to be their Captaine It is declared before how Iohn the sonne of Henry king of Castâ—e was by generall consent of the state admitted to the succession of the crowne This much displeased Ferdinando King of Portugall who held it a great indignity that the sonne of a bastard should be exalted to the gouernment of so great a dominion and the lawfull Kings daughters be disinherited the while of whome as we haue sayd before the Duke of Lancaster had married one and his brother the other Moued therefore with the vnworthines of the matter and also because he was alyed in bloud to the Ladies he proclaymed warres against the King of Spaine desiring ayd of the King of England who sent his vncle the Earle of Cambridge with an army hauing also in his company Isabell his wife and Iohn his sonne The Duke of Lancaster was sent into Scotland to treate with the Scottish King for the renewing of peace or at least wise to take a truce for a season During his absence there sprung vp a most perillous insurrection the occasion whereof in effect was this The country people in those places as in diuerse others hold their livings of the Nobilitie and Gentlemen in such sort as they are bound both to till their lands to fell their corne to gather it together bestowe it in their barnes thresh it dresse it and whatsoeuer else belongs vnto it they are also bound to cut their wood and carry it home to their Landlords houses Now the same time there was a certain masse priest called Sir Iohn Wallis who had preached in his sermoÌ„s to the people that equalitie ought to be obserued in all things that one man was no better then another the gentleman then the churle the rich then the poore the learned then the ignorant but all men were deriued froÌ„ the selfe same parents euen Adam Eve and that our first fore-fathers liued all after one sort without any ine quality of state or difference of persons Herewithall he perswaded them to assemble in great number and make suite to the King for redresse who because he was young might perhaps be brought to harken to their requests or if he would not then to set themselues at libertie by the sword This priest being apprenhended and committed to prison for these matters was by the Archbishop of Canterburie let loose vpon what conscience I know not but sutelie it proued to his owne sorrow and confusion For after he was once abroad he proceeded with his enterprise more boldlie then before The poorer sort of the Londoners for enuie they bare to the rich as it is commonly seene commended this course of the rebelles and by letters soll icited them to come to London promising to giue them entrance into the Citie Herevppon gathering their company together both out of all the country adioâ—ing and from some places further of wel neere to the number of threescore thousand they came to Canterburie a towne of their owne faction and there spoiled the shrine of Saint Thomas Next dare marching forwards they beat down to the ground all houses in their way which belonged not to some of their conspiracie and which way soeuer they went they compelled all husbandmen to be pertakers of their proceedings At Rochester they tooke a certaine knight by force and made him to become their leader and for assurance that he should not deceiue them made him deliuer his children into their hands for pledges When they came within a little of London they sent him to the King with this message that they were minded to haue some speech with him concerning weightie affaires and therefore that he should come forth and talke with them The King vppon deliberation made aunswere that he would performe their request So the next day accompanied with certaine lords he entred his barge and rowing neere the place where they were descended to the shore in great number expecting his comming he demaunded of them what they would with him They required that he would come out of his barge to parlie and then their demands should be declared vnto him But the King distrusting their multitude without any further communication returned backe againe Then being more vehemently mooued they hastned to London making spoile of some lawyers and gentlemens houses in their way And when they approched the Citie finding the gates shut against them they threatned to set fire on the suburbs with the cruellest effects of their furie besides and that if they entred by force it should be to the vtter destruction of all that were in it The Citizens herewith dismaid especially considering that a great number within inclined to sedition and tumult gaue them entrance They were no sooner come in but presentlie they raunged through all the tauernes and tipling houses and fell to drinking and making good cheere no man presuming so much as once to say them nay of any thing The Captaines in the mean while with some twentie thousand marching through the middest of the Citie set fire on the duke of Lancasters house and some others which they burned to the ground They put all strangers to the sword and rifled the houses of the Exchangers In the euening they assembled themselues altogether againe in a company before the tower where the King then remained and with him a great number of the chiefe of the citie openly protesting that they would neuer from thence till such time as they had obtained their purpose The King some others thought it best to haue set vpon them in the night season as they lay negligently dispersed and vnarmed ouerwhelmed with sleepe drunkeÌ„nes and so to haue defeated them Others to whome this attempt seemed daungerous and of great vncertainty in the euent iudged it better that means were made to pacifie them with some gentle and plausible oration And this counsell tooke effect The day following the King sent them word that as many as would speake with him should repaire to a certaine place where he would meete them and giue satisfaction to their demaunds Many came and many taried still in the citie especially the cheefe captaines of the sedition who assoone as the King was gone forth followed with some fower hundreth of their companions brake into the tower and there surprising the Archbishop of Canterburie Lord Chancellor of England they cut of his head and serued diuers others also of great account in the same sort whose heads they prict vpon polles and set them vp vppon the bridge and other places of greatest view and most resort in the citie When the King came to communication with the rebells he demaunded gently of them what they required Marry quoth they that thou set vs and our Children and our posteritie that shall come after vs at libertie for euer and being so enlarged maintaine and preserue vs from all manner of bondage and seruitude either in shew or substance The King promised to
by compulsion The Duke following their counsell made restitution of all and besides put euery officer in his place againe as he found them when he first seized the castles into his possession The fame hereof being presently spred into Fraunce met the commissioners also vpon the confines of Britaine Who when they came before the Duke because of his owne accord he had already performed that which otherwise they should haue requested at his handes they proceeded to the other part of their commission which was to require him that at a day prefixed he would repaire to the towne of Bloys vppon the riuer Loire there to meete and conferre with the Kings vncles The Duke condiscended and being come thither accordingly they exhorted and entreated him that for assurance and confirmation of peace he would speake with the King himselfe and doe homage vnto him as all others had done he only excepted The Duke as one that was not ignorant how great enemies he had about the King namely the Constable and Iohn his Son lately set free out of England discreetly and earnestly excused himselfe Neuertheles after the Kings vncles had made him faithfull promise that he should both goe and returne in safety without any offence or interruption he was contented at length to beare them company to Paris When the Duke of Lancaster had sent many letters from Bayon into England for succours and could not preuaile seing all mens affections generally enstranged from the voiage of Spaine it was a mighty greefe and corrosiue to his heart considering with himselfe how strong and well furnished an army he had brought forth against his enemy through the puissance whereof he had conquered no small number of townes and fortresses and afterward how cruelly fortune had dealt with him and his ouerthrowing the whole course of his proceedings in such sort as he sawe no possible meanes left how euer to obtaine his inheritance of the kingdoÌ„e of Castile In musing vpon this his misfortune he compared it to that calamity which the Duke of Aniow suffered in Calabria who being come into Italy vpon large hopes and great expectation not only fayled of the endes whereto he aspired but spent his life also in the pursute of his enterprise This only was a comfort to him in all his discouragements that he had a daughter by his wife Constance whome he thought some French Lord of high estate eyther in respect of her birth or possibility would desire to haue in marriage Now the Duke of Berry was at the same time a widdower and his freinds now and then discoursing with him about a wife amongst others mentioned also the Duke of Lancasters daughter The Duke presently began to conceiue some good affection that way and therevppon aduertised the Duke of Lancaster of his intent whome when he had found nothing strange in the matter he sent CoÌ„missioners againe to negotiate with him further in that behalfe The Duke of Lancaster in the meane time politickly dispersed the fame hereof into all countries far and neere by sending to his freinds instructed for the purpose both the copyes of his owne and the Duke of Berries letters for he was well assured that these tydings would meruailously trouble and disquiet the King of Spaine Who indeed assoone as he heard of the matter began to enter into a deepe consideration with himselfe how great inconuenience might redound vnto him by this marriage namely that peace being established between England and Fraunce both those nations vniting their forces together would make warres vppon Spaine and so conuey the possession of the crowne to the Duke of Lancasters wife Wherefore vpon aduise which his counsell it was thought good to make a secret motion that the Duke of Lancasters daughter might be giuen in marriage to Henrie his sonne whome hee had by the King of Arragons daughter Herevpon a sew were sent and those slenderly accompanyed least the French men by whose friendship he possessed his kingdome should come to any knowledge of the businesse intended The Duke gaue good eare to their message And yet he put the French commissioners still in great hope euer making this exception that he would go through with nothing without the consent and approbation of the King of England his nephew to whome he had wholy referred the conclusion of these matters and with this answere he dismist them But he carryed himselfe much more familiarly towards the Spaniards through his wiues procurement who sawe by this meanes that her daughter without any empeachment or difficulty should orderly succeed in the inheritance of that flourishing kingdome for the obtayning whereof so many travailes and painefull aduentures had been sustained by her husband The hatred kindled euery day more and more betweene the Brabanders and Gelders and the Brabanders assembling about fortie thousand men besieged Graue a towne neere adioyning to the riuer Maze The duke of Gelders lying the same time at Nymmeghen because he had great confidence both in the townsemen and the Garrison left at Graue did not greatly passe for that siege Neuerthelesse he required ayde of the King of England sor so it was conditioned between them when he made his defiance to the French King But the state of England was so intangled with ciuill dissention and troubled with expectation of wars out of Scotland that no ayd could be obtayned from thence And the Brabanders seeing they wasted their time in vaine sent some tenne thousand of their men abroade to harry their enemies countrey The Duke of Gelders being certified thereof gathered together about three hundred horsemen and contrary to the perswasions of almost all his Counsell with that small company marched towardes his enemy with great courage esteeming it better to die fighting manfully in the field than to be shut vp within the walles of a towne and besieged Therefore when hee had put his men in array hee exhorted them to knightly prowesse and valiant demeaâ—our giuing so great encouragement by example of his owne resolution that setting sputres to their horses they all in one troupe ranne suriously vpon their enemies preuenting their expectation with such a desperat charge before they could settle themselues to any orderly resistance that they easily ouercame them and with small losse obtained an honorable victorie Many perished some slaine in fight others drowned in the riuer Maze such as escaped fled with all the speede they could make and carried tidings of their ouerthrowe to the campe before Graue Whereupon so great terrour rose presently amongst them that without further delay they abandoned the siege and for haste left all their prouision and baggage behinde them The French king being exceedingly desirous to take reuengement of the Duke of Gelders for those arrogant and reprochfull Letters he had sent him raised a mighty armie Many disswaded him from this voiage and among the rest his vncles but because the duke of Brittaine was now fully concluded withall insomuch that he had
