armies confront A Truce taken King Edward returns into England The Treaty fully ratified The Death of King Robert of Sicily of King Philip of Navarre and others The Foundation of Trinity-Hall Pembroke-Hall and Gonvill and Caius College in Cambridge From p. 267. to p. 287. Chap. XXII The Agents of France and England meet at Avignon Some Heads of the two Kings several Pleas which yet are more fully handled in the Fourth Book the fifth Chapter Paragraphs the VI VII VIII IX à p. 747. ad p. 758. but nothing done The Pope gains ground in the matter of Provisions King Edward begins his Round Table at Windsor With the Description Antiquity and gradual Encrease of that Castle King Philip sets up another Round Table at Paris But King Edward's Round Table being the Seminary of the Order of the Garter which was instituted Anno 23. Ed. 3. The
as some say in the latter end of * Fabian p. 203. Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. October at the Town of St. Johnston departed out of this Life the most hopefull young Prince John Plantagenet sirnamed of Eltham in Kent the Place of his Birth who was only Brother to King Edward being the second Son of Edward the Second by his Queen Isabella Daughter to Philip le Bel King of France He was m Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. advanced to the Title of Earl of Cornwall by his Brother King Edward the Third and was twice by him made Lieutenant of all England upon his Expeditions the one into France the other into Scotland during his Absence But in his Action of this Year he so heated himself that he fell into a Feavour upon his return to St. Johnston and now at last died in the very Flower of his Youth being but twenty Years of Age and a Batchelour His Body being embalmed and brought into England was with great Solemnity Interr'd n Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 110. in St. Edmunds Chappel in Westminster Abbey on the Southside of the Choire and the Northside of the High Altar on the Left hand of the Door of the said Chappel Where the King his Brother raised for him a o Keep 's Monument Westm p. 66. c. Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 155 ubi the Figure of it most Noble Monument of Grey Marble set about with 24 little Images of various-coloured Alabaster and white Marble under each whereof are the blank Escutcheons remaining whereon had been as many several Coats of Arms depicted which are now wholly worn away and decayed On this Tomb lies his full Image of Admirable wrought Alabaster in his Coat Armour his Visage bare and a deep Shield on his Left Arm whereon are engraven the Arms of England within a Bordure of France having two Angels on each side supporting his Head and a Lion Couchant at his Feet Carved and finely Pictured of the same Alabaster with a Canopy covering the whole with delicate wrought Spires and Masons Work every where intermixed and Adorned with little Images and Angels according to the Fashion of those times supported by eight Pillars of white Stone of the same Curious-wrought Work But there is no Epitaph or Inscription to inform us any further The Scotch p Hector l. 15. f. 320. n. 40. c. Writers tell the manner of his Death thus that having done many abominable Cruelties in that Kingdom and especially without any Regard to Holy Places after all he came to St. John's Town where say they the King his Brother then was in the Church at his Devotions near the Altar That upon sight of him the King who had heard of all his Barbarous and Profane Cruelties question'd him somewhat about those Matters But receiving from him an harsh and undutifull Answer was so far provoked that immediately drawing his sword he there slew him with his own Hands upon the Place adding this That an Altar ought not to be a Refuge for One who had by Fire and Sword violated both Churches and Altars Certainly this Sentence which Hector puts into King Edward's Mouth was no way unbecoming a Religious Prince even thô he had perform'd such a Fact upon such a Brother as they make this Lord John to have been But this very Author forgetting Decencies and Characters at another time makes the same King as great a Profaner of Holy Places himself and yet his Friend Buchanan likes not this Story of his so well as to set his Hand to it which he very seldom scruples to do but when the Lye is too apparent For indeed King Edward was not in Scotland at the time of Prince Johns Decease and the young Lord was neither so Barbarous nor Profane as Hector feigns and besides his Death was q Knighton p. 2568. n. 30. Holinsh Scot. p. 237. n. 50. Pat. 10. Ed. 3. p. 2. m. 3. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 109. c. Natural as all our Histories and the Records themselves agree In the r Walsingh hist p. 117. n. 20. Month of December there died also at St. Johnston the Lord Hugh Frenes who in Title of his Wife the Relict of Sr. Ebulo le Strange was called Earl of Lincoln of a Bloody Flux occasion'd by an excessive cold and indeed many other English were destroy'd by the vehement cold in those Quarters that Winter This Earl Hugh was the ſ Catal. Honor. p. 947. Third and Last Husband of Alice Daughter and Heiress of Henry Lacy Earl of Lincoln but neither he nor any of her other Husbands had any Issue by her Queen Philippa of England t Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 177. Walsingh Hypod. p. 113. n. 40. this Year was deliver'd of her second Son at Hatfield who in Memory of her Father William Earl of Heinalt was Christened by that Name and sirnamed of Hatfield the Place of his Birth as was customary in those Days But this young Prince William of Hatfield lived but a short while and was buried in the Cathedral at York IX About this time as it were to usher in those grand Affairs which King Edward was now entring upon there u Ashmole p. 646. Fabian p. 203. 208. Walsingh Hypod. p. 114. Hist p. 131. n. 30. Gaguin l. 8. p. 134. Holinshead Engl. Chron. p. 900. appeared a fearfull Comet which for a considerable time darted forth its Rays with long and terrible Streams toward the East and toward the South It was look'd upon as a Forerunner both of those Wars in the Holy Land wherein the King of Armenia lost all his Country to the Turks and also of the great Devastation that followed shortly after in the Noble Realm of France Althô if they might not be divers I had rather set the time of this Comets Appearance to the Year following For x Esq Sherburne in his Catalogue of Astromers at the end of his Manilius c. we find that in the Years 1337 and 1338. there were seen either two or one and the same Comet of such a remarkable Phaenomenon that together with that which happen'd in the Year 1330 they employed the Pen of that learned Astrologer of those Days Godfry de Meldis an Oxonian to write his Book called Judicium Stellae Comatae Also this Year in a Village called Leighton about six miles Westward from Huntingdon was calved a Calf with two Heads and Eight feet if y Walsingh hist p. 119. n. 20. 30. c. Walsingham may obtain credit as there is little doubt to be made of the probability of this Matter This Winter was very sharp in England there being a hard Frost from the 27 of November to the 9 of February but no Snow at all whence Wheat became dear but other Grain grew plenty In many Parts of England the Willow-trees brought forth Flowers in January like Roses for Bigness and Colour and Elder-trees bare fruit exactly
Rob. Cottoos Abridgment of the Records p. 143. Rex Charissimo Filio suo Richardo Principi Walliae c. But I believe this Place being thrô Age obscur'd and so left to Conjecture was for hast mistaken in that manner John Earl of Kent with any of the Blood Royal. 4. To make Restitution for any Dammage he tender'd to King Philip as much Mony as he should in reason demand 5. He also proffer'd to take a Voyage to the Holy Land with the King of France if he would restore his Lands unto him 6. To go the Voyage if he would restore but Half or Some of those Lands 7. To take the Voyage with him if he would but make Restitution after his Return Or 8. Lastly to take the Voyage singly by Himself so that at his Return he would restore him his Right These Overtures with many others which the King or his Council could think of were offer'd to the King of France in Order to a Peace with this General Proposal beside That if any one could think of any other way tending to an Accommodation He would be ready to accept thereof But all was in vain for King Philip on the contrary not only still held his Lands beyond Sea but excited and maintained the Scots against him and also by his Navy did much Mischief at Sea. I wholly here pass by the Matters of Scotland till a more convenient Opportunity for fear of interrupting the Thread of our History especially because all was done there by snatches and fits and intervalls King Bailiol with various Fortune contending to keep on his Head a Crown more full of Thorns than of Jewels X. Now the o Ashmole p. 649. Pope perceiving that the storm of War was ready to break forth to the great Hazard of the Interest of Christendom sent into England about the Feast of St. Martin p Victorelius Ciacon 1 Vol. p. 862. §. 24. p. 857. §. 4. Holinshead Engl. Chr. p. 901. c. Pedro Priest Cardinal of St. Praxeda and q Vid. Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 15. ubi Papalis Commissio his Cardinalibus facta Bertrand Deacon Cardinal of St. Mary in Aquiro to use their best Endeavours to compose the Differences now growing High between the two Kings For the more Honourable Reception of these Christian Peacemakers according to the Kings Order the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishops of Winchester Ely Chichester Coventry and Lichfield with the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London went forth and met them on Shooters Hill. The young Duke of Cornwall with the Earl of Surrey and many other of the Nobility received them a Mile without the City and the King himself met them at the lesser Hall-door of his Palace at Westminster and carried them into the Painted Chamber where they deliver'd their Message Hereupon the King caused a Parliament to be summon'd to meet him at Westminster on the Morrow after Candlemas day r Ashmole p. 649. till which time upon the Cardinals Mediation thô Peace could not be effected a Truce was agreed on Nor ſ Odoric Rainald ad An. 1337. §. 20. yet was Peace the only business about which these Cardinals came but the Priviledges and Immunities of the Church as appears by the Popes Letter to the King bearing Date IX Kal. Julii An o Pontificatûs III. However these Cardinals thô they came to make Peace were not yet rightly prepared for the Work For they made it evidently appear that they were more concern'd for the King of France and so not fit to be as indifferent Composers of Matters between the two Kings And this was notoriously demonstrated by t Walsing Hist p. 146. Edit Franc. n. 20. Bertrand the French Cardinal in a Sermon of his ad Clerum wherein he could not forbear putting a false Gloss upon King Edward's Actions and Adorning and Gilding King Philip's cause till the Archbishop of Canterbury not able to endure his Insolence rose up and confuted all his Arguments and Publiquely declared his Assertions to be vain false and frivolous And from that time it was the Common talk in England that the King of England had a Right to the Crown of France which he intended to claim and pursue This u Gesta PPae Benedicti XII apud Besqu M.S. Bibl. Vatican sign n. 3765. in Ben. XII Odoric Rainald ad hune An. §. 