enemie Moreouer being besieged in a certaine Castle and put to great distresse when for the most part all that were about her perswaded to yeeld shee alone amongst men persisted in opinion to the contrarie and with this resolution held it out so long till at last the English forces which had wandred a great while vppon the Seas arriued to her rescue A certaine French captaine called Lewis of Spaine tooke the Citie of Dinant in Britaine by composition the Citizens hauing slaine their gouernour in the market place because he refused to yeeld it Another Citie neere adioyning named Gerand was taken by the same Captaine by force where not so much as Children and little infants nor the Temples consecrated to Gods seruice could escape the vttermost rigour of warre but were all destroyed with fire and Sword The Duke was much displeased with this impious cruelty and worthylie caused the authors of such wickednesse to be hanged He also receiued the citie of Vannes vppon composition without consent of the captaine and many other places besides To be short diuerse encounters passed both by Sea and Land with variable fortune on both sides A towne and Castle in those partes called Hamibout was assaulted with great violence but defended with more valour for therin at that time remayned the Duchesse of Britaine whome wee spake of before The French men perceiuing they spent their time in vaine and that Winter began to approach perswaded Charles of Bloys to dismisse his Armie and withall to take a truce and place his souldiers in Garrison It was so done and the Duchesse sayled ouer to the King of England who sent an Armie into Britaine against the French men About this time the noble men of England counselled their King to take a stedfast truce with the Scottes for three yeeres space if it might be shewing how great a burthen it would be to him to supporte so huge a charged of wars round about him in Scotland on the one side in Fraunce on the other Herevppon Ambassadours were sent to the Scottish King but nothing could be effected for he would determine vppon nothing without the French kings counsell The King of England mooued therewithall raysed a mightie power in purpose to bring the Scottes to vtter subuersion But in the meane time by the mediation of good men a truce was obtained stablished The English Armie which we spake of erewhile met with the French kings fleete well appointed vppon the coast of Britaine There they encountred one another and continued in fight till within the euening Somewhat before midnight there arose a very dangerous tempest which scattered them in such sort that they were separated more then an hundreth miles asunder In this conflict also the Countesse of Mountfort her selfe performed knightly seruice At length the English men recouered a hauen not farre from the City of Vannes at that time in possession of the French men where putting on land their forces they valiantly approched the Citie And in conclusion diuiding their army into three partes with two of them they fiercely assaulted the town in two seuerall places in the night season and whilste al men resorted thither to make resistance they brought the rest of their forces to a place vnfortified and so entred the towne putting all that were in it eyther to the Sword or to flight There were two French Lords which had the custody of this towne whome it full sorely greeued to see the Citie thus taken Therefore assembling such forces as they could rayse vppon the suddaine they gaue a fresh assault to the towne and so surprised it agine from the enemy In these conflicts Robert of Artoys admirall of the English fleete and Generall of the warre was wounded who being conueyed to London for the cure of his hurts in short space after there ended his life Whereat the king of England conceiued so great greefe and displeasure that of purpose to reuenge the death of so worthy a man so deerely esteemed he himselse sailed ouer with a mighty power of shipping into Britaine So great was the number of the English forces that at one instant they besieged three of the most puissant Cities in all that countrey Renes Vannes and Nants where Charles of Bloys with his wife at the same time remained besides the towne of Dinant which they tooke by force Charles of Bloys wrote to the French King concerning the state of his affaires the arriuall of the English the besieging of his townes earnestly requiring that he would succour him in this great distresse The French King sent his sonne the Duke of Normandy who with an Armie of some forty thousand tooke his way directly towardes Vannes at that time very streytly besieged by the English And had not the winter season brought great impediment to their purpose it had surelie come to a field battell But at length through the intercession of twoo Cardinals sent from Pope Clement a truce was agreed vppon for three yeares and a solemne o the taken of the Princes for the due obseruation thereof in the meane space So the King of England returned into his owne countrey Whilste the warres were yet open the Englishmen had laid siege to the Citie of Vannes latelie before recouered by the French and it was stoutly defended by twoo noble men the one called Lord Clisson the other Henrie of Lyon It was these mens fortune in a certaine light skirmish to be taken prisoners by the English and because there was a Lord of England also remaining among the French vpon conclusion of the truce communication was had for the exchange of prisoners The King of England for the redeeming of his deliuered to the French men the Lord Clisson detayning the other still prisoner Herevppon as is most likely some emulous obseruers of Clissons cariage raysed a suspition that he should be secretly affected to the English and that for this respect he rather then the other obtained his libertie To be short this iealousie encreased so farre that he lost his head for it at Paris And for the like cause diuers other noble men suffered the like punishment Sure it was a lamentable spectacle especially considering that Clisson in the recouerie of Vannes from the English had so honourablie performed the office both of an excellent Captaine and valiant souldier This act of the French kings was taken in so ill part by the King of England esteeming it done in his reproch that he commaunded Henrie of Lyon to be presently set at libertie and freely forgaue him his raunsome onelie enioyning him at his returne to signifie to the French King how he interpreted these proceedings no otherwise then as intended to his dishonour and that thereby he held the late truce to be violated wherefore he should expect no other from him but as an enemy This message was deliuered to the French King and the King of England sent an armie into Aquitane with certaine other forces
to succour the Lady Mountfort The Englishmen were entertained with great applause at Bayon and Burdeaux Afterward laying siege to Bergerat a towne neere the riuer Gerond they receiued the townsemen to mercy the English Captaine taking their othe of fidelitie in the name of the King his Master They tooke many other places also partly by composition partlie by force of armes Amongst other they wonne the Castle of Auberoch a place notably fortified and leauing there a Garrison to defend it the English Captaine returned againe with the rest of his army to Burdeaux In the meane while the French men to the number of twelue thousand besieged the same Castle againe verie streytly and put the souldiers there in Garrison to great distresse But the English Captaine at Burdeaux hauing intelligence thereof assembled some nine hundreth men and in an euening when the French men were to supperward brake suddainelie out of a wood and charged so resolutely vppon them that he put them to discomfiture and in the chace tooke diuers prisoners their Captaine for one being sore wounded whome the people in those partes had in such estimation as if he had beene a Prince As the English men lay in leaguer before a certaine Castle the souldiers put their Captaine in holde because he refused to yeeld it vp to the enemy and would by no meanes graunt his liberty but vppon consent to their request In the end he consented and afterward comming to Tholouse was there arrained of treason and hanged vppon a gibbet for his labour The towne of Rioll was likewise rendered into the Englishmens handes but the Castle was still maintained by the Captaine The Englishmen therefore drew a mine ouerthrew a great part of it to the ground then the captaine considering his imminent perill abandoned the place and left the Castle to the English They also receiued Angolesme by composition after a moneths respit which the townsemen had requested vppon hope to be releeued in the meane time by the French King It is formerly tolde you of Iaques de Arteuill how he was growne so great among the Flemmings that the Earle himselfe could haue no safe recourse into his own country But at length hee receiued the iuste reward of a seditious rebell He had giuen great hope to the King of England that hee would procure the whole countrey of Flaunders by generall consent to accept him for their soueraigne And for accomplishment hereof the King of England with a well furnished nauie arriued in the hauen of Flaunders The matter was propounded to the commons and all for the most part seemed well affected to the King of England But the Gauntoys tooke this practise in meruailous ill part and when Iaques returned into the Citle they entertained him nothing so kindly as they were wont but besetting the house where he was brake open the dores vppon him and slew him as he thought to haue escaped at a posterne Amongst other Articles wherewith they charged him this also was a principall point that he had priuately conueyed all the common treasure ouer to the King of England The Earle of Flaunders moreouer had but one onelie sonne About the same time William Earle of Henault sayling with great assistance into Friseland pretending himselfe to be rightfull Lord of that country was himselfe there slaine in battell with diuers of his nobilitie After his death Margaret Princesse of Henault and wife to Lewis of Bavier the Emperour tooke possession of this Earledome The French King was very desirous to draw vnto his partie one Sir Iohn of Henault a worthy Gentleman and a gallant souldier who had formerly done great seruice to the King of England The matter was attempted by diuers meanes and when no other would take effect this devise was put in practise to insinuate into his conceit that the King of England had a purpose to withdrawe from him his pensions and yeerely entertainments He gaue such credit to this report that forthwith he wholy estranged himselfe from the King of England and yeelded his seruice to the French King When the French King vnderstood that the Englishmen wasted Aquitaine and had wonne many townes and fortresses there he levied his forces amounting to the number of an hundreth thousand men Ouer this armie he appointed his Sonne John Duke of Normandy to be Lievetenant Generall To the French kings ayde came Odet Duke of Burgundy with his Sonne Phillip Earle of Artoys and Boloine both of them excellently well accomplished for the warr They recouered the towne of Angolesme laid siege to the castle of Aguillion gotten before by the Englishmen vppon composition then which there was not a stronger nor better fortified in those quarters The winning thereof was by sundry meanes attempted But it is incredible to beleeue with what courage and resolution the Englishmen that laye there in Garrison defended themselues The French King being aduertised thereof and demaunded what his pleasure was to be done in the matter returned answere to his Sonne that he should continue his siege till necessitie of hunger constrained them to yeeld The King of England vnderstanding in what distresse his men were raysed in continently a power of fourteen thousand souldiers He was accompained amongst other with his Son Edward Prince of Wales and a certain French Gentleman called Godfrey of Harecourt who being expulsed his country by the French King fled to the King of England for safegard of himselfe and reuenge of his iniuries for the French King had seized vppon all his possessions This Godfrey was the cause that the King of England directed his course into Normandy being otherwise purposed to sayle into Aquitaine He diuided his Armie into three partes whereof two raunged along the sea coast wasting the fields sacking diuers townes and leading away their prisoners least afterward they might gather to a head and worke them some displeasure The third wherein was the King himselfe marched through the maine land making hauocke of all things and euery night they mette all together againe at the kings campe The French King in the meane time caused such an armie to be raised as a more puissant had not beene seene in Fraunce of many yeeres Letters were also addressed to the King of Bohemia for ayde who at that time highly fauoured the French King The Englishmen tooke a very rich towne in Normandy called Saint Lupes and afterward hastened to the siege of another much richer called Caē borrowing that name of the riuer running by it The townsmen were purposed to haue giuen battell to the Englishmen in the field but being people vnexperienced in armes at the first fight of the enemie they fled backe again into the towne The French captaines had betaken themselues to their fortresses but beholding the huge slaughter made in the Citie for the Englishmen had taken it they yeelded Amongst other prisoners the Constable was one whome with the rest which were taken in his company the