30. Year on the third of June there was a certain Fryer named Franciscus de Pistorio of the Order of the Minors deliver'd over to the Secular Power and burnt as an Heretick at Venice for persisting in this Assertion That Christ and his Disciples possessed nothing either in Proper or in Common the Contrary to which Pope John XXII had determin'd in the Constitution which begins Cum inter Nonnullos CHAPTER the ELEVENTH The CONTENTS I. A Parliament the Cardinals return into France together with Commissioners from King Edward II. Whose Overtures being by the French rejected King Edward with a Fleet of 500 Ships sets sail for Flanders and arrives at Antwerp whither he Summons his Allies with whom he holds a Parliament which begets another at Halle III. King Edward sends from thence an Embassy to the Emperour Lewis of Bavaria and invites his Queen to come over from England to him she is soon after her coming deliver'd at Antwerp of her Third Son named Lionell Prince Thomas of Brotherton the Kings Vncle dies An English Lord's Son that was Born beyond Sea Naturalized IV. An Enterview between the Emperour and the King of England the latter being made Vicar-General of the Empire by the Former V. King Edward calls a Parliament of his Allies in Brabant with the effects thereof VI. A day appointed whereon all the Confederates are to come with their several Quota's to the King of England AN. DOM. 1338. An. Regni XII who keeps his Court the mean while at Antwerp The Duke of Brabant keeps fair with the French King. VII Prince Edward of England Duke of Cornwal holds two Parliaments in the King his Fathers Absence For whom he obtains a Mighty aid The English Navy reinforced with sixty Sail. I. ON the third of February or the Morrow after Candlemas-day the Parliament began where the Truce was Prorogued a Ashmole p. 649. to the First of March following b Holinshead p. 902. The Laity at the same time granted to the King the One half of their Woolls throughout the whole Realm for the next Summer which he received Graciously and also he Levied of the Clergy the whole causing them to pay nine Marks of every Sack of the best Wooll but after the Rate of the One half he took in whose hands soever it was found as well Merchants as others according to the foresaid Grant So that of the Abbey of Leicester only as c Knighton p. 2570. Knighton one of that House witnesses he had no less then 18 Sacks After d Holinshead ibid. this he
be broken by this Blow he soon after dispos'd of his Men into Winter Quarters and return'd himself into England to provide more effectually against the next Campaigne The Earl of o Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 193. ex Châ—â— Fr. Joh. Clinne M.S. in Bodlei Bibl. f. 99. Tom. 4. p. 70. Oxford also having first been in Bretagne took the Sea about the Feast of the Blessed Virgin and by Tempest was cast upon the Coasts of Connaught in Ireland Where he and his Company suffer'd much Misery from those Barbarous People there who pillaged them of all they had So that with much difficulty they escaped alive out of their hands and afterwards came safe into England XVI About this time was Queen Philippa of England brought to Bed of a Fair Daughter named Mary who was afterwards married to John Montford who in time obtain'd the firname of Valiant and having conquer'd his Enemies became Duke of Bretagne His Father John of Montford of whose Taking at Nantes we spake before was by vertue of the late Truce at Malestroit most p Mezeray ad huncan Fabian p. 270. c. certainly deliver'd out of Prison this Year on Condition that he should not depart from Court But this notwithstanding he made his Escape and put himself in the Head of his Troops in Bretagne having obtained succour from England as we shall shew hereafter But because in the September following he died his Release from Imprisonment was not taken notice of by some Authors This Year there died at Bourdeaux the valiant Lord q Dugd. 2. Vol. p. 104. Oliver Ingham Seneschall of the said City in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age without Issue Male Wherefore his younger Daughter Joan Wife to the Lord Roger le Strange of Knokyn and Mary his Grandaughter by Elizabeth his eldest Daughter and her Husband Sr. John Curson became his Heirs CHAPTER the TWENTY THIRD The CONTENTS I. King Edward demands of the Pope Satisfaction on the French Kings Part or declares that he will renounce the Truce II. The Earl of Northampton commission'd to defie the French King c. III. King Edward's Manifesto touching the Dissolution of the Truce IV. He sends Henry Earl of Darby into Aquitain V. A particular Account of his Actions there during the Campaign VI. The Lord Manny finds his Fathers Bones in the City of Reole VII The strong Castle of Reole yielded the Town being taken before VIII The Earl of Darby proceeds in Taking of Towns and Castles IX He wins Mirapont Tonneins Damasan and Augoulesme where he makes the Lord John Norwich Governour and so returns to Bourdeaux I. BEfore this Expedition of the Earl of Darby's into Gascogne we shew'd how the Pope endeavour'd to compose Matters with King Edward to whom we do not find that the King return'd any Answer till after the Earls Arrival at Bourdeaux when he made a solemn Complaint to him bearing Date the a 4 Aug. Rot. Franc. 18 Ed. 3. m. 3. Ashmele p. 654. Fourth of August which he sent by John Hufford Dean of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Nicolas de Flisco willing them to demand a Reformation and Security for the Observance of the said Truce untill the Expiration of the Term appointed and sworn by each of the Kings Deputies And in case that should not be done as it was not expected then they to surrender the Copy of the Truce into the Pope's Hands and to defie Philip of Valois as the Kings Enemy Yet notwithstanding these Amicable and Christian-like Desires of the King of England met with nothing but Flams and Dilatory Answers For on the 20 of October following Dr. William Bateman Bishop of Norwich John Hufford Dean of Lincoln and John Thoresby one of the Canons of Lincoln Sr. Hugh Nevil and Sr. Ralph Spigurnel Knights together with the foresaid Nicolas de Flisco were Commissionated to declare before the Pope in what Particulars the Truce had been broken and instantly to demand Reparations II. But after all this little Satisfaction being offer'd AN. DOM. 1345. An. Regni Angliae XIX Franciae VI. and none at all given to the King his Majesty seeing the Truce manifestly and openly violated and that the Pope and his Legates were too evidently Partial on the French Side gave Commission to William Bohun Earl of Northampton bearing Date the 24 b Asâ—mâ—le p. 654 ex Râ—t Franc. 19 Ed. 3. m. 4. p. 1. of April to defie Philip of Valois as a Violator of the Truce an unjust Usurper of his Inheritance of the Realm of France and his Capital Enemy Which Defiance being made he was order'd to go with John Earl of Montford into Bretagne as the King of England's Lieutenant General to defend that Dutchy against the Lord Charles of Blois being empowred to receive the Fealty and Homage of those People in the Kings Name which was due unto him as True King of France a like Power having c Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 185. ex Râ—â— Fr. 16 Ed. 3. n. 25. three Years before been given him in the same Parts And shortly after the King set forth a Manifesto bearing Date the d Ashâ—cle p. 654 14 of June touching the Dissolution of the Truce wherein the Causes were declared at large being in Substance the same with those Letters which he had sent to the Pope and Four Cardinals bearing Date e Rot. Rem 19. Ed. 3. m 2. n. 4. 26 of May the Month preceding the Date of this Defiance a Copy whereof followeth agreeing with the other which is to be seen in the Original Latine both in Adam Murimouth's M.S. and also in Dr. Stillingfleets aforemention'd III. f Fâ—â— Acts and Mâ—n An. 1345. Adam Mâ—â—imoâ—th M.S. Dr. Covel M.S. Dr. Stillingâ—â—eet qu â—as cum Foxo 〈◊〉 â—â—itus faâ—es â—ut peritia videbâ— tur defideraâ—â— EDWARD by the Grace of God King of England and France and Lord of Ireland to all and singular to whom these Presents shall come Greeting We doubt not but it is now publiquely known how that after the Decease of Charles of Famous Memory King of France and Brother to the most Serene Lady Isabella Queen of England our Mother the Crown of the said Kingdom being incommutably devolved unto Us as unto the next Heir Male of the said King then being alive the Lord Philip of Valois who is but Son to the Uncle of the said King and so related unto him in a more remote Degree of Consanguinity did in the time of our Minority by Force and contrary to God and Justice usurp the said Kingdom and still doth usurp and detain it Invading moreover and spoiling our Lands in our Dukedom of Aquitain and Confederating against Us with our Rebellious Enemies the Scots and otherwise to the utmost of his Power labouring and endeavouring to procure the Ruine and Subversion of Us and of Ours both by Land and Sea. And thô we to prevent the inestimable Dangers which it is probably feared may happen
about their Master fighting desperately with Spear and Shield sharp Battle-Axes and Halberds till not above 80 of them remain'd with the King alive He for his part being sensible of the unhappy Event of the Day and not willing to outlive so many of his Nobility and other Loyal Subjects pressed now forward to meet a like Death himself When a valiant Esquire of Northumberland named John Copland who well knew him to be the King step forward with one hundred Men of Arms whom he had retained for that Service and bad him yield himself Here the Scotch Writers say a Hector l. 15. f. 325. n. 80. Buchan l. 9. p. 302. that King David thô wounded in two Places and having his Weapons beat out of his Hands yet thrô Indignation gave Esquire Copland such a Stroke over the Mouth with his Gauntlet that he beat out two of his Fore-teeth But in my Opinion so small an Effect ought not to be ascribed to so great a Cause as the Hand of an angry young Warrier especially when arm'd with a Gauntlet For if Copland's Visor was down the Stroke would not have reach'd his Teeth and if his Face was unarm'd it must have been much more severe if not fatal unto him Wherefore I rather believe what Others also report that King David upon Coplands Summons refused to yield but to some Person of Quality whereupon the Esquire deceived him by telling him that he was a Baron of England on which account perhaps it is that Hector calls him a Knight thô indeed he was not so However King David believing him gave him his Gauntlet in token he was his Prisoner alone and so yielded Yet certainly it surprises me not a little that of all the English Lords there present not one was found to have any Ambition to take so great a King especially when the Matter was so feasible his Men being most either slain or routed but that they all left the Task to a mean Esquire Upon these Reasons I confess that I am rather enduced to believe what is also deliver'd by no mean b Knighton p. 2591. n. 10. Author that seeing all things run to ruine and having received some Wounds himself besides an Arrow in his Head he endeavour'd to escape but in the Chace was taken by this Valiant Esquire at Merington which is the more confirmed by what follows when we shall find how it was some time e're it was known to the Queen of England that this Royal Prisoner was taken IX Now before this Second Battalia of the Scots was thus overcome their Third Battail also as well by their Discouragement from the ill Success of their Fellows as by the Valour of their Opposers was discomfited broken slain and put to Flight Thô few escaped of this Brigade One of the Leaders John c Hector p. 325. Randulph Earl of Murray was slain with a great Number of the Nobility of Scotland beside the Commons and the other Leader William Earl of Douglas was taken Prisoner So that the English gain'd an entire Victory and as one d Walsingh hist p. 158. n. 1. says had they totally joyn'd in a close pursuit and not been distracted in taking Prisoners and Plunder that Day had been the last to the Obstinate Rebellion of the Scots against the English Nation and they might have blotted out their Name from the Land of the Living But it pleased God in his Providence to order it otherwise X. This Cruel Battle thô some e Frois c. 138. by mistake place it near Newcastle and so call it the Battle of Newcastle upon Tyne was fought at Nevils-Cross near Durham whence also it bears the Name of the Battle of Nevils-Cross with most Authors as f Stow p. 243. also it is called the Battle of Durham in the Record it self And as thrô mistake there is some variety among Authors as to the Place where it was fought so neither do they agree as to the time notwithstanding it fell g Tho. Stuâ—bs de Episc Ebâ—r f. 1732. Knighton p. 2591. Ashmole p. 656. Walsing Fabian Fâ—â— Holinsh c. most certainly on the 17 of October or St. Lukes Eve which that Year proved to be Tuesday Thô Froisard in this point is much in the wrong who expresly affirms that it was fought on the Saturday next after St. Michael which that Year was the 30 of September and Du Chesne who generally follows Froisard yet here mistakes him saying that it was the Saturday next before St. Michael which must have been the 23d. of the said Moneth But these differences are nothing so Material as that of Hector Boetius who positively and in Words at length averres that this Misfortune happen'd to their Nation in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Three Hundred Fourty and Eight which is wide two Years and most notoriously false and erroneous as appears not only from the joynt Testimonies of Records and Histories but from all other Concurrences in the World. XI The Fight continued in all three Hours viz. from Nine in the Morning till High Noon and therefore thô h Knighton p. 2591. one says the English lost but four Knights and five Esquires yet that must not be allowed unless we understand that besides them many of the Commons were slain also For we are assured by a good i Frois ibid. Author as well as sound Reason that this Victory was not bought without the Lives of many Men and we find from k Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 579. undeniable Proof that particularly the Lord Ralph Hastings was here Mortally wounded of which hurts he died leaving however a Scotch Prisoner whom he had taken in this Battle to his Nephew Edmund Hastings of Rousby and John de Kirkeby of Wigginthorp a Gentleman of an Ancient Family to be shared betwixt them But of the Scots we are assured there fell no less than 15000 one says above l Knighton p. 2591. Hecter Bett. l. 15. fol. 325. n. 10. 20000 together with many great Lords and an 100 of the best Knights in Scotland Namely John Randulph Earl of Murray the Earl of Stratherne the Lord David Hay Constable the Lord Edward Keth Marshal the Lord Straqutrin Chamberlain together with the Chancellor of Scotland The Lord Philip Meldron the Lord John Stuart and Alan Stuart his Brother Maurice Murray John Crawford William Haliburton Reginald Kirk-Patrick Patrick Herring Sr. Michael Scot Sr. Alexander Gurdon Sr. William Frasier Sr. John Lindesay of Gleenesk Sr. Thomas Vaux Sr. Dengal Campbell Sr. Alexander Ramsey a Valiant Knight who bore that Day the Kings Standard and Sr. Alexander Bodeval who was called by the Souldiers the Flour of Chevalry and would not depart from the Kings side but died there by him Besides these Frenchmen Sr. Humphry Blois Sr. Robert Maltalent Sr. John de la Motte and Sr. John Bonville These are the Names of the slain as many as were found with their Coat-Armours on whereby they were known
before the Parliament where King John sat on high in the Tribunal Seat attended with his Peers the Cardinal of Bologna the Pope's Legate and divers other Prelates The Criminal having asked pardon in a formal and studied Harangue composed of Complaints and Excuses the Lord James of Bourbon h Paul. Aemyl p. 184. Brother to the Duke of Bourbon and Constable for that time was order'd to Arrest him only for Form which he did by setting his Hands upon the King of Navarre's Hands and causing him to go backwards out of the Presence and to tarry in a Chamber adjoining till further Order was taken The mean while the two Queens Dowagers of France Jane the Relict of Charles the Fair and Blanch the Relict of Philip of Valois and German-Sister to the King of Navarre on their Knees beg'd his Pardon of King John. Which being granted the Constable and Marshals introduced him again where after a grave Remonstrance from the Legate the French King declared him absolved But this Haughty Young Prince gather'd nothing but Rancour from that pompous Indignity which afterwards he shewed to the great mischief and Danger of the Realm of France For soon after this Reconciliation he stole away to Avignon as we intimated before where he began to conspire against his Native Country and althô King John upon Apprehensions of the Duke of Lancaster had again now by his Son Charles appeased his turbulent Mind yet within a while we shall see him again fly out into wonderfull Extravagances partly of his own unquiet ambitious Nature and partly being irritated by the rough Dealing of his Father-in-Law For the Year following King John i Du Châ—sne p. 675. being too far provoked with his Insolencies came suddenly upon him as he was at dinner in the Castle of Rouën with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and seised him on the Fifth of April and committed him to Prison but immediatly caused the Heads of Four of his Great Lords to be struck off in a Field by the Castle III. Till this time thô not without much ado many hazards of Relapsing constant Care of the Pope and other well-disposed Personages the unstable Truce first taken at Calais between England and France made a hard shift to hold indifferently well for the space of near upon Eight Years But now the evil Genius of France which hath heretofore been observed to extract the Original of its own Troubles from within it self began to work upon Prince Philip Brother to King Charles of Navarre to rouse the English Arms against his own Blood of France as we shall see hereafter But as yet the King of Navarre was not seised nor was his first Reconciliation as yet known to King Edward as will presently appear when we shall come to speak of his Expedition into France Now k Knighton p. 2608. n. 40. Stow p. 256. a little after Whitsuntide to wit about the end of May or the beginning of June the Truce being to expire the 24 of the said Month both Kings began to put themselves in a Posture and King Edward resolving not to be behind-hand with his Enemies prepared to send over the Prince of Wales into Gascogne attended with the Earls of Warwick Oxford Salisbury and Suffolk and 800 Men of Arms with 2400 Archers himself intending the while to wait the French Kings Motions and shortly after to joyn the King of Navarre about the Isle of Jersey Wherefore King Edward l 10 Julii Ret. Vasc 29. Ed. 3. m. 6. vid. Ashmâ—les Garter p. 671 c. constituted his Son the Prince his Lieutenant in the Dukedom of Aquitain and other Places in France whither he should happen to march as well for the Reformation of the State of that Dukedom and other Places in France as for the Recovery of his Lands and Right possest by the Rebels And by another Commission of the same Date he gave him Power to make Alliances with all Persons of what Nation Dignity or Condition soever to retain Men and pay them Wages and Rewards A third Commission gave him Power in the Kings Stead and Name to receive Homage and Fidelity from the Nobility and Others within the said Dukedom and Realm of France For the Prince's Passage thither the King assigned Richard de Cortenhale and Robert Bauldron Serjeants at Arms to arrest array and equip all the Ships and Vessels of 20 Tun and upward in all Ports and Places from the River of Thames unto Lynn as well within Liberties as without to furnish them with Men and other Necessaries and to bring them to Southampton by St. Barnaby's Day at the furthest as also to press Mariners for the Voyage at the Kings Wages and further he had given Commission to John Beauchamp Admiral of the Sea Westward and to Thomas Hogshaw Lieutenant to carry the Prince over with Power to hear and determin all Crimes and Trespasses committed on Board and to punish Delinquents according to Maritime Law and to do all other things appertaining to their Places Before their Setting forth * Knighton p. 2608. n. 57. there was seen a Prodigy in the Air which was construed to portend Victory to the English For there appeared two great Banners in the Firmament the one Gules the other Azure which were evidently observed in many Parts of the Kingdom and seem'd as it were in manner of Combating to rush violently against each other But in the end the Banner Gules overcame that which was Azure and seem'd to lay it prostrate on the Ground Soon m Stow ibid. after the Prince of Wales sailing prosperously from Seton-Haven in Devonshire landed in the Port of Garonne where he was honourably welcom'd by the Lords and Prelates of Gascogne who together with the People of that Country received him with great joy and proffer'd as unto the Son of their Liege Lord themselves and all they had and even to live and die with him on Condition that he would tarry in those Parts for their Defence King John had before this disposed his Armies in several Places about the Havens in Normandy and in other Parts to impeach the Landing of King Edward and of the Prince his Son But these Frenchmen lay so long thereabouts that together with their Auxiliaries hired from foreign Parts they wasted their own Country as bad as if they had been Enemies themselves and idly consum'd out of the French Kings Cossers so many thousand Crowns that afterwards he was so thinly attended that upon King Edwards Arrival he was not able to encounter him but fled before him burning his own Towns and destroying all manner of Provision that the English might find neither Meat nor Harbour For thô King Edward and his Son intended an early Campagne this Year yet they were both hindred by ill Weather for above fourty Days All which time the French stood ready to receive them but being with this long stay wearied out and their Provision wasted when the English came to land