counsellors of Flaunders sawe him so resolute in this opinion and that he would giue them none other answere they committed him to safe custody and would graunt no enlargement but vppon condition that he should be ruled by the aduise of his elders So at length he was perswaded and the King of England with the Earles wife that should be the Lordes of Flaunders and himselfe mette together at a day appointed There the matter was debated the Earle consented was forthwith contracted and after returned into Flaunders where he was nothing so straightly lookt vnto as he had beene A little before the nuptialls should be solemnized he tooke occasion accompanied with a small traine to ride a hawking where pretending great earnestnesse in following a Faulcon which he had let flye at the heron by little and little he outstripped the rest of his companie till at last he lost sight of them all and so escaped againe to the French King Whilste the King of England besieged Calice the truce which we told you was concluded by certaine Cardinals between Charles of Bloys and the Countesse of Mountfort expired by occasion where of the warres were renewed againe afresh The King of England sent a competent crew of horsemen out of the army which besieged Calice to succour the Lady Mountfort Certaine Englishmen were straightly environed by Charles of Bloys in a towne castle which they had taken immediatly before But certain other Englishmen sent suddainly from the Countesse in the dawning of the day brake vnlookt for into the campe of the French men who by reason of a little good fortune in a certaine skirmish the day before lookt negligently to their watch and putting a great part of them to the sword tooke also the Lord Charles of Bloys himselfe prisoner In the meane time the King of England prested the town of Calice with great vehemency and the French King intending to raise his siege levied a mighty army Whereof the King of England hauing aduertisement so fortified all places by which the French men might haue any accesse as well by the sea coast as the maine land that they could not possibly make any approche to disturbe him The French King seeing all entrance already foreclosed required the King of England to giue him battell But the King of England considering how he had spent welnigh a whole yeere in the siege of this Citie and withall consumed a great treasure about it thought it good policy to hold his advantage The same time also two Cardinals sent from Pope Clement to endeuour an accord betweene the Princes had three dayes communication with the Lords that were appointed Commissioners from both parties but could effect nothing of their purpose Wherevppon the French King presently after dissolued all his great army The Cal sians seeing themselues depriued both of present ayde and future expectatioÌ„ began to parly of giuing vp the town But the King of England would accept no other condition but one which was to put themselues life and goods absolutelie into his power and to remaine wholy at his disposition His counsell earnestly disswading him from this obstinate resolution as a thing tending to very ill example at length the matter was brought to this issue that six of the principall citizens bareheaded and barefooted with halters about their necks and the keies of the towne in their hands should present themselues before him to be disposed of at his pleasure The report of those tydings suddainly mooued great mourning and lamentation in the citie In which sorrowfull confusion when one not of the meaner ranke had protested openly that he would not shunne death in the behalfe of his country now almost pined with hunger his example soone after drewe fiue more to the like affection These men being publikely brought forth in such manner as he appointed who had now iurisdiction over their liues and by his commaundement adiudged to dye when all the Noble men had made intercession in vaine the Queene at length after many reasons alledged for her purpose with much entreatie obtained their pardon Then were some sent to take possession of the towne and by authority from the King all the old Inhabitants were removed and the Citie new peopled with English After this by meanes of a certaine Cardinall a truce was taken for two yeares The King of England entrusted the gouernment of Calice to a certaine Italian Not long after a French Lord that laye in Garrison at Saint Omers knowing the nature of the Italians to be aboue all other people couetous of golde practised priuately with this fellow to sell him the Castle for twenty thousand Crownes The King of England I know not by what meanes hauing intelligence hereof dissembled his knowledge and sending for the Italian examined him of the matter Who seeing no other remedy confessed the truth and besought him of pardon The King graunted and at his departure gaue him in charge to proceede with his proiect A day before this practise should be put in execution the King himselfe strongly guarded as couertly as might be entered into Calice The french man who had payd his money down and knew nothing that the plot was discouered sent his men of armes before to take the Castle Assoone as they came in not suspecting any such matter they were presently attached and made prisoners to the English Then in the dawning of the day the King of England issuing out of the Citie charged suddainly vppon the rest of the French men which houered thereabout to see the successe of their enterprise and put them to flight taking many prisoners and amongst others the same person that was the first contriuer of this treason About this time King Phillip of Valois married another wife the daughter of Phillip King of Navarre and almost at the same instant Iohn his eldest Son tooke to wife Iâ—aue Duchesse of Boloine late wife to the Duke of Burgundies Sonne the same that at the siege of Aguillion ended his life in the yeere of our Lord 1346. After the decease of King Phillip Iohn his Sonne succeeded in his stead who not long after his coronation arrained the Constable then newlie deliuered out of prison in England of treason and caused him to be beheaded at Paris John the son of Phillip de Valoys SHortly after the coronation of King Iohn Pope Clement departed out of this life at Avinon He appointed for his successour in the papacy the Cardinall of Ostia a French man borne called before his election Stephen Albert but afterward named Innocent the sixt By occasion of certaine disgracefull speeches mutually enterchanged a mortall quarrell was growne betwixt the King of Bohemia and the Duke of Lancaster which they were at point to decide by single combate but the French King interposing himselfe by his mediation the matter was compounded After the Constable as we tolde you was by the kings commandement put to death Charles of Spaine vpon whome the King
agreed vpon in the night set open the gates of the towne for his soldiers to enter where then nothing else remained to winne but the castle But by good fortune certaine freâ—ch horsemen falling vpon them dissappoynted their purpose putting the aduentureâ—s to flight and the traâ—tors to execution Together with these euills as is wonte to happen ensued a wonderfull dearth and scarcitie of all things in such forte as the poorer people had much adoe to sustaine their liues and this plague continued fower yeeres For so long as the insatiable soldiers deuoured all mens goods of what estate or degree soeuer without controlment so long the husbandman might not apply his labour in safetie not the merchant exercise his trafficke without extreame hazard both of life and goods what other effect could ensue thereof but a generall common mischiefe and such a one as should concerne euerie particular person Certaine of the king of Navarres people beeing vpon a time surprised by their enemies at some disaduantage wheÌ„ they sawe that of necessity they must put their fortunes in tryall though farre ouermatched in number yet seeing no other remedy they betooke themselues to a little hill and putting off all their spurres pitched them in the ground before theÌ„ with the rowells vpward to hinder the aproach of their enemies But the euening came on so fast that it stayed the frenchmen from the'ncounter In the night time with great silence they conveyd themselues into the next village and there making fires as if they had purposed to tarrie all night they secretly departed contrarie to the frenchmens expectation who pursued in vaine but could not ouertake them Amongst other places the Navarrois held Melune vpon Seane To the besieging of this towne the Duke of Normandy sent foure thousand horsemen But by mediation of the Cardinals which wee spake of before a peace was concluded betweene them But Phillip the King of Navarres brother would neuer giue his consent to any conditions of peace whatsoeuer vpbraiding his brother that he was deluded with witchcraftes and enchauntments and therefore he retired himselfe to certaine holdes vppon the Sea coast which were in the kings of Englands subiection By that time the peace was confirmed betweene the Navarrois and the Frenchmen the three yeeres truce obtained by the Cardinals after the taking of King Iohn betweene Fraunce and England expired Therefore all such as had serued â—nder the King of Navarre repayred to the English Captaines for entertainment and so one mischiefe drew on many more successiuely ensuing each other Notwithstanding for that time the Englishmen were but ill entreated by the French though not without great daÌ„mage to the poore wretches that inhabited in the vpland country or in townes but weakly fortified For the Englishmen accompanied with forreine souldiers made spoyle of them at their pleasure When the time of truce as wee said before was worne out the king of England and his eldest Sonne with the French King and the Duke of Burbon conferred priuately together at London concerning a peace the articles whereof they sent ouer to the Duke of Normandy and he propounded them to the three estates of the kingdome But when the matter came to be debated in counsell these conditions were vtterly disliked and answere was giuen to the Ambassadors that they would rather choose to endure yet greater miseries then condiscend to such articles This answere was taken in very ill parte as well by the captiue King of Fraunce as by the King of England who immediately thereupon caused such an armie to be levyed as neuer any man saw passe out of England before Hee tooke landing at Calice accompanied with his foure sons But before his departure out of England he made open declaration of his intent before the whole army in effect that he had vndertaken this expedition in hope and full purpose to enforce the French men to receiue such conditions as should be both for the honour of his person the commoditie of his people and the dignity of his crowne And that he was resolued neuer to giue ouer nor returne again till such time as he had accomplished his affaires in such sorte as he desired Wherfore if any man disliked his pretence hee should haue free liberty to depart or tarrie But there was none amongst them all which did not willingly embrace these conditions From Calice the King of England marched to Rhemes which cittie when he found for the bignesse thereof to be strongly fortifyed he forbare to assault it because he wold not rashly hazard the losse of any of his men whome he reserued for greater seruices From thence after two moneths siege or somewhat more he tooke his way into Burgundy The Duke sent messengers to him requesting that his souldiers might not be suffered to spoyle his country The King of England beeing a very curteous Prince was easily entreated but vppon condition that the Duke of Burgundy should pay him an hundreth thousand crownes In the meane time Fraunce was miserably wasted partly by the King of England himselfe partly by the rest of his army left in Picardy and not a little by the King of Navarre who yet againe moued armes against the Duke of Normandy A certaine fryer of the order of Saint Frauncis prophesied at Avinion that both the Clergy should suffer much for their pride couetousnesse and ambition and that the kingdome of Fraunce should be extreamly afflicted by the invasions of strangers in so much that no part of it should be free from that miserie The Pope because he foretolde matters that displeased him cast this fryer in prison The King of England sent word to the Duke of Normandy that he would giue him battell but the Duke hauing no disposition to put himselfe to the curtesie of Fortune stayed still at Paris And because he well perceiued that the state could not long continue at this passe without the vtter subuersion and ouerthrowe of the kingdome by aduise of his nobility counsell he sent ambassadors to the king of England to entreate of peace The matter was diuersly attempted but it seemed almost an impossibility to accord their difference For the King of England still absolutely maintayned that the crowne of Fraunce was his rightfull inheritance Whilst things were thus in consultation there suddainly rose a meruailous tempest about Chartres the violence whereof was such that it ouerthrew both men and horses The king was so moued with the consideration hereof that he made a vowe he would incline his minde vnto peace so at Calice the matter was concluded The conditions were these that the king of England his heyres and successours after him should hold enioy the Countyes Cities Castles holds Lordships Isles rents and revenues of all Aquitaine also the Cittie Castle county and whole seigniorie of Poytiers the Cittie and castell of Rochell and Limoges with all the country about it To these were added Angolesme aswell the