made above an hundred thousand Men. When any were taken and question'd why they did such Devilish deeds they had nothing to say but that they could not help it they only did as they saw others do it being their design to destroy all the Nobles and Gentlemen in the World. One day the King of Navarre slew of these People above 3000 near Clermont in Beauvoisin and at the same time there came out of Prussia from the Holy War Gaston Phoebus Earl of Foix and his Cousin John Greilly Lord of Kendale and Benanges and Knight of the Garter commonly called the Captal of Buche a true and constant Lover of the English Nation When the Truce was taken between the two Realms this Noble and Valiant Gentleman with the Lord r Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 4. Walter Fauconberg an English Baron and several others as well French and Gascogners as English went into Prusses to fight against the Enemies of the Christian Religion and being now upon their Return on the Borders of France they heard of the great havock these unhappy Multitudes made among the Nobility and that the Dutchess of Normandy and the Duke of Orleans and his Dutchess with more than 300 other Ladies and Gentlewomen were in great fear fled unto the City of Meaux for refuge Wherefore the foresaid Lords agreed to go and comfort these Ladies and to offer their Lives in their service for thô the Captal and other English Lords were there yet a Truce being now between the two Kings they might safely ride thrô any part of that Kingdom and besides the Cause it self was able to justifie them all the Country standing in need of such Protectors They were in all Threescore most accomplish'd Men of Arms Lords and Knights besides their Esquires and servants all who were well provided for War and being come in time to Meaux they were heartily welcome to the Duke of Orleans and the Ladies with him and immediately the French Lords and Gentlemen thereabouts joyn'd them The mean while the Rascals of the Jaquerie hearing what a Number of Ladies Gentlewomen and Noblemens Children were gather'd together in Meaux taking unto them the Rebels of Valois and some of the Commons of Paris marched thither as to a certain Prize Upon their first setting forth they were about 9000 and every day they encreased as they passed on till they came to Meaux the Commons of which City out of Fear as they pretended or rather in connivance at their Wickedness set open their Gates and gave them leave to enter Immediately all the Streets were full of them even to the Market-place where all the Nobles Knights and Ladies were lodged in a strong house environ'd by the River of Marne Yet notwithstanding the Presence of these Valiant Knights when the Ladies saw such Multitudes of the Rabble coming against them they were in an heavy taking for doubt of their Lives and Honour But at that instant the Earl of Foix the Lord John Greilly the Lord Fauconberg and their Company being all gallantly mounted rode toward the Gate that looks to the Market-place and sallied forth in Warlike Order setting fiercely upon the Levellers who were but indifferently Armed and held but little Array being more ignorant in the Arts of War than in the Practise of Brutish Cruelty Besides the Three Lords aforesaid there was also the Duke of Orleans with his Banner and their whole Number exceeded not 500 but they were all well-armed Expert and Gallant Men and led on by Captains of High Courage and Conduct Wherefore when this Rascally Rabble saw these Warriers all in shining Armour sallying forth on their Barbed Horses ready to Defend the Place the foremost of them gave back in great Confusion and the Gentlemen fell in upon them with swords Spears and Battle-Axes But when the Barbarous Clowns felt and saw the mighty stroaks they gave and how nothing they had could resist them they all began to turn their backs and for haste fell foul upon one another Then all the Noblemen having quitted the Barriers and won the Head of the Street rushed forth in good Martial Order and flew in with great Fury among the thickest of their Enemies whom they beat down by heaps and slew them like Beasts driving them before their faces so hastily that Hundreds of them leap'd into the River In short they slew of them that day more than 7000 and not one of them had escaped but that the Victors were so wearied with the Execution that they were not able to follow the Chace and pick them up from all parts where they were scatter'd Now at last when all these Men of Arms were return'd to the Town with one consent they set it on fire and burnt it to the ground and all the Commons of the Town whom they could enclose therein because they had so perfidiously taken part with the Jaquerie and let them in at their Gates Their Captain Jaques the Good-man being here taken alive was sent to the Dauphin ſ In Gestis Innocent VI. apud Besqu vid. Odor Rainald ad ann 1359. §. 1. who understanding that he had assumed the Name of a King caused him to be Crown'd with a Trevet or the Three-legged Frame of an Iron Skellet red-hot and so to be hang'd in Requital of all his Barbarous Cruelties After this notable Discomfiture and the terrible Example done upon Meaux they were never able to make any considerable Head again For the young Lord Ingelram de Coucy a Valiant Baron both of t Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 761. England and France with certain flying Troops of both Nations scoured about thrô all the Country and still as fast as he could pick them up he put them to Death without pity IV. But neither yet were the intestine Broils of France allayed for by reason of the King of Navarre's popularity especially because he presum'd to retain certain Englishmen at his wages within Paris it self the u Frois c. 183. Duke of Normandy doubting the Event of such open Insolence as also the seditious Designs of the Provost of the Merchants and his Abettors left the City in Displeasure with those Friends he had about him and rode to Pont-Charenton on the River Marne where he began to Muster Men of War and presently sent his Defiance to Stephen Marcell the Provost and all his Partakers The Provost was mightily startled at this and doubted greatly that some time or other the Duke would come upon them in the Night and over-run the City for at that time Paris had neither deep Trenches nor any other Defence in a manner except those Walls of Bone her Inhabitants Then immediately he set Labourers and Pioneers to work about the City who made large and deep Trenches and began High Walls and strong Gates and Bastions and other Defences there being 300 Men continually employed about the Work for the space of one whole Year Surely it was a Mark of Extraordinary Greatness to furnish an Army and at
before the King had left England he gave command that all the French Prisoners should be separately put in divers strong Castles and that the French King himself and his Son Philip should be surely kept in the Tower of London without any such liberty as he had before And the Lord Thomas f Walsing hist p. 166. Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 169. of Woodstock the Kings Youngest Son being then scarce Five Years of Age was now constituted his Fathers Lieutenant and Lord Warden of England during this his intended Absence in France several of the most Politick Prelates and Counsellours of the Realm being appointed to act under his Authority There were also ordained certain Lords Knights and Esquires with their several Retinues to look to the Defence of the Realm and to be still ready to defend the Marches Castles and Havens of the same And things being thus settled at home the King himself with his Four Sons rode forth to Sandwich in Kent where he intended to go on board with all his Army The Kings Summons at this time had been particularly severe for except such and such none were permitted to stay at home g Knighton p. 2623. n. 10. between the Age of Twenty and Threescore So that after many Thousands had been turned back for some fault or other there remain'd at least an h Mezeray Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 53. p. 539. Walsing hist p. 166. 100000 of the most chosen Men and the best Arm'd throughout the whole Isle of Brittain And to receive them and their Provision there lay ready rigged at Sandwich 1123 Sail of Ships the latter i Matt. Villani l. 9. c. 53 p. 539. 123 Sail being those very Ships which had already convey'd the Duke of Lancaster to Calais with an infinite Quantity of Provision to be laid up in Magazines against the Kings coming King Edward therefore being come to Sandwich and having seen all his Men Muster'd between Sandwich and Dover declared aloud to all his Chief Captains and caused to be proclaim'd thrô the Army k M. S. Vet. Anglan Bibl. C.C.C. Cantabr c. 230. â—â—teri emnes That it was his Resolution to go over into France and never to return again alive till either by War he should have ended the Controversie or else obtain a Peace both to his Honour and Advantage otherwise that he would loose his Life in the Attempt And therefore said he if there are any among You that is not very willing to partake with me in whatever God shall please to send us Honour or Dishonour Peace or War Life or Death that Man hath now my Free leave to depart But of this sort of Men there was not one found in this Army For they all answer'd They were resolved to live and die with their Warlike King. Hereupon the King took shipping at Sandwich in the Dertmouth the 28 day of October being the Festival of St. Simon and Jude and a Monday inter auroram diei ortum Solis as the Words of the Record express and landed that Evening at Calais l Circà horanâ— Vesperarum Claus 33. Ed. 3. m. 9. Dorso vid. Ashmele p. 669. about the time of Evening Prayer Being thus happily arrived order was given to empty the Ships of all the Horses Armour and Provision and the next day the King held a Council of War to consider what Course to take Some were for advising him first to invade Flanders and Revenge all the Injurious and Unfaithfull dealing of the Flemmings But He who came over with a Design to reduce France to equal terms or to waste it with Fire and Sword rejected that Counsel as not so convenient for the present and commanded that all Men should be ready within five days saying that he intended to ride after his Cousin the Duke of Lancaster So early in a Morning m Frois c. 207. Holinsh p. 964. on the Fourth of November being a Monday he left Calais with all his Men and Carriages in the best Order that ever was us'd by any Army marching out of a Town The mean while the Duke of Lancaster who according to his Orders was returning toward Calais being now within four Leagues of that Place met with such Multitudes of Souldiers that they seem'd to cover the Face of the whole Country all so richly beseen with Feathers in their Crests their Arms bright and shining and their Banners and Ensigns waving in the Air that it seem'd to him the most Delightfull thing in the World to behold them marching all in Battle Array fair and softly When the Duke and the German Lords met the King he received them very graciously and feasted them Royally But after Dinner the Lords Strangers as Almains Brabanders Hainalders and other Mercenaries came all together before the King and told him how they had spent all their Money and pawn'd and sold all their jewels and other Goods except only their Horses and Armour So that little or nothing was left them wherewithall to do him any Service according to the Design of their coming nor yet had they enough left to bear their Charges home into their own Countries if they should now go home Wherefore they humbly entreated his Majesty that of his Royal Bounty he would please to take their case into consideration The King told them how their Proposal being unexpected he could not at that present give them a full and final answer but said he Gentlemen I think you are sufficiently wearied at this time wherefore go and refresh your selves and your Beasts at Calais for three or four days and to night or to morrow when I have advised with my Privy Council I will take Care to send You such an answer as may in reason content You. With that they took their leave of the King and of the Duke who now joyn'd him and so rode forward toward Calais by that time they had ridden about half a League farther they met with a vast Number of Carriages after which came the Prince of Wales in the Head of his Great Battail Arm'd most gloriously at all Points His shield of Arms which were France and England quarter'd over all a Labell of Three points Argent was richly diapred with Gold the same being curiously embossed and depicted with Embroidery on his Surcoat and the Caparisons of his Horse and on his Crest was a Lion gorged with a Labell as afore All his Men likewise were gallantly Armed and for Multitude seem'd to overspread the whole Country Thus the Black-Prince rode fair and softly ready ranged in Battle Array as thô he had been to engage immediately being still distant a League or two after the King his Father for the Carriages took up the space between and having a Wing both of Horse and Foot on each side Which Order the Strangers were extreamly taken with But when they had view'd this gallant Appearance and Reverently saluted the Prince and his Lords and were likewise received
and other great Lords in other Villages about the City which the King now design'd to block up Within the Place at that time was the Lord John de Craon Archbishop of Rheims the Earl of Porcien and Sr. Hugh Porcien his Brother the Lord de la Bonne the Lord of Carency the Lord of Annore the Lord of Lore and divers other Captains Knights and Esquires of those Parts King Edward intended after his manner to offer them the choice of his Favour before he gave them a tast of his Fury and many times y Matt. Villant l. 9. c. 67. p. 549 he proffer'd them by his Heralds to exalt and magnifie their City above all others in France if they would give their Consent that he should there receive the Crown of France promising to use them all most graciously But when he saw that he was not heard believing that they did thus because they were ashamed to surrender without having received any Loss he began to threaten them with a long Siege and the Desolation of their Land if they refused to do what he demanded But neither fair Overtures nor foul did avail any thing For by Common Assent this was their Answer That they had their Lawfull King to whom they intended whilst they had Breath in their Bodies to be loyal true and faithfull and if he used Force against them they design'd to defend themselves by Force Nor were these Mens Deeds disagreeable to their Words for they maintain'd their Loyalty so well that the Place suffer'd no great Dammage during the whole Siege which lasted from the Feast of St. Andrew till the beginning of Lent. For besides that the City was very Defensible and well provided of all things the King would not suffer any Assault to be made because he would preserve his Army entire for a greater purpose And truly the Lords of England wanted a little Rest at that time for they began their Siege in the Heart of Winter and there were high Winds and much Rain about St. Andrews and they wanted Litter for their Horses for the Country had layen in a manner waste for well nigh two or three Years before so that little Forage was to be got abroad under 10 or 12 Leagues off whereby there fell many dangerous Rencounters wherein the English sometime wan and sometimes also lost VI. During this Siege several strong Detachments were sent abroad from the Army especially into the Country of Rhetelois in Champagne to Warcq to Mazieres to Donchery and to Mouson some whereof would absent from the Camp three or four Days together ravaging and plundering the Country and then return again to the Camp before Rheims At that same time Sr. Eustace Dambreticourt being newly redeem'd from Prison had begun to manifest by his Hostilities in France that he was at liberty He had lately won z Vid. l. 3. c. 4. §. 9. p. 561. by Surprize the Town of Attigny on the River Aisne in Retelois where he found plenty of Provision of all sorts but especially of good Wines whereof he sent the greater part to the King of England and his Son the Prince then lying at the Siege of Rheims who received it very kindly at his Hands Among the divers Adventures which fell during this Siege it happen'd that the Duke of Lancaster the Earls of Richmond and March the Lord John Chandos the Lord James Audley the Lord Bartholomew Burwash the Lord of Mucidan and Sr. Richard Pountchardon rode forth about the Fields of Châlons in Champaigne where 't is believed that a Ano. Dom. 453. Attila King of the Hunns was overthrown with the Loss of an Hundred and Eighty Thousand Men by the joynt Forces of Merovee King of France Theodoric or Therry King of the Gothes and Aetius the General of the Roman Empire Thô Jornandes makes this Battle to have been fought near unto Tholouse and not to Chálons However in these Fields the foresaid English Lords ranged till they b Frois c. 208. Knighton p. 2621. True use of Armory p. 54. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 788 c. came to Cernoy en Dormois a fair and strong Castle which upon view they resolved to attempt For it was a place of considerable moment In this Castle there were two Valiant Knights Captains the Chief whereof was Sr. John Caples who bare for his Arms Or a Cross Ancree Sable The English assaulted the Castle vigorously till the Lord Mucidan being among the foremost was slain with a stone from the Walls to the infinite regret of the English Lords and especially of his own Men the Gascogners who loved him entirely for his winning Carriage and resolute Conduct So that upon his Death all the Lords sware that they would not stir a foot thence till they had taken the Place and revenged the blood of so worthy a Gentleman And then the Assault was renew'd with all the Fury imaginable The Gascogners especially being enraged at their Loss plunged into the Ditches like Madmen without any care of themselves and approached the Walls and mounted up with their Targets over their heads while the Archers of England sent their Arrows so thick together that the Enemy durst hardly appear upon the Walls at their Defences and whoever did but presume to peep over was in evident Danger of their shot By this means thô not without the loss of many Men the Castle was at last taken by force and the two Captains only with some few Esquires received to Mercy all the rest were put to the Sword as Sacrifices to the Ghost of the Lord of Mucidan Thence they c Knightâ—n p. 2621. n. 20. Dugd. 1 Vol. p. 7â—8 marched about two Leagues farther to Autry en Dormois lying on the River Aisne which was accounted stronger than Cernoy but before they came thither the Inhabitants fled Thence they went back to St. Menehou in Champaigne a fortified Town also whence upon their approach the Inhabitants fled likewise whereupon they all returned to the Camp before Rheims and related to the King what they had won and whom they had lost VII Near this d Frof c. 208. time the inconstant and turbulent King of Navarre fell off again from the Dauphin without any known cause or provocation and leaving Paris of a sudden retired to Mante on the River Seyne whence he sent his Defiance to the Duke and his Brethren who wonder'd upon what Pretence or Title he thus renew'd his Hostilities Under pretence however of his Quarrel an Esquire of Brussels named Walter Ostraste surprized the strong Castle of Rolebois on the Seyne about a League from Mante where he kept a Garrison which did afterwards very much incommode the Parisians and the Vicinage While the Siege c Frois ibid. before Rheims lasted the Lord of Gomegines an Hainalder who went to England with a Message to the Queen from King Edward when he sent the Lords Strangers back to Calais repassed the Sea now again and rode into Hainalt
flang away in a Field and went to London to sell their ill-gotten Goods but afterwards being themselves rob'd of all their Gains and thereupon confessing their Sacrilege they received their reward at the Gallows Among other Instances of these licentious Robbers violence and contempt of the Law Peter King of Cyprus himself as he rode about here in England with a small Attendance in confidence of King Edwards protection was g Walsing hist p. 173. n. 30. set upon by a Gang of these Fellows and inhumanely strip'd and rob'd of all he had about him Which with other things might easily give occasion to Foreigners of concluding our Nation Uncourteous Barbarous and Inhospitable but that it is not the part of discreet Judges to attribute that unto an whole People in general which is only the Character of the most rascally and villanous sort of Theeves among that People However King Edward was extreamly incensed hereat and did what he could to bring the Authors to condign punishment and in order thereto granted unto the City of London more ample power to do Justice and to deliver up Prisoners within their Liberties to the Kings Justices as they used to do before thô without Licence XI About this time King David of Scotland h Knighton p. 2627. n. 10. came also into England to visit King Edward and to see if he might obtain a Relaxation of some part of his Ransom but we don't hear any thing of his Success therein However he stayed some time here as well in respect to King Edward as for the sake of the Kings of Cyprus and Denmark whom he had never seen before So that shortly after King John of France coming also into England there were present here at one time Four Stranger Kings as John King of France David King of Scotland Peter King of Cyprus and Waldemar King of Denmark This Year i Knighton p. 2627. n. 50. Walsingh hist p. 173. n. 30. Fabian p. 246. M.S. ver Angl. in Bib. C.C.C. Cantabâ—c 232. Sr. Rich. Baker p. 143. c. it is remembred that there happen'd a grievous hard Frost attended with an unusual Cold which continued from the Seventh of September as some say thô others have December to the Fourteenth of the Kalends of April following which was Occasion of incredible Harm as well to the Land in General as to poor People in Particular CHAPTER the TENTH The CONTENTS I. King John of France comes over into England II. King Edward gives him an honourable Reception III. An Alderman of London entertains Five Kings at one Time. IV. The King of Cyprus returns into France and visits the Black-Prince then Prince of Aquitam by whom he is received with great Honour V. King John sickens and dies in England VI. The King of Navarre on News thereof breaking out again the Duke of Normandy sends for Sr. Bertram of Clequin to oppose him A Story of Sr. Bertrams Original VII Sr. Bertram by Stratagem takes Mante and Meulan from the Navarrois VIII The King of Navarre makes the Captal of Busche his General who prepares to ride against Sr. Bertram of Clequin IX Sr. Bertram reinforced the Lord Beaumont de la Val taken Prisoner by Sr. Guy of Granville a Navarrois X. King John's Funeral Rites performed in England his Body buried in France a Day appointed for the Coronation of the Duke of Normandy XI The Particulars of the famous Battle of Cocherel between the Captal of Busche and Sr. Bertram of Clequin wherein the Captals Forces are overthrown and himself taken Prisoner XII Sr. Guy of Granville saves the Life of his Father the Lord Granville and redeems him by Exchange for the Lord Beaumont de la Val. XIII Charles Duke of Normandy Crown'd King of France at Rheims and makes his Brother Philip Duke of Burgundy XIV Sr. Bertram buyes the Castle of Rolebois the Duke of Burgundy sent with an Army to reduce the rest The Army dividing into three Bodies acts separately under the Duke Sr. Bertram and the Lord de la Riviere XV. Prince Lewis of Navarre grows strong about Bourbonnois a Party of his takes la Charité by Surprise XVI The Duke of Burgundy wins Marcheville and besieges Cameroles The Lord de la Riviere takes Aquigny by Composition Cameroles won and demolished AN. DOM. 1364. An. Regni Angliae XXXVIII Connay besieged XVII Prince Lewis and his Garrison of la Charité do their Pleasure The Earl of Monbelliard invading Burgundy King Charles remands the Duke thither who yet takes Connay first and then goes and chaces away the Earl of Monbelliard and wasts his Lands XVIII The Constable of France lays Siege to la Charité