he fell sicke and died at London His body was conueied ouer into Fraunce and buried in the towne of Saint Dennise the King of Ciprus being present at his funeralles The King of Navarre thinking that occasion was now fitlie offered him to make warre collected forces from all partes where he could raise them and in Normandy a battell was fought with great fiercenesse and little advantage on both sides After the death of king Iohn his sonne Charles who was before stiled Duke of Normandy succeeded in the inheritance of the kingdome and was the same yeere crowned at Reames together with his wife the daughter of Peter Duke of Burbon At his coronation were present the King of Ciprus Wenslaus King of Bohemia and the Dukes of Lutzemburge and Brabant When the solemnities were finished and the new King returned to Paris he proclaimed his younger brother Phillip who had beene prisoner with his father in England Duke of Burgundy the same being formerly promised him by King Iohn before his last going ouer into England Charles the fift AS yet Fraunce was not throughly purged from the remnant of those rauinous cutthroates before mentioned and in Normandy and the places thereabout many taking part with the Navarrois much afflicted the countrey The ringleader of these warres was Lewis of Navarre King Charles appointed his brother Phillip lately created Duke of Burgundy to go against them by whome all for the most part was againe recouered About the same time the Earle of Mountpeliarde ayded by certaine Germaines his friends entered into Burgundy not farre from Besanson Incontinently the Duke repaired thither with his armie but his enemies were retyred before his comming Amongst the Articles of peace betweene the kings of England and Fraunce whereof we haue giuen you a breefe abstract before the matters of Britaine were excepted and the kings had both promised to employ their mutuall endeauours that the controuersie might be indifferently decyded But the matter was very slightly handled and it happened that King Iohn dyed as is already declared By meanes whereof the warres brake forth afresh and the french King sent a thousand horse to the ayde of Charles of Bloys who vppon the delivery of his Sons in hostage was now released out of prison On the other side Iohn Earle of Mountfort obtained succour partly from others but principally from the Englishmen who at that time held the possession of Aquitaine When their armies were both come into the field and ready to ioyne battell a cerraine nobleman of Britaine for whome it was not lawfull to beare armes because he was a prisoner vndertooke to be a mediatour betwixt them exhorting and humbly intreating them that they would accord friendly amongst themselues and not suffer the matter to come to tryall of the sword It was possible he might haue preuailed but that certaine gentlemen secretly perswaded the Earle of Mountfort their generall that he should not by any meanes come to composition with his enemy For these men having already consumed the greatest part of their meanes now set vp their rest either to recouer themselves againe by the wars or to lose what remayned in the adventure of their fortunes Thus battell was giuen with much bloudshed on both sides but the Englishmens valour put their enemies to flight Charles himselfe was slaine in the field which many thought to be a matter plotted of purpose because there was no other meanes to bring those warres to conclusion The Earle of Mountfort beholding his body depriued of life could not refraine from teares notwithstanding he was his enemie When Mountfort had thus chased his enemies and gotten the victory in short space after he recouered many townes of Britaine The French King being advertised of the state of these affaires sent his brother the Duke of Aniow as well to comfort the late wife now widdowe of Charles which remained exceeding sorrowfull and pensiue as also to animate and encourage their mindes which in her behalfe still maintained their garrisons But a great part of Britaine being by this time brought vnder the subiection of Mountfort the French King vppon further deliberation with his counsell sent ambassadours to him to treate of agreement Mountfort referred his cause to the King of England who not disliking the matter he accepted the conditions profered which in substance were these That Mountfort should hold all the Dukedome of Britaine during his life and if it fortuned him to dye without issue then the inheritance should againe returne to the Sonnes of Charles which as we told you were thē kept hostages in England Item that he should assure vnto the widdow of Charles some Earledome in those parts whose yeerely revenue should amount to twentie thousand frankes Item that at a time prescribed being summoned by the french King he should present himself in persō before him to be by him invested in his Dukedome and to performe all ceremonies vsually incident to that solemnitie And finally of his owne voluntary motion he promised to employ his endeauour for the ransōming of his kinsmen that remayned pledges in England About this time Lewis of Navarre went into Italy to be affianced to the Queene of Naples daughter The French King lent him threescore thousand frankes for the furniture of his iourney receyuing certaine Castles of his in pawne for the repayment of his money When he had almost brought his matters to effect at Naples shortly after he ended his life After the warres of Britaine and Navarre were finished euery place still swarmed with such cutthrote souldiers as were accustomed to liue vppon pillage and these mightilie plagued the countrey The French King well considered that they must be either wholy subverted or by some other meanes remooued out of the Realme Therefore the King of Hungary hauing wars at that time with the Turke he would gladly haue conveyed them over to him as he requested but the old souldiers to whome that countrey was not vnknowne disswaded their fellowes from vndertaking that voyage Then another devise was contrived and Pope Vrbane lying at Avinion furthered the french King in his purpose For he also out of his good affection to Fraunce would willingly haue had that mischievous multitude dispatched out of the kingdome There ragyned at that time in Castile a King called Don Pietro a wicked person and a notable tyrant For he not onely put to death diuerse good and vertuous persons but murthered many also with his owne hands and amongst others his owne wife discended of the honourable house of Burbon He cast the gouernors of the church in prison and seased all their goods into his owne possession It was reported by his own familiar freinds that he had conspired with the King of Granado the generall enemy of christendome His father was King Alphonso who falling in affection with another woman besides his wife had by her three sonnes the eldest whereof named Henrie was a man both of valiant courage and vertuous disposition
the death of King Iohn The Duke of Berry through the King of Englands curtesie had intreated a yeeres respite to solace himselfe in Fraunce And vppon like fauour diuers others were licenced to depart for a season Some one or twoo onely by the payment of their ransomes purchaced their liberty Those that the King had thus dismissed after the wars began againe returned no more The french King proclaimed open warre against the King of England and committed the charge thereof vnto twoo of his brethren who mustered souldiers from all partes so that the number of them amounted to an hundred thousand men The French men made often incursions vppon the countrey of Poytiers and other of the Princes dominions And the Princes souldiers likewise invaded the Lordships of those who had given the first occasion of these warres and made complaint of him to the French King The french King published his cause and the necessity of this warre in diuers places by cunning persons with so well seeming circumstances as no man could otherwise iudge but that his proceedinges were grounded vppon most iust and reasonable occasions The same did the King of England also verily to this intent that by declaring the causes of the warre they might haue the people more at commandement to pay their subsidies and to beare the burden of their exactions Lewis Earle of Flaunders had no issue but one daughter The King of England sought by all meanes to haue obtained her in marriage for his youngest Sonne and the matter was laboured for the space of three whole yeeres together In the Earle himselfe was no want of good affection but Pope Vrbane in regard they were of his kinred would in no wise giue his consent to the marriage The Earle therfore perceiving this match might not go forward began to make meanes by his friends to Phillip Duke of Burgundy the French kings brother that the marriage might be made betweene him and his daughter This treatie tooke effect and so it came to passe that Burgoigne and Flaunders were vnited together The King of England considering how by meanes of this marriage the Duke of Burgundy should become heyre to the Earle of Flaunders practised with the King of Navarre who bare a secret grudge to the French King for certaine Lordshippes that he should denounce open wars against him The French king had provided a great power of shipping intending to send his brother the Duke of Burgundy with an army of choyce souldiers to make warres in England The King of England having intelligence thereof made preparation according and determined to receiue them with some entertainement in their passage Moreover he sent his Sonne the Duke of Lancaster with certaine forces to Calice which when the French King vnderstood by the advise of his counsell he altered his purpose iudging it the better course to encounter with his enemie when he had already passed the Seas of his owne accord Herevppon the Duke of Burgundy was set forth well appointed who at such time as he lay encamped neere his enemy notwithstanding he were of much greater puissance yet would he not adventure to giue him battell vnlesse he had expresse direction for the same from the king his brother My author reporteth that a certaine English captaine a man of approoved valour and discretion and withall very fortunate in his affayres hauing one day observed a faire oportunitie would haue attempted some exploit vppon the enemy and to the intent the better to effect his purpose had requested an English Earle to guard him with certaine horsemen for the performance of his enterprise Which when the Earle had condiscended vnto some followers of his gaue him counsell to the contrary perswading him that if the adventure prooved succesfull the reputation thereof would redownd to another and therefore that it were better for him to vndertake some service by himselfe the honour where of might be entirely his owne By this meanes the Captaine being disappointed was faine to leaue his desired enterprise vnperformed Thus we see envy and ambition hath some predominance in all places and oftentimes it falleth out that through private â—mulation whilste one will adventure nothing in anothers behalfe many notable occasions are neglected which perhaps the enemy afterward converteth to his owne aduantage When the French and English armies had thus a while confâ—onted one another the Duke of Burgundy by the kings commaund brake vp his campe and licensed all his souldiers to depart The Duke of Lancaster returned to Calice and when he had there rested some fewe daies to refresh himselfe reassembling his forces he tooke his way into Fraunce where having burnt vp certaine townes because the winter approched he dissolved his army and returned into England These long-lasting warres greatly grieved many noble men of Fraunce insomuch that divers of them conveyed away their goods housholdstuffe remooved theÌ„selus into other places where they might with more safety expect the comfort of a calmer season wisely mistrusting least in sitting still oâ— taking part either with the french King or the English they might haue taryed to their cost howsoeuer For so stood the caâ—e with many of them who had possessions in both Princes dominions that they could neither adhere to the one nor forsake the other without preiudice to their owne estate and apparant losse of whatsoeuer they held within either of their iurisdictions On the other side many Lords of Gascoine revolted from Prince Edward and ioyned with the french King Edward as he was a man of singular wisedome and stayed disposition foreseeing that this defection of the nobility from his Sonne would tend to much mischiefe addressed letters into Gascoine to this effect How he vnderstood that they all for the most part were discontented with the subsidy which his Sonne had lately imposed vppon them his mind was therefore to apply a remedy to this inconvenience and wholy to take away all occasions which might any way mooue dissenâ—ion or controuersie To which purpose and intent he had giuen commandement to his Sonne that he should surcease from all such exaction of money and that all those which found themselues oâ—er-charged or burthened either by him or any of his officers should haue satisfaction allowed them according to the dammage they had sustained And further he pardoned all such as had reuolted to the French King vppon condition that within one moneth after they should returne againe into Gascoigne requesting this only at their hands that they would not stirre sedition but calling to minde their promised faith and allegeance rest contented to conforme themselues to the present state of gouernment In so doing they should find him ready to make particular recompence to as many as could iustly complaine of oppression And for conclusion that this was the intention and desire both of himselfe and all his counsellours These letters were published in divers places of Gascoine but they wrought small effect for many were seen daily to