and is enforced by the Duke of Burgundy XIX The Place taken by Composition I. KING John of France who had all this while made vast Preparations for the Holy War which he had so solemnly undertaken a Frois c. 218. fol. 114. was now at the City of Amiens in Picardy with all the Lords of his Council before whom he seriously declared That he had a Mind to cross the Seas and pay a Visit to his Brother of England and the Queen his Sister for which cause he had assembled them to let them know his Resolution All his Council for the main were against this so rash Attempt as they thought it of their Kings and several of their Prelates and Barons told him plainly That it would not be either for his Honour or Advantage so easily to put himself into the power of a Reconciled Enemy Messteurs said King John let me believe my own Judgment I have found by Experience so much Faith and Honour in the King of England my Brother and in the Queen and their Children that I can never commend them too highly Wherefore as to that Point I am confident they will embrace me with all Sincerity and Friendship I desire also to confer Personally with King Edward about this Croisade which we have undertaken and besides I intend to excuse my Son the Duke of Anjou who like an indiscreet Young Man by his Unlicensed Return into France has entrenched upon my Honour To these Words none durst make a Rejoinder for they saw he was absolutely determin'd as to that Matter Then the King appointed his Son Charles the Dauphin to be again his Lieutenant and Regent of the Realm during his Absence and he promised the Lord Philip his youngest Son to make him at his Return Duke of Burgundy and Inheritor of that Dutchy And so Order being given to provide all things necessary for the Voyage at Boulogne he rode from Amiens to Hesdin where he solemnised the Festival of our Lords Nativity together with Earl Lewis of Flanders who came thither to meet him and tarried with him four Days On St. Innocents Day he left Hesdin and went to Boulogne where he took up his Lodgings in the Abbey expecting till the Wind might serve having in his Company the Earl of Eu the Earl of Dampmartin
And still he set men secretly to enquire among them as it were of their own Heads what they would really do if the Peace were once broken between England and France whether they would stand firm to the latter or no. And they always reply'd That if the War were once open the French King should not need to trouble himself about any such thing For they said they themselves were strong enough to menage the War against the Prince and all his Power and that when once they were own'd by the King of France they would like good Subjects live and die in his Quarrel Besides all these Conferences which that Wise Prince held before he would venture upon a Breach of the Peace he tamper'd also secretly with many others of other Parts that were then under the English Dominion as particularly with the Burgesses of Abbeville a strong and fair City of Ponthieu in Picardy to sift out whether or no on such an Occasion they would admit of the French Government and they answer'd how they desired nothing so much in all the World if they durst they hated the English so mortally Thus the French King cunningly gat him Friends on all hands or else he durst never have done what he did For he knew it was no small matter to hold War against King Edward and his Son the Prince of Wales who had put his Father and Grandfather to so much Trouble And for these his Fine Dealings he obtain'd of the French Nation the Title of Charles le Sage or the Wise thô surely the Title of his Father was more worthy of a Christian Monarch for that was le Bon the Good. A little before this namely h 〈…〉 Chron. 〈◊〉 ad ann 1 68. on the 3d of December in the preceding Year being the first Sunday in Advent was born unto King Charles of France his Eldest Son Charles who was baptised by that Name on the Wednesday following being the 6 of December and the Feast of St. Nicolas the Bishop and Confessor in the Church of St. Paul near Paris And within a few Days after was born unto the Lord of Albret his Eldest Son also At the Birth of which Two who were Cosen Germans all the Realm of France rejoyced but especially the King himself V. Thus the French i Frois c. 243. Du Chesne Du Serres King being on all hands urged and perswaded did at last suffer Letters of Citation to be framed therewith to summon the Prince of Aquitain forthwith to make his Personal Appearance before Him in his Chamber of Peers to answer to the Complaints there to be made against him And this Letter was principally devised by the Earl of Armagnac the Lord of Albret the Earl of Perigort the Earl of Cominges the Vicount of Carmain the Lord de la Barde the Lord of Pincornet and the rest of the Malecontents of Gascogne who had been the principal Occasion of all this And when the Letter of Summons was drawn up and duly corrected by all the Greatest Heads in France then it was concluded by the King and his Council that it should be sent unto the Prince without any more ado And two Persons were pitch'd upon to execute this Office the one named Bernard Pelot who was Judge Criminal of Tholouse and the other a Knight of Beausse called Sr. John Chapponeau Which two with their Servants departed accordingly from Paris and took their way toward Poictou and so passed thrö Tourain Poictou and Sainctogne till they came to Blaye where they crossed the Garonne and so proceeded to Bourdeaux where at that time the Prince and Princess held their Court. And still in all Places where they came they declared how they were Messengers from the French King upon which account they gain'd the better Welcome every where Being come to Bourdeaux they took up their Lodgings for that Night and the next Morning at a convenient Hour went to the Abby of St. Andrews where the Prince kept his Court and were received handsomly When the Prince heard that Messengers from the French King were arrived at his Court he caused them to be brought before him And they being come into his Presence kneeled down to pay their Reverence and so deliver'd unto him first their Credentials The Prince having read these Letters said Gentlemen You are welcome Let us now know the business you are charged with unto Vs Then the Doctor began Right Dear Sir here is another Letter which being deliver'd unto us at Paris by our Lord the French King we promised on our Allegiance to publish openly in your presence For Sir they concern your Person nearly At this the Prince began to change Colour as wondring what the Matter might be as also did all the other Lords and Knights that were about him nevertheless He refrained Himself and said Speak on Sirs what you have to say Good Tidings We would be glad to hear Hereupon the Doctor took the Writing forth and began to read it aloud and distinctly word for word this being the k Frois c. 243. f. 147. b. Da Chesne l. 15. p. 699. D. Tenor thereof viz. CHARLES by the Grace of God King of France to our Nephew the Prince of Wales and of Aquitain Greeting Whereas divers Prelates Barons Knights Vniversities and Colleges of the Marches and Limitations of the Country of Gascogne dwelling and inhabiting on the Borders of our Realm with several others of the Country and Dutchy of Aquitain have withdrawn themselves unto Vs in our Court to have Right of certain Grievances and undue Molestations which You by weak Counsel and slight Information have purposed to do unto them and at which thing we are surprised with wonder To obviate therefore and remedy the said Matters We l l Nous nous sommes ahers aherdons avec eux are so strictly engaged unto them that by our Majesty Royal and Sovereignty We command You to come to our City of Paris in proper Person and there to shew and present Your Self before Vs in our Chamber of Peers to hear Right concerning the said Complaints and Griefs moved by You to do upon your People who claim to have and to hear Resort in our Court And that herein there be no fail but that it be done as speedily as you can after sight of these Letters In witness whereof We have set our Seal to these Presents Given at Paris the Twenty fifth Day of the Month of January When the Prince had heard and seen these Letters he was horribly incensed and shook his Head for Anger and beheld the Frenchmen with Eyes flaming with Fury and having paused a little to correct his Passion somewhat he returned this Answer Gentlemen We will gladly go to Paris to our Vncle since he hath thus handsomly invited Vs but I 'll assure you that shall be with Helmet on our Head and sixty thousand Men in our Company At this the two Frenchmen kneeling down in great Fear said
of the Assumption past over without the appearance of any One in the King of England's behalf he sent word to the Earl of Foix the Vicount of Chastel-Bon to the Lords of Mont de Marsan of Chastelneuve and of Lescar and to the Abbot of St. Sever letting them know that if they did not now stand to their Bargain he would forthwith put all their Hostages to Death and after that enter their Lands with such a Power as to oblige them all to cry Mercy Hereupon they all freely submitted themselves and their Lands to the Obedience of the French King and the Inhabitants also of Moissac which was a Fair Garrison open'd their Gates and their Chief Burgesses went out with the Keys to the Duke of Anjou rendring their Fealty and Homage unto him as unto the French Kings Lieutenant Then the Duke and all the Lords with him enter'd the Town and tarried there 18 days during which time they had Counsel which way to draw next for the Month of August was past at which time the Truce was ended and as yet there was no News of the Duke of Lancaster's being at Calais to renew the Truce wherefore now again the War was open So after this Success the Duke went with his Army before la Reole which he besieged three days and on the Fourth was received into the Town the Inhabitants returning to the Obedience of the French King. After that the Duke took in Langon St. Macari Condom St. Bazeille or Basil la Tour de la Prudence Mauleon la Tour de Drû and other Towns and Castles to the Number of Fourty in all the last being the strong Town of Auberoche in Perigort in all which he set good Garrisons VI. When things were thus happily settled and in a manner all Gascogne and Guienne except Baionne and Bourdeaux were thus either conquer'd or revolted from the English the Duke of Anjou and the Constable being sent for by the French King gave leave to their Men to go whither they would and they themselves return'd into France But the Lords of Clisson of Beaumanoir of Roye of Riom and of Anaugeur with the Vicount of Rohan and of Lavalle and many more went to the Siege of Becherel which was not yet yielded up nor was to yield till the Feast of All-Saints by which time it had been covenanted that if it was not rescued it should be yielded And now these Lords went thither because they heard that the Duke of Bretagne Sr. Robert Knolles and the Lord Edward Spencer would be there in Person to raise the Siege Thô in the end this Rumor prov'd false and no Succour coming Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard yielded up the Place and return'd into England as We said before VII It may be remembred that we h Vid. L. 4. c. 6. §. 