their towne Wherevnto they condiscended but vppon certaine conditions which were these 1. That it should be lawfull for the men of Rochell vtterly to race their Castle out of which they had often received so great displeasure and to lay it levell with the ground 2 That the French men should solemnely promise neverto erecte any castle there againe 3 And that Rochell from thenceforth should perpetually remaine a member of the crowne of Fraunce and never be alyenated to any other Lord by any possible meanes that might be devised according as times and states should happen to alter afterward When the King who was made acquainted with these proceedings by the Lords had confirmed and ratifyed these covenants Rochell became subiect again to the French and the revolting of this towne gave occasion to many other of their neighbours to doe the like The French kings captaines holding it discretion to follow their fortune vsed such industry that in short space they recovered all the territorie of Poytow and the country adioyning not without some helpe and furtherance from the Britons who were exceedingly inclined to the French King though their Lord wholly favoured the King of England as by whose meanes he had obtayned his Dukedome It happened not long after that the Englishmen immediately vppon their comming into Britaine burnt vp seaven great shippes of the King of Spaines as they lay there in harbour Herevppon suspicion arose that this matter was done by the Duke of Britaines consent and direction whereof the French king being advertised by certaine Lords of Britaine sent the Constable to make warres vppon the Duke and to conquer his country as one who had forseited his estate by entring into a league with the English men against him of whome he had received the investiture of his Dukedome and to whome as the custome is he had sworne homage and fealtie The Duke of Britaine in this extremitie distrusting his owne subiects fled into England And the Constable by the helpe of the Britons themselves brought much of the country in subiection David King of Scotland deceassed without issue and by right of succession the crowne descended to Robert It is said before that King Edward after his sonne the Duke of Lancaster was come with his wife into England had determined to send him ouer againe to make warres in Picardy But the matter was delayed For this yeere was the first time of his arrivall at Calice accompanied with the Duke of Britaine and thirteene thousand soldiers They raunged through a great part of Picardy putting all to fire and sword but they abstayned from besieging of townes for the French king had long before sufficiently strengthned them with garrisons And as they marched forward making havocke of all things the French army still followed without intermission notwithstanding they never came to ioyne battell but by intercession of the Popes legates a truce was taken and a time appointed for another meeting at Bruges in Flaunders there to treate of waightyer matters Before this truce was proclaymed the Duke of Britaine by the Englishmens ayd had recovered diverse places and was like to have gotten more had not the newes of this truce beene a stay to his proceedings Therfore discharging his army and leaving good garrisons in the places recovered he returned into England About the calends of November the ambassadors of both Kings repayred to Bruges that there by mediation of the Popes Legates they might treate of a marriage betweene Richard sonne to the Prince of Wales and Marie the French Kings daughter The matter was diversely debated but could not bee brought to any perfect conclusion Pope Gregorie taking offence thereat departed from Avinion and went to Rome About this time Prince Edward the King of Englands eldest sonne a most worthy and valiant gentleman ended his life at London After whose death king Edward assembling the rest of his sons and the nobilitie of his realme declared publikelie vnto them his purpose that Richard the sonne of his sonne deceassed should succeed in the inheritance of the kingdome And because he had long since imparted asmuch both to the noble men and the residue of his sonnes before he made his last voyage into Fraunce it was no hard matter to perswade them all to approve his determination and to confirme the same by oath Within a while after the King himselfe also departed this life not without great sorrowe of as many as knewe him for he was a Prince so renowmed that even the French King himselfe when he heard of his death gave this report that he thought him worthy to be numbred amongst the wisest of princes After his deceasse succeeded Richard his grand sonne according to his owne appointment in his life time and was crowned king of England the eleuenth yeere of his age Anno Dom. 1377. The Duke of Lancaster was chosen protectour and tooke vpon him the government of the realme during the kings minority who in the meane while was trayned vp vnder the instruction of a certaine noble man appoynted to that charge by generall election It is declared before how the French King the better to maintain his warres against England had made a league with the King of Navarre but it fell out afterward that two gentlemen of the house of Nauarre attending vppon the king of Navarres sonnes in the French court were had in suspition of giving poyson to the King Which fact when they had publickly confessed before the people they were put to execution for the same Immediately herevpon the French King sent an army into the sea coast of Normandy belonging to the King of Nauarre vnder the conduct of the Constable who easily subdued all that part of the country Besides this the King of Spaine the French kings new confederate made warre also vpon the King of Nauarre who beeing driuen to this distresse required ayd of Richard King of England of whome he accordingly obtayned it The Duke of Britaine remayning still in England made importunate suite to the young King from time to time for ayd but the king gaue alwaies a deaâ—e â—are to his request For the Duke of Lancaster aspiring to get that seigniory to himselfe assembled a power and sayled over into Britaine where he layd siege to certaine places but the French army wherof the Constable was generall compelled him to depart The second Booke IN the former booke is declared how the French men recouered a great parte of Aquitaine from the English There were many still notwithstanding in those places which stood stoutly for the King of England The Duke of Aniow therefore comming thither with an army subdued in a mannner all that euer remayned The Gascoignes had lately before sent into England for succour but by reason there was trouble and insuirection budding vp within the realme their sending was to none effect For the Duke of Lancaster who had all the authoritie in his hands was
much hated by the commons which afterward was the occasion of much mischiefe in England Thus when no forces came from thence to their rescue the Gascones destitute of all succour were constrayned to yeeld themselues to the enemie The French King being a wise and politicke prince held correspondence with all men which might stand him instead or from whome he expected any commoditie or furtherance considering therefore with himselfe how the king of England was yet vnder age and that trouble and part-taking were growing within the realme he sollicited Robert King of Scotland and put him often in remēbrance by his letters to make warre vppon the Englishmen now while so great opportunity was offered that being thereby busyed at home they might not haue so good leysure to passe ouer into Fraunce The scottish King moued with these instigations and partly of himselfe desirous to reuenge old iniuries especially whilste the King of England was yet in his nouage vppon consultation of the matter sent commaundement for the assembling of his people to meete him at a certaine time ready furnished and appointed for the warres vppon the borders of England and Scotland When they were come together a certaine Scottish Lord desirous to shew some proffe of his vasor and bold courage associating himselfe with some fewe others in the night season whilste the watch were all sleeping or negligēt without any great difficulty surprised the castle of Barwicke When the gouernour of the towne vnderstood it he gatherd together a company of the townsemen and early in the morning assoone as any daylight appeared first brake downe the bridge which was the onely passage to issue out and then environed the castle round about with a siege so straightly that it was impossible for his enemy to make any evasion The people of the country being also certified by him how the matter stood brought in ten thousand men to his ayde At the tydings whereof the Scottish men raised their campe to come and rescue their besieged companions But they were so terrified with the greatnes of the English army that they would not aduenture the curtesie of fortune So in conclusion assault was giuen the castle recovered and all that were in it were put to the sword saue onely the captaine himselfe vppon whose authoritie this enterprise was vndertaken After the Castle was thus gotten againe it seemed good to the Englishmen to pursue their eniemies in their retreyte which they likewise did though it fell out to their own deadly disaduantage fortune fauouring the Scottish Pope Gregorie in time past had made a solemne vow that if euer he attained to the Papacy he would neuer keepe his residence any other where then are Rome This was very offensiue to some of the Cardinals which bare scarce good affection to the Romaines and it was nothing pleasing to the french King who was desirous to haue had the Pope his neerer neighbour Therefore he sent his brother the Duke of Aniow to Avinion to perswade with him but he was not able to diuert him from his purpose So he went to Rome the place he desired and within a while after there ended his life When the Cardinals as the custome is were assembled together for the election of another the people of Rome began to make great tumult in the court threatning violent effects of their displeasure if they made choyce of any other to be Pope then such a one as was both by birth and ancestors a Romaine And therewithall rushing in amongst the Cardinals and with their fury interrupting their businesse it came to passe by meanes of this disturbance that one was chosen for Pope which was 100 yeeres old This man the Romanes hoysed vp vpon a white Mule and with great solemnity led him about the Citie But the crooked old man wearie with this troublesome kind of curtesie and tyred with this tumbling vp and downe within three daies afeer gaue vp the ghost Wherevppon ensued another hurliburly the Romaines therein with arrogant threates shewing themselues more outragious then before At length a Romaine borne was elected and called afterward by the name of Vrbane the sixt About the same time dyed the Queene of Navarre the french kings sister and by her decease a certaine seigniory in Normandy fell to Charles and Peter the King of Nauarres sonnes which were brought vp in the french Court. Many counselled the french King to seize into his hands all the King of Navarres possessions in Normandy and to hold the same till his sonnes were come of age The King of Navarre mistrusting as much requested to haue his Sonnes sent home pretending that he was purposed to bestow the elder of thē in marriage with the King of Spaines daughter Answere was returned by the french King that his sonnes could not be in a better or more honourable place then in his Court. For he would bring them vp in all respects as was fitting for the Sonnes of a King and such as were alyed in bloud to himselfe This answere was taken in displeasure by the King of Navarre who therevppon fortified those places of Normondy against the force of the french men Many important occasions mooued the french King to conceiue offence against the King of Navarre but especially that matter of poisoning which we told you before was confessed Wherefore sending an army against him he subdued Mountpelier and the country about it which at that time were vnder the King of Nauarres subiection The King of Navarre being thus molested both vpon the frontiers of his owne kingdome and in Normandy for the French King had sent an army thither also made request to the King of England by ambassadours that he might be receiued into his frendship The King of England sent him answere how he thought it expedient that if he would deale seriously and effectually in matters of such importance he should come into England himselfe This motion was well accepted by the King of Nauarre and accordingly he repaired into England where recounting his misfortunes after the matter had been debated in counsell he was receiued into league and amity with the King of England vppon these or the like conditions 1. That from thenceforth euer after he should take part with the English 2. That he should neuer make peace with the french King or the King of Spaine vppon any tearmes whatsoeuer without consent of the King of England and his counsell 3. That he should fortifie the Castle of Chirburg in Normandy and maintaine a garrison in it for three yeeres space to the vse of the King of England 4. That if it should happen the Englishmen to recouer any townes in these quarters from the french then the King of England to haue the profits of the same the propriety of the places remaining to the King of Navarre And this especially was most acceptable to the English because from thence they might alwaies haue accesse into France at their pleasure It
of Lancasters daughter in his name whome within fewe daies after being honourably conducted vnto him he espoused After the marriage he sent worde to his father in lawe that he should draw out his forces assoone as he pleased and he would doe the like that so they might ioyntly together proceede against their enemy In the meane while the French men well appointed and gallantly furnished arriued in Spaine After whose comming consultation being had whether it were best to bring their forces in to the field or to place their men in gaâ—rrisons when sundry opinions rose amongst them the Spaniards perswading battell the French men the contrary it was referred by the King to one of the French Captaines of most experience to determine the matter at his discretion And he in regard the Duke of Burbon their Generall was not yet come thought it altogether vnfitting to fight with the enemy but rather to bestow their souldiers in places conuenient till neede should require for by this meanes it would come to passe that the Englishmen ranging ouer all the country through the intemperate heate of the climate should fall into many dangerous diseases and although for the present they became Lords of diuerse places yet should they not be able to maintaine them long and when their strength began once to decrease it would be an easie matter to recouer all againe especially after the Duke of Burbons comming with the rest of their forces This determination tooke place and so immediately the men of warre were conueyd into those parts of Spaine which border vppon Portugall to defend the frontiers of the kingdome The Constable who was appointed to make inuasion vpon England had his army prepared and his ships ready rigged in a certaine hauen of Britaine Diuerse other Lords of Fraunce were likewise ready to be embarked at Harflew in Normandy whose direction was to haue landed their forces together with his vpon the coast of England But there happened a suddaine aduenture in the meane time whereby their whole enterprise was ouerthrowne and that ye may the better conceiue the discourse we will rehearse the matter from his first originall It is declared before how Charles of Bloys being taken prisoner by the Englishmen that ayded the Countesse of Mountfort was set at liberty vppon condition he should pay two hundreth thousand crownes to the King of England for his ransom and for assurance of the same left his two sonnes Iohn Guy in hostage It fortuned afterward that he was slaine in battell against the Duke of Britaine After which time the Englishmen at the Duke of Britaines request came thorough the middest of Fraunce with a great power to ayde him Whereupon the French king fearing least the Duke by this occasion should yield himselfe subiect to the King of England made composition with him as hath beene before declared Whereat the Englishmen who had trauelled a long iourney through many perills and great difficulties to come into Britaine were exceedingly offended and assoone as they came home made complaint to their king of the Dukes discurtesie and ingratitude And to the intent to worke him as great displeasure they made this offer to Iohn the sonne of Charles of Bloys whome they held still as pledge for his fathers ransome his brother being deceassed there already that if he would receiue and holde the Duchy of Britaine of the King of England and doe homage and fealtie to him for the same he should be deliuered out of prison and set in possession of his Dukedome and besides haue in marriage Phillip the Duke of Lancasters daughter the same which was afterwards Queene of Portugall The offer of marriage he was well contented to accept but to seeme disloyall to the French king or be an enemy to the crowne of Fraunce that he would neuer consent to Whereupon remayning stedfast in his resolution he was againe committed to prison Now the Constable of Fraunce Sir Oliuer Clisson who although his inheritance lay in Britaine yet loued not the Duke and the Duke on the other side hated him more then any man else because vpon the Kings commaund he had troubled his country with warre had a daughter whom he much desired to marry with this Iohn that was prisoner in England thinking it would be a great aduancement to his house if he might bring it to pasâ—e Therefore when he had cast in his minde by what meanes he might best purchase his liberty he began secretly to practise with the Duke of Ireland a man whom the king highly fauoured and much delighted in his company promising to giue him six score thousand frankes if he would vndertake to procure his enlargement The Duke accepted his offer not withstanding as long as the Duke of Lancaster remained in the relame in regard the matter had beene motioned before for his daughter he could effect nothing of his purpose But after he was gone the Duke of Ireland desirous of the gold ontreated the King with whom no maÌ„ was more familiar then himselfe that in consideration of his seruices and paines taken in the common wealth he would bestowe the prisoner vppon him for whose raunsome he might get a great masse of money The king who was altogether carryed by this man in such sorte as he both neglected and hated his vnckles in respect of him did willingly condiscend to his request Assoone as the prisoner was deliuered into his hands he conueid him ouer to Boloine receiuing there three score thousand frankes the rest to be payd him at Paris where the Constable expecting the young mans arriuall when he came receiued him with great honour and married him forthwith to his daughter How much this matter troubled the Duke of Britaine he may well coniecture that remembreth the discourse and considereth the circumstances of such things as haue bene heretofore rehearsed touching the warres in Britaine For he sawe that by this marriage his whole estate was called in question and like to be much endaungered Therefore he prepared reuenge hauing the thought thereof more conuersant in his mind then any other And at such time as the Constable had his army about him in the Dukes country ready to haue passe into England as we told ye before the Duke summoned all his nobility to be at Vannes by a certaine day for weightie affaires that he had to consult of desiring the Constable also by letters that he would honour the assembly with his presence The Constable though he were nothing ignorant of the mutuall grudge betweene them yet presuming vpon the greatnesse of his office and the authoritie of his present emploiment against the King enemies came thither as he was requested After some consultation had about the matters they met for the Duke as it were for plesure and recreation inuited certaine of the chiefe Noble men and amongst them also the Constable into a certaine castle there by which he had lately begunne to build and now in a
French King in forsaking his freindship which notwithstanding was the thing that he studied by all possible meanes to preserue and continue The King of Spaine answered that indeed there had beene debating of certaine matters in his name with the duke of Lancaster but it should be in no wise preiudiciall to the state of Fraunce and that he would neuer attempt any action whereby in the least degree he might seeme to haue broken the bondes of freindship and alliance between them Assoone as he had dismissed the ambassadours with this answere immediatly after he went through with the marriage and therevppon the Lady Constance to put the matter out of question conueyed Katherine her daughter into Spaine and there marryed her to Henrie the yong Prince of Castile Which done shee made diligent serch for her fathers bones and when the place of his buriall at length was discouered she caused them to be taken vp and honourably entumbed againe at Siuill Through the trauell and industrie of certaine well disposed persons communication was had concerning a truce betweene the Kings of England and Fraunce with their confederates viz. Spaine Portugall and Scotland Now because the Scottes lately before had some good successe against the English there was much adoe to draw them to any agreement neuertheles their King being well inclined to quietnes in the end they also changed their copie So a truce was concluded for three yeeres in such sort that whosoeuer should by any meanes infringe it should be accounted as a wicked and periured person We haue spoken before of the Duke of Ireland who being driuen out of England and lately through faire promises allured out of the low countries into Fraunce remained there a while but could not purchase any setled aboade or continuall resting place For the Lord Cowâ—y a man of great authority about the French King vppon iust and weighty occasions hated him extreamely For the Duke of Ireland hauing taken to wife this Lord Cowâ—yes daughter fell afterwards in loue with an other woman and by dispensation from Pope Vrbane who was ready by all meanes to pleasure the King of England diuorced his wife and marryed his paramour The Lord Cowey therefore father of the wronged Lady being deeply mooued with such dishonourable iniury would neuer be in quiet till he had bayted out of Fraunce this man whome the world charged with more crimes then that alone See here the â—bbing and slowing of humain estates the affections of Princes and the ends of wicked persons The French King was perswaded by some about him to make a progresse into the furthest partes of his kingdoÌ„e as a thing so acceptable to the people as nothing could be more effectuall to winne their hartes So he tooke his iourney through Campaigne Burgoigne and other prouinces till he came to Avinion and when he had visited the Pope went from thence to Mountpelyer Which Citty although by reason of trasicke and merchandize it be very wealthy yet it had been so oppressed with tributes and exactions that as then it was much impouerished For as long as king Charles the fift liued the duke of Aniow had the rule of all those countries to the great enriching of his owne cofers And at such time as in pursute of greater fortunes he vndertook his voyage towards Naples by consent of the Peeres the duke of Berry succeded in his gouernment But assoone as the king came to one and twenty yeares of age he displaced his vncles from their authority and tooke the administration of their offices into his owne hands Now when he came into Prouince and the places adioyning many grieuous complaints were preferred against his vncle of Berry who had beyond measure polled the poore commons of their goods and brought them in a manner to extreame desperation Yee might daily haue seene great numbers of suters putting vp petitions and supplications complaining of deceyt iniury violence rapes extortions and proscriptions It greiued the King exceedingly to see the miseries of his people and therefore for an example to terrify others he caused the Duke of Berries treasurer the cheifest man in those quarters to be burnedâ— for there came many accusations against him of great wrong and oppression which he had done in the country The Duke of Berry by his letters made earnest intercession to saue his life but he could not preuaile When the King vndertooke this iourney he would in no wise be accompanyed by his vncles wherewith they were greatly offended but especially because they sawe some others of meane estate to growe in great reputation about him About this time departed Pope Vrbane out of this life whereof Clement being certified within ten dayes after at Avinion he earnestly commended his cause to the French King desiring him that now vpon this occasion he would vse his credit with the Emperour the King of Hungary and other Princes to the intent that all discord being remooued peace and quietnesse might at length be established in the church He was in good hope that now when his aduersary was dead the supremacy would entirely haue falne to him But he was farre deceiued for the Cardinalles created Boniface of Naples The Moores and Barbarians made often excursions vppon the Genowaies and the Citties and Ilands vnder their subjection Which thing they might more commodiously doe because vppon the confines comming from Genoa towards their country they held a very strong and defensible towne called Affricke Out of this towne they issue forth against their enemies by sea with great ease and aduantage and if need require they haue recourse againe into the same as a most safe harbor receptacle The Genowayes therfore enforced through the coÌ„plaints entreaty of their freinds began to consider how they might worke redresse And because they vnderstood there was a truce lately concluded between Fraunce England and the kingdomes conconfederate they sent ambassadours to the French King requiring him of succour The King was so inclinable to this warre that he not only vndertooke it himselfe but solicited diuers of his neighbour Princes to set their helping hands to performance of the enterprise Therefore assembling no small power out of Fraunce Britaine Artoys Flaunders and England he sent it into Lombardy vnder the conduct of Lewis Duke of Burbon with whome he ioyned in commission the Lord Cowcy a man of most knowledge and experience and in greatest iudgement and direction in military affaires that liued in those times These taking shipping together at Genoa at length ouercame the contrary waues and tempests which encountred them at sea and arriued safely in their enemies country Now as the Moores were consulting because they saw that the Genowayes vppon this redoubling of their puissance by the comming of the french and other forraine nations to their ayd would besiege their Citty a certaine graue old man amongst them descended of a noble family gaue counsell in this manner That they should not giue battell