29. p. 781. shew'd how Sr. Hugh de Chastillon Master of the Crossbows of France was taken near Abbeville by Sr. Nicolas Lovaine and carried Prisoner into England Ever since that even for the space of near five Years he continued in that Condition and could not be redeem'd because they asked so great a Ransom for him Thô now by the Assistance of a certain Merchant of Flanders he paid down 20000 Franks being but the Moiety of what he was to pay but when this Merchant by paying that Summ had got him out of England he escap'd all further Obligation by a subtle Device too long to be remembred here and perhaps the Recital would rather instruct Knaves than pleasure Honest Men. However when thus Sr. Hugh de Chastillon was return'd into France King Charles restor'd unto him his Office of Master of the Crossbows and sent him to Abbeville his old Province there to keep the Frontiers with 200 Men of Arms in his Company and he was obey'd as Chief by all the Captains of the Neighbour-Garrisons as Sr. John of Bournonville Captain of Boulogne and Sr. John Lisle Captain of Dieppe and the Captains of Teronenne St. Omers of Liques Fiennes and Montrevil Now it happen'd one Morning that the Lord of Gomegines who was still Loyal to King Edward being an Hainalder by Birth and by him made Captain of Ardres a Town of Picardy about three leagues from Calais prepared early one Morning to ride abroad so together with the Lord John of Vbrues he left his Garrison with about 800 Men of Arms collected from several Places with a Design to ride towards Boulogne to seek for some Adventure That same Morning it chanced that Sr. John Bournonville Captain of Boulogne had left his Garrison with 60 Spears and rode towards Calais with a like Design But when he had met with nothing of that kind as he was returning not well pleased that he had succeeded no better he met with this Lord of Gomegines who had been riding towards Boulogne with his Men. The Captain of Boulogne at sight of this great Power drove down another way which he knew as fast as ever his Horse could carry him but he was so closely pursued that he lost 14 of his Men of Arms and very narrowly escaped himself with the rest After which Chace the Lord of Gomegines was returning homeward not thinking to meet with any more Adventures But it happen'd otherwise For that same Morning St. Hugh Chastillon Master of the Crossbows had left his Garrison also with 300 Spears of Artois Vermandois and other Countries whom he had collected from the Neighbour-Fortresses for that Purpose At which very time the young Earl of St. Pol being newly come into Picardy from his Lands in Lorraine was riding on a Pilgrimage to our Lady of Boulogne But hearing by the way that the Master of the Crossbows was riding thitherward also he went and joyned him and rode with him first before Ardres where they tarried a while in the Field altogether to shew themselves to the Garrison not knowing any thing that the English were abroad at that time no more than the English knew where they were When the Frenchmen had been a while before Ardres and saw none would offer to come out against them they rode back as far as the Abbey of Liques But upon their departure there presently rode forth out of Ardres an Englishman who taking several By-ways as one that well knew the Country met at last with the Lord of Gomegines as he was returning toward Ardres to whom he told how the Frenchmen had been just before to view his Garrison with about 400 Spears but that now they were gone off When the Frenchmen were got a little beyond Tournehan toward the Abby of Liques they also were informed how the English were abroad with the Captain of Ardres but their Number was not known However upon the Information they agreed to meet them and so turning coasted on one side and laid an Ambush of 300 Spears whereof Sr. Hugh Chastillon was Captain in a little Wood hard by the Abbey of Liques The Earl of St. Pol being appointed
to come from the Pope to shew them That if they would return to their Duty and own themselves to hold only of his Holiness and of the Crown of France forsaking King Edward who as he said had enchanted them then he would forgive them all their Trespasses granting unto them a General Absolution and also quit them of 2000000 of Florens in which Summ they were bound unto him by a Former Obligation and that he would further procure them many Advantagious Privileges and Franchises The Flemings answer'd That they look'd upon themselves as fully acquitted already of whatsoever they were bound in to his Holiness Since they fought not against the King of France but the Usurper of that Crown King Philip being nettled with this Answer made his Complaint to the Pope and so well handled the Matter with him that contrary to the Opinion of St. Austin who says u Neque Multitudo neque Princeps Pepuli sunt excommunicandi August in Glossa ad Matth◠c. 13. That neither a Common-Wealth nor a Prince of a People ought to be excommunicated he too easily interdicted all Flanders insomuch that no Priest there durst say or sing any Divine Service while they should continue unreconciled to the Church Whereof when the Flemings complain'd bitterly to King Edward he sent them word that when he should come among them he would bring along with him Priests out of England that should sing Mass and perform Divine Service among them whether the Pope would or no For he said He had Authority and Privilege so to do And this Answer contented the Flemings But when King Philip saw he could not win them to his side by fair means then he sent command to his Garrisons of Tournay Lisle Douay and other Frontier Fortresses to make War on the Flemings and to overrun their Country According to these Orders the Lord Godmar du Fay Sr. John du Roy Sr. Matthew du Trie Marshall of Mirepoix and divers other Lords and Knights from Tournay Lisle and Doway collected a Body of 1000 Men of Arms 3000 Crossbows and Others who all together one evening setting out secretly from Tournay and riding about six leagues Northward came early the next Morning before Courtray By that time the Sun was risen they had gather'd together all the Cattel about the Town while a Party of them rode up to the very Gates and slew and hurt all whom they found without the Walls Then they return'd homeward with all their Prey which they carried clear off and found when they came to Tournay that they had got more than 10000 Sheep and of Swine Beefs and Kine as many more VII The Flemings were extreamly fretted at this Inroad of theirs but especially Jacob van Arteveld who swore to take a bloody Revenge within a little space And presently commanded the good Towns of Flanders to get ready their Quota's of Souldiers and send them to him to Geertsberg or Mount Gerard directly between Antwerp and Tournay by such a certain day in order to go with him before Tournay He wrote Letters also to the Earl of Salisbury and the Lord Robert Hufford eldest Son to the Earl of Suffolk being then at Ipres desiring them to come and meet him there at the same time He himself against the Day prefixed went out of Gaunt with his Men of War and made his Rendezvous at Mount Gerard aforesaid being on an Arm of the Skell where he resolved to stay for the Lords of England and the Men of Frank and Bruges The foresaid English Barons thought it dishonourable to delay a Matter of such Importance especially the Flemings being so forward in what they themselves on behalf of the King their Master extreamly desired wherefore they immediately dispatch'd an Answer to Jacob van Arteveld signifying that they would not fail to be with him at such a Day There was then at Ipre a Lord of Almain named Sr. Vauflart de la Croix who for a long time had made War against the Garrison of Lille by the Dutch called Ryssel whereby he was well acquainted with all the Avenues and Passages of that Country Him now the two English Lords took for their Guide and when the time appointed drew near marched out of Ipre with 50 Men of Arms and 40 Archers in their Company But as they came toward the Town of Lille either by Treason of some among them or by the Enemies Spies their Approach was signified to those of the Town who sent out beforehand 1500 Men both Horse and Foot in three several Bodies that the English might by no means escape It is likely they had at least a strong presumption some time before of this their Coming for in such a certain place they had made a great Dike where there never was any before that their Passage might be the slower and they might not slip quickly by unperceived Sr. Vauflart had guided them well till they came to this Dike but here he began to smell a Plot and making an Halt said to the English Barons My Lords now I see well you cannot pass without peril from the Garrison of Lille For this way is but newly thus stopped and without fail they have had notice of our Coming Wherefore by my advice you would do well to turn back again and take some other way But the Lords answer'd him Nay Sr. Vauflart it shall ne're be said that we went out of the way for fear of the Men of Lille therefore ride on before in Gods-name for we have promised Jacob van Arteveld to be with him as on this day And saying so they began to move forward but then Sr. Vauflart repli'd Gentlemen you have taken me in this journey for your Guide and I have been with you all this Winter in Ipres where indeed for your kind Company and singular Favours I have been particularly obliged unto you But if the Men of Lille once appear without the Walls never expect that I should stand by you For I design to save my self as soon as I may because if I am taken by them I am sure to die for it And you must pardon me if I love my Life something better than your good Company thô you are my Friends The English Lords laughed heartily at him and said Well Sr. Vauflart if it be so we freely excuse you from further Attendance And truly just as he had imagin'd so it fell out for unawares they were even then in danger of the French Ambush who cri'd out Hold Messieurs you are not like to pass this way without our Leave and at that instant they poured in a whole Flight of Arrows upon them and came out in good Order against them The Lord Vauflart had no sooner espi'd them but he turn'd his Horse and got out of the Preass as hastily as he might and setting spurs to his Horse escap'd away But the English Captains thought scorn to flinch and so rode forward till finding themselves enclos'd with their Enemies