thousand and marched directly against them When the French men had intelligence thereof they practised a deuise as the time then serued not vnfitting for their purpose Entring all into a wood they sent about some hundreth horsemen to entice the Turkes out of their strength where they lay at the defence of a certaine passage to come foorth and skirmish with them The Turkes supposing there had bin no more of their ennemies than they sawe issued presently out against them and the French men purposely retired vntill such time as they had drawne them to the wood within compasse of their ambush which sodainely brake foorth and inuaded them on all sides By this meanes the Turkes being intercepted and cut off as well by those that freshly assailed them as by the other which before made countenaunce to flie but now turned furiously vppon them were slaine to the number of fifteene thousand and the rest hardly saued themselues by flight Basan the Turkish king howsoeuer hee seemed slacke in his affaires yet had he perfect intelligence of all his enemies proceedings For hee was continually certified thereof by Galeas Duke of Millaine with whome he had great entercourse of friendship Therefore hee assembled a huge army the Souldan of Babylon the Medes and the King of Persia sending great forces to aide him Concerning the Duke of Millaine ye shall vnderstand that there were sometimes three brothers Manfred Galeas and Barnabas The vncle of these was Archbishop of Millaine Lewis of Bauier being elected Emperour when he could not obtaine his confirmation from the Pope went to Rome and there of his owne authority creating another Pope and certaine Cardinalles was by him inuested in his imperiall dignity and afterward permitted his souldiers to take the payment of their wages out of the spoyle of the Citty Charles King of Bohemia the Sonne of Henry of Lutzemburge was created Emperour against this Lewis Which Charles coÌ„ming newly into Italy from Aquisgraue where he had receiued his coÌ„secratioÌ„ of the Pope this Archbishop of Millaine entertayned him with great curtesie and did him all the honour he could lending him mony also at his departure to the sum of an hundred thousand crownes The Emperour in consideration hereof and to shew his gratefull mind created the Archbishop Vicount of Millaine and gaue to him and to his nephews after him all that seigniory to hold and enioy the same till such time as the Emperour should redeeme it againe by repaiment of the whole sum which he had borrowed After the Archbishops death Manfred his eldest nephew by the Emperours consentand good liking succeeded in the seigniory of Millaine But his brothers for enuy dispatched him out of the way concluding with themselues to seize vppon his estate and afterward to confirme their authority by alliance in marriage with other Princes So when they had â—idde their elder brother of his life they made equall partitioÌ„ between them and rayned puissantly by force and policy Galeas in regard he was the elder had tenne townes and Barnabas had nine Millaine it selfe was indifferently allotted to them both the one to haue it one yeare and the other another by turnes They leuyed subsidies and taxes of their people from time to time by most vniust and violent meanes Such fortresses as either of them held they furninished with Garrisons of forraine souldiers of all nations but their own whome they principally distrusted Through compulsion and rigour they kept the people in great awe and subiection exacting most cruell punishment vpon such as stirred neuer so little against them to the intent to terrify others by their example They purchased the alliance of Princes with great summes of mony Galeas paid to the Earle of Sauoy whose sister he married an 100000 crowns This Galeas had like wise a sonne of his own name that marryed the daughter of Iohn King of Fraunce who in consideration hereof departed with six hundred thousand frankes towards the payment of his father in lawes ransome to the King of England Valentine the daughter of this younger Galeas was marryed to Lewis Duke of Orleans brother to the French King Charles the sixt but her father first paied to him that should be his sonne in law tenne hundred thousand franks surely a wonderfull summe of mony with part whereof the Earledome of Bloys was purchased as we haue heretofore declared Betweene the two brothers there was no contention as long as they liued together But the younger Galeas after his fathers deceasse surprised his vncle Barnabas by treason and slew him One of this Barnabas daughters was married to Stephon Duke of Bauier and brought forth a daughter named Isabell who afterward became the wife of Charles King of Fraunce as is mentioned in this history already Galeas hauing thus trecherously slaine his vncle was not so contented but persecuted euen his childrens children and all their generation seizing into his hands all their goods and possessions Also he burthened the people with grieuous and continuall exactions Besides this he held a wicked and vnreuerent opinion concerning the Godhead So he might enrich himselfe and aduance his authority he regarded not by what means it were effected Amongst other precepts of good doctrine wherewith he was plentifully instructed he was also mis-led in this opinion and tooke it as hereditary from his ancestors vtterly ro despise the Popes authority and to reioyce exceedingly when any dissention happened in the church Now the Duke of Orleance wife being a very ambitious woman was not a little faine and desirous that her husband might attaine to the Crowne by what meanes shee did not greatly regard Herevppon many suspected that the kings mind had beene all this while enchaunted by her witch-craft The ground of the suspition grew vppon this occasion Shee had a Sonne by her husband a fayre young child much about the age of the Dolphin As these two children were sporting together in a chamber a poysoned appell was cast in amongst them on that side where the kings sonne was but the child which may seeme a wonder refused to meddle withall Then the other when no body perceiued him caught it vp and within a little while after he had eaten of it through the violent operation of the poyson yeelded vp the ghost The report hereof was presently carried to the Court and soone dispersed ouer all the country This also was another thing which encreased the suspition that during all the time of the Kings sicknes he would endure neyther the Queene nor any other woman to come about him but only this Duchesse of Orleans By these occasions mens minds being meruailously incensed shee was conueyed from the Court to a certaine castle not farre from Paris and there restrayned of her liberty Besides her husband conceiued great displeasure against her about the death of his sonne When Galeas of Millaine vnderstood how his daughter was entreated he was highly offended and sent ambassadours forthwith into Fraunce where they found nothing
for three yeares Bayon Burdeaux receaue the English The death of Iaques de Arteuill Valiant resistance made by the English in the Castle of Aguillion Caen in Normandy woÌ„ne by the English The battell of Blanchetaque The memorable battell and victory of King Edward at Cressy Calice besieged David King of Scottes taken prisoner The battell of Cressy Charles of Bloys taken prisoner Calice yeelded to King Edward 1346. Phillip of Valoys dieth and Iohn his Son succeedeth Edward the black Prince during their Kings captiuitie A strange shift in extremitie Priuate conference about a peace 1359. It should seeme to be but twenty thousand Iohannes Roâ—hetaillada King Edward inclineth to peace 1360. Peace concluded and King Iohn set at liberty 1360. 1362. 1362. The death of King Iohn Charles of Bloys slaine in battell The occasion of Prince Edwards expeditioÌ„ into Spain Don Pietro the tyrant expulsed and Henrie the bastard made King of Castile The Earle of Provence taken prisoner The king of Maiorica craveth ayd of Prince Edward and obtayneth promise of the same The birth of King Richard 2. Prince Edward setteth forward on his iourney into Spaine Prince Edwards victorie against Henry king of Castile Don Pietro restored The ingratitude of the Tyrant The Lords of Gascoigne rebell against Prince Edward The death of Don Pietro and recovery of the kingdome by Hen ry the Bastard The peace broken and warres againe renued betweene England Franc King Charles commended for his curtesie A truce taken with Scotland â—or 9. yeeres Lymoges recouerd by the French Conquered againe vtterly raced by the English Prince Edward returneth into England The Duke of Lancaster marrieth Constance one of the daughters of Don Pietro Edmond of Langly The Duke of Lancaster returneth into England 1372. The English men overcome at Sea the Earle of Pembroke taken prisoner Ivan the son of Ammon Prince of VVales The I le of Garnesâ—y Poytiers yeeldeth to the French Rochell yeeldeth to the French The Duke of Brittaine flyeth into England 1373. The Duke of Lancaster arriueth at Calice 1376. The death of Prince Edward King Edward the thirds death and commendation King Richard 2. 1377. The French King poysoned 1378. 1379. The Castle of Barwicke surprised by the Scottish Againe recocouered by the English Great tumult about the election of a Pope King Richard entreth into league with the King of Navarre Ivan of VVales trecherously muthered by one Iames Laube a welch man as he lay at the siege of a certaine castle called Moctaine Saint Maloes besieged Henrie the bastard King of Castile deceaseth and Iohn his Son succeedeth Edmond of Langly He is called Siluester Budaeus Fross Chro. Liâ— 2. The Queene of Naples coÌ„meth to the Pope The Queene of Naples coÌ„ueyeth her inheritance to the Pope The occasion of the Flemish warres Iohn Lyon a seditious fellow in Gaunt bringeth vp the faction of the white cappes The death of Lon. The Earle of Flaunders besieged by his subiects The Duke of Britaine returneth into his country King Richard aydeth the Duke of Britaine Thomas of VVoodstocke the Earle of Buckingham King Charles the 5. dyeth of poysontaken long before His speech at his death 1380. 1380. The coronation of Charles the fixt The coÌ„mendation of King Charles the 5. Thomas Earle of Buckingham Nants besieged The Duke of Britaine recoÌ„ciled to the French king forsaketh the English 1381. Peter de Boys Phillip of Arteuill Edmond of Langly Sir Iohn Newton captaine of the Castle of Rochester At Black-heath VVat Tiler Iack Strawe Iohn Ball. The Sauoy At Saint Katherines Mile end VVat Tiler Iack Straw Iohn Ball. Simon Sudbury It was in Smith sield VVat Tiler VVilliam VValworth Gaunt besieged by the Earle of Flaunders Commotion in Paris The Lord Coucy King Richard marrieth Anne sister to Charles King of Bohemia The Duke of Aniow taketh his iourny into Italy Zeuf an enchaunted castle see Fros Chro Lib 2. Cap 391. This enchaunter by such like illusions had before caused the Queene of Naples and her husband to yeild vp the same castle into the hands of Charles Fross Chro. lib. 2. cap 346. 392. The death of Ferdinando king of Portingale The Gauntoyes kept from victuall and brought to great extremity by the Earle of Flaunders A hard choise See the effects of desperate resolution 1382. The Earle ouerthrowne and Bruges taken by the Gauntoys Strange alteration in the Earles fortune The Duke of Burgundy The French King taketh vppon him the Earles quarell against the Gauntoys They were in all not aboue soure or fiue hundreth Fros Chro. lib. 2. Cap. 414. Ipre receiueth the French king The French kings victorie against the Gauntoyes Phillip de Arteuill slaine Bruges yeeldeth to the french King Schisme in the Church The practises of Pope Vrbane against Clement his aduersarie He sent no lesse then 30. as appeareth Fross Chro lib. 2. cap. 428. Henry Spencer Bishop of Norwich Nine thousand flemings slaine by the English in a battell not farre from Duakirk 1383. The French King agayne vndertaketh the Earle of Flaunders cause 1383. The death of Lewis Earle of Flaunders The Duke of Aniow dyeth in Italy Her name was Phillip whom he had by Blaunch his first wife The Admirall of France sent with a power into Scotland Charles the French king marryeth Isabell daughter of Stephen Duke of Bauier The French and Scottish men together inuade the borders of England The Earle of Oxenford 1358. The Gauntoies receiued to sauour and their peace made vvith their Lord the Duke of Burgoigne Sir Iohn Bourchier The Earle of Foys The strange story of Gascone Earle of Foys and his sonne Gascone The Earle of Foys killeth his owne son vnwittingly Pag. 110. Iohn King of Spaine layeth claime to the crowen of Portingale besieged Lisbone The King of Portugale through the English mens ayde obtaineth a notable victorie Pope Vrbane besieged Page 127. The Duke of Lancaster sayleth into Portugall Bristowe The Duke of Lancaster arri-Seth in paine The French King maketh great preparation to inuade England Jaquesle Gris sir Iohn de Carogne A notable example of diuine iustice The French king was present with most of his nobility The death of Peter King of Arragon The Duke of Lancasters ambassadour imprisoned by the King of Arragon Phillip the Duke of Lancasters daughter marryed to the King of Portugall John of Bloys marryeth the Constables daughter of Fraunce The Castle of Ermine The Lord de laval 1390. At Saint Georges feast at VVindsore Sir Robert Tresilian Sir Robert Beachampe sir John Salisbury sir Nicholas Brambre The Englishmens miseries vnder the Duke of Lancaster in Spaine Sir John Holland The Duke of Lancaster returneth out of Spaine Bertold of Machline Reignold Earle of Gelders marryed Mary daughter to Bertold of Machline Langue fride VVenceslaus Duke of Braband taken pri soner Edward Duke of Gelders slaine in battell 1383. The Spanyards recouer againe all that the Duke of Lancaster had gotten in Castile Charles King of Nauarre by a strange misfortune burned in his bed The Duke of Britaine restoreth all that he had taken from the Constable Graue besieged by the Brabanders The notable victory of the Duke of Gelders against the Brabanders 1388. The French king goeth against the Duke of Gelders The Duke of Gelders submits himselfe to the French king The Scottes inuade England The Duke of Gelders taken prisoner Katherine the Duke of Lancasters daughter married to Henry Prince of Castile Truce for three yeeres between England Fraunce their confederates The Duke of Berries treasurer burned The death of Pope Vrbane 1390. The French King aydeth the Genowayes against the Moores and Barbarians The death of Iohn king of Castile The Earle of Arminacke passeth into Italy against the Duke of Millaine Guy Earle of Bloys The suddaine death of Gascone Earle of Foys 1391. A treaty of peace at Amience Sir Peter of Craon Sir Oliuer Clisson treacherously assaulted and almost slaine by sir Peter of Craon Euer since the Parisians met the King in armes at his returne out of Flaunders when to curb their boldnes he caused all their armour to be taken from them the chaines of the streetes to bee carried away and the foure principall gates of the citie from thence foorth to be left alwayes open The French King falleth sodaynly into a frensie 1391. Sir John Mericer A truce for foure yeeres between England France The death of pope Clement King Richard giueth all Aquitaine to the duke of â—ancaster The Gascones refuse to accept the duke of Lancaster for their soueraigne K. Richards voyage into Ireland 1394. Otherwise called Lamorabaquy Iohn the duke of Burgoignes sonne sent by the French king to ayde the King of Hangary against the Turkes Nicopolis besieged Fifteen thousand Turkes 〈◊〉 slaine by one thousand christians vnder the conduct of the Lorde Cowâ—y A discourse ot the Duke of Millaine Pag. 127. Friseland subdewed by the Earle of Henault 1396. King Richard marrieth Isabel the french kings daughter One mans pride causeth many mens destruction The siege before Nicopolis raised and all the Frenchmen slaine or taken prisoners The Lord Cowcies death 1397. At the marriage of King Richard to the French Kings daughter a truce was agreed vpon for thirtie yeeres The Earle of Saint Paul The duke of Glow ester murdered in the castle of Calice 1397. Richard earle of Arundell Thomas Mow bray Duke of Norffolke The Earle of Derby the Erle Marshall banished The Duke of Burgoignes sonne Pope Benedict besieged and taken prisoner by the Frenchmen The death of John of GauÌ„t Duke of Lancaster 1399. Henry Pâ—rcie earle of Northumberland and his sonne Thomas Arundell Hee should haue vsde the benefit of oportunity 1399. King Richard deposed
AN Epitome of Frossard OR A Summarie Collection of the most memorable Histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the State of England and France Wherin the famous Warres and Conquests of king Edward the third with the honorable atchieuements of the Blacke Prince and other his sonnes both in Fraunce Spaine and Portugall are compendiously described Entermixed with other historicall occurrents of those times very worthy and profitable to be had in remembrance Compiled in Latine by Iohn Sleydane and translated into English By P. Golding AT LONDON ⧠Printed by Tho Purfoot for Per Golding 1608. ¶ Cum Priuilegio An Epitome of Frossard OR A summarie collection of the most memorable histories contained in his Chronicle chiefly concerning the state of England and Fraunce The first Booke PHillip surnamed the faire King of Fraunce had three Sonnes Lewis Phillip and Charles and one daughter The two eldest succeeding one another and deceasing without issue left the kingdome by descent to their brother Charles This Charles had a Sonne but he dyed very young during the life of his Father The daughter of King Phillip and sister to Charles was married to Edward the second King of England who begat of her a Sonne named Edward of whose most noble disposition stout courage and princely vertues honourable mention is made in many places of this worke There is a saying in Homer that Children for the most part prooue worse then their parents seldome any better but in this King it fell out otherwise For his father was a man of euill disposition much giuen to ryot and excesse and greatly led by sicophants and flatterers of which sort the principall were twoo Noble men of the house of the Spencers These so bewitched the Kings minde that by their counsell and instigation hee put to death some twoo and twenty of the chiefest Barons of England and not so contented banished also his Wife and her Son wholy out of the Realme But the Queene at length through the assistance of her faithfull friends beeing brought backe with her Sonne into England not onlye exacted most seuere punishment vppon those flatterers the Father and the Son but further for diuers graue and weighty considerations by authority of Parliament remooued her husband from ruling the state as a person vnfit for gouernment and restrained him to safe custodie Which done the worthy Prince Edward a most vertuous Son of a most vitious Father who before had liued in exile with his Mother as is already declared was crowned King of England at London by the name of Edward the Third in the Sixteenth yeare of his age and the yeare of our Lord 1326. He tooke to Wife Phillip the daughter of William Earle of Henault and Holland whome he had formerly begun to fancy amongst the rest of her Sisters at such time as he came with his mother as a banished person out of England into Henault But the Peeres of Fraunce after the death of King Charles would in no wise admit his Sister matched to the King of England to the succession of the crowne because it was now of old receiued as a custome in that country not to leaue the charge of so great a Kingdome to bee mannaged by the discretion of women Wherevppon they likewise renounced Edward the Third her Sonne and Grand-childe to King Phillip as descending of the female line and so with one consent they gaue the scepter and soueraignty to Phillip of Valoys cousen germain to King Phillip deceased Vppon this occasion ensued most cruell warres and bitter enmity Edward the Third presuming that he had more rightfull interest and a better title to the kingdome of Fraunce then Phillip of Valoys And to further this quarrell it so fell out that a certain Noble man of great account called Robert of Artoys one who had been long of singuler respect and estimation with King Phillip at length falling in his disfauor was banished the Court and could be suffered to rest in no place by reason of the kings displeasure This man after many wandrings at last arriued in England where hee found quiet harbour and abiding and being by the King entertained as a counsellor ceased not by his perswasions to prouoke and stirre him vp to armes against the French King King Edward purposing to warre vppon Phillip sollicited the frendshippe of the Flemmings at that time remaining scarce in due obedience of their Lord whereof the French King hauing intelligence by the helpe of the Earle of Flanders thē soiourning in his Court he procured certain places of Flaunders to bee fortified where the English men must of necessity passe when they should come into Fraunce The King of England sent his forces against them and in a pitched field the Flemmings were ouer throwne and chased And further for the better dispatch of his affaires and to compasse the fauour of the Germaine Princes the King of England came himselfe to Antwerpe where he entred into a league of amitie with the Dukes of Gelders and Iuliers the Archbishop of Colen and diuers others And that the Emperour should take no offence thereat it was concluded the Duke of Iuliers should be addressed vnto him in the name of the King of England and the rest to acquainte him with these proceedings The Emperour was so farre from dislike of the matter that he also created the King of England Lievetenant Generall of the Romaine Empire The chiefe cause why Lewis of Bauier the Emperour so highly honoured the King of England was for that he hoped during the tumults of the warres hee might happily take some opportunity to recouer againe the Citie of Cambray which being indeed a Citie imperiall was notwithstanding with-holden from him by the French men The French King in the meane while contracted a league with Dauid King of Scottes who for the same purpose came with his Wife to Paris Hee sent also a power into Scotland to molest the English at home that thereby their forces might be more weakened and the King of Englands puissance abated The King of England proceeding in his purpose with the power of his confederates besieged Cambray to recouer it againe to the Empire But the Citie was so well prouided both of munition and victuall that hee attempted it in vaine wherefore abandoning the siege hee passed with his forces into Fraunce Assoone as the English army was entred into Fraunce the Earle of Henault who of late succeeded in the roome of his deceased Father and had been present at the siege of Cambray as a matter of dutye in regard it concerned the Empire refused now any longer to serue the King of England for feare of displeasing the French King because hee thought that in this warre the King of England rather intended his own busines then the affaires of the Empire The French King at such time as his enemies forces were aduanced against him and that the armyes on both sides stoode ready raunged in order of battell
the truce to the King of Scotland But this was left vnperformed by what errour or negligence I know not It should seeme after the Earle of Flaunders death the duke of Burgoynes braiâ—e was so busied that he quite forgot it for all that inheritance was descended to him Certaine English gentlemen taking aduantage of this occasion made a rode into Scotland wasting the country as they went with fire and sword The Scottes who knew nothing what had passed meruailled much at the matter seeing no warre was proclaymed and so much the more because they had heard a certaine darke rumor of a truce But howsoeuer the case stoode they prepared to defend themselues When report hereof was brought to the french King the Peeres began to accuse one another of negligence in forgetting a matter of so great moment And because there was now no other remedy they sent certaine into Scotland which by declaring the true circumstances of the matter should giue them satisfaction The king himselfe was well inclined to peace but the Lords of his country made much adoe and were very hot vppon reuenge and in like maner rode forth into the borders of England to shew that they neither wanted courage nor ability to defend themselues and their goods from their enemies At length being pacifyed and the King perswaded the French ambassadors sent an herauld into England and so quieted the strife And when the truce was receiued and ratifyed on both parts it was proclaymed by sound of trumpet that no man should presume to transgresse the articles therein contayned But to perswade the king of England to this peace for he was highly offended at the late inuasion of the Scottish great meanes were made by the Duke of Lancaster who had formerly determined to make his voyage this yeere into Spaine with the assistance of the King of Portingale which warre he was the more desirous to accoÌ„plish in regard he had issue by his wife to whome he affirmed the kingdome of Spaine was both by the lawe of nations and nature it selfe of right apperâ—ayning It is shewed before with how great preparation puissance the Duke of Aniow passed into Italy When he came thither he found no opposition but onely in the Neapolitanes who would in no wise be turned from his aduersarie but Prouence Calabria and Apulia receiued him The Earle of Sauoy as I told you accompanied him in his iourney and about this time ended his life Now when he had retayned his souldiers for the space of three yeeres together being almost drayned dry with so great and coÌ„tinuall charges he requested his brothers that they would not faile him in these his affaires of so great honour and importance They out of their loue and honourable affection holding it not fit to abandon him in so â—ust a quarrell sent an army to ayd him which when it came to Auinion receiued certaine tydings that he was lately dead at a Castle not farre from Naples and so returned home againe After the death of the Earle of Flaunders the inheritance of that country descended to Phillip Duke of Burgundy which had married his daughter Now the Dutchesse of Braband whose husband Wenceslaus of Bohemia dyed lately before at Lutzemburge desired earnestly that Burgundy Henault and Flaunders might be vnited in perpetuall league and amitie The Duke of Burgoigne had a sonne named Iohn This Iohn marryed Margaret the daughter of Albert Duke of Bauier and Henault at Cambray And William the sonne of Albert tooke to wife Margaret daughter to the Duke of Burgoigne The french king was present at these nuptialles And the Duke of Burgoigne gaue in dowry with his daughter an hundred thousand franks These allyances troubled the Duke of Lancaster who had a purpose to haue matcht a daughter of his to the sonne of Duke Albert. And therefore at such time as these matters were in treaty he endeauoured by his letters to Albert to haue hindred their proceedings but it preuayled not Concerning the Earles of Henault ye must conceiue that William the Lord of this seigniory had foure daughters Margaret Phillip Ione and Isabell and one sonne named VVilliam Margaret was married to Lewis of Bauier the Emperour Edward king of England marryed Phillip VVilliam was slaine in battell against the Phrisoners left no issue Therefore by his death the right of succession deuolued to Margaret the eldest sister and she enioyed the heritage till such time as Albert her sonne whom she had by Lewis the Emperour being growne to mans estate entred vpon the inheritance of his ancestors And afterward VVilliam the sonne of Albert married the Duke of Burgoignes daughter as is a little before declared The Duke of Aniow left behinde him two sonnes Lewis and Charles in whose right their mother by the counsell of Pope Clement and the French king made warre vppon the people of Prouence not without the French Kings assistance who supplyed her wants both with men and money The men of Manceilles were well affected towards her but all the rest opposed themselues against her and as it seemed would not accept her for their soueraigne before Calabria Naples and Apulia had done the same of which countries when she could showe her selfe to haue quiet possession they also offered to put themsel es vnder her obedience The truce by this time being expired the French King had a mervailous desire to bee doing with the King of England Hereupon leuying an army he sent the Duke of Burbon into Aquitaine that if it were possible he might expell the English men wholly out of Fraunce He sent another army also into Scotland vnder the conduct of his Admirall to the intent the Scottish power and his being ioyned together might put the king of England to the greater vexation But when the Admirall arriued in Scotland he found not such friendly entertaynement as he lookt for Charles the fift vpon his death-bed had requested his brothers to chuse a wife for his son of some noble family especially out of Germany that the allyance might be the stronger They did according to his desire For he married Isabell the daughter oâ— Stephen Duke of Bauier a Lady of most excellent beauty But the first meanes of this match was deriued from this occasion that Fredericke of Bauier her vnckle had followed the French king in his late warres against the English as hath beene already declared Shortly after the death of the Duke of Aniow who had attempted great matters in Italie dyed also his aduersary Charles surâ—amed the Peaceable It was supposed that he was made away by the Queene of Hungarie who hauing two daughters by her husband Lewis deceassed feared lest this Charles which was his brothers sonne should dispossesse them of their inheritance specially for that he openly tearmed himselfe King of Hungarie and therefore wrought meanes to dispatch him out of the worlde but whether this be a true report or a coniecture I cannot affirme Then