the King was resolved to execute the Statute of Apparel and therefore charged them all to promote the same After which he demanded of both Houses whether they would have such Matters as they agreed on to be by way of Ordinance or of Statute they answer'd by way of Ordinance that they might amend the same at their Pleasure and so it was done Then the King thanked them for their Pains taken and so dismist them for that time VII A Convocation x Regist Arch. Cant. Simon Islip fol. 186. b. Selden's Titl Honor. c. 5. § 43. p. 815. of the Province of Canterbury being held this Year under Archbishop Islip the Holy-days were by a Canon retrenched to a far less Number than before which indeed amounted to few more than We now observe in England Excepting to particular places the Days of Dedication of Churches and the Saints days Patrons thereof and also the Double Festival of y Lindâ—ood de Feriis C. eâ— Scriptur is St. George liberty being left to Work on any other Saints Days VIII This Year z Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. departed this Life the Fair young Lady Elizabeth Dutchess of Clarence leaving one only Daughter behind her by Duke Lionel her Husband called Philippa who afterwards was Married to Edmund Mortimer Third Earl of March Lord and Baron of Wigmore Trim Clare and Connaught as also of the Lordship and Town of Ludlow By him She had Roger Mortimer Fourth Earl of March whose Son Edmund dying without Issue his Daughter Anne was Married to Richard Plantagenet Earl of Cambridge Son to Edmund Langley Duke of York Fifth Son of King Edward the Third and so convey'd her Title to her Son Richard Duke of York who thereupon openly challenged the Crown of King Henry the Sixth the Son of Henry the Fifth the Son of Henry the Fourth the Son of John of Gaunt King Edwards Fourth Son when as by the Mothers side himself was the Son and Her of Anne Daughter and Heir of Roger Mortimer Son and Heir of Edmund Mortimer by the Lady Philippa sole Daughter and Heiress of Prince Lionel Duke of Clarence King Edward's Third Son. And thô this Richard failed in the attempt yet his Son Edward afterwards call'd the Fourth obtain'd the point having destroy'd the House of John of Gaunt in the Third Generation after his Son Henry of Bolingbroke had depos'd King Richard the Second by Rebellion King Edward solemnized the Funerals of this great Dutchess of Clarence and a Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 167. gave Command to the Keeper of his great Wardrobe to deliver out Four Cloths of Gold Baudekin or Tinsell and Nine of Baudekin of Lucca to be offer'd for himself and his Queen at her Funeral Her Body b Sandford's Geneal Hist p. 220. was solemnly interred in the Chancel of the Augustine Fryers at Clare in Suffolk Queen Philippa who together with the Lady Catherine Countess of Warwick and Daughter to Roger Mortimer First Earl of March had stood her Godmother took her young Daughter Philippa into her Care and Protection She being then in the Eighth Year of her Age. This Year also Edward Bailiol who was in his time King of Scotland till he resign'd his Title to King Edward of England c Knighton p. 2627. n 50. departed this Life at Doncaster in Yorkshire without Issue being the last of the Family of John Bailiol So that hereby there was no pretence left to any to disturb the Then-uncontroverted Right of David Bruce King of Scotland and consequently of Prince Robert Stuart who being the Eldest Son of King David's Eldest Sister succeeded him in the Kingdom upon King David's Dying also without Issue as we shall see about Ten Years hence On the d Gedw Catal. Bps p. 371. Walsing hist p. 173. Dagd Warw. p. 557. Fourteenth of August Dr. Ralph Shrewsbury Bishop of Bath and Wells departed this Life being succeeded by Dr. John Bernet who was translated thither from Worcester and William Wittlesey Bishop of Rochester supply'd his place at Worcester whose vacant See was filled by Dr. Thomas Trillick Dean of St. Pauls London IX About this time e Knighton p. 2627. n. 40. one Walter Winkeburne was for some Capital crime or other so violently prosecuted by one of the Knights Hospitallers that whether Guilty or no he received Judgment to be Hanged and Hanged he was Being after such a time cut down as he was carried for Dead to be laid in the Church-yard of St. Sepulchers at Leicester he began to revive in the Cart and being thereupon carried for safeguard into the Church was there perfectly recover'd and carefully watched by the Clergy of Leicester lest the Sheriff should take him away to hang him again while some were sent to tell the King who was then in those Parts of the Adventure and to beg his Charter of pardon since the Person had in a manner satisfied the Law and that his miraculous Recovery might seem no bad Argument of his Innocency Accordingly King Edward presently after granted him his Charter of pardon in the Abbey of Leicester saying these Words which Knighton affirms that himself heard from him Since God hath given him Life I 'll give him my Charter Such another Case happen'd at London in my Time about the Year 1670 upon the Body of one Savage an hopefull young Man who gave great testimony of his Repentance both before and at the place of Execution After he had hung a full Half Hour his Body being granted to his Friends for Burial they perceiving some signs of Life to remain put him into a warm Bed and at last perfectly recover'd him thô by his own Confession he had been guilty of the Murther and Robbery laid to his Charge But he had not such Fortune as this Walter Winkeburne for before King Charles the Second could be made acquainted with the Accident the Sheriff having an inkling of the matter by the indiscretion of his Friends came and took him away to the Gallows again where finally he died X. In this Season either because the Wars being now ended those who had been Souldiers had rather do any thing than return to their former Occupations or thrô relaxation of Discipline there Å¿ Knighton p. 2628. n. 10 c. arose Swarms of Theeves and High-way Men in several parts of England who set upon Travellers and brake up Houses and robbed Churches and the Shrines of Saints and carried away the more pretious Reliques and all the Rich Offerings Particularly they robbed the Abbey of Thornton in Leicestershire and took away the Image of our Lady of Mirivale out of her Chappel and the Image of our Lady of Monks-Kirkby and the like they did in many other places thô most of the Authors were taken and hanged Some of these People stole away the Head of St. Hugh formerly Bishop of Lincoln which after they had spoiled it of all the Gold Silver and precious Stones belonging unto it they
was marching Wherefore he desir'd that for the present he might be let alone on Condition that neither He nor His should make any War unless some Violence was offer'd on the French part But that if the Heritors and Lords of Gascogne should be reduced by him then he also would yield up unto him and in all things do as they should do To this the Duke agreed receiving of the Abbot Hostages for his true performance which Pledges he sent to Perigueux and so drew toward the Town of Lourde in Bigorre to which he laid his Siege and then summon'd the Garrison to yield The Townsmen would willingly have agreed to the motion but the Knight that govern'd the Place said stoutly That since the Earl of Foix had deliver'd it to his Care he was resolv'd by no means to resign it up into the hands of any other Person living With which answer the Constable and the Duke of Anjou were so nettled that they commanded a general Assault to be made So that at last the Place was carried by force and the Captain and most of his Men slain with all the Inhabitants Men Women and Children and the Town rased and given up to the Plunder Nevertheless they left a Garrison in the Castle at their Departure Thence they Marched into the Lands belonging to Chastel Bon ravaging all about as far as Chastelneuf which they took and thence Marching toward Bearn they enter'd the Land of the Lord of Lescar whence they rode till they came before a good strong Town and Castle named Sailles which held of the County of Foix thô all the Lands and Arrierefiefs lay in Gascogne The Black-Prince before his Expedition into Spain had intended to call the Earl of Foix to an Account because he paid not his Duties unto him for this Place And now also the Duke of Anjou who had by this time reduced in a manner all Aquitain and look'd upon himself as Master thereof resolv'd by any means to have this Place also So he laid his Siege unto Sailles which was not at all easie to be won and beside there was within a Valiant and Expert Captain named Sr. William de Pons When the Earl of Foix heard how the Frenchmen conquer'd in his Lands and Arrierefiess which in reason he ought to hold either of the French King or of the King of England he sent for the Vicount of Chastel Bon for the Lords of Mont Marsan of Chastelneuve and Lescar with the Abbot of St. Sever who being all come to him he purchas'd a safe-Conduct and so went before Sailles to the Duke of Anjou with the foresaid Lords in his Company There at last he agreed with the Duke That both He and they with all their Lands should remain in perfect Peace till the midst of August or the Feast of the Assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary At which time there should appear before the Town of Moissac on the Tarne in the Province of Quercy an Army of the French Kings or of the King of England's part And if the English Army could keep the Field then they would hold their Lands of the King of England and if the French Army could keep the Field that day either by Battle or Non-appearance of the Enemy then they would hold their Lands of the King of France for ever Which Covenant faithfully to perform both the Earl of Foix and the other Lords gave sufficient security and so the Duke of Anjou brake up his Siege and went back to Perigueux with his whole Army For he would not let a Man be disbanded IV. But however Pope Gregory XI did now so double his Diligence in plying the Christian Work of Peacemaking by his Legates that at last a Treaty began between the Duke of Lancaster and the Duke of Anjou assurances being given to the latter at Perigueux for the Former held himself as Chief being Regent as he said for the King of England his Father So at last a firm Truce was agreed on to be held faithfully and without Fraud between Them and all their Friends Vassals and Assistants untill the last day of August the Two Dukes engaging to be present in the Marches of Picardy about the beginning of September in Order to prolong the said Truce the Duke of Lancaster at Calais and the Duke of Anjou at St. Omers Which Truce being thus taken the said Duke of Lancaster with the Duke of Bretagne the Earls of Warwick Suffolk and Stafford the Lord Edward Spencer the Lord Henry Percy the Lord Chanon Robsart the Lord Willoughby and other Lords and Knights both of England and Gascogne went on board at Bourdeaux on the Eighth of July and set sail for England Upon f Dugd. 2 Vol. p. 115. Walsing hist p. 183. n. 40. which Return of the Duke of Lancaster the People of those Parts almost totally revolted nothing being left in Aquitaine but Bourdeaux and Bayonne In Bretagne also the Captains of Becherel as Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard who had now kept that Fortress a full Year against the French that besieged them when they heard how the Duke of Bretagne was gone back into England and that now they had no hopes of any timely Succour especially since their Victuals was almost spent upon Mature Advice resolved to treat with their Enemies and to come to some agreeable Composition The Lords of Bretagne and Normandy that lay there at Siege as the Lord of Hambie Stoneville Blanville and Granville were by this time very weary and would willingly enter into any kind of Treaty but they thought best to know the French Kings Mind first and when they found that he agreed to allow their Treaty they determin'd the Matter thus That if the Duke of Bretagne or some other from the King of England did not come personally between that time and the Feast of All-Saints then next coming strong enough to raise the Siege then they within were to yield up the Place their Lives and Goods saved Which was done accordingly None appearing at the time appointed in their behalf and Sr. John Cornwall and Sr. John Appleyard with their Men and Goods took the Sea and return'd for England V. When g Frois c. 312. the Middle of August drew near which was the time limited for the Decision of High Gascogne to be made before Moissac the Duke of Anjou drew thitherward with an huge Army and kept the Field before the Place six days together All which time no body appeared for King Edward For the English all thought that because of the Truce lately taken between the Dukes of Anjou and Lancaster which was to hold to the last of August the Design about Moissac was to be given over But the Duke of Anjou and his Council were it seems of another Mind and resolved to take all Advantages they could without troubling their Heads with unprofitable Scruples of Honour Faith and Justice So when the Duke of Anjou saw once the Feast